Podcasts about European Parliament

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is a spiritual leader, humanitarian, and peace ambassador. In 1981, he founded the Art of Living Foundation, introducing meditation, yoga, and the Sudarshan Kriya breathing technique through programs now offered in more than 180 countries. In 1997, he co-founded the International Association for Human Values to support humanitarian and peacebuilding initiatives. He has participated in conflict-resolution efforts in regions including Colombia, Iraq, Kashmir, and Côte d'Ivoire, while speaking at institutions such as the United Nations, the World Economic Forum, and the European Parliament. He is also the author of numerous books on meditation, spirituality, and personal well-being, including An Intimate Note to the Sincere Seeker. ------ Thank you to the sponsors that fuel our podcast and our team: AG1 https://DrinkAG1.com/tetra ------ Athletic Nicotine https://www.AthleticNicotine.com/tetra Use code 'TETRA' ------ LMNT Electrolytes https://DrinkLMNT.com/tetra Use code 'TETRA' ------ Lectio 365 https://Lectio365.com ------ Sign up to receive Tetragrammaton Transmissions https://www.tetragrammaton.com/join-newsletter

It's Monday, July 20th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Pakistani Christian 13-year-old girl still captive to Muslim man On July 7, the European Parliament condemned Pakistan for its violation of human rights, citing a 13-year-old Christian Pakistani girl who is still fighting for her freedom from the 30-year-old Muslim man who abducted her, reports International Christian Concern. Maria Shahbaz was kidnapped in July 2025 by Shehryar Ahmad, who forced her to convert to Islam and married her against her will. Alliance Defending Freedom came alongside her parents in their fight to regain custody of their child in Pakistan's Federal Constitutional Court in February. Pakistani law states that a minor cannot legally consent to religious conversion or marriage, but shockingly the court ruled in favor of Ahmad when he presented a forged marriage certificate.  In Matthew 18:6, Jesus said, “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in Me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.” Shahbaz's parents are not giving up. They are still appealing their daughter's case in court, hoping that justice will swiftly come.  According to Open Doors, Pakistan is the eighth worst country worldwide for the persecution of Christians. Send a polite, 3-sentence letter to Rizwan Sheikh, the Pakistan Ambassador to America, asking that he intervene.  The address is 3517 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008. Two U.S. soldiers killed in Iranian attack on military base Two American soldiers were killed on July 17th in an Iranian attack on a U.S. military base in Jordan, reports the Western Journal. In a post on X, U.S. Central Command added, “Four American service members were medically evacuated to Jordanian hospitals. They have since been discharged.” Plus, one soldier is missing. Iran's attacks came after the U.S. launched its seventh consecutive night of air strikes on Iran. Iran makes chilling death threats against President Trump Iranian state media has published a shocking video entitled “Where to kill Trump?”, claiming to know the U.S. leader's motorcade route and the vulnerabilities within his security, reports The Express. The highly concerning footage claimed to reveal “information on the whereabouts of the terrorist president of America” while promising that “access to Trump is possible in these places.” It also alleges to give details about the motorcade that protects the U.S. president, which typically consists of 40 to 50 vehicles. It comes after repeated death threats have been made by Iran following the U.S. assassination of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.  President Trump's primetime speech on election integrity Last Thursday night, President Donald Trump addressed election security in a nationwide primetime address from the White House, pointing to ways American political leftists and China have compromised our elections, reports The Epoch Times. TRUMP: “You can't have a great country without free and fair elections. All we want is honesty in our elections. Great damage has been done to our country. Our elections were left vulnerable to being rigged and stolen, and the trust of the American people was lost. This cannot be allowed to continue. “Every American -- whether you're a Republican, Democrat, Independent, or otherwise -- should be able to agree that we deserve the most secure, honest, and fair election system anywhere in the world.” President Trump explained that China started compromising our elections in 2020. TRUMP: “Over a period of years, starting during the 2020 election cycle, the People's Republic of China carried out what is believed to be the largest compromise of election data in history, resulting in China's illicit acquisition of 220 million U.S. voter files. That information includes names, addresses, phone numbers, political party preferences, and other sensitive data that would be needed to register to vote. “This data loss presents an unprecedented election security nightmare. The intelligence even shows that China assigned a data exploitation unit specifically to this new project.” And finally, President Trump vowed action to hold people accountable. TRUMP: “The documents we will release, starting tonight, have been gathered by the White House Government Transparency Task Force, a great group of people, supported by our top intelligence agency chiefs, who have all personally reviewed the findings we are presenting this evening and fully confirmed their authenticity. “You can see these documents for yourself at whitehouse.gov. That's whitehouse.gov. Go check it out. Our purpose in disclosing this information is not to weaken confidence in election, but to earn that confidence by confronting vulnerabilities and correcting them very, very quickly, and that's what we're doing.” Homeland Security Secretary vows to prosecute illegal voters In related news, during a Friday press briefing, Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin promised to hunt down and prosecute illegal voters in the U.S., noting that 250,000 non-citizens are illegally registered to vote in just four states, reports The Christian Post. Speaking in the wake of President Donald Trump's 25-minute primetime address about election security on July 16th, Mullin outlined an aggressive plan to tighten voter roll integrity, harden election infrastructure, and hold election officials accountable for alleged failures. Senator Marsha Blackburn: No more birth tourism Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee has reintroduced legislation aimed at ending so-called “birth tourism” following the Supreme Court's recent 6-3 ruling in Trump v. Barbara. It held that children born in the United States to illegal aliens and foreign tourists remain entitled to birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment, reports Big League Politics. She said, “Congress must step up to the plate to protect the integrity of American citizenship.” The Ban Birth Tourism Act is co-sponsored by GOP Senators Ted Budd of North Carolina, John Cornyn of Texas, Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, Tim Sheehy of Montana, Jim Banks of Indiana, and Rick Scott of Florida. The legislation would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to explicitly prohibit foreign nationals from obtaining temporary visas for the purpose of giving birth in the United States. It would also classify birth tourism as a deportable offense, allowing immigration authorities to remove foreign nationals who enter the country for that purpose. Call your two senators anytime -- 24 hours a day 7 days a week -- speaking to a live operator to leave a voicemail at 202-224-3121 and ask them to support the Ban Birth Tourism Act. That's 202-224-3121. Samaritan's Purse deployed disaster relief unit for Texas flood victims On July 17th, churches in the Texas Hill Country opened their doors as flood displacement shelters, taking in families whose homes and recreational vehicles had been swept away by rapidly rising rivers that killed at least two people, reports The Christian Post. Recently more than 30 inches of rain fell over several days, causing the Leona River and Guadalupe River to overflow. Floodwaters surged through the streets, destroying homes, and stranding people and vehicles. The Christian relief group Samaritan's Purse said it was deploying a disaster relief unit to the Hill Country, with staff and volunteer teams set to work in Uvalde County. The group said it was basing operations out of Uvalde Methodist Church, with volunteers beginning on Sunday to help residents remove waterlogged belongings and clear mud from their homes. Consider making a donation to Samaritan's Purse to help the Texas victims of the flood through a special link in our transcript today at www.TheWorldview.com. 1 John 3:17 asks, “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need, but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?” Worldview listeners weigh in from New York, Texas and Arkansas Deb Staley in Unadilla Forks, New York wrote me and said, “The Worldview never disappoints. It's uplifting, informative, and to the point. The Bible verses are so very helpful. And I love the fact that there are limited news stories. If there were more, I'd begin to tune out. Thank you for what you do.” David O'Hanlon in Burleson, Texas wrote, “I have listened to your broadcast every weekday for about two years which I support monthly. You bring news – especially the persecution of the Church – which I do not hear anywhere else.”  And Melissa in Bradford, Arkansas wrote, “I listen to your newscast on my lunch break. I like it because it's truthful news about real people. Plus, you talk about stuff others do not. Thank you.” 26 Worldview listeners gave $ 9,113 And finally, by Saturday night at 10:00pm Central, 26 Worldview listeners stepped up to the plate and invested their treasure to fund the six-member team behind The Worldview for another year. Our thanks to Kenyon in Merritt Island, Florida who gave $25, Augustine in Auburn, California who gave $30, Sheryl in Westmoreland, Tennessee who gave $75, as well as Steve in Mission Viejo, California, David and Martha in Byram Township, New Jersey, Dean in Carol Stream, Illinois, Susan in Fairmont, West Virginia, Linda in Lutz, Florida, and an anonymous donor in Alpharetta, Georgia – all six of whom gave $100. We were touched by the generosity of Tami in Dry Ridge, Kentucky, Rose in Everson, Washington, Amy in Seminole, Texas, and Robin in Simsbury, Connecticut  -- all of whom gave $200, as well as the McVeda Family in Great Falls, Montana who gave $205, and Calvin in Odessa, Minnesota who gave $250. We appreciated the sacrifice of Dennis and Kathryn in Palm Bay, Florida and Joan in West Palm Beach, Florida – both of whom gave $300 as well as David and Sonya in Austin, Texas who decided to continue giving $25/month for another 12 months for a gift of $300. And we're grateful to God for Ed in Flagler, Colorado, Mike and Sarah in California, Maryland, who listen to Redeemer Radio WSMD, and an anonymous donor in Estancia, New Mexico – each of whom gave $500 as well as Vivian in Castle Rock, Colorado who gave $600, Gena in Huntsville, Alabama who gave $728, Daniel in Ironton, Minnesota who gave $1,000,  an anonymous donor in Pinckney, Michigan who pledged $100/month for 12 months for a gift of $1,200, and a second anonymous donor in Hopewell Junction, New York who pledged $100/month for 12 months for a gift of $1,200. Those 26 gifts add up to $9,113. Ready for our new grand total? Drum roll please. (drum roll sound effect) $38,953 (sound effect of people cheering) That means we need to raise $42,273.50 to hit our $81,226.50 goal by this Friday, July 24th!  The finish line is $123,500 by Friday, July 31st to be fully funded for another year. In order to hit our July 24th goal, we need to find 12 Worldview listeners who will pledge $100/month for 12 months or give a one-time gift of $1,200, 23 folks who will pledge $50/month or give a one-time gift of $600, and 46 listeners who will pledge $25/month or give a one-time gift of $300. Please, go to TheWorldview.com, click on Give, select the dollar amount, and make sure to click on the “recurring” button if that's your wish.  Remember, if you want to continue your monthly pledge to The Worldview that you started in a previous year, please let me know so we can count your generous ongoing gift toward our total. What is the Lord asking you to do with the resources He's given you to steward? Close And that's The Worldview on this Monday, July 20th, in the year of our Lord 2026. Subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Spanish economist and former Member of the European Parliament, Luis Garicano, Ph.D., joins William Blair macro analyst Richard de Chazal to discuss why AI is more likely to reshape jobs than replace them outright, arguing that the most valuable work combines cognitive, relational, and physical tasks that remain difficult to automate. He also discusses the implications for productivity, investing, education, and economic growth in an AI-driven economy.

