International News Roundup: Groundhog Day, Royal Scandal, and Cultural Controversies
Several international headlines emerged today, ranging from traditional celebrations to legal troubles and cultural disputes.
In Pennsylvania, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, predicting six more weeks of winter, marking the annual Groundhog Day tradition that dates back to 1887, according to Euronews. The event, held at Gobblers Knob, draws tens of thousands of people each year and has roots in European farming customs.
Meanwhile, in Oslo, Marius Borg Høiby, 29, the stepson of Norway's crown prince, was detained by police on Sunday, Euronews reported. He is accused of assaulting a woman, threatening her with a knife, and breaching a restraining order. Høiby is scheduled to appear in Oslo district court on Tuesday, facing 38 offenses, including four alleged rapes and attacks on former partners. This arrest comes shortly after newly released US documents revealed that Høiby's mother, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, had extensive contact with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein between 2011 and 2014, according to Euronews.
In Rome, city authorities have introduced a two-euro fee for closer access to the Trevi Fountain, Euronews stated. The measure aims to manage crowds and finance local museums. Timed tickets will regulate entry, targeting tourists seeking unobstructed photos of the Baroque landmark made famous by "La Dolce Vita." City authorities anticipate the tickets will generate several million euros for maintenance. Early footage showed smaller crowds posing and taking photos without being pressed by others.
In Washington D.C., President Donald Trump announced plans to close the Kennedy Center for two years, sparking controversy, Sky News reported. Trump stated the building is "dilapidated." Critics, however, claim the closure is to deflect from cancellations that followed his decision to rename the memorial to JFK. The national cultural center, opened in 1971, was named after President John F. Kennedy by Congress as a "living memorial" to the assassinated president.
In other news, FIFA boss Gianni Infantino apologized to British football fans after joking that "For the first time in history... no Brit was arrested during a World Cup. Imagine! This is something really really special," according to Sky News. The Football Supporters' Association criticized the comment as a "cheap joke." Infantino insisted that Trump deserved a peace prize.
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