Global Pulse

分类： society

  • Pet owners hit with steep bills after EU passport rule change

    Pet owners hit with steep bills after EU passport rule change

    A sweeping update to cross-border pet travel regulations has thrown British pet owners into chaos, with hundreds facing unexpected steep fees, cancelled pre-planned holidays and widespread confusion just days after the new rules took effect this Wednesday.

    Previously, UK residents could use the long-standing EU pet passport scheme, a one-time vet-issued document that remained valid for an animal’s entire life. The passport included all required records such as microchip details, up-to-date rabies vaccinations, owner contact information and issuing vet data, allowing for seamless repeated travel across EU borders. Under the revised regulations, however, this system is no longer available for Great Britain-based residents — even holders of EU passports who split their time between the UK and the EU no longer qualify. All pre-existing EU pet passports issued to GB residents are now invalid.

    Instead, pet owners must now apply for a brand new Animal Health Certificate (AHC) for every single cross-border trip, creating recurring costs and logistical hurdles that many say are unmanageable. Multiple pet owners shared their frustration with the BBC, noting that poor advance communication about the rule change left many caught off guard, with pre-booked, non-refundable trips now forced to be scrapped.

    Sixty-three-year-old Jane Keles, who owns a mobile home in Picardy, northern France with her husband, was scheduled to travel next week with her two dachshunds, Otto and Lola. She only learned of the rule change this Monday, just days before her departure, and discovered her existing EU pet passports were no longer accepted. After already arranging time off work and booking a cat sitter for the trip, Keles was forced to cancel. Rescheduling for June will cost an extra £500 in rebooking fees alone, she says, and the recurring cost of AHCs for her two dogs is pushing the couple to consider selling their French mobile home entirely, as they make regular cross-border trips. For each trip, Keles estimates the new documentation will cost £80 per dog for required rabies boosters plus a £155 fee for the certificates themselves, creating a significant new financial burden.

    Seventy-seven-year-old Mike Walton, a UK resident near Manchester who holds an Irish passport and splits his year between the UK and Portugal, is facing a similar dilemma. His two Bichon Frisés already hold EU pet passports that contain all the same health and identification information required for an AHC, but the documents are no longer accepted. When he reached out to his long-time vet of 10 years — who knows his dogs well — he was told the clinic does not issue AHCs. Other local clinics only offer the service to their own registered clients, forcing Walton to either switch vets against his wishes or abandon his travel plans. He has been quoted roughly £300 in total fees and rabies booster costs for his two dogs for a single trip.

    The new rules have also had a severe impact on assistance dog owners. Guide Dogs for the Blind, a leading charity supporting visually impaired people, issued a statement saying the new regulations underscore the critical need for the UK to rejoin the EU pet passport scheme. The organization noted that the repeated cost and administrative complexity of obtaining an AHC for every journey has already stopped many guide dog owners from working, attending critical professional and personal events, and travelling independently.

    Many pet owners say they received no advance notice of the rule change, only learning of the update within days of it taking effect. The lack of clear communication has left even seasoned cross-border travellers confused, with some owners even questioning whether the rules will be strictly enforced at border crossings.

    In response to the growing outcry, the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has confirmed the new rules are in effect as of April 22, and advised all GB residents travelling to the EU with pets to obtain an AHC before departure to avoid delays or being denied entry. The UK’s Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has updated its official guidance to note that EU pet passports are now only issued to and valid for individuals whose primary residence is within the EU, excluding even those who own holiday property or visit the EU seasonally. APHA urged all pet owners to check the latest official guidance on the GOV.UK website as well as entry requirements for their specific EU destination before making any travel plans, and noted that pet travel to the EU remains possible with the correct new documentation.

  • Officials release cause of death for teen found dead in singer D4vd’s trunk

    Officials release cause of death for teen found dead in singer D4vd’s trunk

    After months of sealed investigative findings and public speculation, Los Angeles county medical officials have publicly confirmed that 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose body was discovered in the trunk of a Tesla registered to viral singer D4vd, died as a result of multiple penetrating injuries. Officials officially classified the teen’s death as a homicide Wednesday, though the specific objects that caused the fatal wounds have not been disclosed to the public at this stage of the legal process.