On this day, 20 July 1979, Native American political prisoner Leonard Peltier escaped from Lompoc Federal Correctional Institution, in California, with two other detainees, one of whom, Bobby Gene Garcia, was shot to death by a guard. Peltier, a leading member of the American Indian Movement, had been sentenced to two consecutive life sentences for the deaths of two Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents. He had been warned by fellow Native American prisoner Standing Deer (a.k.a. Robert Wilson) that there was contract on his life in the prison.Peltier's original trial was riddled with inconsistencies and distortions. For example, an FBI ballistics expert claimed during the trial that a shell case found near the bodies matched Peltier's rifle, but his report stating that the cartridge did not match was withheld from the jury. And three witnesses who placed Peltier near the scene of the crime later recanted, stating that the FBI had tied them to chairs and coerced their testimony. The legal misconduct was so severe that Peltier has received support from individuals and groups as diverse as Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the European Parliament, and the United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights. Peltier was recaptured three days later. Peltier eventually had his sentence commuted by President Joe Biden in 2025, and was released from prison to house arrest.More information, sources and map: https://stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/9281/leonard-peltier-escapes-custodyOur work is only possible because of support from you, our listeners on patreon. If you appreciate our work, please join us and access exclusive content and benefits at patreon.com/workingclasshistory.See all of our anniversaries each day, alongside sources and maps on the On This Day section of our Stories app: stories.workingclasshistory.com/date/todayBrowse all Stories by Date here on the Date index: https://stories.workingclasshistory.com/dateCheck out our Map of historical Stories: https://map.workingclasshistory.comCheck out books, posters, clothing and more in our online store, here: https://shop.workingclasshistory.comIf you enjoy this podcast, make sure to check out our flagship longform podcast, Working Class History

This bonus content is a reading from Platypus, the CASTAC Blog. The full post by Abhigya can be read at https://blog.castac.org/2026/07/charting-the-discourse-of-nature-restoration-the-eu-nature-restoration-law-in-the-public-sphere-in-czechia/. About the post: Looking closely at the public discourse pertaining to Nature Restoration Law in Czechia, one observes that the lines against which these interests cleave and coalesce remain fairly blurry. Even in the European Parliament, 21 members of the conservative European People's Party (EPP) voted in favour of the law, significantly tipping the outcome in its favour and reaffirming the volatile nature of interest-group allegiances.

AI continues to remain a priority topic on the political agenda. As the EU leverages an increasing number of policy and financial instruments to stimulate the development and uptake of AI in Europe, this technology permeates virtually every aspect of our lives: our work, when we access public services, in education, our private lives and so on. Monty Aal, FEPS Policy Analyst for Digital talks to MEP Katarina Barley, Vice-President of the European Parliament and Chair of the AI Working Group of the Party of European Socialists. In the episode they talk about why AI is one of the biggest challenges of current times, how Europe can decrease it's dependence on the US, what the social-democratic vision on AI should be and how the centre-left can build alliances across ideological and party lines to create the political majorities needed to steer AI in Europe in a direction where it benefits society as a whole, not just a handful of tech oligarchs who have accumulated unseen amounts of money and power.

A Clare MEP says it "beggars belief" that Ireland's health service is still largely reliant on paper records. A 2024 EU Commission study found that this county has the lowest level of access to electronic health records of any member state. The HSE One Health Record, which will be a single, integrated digital health system, is due to be operational in 2032. Addressing Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill in the European Parliament, Scariff Independent MEP Michael McNamara says we're lagging behind our neighbours.

