WORLD IN BRIEF: Melania Trump denies Epstein links, Khamenei claims war ‘victory’, Pope Leo heads to Africa and other stories
Melania Trump, US first Lady, has publicly denied any connection to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein in a rare address from the White House, pushing back against years of speculation surrounding his network of high-profile contacts.
Melania Trump, US first Lady, has publicly denied any connection to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein in a rare address from the White House, pushing back against years of speculation surrounding his network of high-profile contacts.
The first lady said she was neither a victim of Epstein nor personally associated with him or his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, whose conviction in 2021 brought renewed scrutiny to Epstein’s social circle.
Her remarks come after the release of previously sealed justice department files, which included a partially redacted email exchange between her and Maxwell. Trump described the communication as “casual correspondence” and dismissed any suggestion of a deeper relationship.
She also called on lawmakers to hold hearings for survivors of Epstein’s abuse, signalling support for further accountability.
Mojtaba Khamenei has declared that Iran “astonished the world” during its war with the United States and Israel, portraying the outcome as a strategic victory despite ongoing regional instability.
Marking 40 days since the death of his father, Ali Khamenei, Khamenei said Iran would continue to pursue its rights while seeking compensation for damages inflicted during the conflict.
He signalled a potential shift in Tehran’s posture regarding the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, though offered no details. His comments come as a fragile ceasefire remains under strain, particularly due to continued Israeli operations in Lebanon.
Keir Starmer, UK Prime minister, has criticised Israel’s military actions in Lebanon, saying the strikes are “wrong” and must cease, as concerns grow over the durability of a US-Iran ceasefire.
Speaking during a Gulf tour, Starmer emphasised that the UK would not be drawn into military action without a clear legal basis, even as tensions with Washington deepen over differing approaches to the conflict.
He acknowledged uncertainty over whether Israel’s actions violate the ceasefire terms, noting that details of the agreement remain unclear.
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister, has called for immediate negotiations with Lebanon, a day after Israeli strikes killed hundreds and intensified fears of regional escalation.
The proposed talks would focus on disarming Hezbollah and establishing more stable relations, though the scale of recent attacks threatens to undermine diplomatic momentum.
Confusion remains over whether Lebanon is covered by the US-Iran ceasefire, complicating efforts to de-escalate the conflict.
A child has died following a suspected dog attack in Redcar, prompting a police investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Authorities said armed officers responded to reports of concern, with one dog destroyed at the scene and another seized. Emergency services transported one individual to hospital, while officers continue to gather details.
The incident has raised renewed concerns about public safety and animal control measures in residential areas.
Pope Leo XIV is set to embark on a 10-day tour across Africa, aiming to draw global attention to the continent’s economic and humanitarian challenges.
The visit will take him to Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea, covering nearly 18,000 kilometres.
Vatican officials say the trip underscores Africa’s growing importance within the global Catholic community and reflects a broader effort to refocus international attention on the region’s needs.
More than 1.3 million refugees from Sudan in Chad face severe aid cuts as humanitarian agencies grapple with a funding shortfall exceeding $400m.
The World Food Programme and the UN refugee agency warn that without urgent donor support, food and water assistance will be drastically reduced, potentially forcing vulnerable populations into extreme coping measures.
The crisis reflects the broader strain on humanitarian systems as conflicts continue to drive displacement across the region.
Kenya has formally rejected a UN report alleging that its personnel in Haiti were involved in sexual abuse, calling the claims unsubstantiated.
Foreign minister Musalia Mudavadi said investigations found no evidence of wrongdoing, while UN findings suggested otherwise, creating a diplomatic dispute.
The controversy risks undermining confidence in the multinational security mission, which Kenya leads in Haiti.
Fighting between al-Qaeda-linked and Islamic State-affiliated groups has spread into Niger, marking a dangerous expansion of militant conflict in the Sahel.
Clashes between Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and Islamic State Sahel Province (ISSP) have previously been confined to Mali and Burkina Faso, but the latest violence signals a widening theatre of operations.
Analysts warn the escalation could further destabilise an already fragile region, with civilian populations likely to bear the brunt of intensified conflict.
