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Heat forces yodelers at annual Swiss festival to sing in fountains
Strange
AP

Heat forces yodelers at annual Swiss festival to sing in fountains

  • By JEZ FIELDER - Associated Press

Yodelers at a festival in Basel, Switzerland, turned city fountains into rehearsal spaces during Europe’s June heat wave. From Friday to Sunday, singers and alphorn players performed throughout the city. Spontaneous yodeling echoed through restaurants, surprising diners who later joined in. Around 12,000 performers and nearly 200,000 visitors attended the Eidgenössisches Jodlerfest. This year, fountain rehearsals became the festival’s defining image as the city battled record temperatures. The festival included yodeling, alphorn playing and flag-throwing competitions.

How some in Palestinian diaspora find connection, identity and resilience in traditional embroidery
International
AP

How some in Palestinian diaspora find connection, identity and resilience in traditional embroidery

  • By MARIAM FAM - Associated Press

From refugee camps to stitching circles, many in the Palestinian diaspora around the world are engaging with a traditional form of Palestinian embroidery as far more than a decorative aesthetic. Known as “tatreez,” they're finding in it a celebration of cultural heritage and a bridge to their homeland and dispersed communities. To many, it’s become over the decades a symbol of Palestinian identity, a vehicle for documenting history and a form of resistance. With the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, some have turned to the embroidery to raise funds, show solidarity and focus attention on the plight of Palestinians in the enclave. For some, the craft also provides an economic lifeline.

Touring Trump's Washington: How the president is putting his imprint on the nation's capital
National News
AP

Touring Trump's Washington: How the president is putting his imprint on the nation's capital

  • By GARY FIELDS - Associated Press

America is celebrating its 250th year, and Washington, D.C., is undergoing significant changes under President Donald Trump. Over 17 months, Trump has altered buildings, started massive construction projects and deployed armed military personnel. The National Guard has been in the city since August 2025, part of an emergency order to fight crime. The Department of Government Efficiency's cutbacks cost tens of thousands of workers their jobs. Trump's image is prominent on government buildings, symbolizing his influence. The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool has been painted “American flag blue.” The White House is expanding, and Black Lives Matter Plaza has been removed.