Global Pulse

分类： society

  • Yunnan’s Baishuitai terraces gleam under clear spring skies

    Yunnan’s Baishuitai terraces gleam under clear spring skies

    The breathtaking Baishuitai limestone terraces in Shangri-La, Yunnan province, have emerged as a spectacular natural wonder during the early spring season. Under crystal-clear skies, this geological marvel has been showcasing its extraordinary beauty, captivating visitors and photographers alike with its otherworldly appearance.

    As China’s largest calcareous terrace formation, Baishuitai presents an awe-inspiring visual spectacle when illuminated by sunlight. The magnificent white mineral deposits create intricate patterns resembling meticulously carved jade platforms, while the flowing water channels exhibit a mesmerizing sapphire-blue coloration. This stunning natural canvas forms a perfect harmony with the surrounding distant mountains, azure skies, and drifting white clouds, creating a picture-perfect landscape that seems almost surreal.

    The terraces, formed over thousands of years through the deposition of calcium carbonate from mineral-rich spring water, represent one of Yunnan’s most remarkable natural attractions. The continuous flow of water maintains the terraces’ brilliant white appearance while simultaneously sculpting new formations through natural sedimentation processes. This dynamic geological activity ensures that the landscape remains ever-changing yet perpetually magnificent.

    Local tourism authorities note that the spring season provides optimal viewing conditions, with clear weather patterns enhancing the visual impact of the white terraces against the vibrant blue waters. The site continues to attract geological enthusiasts, nature photographers, and tourists seeking to witness one of China’s most extraordinary natural phenomena in its full springtime splendor.

  • Canadian PM expresses shock over deadly school shooting in British Columbia

    Canadian PM expresses shock over deadly school shooting in British Columbia

    Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has expressed profound shock and extended federal support following a devastating mass shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in British Columbia that claimed ten lives, including the perpetrator. The tragedy unfolded on February 10, 2026, in the remote community of approximately 2,400 residents located 660 kilometers northeast of Vancouver.

    According to police reports, authorities responded to emergency calls at approximately 1:20 PM local time to discover six victims deceased on school grounds. Another individual succumbed to injuries during transport to medical facilities, while two additional fatalities were located at a nearby residence connected to the incident. The shooter was confirmed deceased from self-inflicted injuries within the school premises.

    The human toll includes two individuals evacuated with life-threatening injuries via airlift and twenty-five others undergoing medical evaluation at local facilities. Approximately 100 students and staff members were successfully evacuated during the crisis response, though officials have not disclosed the age distribution among casualties, citing privacy considerations.

    Prime Minister Carney has personally contacted British Columbia Premier David Eby and mobilized Minister of Public Safety Gary Anandasangaree to coordinate federal support efforts. In an official statement, Carney emphasized national unity during crisis, affirming that “our ability to come together in crisis is the best of our country” and pledging full governmental support for affected communities.

    This incident represents Canada’s second-deadliest school shooting in history, surpassed only by the 1989 École Polytechnique massacre in Montreal that claimed fourteen lives. The rarity of such events in Canada is attributed to the nation’s stringent firearm regulations.

    Law enforcement officials acknowledge the ongoing investigation faces significant challenges, with a police spokesperson noting the difficulty in determining motivations while emphasizing the priority of establishing factual chronology. The Prime Minister’s Office has concurrently announced the postponement of Carney’s scheduled defense announcement in Halifax and his diplomatic attendance at the Munich Security Conference.

  • Jingdezhen holds Spring Festival celebration spotlighting opera and folk traditions

    Jingdezhen holds Spring Festival celebration spotlighting opera and folk traditions

    The historic ceramic capital of Jingdezhen in Jiangxi province transformed into a cultural epicenter during Monday’s Spring Festival celebrations, with Leping—a county-level city renowned for its operatic heritage—taking center stage. The event formed part of China’s 2026 “Our Festivals · Spring Festival” national program, demonstrating Jiangxi’s commitment to cultural preservation and community enrichment.