    The grim discovery dates back to September 2025, when Hernandez’s body was found in the front boot of the vehicle registered to 21-year-old David Anthony Burke, the TikTok and streaming music artist professionally known as D4vd, best known for his hit tracks *Romantic Homicide* and *Here With Me*. Last week, more than seven months after the body was found, Los Angeles law enforcement took Burke into custody on multiple charges connected to Hernandez’s death, including one count of murder. During his first court arraignment on April 20, 2026, Burke entered a formal plea of not guilty, and his legal team has repeatedly stated they will aggressively defend his innocence.

    “The actual evidence will show that David did not kill Celeste and he was not the cause of her death,” Burke’s defense attorneys Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski and Regina Peter said in an official statement shared with the BBC. “We will vigorously defend David’s innocence.”

    While the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office completed its determination of cause and manner of death back on December 9, 2025, the findings were barred from public release to protect the active ongoing criminal investigation. Dr. Odey Ukpo, Chief Medical Examiner, publicly noted Wednesday that he has long criticized the decision to withhold the results, saying the extended wait has been an unnecessary burden on Hernandez’s grieving family.

    “After several months, I am grateful this information can now be released, not only to the public, but also to the grieving family enduring loss,” Ukpo said in his statement. “It is unfathomable they have had to wait this long to learn what happened to their daughter.”

    This week, following Burke’s arraignment, Hernandez’s family broke their silence to share their first public statement about the case. The teen, a resident of Lake Elsinore, was described as a vibrant, loving young person who enjoyed singing and dancing, and cherished weekly family movie nights.

    “Celeste was a beautiful, strong girl who loved to sing and dance. Every Friday night was movie night and we spent wonderful times together,” her parents Jesus Rivas and Mercedes Martinez said. “We love her very much and she always told us that she loved us. We miss her deeply. All we want is Justice for Celeste.”

    Family attorney Patrick Steinfeld told the BBC the family remains “devastated after hearing the gruesome details that came out in David Burke’s arraignment.” The family also expressed gratitude to law enforcement, prosecutors, and their local community for the ongoing support they have received in the months since Hernandez was reported missing.

    Per case details laid out by Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman, Hernandez traveled to Burke’s Hollywood Hills home on April 23, 2025, and was never heard from again after that visit. Her parents filed a missing person report with authorities the same month, but her remains were not located until five months later, when they were found in the singer’s vehicle.

    Since Burke’s arrest, he has been held in custody without possibility of bail. In the months between the discovery of Hernandez’s body and his arrest, Burke stepped back from all public activity: his scheduled world tour was canceled, and multiple brand partnership deals were reportedly terminated by partners.

    Law enforcement officials have publicly defended the extended timeline of the investigation, pushing back against criticism over the months-long gap between the discovery of the body and criminal charges. Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell explained Monday that decomposition of evidence, caused by the substantial period of time between Hernandez’s death and the discovery of her body, significantly delayed the determination of cause of death. Additional delays came from the need to interview dozens of witnesses, some of whom were uncooperative with investigators, and thoroughly process all evidence before filing charges to avoid jeopardizing the case.

    “My duty is not to fuel speculation. It’s to deliver justice, and that requires patience and discipline on everybody’s part,” McDonnell said. “This investigation was driven by a single purpose to secure justice for Celeste Rivas and for those who loved her. We had to be certain that nothing we did or said would ever jeopardise this case.”

    Hochman echoed that sentiment, noting that complex cases require thorough work to gather all available information before moving forward with charges. He has issued a public call for any member of the public with additional information connected to Hernandez’s disappearance or death to contact investigators immediately.

  • Warm-up to sweep China after cold spell, temperatures to jump

    Warm-up to sweep China after cold spell, temperatures to jump

    After weeks of unseasonably damp, chilly conditions that have kept much of the country well below average spring temperatures, a sweeping temperature surge is set to cover most regions of China this weekend, with thermometers in some urban centers predicted to jump as much as 17 degrees Celsius, national meteorological authorities have announced. Forecasters have also issued a public warning about extreme gaps between daytime and nighttime temperatures that could leave many residents unprepared for sudden weather shifts.

