Trump’s battle to rename the Kennedy Center has put its future at risk

The president has threatened to block renovations and suggested the landmark could be demolished after courts ruled against his bid to rename it

It was born with the world premiere of Leonard Bernstein’s Mass. “Young people will come here and they will see this cultural centre,” Rose Kennedy, the mother of slain US president John F Kennedy, said at that opening night gala. “They will carry some of these ideas back to their different communities.”

More than half a century later, the potential death knell came just after 4.30pm on Tuesday with a perfunctory announcement on the public address system: “The centre is now closed to the public. Please exit the centre by way of the Hall of States.” Soon barricades had been erected and security guards were blocking access.

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An unaffordable car market highlights Iran’s cost-of-living crisis – Al Jazeera

  1. An unaffordable car market highlights Iran’s cost-of-living crisis  Al Jazeera
  2. Inside Iran: A reporter's account of living through war and economic strangulation  PBS
  3. Tehran ‘ashamed’ as Iranians struggle to make ends meet  iranintl.com
  4. Iran’s currency slide pushes costs as household purchasing power falls  Caliber.Az
  5. Food Prices Surge, Fuel Lines Persist as Tehran Treats Economic Strain as a Security Threat  National Council of Resistance of Iran - NCRI
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Scottish Labour’s new leader backs Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gasfields

Michael Marra supports development of the North Sea sites, calling for a ‘more rational’ approach to energy policy

Scottish Labour’s new leader Michael Marra has backed the development of the Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gasfields in the North Sea in one of his first acts after being elected, calling for a “more rational” approach to energy policy.

On Saturday, the MSP for North East Scotland won a near two-thirds majority to lead the party in Holyrood, becoming Scottish Labour’s 11th leader. He replaces Anas Sarwar after his shock decision to resign in July to join Andy Burnham’s new government as a trade minister.

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UN condemns ‘shocking pattern’ of sexual violence by Russian troops in Ukraine – Euronews.com

  1. UN condemns 'shocking pattern' of sexual violence by Russian troops in Ukraine  Euronews.com
  2. Widespread sexual violence in Ukraine war, most cases tied to Russia, says UN report  Reuters
  3. Russian troops’ barbaric rape campaign in Ukraine includes 4-year-old girl: UN report  nypost.com
  4. 'Abhorrent acts' — Russian forces committed widespread sexual violence in Ukraine since full-scale invasion, UN reports  The Kyiv Independent
  5. The U.N. has documented more than 1,000 cases of sexual violence in Russia’s war against Ukraine. It attributes 89% to Russia, and most of the victims are men.  Meduza
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Ukraine Deploys New Interceptor Drone Against Jet-Powered Shaheds – Kyiv Post

  1. Ukraine Deploys New Interceptor Drone Against Jet-Powered Shaheds  Kyiv Post
  2. Zelenskyy says Ukraine is preparing to expand long-range capabilities  Українська правда
  3. Zelensky announces new Ukrainian long-range operations in response to Russian strikes  Meduza
  4. Kyiv shoots down Putin's jet-powered Shahed with new state-of-the-art interceptor drones  Yahoo
  5. Ukraine war briefing: New anti-drone weapon scores hit amid race against Shahed jets  The Guardian
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Iran executes man accused of giving missile-site intelligence to Mossad – The Times of Israel

  1. Iran executes man accused of giving missile-site intelligence to Mossad  The Times of Israel
  2. Iran sets seven terms for renewed US talks, says ready for escalation  iranintl.com
  3. Iran executes man convicted of spying for Israel's Mossad, judiciary says  Reuters
  4. Iran Executes Man Accused Of Sharing Missile-site Intelligence With Israel  i24NEWS
  5. Iran reportedly executes suspected spy for Israel  Yahoo
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Betel nuts are a top mind-affecting substance. Now there’s evidence of ancient use – NPR

  1. Betel nuts are a top mind-affecting substance. Now there's evidence of ancient use  NPR
  2. 25,000-Year-Old Teeth Reveal Ancient Humans Were Addicted to Nut Sucking  VICE
  3. A 25,000-Year-Old Drug Habit Was Hidden in Ancient Teeth  SciTechDaily
  4. People got high on mind-bending drugs much earlier than initially believed  The Guam Daily Post
  5. Scientists find evidence of ancient drug use in prehistoric teeth  Boise State Public Radio
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Oktoberfest opens as Munich mayor taps first beer keg – dw.com

  1. Oktoberfest opens as Munich mayor taps first beer keg  dw.com
  2. Photos of the Bavarian tradition of Oktoberfest in Munich  AP News
  3. Germany news: Doctors offer Oktoberfest flu jabs  dw.com
  4. Lederhosen, sauerkraut and tapping the first barrel: Oktoberfest 2026 opens – in pictures  The Guardian
  5. The keg is tapped: Munich springs to life as Oktoberfest returns  Euronews.com
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