Pets can easily bond with humans, but when a wild octopus befriends a diver and becomes his life coach until its death, that true story scores an Oscar nomination for best documentary.

Human-octopus love story up for best documentary Oscar

One year on, as the corona pandemic continues to send ripples through German society, the lack of social contact and home office is taking a toll on people's mental health and well-being. And what better way to lift the blues than getting a furry companion to while away the days with.

Surge in demand for dogs in home office pushes illegal puppy trade

Danish and German officials said on Friday that they carried out a series of arrests in two nations that foiled a possible Islamist attack.&nbsp;

Components and chemicals required to make explosives and firearms were confiscated in raids, Danish intelligence agency PET's operations chief Flemming Dryer was quoted as saying by news agency AFP.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/germany-warns-neighbours-of-border-closures-on-virus-fears-362963">Germany warns neighbours of border closures on virus fears</a>

"We found the ingredients needed to make a bomb," he said.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;

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Dryer added, however, that these parts were not assembled, but hinted of an attack.&nbsp;

"We believe there was no immediate threat, nothing was assembled or mixed. But we're not naive, and we're not excluding anything," the PET official said.&nbsp;

A hunting rifle, an Islamic State flag, and ignition devices were among the items seized by the investigators.&nbsp;

The plot appeared to aim towards Denmark or Germany, officials briefing reporters at PET's headquarters near Copenhagen said.&nbsp;

Three Syrian brothers, two in Denmark and in one in Germany's Hesse were among those arrested, according to the German officials.&nbsp;

"Our security services once again prevented an Islamist terror attack," Germany's Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said.&nbsp;

He added that the three people arrested were "probably preparing an attack in Europe."

PET on Thursday said 13 people have been arrested at the weekend in a suburb outside Copenhagen, and one suspect was arrested in Germany. &nbsp;

Danish and German officials said on Friday that they carried out a series of arrests in two nations that foiled a possible Islamist attack. Components and chemicals required to make explosives and firearms were confiscated in raids, Danish intelligence agency PET's operations chief Flemming Dryer was quoted as saying by news agency AFP.

Danish and German officials said on Friday that they carried out a series of arrests in two nations that foiled a possible Islamist attack. Components and chemicals required to make explosives and firearms were confiscated in raids, Danish intelligence agency PET's operations chief Flemming Dryer was quoted as saying by news agency AFP. Also read | Germany warns neighbours of border closures on virus fears "We found the ingredients needed to make a bomb," he said. Watch | Dryer added, however, that these parts were not assembled, but hinted of an attack. "We believe there was no immediate threat, nothing was assembled or mixed. But we're not naive, and we're not excluding anything," the PET official said. A hunting rifle, an Islamic State flag, and ignition devices were among the items seized by the investigators. The plot appeared to aim towards Denmark or Germany, officials briefing reporters at PET's headquarters near Copenhagen said. Three Syrian brothers, two in Denmark and in one in Germany's Hesse were among those arrested, according to the German officials. "Our security services once again prevented an Islamist terror attack," Germany's Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said. He added that the three people arrested were "probably preparing an attack in Europe." PET on Thursday said 13 people have been arrested at the weekend in a suburb outside Copenhagen, and one suspect was arrested in Germany.

Germany, Danish authorities say possible Islamist attack thwarted after series of arrests

British pet owners will need a new document to enter the European Union with their animals after the Brexit transition period ends on 1 January next year, the government said on Wednesday. Owners will have to get an animal health certificate from a vet no earlier than 10 days before travel, the government said on its Brexit guidance page.

British pets required only a passport while their country was part of the EU. Only vets officially allowed to inspect animals for export can issue the certificates.&nbsp;

The same rule will apply for taking animals from England, Scotland and Wales to Northern Ireland. But the UK government said its approach to enforcing the rule in Northern Ireland would recognise "these changes will take time to adjust to", without specifying whether there would be a grace period.&nbsp;

Owners will still have to ensure pets are microchipped and have up-to-date rabies vaccinations, as currently. The health certificates will be valid for pets' onward travel for four months. There will be no new rules on pets travelling from the EU into Britain, which will continue to recognise EU pet passports.&nbsp;

The new rules are less complex than if the EU had classified Britain as an "unlisted" country -- the least favourable status. &nbsp;This would have involved animals getting a blood test to check for rabies at least three months ahead of travel.&nbsp;

Britain has instead been given the same status for pet travel as Australia, Russia and the United States. The UK government is pushing to get Part 1 listed status, which would allow pets to travel almost as they do now. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

British pet owners will need a new document to enter the European Union with their animals after the Brexit transition period ends on 1 January next year, the government said on Wednesday.

