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Hong Kong's Twin Panda Cubs to Make Public Debut

Twin panda cubs, the first ever born in Hong Kong, are seen in their enclosure on February 7, 2025 ahead of their first highly anticipated public appearance on February 16. (Photo by Peter PARKS / AFP)
Twin panda cubs, the first ever born in Hong Kong, are seen in their enclosure on February 7, 2025 ahead of their first highly anticipated public appearance on February 16. (Photo by Peter PARKS / AFP)
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Hong Kong's Twin Panda Cubs to Make Public Debut

Twin panda cubs, the first ever born in Hong Kong, are seen in their enclosure on February 7, 2025 ahead of their first highly anticipated public appearance on February 16. (Photo by Peter PARKS / AFP)
Twin panda cubs, the first ever born in Hong Kong, are seen in their enclosure on February 7, 2025 ahead of their first highly anticipated public appearance on February 16. (Photo by Peter PARKS / AFP)

Hong Kong's baby panda twins will make their public debut on Sunday, with officials rolling out a full-scale panda marketing campaign to boost tourism.
The pair, one female and one male, were born six months ago and join four other pandas at the city's Ocean Park theme park.
"This is the first pair of giant pandas born in Hong Kong, and the whole city is cheering with excitement," John Lee, the city's leader, said at a ceremony on Saturday.
According to Reuters, he said a naming competition had been launched with the names to be announced in the first half of the year.
Since their mother Ying Ying became the world's oldest giant panda on record to have given birth, just one day shy of her 19th birthday, panda decor and promotions have mushroomed across Hong Kong.
Metro trains and the city's airport express have adopted panda themes and an exhibition with 2,500 panda sculptures has been on display at different locations around the city.
Adding to panda mania has been the arrival of two from Sichuan, An An and Ke Ke, who were gifted by the central Chinese government in September and only put on display in December.

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King Charles Cancels Visit to Vatican as Pope Francis Told to Rest

Britain's King Charles III (C) waves to well-wishers during a walk about in the streets of Banbridge, on March 21, 2025, during a three day trip to Northern Ireland. (AFP)
Britain's King Charles III (C) waves to well-wishers during a walk about in the streets of Banbridge, on March 21, 2025, during a three day trip to Northern Ireland. (AFP)
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King Charles Cancels Visit to Vatican as Pope Francis Told to Rest

Britain's King Charles III (C) waves to well-wishers during a walk about in the streets of Banbridge, on March 21, 2025, during a three day trip to Northern Ireland. (AFP)
Britain's King Charles III (C) waves to well-wishers during a walk about in the streets of Banbridge, on March 21, 2025, during a three day trip to Northern Ireland. (AFP)

King Charles and his wife Queen Camilla's state visit to the Vatican has been postponed because of medical advice that suggested Pope Francis would benefit from an extended period of rest, Buckingham Palace said on Tuesday.

The British royals were due to travel out to the Vatican on April 7 and meet Pope Francis the following day, for what the palace had said would be a historic visit.

Days after the plans were first announced last month Francis, 88, was admitted to hospital with a severe respiratory infection and he was only finally discharged on Sunday, after the most serious health crisis of his 12-year papacy.

A royal source said last week Charles and Camilla were hoping and praying that the pope's health would improve enough to allow the trip to go ahead, but it has now been called off by mutual agreement.

"Their majesties send the pope their best wishes for his convalescence and look forward to visiting him in the Holy See, once he has recovered," the palace statement said.

The royal couple's subsequent state visit to Italy is set to continue but the program might now be subject to changes.

Francis was admitted to Gemelli hospital on February 14 for a bout of bronchitis that developed into double pneumonia, an especially serious condition for him, as he had pleurisy as a young adult and had part of one lung removed.

The head of the pope's medical team said he came close to death at one point during his hospitalization.

Charles, 76, also has his workload carefully managed as he recovers from cancer.