\u2014The Associated Press<\/p>\n
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In this handout photo provided by Vatican Media Pope Leo XIV exchanges gifts with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, right, as they meet in the pope’s private library at the Vatican, Thursday, May 7, 2026. (Vatican Media via AP)<\/p>\n
Rubio meets with Pope Leo amid tensions between Trump and pontiff over Iran war\n<\/p>\n
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with\u00a0Pope Leo XIV to discuss \u201cthe situation in the Middle East and topics of mutual interest in the Western Hemisphere\u201d during a trip to the Holy See on Thursday, a State Department spokesperson.<\/p>\n
Rubio\u2019s visit comes two months after the U.S. and Israel launched large-scale strikes on Iran and amid President Donald Trump’s criticism of the pontiff over his comments about the conflict in the Middle East.<\/p>\n
The meeting \u201cunderscored the strong relationship\u201d between the U.S. and the Vatican and \u201ctheir shared commitment to promoting peace and human dignity,\u201d State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in the statement.<\/p>\n
>\u00a0Read more<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014Spectrum News’ Christina Santucci<\/p>\n Trump says EU has until July 4 to approve last year’s trade deal or face higher tariffs\n<\/p>\n President Donald Trump said in a Thursday social media post that goods from the European Union would face higher tariff rates if the 27-member bloc fails to approve last year’s trade framework by July 4.<\/p>\n The announcement appeared to be a deadline extension after the president said last Friday that EU autos would face a higher 25% tariff starting this week. Trump made the updated announcement after what he described as a “great call” with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.<\/p>\n Still, the U.S. president was displeased that the European Parliament had yet to finalize the trade arrangement reached last year, which was further complicated in February by the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that Trump lacked the legal authority to declare an economic emergency to impose the initial tariffs used to pressure the EU into talks.<\/p>\n >\u00a0Read more<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014The Associated Press<\/p>\n A woman protests outside the House chamber before a special session of the state legislature to redraw U.S. Congressional voting maps Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo\/George Walker IV)<\/p>\n Tennessee lawmakers pass U.S. House map carving up majority-Black district in Memphis\n<\/p>\n Republican lawmakers in Tennessee approved a new U.S. House map Thursday that carves up a majority-Black district in Memphis, reshaping it to the GOP’s advantage as part of President Donald Trump’s strategy to hold on to a slim majority in the November midterm elections.<\/p>\n Protesters shouted “No Jim Crow” outside the House and Senate chambers as lawmakers convened to consider the legislation. As the Republican-led House voted for the new map, Democratic lawmakers locked arms at the front of the chamber while protesters in the gallery yelled, chanted and blew air horns. Shouts from protesters who flooded the halls, where Tennessee state troopers held them back, could be heard inside both chambers.<\/p>\n The new map now goes to Republican Gov. Bill Lee, who called lawmakers into special session.<\/p>\n >\u00a0Read more<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014The Associated Press<\/p>\n More Thursday reads\n<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0Trump, Brazil’s Lula meet at White House to discuss trade, tariffs<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0Commission asks White House for more info during review of plan to paint Eisenhower office building white<\/a><\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/tennessee_redistrict_AP_26127563022294_NAT_0507.jpeg\")
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