British pet owners will need a new document to enter the European Union with their animals after the Brexit transition period ends on 1 January next year, the government said on Wednesday. Owners will have to get an animal health certificate from a vet no earlier than 10 days before travel, the government said on its Brexit guidance page. British pets required only a passport while their country was part of the EU. Only vets officially allowed to inspect animals for export can issue the certificates. The same rule will apply for taking animals from England, Scotland and Wales to Northern Ireland. But the UK government said its approach to enforcing the rule in Northern Ireland would recognise "these changes will take time to adjust to", without specifying whether there would be a grace period. Owners will still have to ensure pets are microchipped and have up-to-date rabies vaccinations, as currently. The health certificates will be valid for pets' onward travel for four months. There will be no new rules on pets travelling from the EU into Britain, which will continue to recognise EU pet passports. The new rules are less complex than if the EU had classified Britain as an "unlisted" country -- the least favourable status. This would have involved animals getting a blood test to check for rabies at least three months ahead of travel. Britain has instead been given the same status for pet travel as Australia, Russia and the United States. The UK government is pushing to get Part 1 listed status, which would allow pets to travel almost as they do now.

British pet animals will need a certificate to enter European Union after Brexit

Cano is a three-year-old mongrel who hopped into Quispe's taxi seven-months-ago and has not looked back. Cano sticks by his owner unconditionally and accompanies him on all his endeavours.

Dog proves to be a taxi driver's best friend and copilot in Bolivia

Most people just want to get rid of them, but ants have become the primary business for an entrepreneur who is selling them as pets in Singapore. The city state's first shop specializing in pet ants, "Just Ants" opened in late February just as lockdown measures to curb the spread of coronavirus set in, bringing business to a halt.

Pest or pet? Ant farms fascinate Singaporeans

Man's best friend, through thick and thin. That is the story of Argentine traveller Michael Graef and his two dogs Nilo and Chamo, after refusing a humanitarian flight home amid the pandemic because he would have to leave his two best friends behind.

Loyal to the end: Argentine refuses COVID flight home to stay with dogs

Boris Johnson's pet dog "Dilyn"steals the show in London. Politicians and voters carried dogs to polling station.

Britain and tradition of bringing dogs to polling station

Blend Mamoon turns heads when he roams the streets of the city of Dohuk with his pet, a year-old lion who came into Mamoon's care when he was just a 20-day-old cub.

Leo the pet lion: a local celebrity in Iraq's Dohuk

A luxury dog hotel in India&#39;s northern Gurugram city is slowly becoming a popular hotspot for pooch lovers, who want to pamper their furry friends.

The three-month old hotel provides a wide array of services, including saloon and spa, veterinary care, television lounge, deluxe suites, swimming pool and caf&eacute; all rolled into one.

The first-of its-kind hotel for pets is the brainchild of Deepak Chawla and his wife, Jaanwi.

Chawla, on Thursday, said providing upkeep services for animals were not a luxury, but a basic need for them.

Currently running with 1,000 members, Critterati also plans to fit in felines soon in their 12,000 square feet area.

Clients&#39; responses have been overwhelming as the facilities, according to veterinarian Dr. Vinod Sharma, is as relaxing for the pets as it is convenient for the owners.

The first-of its-kind hotel for pets is the brainchild of Deepak Chawla and his wife, Jaanwi.

A luxury dog hotel in India's northern Gurugram city is slowly becoming a popular hotspot for pooch lovers, who want to pamper their furry friends. The three-month old hotel provides a wide array of services, including saloon and spa, veterinary care, television lounge, deluxe suites, swimming pool and café all rolled into one. The first-of its-kind hotel for pets is the brainchild of Deepak Chawla and his wife, Jaanwi. Chawla, on Thursday, said providing upkeep services for animals were not a luxury, but a basic need for them. Currently running with 1,000 members, Critterati also plans to fit in felines soon in their 12,000 square feet area. Clients' responses have been overwhelming as the facilities, according to veterinarian Dr. Vinod Sharma, is as relaxing for the pets as it is convenient for the owners.

India's first luxury dog hotel redefines country's pet culture

South Korea aims to regulate the increasingly common ownership of pets in a bid to promote an unsupervised sector that the government sees as economic growth opportunity, and to crack down on animal abuse and neglect. 
 
Measures announced on Thursday will enable South Koreans to legally operate services for pets such as animal cafes, hotels and funeral parlours, while imposing stiffer punishment on breeders found using unsanitary or inhumane methods. 
 
Pets were once rare in South Korea, a country where the consumption of dog meat was widespread though it has declined sharply during the rapid modernization of recent decades. 
 
&quot;We know we are a bit late, but we are aiming to become a developed country in terms of the pet industry,&quot; Kang Chong-suk, director of the finance ministry&#39;s general policy coordination division, said in a telephone interview. 
 
