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☆ A California woman bought a vacant lot in Hawaii and discovered a $500,000 house was built on it without her permission
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Jordan Pandy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

A developer in Hawaii accidentally built a house on it instead of the neighboring lot. Reynolds bought a one-acre plot of land in Hawaiian Paradise Park, a nearly 15,000-person subdivision on Hawaii's Big Island, for $22,500 at a tax auction. Reynolds' lot is just two miles from the beach. He told BI that in Paradise Park, unless you're next to the ocean or the highway, every parcel looks indistinguishable. Related stories"There are 8,000 one-acre lots in Paradise Park," Kenny said.

Persons: Anne Reynolds, —, Anne, Reynolds, Trulia —, Doug Keown, Dana Kenny, Kenny, Peter Olson, James DiPasquale, I've, — I've, DiPasquale, they're Organizations: Service, BI, Savio Realty Ltd, Keaau Development, DiPasquale Locations: Hawaii, Paradise, California

☆ 'Iran is in for the long haul' with oil tanker hijacks, expert says, as U.S. considers more sanctions
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Before this weekend's tanker seizure, the last vessel Iran hijacked was the St. Nikolas on January 1. A Planet Labs satellite image of the location of the MSC Aries and other tankers recently hijacked by Iran. Planet Labs PBCAs the U.S. considers more sanctions against Iran in response to its recent attack on Israel, Iran has been using the hijacked ships as a means of sanctions retaliation. Iran chose to do this as a way to compensate for sanctions," Madani said. In a note to clients, ClearView highlighted that the House of Representatives added several Iran sanctions bills to its calendar for consideration this week, under suspension rules, including new sanctions on Iranian oil exports to China.

Persons: Nikolas, Houthis, Samir Madani, Eyal Ofer's, Madani, Janet Yellen, Helima Croft, Andy Lipow, Brent, Lipow, Kevin Book, Book Organizations: Anadolu, Getty, MSC Aries, U.S . Naval Forces Central Command, Galaxy Leader, MSC, Planet Labs, U.S . Energy Information Agency, United Arab, JPMorgan, CNBC, Lipow Oil Associates, ClearView Energy Partners, US, UN Locations: Gulf of Oman, Hormuz, Anadolu, Iran, Israel, Gaza, U.S, Iranian, Khuran, China, Russia, Malaysia, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Strait, Tehran, East, North Africa, India, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, France, Germany

☆ Iranian navy seizes Israel-linked container ship amid escalating tensions in Middle East
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( Adam Pourahmadi | Catherine Nicholls | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has confirmed the seizure, saying there are 25 crew on board. Portugal’s government said that it was in touch with the Iranian authorities. The Strait of Hormuz, at the northern end of the Gulf of Oman, is the biggest oil chokepoint in the world. The United Kingdom’s Foreign Secretary, David Cameron, wrote on social media platform X that he had spoken with Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantz. The two discussed their “shared concerns about Iranian threats to attack Israel,” Cameron wrote, adding that “further escalation in the region is in no-one’s interest and risks further loss of civilian life.”

Persons: CNN —, IRNA, “, Eyal Ofer, Joe Biden, Daniel Hagari, Israel, David Cameron, Benny Gantz, ” Cameron, ” Organizations: CNN, CNN — Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, Navy, Zodiac, Mediterranean Shipping Company, United, Israel Defense Forces, United Kingdom’s Locations: Israeli, Hormuz, Iran, Syria, Portuguese, Gulf of Oman, Tehran, Iranian, United States, Damascus, Gaza, The Iran, Yemen, Red, Israel

☆ Iran seizes cargo ship in Strait of Hormuz, Israel goes on high alert
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Blaming Israel — which has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility — Iran vowed retaliation. Jordan on Saturday declared its airspace closed, in a possible precautionary move given the likelihood of its territory being overflown by any missiles exchanged by Iran and Israel. On Friday, Biden warned Iran against attacking Israel but said such a scenario could be imminent. On Tuesday, the Revolutionary Guards' naval head, Alireza Tangsiri, said the force could close the Strait of Hormuz, which lies between Iran and the United Arab Emirates, if necessary. The United States and Britain have carried out strikes against Houthi targets in response to the attacks on shipping.

