En Suiza, los viajeros han descubierto una nueva forma de ir al trabajo, aprovechando al máximo los ríos extraordinariamente limpios. En lugares como Berna y Basilea, la gente se dirige a la oficina dándose un refrescante baño en lo que se ha convertido en un elemento básico del verano.

Bern

In Swiss cities such as Bern and Basel, some locals choose to commute by floating down rivers like the Aare and Rhine, taking advantage of the clean, glacier-fed waters. This practice, which is especially popular in summer, is supported by city infrastructure including marked entry and exit points and online safety guidelines.

The cleanliness of Swiss rivers is the result of significant investment in water treatment infrastructure since the 1960s and 70s. While river commuting is not for everyone and requires strong swimming skills, it has become a symbol of local lifestyle, with waterproof bags for belongings even becoming fashion items. Most locals use the rivers to relax and socialize, highlighting the role of clean waterways in community life.

Este río suizo es tan limpio que los lugareños lo utilizan para ir al trabajo

No hay mucha gente que considere el trayecto matutino al trabajo la mejor parte del día, a menos que vivan en Suiza. En verano, algunos lugareños cambian los coches por bañadores y flotan en ríos de aguas bravas como el Aare en Berna o el Rin en Basilea. Creo que lo que siempre llama la atención a la gente es nadar en los ríos de las ciudades. Es algo que la gente hace de verdad. Alimentado por el agua de deshielo de los Alpes, Los ríos suizos se han convertido en un lugar de veraneo para los bañistas, si puedes soportar las bajas temperaturas. Calienta como 22, pero solo fue durante unos días, pero la mayoría de las veces es como de 18 a 20. Es refrescante. Para mí, es algo que me despeja la mente. El agua limpia me despeja la mente y me permite relajarme. Suiza es quizás uno de los pocos lugares del mundo donde todos los ríos y lagos están suficientemente limpios para bañarse. Nuestros ríos no siempre estuvieron limpios. Si te remontas quizás a los años 50 o 60 o alrededor de esa época, nadar en el río no era realmente recomendable. Pero en los años 60, 70, las ciudades realmente invirtieron mucho en la infraestructura para asegurarse de que el agua está limpia. Los ríos están limpios y lo seguirán estando en un futuro próximo. La ciudad tiene puntos de entrada y salida señalizados, además de directrices de seguridad en línea para mantener a salvo a los bañistas. Hay muchas precauciones de seguridad. No es para todo el mundo. También eres un buen nadador, número uno, y conoces todos los puntos de salida. Creo que cada cinco metros, puedes ir a los lados. ¿Necesitas llevar un portátil? Las tiendas locales venden bolsas impermeables para mantener secos los aparatos electrónicos. Estas bolsas con nombres divertidos como Wickelfisch en Basilea, casi se han convertido en elementos de moda. Y así, algunas personas que nunca nadan en el río también pasean con ellos. Junto a estos intrépidos viajeros, la mayoría de los lugareños vienen al río a relajarse y descansar. Todo el mundo era muy libre. Es como si el río fuera la libertad. Para mí, el río es donde todo el mundo se reúne después del trabajo. Y lo digo en el sentido de por qué los suizos son ricos, porque flotan en casa. En realidad, es la sensación de felicidad que tienen los suizos. Vale, no todas las ciudades tienen una autopista fluvial alimentada por glaciares, pero merece la pena explorar los desplazamientos más ecológicos y saludables. Sólo hace falta un bañador y un poco de valor.

Hurricane Erin will bring dangerously rough surf to parts of the U.S. East Coast. Over the weekend, Erin's outer bands lashed Puerto Rico with up to 7 inches of rain and flooding parts of the island.

East Coast of the United States

Erin expected to bring dangerous conditions to U.S. East Coast

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy will be joined by several European leaders at a White House meeting with President Donald Trump on Monday (August 18) aimed at brokering a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.

Washington

Ukraine Invasion

Zelenskiy bringing European leaders to Trump meeting

Ahead of his Monday meeting with President Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymry Zelenksyy says his country will not give up any territory to Russia, even as the White House insists potential land swaps will be necessary. Willie James Inman reports.

Kyiv

Ahead of Trump meeting, Zelenskyy says won't give territory to Russia

Thousands of Israeli protesters demanded a deal to secure the release of hostages still held by Hamas in one of the biggest demonstrations since the war in Gaza began. Debora Patta reports.

Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

Thousands of Israelis protest in Gaza, call for end to fighting

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy flies to Washington on Monday under heavy U.S. pressure to agree to a swift end to Russia's war in his country, but determined to defend Kyiv's interests — without sparking a second Oval Office dust-up with Donald Trump.

Zelenskyy, European allies to meet with Trump to discuss peace

European leaders voiced strong support for Ukraine ahead of a Washington summit with U.S President Donald Trump. They emphasized unity, territorial integrity and security guarantees as essential to any peace deal.

Paris

European leaders stress unity with Ukraine ahead of peace talks

International condemnation and pressure from allies have done nothing to stop Israel's plan to displace the people of northern Gaza. Israel on Saturday (August 16) said it is preparing to move Palestinians from combat zones to southern Gaza.