    Daytime activities immersed visitors in authentic rural traditions through organized visits to historic villages and community centers. In Datiancun village, birthplace of Ganju Opera pioneer Shi Linghe, attendees experienced vibrant opera performances, traditional calligraphy sessions featuring Spring Festival couplets, and live demonstrations of heritage food preparation techniques.

    The celebration served dual purposes: honoring Jiangxi’s distinctive cultural legacy while injecting contemporary vitality into traditional Spring Festival observances. Through carefully curated activities blending performance, craftsmanship, and community engagement, the event highlighted how regional traditions contribute to national cultural identity while fostering social cohesion and civil society development.

    This flagship celebration represents China’s broader initiative to preserve intangible cultural heritage at grassroots levels while adapting traditional customs for modern audiences. The integration of operatic arts with folk customs created a multidimensional cultural experience that resonated with both local participants and national cultural observers.

  • Swiss bar owners face questions from victims’ lawyers over fire disaster

    Swiss bar owners face questions from victims’ lawyers over fire disaster

    The proprietors of a Swiss alpine bar where a catastrophic fire claimed 41 lives faced intense scrutiny during court hearings this week, as victims’ families demanded accountability for one of Switzerland’s deadliest peacetime disasters. Jacques Moretti, owner of Le Constellation bar in the luxury ski resort of Crans-Montana, was questioned by legal representatives of victims’ families Wednesday in Sion, while his wife Jessica is scheduled to undergo similar questioning Thursday. The couple arrived at the courthouse silently, accompanied by legal counsel, for what their lawyer Yaël Hayat characterized as “moments of truth” in the investigation. Both Morettis remain under formal criminal investigation for involuntary manslaughter, bodily harm, and arson through negligence, though neither is currently detained. Preliminary findings indicate the January 1st tragedy began when sparkling candles in champagne bottles ignited acoustic foam panels on the ceiling—a known fire hazard that employees had previously attempted to secure using snooker cues weeks before the incident. Further investigations revealed the establishment hadn’t undergone proper fire safety inspections since 2019, with local authorities admitting they hadn’t closed any venues for fire code violations until after this catastrophe. The disaster was exacerbated by a locked service door that trapped patrons inside as flames rapidly spread through the packed New Year’s celebration. Most victims were teenagers, with ages ranging from 14 to 39, and an 18-year-old succumbed to his injuries a month later, bringing the final death toll to 41 with 115 injured. Outside the courtroom, grieving mother Laetitia Brodard-Sitre, whose 16-year-old son Arthur perished in the fire, told Swiss television: “What’s important is that the whole truth comes out. There must be no more lies. I want everyone to take responsibility.” The proceedings continue as Switzerland reevaluates its fire safety enforcement practices in entertainment venues.

  • International students celebrate Little New Year immersed in Beijing culture

    International students celebrate Little New Year immersed in Beijing culture

    Beijing hosted an immersive cultural celebration on Tuesday as international students gathered to experience traditional Chinese Spring Festival customs during the Little New Year festivities. The event, organized at the Beijing People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, provided young scholars from across the globe with hands-on exposure to China’s rich cultural heritage and the historical significance of the Beijing Central Axis.

    The gathering, themed “Splendid Beijing Central Axis, Joyful Chinese New Year — 2026 Spring Festival Gala for Foreign Students in Beijing,” featured various traditional activities including calligraphy sessions where participants practiced writing fu characters and Spring Festival couplets. These cultural elements represent fundamental aspects of Chinese New Year traditions, symbolizing good fortune and prosperity for the coming year.

    The timing coincided with Xiaonian, known as the Little New Year, which traditionally marks the commencement of Spring Festival celebrations in Chinese culture. This preliminary festival serves as an important prelude to the main Lunar New Year events, typically involving house cleaning, sacrificial ceremonies, and special culinary preparations.

    The event not only offered cultural immersion but also facilitated cross-cultural exchange, allowing international students to gain deeper understanding of China’s historical legacy while building connections with local communities. Such initiatives reflect Beijing’s ongoing efforts to promote cultural diplomacy and international understanding through educational and cultural exchange programs.

