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Novaya Gazeta Europe
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Novaya Gazeta Europe
US ambassador to Russia signs off posting with Pushkin quote — Novaya Gazeta Europe
US Ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy attends a ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier ahead of Victory Day celebrations in Moscow, Russia, 25 April 2025. Photo: EPA-EFE/MAXIM SHIPENKOV US Ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy has completed her posting to Moscow and will soon depart the country after more than three years of service there, the US Embassy announced on Friday. 'We thank her for her constant diplomacy, deep respect for Russian culture, and dedicated service to her country. Ambassador Tracy's commitment to dialogue, even in difficult times, is an example of true diplomatic leadership,' the announcement read. A career member of the American Foreign Service, Tracy became the first female US ambassador to Russia when President Joe Biden appointed her in January 2023 to succeed John Sullivan. During her tenure, Tracy oversaw US-Russian relations following the invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent implementation of punitive sanctions by the West, and helped secure the release of several US citizens held in Russia, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. In February 2024, she and UK Ambassador to Russia Nigel Casey laid flowers at the Solovetsky Stone in Moscow, a monument to victims of political repression, after the death of opposition figure Alexey Navalny. Previously, Tracy served as the US Ambassador to Armenia (2019-2022), Deputy Chief of Mission to Moscow (2014-2017) — the Embassy's second most senior position — and completed other diplomatic postings in Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, and Kyrgyzstan. In farewell comments accompanying the US Embassy's post, Tracy said she had been inspired by meeting Russians 'who love their country and work every day for a better future', and expressed her desire that work should continue to 'improve [US-Russian] relations and support connections with the Russian people'. She concluded her remarks with a verse from Alexander Pushkin's poem To Chaadaev, considered one of his earliest civic-minded works: While freedom kindles us, my friend, While honour calls us and we hear it, Come: to our country let us tend The noble promptings of the spirit.
CNBC
14-06-2025
- Politics
- CNBC
Trump's long-sought military parade becomes reality
WASHINGTONThousands of troops will descend on Washington, D.C., on Saturday, accompanied by dozens of tanks and helicopters overhead, as President Donald Trump stages a high-profile spectacle to mark the Army's 250th anniversary. Trump, whose 79th birthday falls on the same day, has long pushed for a military parade in the nation's capital — an idea that was swatted down during his first term by Pentagon officials. Now, with full control of government and an administration stacked with loyalists, Trump is getting the grandiose show of force he's always envisioned, even if it is drawing critics. It's among the starkest examples yet of Trump flexing his role as commander-in-chief since taking office. As the festivities unfold in Washington, some of Trump's opponents are set to gather across the nation as part of "No Kings Day" demonstrations to protest Trump administration policies. Protests are scheduled in nearly 2,000 towns and cities across the United States, according to the event's website. It will be a vivid split screen, and comes against the backdrop of ongoing tensions in Los Angeles that have escalated since Trump deployed the National Guard to quell protests over immigration enforcement polices. In a stark warning, Trump earlier this week said that any D.C. protesters will be met with "very big force." Security officials said they were not anticipating widespread counterprotests in D.C., but they were monitoring any possible activity. The parade also comes amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, following Israel's attacks on Iran's nuclear sites, and Iran's retaliatory attacks. Throughout the day, there will be military demonstrations and a wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The parade will feature thousands of soldiers and dozens of tanks — and there will be a fireworks show at night. It could be the largest military parade in Washington, D.C., since 1991, when President George H. W. Bush held a military parade at the conclusion of the Gulf War. "It'll give downtown Moscow or downtown Beijing vibes, it'll feel like a whole nother authoritarian, communist country," Arizona-based Republican strategist Barrett Marson told CNBC. One particular sticking point for critics of the event, including some Republicans, is its high price tag. Altogether, the event could cost up to $45 million, according to an Army spokesperson. Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., said he would not "spend the money" on the event if it were up to him, NBC News reports. Most U.S. adults tend to agree, according to a poll out Thursday from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research that found that 60% of adults surveyed said the military parade is not a good use of government funds. But for Trump, the cost is "peanuts compared to the value of doing it," he said in an interview with NBC's "Meet the Press" last month. "We have the greatest missiles in the world. We have the greatest submarines in the world. We have the greatest army tanks in the world. We have the greatest weapons in the world," Trump told NBC News' Kristen Welker. "And we're going to celebrate it." This is a developing story and will be updated throughout the day.
Calgary Herald
08-06-2025
- Calgary Herald
Is the Haunted Walk Of Ottawa actually scary?