    In the first half of this week, lingering cold air and widespread rainfall will keep temperatures suppressed in two major regions: the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River basin, and China’s northeast. According to Weather China, the official public weather portal operated by the China Meteorological Administration, high temperatures in most of these areas will remain below 20°C through Thursday, with some locations only climbing to around 10°C. For context, Hefei, the capital of east China’s Anhui province, is forecast to top out at just 11°C on Wednesday – more than 12°C lower than the long-term average temperature for this time of year.

    The weather shift will begin as early as Friday, when rainfall tapers off across most of the country. A combination of increasing solar radiation and warm air advection will drive a rapid, sustained temperature rise that will push readings above the seasonal average across most regions. Harbin, the capital of northern Heilongjiang province, is expected to hit a high of 21°C on Friday, marking the first time the city has recorded a high temperature above 20°C in 2026.

    Through the weekend extending into Monday, a majority of Chinese cities will see daytime highs rebound to 25°C or higher, with multiple locations in central and southern China reaching the 30°C threshold. The most dramatic swing will be seen in Hefei, which is forecast to hit 28°C on Sunday – a stunning 17°C increase from its midweek high. On the same day, Changsha, the capital of southern Hunan province, is predicted to reach 30°C.

    Northern China will see a different pattern, with frequent weak cold fronts creating alternating temperature fluctuations, most noticeably in the northeast. Most of northern China will start its warming trend on Thursday: parts of Heilongjiang will reach 20°C by Friday, while some areas of Liaoning province will see highs climb above 25°C.

    Across northwestern, northern and northeastern parts of the country, the difference between daytime highs and nighttime lows could reach 15°C, and in some locations even exceed 20°C. Following this widespread warm-up period, weak cold air masses will remain the norm across China, but their impact will be limited. The size of daily temperature swings will shrink gradually in most regions, while the summer heat zone in southern China will expand slowly, bringing the country closer to the official start of summer.

  • China reports significant drop in workplace accidents, deaths in Q1

    China reports significant drop in workplace accidents, deaths in Q1

    China has recorded a substantial improvement in national workplace safety conditions during the first quarter of 2026, with year-on-year declines of more than 20% recorded for both total workplace accidents and associated fatalities, according to official data released Wednesday by the country’s Ministry of Emergency Management. Ministry spokeswoman Shen Zhanli announced the new figures during a press briefing held in Beijing, outlining the detailed progress of national workplace safety oversight efforts for the first three months of the year.

    Between January and March, 3,258 work-related safety accidents were documented across the country, marking a 27% decrease compared to the same period in 2025. Critically, no extraordinarily serious workplace accidents — the highest severity classification for industrial incidents in China — were recorded in the quarter. The total number of people killed or missing due to workplace incidents reached 3,122, representing a 23% year-on-year reduction, Shen confirmed.

    Despite these encouraging gains, the spokeswoman struck a cautious note, warning that high-severity major accidents continue to occur at unacceptably frequent rates in a number of specific regions and industry sectors. She also highlighted a recent rebound in unlicensed, illegal production operations across high-risk sectors including mining, chemical manufacturing, fire safety-sensitive industries, and fireworks production.

    Shen emphasized that the overall pressure to prevent and control major and extraordinarily serious workplace accidents has continued to grow, and that the national workplace safety landscape still faces significant ongoing challenges that require targeted, sustained intervention.

    In addition to updating the public on workplace safety trends, the spokeswoman also shared preliminary statistics on natural disaster impacts across China during the first quarter. The primary natural disasters affecting the country in the first three months of 2026 included low-temperature rain, snow and freezing events, snowstorms, wind and hailstorms, and seismic activity. Droughts, flooding, forest fires, and geological disasters were also recorded, with each causing impacts of varying degrees across different regions.

    Preliminary government data shows that approximately 750,800 people across the country were affected by these natural disasters to varying extents. The events resulted in six people being killed or declared missing, and caused more than 1 billion yuan ($146 million) in direct economic losses, Shen added.