Persons: Israel —, Zodiac, Eyal Ofer, Israel Katz, Joe Biden, Biden, Lloyd Austin, Yoav Gallant, Gallant, Alireza Tangsiri, Abraham, Hasan Alhasan Organizations: Iran's Revolutionary Guards, Hamas, Jordan, Saturday, Guards, Aries, MSC, Gortal Shipping, Zodiac Maritime, House, Iran, U.S . Defense, Pentagon, State, Revolutionary Guards, United Arab, Israel, International Institute for Strategic Studies, MSC Aries, Maritime Information Center Locations: Iranian, Syria's, Damascus, Strait, Hormuz, Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Iraq, Tehran, Iran, Iran's, State, United States, United Arab Emirates, UAE, Britain

☆ Vessel seized in Strait of Hormuz amid Iran tensions, shipping firms say
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A vessel has been seized by "regional authorities" between the United Arab Emirates and Iran, maritime security agencies said on Saturday, days after Iran warned it could close the area to sea traffic. UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said the vessel had been seized 50 nautical miles (92 km) northeast of the Fujairah, an area close to the Strait of Hormuz that forms the entrance to the Gulf. Marine tracking sites said the vessel was the MSC Aries of Zodiac Maritime, an international shipping company partly owned by Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer. Reuters could not immediately confirm that and UKMTO said it could not provide more information when asked if the regional authorities were Iran and if the seized vessel was MSC Aries. The United States and Britain have carried out strikes against Houthi targets in response to the attacks on shipping.

Persons: Eyal Ofer, UKMTO, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Alireza Tangsiri, Abraham, Joe Biden Organizations: United Arab, Maritime Trade Operations, ., MSC Aries, Zodiac Maritime, Zodiac, MSC, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Israel, Abraham Accords, Revolutionary Guards Locations: United Arab Emirates, Iran, Hormuz, U.S, UAE, United States, Gaza, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Syria's, Damascus, Tehran, Yemen's Iran, Britain

☆ Iran Seizes Commercial Ship Linked to Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( Christopher F. Schuetze | More About Christopher F. Schuetze | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Tehran has vowed a retaliatory strike after blaming Israel for an attack on an Iranian embassy building in Syria that killed 12 people, among them top military generals. Iran is a backer of Hamas, Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthi rebels in Yemen, but has so far stayed clear of direct involvement. On Friday, President Biden said that he expected Iran to launch a retaliatory attack “sooner than later,” and reiterated that the United States remained committed to the defense of Israel. It was not immediately clear if the seizure of the ship was part of Iran’s promised response to the attack in Syria, but it was not the first time Iran had directly seized a commercial vessel. Before the war in Gaza, the United States said that Iran had “harassed, attacked or interfered” with more than a dozen internationally flagged merchant ships in recent years.

Persons: Eyal Ofer, Israel, Israel Katz, Biden, ”, Iran’s Organizations: MSC, Zodiac Maritime, Zodiac Group, ”, Iran’s Locations: Israel, Tehran, Iranian, Syria, Gaza, Iran, Lebanon, Yemen, United States, Oman

☆ Songkran 2024: Celebrating Thailand’s annual New Year festival
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-05 | by ( Karla Cripps | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Bangkok, Thailand CNN —On the surface, Thailand’s annual Songkran festival appears to be just one great big water fight. Pipad Krajaejun, a history lecturer at Bangkok’s Thammasat University, says it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly when the water fights became such a key part of the festival. (We’ll share more on the water fights below.) Some towns limit the water fights to one day, so be sure to check ahead if you’re planning to join the battles. Soe Zeya Tun/ReutersAmong the highlights of the festival is the Maha Songkran Parade, which will happen on April 11.