The number of bodies buried beneath Ottawa's downtown core may surprise you. Article content It definitely surprised me when I signed up for a Haunted Walk of Ottawa tour on a recent evening. It was one of those perfect early-summer evenings when our city is at its best, with the setting sun casting a golden glow on the historic limestone buildings surrounding the National War Memorial. Article content Article content Our group of seven on this particular walk consisted of a young couple from Ukraine and a family of three from South Africa, the dad being in town on business, plus me and an adventurous friend. Our guide was Caroline, a storyteller with a flair for the dramatic who wore the Haunted Walk's trademark long, black cloak and carried a battery-powered lantern. Article content Article content The tours take place almost every evening. Because this one was an early-week booking, between Monday and Wednesday, each of us saved $5 on the usual cost of $29.99 per person. Even if you don't have a ghost-busting bone in your body, it's well worth it, not only for the historical content, but also for a fresh perspective on a part of the city we residents often take for granted. Article content We started at the old Central Post Office at the east end of Sparks Street and learned that the ground underneath the street was once a cemetery. Most of the remains were relocated when the area was redeveloped, but it's almost certain that some of the bodies are still there, all but forgotten except, perhaps, on dark and stormy full-moon nights. Article content Article content Leaving the restless souls of Sparks Street behind, the tour continued across the street. Our next stop was the grand memorial to Canada's war efforts and another gravesite, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. We paused for a moment to pay our respects to the thousands of Canadians killed during wartime. Article content Article content As we strolled between sites, several other groups of Haunted Walkers filed back to the starting point, most of them students on school trips trailing behind their own black-cloaked tour guide. Article content Glen Shackleton, founder and CEO of the Ottawa-based business, said the school trips were helping to fill the calendar until the summer tourists started to make plans. Tourism in Ottawa has been on a comeback since the COVID-19 shutdown five years ago. Article content 'It's been a slow start for tourism in general in Ottawa this year,' Shackleton said, 'but, honestly, I think that has more to do with the weather than anything. It's been pretty unusual, the inhospitable weather, but we're optimistic for a very good summer and fall.'
Vancouver Sun
08-06-2025
- Vancouver Sun
Is the Haunted Walk Of Ottawa actually scary?
The number of bodies buried beneath Ottawa's downtown core may surprise you. It definitely surprised me when I signed up for a Haunted Walk of Ottawa tour on a recent evening. It was one of those perfect early-summer evenings when our city is at its best, with the setting sun casting a golden glow on the historic limestone buildings surrounding the National War Memorial. Our group of seven on this particular walk consisted of a young couple from Ukraine and a family of three from South Africa, the dad being in town on business, plus me and an adventurous friend. Our guide was Caroline, a storyteller with a flair for the dramatic who wore the Haunted Walk's trademark long, black cloak and carried a battery-powered lantern. Get top headlines and gossip from the world of celebrity and entertainment. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sun Spots will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The tours take place almost every evening. Because this one was an early-week booking, between Monday and Wednesday, each of us saved $5 on the usual cost of $29.99 per person. Even if you don't have a ghost-busting bone in your body, it's well worth it, not only for the historical content, but also for a fresh perspective on a part of the city we residents often take for granted. We started at the old Central Post Office at the east end of Sparks Street and learned that the ground underneath the street was once a cemetery. Most of the remains were relocated when the area was redeveloped, but it's almost certain that some of the bodies are still there, all but forgotten except, perhaps, on dark and stormy full-moon nights. Leaving the restless souls of Sparks Street behind, the tour continued across the street. Our next stop was the grand memorial to Canada's war efforts and another gravesite, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. We paused for a moment to pay our respects to the thousands of Canadians killed during wartime. As we strolled between sites, several other groups of Haunted Walkers filed back to the starting point, most of them students on school trips trailing behind their own black-cloaked tour guide. Glen Shackleton, founder and CEO of the Ottawa-based business, said the school trips were helping to fill the calendar until the summer tourists started to make plans. Tourism in Ottawa has been on a comeback since the COVID-19 shutdown five years ago. 'It's been a slow start for tourism in general in Ottawa this year,' Shackleton said, 'but, honestly, I think that has more to do with the weather than anything. It's been pretty unusual, the inhospitable weather, but we're optimistic for a very good summer and fall.' Dealing with weather-related setbacks is nothing new for Shackleton, who was a Queen's University student when he started offering guided historical walks in 1996, initially in downtown Kingston. The company expanded to Ottawa in 1996 and to Toronto in 2012. When I asked if he was a theatre kid growing up, he laughed. 'I think I was more of a history kid, and I had to learn about the dramatic, theatrical part of things,' he said, adding that most of his staff had some acting experience. Our guide was no exception. She did a great job of projecting her voice over the sounds of the city, which that night included sirens, motorcycles, trucks, bicycle bells and other traffic noise, and she never failed to engage the audience of seven. To the delight of the young lad from South Africa, the stories were rich with creepy details and delivered with suspense. 