Lise Hand and John Lee join Matt to discuss Mary Lou McDonald and Micheál Martin's true feelings for each other after the Sinn Féin leader calls her Fianna Fáil counterpart and Taoiseach a 'tosser'. Lynn Boylan's European Parliament embarrassment on the Irish language. Sinn Féin's position on an engineering plant in Derry that might be supplying the Israeli Air Force. The politics of Intel's increased Irish investment. Why the government must be glad it no longer has to deal with Aer Lingus' decisions. The length of the Dáil summer break, and John teases his cabinet scorecards. Brought to you by The Greenman Group.PTP+To enjoy early access, ad-free listening and weekly bonus episodes, sign up at pathtopowerpodcast.comGet in touch: mail@pathtopowerpodcast.comFollow Matt:https://twitter.com/cooper_mhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-cooper-615a1317https://www.instagram.com/mattcooperlastword/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Catch up on the latest headlines from Chemical Watch News & Insight  This week's Podcast Short reviews our top stories, plus other interesting developments from around the globe.  In New York, the state attorney general has sued six chemical manufacturers over their use of PFAS in consumer products, with the lawsuit going beyond allegations typically raised in state-led PFAS cases.  In the EU, committees in the European Parliament have given a green light to a provisional agreement among EU lawmakers on the Chemicals Omnibus, bringing the measure one step closer to adoption. Meanwhile, regulators in China have proposed a unified framework for managing national and industry standards for cosmetics and toothpaste. Other stories include: Illinois prohibiting two dozen cosmetic ingredients; the European Commission proposing to ban 16 cosmetic ingredients deemed to be carcinogenic, mutagenic or reproductive toxicants; Brazil finalising its RoHS resolution restricting substances in electrical and electronic equipment; and a feature story looking at how some investors view the long-term risks of PFAS. Tune in to hear more and then visit Chemical Watch News & Insight to catch all the latest news on global developments in chemicals management.Have a podcast idea or a comment to share? Let us know by emailing the editor at Terry.Hyland@Enhesa.com.

North Macedonia has waited 21 years at the EU's door. Zoran Dimitrovski and Linas Kojala ask what delay now costs Europe. Look at a map and the unresolved logic is striking. Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia are almost entirely surrounded by EU and NATO members. These countries are not on some distant European frontier. They form an enclave within the Union's own geography. In 2003, at the Thessaloniki summit, the EU promised the Western Balkans a European future. More than two decades later, Croatia remains the last country to have joined, back in 2013. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, enlargement has shifted from a slow technical process to an urgent geopolitical question: what happens when Europe leaves a space inside its own borders unfilled? My guests brought two unusually powerful perspectives to that question. Zoran Dimitrovski, North Macedonia's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, spent 35 years as a journalist before entering government. He edited some of his country's leading newspapers, reported from Washington, wrote more than 1,500 articles and investigations, and continues to teach critical thinking and analytical writing. Alongside him was Linas Kojala, CEO of the Geopolitics and Security Studies Center in Vilnius and a lecturer at Vilnius University. A Fulbright scholar with studies at Oxford, Cambridge and Harvard, Kojala has written about Lithuania's own journey into the European Union and has been ranked among his country's most influential public figures. Twenty-one years at the front door North Macedonia became an EU candidate in 2005, around the same time as Croatia. Yet it still has not opened substantive accession negotiations. The country first faced a long dispute with Greece over its name, eventually resolved through the Prespa Agreement and the adoption of the name North Macedonia. That opened the way into NATO. A second dispute then emerged with neighbouring Bulgaria, involving language, identity, history and the recognition of a Bulgarian community within North Macedonia's constitution. Zoran Dimitrovski did not deny the work still required within his own country. North Macedonia must continue aligning its laws with the EU, strengthening the judiciary and fighting corruption. His argument was that these shortcomings were not the principal reason the country had been stopped. This describes one of the demands that, in Dimitrovski's view, reach beyond the Copenhagen criteria governing democratic institutions, human rights, the rule of law and a functioning market economy. There is, however, responsibility on both sides of the border and both sides of the accession table. The European Parliament's latest assessment expresses regret at North Macedonia's lack of progress, calling for the constitutional amendments, stronger cross-party cooperation and deeper reforms. Yet that same resolution warns that bilateral disputes over language, culture and national identity should not be used to obstruct accession. This is the uncomfortable heart of the story: the EU must remain demanding enough for membership to retain meaning, while remaining fair enough for its promises to retain credibility. The rules were written for a different Europe Kojala argued that the enlargement machinery itself must adapt to a radically altered security landscape. The process still requires unanimity at critical stages, allowing one member state to hold up another country's progress. Under normal circumstances, such caution might be defensible. These, he stressed, are not normal circumstances. The EU's decision-making can be painfully slow because 27 governments must agree on decisions touching sovereignty, money and national interest. Kojala compared it to 27 friends attempting to choose a restaurant, except that several of them may not be friends and the decisions are monumental. The central question is therefore whether procedures devised 20 years ago are still adequate for a Europe facing war, cyber-attacks, sabotage, disinformation and growing competition from authoritarian powers. Railways, bridges and the architecture of security EU enlargement may sound abstract, but it rapidly becomes concrete. It is about railway lines, bridges, roads, energy systems and digital networks. Dimitrovski pointed to Corridors VIII and X, which cross North Macedonia and connect the Adriatic, Black and Aegean Seas with wider Europe. These routes matter for trade and daily life, but also for NATO's ability to move personnel and equipment across the continent. A bridge too weak to carry military vehicles is simultaneously an infrastructure problem, an economic weakness and a security vulnerability. Kojala offered a useful challenge to the language of cost. Security spending is often discussed as money disappearing from productive use. Yet roads, schools, housing, communications and transport capacity remain in the communities where they are built. The same is true of enlargement: investment in the Western Balkans is not charity at Europe's edge. It is investment in the resilience of the continent as a whole. A vacuum rarely stays empty Russia remains an influential force in Serbia and parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina, while Chinese lending and infrastructure investment have expanded across the region. Dimitrovski was careful not to suggest that the Western Balkans would simply abandon Europe for Moscow or Beijing. His warning was more subtle. Prolonged uncertainty can produce weaker institutions, frustrated populations and a region increasingly exposed to financial pressure, political manipulation and disinformation. Europe therefore faces a choice that is larger than whether another flag appears outside the institutions in Brussels. It must decide whether the Western Balkans are genuinely part of its future, and demonstrate that belief through fair conditions, credible timelines and visible results. Kojala described the European Union as something close to a “boring miracle”: cumbersome, imperfect and endlessly predicted to collapse, yet remarkably capable of adapting and surviving. That miracle now requires another act of political imagination. The Western Balkans have spent more than 20 years hearing that their future lies inside the European Union. Europe may now need to ask a harder question of itself: how long can a promise remain credible before waiting becomes its own form of rejection?

What should we know ahead of the 2027 presidential election in France? What topics will likely dominate the political debate ahead of the election?  What has recently changed in terms of Marine Le Pen's candidacy for the president? Where does the enormous support base for the Rassemblement National come from?  And what is the legacy of President Emmanuel Macron?   Leszek Jazdzewski (Fundacja Liberte!) talks with Blanche Leridon, Director of French Studies at Institut Montaigne, specializing in democratic and institutional issues. Tune in the for their talk! This podcast is produced by the European Liberal Forum in collaboration with the Movimento Liberal Social and the Fundacja Liberté!, with the financial support of the European Parliament. Neither the European Parliament nor the European Liberal Forum are responsible for the content or for any use that be made of.

A Clare MEP claims Ireland's commitment to the rule of law is "all fur coat". The Taoiseach has backed Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan in a row over changes to the legal aid fees system. A total of 55 solicitors have resigned from the criminal legal aid panel following the introduction of a new fee structure which sees an increased one-off fee instead of payments per appearance. Addressing Fianna Fáil Minister of State Thomas Byrne in the European Parliament, Scariff Independent MEP Michael McNamara says the criminal justice system is "grinding to a halt".

