Trump took control of the Kennedy Center shortly after taking office a year ago and announced a fight against “anti-American propaganda” in the cultural world. He fired several members of the board of trustees, took over the chairmanship himself and entrusted his confidant Grenell, who was known for polarizing statements, to bring the institution, which was later renamed the “Trump Kennedy Center” – amid public protest – into line. The reason given was, among other things, that the nationally known cultural center in the heart of the US capital was too “woke”.
Trump also wants to completely redesign the magnificent complex on the Potomac River according to his wishes. After the July 4th national holiday celebrations, the building will be closed and renovated for around two years. When completed, it will be “the best facility of its kind in the world,” the US President promised on Truth Social. Trump claims that the complex is in very poor condition and in dire need of renovation – and that his administration saved it.
A US federal judge has temporarily stopped the judicial investigation against Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. Judge James Boasberg annulled Powell’s subpoena from the Justice Department, it was announced on Friday. Boasberg said in a decision dated March 11 that there was ample evidence that the administration had subpoenaed Powell to “pressure him to vote for lower rates or resign.”
Powell announced the summons and the impending criminal proceedings against him in January. The head of the Federal Reserve (Fed) spoke of an “unprecedented action” against him and the central bank. It must be seen “in the broader context of threats and continued pressure from the government,” Powell said, without mentioning President Donald Trump by name.
After an explosion at the US embassy in Oslo almost a week ago, a court ordered four suspects to be remanded in custody. These are three brothers and their mother. The men were arrested on suspicion of terrorism on Wednesday, their mother on Friday.
One of the brothers admitted to planting the explosive device at the embassy. The other three suspects deny involvement in the crime. However, the court sees the risk that the family could coordinate their statements. According to Norwegian Radio, the men are Norwegian citizens with an Iraqi migration background. No one was injured in the incident on Sunday night.
Amid increasing pressure from the United States on Cuba, representatives of the two countries recently held talks, according to Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel. They aimed to “find solutions through dialogue to the bilateral differences that exist between our two nations,” Díaz-Canel said on Friday during a televised meeting with top officials from the communist-ruled island.
