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Head of Arab World Institute in Paris Summoned to Explain Epstein Ties

(FILES) France's former culture minister and current president of the Institut du Monde Arabe (Arab World Institute) Jack Lang arrives at the Elysee presidential palace in Paris on May 7, 2022. (Photo by Ludovic MARIN / AFP)
(FILES) France's former culture minister and current president of the Institut du Monde Arabe (Arab World Institute) Jack Lang arrives at the Elysee presidential palace in Paris on May 7, 2022. (Photo by Ludovic MARIN / AFP)
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Head of Arab World Institute in Paris Summoned to Explain Epstein Ties

(FILES) France's former culture minister and current president of the Institut du Monde Arabe (Arab World Institute) Jack Lang arrives at the Elysee presidential palace in Paris on May 7, 2022. (Photo by Ludovic MARIN / AFP)
(FILES) France's former culture minister and current president of the Institut du Monde Arabe (Arab World Institute) Jack Lang arrives at the Elysee presidential palace in Paris on May 7, 2022. (Photo by Ludovic MARIN / AFP)

France's former culture minister Jack Lang has been summoned to the foreign ministry to explain his links with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a source close to the presidency told AFP Thursday.

The president's and prime minister's offices each "asked the foreign minister to summon him so he can give an explanation", the source said.

A foreign ministry source confirmed to AFP that Lang had been "summoned", without giving further details.

Lang, 86, did not immediately respond to AFP's request to comment.

Lang's daughter Caroline resigned as head of a film producers' union on Monday following revelations about the family's links to Epstein.

On Wednesday, Jack Lang ruled out resigning as head of the Arab World Institute in Paris.

But the source close to President Emmanuel Macron said his office believes Lang should "think of the institution" he has chaired since 2013.

No charges have been brought against the Langs, and mentions of them among millions of documents related to Epstein released by the US Justice Department do not necessarily imply wrongdoing.

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Trump Says Shooting Won't 'Deter' Him from Iran War

President Donald Trump speaks in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House after an unspecified threat at the annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner in Washington, Saturday, April 25, 2026, as acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI director Kash Patel listen. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
President Donald Trump speaks in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House after an unspecified threat at the annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner in Washington, Saturday, April 25, 2026, as acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI director Kash Patel listen. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
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Trump Says Shooting Won't 'Deter' Him from Iran War

President Donald Trump speaks in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House after an unspecified threat at the annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner in Washington, Saturday, April 25, 2026, as acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI director Kash Patel listen. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
President Donald Trump speaks in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House after an unspecified threat at the annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner in Washington, Saturday, April 25, 2026, as acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI director Kash Patel listen. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

US President Donald Trump said Saturday a shooting at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner would not deter him from the Iran war, although he believed the incident was unlikely linked to the conflict.

"It's not going to deter me from winning the war in Iran. I don't know if that had anything to do with it, I really don't think so, based on what we know," Trump told reporters in a briefing at the White House after the shocking security incident.

Trump had earlier said, however, that "you never know" if it could be linked to the Iran war, and said investigators were working on the motive of the shooter whom he described as a "lone wolf."

The US leader earlier Saturday canceled his envoys' trip to Pakistan for peace talks with Iran, after being unimpressed with Tehran's negotiating position following nearly two months of war.
The shooting suspect accused of storming the gala will be arraigned in the US capital on Monday, the federal prosecutor said.

The suspect -- who exchanged gunfire with Secret Service agents but was not shot himself -- will appear before a US district judge on Monday.

According to US Attorney Jeanine Piro, the suspect will be charged with using a firearm during a crime of violence, and assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon.

World

Iran President Calls on People to Save Energy

Iranians shop in the Tajrish bazaar in Tehran, Iran, 25 April 2026. (EPA)
Iranians shop in the Tajrish bazaar in Tehran, Iran, 25 April 2026. (EPA)
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Iran President Calls on People to Save Energy

Iranians shop in the Tajrish bazaar in Tehran, Iran, 25 April 2026. (EPA)
Iranians shop in the Tajrish bazaar in Tehran, Iran, 25 April 2026. (EPA)

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called on his people Saturday to conserve electricity, warning that while there were no shortages at present, the US and Israel aimed to sow "dissatisfaction" among the Iranian people.

"We have asked our dear people, who are now ready and present on the ground, a simple request. And that is to reduce their own electricity and energy consumption," the president said on state TV.

"We do not need people to sacrifice for the time being, but we do need to control consumption. Instead of 10 lights, two lights should be turned on in the house -- what is wrong with that?" he added.

Despite the US-Israeli bombing campaign against Iran, there have been no reported power cuts in Tehran in recent days.

Pezeshkian accused Iran's enemies of hitting infrastructure and imposing a blockade "so that the current satisfaction turns into dissatisfaction".

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to wipe out Iran's power infrastructure, but has so far not followed through.

Even before the current war with the United States and Israel, however, Iran suffered frequent power outages during the winter and summer peaks in demand.

According to the International Energy Agency, Iran generates nearly four-fifths of its electricity from burning natural gas, a resource in which it is self-sufficient thanks to vast gas fields.

It supplements this with low-quality heavy fuel oil, known as mazout, used at older power stations.

Nevertheless, ageing infrastructure, a lack of investment and the impact of fierce international sanctions that cut off access to technology and investment have left the electricity grid unable to cope with demand.

Pezeshkian has previously launched several public awareness campaigns to reduce energy use.

World

Türkiye Dismisses Deputy Education Minister After School Shootings

Flowers are hung on the fence of a school where a shooting took place, in the southeastern province of Kahramanmaras, Türkiye, April 16, 2026. (Reuters)
Flowers are hung on the fence of a school where a shooting took place, in the southeastern province of Kahramanmaras, Türkiye, April 16, 2026. (Reuters)
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Türkiye Dismisses Deputy Education Minister After School Shootings

Flowers are hung on the fence of a school where a shooting took place, in the southeastern province of Kahramanmaras, Türkiye, April 16, 2026. (Reuters)
Flowers are hung on the fence of a school where a shooting took place, in the southeastern province of Kahramanmaras, Türkiye, April 16, 2026. (Reuters)

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has dismissed Türkiye’s deputy education minister after two school shootings that left nine people dead, according to the official gazette published late Friday.

Eight students aged 10 and 11 and a teacher were killed this month when a 14-year-old opened fire at a school in the southern province of Kahramanmaras.

Authorities said the attacker, who died at the scene, brought five firearms and was the son of a former police inspector, who has since been arrested.

A separate attack in southeastern Sanliurfa province involved a former student who opened fire at his old high school before taking his own life when confronted by police.

Under a decree signed by Erdogan, deputy education minister Nazif Yilmaz was dismissed and replaced by Cihad Demirli.

The measures also targeted the leadership of state institutions responsible for education, according to the decree.

The incidents have sparked public outcry and Erdogan has said the government will introduce measures, including restrictions on gun ownership.