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Straits Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Pressure mounting on reluctant Trump to impose sanctions on Russia
FILE PHOTO: Russian soldiers, who were involved in the country's military campaign in Ukraine, march in columns during a parade on Victory Day, marking the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, in Red Square in central Moscow, Russia, May 9, 2025. REUTERS/Anton Vaganov/File Photo FILE PHOTO: A participant wearing a mask depicting the Statue of Liberty attends a rally against U.S. President Donald Trump's stance on the Russia-Ukraine war, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in front of the U.S. embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine March 8, 2025. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko/File Photo WASHINGTON - Some Republicans in Congress and White House advisers are urging U.S. President Donald Trump to finally embrace new sanctions on Moscow as frustration mounts over Russian President Vladimir Putin's military assault on Ukraine. Trump has held off on such penalties for months, believing he could have fruitful dealings with Putin to end the war and considering sanctions in general to be overused and often ineffective. White House officials say Trump still hopes to develop an economic partnership with Russia. He sees sanctions as an escalation in tensions with Moscow that could derail hopes of a ceasefire in the three-year-old conflict. But his frustration with Putin is genuine and increasingly severe, according to aides. They said he is giving sanctions serious consideration after Russia escalated its attacks in recent days. "He is always looking at different ways to apply pressure," a senior White House official said. "This is no different. He's always weighing his options." U.S. officials have prepared new economic sanctions against Russia, including banking and energy measures. They say that sanctions package is ready to implement based on Trump's order. One option supported by some Trump advisers would be for the president to embrace, or at least not obstruct, legislation introduced by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal last month that would set a 500% tariff on goods imported from countries that buy Russian oil. Some advisers believe the bill could be useful because it would allow consequential sanctions to go into effect while Trump could in essence tell Putin the sanctions decision was out of his hands, according to one U.S. official with direct knowledge of the matter. That in turn could help Trump maintain a viable line of communication with Putin. That U.S. official and another person familiar with internal deliberations said the Trump White House believes secondary sanctions - that is to say sanctions on countries that do business with Russia, not just Russia itself - are needed for them to be effective. Graham and fellow Republican Senator Chuck Grassley, both close Trump allies, said this week that now is the time to increase pressure on Putin. "I believe President Trump was sincere when he thought his friendship w Putin would end the war. Now that being the case, IT'S TIME FOR SANCTIONS STRONG ENUF SO PUTIN KNOWS 'game over,'" Grassley said in a social media post on Tuesday. WAR DRAGS ON Trump entered office in January predicting he would be able to end the war in Ukraine in 24 hours. But in the months since, he has absorbed the grim reality that the conflict is more intractable than he originally believed and has blamed his predecessor, Joe Biden, for allowing it to happen. Last week, Trump spoke with Putin for two hours and thought he had a deal to begin ceasefire negotiations immediately. Then Russia launched a barrage of drone and missile attacks on Ukraine, prompting Trump to say Putin had "gone absolutely CRAZY" and that he was "playing with fire" by refusing to engage in ceasefire talks with Kyiv. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday, Trump explained why he felt imposing sanctions could antagonize Putin. "If I think I'm close to getting a deal, I don't want to screw it up by doing that," he said. Asked whether Putin wanted to end the war, Trump said, "I can't tell you that, but I'll let you know in about two weeks," noting he was waiting on Russia to submit its latest peace proposal. "We're going to find out whether or not he's tapping us along or not, and if he is, we'll respond a little bit differently," Trump added. Trump has threatened sanctions before, only to back off. He talked about the possibility of sanctions back in January and again before his most recent call with Putin. Putin said last week that he had agreed to work with Ukraine on a memorandum that would establish the contours of a peace accord, including the timing of a ceasefire. Russia says it is currently drafting its version of the memorandum and cannot estimate how long that will take. Republicans generally have followed Trump's lead on foreign policy in the months since he began his second term in office, making their pursuit of sanctions on their own noteworthy. White House officials have held conversations with Senate Republicans about the contents of the sanctions bill, according to one of the U.S. officials. Should the Senate bill move forward, there is a bipartisan companion bill in the House of Representatives, although support for Ukraine among House Republicans has been notably weaker than in the Senate. The European Union, meanwhile, has been ramping up sanctions on Russia. An EU measure adopted last week hit over 130 entities and individuals, and listed 75 new sanctions entities including major oil firm Surgutneftegaz. In meetings in recent days in Washington, U.S. officials have said they have no qualms with the new measures, according to one person with direct knowledge of the matter. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Hindustan Times
New York vs Las Vegas: Where to holiday this Summer?
