Photos show masked revelers celebrating Shrovetide in Lithuania

By The Associated Press
February 15, 2026 | 10:41 AM

RUMSISKES, Lithuania (AP) — People wearing traditional masks and folk costumes gathered in the Lithuanian village of Rumsiskes, north of Vilnius, for the Shrovetide celebrations to mark the annual pre-Lenten festival with music, dancing and the burning of an effigy symbolizing the end of winter.

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This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.

Small changes in Hanoi’s streets can mean big disruptions for those who depend on them

By The Associated Press
July 30, 2026 | 1:00 AM

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — The noise is everywhere in Hanoi. The crack of a hydraulic breaker, the groan of excavators, the crunch of brick and concrete being torn apart. As Vietnam pushes for double-digit economic growth, its capital is pursuing an ultramodern vision for the next 100 years. In the first half of 2026 alone, Hanoi spent $2.4 billion clearing land for nearly 1,500 projects, transforming one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited capitals. Authorities say the redevelopment includes flood-controls and measures to reduce air pollution as Hanoi adapts to extreme weather from climate change. Vietnam is among the nations most vulnerable, enduring frequent and intense typhoons, floods and extreme heat. The capital often is enveloped in thick smog as one of the world's most polluted cities. The promise of progress comes at a cost of homes, livelihoods and familiar sites, as dust from demolitions drifts across neighborhoods, settling on rooftops, trees and the few buildings still standing.

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