  • Expats spellbound by Huangshan’s cultural heritage

    Expats spellbound by Huangshan’s cultural heritage

    On April 20, a diverse delegation of international social media influencers hailing from nations across North America, Europe, Latin America, and Africa – including the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, Mexico, and Nigeria – kicked off a curated cultural tour of East China’s Anhui Province, centering their exploration on the culturally rich city of Huangshan.

    The group launched their journey at Tunxi Old Street, a centuries-old pedestrian thoroughfare that stands as one of the most well-preserved hubs of traditional Huizhou culture, the historic regional civilization that gives Huangshan its deep cultural roots. Walking past wooden storefronts that have stood for hundreds of years, the influencers wove through bustling lanes to unpack the layered, vibrant cultural tapestry that has defined the region for millennia.

    Two participants, UK-based creator Joe Burns and Nigerian influencer Oluwabunmi Jimoh, dove deeper into hands-on cultural experiences during the tour. The pair first sampled a full spread of authentic Huizhou cuisine, sampling iconic local dishes that reflect the region’s emphasis on fresh, seasonal ingredients and meticulous cooking techniques passed down through generations. They also gained exclusive, first-hand insight into the ancient craftsmanship behind Huangshan’s most famous cultural treasures, from intricately carved hand-made lacquerware to the sought-after traditional Huizhou writing brushes and highly prized She inkstones – core tools of Chinese calligraphy with centuries of history rooted in this region.

    Beyond handicrafts and cuisine, the two influencers also explored the distinct practices of Xin’an medicine, a specialized branch of traditional Chinese medicine that developed indigenously in the region, shaped by Huangshan’s unique geography and centuries of local medical knowledge. This on-the-ground visit gave the international creators an opportunity to connect with living cultural traditions that remain vibrant in Huangshan today, far beyond the better-known fame of the region’s iconic mountain scenery.

    As the delegation continues their tour, their firsthand experiences and social media content are set to share the lesser-known cultural depth of Huangshan and Huizhou with global audiences, building new people-to-people connections between China and communities around the world.

  • Chinese PLA Navy opens barracks to public to mark 77th anniversary

    Chinese PLA Navy opens barracks to public to mark 77th anniversary

    To mark the 77th founding anniversary of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, the service opened its military barracks and active-duty naval vessels to members of the general public in Shanghai on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. The public open day event, reported by China’s official news agency Xinhua in an update published April 22, offered ordinary citizens a rare, up-close opportunity to tour operating naval platforms, including the PLA Navy frigate Fuyang. Photographs from the event captured members of the public exploring the vessel, as the Navy sought to bridge the gap between military personnel and civilian communities and build public understanding of its mission. This anniversary event forms part of a broader regular initiative by the PLA to increase transparency around its work and foster national pride among the Chinese public by opening military facilities to civilian visitors. The 77th anniversary commemoration comes as the PLA Navy continues to evolve as a modern, blue-water naval force, and the open house event creates an accessible space for citizens to connect with the service’s 77-year history and contemporary operations.

  • Watch: Black bear caught in net after falling from tree

    Watch: Black bear caught in net after falling from tree

    A unexpected urban wildlife encounter unfolded this week in a quiet residential neighborhood of Albany, New York, when a wild black bear wandered into the populated area and climbed a tall tree in the community. The sighting of the large wild animal in a populated neighborhood quickly prompted local residents to alert authorities, who assembled a joint response team made up of state wildlife officials and local law enforcement officers to manage the situation.

    To ensure the safety of both nearby residents and the animal itself, the response team made the decision to use a tranquillizer dart to sedate the black bear. Crews stretched a large safety net beneath the tree to catch the bear once it became unconscious, avoiding a dangerous fall that could have seriously injured the animal or damaged surrounding property. After the sedative took effect, the bear lost its grip and dropped safely into the waiting net, with no injuries reported to either the bear or any members of the public or response team.

    Wildlife officials noted that encounters like this have become more common in recent years as black bear habitats overlap increasingly with expanding residential development. They reminded local residents to secure food sources such as garbage cans and bird feeders that can attract wild bears into urban and suburban areas, and to contact authorities immediately rather than approach the animal if a bear is spotted nearby.