    Participants expressed appreciation for the opportunity to engage directly with Chinese traditions that many had previously only encountered through academic study or media representations. The hands-on nature of the activities provided unique insights into the cultural significance behind Spring Festival customs that have been maintained for centuries.

  • What are Canada’s gun ownership laws?

    What are Canada’s gun ownership laws?

    A devastating mass shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in British Columbia has claimed nine lives and left 25 injured, prompting renewed national scrutiny of Canada’s firearm regulations. The remote community, situated approximately 415 miles north of Vancouver, became the latest scene of gun violence in a country where such incidents remain relatively rare compared to the United States.

    Canadian firearm ownership operates under federal jurisdiction with significantly stricter protocols than most U.S. states. The Firearms Act mandates that all guns be stored locked and unloaded, while prospective buyers must undergo comprehensive background checks and obtain licenses. Government statistics from 2021 indicate approximately 2.2 million licensed firearm owners (7.7% of adults) possess an estimated 10 million firearms nationwide.

    Despite Canada’s robust gun control framework, British Columbia reportedly maintains the highest handgun ownership rates in the country. A national freeze on handgun sales and transfers has been in effect since 2022, following previous tragic incidents.

    This tragedy echoes several other mass shootings that have occurred over the past decade. In 2020, Canada witnessed its deadliest shooting event when a gunman disguised as a police officer killed 22 people in Nova Scotia over two days, leading to a ban on most military-grade assault-style weapons. Other significant incidents include the 2017 Quebec City mosque attack that killed worshippers, the 2016 La Loche school shooting that claimed four lives, and the 2014 Edmonton shooting that left eight dead, including two children.

    The deadliest school shooting in Canadian history remains the 1989 École Polytechnique massacre in Montreal, where fourteen women were killed in an anti-feminist attack.

    While Canada’s firearm homicide percentage remains significantly lower than that of the United States, it exceeds rates observed in England, Wales, and Australia, ensuring that gun control will remain a contentious issue in Canadian public policy discussions.

  • Suspect in Nancy Guthrie abduction detained in Arizona, 9 days after she went missing

    Suspect in Nancy Guthrie abduction detained in Arizona, 9 days after she went missing

    A significant development has emerged in the high-profile disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of NBC ‘Today’ show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie. Law enforcement authorities have confirmed the detention of a suspect in Arizona following a traffic stop south of Tucson on Tuesday, exactly nine days after the elderly woman was reported missing.

    The apparent breakthrough occurred hours after the FBI and Pima County Sheriff’s Department released compelling visual evidence showing an armed individual in a ski mask tampering with the door camera at Guthrie’s residence. The timestamped footage, captured by a Google Nest camera in the early hours of February 1, depicts a gloved figure carrying a backpack and what appears to be a holstered firearm approaching the home.

    According to Sheriff Chris Nanos, the home’s surveillance system was disabled during the presumed abduction timeframe. Approximately thirty minutes later, Guthrie’s pacemaker disconnected from her phone, suggesting she was forcibly removed from the property. DNA analysis subsequently confirmed blood traces found on the front porch belonged to the missing octogenarian.

    The investigation had previously stalled, with authorities acknowledging no identified suspects or persons of interest as recently as Monday. The case gained national attention following the emergence of at least two purported ransom notes delivered to media outlets, though no proof of life has been verified since Guthrie’s disappearance.

    Family members have described Nancy Guthrie as having limited mobility, frail health, and requiring daily medication for survival. Her children, including Savannah Guthrie, have made multiple public appeals through social media, pleading for their mother’s safe return and offering to pay ransom. The White House has also acknowledged the case, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirming that President Trump had reviewed the newly released evidence.

  • Gunman apprehended in southern Thailand after holding students and teachers hostage in school

    Gunman apprehended in southern Thailand after holding students and teachers hostage in school

    A tense hostage situation unfolded Wednesday afternoon at Patongprathankiriwat School in Thailand’s Songkhla province, where an armed assailant took students and teachers captive before being apprehended by authorities after a two-hour standoff.

    According to the provincial Public Relations Department, the incident occurred during the late afternoon dismissal period when the visibly agitated gunman entered the school premises. Multiple gunshots were reported by witnesses shortly after his arrival, creating panic among students and staff.

