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WATCH: National Zoo’s panda cub goes virtual for livestream

Locals aren’t the only ones keeping it virtual during the pandemic — the Smithsonian National Zoo’s fluffy panda cub Xiao Qi Ji did it it too. He was the star of a free livestream the Zoo is hosting Wednesday from inside the David M. Rubenstein Family Giant Panda Habitat. It as a mix of prerecorded and live segments where the panda team will took viewers behind the scenes. “You’ll experience an up-close, real-time look at Xiao Qi Ji as he walks, climbs, tumbles and explores his indoor habitat,” the National Zoo said. “See how the Panda Cams are operated, take a virtual tour of the panda house and get the answers to some of your most-asked questions.” Check out the video below.

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A British firm starts containment of oil spill from stricken tanker off Oman

BEIRUT (AP) — A British company said Thursday it has been hired to salvage a grounded Russian shadow fleet tanker off Oman's coast and stop an oil spill that is threatening wildlife as it reaches the country's shoreline following its dramatic spread in recent weeks. Satellite images have shown that oil from the tanker Caroline Bezengi has exponentially spread over hundreds of square kilometers during stormy weather, endangering a marine protected area. The region's “Khareef” monsoon season peaks in July and August. Ambrey, a UK-based maritime risk and response company, said its personnel boarded the vessel with help from the Omani air force to assess its condition before stabilizing it. The vessel has been grounded off Qabiliyah Island in southwestern Oman following an explosion of unclear cause in early June. Its cargo previously has been estimated at more than 800,000 barrels.
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