Three topics this week, none of them reassuring. Trump threatened to cut off all trade with Spain at the NATO summit in Ankara, apparently unaware that EU trade is negotiated through Brussels rather than individual member states. Mark Rutte sat next to him in silence. We discuss what that silence costs Europe in the long run, and why Spain, of all countries, is quietly emerging as one of the diplomatic winners of the current moment.The bulk of the episode goes to Chat Control 2.0, the EU directive that would mandate tech companies to scan private messages, including encrypted ones, for child sexual abuse material. The law was pushed through the European Parliament just before the summer recess using a procedural manoeuvre that required only the absence of an absolute majority to pass, rather than its presence. We go through the European Commission's own impact report, which acknowledges no clear link between the law and actual convictions and records a 30 percent drop in reported cases after Chat Control 1.0 came into force, a drop now being used to justify expanding the law to encrypted communications. Germany's largest child protection organisation has itself said the law undermines children's rights rather than protecting them. We discuss why it is still moving forward anyway.We close with China's ICBM test from a submarine, which the West treated as a provocation. The United States conducted two similar tests this year to no comparable coverage. France tested nuclear weapons in the Pacific until 1996. We make the obvious point, and note that Beijing's only real mistake was failing to give sufficient warning to neighbouring countries, which damages the very diplomatic image China has spent a decade carefully building.This podcast is an individual project between us, Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. We are supported by our producer Stefani Obradovic from Western Bubble Insights & Strategy. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.

QUOTES FOR REFLECTION“The Psalter is the prayer book of Jesus Christ in the truest sense of the word. He prayed the Psalter and now it has become his prayer for all time.”~Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945), theologian-pastor, executed for his opposition to the Nazis “As long as you have not yet reached Christ, the divine word has only one piece of advice for you: ‘Come nearer; you are not yet in a place of security.'”~Augustine (354-430), North African church leader and theologian “When you are being pursued and certain ones are perpetrating slander….do not succumb to weariness, but being confident in the Lord and hymning him, recite the things in [Psalm 56].”~Athanasius (c. 296-373), theologian and church leader, in his “Letter to Marcelliuns” “The condition of the Psalmist's mind was complex—he feared, but that fear did not fill the whole area of his mind.... It is possible, then, for fear and faith to occupy the mind at the same moment. We are strange beings, and our experience in the divine life is stranger still. We are often in a twilight, where light and darkness are both present and it is hard to tell which predominates. It is a blessed fear which drives us to trust. Unregenerate fear drives from God, gracious fear drives to him.”~Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892), famed London pastor “God hath so great compassion on his servants in trouble that he reckoneth even the steps of their wanderings and pilgrimage, and numbereth all their tears, and keepeth the count thereof, as it were in a register; and therefore every troubled servant of God, when he looks upon his sufferings, should look upon God also taking as particular notice of his troubles as he himself can do.”~David Dickson (1583-1662), Scottish pastor and theologian “…is it fair for a loving God to sit on His throne in Heaven and let us struggle and suffer on our own? …It makes perfect sense to me that God decided to come among us, live like us, and die a horribly painful death after being tortured. This is a God I can love with all my heart. A God who sets an example. A God who has bled and whose heart has been broken. This is who Jesus is to me. I don't pretend that I understand the Holy Trinity. But I understand love and sacrifice. I understand faithfulness.”~Marina Nemat, author of After Tehran: A Life Reclaimed, former political prisoner and inaugural recipient of the European Parliament's Human Dignity Award (2008)SERMON PASSAGEPsalm 56 (ESV)To the choirmaster: according to The Dove on Far-off Terebinths.A Miktam of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath. 1  Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me;  all day long an attacker oppresses me;2  my enemies trample on me all day long,  for many attack me proudly.3  When I am afraid,  I put my trust in you.4  In God, whose word I praise,  in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.  What can flesh do to me? 5  All day long they injure my cause;  all their thoughts are against me for evil.6  They stir up strife, they lurk;  they watch my steps,  as they have waited for my life.7  For their crime will they escape?  In wrath cast down the peoples, O God! 8  You have kept count of my tossings;  put my tears in your bottle.  Are they not in your book?9  Then my enemies will turn back  in the day when I call.  This I know, that God is for me.10 In God, whose word I praise,  in the Lord, whose word I praise,11 in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.  What can man do to me? 12 I must perform my vows to you, O God;  I will render thank offerings to you.13 For you have delivered my soul from death,  yes, my feet from falling,  that I may walk before God  in the light of life.

pWotD Episode 3356: Ann Widdecombe Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.With 1,272,087 views on Friday, 10 July 2026 our article of the day is Ann Widdecombe.Ann Noreen Widdecombe (4 October 1947 – c. 9 July 2026) was a British politician and television personality. As a member of the Conservative Party, she was Member of Parliament (MP) for Maidstone and The Weald and the former Maidstone constituency from 1987 to 2010. She was a member of the Brexit Party from 2019 and served as the Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for South West England from 2019 to 2020. She joined Reform UK in 2023 and served as the party's Immigration and Justice spokesperson from 2023 until her death in 2026.Born in Bath, Somerset, Widdecombe read Latin at the University of Birmingham, then PPE at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. She was a religious convert from Anglicanism to Roman Catholicism and was a member of the Conservative Christian Fellowship. She served as Minister of State for Employment from 1994 to 1995 and Minister of State for Prisons from 1995 to 1997. She later served in the Shadow Cabinet of William Hague as Shadow Secretary of State for Health from 1998 to 1999 and Shadow Home Secretary from 1999 to 2001. She was appointed to the Privy Council in 1997.Widdecombe stood down from the House of Commons at the 2010 general election. From 2002 she made numerous television and radio appearances, including as a television presenter. She was a contestant on the eighth series of Strictly Come Dancing in 2010, and was runner-up of the twenty-first series of Celebrity Big Brother in 2018. A prominent Eurosceptic, in 2016 she supported the Vote Leave campaign to withdraw the United Kingdom from the European Union (EU). Widdecombe returned to politics as the lead candidate for the Brexit Party in South West England at the 2019 European Parliament election; she won the seat in line with results nationally and served until the country left the EU on 31 January 2020. In the general election of December 2019, she fought Plymouth Sutton and Devonport for the Brexit Party, where she came third but retained her deposit.Ideologically, Widdecombe identified herself as a social conservative and stressed the importance of traditional values and conservatism. As a member of the House of Commons, she opposed the legality of abortion, opposed granting LGBT people legal rights such as the same age of consent as heterosexuals, and opposed the repeal of Section 28. She supported the reintroduction of the death penalty for murder. She was opposed to all forms of assisted dying. She had a history of supporting rigorous laws on animal protection and was opposed to fox hunting.Widdecombe was found dead at her home on Dartmoor, Devon, on 9 July 2026, aged 78. The following day, police arrested a man on suspicion of murder.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 04:06 UTC on Saturday, 11 July 2026.For the full current version of the article, see Ann Widdecombe on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm generative Matthew.

