Sagittarius Horoscope Today for April 30, 2026: The cosmos bring a romantic auraSagittarius Horoscope Today: A nearly full Moon can make desire feel louder, so choose what still feels meaningful after the first rush. Published on: Apr 30, 2026 5:39 AM IST By Ishita Kotiya Share via Copy link
ICICI Bank on Wednesday said it has introduced biometric authentication for UPI transactions on its mobile banking app, iMobile, allowing customers to approve eligible payments using fingerprint or face recognition instead of entering a UPI PIN every time
FSSAI said pan masala and gutka sachets should be “free from plastic such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, poly vinyl chloride and other plastic materials or any other synthetic polymers or laminates.” Ban On Plastic Sachets: To prohibit the use of plastic and multilayer packaging
The United Arab Emirates’ decision to withdraw from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries will leave the oil cartel weakened at a crucial time. It also illustrates the ongoing tensions between the UAE and Saudi Arabia, OPEC’s largest producer and de facto leader
US singer D4vd has been accused of purchasing tools online - including chainsaws - after prosecutors say he stabbed a teen girl to death. The allegations were released in an evidence filing, which details his alleged motive and steps prosecutors say he took to cover his tracks before 14-year-old
China’s panda diplomacy is backfiring
Japan said goodbye to its last two giant pandas on January 27, as twins Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei were returned from their host country to China. Their departure has left Japan without any pandas for the first time since 1972, when Tokyo and Beijing normalised diplomatic ties.
The Chinese government has long pursued a strategy of giving or loaning giant pandas, which are found exclusively in China, to other countries to strengthen international ties and boost its global image. Widely known as “panda diplomacy”, this practice has seen more than 30 pandas sent to – or born in – Japan over the past 50 or so years.
However, relations between Tokyo and Beijing are currently tense. Comments made in November by Japan's prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, that her country could respond militarily to a Chinese attack on Taiwan prompted an angry response from officials in Beijing.
And soon after, China announced it would be recalling Japan's last two pandas from the Ueno Zoo in Tokyo a month ahead of schedule. The Tokyo metropolitan government had been negotiating with China to extend the pandas' stay or loan new bears in their place. But these talks were put on hold and the pandas have subsequently been returned.
China's practice of sending pandas to foreign countries can be traced to the 7th century, when Empress Wu Zetian gifted two bears to Japan as a gesture of goodwill. However, modern panda diplomacy is often associated with the 1970s. That decade saw China open up and gift pandas to a number of major economies in an attempt to build ties, including the US and Japan in 1972, France in 1973 and the UK in 1974.
Due to declining wild panda populations, China stopped gifting pandas to other countries by 1984. Pandas were instead sent to foreign zoos on long-term loans, often lasting up to 15 years, with countries paying as much as US$1 million (£738,000) in “conservation fees” per year to keep them.
By the peak of panda diplomacy in 2019, a total of 21 countries or territories outside of China, Macau and Hong Kong had pandas. These were South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Qatar, Russia, Taiwan, Germany, Spain, Austria, Denmark, Belgium, Mexico, Australia, Thailand, Finland, Canada, Japan, the Netherlands, US and UK. That number has now dropped to 16.
One reason for this decline is that China has to be careful about which countries it chooses to engage in panda diplomacy with. Many Chinese people regard the giant panda as a national treasure, with the animal carrying deep emotional significance. Because of their status, the perceived mistreatment of pandas abroad can cause Beijing to receive intense backlash from nationalist circles at home.
For instance, when panda Le Le died of natural causes at Memphis Zoo in the US in 2023 and photos of his female companion Ya Ya looking thin and sickly surfaced online, speculation arose on Chinese social media that the US had mishandled the pandas. Some went as far as to accuse Chinese authorities of colluding with the zoo to cover up the incident.
For many of these people, the alleged mistreatment of the pandas was symbolic of what they saw as the US's bullying of China. As one comment on the Weibo Chinese social media platform put it: “Treating our national treasure with such an attitude is an outright provocation of China”. Despite insistence by the Chinese foreign ministry that both pandas had been “well taken care of” in the US, Ya Ya's stay was not extended.
The desire to avoid more public backlash may help explain why China recalled Japan's last two pandas early and did not extend their stay. With tensions between China and Japan running high, it would have been difficult for officials in Beijing to justify why these cherished national symbols should stay in the hands of what many Chinese people see as a belligerent rival.
