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Trump-Pope clash rehashes old gripes, casts cloud over Rubio's Vatican visit

5 May 2026 at 19:13
Donald Trump has intensified his criticism of Pope Leo XIV, who responded to the US president's broadside on Tuesday by reaffirming his mission to preach peace while accepting public scrutiny. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio sought to downplay the verbal clash Tuesday during a White House press briefing on Iran, just days before he visits the Vatican, raising concerns the dispute could hinder delicate diplomatic efforts.

Romania’s pro-EU coalition collapse 'does not alter the country's foreign policy', analyst says

5 May 2026 at 18:33
Romania's parliament on Tuesday voted to oust liberal Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan in a motion of no confidence initiated by the Social Democrats and the far right, deepening political turmoil in the EU and NATO country bordering Ukraine. FRANCE 24's Mark Owen speaks with Laurențiu Pleșca, Policy Fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States. He says that the collapse of the government "does not alter Romania's foreign policy or security trajectory".

Sick Iran Nobel winner Narges Mohammadi at risk of dying in custody, supporters warn

5 May 2026 at 18:31
Jailed Iranian Nobel laureate Narges Mohammadi, who won the 2023 peace prize for her decades of campaigning for human rights in Iran, could die in prison unless she is urgently given proper health care after suffering two suspected heart attacks in recent weeks, supporters warned on Tuesday. FRANCE 24's international affairs commentator Douglas Herbert has more.

Can Pakistan play brother-in-arms role as Gulf states eye security shifts?

5 May 2026 at 18:08
With its strategic location at the crossroads of Middle Eastern, Central and South Asian trade routes, its arsenal of combat-tested Chinese weapons and an army chief playing a high-wire diplomatic act, Pakistan is poised to play a security role in the Gulf. It's an interesting mix for some Gulf states questioning the US security commitment in the region – but not for all.  

The WHO and Spain agree that epidemiologists will inspect hantavirus‑hit cruise ship before deciding its destination

5 May 2026 at 17:33

The World Health Organization (WHO) and Spain’s Ministry of Health have agreed that a team of epidemiologists will examine on Tuesday afternoon the condition of the 147 people on board the luxury cruise ship MV Hondius before deciding on the port where passengers will be allowed to disembark. The shipping company responsible for the vessel, which sails under the Dutch flag, is Oceanwide Expeditions.

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© Arilson Almeida (AP)

The 'MV Hondius' cruise ship, this Monday in front of the port of Praia, capital of Cape Verde.

Luis de Guindos: ‘I used to be more of a hawk, now I’m on the side of prudence’

5 May 2026 at 16:36
Luis de Guindos, vice president of the ECB, on April 30 in Frankfurt.

When he took over as vice president in 2018, Luis de Guindos, 66, faced what seemed like the most uneventful term in the history of the European Central Bank (ECB). “I thought we weren’t going to move interest rates, neither up nor down; they had been unchanged for a long time, and I thought they would stay that way,” he recalls now.

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Luis de Guindos poses after the interview next to his chair in the ECB Governing Council meeting room.
Luis de Guindos arrives alongside ECB President Christine Lagarde at his final press conference as vice president on April 30 in Frankfurt.
Luis de Guindos, vice president of the ECB, photographed in his office at the Frankfurt headquarters.

Steve Hilton, the Trump-backed political commentator who is leading in the polls for governor of California

5 May 2026 at 16:34

It’s no secret that the Republican vote continues to grow in the progressive state of California, and that boost has become visible in a tight race where the Republicans hope to reclaim the governorship, held by Democrats since 2011. Steve Hilton, a political commentator who enjoys the backing of U.S. President Donald Trump, has led or is in contention for the lead in several recent polls, a surprising scenario that would not only put the Democratic Party in a difficult position but also call into question the results and the momentum of outgoing Governor Gavin Newsom, who has been tipped as a contender for the White House.

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© Mike Blake (REUTERS)

Steve Hilton during a press conference following the debate for the California gubernatorial election, on April 28.
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