10 Years After Brexit: Scotland's European Journey

You spend time reading ingredient labels, buying organic, choosing healthier foods—but what if the biggest threat isn't what's in your food... it's what your food is touching? In this eye-opening Fatal Conveniences episode, Darin uncovers the hidden health risks lurking inside everyday food packaging. From takeout containers and greasy wrappers to microwave-safe plastics and canned food linings, he explains how chemicals like PFAS, BPA, phthalates, and microplastics migrate directly into your meals—especially when heat, fat, and time are involved. Using newly introduced federal legislation, peer-reviewed scientific research, and practical solutions you can implement immediately, Darin reveals why food packaging may be one of the most overlooked sources of toxic exposure in modern life. Most importantly, he shares simple steps you can take today to dramatically reduce your family's exposure without waiting for government regulation. This episode isn't about fear—it's about reclaiming your sovereignty, making informed choices, and recognizing that what touches your food matters just as much as what's inside it. What You'll Learn Why food packaging may be contaminating your meals How PFAS, BPA, and phthalates migrate into hot food Why heat, fat, and time dramatically increase chemical exposure The truth behind "microwave-safe" plastic containers What the new No Toxics in Food Packaging Act proposes How endocrine disruptors interfere with hormones and metabolism Why microplastics and nanoplastics increase during reheating Which plastic recycling codes to eliminate from your kitchen Why grease-resistant paper can be just as problematic as plastic Practical ways to reduce your family's exposure immediately How choosing glass, stainless steel, and ceramic can lower toxic burden Why informed consumers—not regulators—will drive lasting change Chapters 00:00:00 – Welcome to SuperLife 00:00:35 – Sponsor: Bite Toothpaste 00:02:51 – The fast-food wrapper that changes everything 00:03:54 – Why packaging deserves as much attention as ingredients 00:04:51 – The overlooked Fatal Convenience hiding in plain sight 00:05:13 – Introducing the No Toxics in Food Packaging Act 00:06:10 – Why plastic isn't chemically inert 00:06:52 – BPA, phthalates, PFAS, and food-contact chemicals explained 00:07:49 – How heat, fat, and time pull toxins into your food 00:08:39 – The dangerous assumption that "legal" means "safe" 00:09:41 – Inside the new federal legislation 00:11:01 – The science proving chemical migration is real 00:12:08 – Why hot, fatty foods absorb the most contaminants 00:13:34 – Millions of microplastics released during microwaving 00:14:15 – Sponsor: Manna Vitality 00:16:09 – New research on microwavable containers 00:17:48 – PFAS: the forever chemicals in food packaging 00:18:46 – Fast food consumption and higher PFAS blood levels 00:19:24 – What these chemicals actually do inside the body 00:20:39 – Why carcinogens are still legally used in food-contact materials 00:21:37 – The FDA loophole allowing chemicals into the food supply 00:23:36 – Practical steps to reduce exposure today 00:24:13 – Why you should immediately transfer takeout into glass 00:25:13 – Plastics to eliminate from your kitchen 00:26:17 – Supporting better legislation and voting with your wallet 00:27:51 – Awareness creates freedom and better choices 00:28:58 – The future of safe food packaging 00:29:37 – Final thoughts: reclaiming your health through everyday decisions Thank You to Our Sponsors Bite Toothpaste: Go to trybite.com/DARIN20 or use code DARIN20 for 20% off your first order Manna Vitality: Go to mannavitality.com/ and use code DARIN12 for 12% off your order. Join the SuperLife Patreon: This is where Darin now shares the deeper work: - weekly voice notes - ingredient trackers - wellness challenges - extended conversations - community accountability - sovereignty practices Join now for only $7.49/month at https://patreon.com/darinolien Find More from Darin Olien: Website: darinolien.com Instagram: @darinolien Book: Fatal Conveniences Platform & Products: superlife.com New Show: Roadmap to Happiness Key Takeaway "The health of your food isn't determined solely by where it came from or what's listed on the nutrition label—it's also determined by what touches it before it reaches your body. Heat, fat, time, and modern packaging create opportunities for chemicals to migrate directly into your meals, but awareness gives you the power to interrupt that process. By choosing glass over plastic, transferring takeout immediately, minimizing processed packaging, and making conscious daily decisions, you reduce toxic exposure while reclaiming sovereignty over your health. Real wellness isn't built through fear—it's built through informed choices repeated every day." Bibliography/Sources: Legislation & Government Sources Food Dive. (2025, September 11). FDA takes first step toward closing GRAS ingredient 'loophole' . https://www.fooddive.com/news/food-ingredient-safety-gras-fda-rule/759938/ Office of Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. (n.d.). Schakowsky, DeLauro, Dingell introduce legislation to ban harmful toxics in food packaging [Press release] . https://schakowsky.house.gov/media/press-releases/schakowsky-delauro-dingell-introduce-legislation-ban-harmful-toxics-food U.S. Congress. (2026, June 9). H.R. 9231 - No Toxic Chemicals in Food Packaging Act of 2026 (119th Congress). House Committee on Energy and Commerce . U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 4724 - No Toxic Chemicals in Food Packaging Act of 2026 (119th Congress). Congress.gov . https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/4724 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2025). HHS Secretary Kennedy directs FDA to explore rulemaking to eliminate pathway for companies to self-affirm food ingredients are safe . https://www.hhs.gov/press-room/revising-gras-pathway.html U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2024). FDA announces PFAS used in grease-proofing agents for food packaging no longer being sold in the U.S. . https://www.fda.gov/food/hfp-constituent-updates/fda-announces-pfas-used-grease-proofing-agents-food-packaging-no-longer-being-sold-us Verdant Law. (2026). Federal legislation would deem 15 chemicals unsafe in food packaging . https://www.verdantlaw.com/federal-legislation-would-deem-15-chemicals-unsafe-in-food-packaging/ Industry & News Coverage Breast Cancer Prevention Partners. (n.d.). Support the federal 'No Toxics in Food Packaging Act of 2026'. Action Network . https://actionnetwork.org/forms/support-the-federal-no-toxics-in-food-packaging-act-of-2026 Flavorist. (2026). No Toxics in Food Packaging Act 2026: A major push to remove harmful chemicals from food packaging . https://www.flavorist.com/the-push-to-ban-forever-chemicals-and-toxins-from-food-packaging-what-the-new-bill-means-for-consumers-and-industry/ Food Dive. (2026). Bill in Congress targets 'forever chemicals' in food packaging . https://www.fooddive.com/news/no-toxics-in-food-packaging-act-2026/822803/ Packaging Dive. (2026). Bill in Congress targets PFAS, phthalates, BPA in food packaging . https://www.packagingdive.com/news/no-toxics-in-food-packaging-act-2026/822601/ Migration & Packaging Chemistry Studies A simulation study on the temperature-dependent release of endocrine-disrupting chemicals from polypropylene and polystyrene containers. (2025). Scientific Reports . https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-05036-7 A systematic review: Migration of chemical compounds from plastic material containers in food and pharmaceutical fields. (2025). PubMed Central . https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12641956/ European Parliamentary Research Service. (2026). Food contact materials in the EU: State of play. European Parliament . https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2026/782669/EPRS_BRI(2026)782669_EN.pdf Migration of bisphenol A and its derivatives from epoxy coatings and demand for BPA-NI products. (n.d.). PubMed Central . https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12711388/ Seref, et al. (2025). Food packaging and chemical migration: A food safety perspective. Journal of Food Science . https://ift.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1750-3841.70265 Stevens, S., Bartosova, Z., Völker, J., & Wagner, M. (2024). Migration of endocrine and metabolism disrupting chemicals from plastic food packaging. Environment International, 189, 108791 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2024.108791 Tanzer, M., Boissiere-O'Neill, T., Sly, P., & Vilcins, D. (2025). Phthalates, bisphenols and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances migration from food packaging into food: A systematic review. Reviews on Environmental Health, 40(3), 616–625 . https://doi.org/10.1515/reveh-2025-0027 Heat, Microwaving & Microplastics Food Safety Magazine. (2026). Report raises concerns about microplastics, chemicals released by microwavable meals . https://www.food-safety.com/articles/11211-report-raises-concerns-about-microplastics-chemicals-released-by-microwavable-meals Greenpeace International. (2026). Reheating plastic food containers: What science says about microplastics and chemicals in ready meals . https://www.greenpeace.org/international/story/81649/reheating-plastic-food-containers-what-science-says-about-microplastics-chemicals-ready-meals/ INTEGRIS Health. (2025). Is it safe to reheat food in plastic? . https://integrishealth.org/resources/on-your-health/2025/november/is-it-safe-to-reheat-food-in-plastic ScienceInsights. (2026). What happens if you microwave plastic: Health risks . https://scienceinsights.org/what-happens-if-you-microwave-plastic-health-risks/ ZeroToxins. (2026). Food packaging and chemical migration: What happens when heat meets plastic . https://www.zerotoxins.com/post/food-packaging-and-chemical-migration-what-happens-when-heat-meets-plastic PFAS in Fast Food & Grease-Resistant Packaging Consumer Reports. (2022). Consumer Reports finds dangerous PFAS chemicals widespread in fast food packaging tested . https://advocacy.consumerreports.org/press_release/consumer-reports-finds-dangerous-pfas-chemicals-widespread-in-fast-food-packaging-tested/ Determination of several PFAS groups in food packaging material from fast-food restaurants in France. (2023). ScienceDirect. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0045653523020015 Environmental Health News. (2023). Burgers and fries with a side of PFAS . https://www.ehn.org/fast-food-pfas Food Manufacturing. (2022). Pressure growing to remove PFAS from fast food wrappers . https://www.foodmanufacturing.com/packaging/news/22250166/pressure-growing-to-remove-pfas-from-fast-food-wrappers Endocrine Disruption, Fertility & Cancer Risk Associations between endocrine-disrupting chemical exposure and fertility outcomes: A decade of human epidemiological evidence. (2025). PubMed Central . https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12299029/ Medtigo Journal. (2026). Endocrine disrupting chemicals and health in Europe: A systematic review and meta-analysis . https://journal.medtigo.com/endocrine-disrupting-chemicals-and-health-in-europe-a-systematic-review-and-meta-analysis/ Trasande, L., & Sargis, R. M. (2024). Endocrine-disrupting chemicals: Mainstream recognition of health effects and implications for the practicing internist. Journal of Internal Medicine, 295, 259–274 . The GRAS Loophole & FDA Oversight Environmental Working Group. (2026). Secret GRAS: How 100+ food chemicals bypassed government safety review . https://www.ewg.org/research/secret-gras-how-100-food-chemicals-bypassed-government-safety-review Epstein Becker Green. (2025). Eliminating the GRAS pathway: An update . https://www.healthlawadvisor.com/eliminating-the-gras-pathway-an-update Food Safety Magazine. (2024). 'Toxic Free Food Act' would close FDA GRAS 'loophole' allowing potentially toxic additives in food . https://www.food-safety.com/articles/9768-toxic-free-food-act-would-close-fda-gras-loophole-allowing-potentially-toxic-additives-in-food New York University. (2024). How a legal loophole allows unsafe ingredients in U.S. foods . https://www.nyu.edu/about/news-publications/news/2024/august/legal-loophole-unsafe-ingredients.html Thompson Coburn LLP. (2026). The changing landscape of U.S. food additive regulation: MAHA and the end of business as usual . https://www.thompsoncoburn.com/insights/the-changing-landscape-of-u-s-food-additive-regulation-maha-and-the-end-of-business-as-usual/

"The only time people notice what a cleaner does is when she doesn't do it."They disinfect hospital wards, scrub office floors, and sanitise the spaces we all rely on. Yet cleaners are among the most invisible workers in Europe.In this first episode, we pull back the curtain on a typical day in the life of a cleaner. From the marble corridors of the European Parliament to a high-dependency hospital unit in Ireland, we hear what it really means to do essential work that almost no one sees.In this episode, we hear from:

Hard-right leader Marine Le Pen announced her candidacy in France's 2027 presidential campaign in typically dramatic fashion on French TV this week.It came after an appeal court shortened her sentence for misappropriating European Parliament funds that had previously barred her from running. The court reduced the five-year ban on holding office to 45 months with 30 suspended, meaning that the suspension has already been served.A four-year prison sentence was reduced to two years suspended and one year served outside prison with an electronic bracelet, while imposing a fine of €100,000.Le Pen also announced that she would initiate another appeal, this time to France's higher Court of Cassation, and that her sentence would not begin until after this final appeal is heard. Pending this appeal she is free to campaign without the electronic tag.If Le Pen's legal troubles had ruled her out of the presidential race, her party had a backup plan in 30-year-old MEP Jordan Bardella.This will be her fourth run at the presidency. With France moving to the right, has her time finally come? Or will her legal difficulties ultimately mean that the charismatic Bardella will be the National Rally Party's candidate?Paris-based Irish Times Europe Correspondent Naomi O'Leary explains who Le Pen is and how her campaign will unfold in the coming months.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This spring, the House of European History – a flagship museum of the European Parliament – has opened a temporary exhibition under the title Postcolonial?that features unique artworks, historical objects, and personal stories. Knowing the multifaceted and controversial legacies of European colonialism and being aware of just how closely intertwined the European integration project and thehistory of decolonization have been, this amounts to a significant and urgent intervention. The exhibition asks explicitly how Europeans preserved their power as their empires collapsed and aims to show how the “colonial matrix of power” continues to shape the world we live in. The exhibition ultimately ambitions no less than to help us rethink what it means to be European – and thus raises a host of essential and challenging questions. Our podcast features two of the exhibition's main curators – Kieran Burns and Ayoko Mensah – and two eminent experts in colonial history, postcolonial theory, and questions of European and postcolonial memory – Diana Natermann and Aline Sierp. Moderated by Ferenc Laczó, they jointly examine this crucial new exhibition in depth – and consider what it means to have such an exhibition at the heart of the EU today. The first part of the podcast explored some of the mostthought-provoking parts of the exhibition. This second part focuses on the links between the main themes of the exhibition and the history of European integration; asks whether there might be a risk here ofoffering a dichotomous and too moralizing reading of history; and considers what a thorough rethinking in the light of colonial history of how to be European today would imply – and what might be most in need of revision in theHouse of European History itself in accordance with that process of rethinking.

The European Parliament declared a climate emergency in 2019, yet the EU still appears to be caught off guard by increasingly severe heatwaves and heat domes. With temperatures this summer set to break records and expose millions of Europeans to dangerous heat, we ask whether the bloc has neglected the short-term measures needed to protect people from extreme heat.

Jack Power the Europe Correspondent with the Irish Times has the latest.

Jerry spoke to Minister of State and Limerick Fianna Fáil TD Niall Collins on the bill to ban hare-coursing and the issue of Aughinish Alumina. A non-binding vote is taking place in the European Parliament today to add the West Limerick plant to the EU’s Russian sanctions list.

Episode 299 Discoveries in this week's update...Microsoft's Windows has been quietly assigning every PC a persistent tracking ID that survives VPNs, new IP addresses, and most attempts to disappear - and a hacker just got arrested because of it.Anthropic built a secret tracker inside its own developer tool to watch for Chinese users - and the company that made its name on responsible AI had to remove it after researchers found the hidden code.The Supreme Court just handed every smartphone owner in America a constitutional privacy right they didn't know they had - and it changes what law enforcement can do with your location data forever.An Air Force engineer with a saw and a point to make took down 13 license plate reader cameras - and thousands of strangers across the country sent him money to say thank you.An AI agent was given a web browser, a payment system, and instructions to help - and attackers left invisible instructions on websites that redirected the money somewhere else entirely.The first ransomware attack run entirely by an AI agent - start to finish, no human required - happened this week, and the kill chain took minutes not days.The MEP who sat on the European Parliament committee investigating Pegasus spyware had his own phone infected with Pegasus spyware while he was doing it.Amazon just told everyone who bought a Fire Stick that they no longer control what runs on it - and the feature they killed was the one most commonly used to limit Amazon's ability to track you.This week, the theme writes itself: everything is watching something.Your operating system, your AI assistant, your TV stick, the cameras on every corner, the spyware on the phones of the people writing the rules about spyware.The stories this week are sometimes alarming, occasionally darkly funny, and always worth paying attention to - because the first step to not being tracked is knowing what's doing the tracking.Let's discover.Find the full transcript to theis podcast here.

