Melania Trump steps up to deny

any knowledge of Epstein crimes

WASHINGTON — First lady Melania Trump has delivered a statement at the White House denying ties to Jeffrey Epstein and knowledge of his crimes.

In the extraordinary moment on Thursday, the first lady denied any association with Epstein and called accusations that she was involved in Epstein’s crimes “baseless lies.”

The seemingly out-of-the-blue message came as her husband, President Donald Trump, and his administration had seemed to move past more than a year of controversy surrounding Epstein, especially as the Iran war had become all-consuming in Washington.

A spokesman for the first lady said the West Wing knew beforehand that she’d be giving a statement, but it wasn’t clear it the content of her remarks were known.

Air travelers face higher costs,

fewer flights as fuel prices swing

Air travelers are facing a new reality of higher fees, fewer flights and tough choices about whether a trip is worth the cost.

The culprit is volatile oil and jet fuel prices that have been swinging since the war in the Middle East started and fighting near the Strait of Hormuz disrupted global oil shipments.

Airlines around the world are responding by trimming schedules and raising fees and fares.

Experts say budget carriers and the customers who rely on them will feel the pinch first, but even business travelers and front-cabin passengers won’t escape higher costs. Relief may not come quickly even if oil prices start to drop, experts warn, because airlines can take months to adjust fares while they wait for energy markets to stabilize.

US stocks still rising; oil prices trim

their gains on hopes for ceasefire

NEW YORK — U.S. stocks rose, even though oil prices did too, as financial markets moved more modestly a day after surging on optimism about a ceasefire in the war with Iran.

After beginning Thursday with moderate losses following drops for Asian and European stocks, the S&P 500 erased its dip and rose 0.6%.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.6%, and the Nasdaq composite added 0.8% after Israel’s prime minister authorized direct negotiations with Lebanon. That eased worries that the two-week ceasefire announced late Tuesday may already be in trouble.

Oil prices pared some of their earlier gains but nevertheless remained higher.

Democrats grow bolder on talks

to remove Trump after Iran threat

WASHINGTON — Dozens of Democratic lawmakers are saying President Donald Trump should be removed from office after he threatened Iranian civilization would “die” if it didn’t meet his demands.

The episode unleashed demands for Democrats to oppose the Republican president in the strongest possible terms even though he eventually pulled back on his threat and agreed to a two-week ceasefire.

Lawmakers are showing no sign they’ll back off as they return to Washington. The new imperative from Democrats underscores how seriously many in Washington take Trump’s talk of a mortal threat to a country of 91 million people.

The White House has defended Trump’s rhetoric as effective.

Artemis II astronauts describe

their lunar voyage as surreal

HOUSTON — The Artemis II astronauts are tidying up their lunar cruiser for Friday’s “fireball” return to Earth.

They’re also reflecting on their historic journey around the moon, describing it as surreal and profound.

The three Americans and one Canadian were under 150,000 miles from home on Thursday night. Humanity’s first lunar explorers in more than a half-century, they set a new distance record during Monday’s lunar flyby.

Artemis II is aiming for a splashdown in the Pacific off the San Diego coast.

Appeals court judges raise questions

on Diddy’s 4-year prison sentence

NEW YORK — Appeals court judges are questioning whether a judge who sentenced Sean “Diddy” Combs to over four years in prison on prostitution-related charges went too far in considering evidence supporting behavior he was acquitted of.

Three federal appellate judges heard arguments for two hours Thursday in New York before saying they’ll rule at a later date.

Combs is in federal prison in New Jersey.

He’s challenging his conviction and his prison sentence.

His attorneys say his conviction should be reversed, or he should at least be freed and resentenced to less time. Prosecutors oppose the arguments.

The Associated Press