Kim Vennell
👤 SpeakerAppearances Over Time
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Hi, I'm Kim Vennell in Whanganui, New Zealand.
It's Friday, April 10th.
Today, Melania Trump addresses Epstein rumours with a rare speech from the White House.
Israel says it will speak with Lebanon as the US and Iran prepare to talk peace in Pakistan.
And Taiwan's opposition leader meets China's President Xi, sparking controversy back home.
This is Reuters World News, bringing you everything you need to know from the front lines in 10 minutes, seven days a week.
First Lady Melania Trump in an extraordinary public address from the White House, forcefully denying she ever had a relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.
Melania also moved to dispel online theories that she'd been introduced by Epstein to her now husband, US President Donald Trump.
I am not Epstein's victim.
And also that she did not have a relationship with Epstein's convicted associate, Ghislaine Maxwell.
A Justice Department release showed a 2002 email exchange between Melania and Maxwell, where Melania tells Maxwell she looked good in a magazine photo and that she should call her when she's back in NY.
The First Lady didn't say why she is speaking out now.
Her speech resurrects an issue that's plagued the president, but one which had largely slipped from the headlines with the Iran war.
White House correspondent Bo Erickson was in the room for Melania's surprise statement.
President Trump told MSNOW that he didn't know anything about Melania's statement.
That's according to a reporter's post on X. But a spokesperson for the First Lady says Trump's aides, at least, were made aware.
To the Iran conflict now, where high stakes peace talks are set to get underway this weekend in Pakistan.
In a significant development, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he will seek direct talks with Lebanon.
Israel's continued attacks on Iran-backed Hezbollah have put the whole regional ceasefire at risk, with Tehran insisting Lebanon was meant to be included.
But even if Washington and Tehran do sit down to negotiate, they remain far apart on key issues.