China's panda pair hits road to US

Two Chinese giant pandas Bao Li and Qing Bao embarked on their journey to the United States early on Tuesday morning from a breeding base in southwest China's Sichuan Province, starting their 10-year residency at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C..

Chinese and American experts will cooperate and join hands to ensure the well-being of the two giant pandas at the National Zoo.

Bao Li and Qing Bao departed from the Dujiangyan base of the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas (CCRCGP) and reached Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport on Monday evening. They then boarded a special plane headed for the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. early on Tuesday morning.

The China Wildlife Conservation Association and CCRCGP held a farewell ceremony for the two giant pandas on Monday afternoon.

Bao Li, a male panda whose name translates into English as "treasure" and "energetic," was born in August 2021. Qing Bao, a female panda whose name means "green" and "treasure" in Chinese, was born a month later than Bao Li. The two giant pandas have lively personalities and enjoy climbing.

The CCRCGP has dispatched two keepers and a veterinarian to the National Zoo to assist the pandas in swiftly adapting to their new environment in the United States.

Furthermore, experts from both China and the United States have conducted various tasks to ensure a healthy life for Bao Li and Qing Bao at the National Zoo.

The Chinese experts have conducted multiple assessments in the United States regarding the living environment, breeding management, food security, and health care for the giant pandas.

Based on the suggestions of the Chinese experts, the National Zoo has upgraded the enclosure for the giant pandas, ensured a stable food supply of bamboo and bamboo shoots, established a professional breeding management team, formulated comprehensive breeding management systems and technical standards, reinforced regular health monitoring reports and on-site inspections, and enhanced the zoo by renovating facilities such as lawns and pools while adding additional climbing structures.

In early October, the National Zoo dispatched four keepers and veterinarians to China to take part in breeding management and disease prevention efforts for the two giant pandas.

Over the past 24 years of cooperation between China and the United States in giant panda conservation, both countries have achieved positive results in various fields concerning giant panda conservation, including breeding, disease treatment, technical exchanges, personnel training, and public awareness of wildlife protection. They have successfully bred and raised giant pandas Tai Shan, Bao Bao, Bei Bei, and Xiao Qi Ji.

The cooperation has played a positive role in enhancing the conservation capabilities of wild giant panda populations and has substantially promoted cultural exchanges between the people of the two countries.

China's panda pair hits road to US

China's panda pair hits road to US

The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.

In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.

"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.

Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.

The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."

Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.

President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.

Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.

Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.

The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.

Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests