Lunar New Year festivals and prayers are marking the start of the Year of the Snake around Asia and farther afield.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said that escalating tensions between the two countries could lead to catastrophic global consequences.

WASHINGTON — With less than 24 hours before United States President Donald Trump's deadline to impose sweeping tariffs on the three biggest US trading partners -- Canada, Mexico and China -- the global economy is bracing for impact.

Lunar New Year, or Tết Nguyên Đán (Tết), is Vietnam's most important celebration - a time to honour ancestors, cherish family, and welcome new beginnings.This year, it lasts from 28 to 31 January.

From incense offerings and vibrant lion dances in Beijing to prayer rituals at temples in Bangkok and Taipei, hundreds of millions of people across Asia celebrated the Lunar New Year, ushering in the Year of the Snake.

Beijing: From incense offerings and vibrant lion dances in Beijing to prayer rituals at temples in Bangkok and Taipei, hundreds of millions of

From prayer rituals at temples in Taipei and Bangkok to incense offerings and vibrant lion dances in Beijing, hundreds of millions of people across Asia yesterday celebrated the Lunar New Year, ushering in the Year of the Snake.

Eight consecutive public holidays give Chinese residents an opportunity to share meals, attend traditional performances and set off firecrackers.

As a harbinger of US foreign policy directions, President Trump's sudden suspension of US$45 million (4.9 billion baht) for Myanmar's scholarship programme -- a tiny fraction of its overall foreign aid -- signals that Myanmar's resistance coalition against the junta called the State Administration Council can no longer rely on Washington's crucial assistance.

Taipei, hundreds of millions of people across Asia celebrated the Lunar New Year on Wednesday, ushering in the Year of the Snake.

The map below shows the location of Bangkok and Beijing. The blue line represents the straight line joining these two place. The distance shown is the straight line or the air travel distance between Beijing and Bangkok. Load Map What is the travel ...