Persons: Thailand CNN —, that’s, ”, Songkran, Boonserm Satraphai, Pipad, “, Soe Zeya Tun, University’s Pipad, Nam, Chalinee Thirasupa, MBK, Lauren DeCicca, John S Lander, it’s, CNN Travel’s Karla Cripps, she’s Organizations: CNN, Thailand CNN, UNESCO, Heritage, Bangkok’s Thammasat University, CNN Travel, ”, Thailand’s Tourism Authority, of, Reuters, Central Department, Thai Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, it’s, Chiang Mai, Thailand's, Khao San, Chiang, Old City, Pipad, Chiangmai, Thailand’s, Ratchadamnoen, Lanna, San

☆ She'd heard her step-grandfather was a monster. But was he also the Zodiac Killer?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Caralynn Matassa | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Max's "The Truth About Jim," directed by Skye Borgman, follows Sierra Barter's investigation into her step-grandfather. Jim Mordecai, who died in 2008, was accused of harassment and sexual assault by multiple women. But was Jim Mordecai an infamous serial killer too? AdvertisementWas Jim Mordecai the Zodiac Killer? Judy Mordecai, Barter, and Shannon Barter.

Persons: Skye Borgman, Jim Mordecai, Mordecai, —, Christi Probst, Borgman, Shannon, Judy Mordecai, didn't, couldn't, Jim, Max, Jeanne Kirkpatrick, Mordecai's, Michael Probst, Melissa, Jaime Mordecai, Kirkpatrick, Shannon Yeager, Yeager, we've, fleshing, Mary, Santa Rosa, I've, let's, Sierra, Mike Butterfield, Max Mordecai's, Judy, they've, they're Organizations: Service, Northern, Imagine Entertainment, Business, Sonoma County Sheriff's Office, Max Locations: Sierra, San Francisco Bay, Northern California, Shannon, Santa, Sonoma County

☆ We spent $19,000 on a cruise to Antarctica. Crossing the Drake Passage was a nightmare, but the destination was worth it.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Alex Schnee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

In order to get to Antarctica by boat, however, we knew we'd have to cross the dreaded Drake Passage. The journey to Antarctica was difficultThe Drake Passage is notorious for being rough. He spent the days we rocked on the Passage attending lectures and attempting to feed me with food he brought from the dining hall. I felt much better once we arrived at our final destinationWhen we arrived in Antarctica, my husband and I enjoyed some kayaking. I would make this trip again in a heartbeat, three awful days crossing the Passage included, just to have the memories we made once the crossing was over.

Persons: —, Daniel, I'd, Sergio Pitamitz, Drake, Alex Schnee Organizations: Service, Business Locations: Antarctica, South America

☆ For Carla Hall, It’s Been a Bumpy Climb to a ‘Top Chef’ Life
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Kim Severson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Astrology, numerology, psychics, the Chinese zodiac — she’s open to all manner of metaphysical messaging. Then I went to wait in her airy kitchen, which happens to have the most expertly arranged, hand-labeled spice drawer I have ever encountered. All stars point to ‘this is your year.’ ’’Indeed, Ms. Hall seems to be everywhere. She’s selling $88 carrot cakes and nesting bowls decorated with okra flowers from her Sweet Heritage line on QVC. (She’s a Taurus.)

Persons: Carla Hall’s, ”, ’, Hall Organizations: Washington , D.C, QVC Locations: Takoma, Washington ,, Doritos

☆ Pedro Pascal shares the 'psychotic' way he memorizes his lines, and people are comparing it to Zodiac Killer's ciphers
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-18 | by ( Eve Crosbie | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Pedro Pascal has shared the bizarre mnemonic system he uses to memorize his lines. Users on X compared his notes to the Zodiac Killer's infamous cipher, which went unsolved for years. "I have information that could lead to the immediate arrest of Pedro Pascal. Others also saw the similarity between Pascal's page of notes and the Zodiac Killer's infamous ‘340 Cipher.' Advertisementhave we tried giving pedro pascal the zodiac killer’s letters to see if he could unencrypt them — tortured poets department intern (@thenoasletter) February 18, 2024"Have we tried giving pedro pascal the zodiac killer's letters to see if he could unencrypt them," someone else wrote.

