- Ashwin bags six wickets as India hammer Bangladesh in first Test
- Nascent French government under pressure on multiple fronts
- Angry French cognac makers see red over Chinese tariffs threat
- Protect the prosciutto: Italy battles swine fever
- UN holds 'Summit of the Future' to tackle global crises
- Marxist leader set to become Sri Lanka's next president
- From blades to pull-up bars: UK charity tackles knife crime
- Swiss vote on pensions and environment protections
- No pain, no gain: Chinese pro wrestlers fight for recognition
- UAE leader seeks to deepen 'strategic' ties in US visit during Mideast crisis
- Hezbollah takes heavy hits but still fighting Israel
- Floods, landslides hit central Japan months after major quake
- All Blacks coach Robertson demands better finishing
- Argentina edge South Africa to keep title hopes alive
- Biden says China 'testing us,' in hot mic remarks to Quad allies
- Dubois destroys Joshua to retain IBF world heavyweight crown
- Guardiola says critics want Man City wiped 'from face of the Earth'
- Biden says 'Quad' is 'here to stay' despite challenges
- Dubois knocks out Joshua to retain IBF world heavyweight crown
- Vinicius helps 'faster' Madrid overturn stubborn Espanyol
- Zelensky to press US on long-range missile strikes inside Russia
- PSG drop first points in draw at Reims
- Vinicius, Mbappe on target as Madrid crush plucky Espanyol
- Jeeno leads Ko by two at LPGA Queen City Championship
- Bottega Veneta goes for 'E.T.' chic as Madonna pops into D&G
- Messi, Miami frustrated by New York late leveler
- Musk's X platform takes first step toward lifting Brazil ban
- 'Business as usual' for Australia match-winner Carey amid boos
- Israeli jets pound Lebanon after deadly Beirut strike
- Ten Hag bemoans Man Utd's lack of killer instinct in Palace stalemate
- France's Macron appoints new government in shift to right
- Cheika proud of Leicester grit after winning start as boss
- Profligate Man Utd pay price in 0-0 draw at Palace
- Kane, Olise run riot as Bayern thump Bremen
- Diaz fires Liverpool top of Premier League, Man Utd held at Palace
- LIV champion Rahm out of LIV Team semis with severe flu
- Slot surprised by tearful Nunez's moment of magic
- Title rivals Norris, Verstappen on 'cool' front row for Singapore GP
- Biden talks China with 'Quad' leaders in hometown summit
- Juve and Napoli play out goalless draw in early Serie A title tussle
- Alcaraz fears tennis tour grind will 'kill us'
- Carey sparks recovery as Australia thrash England in 2nd ODI
- Leclerc, Sainz lament 'disappointing' Saturday in Singapore
- Bottega Veneta holds investors' aces as Madonna pops into D&G
- Beirut digs for victims at building flattened in Israeli strike
- Verstappen stages protest over 'ridiculous' swearing punishment
- Bayern boss Kompany lauds 'special talent' Olise
- Diaz fires Liverpool top of Premier League, Spurs bounce back
- Heavy fire over Israel-Lebanon border after deadly Beirut strike
- Ramos guides unbeaten Toulouse to Montpellier win despite Hogg scuffle
In haze-filled Washington, tourists are undeterred
On many ordinary days, one can gaze down the National Mall from the Washington Monument and clearly see the dome of the US Capitol offset by blue sky.
But today, an acrid haze from wildfires in Canada cloaks the city.
That appeared to not bother some tourists, who strolled along wearing "Trump 2024" baseball caps or freshly purchased hats emblazoned with "Washington DC."
Public schools in the city canceled all outdoor activities due to an air quality alert, but out-of-town teenagers on school trips happily performed acrobatics on the lawn for photos, with the Lincoln Memorial in the background.
One 61-year-old tourist from Nebraska says the haze added an "ethereal" quality that "kind of makes things beautiful."
"It actually happens all the time with us," she says, giving her name only as Diane. "We have controlled burns in Oklahoma and Kansas. So this happens."
Her husband, David, visiting Washington for the first time, nods in agreement. "If a 10 were perfect, still an eight" despite the haze, he says.
Near them, an American tourist on a phone describes what she sees: "It's very smoggy here because of the wildfires in Canada!"
"That looks creepy," agrees her friend, looking up at the Capitol, whose silhouette can barely be made out in the distance.
The friend, Adriana George, 31, from Tucson, Arizona, adds: "The fog is everywhere and it just seems kind of gloomy." But fortunately, with moderate temperatures and a light morning breeze, "the weather's been great."
Although she suffers from asthma, George says it hasn't bothered her for the past two days.
- 'Used to the pollution' -
Many foreign tourists say they're having a great time despite the haze.
Choi Yoonjung, from South Korea, explains with a smile, thanks to a friend's translation, that "it's like this" in the south of South Korea when it comes to pollution.
The same was true of Hemadri Vora, 42, who had come from Mumbai in India and was spending the day in Washington with her family after a visit to New York. "We wouldn't feel it that much because we're kind of used to the pollution!" she laughs.
The day before, while visiting the Statue of Liberty and not having followed the news from Canada, she admits she was "a bit scared" when she saw the haze, thinking it was an incoming storm and not smoke from northern fires.
She just regrets that the photos of her trip aren't under blue skies. "Obviously, the pictures are not going to be very clear," she says.
While many Washingtonians heeded public health warnings and wore masks outdoors on Thursday, few tourists did so.
On Wednesday, the Environmental Protection Agency told AFP that more than 100 million Americans were affected by air quality alerts due to the drifting smoke from Canada.
Until it clears, perhaps this weekend, visitors are trying to enjoy the city.
As sirens sounded and police cars sped down Constitution Avenue near the White House, tourists speculated.
"That must be the British prime minister," Rishi Sunak, who is visiting Washington, says one man excitedly.
D.Cunningha--AMWN