New York versus Las Vegas? Which is a better holiday destination? It is an unending debate. With its casinos (there are nearly 300 big/small casinos and 2,000 slot machine parlours), the famed strip and all that bling, Las Vegas is an adrenaline rush; New York with its rich history, iconic landmarks, world-class museums and a gourmand's haven (there are nearly 25,000 restaurants) is a different vibe. Both have a million to-do/see things but New York gets an edge with a direct flight from Delhi with a flight time of nearly 15 hours; getting to Las Vegas can be tedious - 22-hour flight time + the long layover. The long frosty winter is a New York nightmare, Las Vegas stays mostly sunny. If New York has a quirky Museum of Sex, Las Vegas has a graveyard for neon signs. New York versus Las Vegas debate rages on. Both New York and Las Vegas are on everyone's bucket list, you decide which city is your kinda holiday destination. Also read: Where to holiday this summer? Dubai vs Bangkok Flights: Mumbai-New York 1 stop return Economy flight starts at ₹62,000 (flight duration 19 hours + layover). The fastest is Delhi-New York direct flight on Air India, price starts at ₹1.27 lakhs; flight duration 14 hours 40 minutes. What to see/do: Buy the Explorer Pass ($89, includes entry to two attractions) or get the 1-day All-Inclusive pass for $164). See Metropolitan Museum of Art (MOMA), 9/11 Museum, Museum of Sex. Explore Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, Empire State Building, Times Square, Central Park, Bronx Zoo. Catch a Broadway show. Discover a hanging garden inside the Guggenheim Museum. Walk the High Line. What to eat: Have a drink at The Parlour at the InterContinental New York Barclay shakes up classic cocktails in a 1920s-inspired setting. Cannoli at Madonia Bakery. Fried chicken at Charles Pan-Fried Chicken. Franks at Gray's Papaya. Mutton chop at Keens Steakhouse. Al pastor tacos at Los Tacos No. 1. Burger at JG Melon, and Smacking Burger. Pastrami Sandwich at Katz's Deli. Cronut at Dominique Ansel's Bakery. Pizza at Joe's Pizza. Chicken Over Rice at the Halal Guys. Must do: A trip to Niagara Falls. You can take a bus or opt for a guided tour. Where to stay: As a rule, stay close to a subway station, you'll save a lot on transport & walking. Always check the extra resort fee that hotels charge above the regular room tariff. If you prefer to be closer to Broadway, stay in Midtown. Want to be closer to Central Park, choose an accommodation in Upper West Side. Financial District has many subway lines and from here it is easier to take the fear to the Statue of Liberty or the Staten Island Ferry. If you are new to the city, avoid staying in East Harlem, parts of South Bronx, Brownsville. Tips: • Traffic can be a nightmare, plan accordingly. • Use public transport. Try the New York Subway MTA Map app, or use the transit option on Apple Maps or Google Maps. • Not all establishments accept credit cards, so carry a little cash. • You can hail a cab, open the door, get into it without telling the driver where you have to go. Once you are in the cab, the driver cannot refuse to take you within the five boroughs. • There is no reason to rent a car, NYC has an extremely efficient subway system. Remember, never to get into an empty train car during rush hour, there is a reason why it is empty. • Skip the expensive boat cruise to the Statue of Liberty and take the Staten Island Ferry for free. • A 10-15% tip is expected in a restaurant. Give. • Avoid the bicycle pedicabs, they are criminally expensive (and might charge you by the minute!) • The 'costumed characters' in Times Square will charge you for a photograph. Don't be sneaky, they'll harass you for money. • NYC has a notoriously low number of public restrooms, so pee when you find a toilet. Many parks have comfort stations with public restrooms. Flights: There are no direct flights from India to Las Vegas. 