Persons: Pedro Pascal, —, Billy Crudup, Matthew Macfadyen, Kieran Culkin, Pascal, Culkin, pedro pascal, Reed Richards, Pedro, Reed Organizations: Service, AFTRA, Marvel

☆ J.Lo's director breaks down the wildest details in 'This Is Me...Now,' from casting actors as her exes to that cameo-laden 'zodiac council'
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Callie Ahlgrim | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

For Meyers, Lopez's "emotional journey" is the connective thread, transforming a series of eclectic events into a complete story arc. Later, Jane Fonda (Sagittarius) compares Lopez's love life to a 4 a.m. "Vanderpump Rules" marathon. AdvertisementIn this scene, Lopez ties the knot with three different men at identical wedding ceremonies. In fact, Meyers said he and Lopez were careful to cast actors who didn't "accidentally depict" a real person from Lopez's life. She's unapologetic about what she's been through, and she's very happy where she is now."

Persons: —, Jennifer Lopez, She's, Shakira, Ben Affleck, Dave Meyers, Lopez, Ja, Pink Floyd, Jen, Fat Joe, Meyers, Variety, Affleck, couldn't, You've, Jen's, we're, Keke Palmer, Malone, Leo, Jane Fonda, Trevor Noah, Libra, Neil deGrasse Tyson, " Meyers, there's, scoff, They're, Tony Bellissimo, Derek Hough, Trevor Jackson, she's Organizations: Service, Super, Business, Zodiac Council, Zodiac, Love AA Locations: Bolivia

☆ Happy New Year of the Dragon - or Loong?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

This year, it’s the Year of the Dragon, or more accurately, the “Year of the Loong,” says Chinese state media, using its preferred term for the mythical beast. The Chinese “loong” conjures positivity, nobleness and fortune and therefore should be distinguished linguistically from its Western cousin, state media argues. Chinese media has dedicated coverage and airtime to promote the new nomenclature over the past week or so, though both “dragon” and “loong” are being used interchangeably in English-language reports. “Transcribing long into English ‘loong’ would cause more problems and confusion than translating it as ‘dragon’,” he wrote. He noted that “some patriotic and political sources in the Sinosphere” have been peddling the concept that the Western dragon is fearful.

Persons: ”, Loong ”, it’s, loong, “ loong, Xi Jinping, Loong, John Lee, Wong Tai, Alex Chan Tsz Yuk, Elliott, Bradford Lee Eden, Eden, Eduardo Leal, ‘, Weibo, Victor Mair, Mair, “ loong ”, ” Eden, “ Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Disney, Xinhua, of Library Services, Valparaiso University ,, Tolkien Research, Getty, University of Pennsylvania, Valparaiso University Locations: China, Hong Kong, Beijing, Valparaiso University , Indiana, Macau, Weibo, West

The 65-minute musical film, which she self-financed, follows a hopeless romantic in search of love (Lopez) and the myriad ways she contends with repeated heartbreak, including visits to her therapist (played by Fat Joe) and sobbing through old romantic films. Photos You Should See View All 22 ImagesAP: It's been a decade since your last album. But this was really different because I hadn’t been inspired to really go into the studio and write a whole album for years. I did “Marry Me” a few years ago for the movie, but that was not a Jennifer Lopez album, not a J.Lo album. It’s made me doubt myself and really feel bad about myself at times.

Persons: Jennifer Lopez, Lopez, Fat Joe, Jane Fonda, Post Malone, Keke Palmer, Sofia Vergara, Ben Affleck, It's, LOPEZ, Nobody, I’ve, ” —, “, They’re, It’s, Ben, they’re, you’re Organizations: ANGELES, AP Locations: Orlando , Florida

☆ What the Year of the Dragon means for businesses, according to Maybank's fengshui report
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

In Maybank Investment's fengshui report for 2024, its head of research Thilan Wickramasinghe, along with fengshui master Ken Koh, take a look at which sectors will outperform and which will face headwinds in the Year of the Dragon. 2024 is the year of the wood dragon and will be "unique," according to the report. Earth, metal and fireSectors under the earth element will also benefit from the dominant fire element, Maybank said, identifying sector winners as waste management, real estate, data warehousing and urban farming. "Despite rising interest rates and inflationary costs, the dominant Earth industries have shown resilience and continue to break new grounds," the Maybank report said. Most notably, in industries under the metal element — such as banking, engineering, mining and automotive — the wood element will be prominent and will bring prosperity to the metal industries.