  • Los Angeles becomes first major US school district to limit classroom screen time

    Los Angeles becomes first major US school district to limit classroom screen time

    In a landmark move that sets a new precedent for K-12 education across the United States, the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education has voted to enact sweeping limits on student screen time in classrooms, making it the first large-scale U.S. school system to adopt such comprehensive, developmentally aligned restrictions.

    The newly approved resolution mandates that district educators draft grade-specific screen time policies, with an absolute ban on personal and classroom device use for all first-grade students and younger children. District leaders framed the policy as a long-overdue correction to the rapid, pandemic-driven expansion of digital learning tools that became ubiquitous across campuses after 2020. Serving roughly 500,000 students across the nation’s second-largest school district, the system began re-evaluating its heavy reliance on tablets and laptops in recent years, as growing research raised red flags about excessive digital exposure for young learners.

    Nick Melvoin, the board member who sponsored the resolution, noted that student devices functioned as a critical lifeline for disconnected learners when Covid-19 forced campuses to close in 2020. But years into the return to in-person learning, Melvoin argued that a systemic reset is long overdue. “We have the opportunity to lead the nation, to establish comprehensive, developmentally grounded screen-time limits that puts students before screens,” Melvoin told attendees at Tuesday’s board meeting. “This is not about going backwards. This is about rethinking screen time in schools to make sure we are doing what actually helps students learn best.”

    Slated to take effect at the start of the next academic year, the new restrictions include a ban on YouTube and other video-streaming services on all district-issued student devices. The policy also grants parents the right to opt their children out of using specific digital learning tools for classroom instruction, giving families greater autonomy over their children’s digital exposure.

    The resolution draws on a growing body of public health research linking excessive screen time to negative developmental and health outcomes for children. The policy cites peer-reviewed data showing that children aged 8 to 11 who exceed national screen time guidelines face higher rates of obesity, increased risk of depressive symptoms, and lower performance on cognitive skills assessments than peers with limited screen exposure. The vote builds on a 2024 district measure that banned personal cell phone use and social media access during instructional hours, part of a broader district push to reduce unnecessary digital distraction in classrooms.

    Board member Kelly Gonez emphasized that the new limits are not a rejection of educational technology, but a targeted effort to center student well-being alongside digital innovation. “Technology can be a powerful tool, but too much screen time has real harmful effects on our students,” Gonez said. “This resolution will ensure we are prioritising important skills and learning experiences for students, while protecting their childhoods and well-being by setting research-based screen time limits.”

    Advocacy groups that have pushed for campus screen time reform hailed the vote as a turning point for educational culture across the country. Anya Meksin, deputy director of parent advocacy organization Schools Beyond Screens, called the board’s decision a historic shift in how U.S. schools approach educational technology. “This move marks a big cultural shift into how schools approach technology,” Meksin told NBC News. “This is an historic reform that we hope will trickle down to the rest of the country very, very quickly.”

  • Hobart City Council pulls e-scooters from the street, cites ‘safety, behavioural concerns’ in transition to e-bikes

    Hobart City Council pulls e-scooters from the street, cites ‘safety, behavioural concerns’ in transition to e-bikes

    Hobart, the capital city of Australia’s Tasmania state, is making a major shift to its shared urban mobility network, removing all shared e-scooters from city streets in response to growing public and regulatory concerns over rider safety and irresponsible usage. The Hobart City Council formally announced the policy change on Tuesday, confirming that it will transition its existing shared micromobility program to an e-bike-only model, with plans to open a new tender for smaller, more compact e-bikes designed to fit better within the city’s limited public spaces.

    Currently, Singapore-based mobility operator Beam Mobility holds the contract to run the city’s hire-and-ride shared scooter and e-bike services. Under existing Tasmanian regulations, e-scooter riders are permitted to operate on most footpaths, shared pedestrian-bike paths, dedicated cycling lanes, and public roads with speed limits below 50km/h. Rules also require riders to be at least 16 years old and wear a protective helmet at all times, but consistent noncompliance with these regulations has been a core issue for city officials.