1 stop return Economy flight from Mumbai & Delhi starts at ₹79,000, from Bengaluru it starts at ₹66,000. Flight duration is long: minimum 22 hours + layover for 1 stop flight. What to see/do: Fremont Street Experience. Bellagio's Choreographed Fountains. Mob Museum. The Neon Museum. Check the calendar for celebrity singers' performances. High Roller. Shop at The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas, and Las Vegas North Premium Outlets. There are lots of free things to do: The Aquarium, The Arts Factory, Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, Coca-Cola Store Las Vegas, Downtown Art Murals, Ethel M Chocolates & Cactus Garden, Hershey's Chocolate World, Pinball Hall of Fame. What to eat: Always opt for the buffet - there is a nothing quite like a Las Vegas buffet. Food Halls are the next best option. Black Out dining in the dark. Oyster Bar. Balla Italian Soul. Ito. Don'a Prime. Peppermill Restaurant. Sinatra. Delilah. Sparrow + Wolf. Miznon. Wakuda. Step into one of the Speakeasies. Must do: One-day trip to the Grand Canyon (about 4-hour drive from Vegas). You can also opt for Grand Canyon tours. Grand Canyon day-trip bus tour starts at US$75. A Grand Canyon 70/90 minute Helicopter ride costs around $250. Where to stay: The Strip seems to be the obvious choice - for all the action happens at walkable distance. Go to the Visit Vegas official website to look for best hotel options + booking codes for discounts. You get bigger discounts for booking 30+ days in advance. Fontainebleau is the tallest hotel in Vegas. NoMad Las Vegas is a hotel within the Park MGM hotel. The Venetian Resort. Bellagio. Wynn. Caesars Palace. MGM Grand 7 Casino. Tips: • There'll be a lot of walking, wear comfortable shoes. • Stay hydrated, the desert climate can be very tiring. • Tipping at restaurants is an unsaid rule. • It is illegal for taxis to stop on the strip, so don't try flagging one down. • When booking hotel rooms, ask about resort fee that is added to the the initial room price. These fees range from $20-$50 per day so check the mandatory fee before booking. • Jaywalking is illegal and dangerous in Las Vegas. Don't. • Be careful of your belongings in crowded areas. • Do not use ATMs inside casinos, they charge an additional fee of up to $8 per transaction. • Don't fall for free-show tickets. Avoid them. • Remember, no one under the age of 21 is allowed on the casino floor. US currency: US dollar (USD). 1 USD = 85.17 INR
New York Post
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Nothing can stop ‘Oh, Mary!' and Cole Escola at the Tony Awards
Sirens call from stage It's Tonys time soon. June 8. More exciting news than the bulletins at Newark. I haven't been this moved since Sutton Foster told me in 2022 that she'd been picked to work with Hugh Jackman in Broadway's 'The Music Man.' Not knowing him so well before, she was therefore very excited. Now 2025, getting divorced from his wife of decades. New lady friend — Sutton Foster. The first Tonys were 1947. At the Waldorf Astoria, which may reopen when the Statue of Liberty goes co-op. Tickets, $7. Now Radio City. Price? $795 plus whatever's an $8 venue fee. The first winners? Arthur Miller, Ingrid Bergman, Agnes de Mille, Helen Hayes. 1947 was a good year. Its aging musicals of that time still get rejuiced — 'Oklahoma!,' 'Brigadoon,' 'High Button Shoes.' The hotshot drama later that year: 'A Streetcar Named Desire,' with Marlon Brando, Kim Hunter, Jessica Tandy, Karl Malden. It was names like Orson Welles, Ethel Merman, Victor Moore, William Gaxton, Ray Bolger, Arthur Godfrey, Walter Huston, Bert Lahr, Lillian Gish, Dorothy Gish, Basil Rathbone, Uta Hagen, Anthony Quinn, Katharine Cornell, John Gielgud, James Mason, Bobby Clark, Maurice Evans and Tallulah Bankhead — all became biggies. Get opinions and commentary from our columnists Subscribe to our daily Post Opinion newsletter! Thanks for signing up! Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Never miss a story. Check out more newsletters My Tallulah story: Trying to be a reporter I got myself to the Waldorf. In the ladies' room, next stall over, separated only by a thin wall — the superfamous thick throaty-voiced Bankhead came at me with: 'Little girl, have you any paper in there?' 