Persons: Roslan Rahman, Investment's, Ken Koh, Koh, Maybank Organizations: Afp, Getty Locations: Singapore

☆ Why the Year of the Dragon doesn't bode well for China’s declining population
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Charmaine Jacob | In Charmainemariajacob | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

In this zodiac cycle, those born between Feb.10, 2024 and Jan. 28, 2025 will be classified as "Dragon babies." While people in China also hold these beliefs, birth rates in the country have actually fallen during the "Dragon Years." For instance, Singapore's birth rates rose by 21% in 1988, and 8% in 2000 and 2012. Asian folklore, however, may not be able to do much for China's falling birth rates, which could continue to drop "quite precipitously," Tay warned. China's birth rates have seen a secular decline, falling to 6.39% in 2023 from 22.37% in 1988.

Persons: Jacelyn Phang, feng, Yuan Zhong Siu, Phang, Erica Tay, Maybank, Tay, Tianchen Xu Organizations: CNBC, The Economist Intelligence Locations: China, Asia

☆ As the Year of the Dragon begins, the pros name sectors — and stocks — to play the Chinese market
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Amala Balakrishner | In Amala-Balakrishner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Chinese stocks had an eventful week last week — with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index hitting a five-year low of about 2,650 points on Feb. 5, before edging up to end the week at 2,865.90. A slide in Hong Kong-listed Chinese shares on Feb. 9, however, proved that investors may still have lingering concerns on the prospects of Chinese stocks in the new year. As the festive season gets underway, Redmond Wong, market strategist at investment firm Saxo, sees several opportunities to play the market. Boom in green transformation Beyond the traditional sectors, Saxo's Wong is watching an up-and-coming area in China: energy security and a green transformation. Data from the International Energy Agency shows that the Asian giant's clean-energy sectors contributed 11.4 trillion Chinese yuan ($1.6 trillion) to the Chinese economy in 2023, up 30% year-on-year.

Persons: Redmond Wong, Saxo, I'm, Wong, Saxo's Wong, Morningstar, Zijin Organizations: CNBC Pro, Monetary Fund, Technology, Shenzhen, Baidu, Sands, Tsingtao, Morningstar, Tsingtao Brewery, International Energy Agency, Companies, Zijin Mining Locations: Shanghai, Hong Kong, China, Zhejiang, Sands China, Macao, Shandong

☆ Chinese zodiac fortune predictions for 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Maggie Hiufu Wong | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +19 min

Natalie Leung/CNN, Adobe StockMonkeys are going to have a relatively stable year. Natalie Leung/CNN, Adobe Stock“This year, you may have to work a bit harder and work longer hours than usual. Natalie Leung/CNN, Adobe Stock“It isn’t the worst year but there are going to be some challenges. Natalie Leung/CNN, Adobe Stock“According to ancient Chinese philosophy, Tigers and Dragons have a complicated relationship. Natalie Leung/CNN, Adobe StockAll you Rabbits can give yourself a pat on the back.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, There’s, ”, Chen, “, Thierry Chow, CNN Chow, floristry, “ It’s, Chow, Xuan, Duke, Jupiter, Stringer, VCG, Zhang Yu, Ulet Ifansasti, Johanes, NurPhoto, Zhang Cheng, Wu Wenjun, Axel Miranda, Tai Sui –, Tai Sui, Natalie Leung, Ben Ming Nian, “ Let’s, Ben Ming, “ You’ll, Ma Xing, –, it’s, It’s, there’s, ” Chow, Xing Tai Sui Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, CNN, Shui, China News Service, Spring, Reuters Workers, Adobe, Adobe Stock, Adobe Stock People, ”, Roosters, Tiger Tigers, Dragons, Tigers Locations: Hong Kong, Asia, Xuan Kong, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China, Beijing, Solo City, Indonesia, Dharmayana, Bali , Indonesia, Guangzhou, China's, Guangdong Province, Barcelona, Spain, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province