    The police’s Central Investigation Bureau confirmed that at least one student sustained injuries during the altercation, though the exact number of casualties remains unverified as Thai media reports of multiple injuries await official confirmation. Law enforcement officials successfully brought the situation under control within approximately two hours, with the suspect taken into custody without further violence.

    This event marks another concerning episode in Thailand’s ongoing challenges with firearm-related violence. The Southeast Asian nation maintains one of the region’s highest rates of gun ownership, with research from Small Arms Survey and GunPolicy.org indicating approximately 10.3 legally registered firearms per 100 citizens—a figure that rises to 15.1 when including illicit weapons. This stands in stark contrast to neighboring Malaysia’s rate of less than one gun per 100 people.

    The incident recalls previous tragic events that have shaken the nation, including the October 2022 massacre in Uthai Sawan where a former police sergeant killed 36 people, predominantly young children, at a daycare facility. That tragedy, along with the February 2020 shooting rampage in Nakhon Ratchasima that left 29 dead, sparked national conversations about gun control reform that have yet to yield substantial legislative changes.

    Authorities continue investigating the motive behind Wednesday’s school attack while reinforcing security measures at educational institutions throughout the province.

  • 10 dead in mass shooting in Canada, 25 injured

    10 dead in mass shooting in Canada, 25 injured

    A tranquil community in northeastern British Columbia was shattered by a devastating mass shooting on Tuesday, resulting in ten fatalities—including the suspected perpetrator—and leaving more than 25 individuals wounded. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) confirmed the tragic incident occurred in Tumbler Ridge, a small town of approximately 2,400 residents situated near the Alberta border.

    According to official RCMP statements, law enforcement responded to an active shooter situation at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, where six victims were discovered deceased. Two additional fatalities were located at a residence connected to the incident, while another individual succumbed to injuries while being transported to medical facilities. Among the injured, two victims sustained life-threatening wounds.

    Police indicated the suspected shooter was found deceased at the scene with what appeared to be self-inflicted injuries. Notably, official alerts described the potential perpetrator as a brown-haired female wearing a dress, marking a rare instance of female involvement in such mass casualty events.

    The Peace River South School District implemented immediate lockdown protocols at both the secondary school and Tumbler Ridge Elementary School as the situation unfolded. Larry Neufeld, local legislative representative, confirmed that extensive emergency resources including RCMP reinforcements and ambulance services had been deployed to the remote community.

    The secondary school, which serves 175 students in grades 7 through 12 according to provincial records, became the epicenter of one of Canada’s deadliest school shootings in recent history. The incident has sent shockwaves through the nation, which typically experiences far fewer mass shooting events compared to its southern neighbor.

  • Lantern festival lights up Datong

    Lantern festival lights up Datong

    The historic city of Datong in Shanxi province transformed into a radiant spectacle on February 10, 2026, as the annual Ancient Capital Lantern Festival commenced its dazzling display. This year’s celebration, strategically timed to welcome the upcoming Year of the Horse, marked the latest iteration of an event that has become synonymous with winter tourism in the region.

    The festival’s centerpiece features an extraordinary illumination of Datong’s 7.2-kilometer ancient city walls, which serve as a majestic backdrop for 46 meticulously crafted lantern displays and long-scroll-style installations. These artistic creations transform the historical architecture into a vibrant canvas of light and color, creating a breathtaking fusion of traditional craftsmanship and contemporary design.

    Since its inaugural edition in 2013, the Datong Ancient Capital Lantern Festival has evolved from a local celebration into a significant cultural phenomenon that attracts visitors nationwide. The event has demonstrated remarkable growth in both scale and sophistication, establishing itself as a cornerstone of Datong’s winter tourism strategy. The festival not only preserves traditional Chinese lantern artistry but also revitalizes it through innovative designs and technologies.

    The economic impact of the festival continues to bolster Datong’s off-season tourism, providing substantial benefits to local businesses and hospitality services. Cultural experts note that such events play a crucial role in preserving intangible cultural heritage while simultaneously driving regional economic development through cultural tourism.