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Theres panda-monium in Washington, D.C., and we arent talking politics. Two giant pandas are making their public debut at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo on Friday, January 24, giving the nations capital some much-needed levity. Heres everything you should know about Bao Li and Qing Bao: “Panda diplomacy” in the United States Before Bao Li and Qing Bao, Richard Nixon traveled to China in 1972. This opened up trade possibilities and diplomatic relations between the two countries. As an added bonus, a pair of pandas were given to the National Zoo, marking a new era for what has been termed “panda diplomacy.” When did Bao Li and Qing Bao arrive? The furry duo arrived back in October of 2024. This was less than a year after their counterparts, Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and their cub, Xiao Qi J, exited the scene. The pandas are on a 10-year loan from China. The adorable pair quarantined for 30 days for safety and were given time to adjust to their new enclosure before greeting guests. All about Bao Li Bao Li [Photo: Roshan Patel/Smithsonians National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute] This three-year-old males name means treasure and energetic in Mandarin. He hails from Sichuan. His mom, Bao Bao, was born at the National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute while his grandparents Mei Xiang and Tian Tian called the National Zoo home from 2000 to 2023. Coming to America almost seems to be part of the family business for this animal ambassador. According to his keepers, Bao is spirited and playful. He is also vocal and not afraid to loudly make his opinions known. “If you hear a panda vocalizing to a keeper, thats probably Bao Li,” keeper Mariel Lally shared in an interview on the Zoos website. All about Qing Bao Qing Bao [Photo: Roshan Patel/Smithsonians National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute] This three-year-old female is more of an introvert. She was also born at the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Sichuan. She prefers to take toys into the trees and get away from people. Another way to tell her apart from Bao is the markings on her backside. She has two dark patches of fur located on her left hip. Her checks are also wider. Her name means green and treasure in Mandarin. How to visit the pandas If you find yourself in the D.C. area, drop by to say hello to these creatures. Admission to the Zoo is free but you will need an entry pass. You can save time by getting one ahead of time here. From January 25 to February 9, a whole slew of special events are taking place to celebrate the new arrivals. The District of Panda Party will include Lunar New Year celebrations, a special screening of Kung Fu Panda, and more. How can I stream the giant pandas live? For those outside of the nations capital, modern technology has your back. The National Zoo has a Giant Panda Cam with two feeds that are live-streaming daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET so you can watch the pandas do their thing. The cameras switch to a pre-recorded feed in the evenings.
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At least 242 million children in 85 countries had their schooling interrupted last year because of heat waves, cyclones, flooding, and other extreme weather, the United Nations Children’s Fund said in a new report Friday.UNICEF said it amounted to one in seven school-going children across the world being kept out of class at some point in 2024 because of climate hazards.The report also outlined how some countries saw hundreds of their schools destroyed by weather, with low-income nations in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa hit especially hard.But other regions weren’t spared the extreme weather, as torrential rains and floods in Italy near the end of the year disrupted school for more than 900,000 children. Thousands had their classes halted after catastrophic flooding in Spain.While southern Europe dealt with deadly floods and Asia and Africa had flooding and cyclones, heat waves were “the predominant climate hazard shuttering schools last year,” UNICEF said, as the earth recorded its hottest year ever.More than 118 million children had their schooling interrupted in April alone, UNICEF said, as large parts of the Middle East and Asia, from Gaza in the west to the Philippines in the southeast, experienced a sizzling weeks-long heat wave with temperatures soaring above 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit).“Children are more vulnerable to the impacts of weather-related crises, including stronger and more frequent heat waves, storms, droughts, and flooding,” UNICEF executive director Catherine Russell said in a statement. “Children’s bodies are uniquely vulnerable. They heat up faster, they sweat less efficiently, and cool down more slowly than adults. Children cannot concentrate in classrooms that offer no respite from sweltering heat, and they cannot get to school if the path is flooded, or if schools are washed away.”Around 74% of the children affected in 2024 were in middle- and low-income countries, showing how climatic extremes continue to have a devastating impact in the poorest countries. Flooding ruined more than 400 schools in Pakistan in April. Afghanistan had heat waves followed by severe flooding that destroyed over 110 schools in May, UNICEF said.Months of drought in southern Africa exacerbated by the El Nio weather phenomenon threatened the schooling and futures of millions of children.And the crises showed little sign of abating. The poor French territory of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean off Africa was left in ruins by Cyclone Chido in December and hit again by Tropical Storm Dikeledi this month, leaving children across the islands out of school for six weeks.Cyclone Chido also destroyed more than 330 schools and three regional education departments in Mozambique on the African mainland, where access to education is already a deep problem.UNICEF said the world’s schools and education systems “are largely ill-equipped” to deal with the effects of extreme weather. AP climate and environment news: https://apnews.com/climate-and-environment Gerald Imray, Associated Press
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The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced last month that automatic payments are being sent to roughly one million taxpayers who did not claim the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit on their tax returns. These payments, according to the IRS, were expected to be disbursed throughout December and arrive by late January 2025 “in most cases,” meaning most eligible recipients should receive them by this week or next at the latest. Why are these payments being sent out? The Recovery Rebate Credit was created to provide financial support during the COVID-19 pandemic for individuals who missed or did not receive the full amount of their Economic Impact Payments, commonly known as stimulus checks. While most eligible taxpayers have already claimed their credits, IRS officials identified a significant group that overlooked this benefit. Looking at our internal data, we realized that one million taxpayers overlooked claiming this complex credit when they were actually eligible,” Danny Werfel, commissioner of the IRS, said in a statement in December. “To minimize headaches and get this money to eligible taxpayers, were making these payments automatic, meaning these people will not be required to go through the extensive process of filing an amended return to receive it. How are these payments being disbursed? The payments, which can reach up to $1,400 per individual, will be sent via direct deposit or as a paper check to the address or bank account listed on the recipients 2023 tax return. Those receiving payments will also be notified by letter. If a taxpayers bank account has changed, the funds will be reissued as a check to the updated address on file. Am I eligible for a payment? In total, the IRS estimates approximately $2.4 billion will be distributed through these final payments. Taxpayers who did not file a 2021 return but believe they are eligible have until April 15, 2025, to submit a return and claim the credit. The IRS encourages taxpayers to confirm their eligibility using online resources or by reviewing the credit guidelines on the IRS website. Importantly, if you are eligible for a payment and filed a 2021 return, you don’t not have to do anything. The payments are automatic. The agency has also committed to further outreach during the 2025 tax season to ensure individuals understand other available benefits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit and other pandemic-related tax relief. This final round of payments closes the chapter on pandemic stimulus measures, offering a last opportunity for eligible individuals to access unclaimed financial support.
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