☆ China gears up to ring in Year of the Dragon with expected record 9 billion trips
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Authorities last month forecast that China’s population of 1.4 billion would take a record 9 billion trips during the 40-day holiday travel period, which began on January 26. Stringer/VCG/Getty Images A man takes photos of blooming plum blossoms at the Summer Palace in Beijing, China on February 5. Johanes P. Christo/NurPhoto/AP Crowds flock to the Spring Festival Light Show in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China on February 3. Axel Miranda/SOPA Images/Sipa/Reuters Workers assemble dragon lanterns at a production workshop in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China on January 24. Two major indexes recorded their worst drops in years capping off a dire 2023 that saw China’s stock markets become the world’s worst performer.

Persons: ”, Luo, Stringer, VCG, Zhang Yu, Ulet Ifansasti, Johanes, NurPhoto, Zhang Cheng, Wu Wenjun, Axel Miranda, Xi Jinping, ” Xi Organizations: Hong Kong CNN —, Festival, CNN, Authorities, China News Service, Spring, Reuters Workers, HSBC, Beijing, United States Embassy Locations: Hong Kong, China, Beijing, Fujian, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, Solo City, Indonesia, Dharmayana, Bali , Indonesia, Guangzhou, China's, Guangdong Province, Barcelona, Spain, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, Shanghai

In diaspora communities, particularly in cultural enclaves, Lunar New Year is visibly and joyfully celebrated. The Lunar New Year — known as the Spring Festival in China, Tet in Vietnam and Seollal in Korea — is a major festival celebrated in several Asian countries. It begins with the first new moon of the lunar calendar and ends 15 days later on the first full moon. Some Indigenous people also celebrate Lunar New Year this time of year, including members of Mexico's Purepecha Indigenous group. Lunar New Year is also celebrated as a cultural event by some Asian American Christians and is observed by several Catholic dioceses across the U.S. as well as other churches.

Persons: Mexico's, “ changshou mian Organizations: Lilly Endowment Inc, AP Locations: U.S, Asia, China, Tet, Vietnam, Seollal, Korea

☆ Photos: Lunar New Year celebrations
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Millions of families across the world are celebrating the Lunar New Year, widely considered the most treasured festival in the Chinese calendar. Also known as the Spring Festival, celebrations begin on February 10 this year and last 15 days. Traditional Lunar New Year festivities include the exchange of "red packets" of money, fireworks, lion dances and travel to bring in good fortune, prosperity and togetherness. This holiday season also marks the first time in several years for celebrations to take place across mainland China without any Covid-19 restrictions. At the heart of the travel frenzy is a time for millions of families in the country and overseas to cherish time together.

Locations: China

☆ What is Lunar New Year? A 2024 guide to the Year of the Dragon
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Maggie Hiufu Wong | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Whether you’re unfamiliar with Lunar New Year or need a refresher, this guide will highlight some of the most common traditions associated with the occasion. Tourists visit a Lunar New Year Lantern Festival in Shanghai on January 21, 2024. Though incredibly complex, the Chinese zodiac calendar is best described as a 12-year cycle represented by 12 different animals, in this order: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. Festive cakes and puddings are made on the 24th day of the last lunar month (February 3 in 2024). Day 3: Visit a templeDay three of the Lunar New Year (which falls on February 12 in 2024) is named “chi kou/cek hau,” or red mouth.

Persons: Sui, ”, Nian, gao ”, You’ll, It’s, warding, kou, cek hau, it’s, Yuan Xiao Jie, Yuan, Xiao Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Lantern, fai chun, Visitors Locations: Hong Kong, Shanghai, China, Asia, Malaysia

☆ Ai Weiwei’s ‘Zodiac’ Is a Mystical Memory Tour
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Jonathan Landreth | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

As the Year of the Dragon dawns, the Chinese artist Ai Weiwei has released “Zodiac,” a “graphic memoir” of scenes from his career — both real (hanging with Allen Ginsberg, the O.G. Each chapter frames the artist’s take on traditional beliefs about the characteristics humans share with the 12 animals of the Chinese lunar calendar. Gianluca Costantini’s intricate line drawings pair with Elettra Stamboulis’s comic-bubble text to help expand Ai’s lifelong campaign for free expression to a new medium for a new generation. Ai spoke with Jonathan Landreth about parents and parenting, punk rock and the passage of time, all via video chat last week from Berlin. A zodiac cycle ago, in 2012, you were just out of jail and tired of Beijing trying to silence you.

