Armenia’s parliamentary election on June 7 will test whether the small democracy can chart its own future and how much the United States is willing to help it do so, as it attempts to loosen its dependence on Russia and reorient itself toward the West. Source link
To display this content from YouTube, you must enable advertisement tracking and audience measurement. Accept Manage my choices One of your browser extensions seems to be blocking the video player from loading. To watch this content, you may need to disable it on this site. Try again TALKING EUROPE © FRANCE 24 Issued on: 05/06/2026 – 13:55 13:07 min From the show Reading time 1 min Negotiators from the European Parliament and EU member states have been trying to reach an agreement on the rights of air passengers travelling within the bloc. The current rules date back to 2004, but the scale and nature of air travel have changed dramatically since then. We take you inside the negotiations, examine the key sticking points, and explain why MEPs are pushing for stronger protections for passengers affected by delays and cancellations. Programme prepared by Oihana Almandoz, Perrine Desplats, Aline Bottin and Isabelle Romero Talking Europe © FRANCE 24 Virginijus SINKEVICIUS Lituanian MEP, Group of the Greens/EFA Cynthia Ní Mhruchú Irish MEP, Renew Europe By: Source link
Get the inside track from Roisin O’Connor with our free weekly music newsletter Now Hear This Get our free music newsletter Now Hear This Get our free music newsletter Now Hear This Mel B has said the Spice Girls “should be doing something” to mark the 30th anniversary of their iconic debut single, “Wannabe”. The track, which propelled the group to stardom, was released in 1996. The 51-year-old singer, known to millions as Scary Spice, achieved fame alongside Lady Victoria Beckham, Melanie Chisholm, Emma Bunton, and Geri Halliwell-Horner. The quintet dominated music charts with hits like “Who Do You Think You Are?” and “Viva Forever” before embarking on an indefinite break in December 2000. Mel B, whose real name is Melanie Brown, has now addressed speculation that the group will reunite around 26 June to celebrate the milestone. She said: “It’s our 30th anniversary, I do think we should be doing something. Whether that actually happens or not is another story, but we’re all talking about it because if not anything, just for our fans. …
To display this content from YouTube, you must enable advertisement tracking and audience measurement. Accept Manage my choices One of your browser extensions seems to be blocking the video player from loading. To watch this content, you may need to disable it on this site. Try again PERSPECTIVE © FRANCE 24 Issued on: 02/06/2026 – 14:37Modified: 02/06/2026 – 14:40 07:54 min From the show Reading time 1 min Now that France has finally repealed the so-called Code Noir or Black Code, experts are urging the country to also consider the issue of reparations. The Code Noir was the law that effectively regulated slavery by making people like property, notably in the French colonies – enabling people to be worked, beaten, sold, raped and even killed. It was only repealed last week, even though France abolished slavery back in 1848. In Perspective, we spoke to Olivette Otele, a historian and professor at SOAS in London. By: Source link
A trio of former Biden White House officials running for governor in 2026 are striking a delicate balance, pointing to their experience in the administration without leaning too aggressively into their connection to a former president still facing a raft of bad headlines. Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content. Those three candidates — former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland in New Mexico, former Health Secretary Xavier Becerra in California and former White House Office of Public Engagement director Keisha Lance Bottoms in Georgia — often mention their experience in the administration as a credential for running their states. But they’ve also rarely mentioned Joe Biden by name at campaign events, and none have cut any ads in their primaries or general election campaigns that refer directly to him or include his image. It’s a notable difference from how Republican candidates up and down the ballot have completely bear-hugged Donald Trump and his record in recent years, including between his two terms. Meanwhile, Biden has been fighting through …
This week’s special edition of Talking Europe asks whether the EU is ready for the disruption that comes with Artificial Intelligence. It is the most important technological revolution of the century, and is set to impact every aspect of our lives. Whether you are working in a small business or in an industrial giant, whether you are a student, a musician or an author – the anxiety is real. As Nobel prize-winning economist Philippe Aghion puts it: “AI means new ideas and new activities, but it may be that job destruction will occur before job creation. Countries need to adapt.” Our report covers half a dozen EU countries to find out how they are preparing, from grassroots education and upskilling efforts in rural Ireland, to the manufacturing sector, which sees AI and robotics as key to improving productivity and helping offset a shrinking workforce. We also look at global competition: How does Europe plan to catch up with leaders in the United States and China when it comes to AI infrastructure? We visit one of the EU’s …
Whether you have a diagnosable case of erectile dysfunction or just experience occasional difficulty, discussing this with new partners can feel uncomfortable. Many men worry that they will be rejected if they disclose too soon. However, holding onto that information can also create anxiety. The following case is a composite with client details anonymized to protect privacy: Jay was in his 40s and dating. He experienced performance pressure during sex and was on guard with new partners, fearful he would not be able to get or maintain an erection. This worry was self-reinforcing. While monitoring his genitals, he wasn’t enjoying the moment or getting aroused. This fed into negative beliefs about himself—that he was less of a man and incapable of satisfying others. He avoided disclosure, expecting to receive the same criticism from partners. He apologized repeatedly for his “failure.” When partners responded with unease, it only confirmed his beliefs. First-Time Nerves Erection difficulty with new partners is not a failure. It’s contextual and understandable. First-time sex can be arousing for some, but it is …
Democrats must focus on voters and not themselves, and their campaign message strategies should not be composed by obituary writers, in order to win the upcoming midterm elections. Source link
Bryan M. Wolfe / MakeUseOf For nearly a decade, using smart home devices, including those from Google, has meant entering into a psychological pact: you must learn to speak like a machine. We’ve all stood under a kitchen fixture or in front of a bedroom display, choosing words carefully. You couldn’t just ask for what you wanted; you had to express it exactly so that the system wouldn’t fail. If you faltered, used a compound sentence, or missed the exact hardware name from an app, the interaction turned into a frustrating loop of clarification requests or refusals. Google Assistant has struggled with this for years, even with its world-class voice recognition. It always felt less like a smart assistant and more like a glorified, voice-activated remote. It just couldn’t understand how real people talk. That era is ending. With the rollout of Google’s Spring 2026 Smart Home Upgrade, Google is replacing its old voice engine. The new setup uses a local, AI-driven system powered by Gemini 3.1. After setting up the Early Access preview across …
Our guest has an important role in promoting social policies in the European Union, at a time when much of the political oxygen is being sucked out by the competitiveness and simplification agenda, as well as by defence and security issues. Roxana Minzatu is Executive Vice-President of the European Commission and is in charge of social rights and skills, quality jobs and preparedness. Minzatu is a Romanian social democrat, a former minister for European funds in the Romanian government and a former MEP. She recently presented an anti-poverty strategy aimed at dealing with the fact that one in five Europeans – or 93 million people – are at risk of poverty or social exclusion. “I want to send a signal of optimism with this strategy. I don’t want to paint a bleak picture,” Minzatu tells the programme. “But the reality is that the numbers (of people at risk of poverty) are dynamic. The cost of living is rising, the energy shocks crisis, the invasion of Ukraine, and now the Middle East crisis. There are a …