This episode of BHIS - Talkin' Bout [infosec] News covers the latest cybersecurity headlines, including debate over the economics of AI infrastructure, updates on the Huntress controversy, new details surrounding Scattered Spider, a critical Microsoft SharePoint vulnerability, and reports of a breach involving a DHS information-sharing network. The discussion also examines Apple's legal battles over alternative app stores, the limitations of Apple's Hide My Email feature, a Medtronic breach, firmware security, Palo Alto Networks attribution disputes, and other notable security stories that didn't make the main rundown.Join us LIVE on Mondays, 4:30pm EST.A weekly Podcast with BHIS and Friends. We discuss notable Infosec, and infosec-adjacent news stories gathered by our community news team.https://www.youtube.com/@BlackHillsInformationSecurityChat with us on Discord! - https://discord.gg/bhis

The Taoiseach has taken aim at Brexit in a speech to the European Parliament for the latest our Europe Editor, Tony Connelly.

A Clare Member of European Parliament has described an EU vote taking place today on whether to apply sanctions to Aughinish Alumina as "virtue signalling" and "pointless." The vote being proposed by the European People's Party is non-binding, which means the European Union will not be obliged to take any action on the result. 45% of all exports from the Shannon Estuary based alumina refinery went to Russia last year, and the Government says a report to determine if this trade aided Russia's military is imminent. Scariff based Independent MEP Michael McNamara says they need to know the facts before making a call.

Catch up on the latest headlines from Chemical Watch News & Insight with our latest Podcast Short. This week, we look at discussions from a meeting of the EU's Environment Council, where ministers said the upcoming REACH update should focus on gaps in enforcement and digitizing data-sharing infrastructure.  In the US, the Supreme Court recently ruled in favor of Monsanto in a case over state-level failure-to-warn claims related to its glyphosate-based herbicide Roundup, a decision that could have significant implications for warning requirements under California's Proposition 65 scheme. And in Asia, regulators in China have moved to simplify the country's approval process for new cosmetic ingredients. Elsewhere in the world, the podcast covers the latest developments on: a proposed EPA listing of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and six other ultrashort fluorinated compounds for drinking water monitoring; Rhode Island adding an exemption for its PFAS restriction law; a provisional agreement between the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers on the proposed basic regulation governing ECHA; and more! Tune in to hear a summary of our top stories from the past week. And then come back to read all the latest developments in chemicals policy from Enhesa's Chemical Watch News & Insight.  Have a podcast idea or a comment to share? Let us know by emailing the editor at Terry.Hyland@Enhesa.com. 

This spring, the House of European History – a flagship museum of the European Parliament – has opened a temporary exhibition under the title Postcolonial?that features unique artworks, historical objects, and personal stories. Knowing the multifaceted and controversial legacies of European colonialism and being aware of just how closely intertwined the European integration project and thehistory of decolonization have been, this amounts to a significant and urgent intervention. The exhibition asks explicitly how Europeans preserved their power as their empires collapsed and aims to show how the “colonial matrix of power” continues to shape the world we live in. The exhibition ultimately ambitions no less than to help us rethink what it means to be European – and thus raises a host of essential and challenging questions. Our podcast features two of the exhibition's main curators – Kieran Burns and Ayoko Mensah – and two eminent experts in colonial history, postcolonial theory, and questions of European and postcolonial memory – Diana Natermann and Aline Sierp. Moderated by Ferenc Laczó, they jointly examine this crucial new exhibition in depth – and consider what it means to have such an exhibition at the heart of the EU today. This first part of the podcast explores some of the most thought-provoking parts of the exhibition: it discusses how the curators selected the artworks, objects, and stories to be featured in the exhibition and reflects on the ways theexhibition builds on current scholarship – and why its makers decided to place a clear emphasis on how Europeans largely preserved their power even as their empires collapsed. The second part will focus on the links between the main themes of the exhibition and the history of European integration.The episodes are based on a panel that was held at Maastricht University's Brussels Hub on May 11, 2025, and was generously supported by the Arts, Media and Culture research group of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

In this episode of Peace Matters, we explore the Western Balkans' renewed bid for European Union membership following the Tivat Summit in June 2026 and examine how shifting geopolitical realities are reshaping the region's European future.For more than two decades, the Western Balkans have remained in Europe's "waiting room." Yet the Tivat Summit has injected new momentum into the enlargement process, with fresh economic incentives and a Franco-German push for institutional reform raising hopes that the region's path to Brussels may finally be accelerating.But do the EU's proposed integration measures represent a genuine pathway to full membership? How is the EU's multi-billion-euro Growth Plan affecting citizens on the ground, and where does each Western Balkan country currently stand in its accession process? Is this finally the Western Balkans' moment to join the European peace project?Guest: Adnan Ćerimagić is a senior analyst for the Western Balkans at the European Stability Initiative (ESI), a Berlin-based think-tank, where he researches European Union policy towards the region. Before joining ESI in August 2013, Adnan has worked for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo and Brussels. He also did a traineeship in the Secretariat of the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee and worked for the European Training and Research Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (ETC) in Graz. He studied law at the University of Graz and EU international relations and diplomacy at the College of Europe in Bruges. He is a member of the Advisory Board of the International Institute for Peace in Vienna (IIP), the International Advisory Board of the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy (BCBP), and a board member of the Kosovo Civil Society Foundation (KCSF). Adnan is based in Berlin. Accompanied by:Gjergj Loka, Project Coordinator at the IIP.The episode was recorded on 29 June 2026.

You might know that the European Parliament is the only directly elected institution in the EU, and that it plays a crucial role as a co-legislator with the EU Council. But what does an MEP actually do? We meet three Belgian MEPs from contrasting political ideologies and parties. Through them, we explore some of the key European issues that they are working on.

It's no secret that the EU is caught in a maelstrom of disinformation aimed at undermining its credibility. In response, FRANCE 24 commissioned a video competition, inviting high school pupils, university students and journalism school students to take part.

The Democratic Party as you know it is over. Tuesday's New York primaries weren't an election — they were a hostile takeover. Two confirmed Democratic Socialists of America members are headed to Congress. A third Mamdani ally took out the man who led Trump's first impeachment. And the machine that did it just published a platform calling for abolishing the Senate, replacing the Supreme Court, defunding the military, and rewriting the Constitution from scratch. This is not hyperbole. This is their official governing document — ratified this month. We break down exactly who the DSA is, what they actually believe, and how they've quietly built a 100,000-member army that is now systematically replacing the Democratic establishment from within — one primary at a time. Then we turn to the controversies exploding online around Abdul El-Sayed and Zul Mohamed, and ask the question the mainstream media refuses to: why do some stories dominate national headlines while others — involving the exact same behavior from the opposite side — get buried? We name the double standard out loud. Across the Atlantic, the UK is in political freefall. Keir Starmer is out — and the name everyone is watching is Andy Burnham. We break down what his rise means for British Labour and what it signals about where the global left is heading. Then: the European Parliament just approved sweeping new deportation measures that would have been unthinkable five years ago. We explain what passed, what it means, and why the entire continent just shifted on immigration in a single vote. Then Hillary Clinton went viral on immigration — so we pulled the actual record. What do the numbers look like under Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump? How has U.S. immigration enforcement actually evolved over thirty years? And how does Clinton's recent commentary hold up against her own administration's history? The answer is not what her supporters want to hear. The left is eating itself. The consequences are going to reshape American politics — and global politics — for a generation. And it's happening faster than anyone in the establishment is willing to admit.

