The Evening: The U.S. eyes Russia’s assets

Also, the U.S. and Egypt negotiate over aid to Gaza.

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story December 21, 2023 By Matthew Cullen Good evening. Here's the latest at the end of Thursday. Russian assets to aid Ukraine A deadly shooting in Prague Plus, the new "Aquaman" movie Ukrainian soldiers at the Kupiansk front line in northeastern Ukraine in November. Tyler Hicks/The New York Times The U.S. is looking to use Russian assets to aid Ukraine The Biden administration has quietly signaled support for seizing more than $300 billion in Russian central bank assets held in Western countries and using the funds to aid Ukraine's war effort. Until recently, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen had argued that seizing the funds without congressional action would be illegal. Others had cautioned that it would cause concern among other nations that are holding their funds in the U.S. Seizing such a large sum of money from another sovereign nation would be without precedent. But with financial support waning, and Ukrainian leaders warning of the dire consequences, American officials have begun urgent discussions over whether to use existing authorities or seek congressional action to use the funds. A small portion of the Russian assets, perhaps $5 billion or so by some estimates, is in the hands of U.S. institutions. As a result, diplomatic negotiations are underway over how to gain access to funds held in Europe. The talks among finance ministers, central bankers, diplomats and lawyers have intensified in recent weeks, officials said, with the Biden administration pressing Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Canada and Japan to come up with a strategy by Feb. 24, the second anniversary of the invasion. Near the scene of the shooting at Charles University in Prague today.  Petr David Josek/Associated Press At least 15 people were killed in a shooting in Prague A gunman in the Czech Republic killed at least 15 people today, including 14 students at Charles University in Prague, the authorities said. At least 24 others were wounded at the university. The assailant, identified as David K., a 24-year-old student at the university, also died. He first killed his father in their family home outside Prague before going on a shooting rampage and then killing himself, the police said. The chief of the national police force said the gunman "got inspired by a similar terrible event abroad." The U.S. has said Israel must be involved in checking cargo for weapons. Eduardo Munoz/Reuters The U.S. and Egypt negotiate over aid to Gaza Officials from the U.S. and Egypt were holding intense negotiations intended to salvage a U.N. Security Council resolution that would call for a pause in the war in the Gaza Strip and allow more aid to enter the territory. Negotiators were seeking common ground on how aid would be inspected for weapons and other contraband before entering Gaza, according to an American official. The U.N. has this week repeatedly delayed the vote amid concerns from the U.S. that allowing the U.N. to inspect aid into Gaza would leave Israel with no role in the process. The diplomats are hoping to avoid a veto of the resolution by the U.S. Here's the latest. A subway platform in Queens where a man was pushed in front of a train by a woman with a mental health disorder in 2012. José A. Alvarado Jr. for The New York Times Kendra's law was meant to prevent violence. It often fails. New York designed a premier monitoring program for the seriously mentally ill people it has judged to be most at risk of committing violence. But a Times investigation has found that people under Kendra's Law orders have been accused of committing more than 380 violent acts in the past five years alone, including in five cases involving subway shovings. More top news Court: A day after being ordered to pay $148 million in a defamation case, Rudy Giuliani filed for bankruptcy. Education: Harvard University found more instances of "duplicative language without appropriate attribution" in the work of its president, Claudine Gay. Politics: After angering liberals with his stance on Israel, John Fetterman, the Democratic senator from Pennsylvania, has rejected the "progressive" label. Japan: Breaking with its postwar history of pacifism, the country is set to announce that it will sell advanced weapons systems to the U.S. France: President Emmanuel Macron was criticized for condemning what he called a "manhunt" targeting the actor Gérard Depardieu, who has been accused of sexual assault. Military: The U.S. Army has a safety threshold for blast intensity to prevent brain injuries. M1 Abrams tank guns fall below it. Hollywood: The actor Vin Diesel was accused of sexually assaulting a former assistant. Books: A judge ordered a fan to destroy every copy of his unauthorized "Lord of the Rings" sequel. TIME TO UNWIND Jason Momoa as Aquaman. Warner Bros./DC Comics A 'fun' film for grown-ups Jason Momoa reprises his role as the Atlantean hero-king in James Wan's "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom," which comes out in theaters tomorrow. Our critic said it goes "beyond the paint-by-numbers superhero movies we've been watching for decades now, and that makes it feel like a film for grown-ups who like fun." In the holiday spirit? We asked readers for their favorite holiday movies. Nearly 3,000 responses later, here's what they said. iStock/Getty Image The holidays can test your relationship Fall and winter have affectionately become known as "cuffing season" in recent years — a period when couples stay "cuffed" indoors together throughout the cold months. But they can also be a fraught time that puts pressures on newer relationships. UNWIND DURING THE HOLIDAYS We asked readers to share tips about the ways they unwind during the holidays. If you would like to participate, you can fill out this form. "I create a character to engage with my family, adults and kids alike, Marty the Magical Mystery Elf, who mischievously devises Christmas shenanigans, sending people on scavenger hunts when they open a box, or promoting games and activities, always with rhymes. He decorates the house in fun and new ways every year." — Stephanie Gardner from Lama, N.M. James Kane casts his magnet into a lake in Crotona Park in the Bronx. Alex Kent for The New York Times Dinner table topics The man with the giant magnet: He has fished out grenades, bikes and guns from New York's murkiest waters. Can fame be far behind? Conducting "Maestro": Our classical music critics dissected Bradley Cooper's performance as the conductor Leonard Bernstein. Turns out Cooper did his homework. When to medicate: It's antibiotic season. Brush up on how you should use the drugs — and when to avoid them. "Home Alone 2": The house where Kevin McCallister took on the Wet Bandits is now on the market for $6.7 million. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT WHAT TO DO TONIGHT Christopher Testani for The New York Times Cook: This ombré gratin can be a centerpiece for any holiday dinner. Drink: You can get the Champagne feeling on a sparkling wine budget. Read: Three new books explore the how, why and what that keep our world moving. Listen: These were our favorite classical music albums of 2023. Avoid: Our travel columnist advises staying away from booking sites. Here are his tips. Give: Wirecutter picked out 30 great last-minute Christmas gifts. Hunt: Which New York City two-bedroom would you choose with a $500,000 budget? Play: Here are today's Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. Find all our games here. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT ONE LAST THING At Brooklyn High Low, a 75-minute tea service costs $48. Nina Westervelt for The New York Times It's teatime somewhere For people looking for a soothing escape from the noise of modern life, tea salons have become more popular. The ritualized and often formal experience of tea, which took hold among the English gentry in the 1840s, is now the main attraction at more than a dozen spots in New York City and Los Angeles. The high ritual's apparent comeback can be explained, one tea expert suggested, as an attempt to "rediscover our humanity, which has become obscured amid a life that is often moving too fast and filled with too much." Have a tranquil evening. Thanks for reading. I'll be back tomorrow. — Matthew We welcome your feedback. Write to us at evening@nytimes.com. Continue reading the main story Writer: Matthew Cullen Editorial Director: Adam Pasick Editors: Carole Landry, Whet Moser, Justin Porter, Jonathan Wolfe Photo Editor: Brent Lewis Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for The Evening from The New York Times. To stop receiving The Evening, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. 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