Pics du jour

🐼 A pair of giant pandas arrived in Washington, DC. The three-year-old pandas are on loan to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo for the next 10 years, and will become available for public viewing in late January. They’re the first pandas to be sent from China to Washington in 24 years, and come amidst a renewed era of panda diplomacy between Beijing and the US.

🇫🇷 Automakers are showcasing their latest concepts and models at the Paris Motor Show. The biennial trade show, which runs from Monday-Sunday of this week, features a wide range of designs from major auto manufacturers. Examples include: A plug-in hybrid SUV from Chinese EV maker BYD that’s able to “swim” for up to 30 minutes, and a rectangular steering wheel design from Peugeot resembling a video game controller.

🏰🪄 Universal’s new Epic Universe theme park will reportedly open early next summer. The entertainment giant is planning for its 750-acre park in Orlando to be fully open as early as Memorial Day weekend, with tickets on sale as soon as this month, per a new Wall Street Journal report. The park – which will feature a marquee Harry Potter-themed area, Super Nintendo World, and a monster-themed Dark Universe – is projected to draw ~1 million visitors away from Disney World during 2025 and 2026.