Adorable giant panda cubs have been seen cheekily climbing onto mother's back at a research base in southwest China's Sichuan Province.
Their fun interaction was filmed at Wolong Shenshuping Base and Dujiangyan Base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP).
One video, taken on March 7, features panda mother Mei Mei calmly lying on the ground as her cub playfully climbed over her body. Mei Mei, born at the center in July 2018, is the offspring of Cao Cao, a wild panda who successfully mated in the wild.
In a separate video filmed on March 11, two mischievous cubs attempted to clamber onto their mother Yi Ran who managed to escape from them, leaving the cubs tumbling playfully onto the ground. Yi Ran was born in July 2012 at the center.
The CCRCGP is a world-leading institution for the breeding and conservation of one of China's national treasures. The center has also established a global platform for promoting international cooperation and exchanges involving 18 zoos from 16 countries and regions, as well as 39 domestic animal breeding institutions and more than 10 scientific research institutes.
Playful giant panda cubs captured on video at Sichuan research bases
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned on Sunday that Tehran would view the United States and Israel's military bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" should Washington take military action against Iran.
At a parliamentary session convened to review an emergency proposal on assembly regulations, Qalibaf emphasized that, at this highly sensitive juncture, Iran must accurately and thoroughly identify the schemes of its adversaries.
Qalibaf said that Iran is currently confronting Israel and the United States simultaneously on four fronts: economic, cognitive, military, and counterterrorism. Of them, the economic warfare and the cognitive and psychological warfare began many years ago and have persisted to this day, growing increasingly complex and intense in recent years.
The remarks came as U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran, taking advantage of its nationwide unrest.
Protests have erupted in several Iranian cities since late December over the sharp fall of the rial and long-standing economic hardship. Iranian authorities have acknowledged the demonstrations and voiced willingness to address economic grievances, while warning against violence and vandalism.
Amid the ongoing protests, deadly clashes have been reported lately between police and what the government described as "rioters." However, no official death toll has been released.
Also on Sunday, Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian will address the country's economic situation and political environment in a televised interview later that day.
Iran swears to counterattack if attacked
