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Donald Trump cancels August vacation to work on Russia-Ukraine

Donald Trump cancels August vacation to work on Russia-Ukraine

The Hindua day ago
The White House on Tuesday (August 19, 2025) said President Donald Trump called off his traditional summer vacation in northern New Jersey due to the ongoing talks to end the war in Ukraine.
Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, confirmed the President's decision.
'This is normally the time when the President goes on vacation, but not this President,' Ms. Leavitt said, adding that there were 'discussions about him working from Bedminster for a couple of weeks but he decided against it.'
Bedminster is the location of his club in northern New Jersey, where Mr. Trump often goes for weekends. He also spent some stretches of time in August there for vacation during his first term.
The comments from Ms. Leavitt came when the White House took a portion of the day's press pool out to the renovated Rose Garden as the president tested out the area's new speakers.
Earlier, Deputy White House Chief of Staff Dan Scavino posted footage showing off new speakers installed as part of Trump's makeover of the White House's Rose Garden.
One of Mr. Trump's favourite songs, Lee Greenwood's 'God Bless the USA,' blares in the video, over a shot showing patio-style tables shielded by yellow umbrellas. The shot later focuses in on an American flag overhead.
Ms. Leavitt subsequently brought reporters to the Rose Garden and said Mr. Trump was controlling the playlist as crews tested the speakers for 'what will be the best event in the history of the White House.'
She said the next party there will be 'hopefully soon.'
Other songs being played included 'Whiter Shade of Pale' by Procol Harum. The music was loud enough to be heard in other parts of the White House.
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Zakir Khan at Madison Square Garden: The next global comedy superstar may be an Indian
Zakir Khan at Madison Square Garden: The next global comedy superstar may be an Indian

Indian Express

time9 minutes ago

  • Indian Express

Zakir Khan at Madison Square Garden: The next global comedy superstar may be an Indian

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How China is scaling up Russian oil orders as Trump turns the screws on India
How China is scaling up Russian oil orders as Trump turns the screws on India

First Post

time12 minutes ago

  • First Post

How China is scaling up Russian oil orders as Trump turns the screws on India

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US $250 visa fee may cost economy $29 bn in lost tourism spend
US $250 visa fee may cost economy $29 bn in lost tourism spend

Time of India

time12 minutes ago

  • Time of India

US $250 visa fee may cost economy $29 bn in lost tourism spend

You Might Also Like: Could Trump's Big Beautiful Bill drive away World Cup tourists from the US? Congress and the US tourism industry are at odds over the newly approved $250 'visa integrity fee.' While the Congressional Budget Office ( CBO ) projects it could generate about $2.7 billion annually, industry officials warn it will deter international visitors and harm the broader CBO's estimate is based only on direct fee collections from roughly 11 million annual applicants. But Tourism Economics , a division of Oxford Economics, found the fee could discourage 5.4% of visitors, translating to nearly one million fewer trips each year. That would cut visitor spending, tax revenue, and jobs in the tourism sector. A CBO spokesperson told Forbes, 'By longstanding tradition, the Congressional Budget Office does not incorporate macroeconomic feedback effects into its traditional cost estimates.'Industry representatives argue that lawmakers overlooked the impact on key markets such as India and Brazil. 'Congress made the mistake of assuming that this worldwide visa integrity fee would not have a big impact on visitors from countries like India or Brazil,' Erik Hansen, senior vice president of government relations at the US Travel Association, told Forbes. He noted India is one of the fastest-growing inbound markets, with Indian tourists spending $13.3 billion in the US in 2024. 'Applying a $250 fee to a country where travel is growing is mindboggling. It will absolutely deter travel—that's what our research has found,' Hansen refund provision attached to the fee is also drawing scrutiny. Under the Big Beautiful Bill, the State Department 'may reimburse' the fee after the visa expires, but most visitor visas are valid for 10 years. 'The idea that you're going to give the government money and then wait around 10 years and remember to ask for it back, even if you followed the rules, is just absolutely crazy,' Hansen said. The CBO itself acknowledged that few applicants would claim refunds, and the State Department would need years to create a processing fee comes as international tourism to the US faces broader headwinds. A June report from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) projected the US will be the only major market to see a decline in international visitor spending in 2025, with losses estimated at $29 billion. WTTC President Julia Simpson said, 'While other nations are rolling out the welcome mat, the US government is putting up the 'closed' sign.'Compounding the challenge, Congress cut funding for Brand USA—the country's marketing agency—from $100 million to $20 million. Hansen called the decision 'another error,' stressing that the program is central to shaping international perceptions of the US as a travel destination.

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