2 giant pandas from China have been sent to Taiwan, a gift from the government to the island it considers part of its territory. The pandas' departure was covered live on Chinese television. From Beijing, here's Chris Hogg.
There were speeches from officials and a red carpet on the tarmac, all the trappings of a major diplomatic event. Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan are China's newest panda diplomats. Say their names together in Chinese and that means unite. China's government wants to win friends in Taiwan. It knows the pandas will be a hugely popular tourist attraction once they arrive at Taipei zoo. The exchange is a sign of gradually warming ties between China and Taiwan. The island's new president accepted the offer of the 2 pandas after he was elected in May. His predecessor had refused them.
And we've just heard that the pandas have arrived in Taiwan.
Many newspapers in Nepal had appeared with a blank space on Tuesday instead of an editorial as protest over attacks by Maoist activists. Over the weekend, dozens of former communist rebels attacked staff and vandalised offices at Himal Media, the publisher of the Nepali Times and other magazines.
BBC
There were speeches from officials and a red carpet on the tarmac, all the trappings of a major diplomatic event. Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan are China's newest panda diplomats. Say their names together in Chinese and that means unite. China's government wants to win friends in Taiwan. It knows the pandas will be a hugely popular tourist attraction once they arrive at Taipei zoo. The exchange is a sign of gradually warming ties between China and Taiwan. The island's new president accepted the offer of the 2 pandas after he was elected in May. His predecessor had refused them.
And we've just heard that the pandas have arrived in Taiwan.
Many newspapers in Nepal had appeared with a blank space on Tuesday instead of an editorial as protest over attacks by Maoist activists. Over the weekend, dozens of former communist rebels attacked staff and vandalised offices at Himal Media, the publisher of the Nepali Times and other magazines.
BBC