Israeli military prepares to move Palestinians to southern Gaza

Thousands of people took to the streets on Sunday in a nationwide strike amid fears further fighting could endanger the 50 hostages believed to still be in Gaza.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Dozens of Israelis arrested in protest to demand end to Gaza war

Russia continues to target Ukrainian cities firing hundreds of missiles and projectiles daily despite ongoing peace efforts, led by the United States. Ukrainian officials say their unwillingness to dial back their offensive reflects their lack of sincere interest in peace.

Five killed as Russia continues to pummel Ukrainian cities

U.S. President Donald Trump said that Ukraine should make a deal to end the war with Russia because "Russia is a very big power, and they're not," after a summit where Vladimir Putin was reported to have demanded more Ukrainian land.

Anchorage

Trump told Zelenskiy that Putin wants more of Ukraine, source says

Efforts by Texas Republicans to redraw the state's congressional maps got new pushback from protesters at rallies across the country Saturday. Nearly 280 events took place in 34 states, according to organizers.

"Fight the Trump Takeover" protests held across U.S.

West Virginia's governor says he will send up to 400 National Guard troops to the nation's capital at President Trump's request. They'll join other National Guard troops and federal agents already deployed with local police on the streets of Washington, D.C.

More troops arrive in D.C. at Trump's request

President Trump reversed course Saturday, saying he is no longer seeking an urgent ceasefire in Ukraine, but now agrees with Russian President Vladimir Putin that pursuing a peace deal is the best way to end the war.

Trump sides with Putin, preferring peace over ceasefire

Russian President Vladimir Putin described his meeting with President Trump as "frank, substantive and bringing us closer to making the necessary decisions." But the Alaska summit couldn't have been more far removed from the battlefields of Ukraine.

War-weary Ukrainians desperate for a ceasefire

In Ukraine, many do not believe Russia's president Vladimir Putin actually wants a ceasefire deal. They say Trump should stop making concessions to the Kremlin and for U.S President Donald Trump to demand an end to Russia aggression.

Ukrainians sceptical of Vladimir Putin’s intention

Being a Category 1 hurricane, Erin underwent a 'rapid intensification' which helped the storm to grow and strengthen to a powerful Category 5. Hurricane Erin won't make a direct hit on the U.S., but it will produce dangerous surf conditions for the entire East Coast.

San Juan

Hurricane Erin 'rapidly intensifies' to a Category 5

The Washington, D.C., police chief will remain in command of the local force following a settlement with the Trump administration over the federal takeover, but they are required to cooperate with the White House's immigration policy.

D.C. police retain some control after deal with Justice Department

The Atlantic Ocean's first hurricane of the season, Erin, has continued to gain strength and currently sits off the coast of Anguilla.

Hurricane Erin strengthens in the Atlantic

President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met on Friday in Alaska to discuss the war in Ukraine. The leaders did not announce a peace deal, but Trump is set to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday.

Trump, Putin meeting in Alaska ends without a ceasefire deal

Talks between the U.S. President and Russian President Vladimir Putin concluded without an agreement on ending the war in Ukraine, despite being widely anticipated as a possible turning point.

Zelenskyy set to meet U.S. president Monday after no ceasefire deal

For the first time in a decade, Vladimir Putin was on U.S. soil for a much-anticipated meeting with Donald Trump. The U.S. and Russian presidents were supposed to discuss a deal to put an end to Moscow’s war against Ukraine, but they did not mention a ceasefire after the talks.

Trump, Putin wrap up talks with no mention of ceasefire

President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Alaska for a high-stakes summit over ending the war in Ukraine. Nancy Cordes and Margaret Brennan have coverage and analysis.

What we know about the high-stakes summit between Trump and Putin

U.S. President Donald Trump and Russia's Vladimir Putin have arrived in Alaska ahead of their high stakes talks on Ukraine. The expected one-on-one meeting between Trump and Putin has expanded to include U.S. officials Steve Witkoff and Marco Rubio and other Russian officials.

Trump, Putin arrive in Alaska for historic summit

Israel's far-right finance minister approved the construction of a controversial new settlement in the West Bank, saying it "finally buries the idea of a Palestinian state." But it's unclear if this move will actually go through. Rights groups swiftly condemned the plan.

Israeli finance minister approves new West Bank settlement

U.S. President Donald Trump indicated in an interview that he hoped to push Russian President Vladimir Putin toward a second meeting but acknowledged there was a chance Friday’s meeting would not succeed.

Trump shifts tone, confident on deal to end Ukraine war

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalei Smotrich said a plan to add more than 3,000 homes to a controversial settlement in the West Bank would bury ‘the idea of a Palestinian state.’

Israel furthers plan for settlement that divides the West Bank

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London. This comes one day before U.S. President Donald Trump is set to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska to discuss a possible ceasefire in Ukraine.

London

Zelenskyy, Starmer meet ahead of Trump, Putin summit in Alaska

Speaking in the Oval Office on Thursday, President Trump sounded optimistic about his upcoming summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.

Trump says he thinks Putin and Zelenskyy will make peace

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has announced plans to build another immigrant detention center, dubbing it the "Deportation Depot." The facility will be in North Florida.

Breakdown