Recently released footage has captured a tender moment between caretaker and panda cubs at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in southwest China's Sichuan Province.
In a video filmed at the base's Star Giant Panda Nursery House, a caretaker is seen carrying one cub under each arm and placing them on the grass, allowing them to bask briefly in the winter sunshine. The cubs were then seen crawling and playing on a wooden log.
The Chengdu base is a world-renowned center for the ex-situ conservation of giant pandas. It also serves as a hub for scientific research, public education and eco-tourism. The institution is internationally recognized for its efforts to protect and breed giant pandas, red pandas and other endangered wildlife species native to China.
The panda cubs were born at the breeding base in 2025.
Caretaker carries panda cubs under both arms into sunshine
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday warned that his country would respond harshly to any act of aggression, following a renewed threat of military action from U.S. President Donald Trump.
He made the statement on social media platform X following comments by Trump on Monday, who threatened Iran with a major military strike if it resumed its ballistic missile or nuclear weapons programs.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran's response to any cruel aggression would be harsh and regret-inducing," Pezeshkian said.
Trump, speaking to reporters in Florida while welcoming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said Monday: "Now I hear that Iran is trying to build up again, and if they are, we're going to have to knock them down."
In response, Ali Shamkhani, a political advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and representative in the country's Defense Council, posted on X that Iran's missile and defense capabilities "are not containable or permission-based".
"Any aggression will face an immediate harsh response beyond its planners' imagination," he added.
Tensions between Iran and the United States have escalated after a series of strikes in June. On June 13, Israel launched airstrikes on several locations in Iran, including nuclear and military sites, killing senior commanders, nuclear scientists, and civilians. On June 22, U.S. forces bombed the Iranian nuclear facilities at Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan.
Iranian president warns of "harsh" response after Trump's threats