'N-n-no, Miss Bankhead.' Sounds of a purse opening, scrabbling around, closing, then: 'Have you two fives for a ten?' All hail 'Mary' So, who's going to schlep home the Tony? It is the quickie show 'Oh, Mary!' The star, writer, creator, costumer Cole Escola. Nobody else. Forget anybody else. If Shakespeare himself showed up onstage live and inhaling a ham sandwich — he'd blow it. It's Cole. Cole Escola! Two years ago, it was another one-of-a-kind: Alex Newell. In a cornball musical about growing corn. The title was 'Shucked.' He won. Where is he now, what's he doing, why isn't he starring someplace in some musky theater? Is this the power of the famous fabulous Antoinette Perry Award? That after you sweat and strain and slave and worry and borrow a shmatta and rent jewels and rehearse your speech and try not to flop lumbering up the stairs — you end up the following year — where? It brings you nothing? Borscht? I know he's working. He's done concerts. He's done a movie. But is he on a Broadway stage right now grabbing another Antoinette Perry Award? No. Talent has its difficulties. Michelangelo spent four years daubing the Sistine Chapel. He didn't mind because he was union. What bugged him was that the Vatican then asked for a second coat. Watch the Tonys, kiddies, watch the Tonys.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Dome sweet dome! Restoration of copper dome at First United Methodist Church nears completion
May 28—For the past seven months, contractors have spent their days working 100 feet above the streets of downtown Newton; the views have been breathtaking when they can summon the courage to scan the horizon, but their work station atop the copper dome of the First United Methodist Church has been just as extraordinary. Dylan Davis, project superintendent for Breiholz Construction, said there is just nothing like standing at the top of the dome and looking out across town. If he looks hard enough, he can see almost every water tower in all of the surrounding towns. When he looks out over Newton, he sees no other copper domes. For Davis, it feels like he is on top of the world. Ceko Lilly, a journeyman for Breiholz Construction, doesn't let his gaze stray too far from the copper surface he is working on. Admittedly, he develops a bit of tunnel vision when he's on the dome. Even though he's connected to a tether, it still feels like a long way down. Still, Lilly at least gets to admire his work a little more. Even though crews are a few weeks from finishing the job, he can begin to see the green patina forming on the copper. Over time, the dome will look less like a new penny and more like the Statue of Liberty. Their work also means the dome's life is greatly extended. Replacing the copper dome has been a collaborative effort. Breiholz Construction was chosen to handle the restoration in large part due to its background repairing historic structures. Baker Group was hired on to conduct the copper work; the company had previously refurbished exterior copper at the Iowa State Capitol. OPN Architects was involved with the church early on in the project and prepared the initial study to determine what needed to be done to the dome after it sustained hail damage. The architects frequently visit the site to make sure the drawings and specifications had been adhered to during the construction phase. Kimbra Korte, chair of the trustees committee at First United Methodist Church, said the May 2023 hail storm — which produced baseball- to tennis ball-sized hail — had torn holes into the vinyl siding and dented the copper roof. The damage caused a number of water issues. Church leaders wanted to see it fixed. Grinnell Mutual, the church's insurance company, covered a large portion of the repairs, which has cost an estimated $1.2 million. Fred Chabot, member of the church's trustees committee, said over the years the dome has received some maintenance and repair work. The siding had been replaced at one point to better waterproof the structure, and some elastomeric paint had been applied to parts of the copper. Breiholz Construction found that daylight could be seen from inside the dome itself, which is only accessible through an attic. Workers sealed off those gaps and also built a new collapsable ladder for the scuttle hole, which allows church leaders to access the inner dome safely. For the past 15 years he has been in the business, Davis has worked a lot of new construction and remodeling jobs. But he has never worked on a dome. "Copper as well," Davis said. "It's unique. It's not typical anymore. Nobody puts the money into that kind of thing anymore as far as that goes. It's definitely an art to say the least. It's a lot of hands-on work and it's got a uniqueness to it. You can't just lay it down and go. You gotta know what you're doing." There are challenges when restoring or repairing portions of a historic building. Davis said his biggest obstacle was knowing where to start and stop. "You can't remove everything otherwise it's no longer historic," Davis said. "You gotta