Panda diplomacy remains an effective tool of soft power for China. This was demonstrated by the 178,000 visitors that flocked to Ueno Zoo to catch a glimpse of Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei in the month after it was announced they would be returned. The public response was so strong that the zoo had to restrict visitor numbers to the panda viewing area to 4,800 people per day, with each visit limited to one minute.
Yet there are limits to using pandas as diplomatic tools, and not just due to the strength of nationalist feeling within China towards them. China's practice of sending pandas to foreign nations has been heavily criticised by conservationists and animal advocates, who argue the bears are used as pawns in a game of geopolitical chess.
There are also question marks over whether the practice enhances conservation. While foreign zoos that host pandas send China millions of US dollars a year in conservation fees, the species is currently listed as “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Panda diplomacy is a delicate balancing act. While it can help strengthen China's international relationships, it also exposes Beijing to public backlash whenever its furry ambassadors become entangled in political disputes or welfare controversies.
Chee Meng Tan is Assistant Professor of Business Economics, University of Nottingham.
This article was first published on The Conversation.
Source: Scroll
Related Posts: Japan Set to Lose Last Pandas in Symbol of Icy China Ties China to send giant pandas to Atlanta again Tearful goodbyes as Japan returns pandas to China amid worsening ties Twin Pandas may have to leave Japan amid political tiff with China over Taiwan 7 Flats, one tax claim — Dept said no, Tribunal said yes Rs 26,00,000 For Playing With Pandas In China, Anyone Can Apply Derek Shelton's Twins contract could be huge Ananya Panday makes Jahnvi Kapoor ‘jealous’ as she twins with her BF Shikhar Tigers top Twins for 2nd shutout in 3 games
Love Horoscope Today for April 30, 2026: Today, love quietly shows you what's worth holding ontoLove Horoscope Today: Find daily astrological predictions for all sun signs. Published on: Apr 30, 2026 7:31 AM IST By Kishori Sud Share via Copy link Aries Love Energy: Emotional bonding Love horoscope
5 hours ago
A landmark royal commission into antisemitism, called in the aftermath of the Bondi shooting, has recommended that gun reforms be prioritised and policing arrangements for Jewish holidays extended to other Jewish festivals. The commission - Australia's most powerful form of public inquiry - was
5 hours ago
Mike Vrabel scandal: Patriots fans give coach standing ovation amid Dianna Russini row; watchDespite scrutiny over his relationship with NFL insider Dianna Russini, Patriots coach Mike Vrabel received a standing ovation from fans. Published on: Apr 30
5 hours ago
When power shifts at the top of some of the world's biggest companies, most people don't notice. If products perform, services work and store shelves are full, then who sits in the boardroom doesn't make headlines. But when it comes to Samsung
5 hours ago
At least seven persons died after a compound wall at the Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital in Bengaluru collapsed during heavy rain on Wednesday evening, The Hindu reported. Seven others were injured in the incident, the newspaper quoted Shivajinagar MLA Rizwan Arshad as saying
5 hours ago
Just before dawn, small fishing boats sail into the creeks dotting Mumbai’s coastline. By mid-morning, the catch will be sorted, packed and delivered to the city’s many markets. Living along the coast of this Indian megacity, the Indigenous Koli fishing community has followed the same routine
5 hours ago
The U.S. and Israeli conflict with Iran is accelerating Asia's shift to electrification, particularly electric vehicles and battery storage. This pivot is driven by the potential loss of oil and LNG supplies, with significant growth anticipated in two- and three-wheeler EVs and battery systems
5 hours ago
Google is bringing the power of AI to Google Photos app, allowing users to try out clothes right from their gallery app. The new feature by Google seems like an obvious inspiration from the Cher's virtual wardrobe from the movie ‘Clueless’, where the main character could mix and match outfits
5 hours ago
Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) once again proved why it remains one of the most closely watched stocks during India’s earnings season. While heavyweights like Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys, HDFC Bank, and ICICI Bank have already announced their quarterly numbers
6 hours ago
Sunrisers Hyderabad secured a six-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians. Travis Head and Heinrich Klaasen powered the chase with aggressive batting. Ryan Rickelton's unbeaten 123 was a record for Mumbai Indians. SRH achieved the fourth-highest successful run chase in IPL history
6 hours ago