    In an official public statement, the council outlined that persistent regulatory gaps, safety risks, and problematic user behaviour have justified the full removal of e-scooters from the shared program. Top complaints include haphazard and obstructive parking of e-scooters on crowded footpaths, which creates hazards for pedestrians, particularly elderly residents and people with disabilities.

    By contrast, council officials argue e-bikes are a far better fit for Hobart’s urban landscape. “E-bikes, by contrast, are generally used as a transport mode rather than a recreational device, resulting in more predictable and compliant behaviour,” the council’s statement explained. The decision also follows broader national and global mobility trends, where a growing number of cities are prioritizing e-bike-focused shared schemes over mixed e-scooter models, citing e-bikes’ greater versatility, stronger safety profile, and suitability for longer commuter trips.

    The policy change comes after two high-profile traffic incidents involving young micromobility riders in Tasmania in recent months. In December, a 14-year-old girl suffered life-threatening injuries when her e-scooter collided with a passenger car in Risdon Vale, an outer suburban area of Hobart. On New Year’s Eve, a 15-year-old boy from Devonport died after losing control of his e-bike and crashing into a utility pole in the state’s northwest.

    National data underscores the scope of the e-scooter safety crisis: A recent study from the University of Melbourne recorded 37 e-scooter-related deaths across Australia between 2020 and 2025, with one-third of those fatalities involving children under the legal riding age.

    Data from the council’s 15-month pilot program, which ran from December 2024 to February 2026, shows strong overall community demand for low-emission shared mobility options, with an average of 13,300 trips and 16,600 kilometers traveled per month across the network. “The shared micromobility program has demonstrated strong community interest in low emissions, convenient travel options. However, it has become clear that a mixed e-scooter and e-bike hire model is not the best fit for Hobart,” the statement added.

    Ryan Posselt, chair of the council’s transport committee, said the shift to an e-bike-only model is expected to deliver improved public safety outcomes and better integration with Hobart’s existing cycling infrastructure. “E-bikes also support active transport, delivering public health benefits alongside emissions reduction,” he noted. The council will now begin the tender process to select a new operator for the e-bike-only program, with rolling deployment expected to begin later this year.

  • China advances flood control, disaster relief efforts in key southern regions

    China advances flood control, disaster relief efforts in key southern regions

    BEIJING – As consecutive rounds of extreme rainfall continue to batter southern China, national emergency management authorities have formally deployed comprehensive flood prevention, emergency response, and disaster relief operations across high-risk key regions, the Ministry of Emergency Management announced Tuesday.

    Preliminary meteorological data shows recent downpours across parts of Hunan, Guizhou, and Jiangxi provinces have already shattered historical rainfall records for this time of year. Following the first widespread intense rainfall event that swept through the region starting April 20, a second wave of heavy precipitation is projected to hit southern China beginning April 26, according to the joint meeting co-hosted by the Ministry of Emergency Management and the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters.

    Meeting participants highlighted that prolonged continuous rainfall has left soil in multiple affected areas completely saturated, drastically increasing the likelihood of flash floods and catastrophic geological disasters including landslides and mudslides.

    To mitigate emerging risks, the joint meeting outlined a series of priority action items for local and regional authorities. First, officials are directed to strengthen real-time monitoring, meteorological forecasting, and early warning systems, leveraging multi-source data to boost the accuracy of short-term rainfall and hazard projections, expand the reach of early alert networks, and guarantee that warnings reach individual households, villages, and grassroots townships without delay.

    Second, the meeting stressed that special attention must be paid to flood safety at high-risk populated sites, ordering authorities to prioritize flood prevention and contingency planning at elderly care centers, active construction sites, and popular tourist attractions where large groups of people may gather.

    Finally, the meeting called for systematic full inspections of critical water infrastructure, including reservoirs, river dikes, and major hydropower and water conservancy projects, with targeted reinforcement measures to address existing structural vulnerabilities. It also ordered the pre-positioning of disaster relief supplies and emergency response equipment in high-risk zones to enable rapid deployment when disasters strike.