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WASHINGTON — The board of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has voted to rename the institution the Trump-Kennedy Center, according to White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt, a move that immediately sparked procedural questions and political backlash over altering the nation’s living memorial to President John F. Kennedy. It was not immediately clear how soon a change could take effect. A source with ties to the institution said Congress must approve any name alteration. US Representative Joyce Beatty, an…

Swedish aid to Somalia faces scrutiny: What the Ekot investigation reveals—and what we still don’t know Swedish public radio’s flagship news division, Ekot, has ignited a debate over how Swedish government funds were used in Somalia following cooperation arrangements between the two countries, raising sensitive questions about governance, transparency and the line between development aid and migration policy. The Office of the Somali Prime Minister has forcefully denied any impropriety and says Swedish support is implemented…

French anesthetist Frédéric Péchier sentenced to life for poisoning 30 patients in Besançon; 12 died A French court has sentenced anesthetist Frédéric Péchier to life in prison for poisoning 30 child and adult patients over nearly a decade, 12 of whom died, in a case that shocked France’s medical community and raised fresh questions about hospital oversight. Péchier, 53, worked at two private clinics in the eastern city of Besançon between 2008 and 2017, where multiple low-risk patients suffered sudden cardiac arrests under…

Puntland State leader warns Somalia could fracture amid political deadlock, urges dialogue with Mogadishu KISMAYO, Somalia — Puntland State President Said Abdullahi Deni warned Thursday that Somalia risks breaking apart if political leaders fail to listen to one another and pursue consensus, as tensions mount over governance and the path to national elections. Speaking at a conference in the southern port city of Kismayo, Deni said division would be inevitable if dialogue, mutual respect and coexistence continue to erode.…

KISMAYO, Somalia — A high-stakes conference of the Somali Future Council opened Thursday in Kismayo, drawing more than 700 delegates and senior political figures to chart a path toward a consensus-based election model as Somalia nears pivotal votes. The gathering, hosted in the interim capital of Jubaland under heightened security, convenes amid plans to hold one person, one vote local council elections in Mogadishu’s Benadir region on Dec. 25. Organizers and participants say their goal is to avoid political conflict by…

LOS ANGELES — Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Reiner, died of multiple sharp force injuries, and their deaths have been ruled homicides, according to records released Wednesday by the Los Angeles County medical examiner. Their 32-year-old son, Nick Reiner, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder after the couple were found Sunday at their Brentwood home. The medical examiner’s office said both bodies are ready to be released to the family and that further investigative work is underway before additional…

The European Union is preparing a novel way to finance Ukraine’s war and budget needs in 2026 and 2027 by mobilizing frozen Russian central bank assets—without crossing the legal red line of outright confiscation. The plan, centered on Euroclear in Belgium and a European Commission-issued “Reparations Loan,” aims to turn immobilized Russian funds into immediate support for Kyiv while preserving Moscow’s legal claim to its principal. At stake is up to €165 billion of the roughly €210 billion in Russian sovereign assets frozen…

Clashes erupted in Brussels on Thursday as thousands of farmers protested the European Union’s planned trade deal with the Mercosur bloc, lighting fires and hurling potatoes at riot police who answered with teargas and water cannons outside EU institutions. At least 7,000 farmers converged on the Belgian capital with about 1,000 tractors to pressure EU leaders meeting nearby, where the fate of the EU-Mercosur agreement hung in the balance. A largely peaceful march through the European quarter gave way to tense scenes at the…

Israel carried out a series of strikes across southern and eastern Lebanon on Wednesday, targeting what it called Hezbollah infrastructure less than a day before an international committee overseeing a fragile ceasefire is due to convene. Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported multiple strikes in the south and east. The Israeli military said it hit “terror infrastructure sites in multiple areas across Lebanon,” including “a military compound used by Hezbollah to conduct training and courses” for members of the…

Trial of Capitol Fire Accused Questions U.S. Experts' Findings A team of U.S. fire experts may return to the stand as the trial intensifies over the blaze that severely damaged parts of the Capitol Building, the heart of the Liberian Legislature, on December 18, 2024. During Tuesday's hearing, sharp divisions emerged between the prosecution and defense regarding the interpretation of the investigation findings. This discord prompted the judge to approve the request for the three retired U.S. fire chiefs to testify. The…