&quot;There were absolutely no regulations and many illegal activities were being carried out.&quot; 
 
Nearly 22 per cent of South Korean households last year had at least one pet, up from 17.4 per cent five years earlier, a trend fuelled by the rise in single-person households. 
 
At the same time, there has been a jump in the number of abandoned pets. 
 
The government expects the measures will help the industry increase revenues from 1.8 trillion Won ($1.56 billion) now to 5.8 trillion Won in 2020. 
 
Under the plan, animal funeral facilities will be legalised, addressing complaints from pet owners over current law that says dead pets must be discarded, like household rubbish, in plastic garbage bags. 
 
New laws will also make it possible to start pet-related businesses like hotels, cafes and training centres. 
 
Pet cafes, where human customers can mingle with dogs and cats while having a cup of coffee, are increasingly popular in South Korea even though current law forbids the sale of food where animals can roam. 
 
The government will also introduce a veterinary nursing license and encourage insurers to develop more pet insurance policies. 
 
The measures are part of broader efforts to bolster various industries, including halal and kosher food production, the housing market and sports, as the government tries to find more sources of growth. 
 
&#39;TOO MANY PETS&#39; 
 
Fines for abandoning pets will be raised threefold from 1 million Won, while government support for animal shelters will be increased. 
 
Last year, 82,000 pets were abandoned or lost in South Korea, straining its 307 shelters, according to the government. 
 
&quot;They should have started this process a long time ago,&quot; said Kwon Beom-suk, a veterinarian in Seoul. 
 
&quot;We have too many pets in South Korea even though the pet culture has not matured yet.&quot; 
 
Fines will also be increased for unregistered or abusive animal-breeding facilities.&nbsp;About 1,000 commercial dog breeders are now operating, more than 80 per cent illegally, according to the government. 
 
Thursday&#39;s announcement comes amid public outrage over television reports showing abuse of dogs at some so-called puppy mills, including non-veterinarians performing crude caesarean sections on pregnant dogs.&nbsp;Kang said the government&#39;s planning preceded the broadcasts. 
 
($1 = 1,154.6700 Won) 
 
(Reuters)

New measures would enable South Koreans to legally operate services for pets such as animal cafes, hotels and funeral parlours

South Korea aims to regulate the increasingly common ownership of pets in a bid to promote an unsupervised sector that the government sees as economic growth opportunity, and to crack down on animal abuse and neglect. Measures announced on Thursday will enable South Koreans to legally operate services for pets such as animal cafes, hotels and funeral parlours, while imposing stiffer punishment on breeders found using unsanitary or inhumane methods. Pets were once rare in South Korea, a country where the consumption of dog meat was widespread though it has declined sharply during the rapid modernization of recent decades. "We know we are a bit late, but we are aiming to become a developed country in terms of the pet industry," Kang Chong-suk, director of the finance ministry's general policy coordination division, said in a telephone interview. "There were absolutely no regulations and many illegal activities were being carried out." Nearly 22 per cent of South Korean households last year had at least one pet, up from 17.4 per cent five years earlier, a trend fuelled by the rise in single-person households. At the same time, there has been a jump in the number of abandoned pets. The government expects the measures will help the industry increase revenues from 1.8 trillion Won ($1.56 billion) now to 5.8 trillion Won in 2020. Under the plan, animal funeral facilities will be legalised, addressing complaints from pet owners over current law that says dead pets must be discarded, like household rubbish, in plastic garbage bags. New laws will also make it possible to start pet-related businesses like hotels, cafes and training centres. Pet cafes, where human customers can mingle with dogs and cats while having a cup of coffee, are increasingly popular in South Korea even though current law forbids the sale of food where animals can roam. The government will also introduce a veterinary nursing license and encourage insurers to develop more pet insurance policies. The measures are part of broader efforts to bolster various industries, including halal and kosher food production, the housing market and sports, as the government tries to find more sources of growth. 'TOO MANY PETS' Fines for abandoning pets will be raised threefold from 1 million Won, while government support for animal shelters will be increased. Last year, 82,000 pets were abandoned or lost in South Korea, straining its 307 shelters, according to the government. "They should have started this process a long time ago," said Kwon Beom-suk, a veterinarian in Seoul. "We have too many pets in South Korea even though the pet culture has not matured yet." Fines will also be increased for unregistered or abusive animal-breeding facilities. About 1,000 commercial dog breeders are now operating, more than 80 per cent illegally, according to the government. Thursday's announcement comes amid public outrage over television reports showing abuse of dogs at some so-called puppy mills, including non-veterinarians performing crude caesarean sections on pregnant dogs. Kang said the government's planning preceded the broadcasts. ($1 = 1,154.6700 Won) (Reuters)

South Korea aims to overhaul its pet sector

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