Editorial independence is core to our work. Some links may earn us a commission, without influencing our opinions.Beat the heat for pennies: 7 best desert coolers that actually chill your room (2026 guide)These coolers are ideal for cooling large rooms
6 hours ago
In October 2025, Devlal Watti found himself in trouble because of his Whatsapp status. That month, the young sarpanch of Dompadar village, in Chhattisgarh’s Kanker district, changed his status on the app to a quote from Article 25 of the Indian Constitution
6 hours ago
Sugar-free products with sugar. ‘Real’ juices with artificial ingredients. Misleading food ads are fuelling a public health crisis in India. Help Scroll expose the systemic failure. Support our investigation.Sugar-free products with sugar. ‘Real’ juices with artificial ingredients
6 hours ago
NVIDIA has launched Nemotron-3 Nano Omni, a unified AI that combines sight, sound, and language in one system. The model marks a shift toward faster, more intuitive, and human-like AI capable of understanding real-world context in real time. In the ever-accelerating world of artificial intelligence
6 hours ago
Assam Exit Poll Results 2026: Exit polls predict a second consecutive term for Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and the BJP-led NDA in Assam, with a high voter turnout bolstering the ruling party’s prospects. Sarma’s strategy of combining governance delivery with identity politics appears to
6 hours ago
Why DeepSeek’s new model has been met with a shrugThe AI lab faces stiffening competition and a meddling state Published on: Apr 29, 2026 6:30 PM IST The Economist Share via Copy link A little over a year ago a small Chinese artificial-intelligence lab shocked the world
6 hours ago
The Federal Reserve has held US interest rates steady after what was expected to be Jerome Powell's final meeting as chair. Hours after his successor Kevin Warsh won the backing of a key Senate committee to take up the role next month, Powell announced the Fed's rate would stay between 3.5% and 3
6 hours ago
Exit polls released on Wednesday suggest a significant shift in political landscapes. In West Bengal, the BJP is projected to win, while the Trinamool Congress may lose power. Kerala's Left front faces defeat, with the UDF expected to return. Assam's NDA appears set for a third term
6 hours ago
OAKLAND, Calif. — Elon Musk took the stand for the second day Wednesday in the landmark trial that pits the world's richest person against Sam Altman, a fellow OpenAI co-founder he accuses of betraying promises to keep the company as a nonprofit dedicated to humanity's benefit.OAKLAND, Calif
6 hours ago
Benchmark Brent crude rose more than 3% to $114.8 a barrel by 6 pm on Wednesday, as uncertainties continue about whether the United States and Iran will resume talks to end the conflict in West Asia. The price is at its highest level since June 2022, The Economic Times reported
6 hours ago
After goals galore in Tuesday's spectacular Champions League tie between Paris St-Germain and Bayern Munich, the officials took centre stage in the second semi-final 24 hours later. Arsenal will return to Emirates Stadium next week with a creditable 1-1 draw from their first leg at Atletico Madrid
6 hours ago
Reeling under the pressure of rising international crude oil prices since the beginning of West Asia war, India’s top carriers have warned that they might be forced to shut down airline operations and cancel flights. Raising the alarm bells against the rising fuel cost
6 hours ago
New Delhi: In a major boost to ease of access and digital transformation, the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has recorded its highest-ever claim settlements in the financial year 2025–26. According to official data, EPFO settled 8.31 crore claims during 2025–26
6 hours ago
AI Worries Have Returned to Wall Street. Now Come Earnings.A slide in artificial-intelligence stocks comes ahead of earnings from key tech giants. Published on: Apr 29, 2026 7:41 PM IST WSJ Share via Copy link AI jitters are back on Wall Street. SoftBank’s Masayoshi Son, left
6 hours ago
Meta took the brunt of investor concerns on Wednesday over how the biggest US tech firms are spending massive sums on artificial intelligence (AI). Shares in the company, which owns Facebook and Instagram, dropped 7% in extended trading, after saying it would spend billions more on AI projects than
6 hours ago
Delhi rains: Strong winds and rain showers bring a pleasant change in Delhi’s weather. The maximum temperature, which was expected to hit 41°C today, is now likely to settle closer to 38°C following the showers. Delhi rains: Delhi woke up to a refreshing spell of rain and gusty winds on
6 hours ago
With temperatures rising and appliances working harder than ever, this is usually when older machines start showing their limits. Whether it’s an AC struggling to cool, a refrigerator losing efficiency, or a washing machine that’s past its prime, upgrading often feels expensive
6 hours ago
