
Russian-Georgian sculptor Tsereteli, known for monumental projects, dies at 91, World News
Rising to prominence in the Soviet Union in the 1960s and 1970s, Tsereteli became known for his monumental projects, and later for his closeness to parts of the Russian political elite.
In 2004, he told Reuters that Vladimir Putin's "healthy soul" had inspired him to do a bronze study of the Russian president.
A friendship with former Moscow mayor Yury Luzhkov saw him commissioned to produce an enormous monument to Tsar Peter the Great that stands in central Moscow. He also took a key role in the reconstruction of the city's Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, which had been destroyed under Stalin in 1931.
In a post on the Telegram messenger app, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called Tsereteli "an artist of world renown, a public figure who knew no boundaries or obstacles in strengthening peace and supporting creativity".
Other Tsereteli works include monuments to the discovery of the Americas in Seville, Spain, and in Puerto Rico, and the enormous Chronicle of Georgia monument in his hometown of Tbilisi.
One of his sculptures, the ten-storey Tear of Grief, was presented to the US by the Russian government as a memorial to the victims of the Sept 11, 2001 attacks. It stands in New Jersey.
[[nid:717101]]
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Trump may travel to China to meet Xi in 'not-too-distant future'
FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump attends a bilateral meeting with China's President Xi Jinping during the G20 leaders summit in Osaka, Japan, June 29, 2019. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo WASHINGTON - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he may visit China soon for a landmark trip to address simmering trade and security tensions between the superpower rivals. "President Xi has invited me to China, and we'll probably be doing that in the not-too-distant future," Trump told reporters in the White House's Oval Office. "A little bit out, but not too distant. And I've been invited by a lot of people, and we'll make those decisions pretty soon." Trump and Xi's aides have discussed a potential meeting between the leaders during a trip by the U.S. president to Asia later this year, Reuters has reported, citing two people familiar with the plans. While plans for a meeting have not been finalized, discussions on both sides of the Pacific have included a possible Trump stopover around the time of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea or talks on the sidelines of the October 30-November 1 event, the people said. Another possible trip would be for a September 3 Beijing ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, which Russian President Vladimir Putin also plans to attend. Meetings between Trump and Xi or Putin would be the first face-to-face encounters between the men since Trump's inauguration on January 20 for his second term in office. The White House and the Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry have declined to comment on the Reuters report. GLOBAL RIVALS Trump made the comment about meeting Xi during a meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., a key Pacific ally who Trump said he had nudged away from China. "The country was maybe tilting toward China for a period of time, but we un-tilted it very, very quickly," Trump said. Trump added: "I don't mind if he gets along with China because we're getting along with China very well." Marcos, who took office in 2022, has for years sought U.S. support as his country's maritime disputes worsen with China. Manila has sought to avoid direct confrontation with its larger neighbor, which claims most of the South China Sea as its own territory. The U.S. and the Philippines have a seven-decade-old collective defense treaty, potentially implicating Washington in a clash between China and the Philippines. Washington sees Beijing as its key strategic rival globally. Upon taking office, Trump launched a tit-for-tat tariff war with China that has upended global trade and supply chains. Other points of friction between the countries include China's support for Russia, the illicit opioid trade, China's growing pressure on Taiwan and exit bans on some American residents. In recent weeks, Trump has sought to lower tensions, describing his personal relations with Xi as healthy. Trump has sought to impose tariffs on virtually all foreign goods, including both China and U.S. allies in Asia like the Philippines. He says this will stimulate domestic manufacturing, but critics say many consumer goods will become more expensive for Americans. The president has called for a universal base tariff rate of 10% on goods imported from all countries, with higher rates for some. Imports from China have the highest tariff rate of 55%. Trump has set a deadline of August 12 for the U.S. and China to reach a durable tariff agreement. REUTERS

Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
French culture minister Dati, ex-auto CEO Ghosn to stand trial for graft
FILE PHOTO: French Culture Minister Rachida Dati arrives to attend the annual Bastille Day military ceremony on the Place de la Concorde in Paris, France, July 14, 2025. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/File Photo PARIS - French judges on Tuesday ordered that French Culture Minister Rachida Dati and former automobile executive Carlos Ghosn must stand trial for alleged corruption and abuse of power in a case focusing on consulting fees, a judicial source said. The French prosecutor's office for financial crimes (PNF) had requested in November 2024 that Dati, widely expected to run for the post of Paris mayor in March 2026, and former Renault-Nissan boss Ghosn be tried as part of its investigation into corruption. Investigators had been probing the consulting fees Dati once received from the Renault-Nissan auto alliance, which hired her as a consultant after she stepped down as justice minister in 2009 to stand for the European Parliament. Dati has denied irregularities in the fees she received during that time, and Ghosn, who fled from Japan in a box aboard a private jet to Lebanon, has denied allegations of misconduct against him. Representatives for Dati had no immediate comment, while Ghosn's representatives could not immediately be reached for comment. Ghosn, who holds French, Lebanese and Brazilian citizenships, has not left Lebanon since 2019 because of an Interpol Red Notice issued by Japan. REUTERS

Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
US House Speaker Johnson sees no immediate Russia sanctions action
FILE PHOTO: U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson reacts following the signing of U.S. President Donald Trump's sweeping spending and tax bill, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 3, 2025. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo WASHINGTON - U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson said on Tuesday he does not think the U.S. Congress should consider sanctions on Russia until after President Donald Trump's 50-day deadline for Moscow to end the war in Ukraine. "We were talking about sanctioning Russia," the Louisiana Republican said at a weekly news conference. "But I think the House and the Senate agree that the White House having given that deadline of 50 days, we need to allow the commander-in-chief and the administration and the secretary of defense and the Pentagon to do what they're going to do, and we'll see how that plays out," Johnson said. Some members of Congress have been pushing for stiff sanctions on Russia, including a Senate bill with 85 co-sponsors from both parties that would impose 500% tariffs on countries that buy Russian oil, gas, uranium and other exports. China and India account for about 70% of Russia's international energy business, which helps fund its war effort. However, the Republican leaders of the Senate and House have said they will not bring any sanctions legislation up for a vote without Trump's approval. Trump on July 14 threatened stiff sanctions on Russia and countries that buy Russian oil, but gave Moscow 50 days to agree to a ceasefire deal. Johnson called for an end to the war. "We need peace, over there. It's gone on too long. Too many innocent people are dying. And we don't want further American involvement in this at all," he said. REUTERS