'Okay, now I'm terrified,' the pint-sized horror fan declared with glee. After pausing for a postcard-perfect photo of the Château Laurier and a fascinating tidbit about its connection to the Titanic, we strolled along the Rideau Canal, glancing back for another ideal sunset photo, the golden glow framed by the curve of Sappers Bridge. To round out the peaceful scene, a mama goose calmly eyeballed us from her nest in a planter box alongside the National Arts Centre's elegant, canal-side restaurant. Historically, the picture was much different 200 years ago. We learned the Rideau Canal was a brutal construction project that claimed scores of victims. If it wasn't the cold, swampiness or the mosquitoes that aggravated workers, it was malaria. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of workers died during its construction, and many of them would have been laid to rest along the Canal, far from their homelands and loved ones. While the tour my friend and I joined was billed as the 'Original' haunted walk, it was actually a descendant of the original. For almost three decades, the Haunted Walk showcased Ottawa's old jail on Nicholas Street , showing off the cramped prison cells to thousands of people each year. But two years ago, the management of the jail, which runs it as a youth hostel, opted to use the cells to accommodate visitors in keeping with its prime mandate. The last Haunted Walk at the jail took place at Halloween in 2023. The loss of their main stage, so to speak, at the same time as they were recovering from the pandemic disruptions prompted a flurry of creativity from Shackleton and his team in coming up with a new original tour to anchor their lineup. While they were at it, they developed an entire series of tours, including ghost walks at the ByTown Museum, an indoor Secrets of the Château Laurier tour at the castle-like Fairmont hotel property, a quirky and light-hearted Hidden Ottawa tour and paranormal investigations at the Billings Estate Museum, to name a few of the offerings. 'Finding the stories is definitely one of the things that I love about my job the most,' Shackleton said. 'I love doing that research and delving into the quirky stories. It's a passion, definitely, for me and for all of us.' The final stops on our tour were Lisgar Collegiate High School, Grant House (now Beckta restaurant) and the old teachers' college (now the part of Ottawa City Hall housing the mayor's office), all of which are believed to be haunted. By that point, almost a couple of hours had passed and the light was fading. Although we hadn't covered much ground, the visitors left with the impression of a beautiful city with a deep history. So was it actually scary? The all-ages and family-friendly excursion probably wasn't going to give anyone nightmares, but at the same time there were some compelling stories that left me with a chill. In the future, I'm sure I'll be thinking twice about going near the old teachers' college, for example, especially after dark. lsaxberg@ Our website is your destination for up-to-the-minute news, so make sure to bookmark our homepage and sign up for our newsletters so we can keep you informed.
Ottawa Citizen
08-06-2025
- Ottawa Citizen
Is the Haunted Walk Of Ottawa actually scary?
The number of bodies buried beneath Ottawa's downtown core may surprise you. Article content It definitely surprised me when I signed up for a Haunted Walk of Ottawa tour on a recent evening. It was one of those perfect early-summer evenings when our city is at its best, with the setting sun casting a golden glow on the historic limestone buildings surrounding the National War Memorial. Article content Article content Our group of seven on this particular walk consisted of a young couple from Ukraine and a family of three from South Africa, the dad being in town on business, plus me and an adventurous friend. Our guide was Caroline, a storyteller with a flair for the dramatic who wore the Haunted Walk's trademark long, black cloak and carried a battery-powered lantern. Article content Article content The tours take place almost every evening. Because this one was an early-week booking, between Monday and Wednesday, each of us saved $5 on the usual cost of $29.99 per person. Even if you don't have a ghost-busting bone in your body, it's well worth it, not only for the historical content, but also for a fresh perspective on a part of the city we residents often take for granted. Article content We started at the old Central Post Office at the east end of Sparks Street and learned that the ground underneath the street was once a cemetery. Most of the remains were relocated when the area was redeveloped, but it's almost certain that some of the bodies are still there, all but forgotten except, perhaps, on dark and stormy full-moon nights. Article content Article content Leaving the restless souls of Sparks Street behind, the tour continued across the street. Our next stop was the grand memorial to Canada's war efforts and another gravesite, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. We paused for a moment to pay our respects to the thousands of Canadians killed during wartime. Article content Article content As we strolled between sites, several other groups of Haunted Walkers filed back to the starting point, most of them students on school trips trailing behind their own black-cloaked tour guide. Article content Glen Shackleton, founder and CEO of the Ottawa-based business, said the school trips were helping to fill the calendar until the summer tourists started to make plans. Tourism in Ottawa has been on a comeback since the COVID-19 shutdown five years ago. Article content 'It's been a slow start for tourism in general in Ottawa this year,' Shackleton said, 'but, honestly, I think that has more to do with the weather than anything. It's been pretty unusual, the inhospitable weather, but we're optimistic for a very good summer and fall.'