keep some of it around and you have to know much of the scab do you have to peal back. You try to keep it original as much as possible. Another challenge was the learning curve for the dome." Chabot is pleased that both the trustees and the congregation are committed to preserving the historic church, a "symbol of Newton." According to local historian Larry Hurto's chronicles of the church, the building was dedicated in 1915. It was built of Bedford limestone and surmounted with a copper-covered dome. It had a large dining room, a completely furnished kitchen, a social room, coffee room, boys' club room, shower bath, toilets — the list goes on. Additions were added later on. The sanctuary had a seating capacity of 450. Combined with the balcony seatings and other rooms, the church had a total capacity of 1,250. "There's a sense of commitment by the trustees and congregation to preserve this unique building in the town of Newton," Chabot said. Korte said there are a lot of people who have attended First United Methodist Church for a long time. The project showed her that many people are interested in maintaining the building as a place of worship. The congregation has been very interested in the project, giving trustees a chance to share the history. Hurto noted First United Methodist Church is a contributing property to Newton's historic downtown district. Looking around at the copper on the dome and the stained glass present throughout the building, Hurto said it is "an architectural treasure." Its history is significant, and its services date back to the 1840s. "This is a testament, I think, to all of the saints that have attended church here over generations," Hurto said. "To be able to be in a position to save and preserve it for future generations is very exciting." It makes the sudden passing of Pastor Doug Cue on May 18 all the more tragic. Hurto said it is heartbreaking to think Cue did not see the dome's completion. Davis said Cue and the congregation have been so welcoming throughout the entire project. He came into work not feeling stressed, nor did he feel pressured to speed up the process. Davis said Cue especially made him feel warm and invited, and even fixed a few meals for workers. "It's been very pleasurable throughout the entire duration of the project," Davis said. "They've done a very good job not only giving us a cool project to work with but they've been very inviting the entire time we've been here."
Atlantic
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Atlantic
The People Who Clean the Ears of Lincoln (And Other Statues)
A collection of images of the varied workers and techniques used to maintain some of the world's largest and most prominent statues and monuments. May 28, 2025, 12:20 PM ET National Parks Service worker James Hudson uses a cloth-wrapped pole to clean the ear of the statue at the Lincoln Memorial in 1987. Maintenance workers clean a statue in Central Park, in New York City, in 2016. A municipal worker scrubs a statue of the Soviet state founder Vladimir Lenin in Saint Petersburg, Russia, in 2023. A crew carries out the annual cleaning of the 120-meter-tall Ushiku Daibutsu Great Buddha statue in Ushiku, Japan, in 2022. Nelson's Column, in London's Trafalgar Square, gets a spring cleaning in 1987. Brian Lawless / PA Images / Reuters A statue of the late musician Luke Kelly in Dublin's city center is cleaned after it had been defaced overnight in 2020. The model maker Helga Mueller works to restore a model of the Statue of Liberty, seen behind a model of the U.S. Capitol Building, at Miniwelt (Miniworld) in Lichtenstein, Germany, in 2015. Tiziana Fabi / AFP / Getty The restorer Eleonora Pucci cleans Michelangelo's David using a backpack vacuum and a synthetic-fiber brush at the Galleria dell'Accademia, in Florence, Italy, in 2024. A worker cleans the statue of the spaceflight pioneer Yuri Gagarin before Cosmonauts Day in Moscow in 2023. Harry Todd / Fox Photos / Getty Workmen clean the immense statue of two horses pulling a quadriga atop Wellington Arch, at London's Hyde Park Corner, in 1939. Cleaners spray the 37-meter-tall Merlion statue on the resort island of Sentosa, in Singapore, in 2015. A worker cleans a Buddha statue in preparation for Lunar New Year celebrations at Satya Buddha Temple in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia, in 2023. Alan Taylor is a senior editor at The Atlantic.
