The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. is slated to close for a two-year renovation starting in July, according to an announcement made by former President Donald Trump. Trump stated on Truth Social on Sunday that the closure would commence on July 4th, "in honor of the 250th Anniversary of our Country," BBC World reported.
The decision follows a period of upheaval at the Kennedy Center, including several artists cancelling performances after the institution was renamed the Trump Kennedy Center, according to BBC World. Shortly after assuming office, Trump replaced several board members with allies, who then voted to make him chairman of the board, BBC World added.
In other news, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre publicly agreed with Crown Princess Mette-Marit's assessment of "poor judgement" regarding her past connections with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, BBC World reported. The Crown Princess is mentioned hundreds of times in the latest files released by the U.S. Department of Justice related to Epstein, specifically between 2011 and 2014, according to BBC World. This revelation comes as her son faces trial in Oslo on 38 charges, including rape and assault, BBC World noted. Crown Princess Mette-Marit has expressed regret for having any contact with Epstein, BBC World stated.
Meanwhile, in Syria, Hind Kabawat, the country's Minister for Social Affairs and Labour, is advocating for change within the transitional government, BBC World reported. Kabawat, previously an opposition leader in exile, is the only female minister in a government tasked with navigating Syria's transition from war to peace, according to BBC World. "On the first day, I asked 'why are there no more women?'" Kabawat said, as reported by BBC World. She stated she would not remain in her role if she was not free to set her own strategy, according to BBC World.
In the United States, a high-ranking federal appeals judge dismissed an ethics complaint filed by the Justice Department against Judge James E. Boasberg, The New York Times reported. The complaint was filed by Chad Mizelle, former chief of staff to Attorney General Pam Bondi, alleging that Judge Boasberg violated the Code of Conduct for United States Judges with comments he was accused of making at a private meeting of judges, according to The New York Times. Judge Jeffrey, who signed the dismissal order, found that Mizelle failed to substantiate the allegations and that even if the comments had been substantiated, there was nothing inappropriate about them, The New York Times noted. Judge Boasberg's rulings had previously raised questions about the Trump administration's respect for the rule of law, including regarding the deportation of Venezuelans to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador, according to The New York Times.
Finally, Iranian state media released photographs of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in what opposition groups are calling a staged attempt to project strength, Fox News reported. The images, published on January 31, marked Khamenei's first public appearance in weeks and showed him praying at the tomb of Islamic Republic founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Fox News stated. Opposition groups operating outside Iran claim the images were intended to boost a military under strain, according to Fox News.
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