Persons: Ai Weiwei, Allen Ginsberg, Xi, Gianluca, Elettra, Ai, Jonathan Landreth Organizations: Twitter Locations: Greenwich, Berlin, Beijing, ”, Berlin , Cambridge, Portugal, China, New York

☆ ‘Save the Whales’ was a shining success. Now can humpbacks save us from ourselves?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-04 | by ( Bill Weir | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

Antarctic Peninsula CNN —About 15 billion miles from where you sit, two 12-inch golden records are hurtling through outer space with multilingual greetings to the universe from 55 humans and one humpback whale. WWF's Johnson said the whales are not harmed by this -- to the whales, the dart feels like "a mosquito bite." It feels like “a mosquito bite” to the whales, Johnson said, but what they can test for is priceless: from stress hormones to toxins to — most importantly — pregnancy rates. Ten million copies were inserted into National Geographic magazine in 1979 — the largest single pressing in history — and a global movement to Save The Whales grew big enough to … save the whales. Seth Wenig/AP“I don’t think a wind turbine can kill a whale,” Friedlaender told CNN.

Persons: Anderson Cooper, Carl Sagan, ” Sagan, could’ve, “, Ari Friedlaender, Friedlaender, ”, Chris Johnson, ” Eva Prendergast, WWF's Johnson, Evelio Contreras, Bill Weir, Johnson, ” Friedlaender, Shepherd, WWF’s Johnson, Roger, Katy Payne, David Keyton, Frank Watlington, cetologist Scott McVay, Donald Trump, ” Trump, Seth Wenig, that’s, Biden, ” Johnson, Twain, CNN “, ” Brenda McCowan, Fred Sharpe, ” McCowan, ’ ” Sharpe, Natalia Botero, Acosta, ’, Maria Camila Medina Martínez, Julian Quinones, ” Carl Sagan Organizations: Antarctic Peninsula CNN, “, ” CNN CNN, University of California, International Monetary Fund, World Wildlife Fund, Ocean Endeavor, CNN, UC Santa Cruz, Shepherd Global, Norwegian Aker, United Nations, Geographic, Whales, International Whaling Commission, Atlantic, Republican, Templeton Foundation, Whale SETI, UC Davis Locations: Santa Cruz, Colombia, British, Antarctica, Norwegian, Southern, Orkney, Bermuda, Japan, Norway, Iceland, Atlantic, South Carolina, Lido Beach , New York, Davis, Alaska, Columbia, Colombian, Tribuga, United Nations, Palau, Chile, Maldives

☆ Read All About It! The Long and Bloody History of True Crime Lit.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Lizzie Pook | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

“There’s been 11 hardback books on me,” the serial killer John Wayne Gacy told a reporter on the eve of his execution in 1994. “Thirty-one paperbacks, two screenplays, one movie, one Off Broadway play, five songs and over 5,000 articles. We may consider the obsession with true crime a contemporary preoccupation — with Etsy shops selling enamel pins of Ted Bundy’s face and his Volkswagen, and crime conventions filling casino-size hotels with teenage girls in “Murderino” T-shirts. But these grisly stories, and our insatiable thirst for them, have been monetized for hundreds of years. Long before the self-styled Zodiac Killer mailed his letters to California newspapers, threatening killing sprees and bombings if his messages were not printed, there was an English prison chaplain named Henry Goodcole who bolstered his modest salary by selling stories about death and sin.

Persons: “ There’s, John Wayne Gacy, “, Ted Bundy’s, Long, sprees, Henry Goodcole, Goodcole Organizations: Volkswagen Locations: “, California, Newgate

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