In this episode of our Green Slovakia series, we explore how the Technical University in Zvolen (TUZVO) is helping to educate the next generation of Slovak conservationists. We speak with Vice-Dean for International Relations Tomáš Lepeška about the university's history, its environmental science programmes, and the opportunities available to students. We then head into the Tatra Mountains for a field excursion, where we meet students and Professor Michal Wiezik, environmental scientist and Member of the European Parliament. Together, they discuss the value of hands-on learning, the realities of conservation work in the field, and the challenges facing the environmental movement across Europe.

Producers for MMO #224 Executive Producers Preator of the Holy Pages, Colin Schultz   Fiat Fun Coupon Producers David G. Preator Porrecca of Peoria Doiceses: Hempress Emily M. James C Nail Lord of Gaylord Praetor Wiirdo of the Not So Flat Lands   Booster Producers D_J_W         | 20,155 | BAG DADDY BOOSTER! boolysteedfountain.fm | 2,222 NostrGangfountain.fm | 101   Creative Producers: Episode Artwork The Dirtiest Jerseyist No Longer Whoriest, Happy Birthday!   End of Show Song Song: My Fed Ex GF Artist:Poddym0uth   Follow Us: X/Twitter MMO Show John Dan Youtube (while it lasts) MMO Show Livestream Rumble MMO Show Livestream Twitch MMO Show Livestream   Shownotes: Dan's Sources EU officials discreetly meet Taliban in Brussels to speed up Afghan deportations Kazakhstani EU Ambassador: EU should "reap benefits" of closer ties European Parliament backs long-awaited digital euro to reduce US dominance in payments Democratic socialism in the midst of a U.S. revival Supreme Court bars Rastafarian man from suing prison officials who shaved dreadlocks Supreme Court rules against government in gun case involving drug use French heatwave drives up demand for AC, despite concerns • FRANCE 24 English Who is Andy Burnham's, the UK's likely next prime minister? • FRANCE 24 English Keir Starmer RESIGNS as U.K. Prime Minister Trump reacts to Keir Starmer resigning as UK Prime Minister EU officials discreetly meet Taliban in Brussels to speed up Afghan deportations Kazakhstani EU Ambassador: EU should "reap benefits" of closer ties European Parliament backs long-awaited digital euro to reduce US dominance in payments   John's Shownotes   Iran            ABC Update            Hostages FOX 1   UFC Attack            UFC Update FOX            New Arrest KOMO News   COVID            Fauci Gabbard Setup   2A            Weed and Guns ABC   Caribbean            Cuba Reform F24   Scammers            Caning Singapore AJ

Hey BillOReilly.com Premium and Concierge Members, welcome to the No Spin News for Monday, June 22, 2026. Stand Up for Your Country.  Talking Points Memo: Bill clears up the mass confusion about what's really happening in Iran. Nazee Moinian, Ph.D., Associate Fellow at the Middle East Institute, discusses how close Iran was to producing a nuclear bomb and the chances of reaching a deal. Why is British Prime Minister Keir Starmer resigning as leader of the ruling Labour Party? How the European Parliament reacted after lawmakers approved a sweeping overhaul of the EU's migrant return system. What Lara Trump had to say about the Obama Presidential Library and the big donors behind it. Final Thought: Bill's July 4th weekend book recommendations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why does a single spontaneous genetic mutation in a Styrian pumpkin field — sometime in the nineteenth century — matter enough to trigger diplomatic rows, European Parliament debates, and a forensic investigation involving rare earth element fingerprinting? How did an oil so dark it looks like used engine oil become both a peasant medicine worth its weight in gold and a gourmet product evaluated by specialist juries? And why are there now two legally protected "Styrian pumpkin seed oils" from two different countries, both called Styrian?Join John and Patrick as they tell the story of Austria and the green gold of Styria — the hull-less pumpkin, the fraud, the Slovenian oil war, and a landscape that wrote itself into a genome...----------In Sponsorship with Cornell University: Dyson Cornell SC Johnson College of Business-----------Join the History of Fresh Produce Club for ad-free listening, bonus episodes, book discounts and access to an exclusive chatroom community.Support us!Share this episode with your friendsGive a 5-star ratingWrite a review-----------Subscribe to our biweekly newsletter here for extra stories related to recent episodes, book recommendations, a sneak peek of upcoming episodes and more.-----------Instagram, TikTok, Threads:@historyoffreshproduceEmail: historyoffreshproduce@gmail.com

On this episode of the Trade Guys, Bill and Scott dig into the latest on the USMCA review, break down the outcomes from the G7 Summit, and take a look at the European Parliament's approval of the EU-U.S. trade deal.

On this week's episode of AvTalk, Indian investigators issue a progress note, but don't necessarily note their progress. After more than a decade of negotiations the European Parliament keeps its signature airline compensation legislation much the same. Qantas announces the first Project Sunrise route for its forthcoming Airbus A350-1000ULRs. And Spirt gets the go-ahead to […] The post AvTalk Episode 375: Progress, but to what end? appeared first on Flightradar24 Blog.

In this provocative and hard-hitting episode, host Patrick pulls back the curtain on global and domestic realities in an incisive examination of "The Things We're Not Supposed to Notice." The broadcast opens with a deep dive into Europe's rapidly shifting cultural and political landscape, exploring the friction between sweeping demographic changes and the enforcement of free speech laws. From high-profile legal controversies in France and the UK involving online commentary to the European Parliament's historic vote passing its strictest migration law to date, Patrick connects the dots on a continent grappling with its identity, security, and the future of Western values.Shifting the lens closer to home, the program targets the systemic overhaul of American institutions, specifically focusing on the public school system from elementary classrooms to university lecture halls. Patrick analyzes the documented decline in traditional American patriotism alongside the growing institutional embrace of multi-cultural policy shifts, including the widespread integration of new religious holidays into major public school calendars. Drawing on high-stakes legal battles over ideological conformity in public education, the segment challenges viewers to evaluate how domestic policies are reshaping the social and economic fabric of local communities.Concluding with a sharp look at political accountability and the economy, Patrick contrasts the everyday struggles of average Americans with the insulated privileges of the governing class. The episode examines recent federal economic reports linking rapid population growth to soaring housing and rental prices, while simultaneously scrutinizing the defensive posture of Washington leadership regarding congressional financial privileges and massive office budgets. This episode serves as a powerful, unfiltered call to confront the uncomfortable truths and systemic double standards that define the modern political and cultural landscape.

The global political map is shifting at lightning speed!

**Global Mass Deportation Wave & The SC Establishment Taken to the Woodshed!**

**Global Populist Shift, Trump's Iran Showdown & SC Uni-Party Taken to the Woodshed!**

The European Parliament has approved a law aimed at speeding up the return of migrants with no legal right to remain in the EU – it received backing from centre-right and far-right political groups. Jerry spoke to Ireland South Fianna Fáil MEP Billy Kelleher.

Fianna Fáil MEP Barry Andrews, and Fine Gael MEP Regina Doherty, discuss the proposed introduction of a new returns policy for international protection applicants being voted on in the European Parliament.

PJ hears that the ban piloted by Michael McNamara MEP will come into effect in December along with some other measures like "watermarking" of AI audio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andrew and Ben discuss the BOJ hiking rates 25bps to 1% without Governor Ueda and signaling more hikes ahead despite a 250% debt/GDP ratio, the European Parliament ratifying the US-EU trade deal 440-151 with 15% tariffs on most EU goods and preferential access for US farm produce, the Huntsman-Olin merger creating OlinHuntsman with $400 million in synergies, and growing skepticism around the Iran deal as bonds refuse to buy in and disagreements remain over Hormuz tolls, the nuclear timeline, and Israel's posture on Lebanon.Join our live YouTube stream Monday through Friday at 8:30 AM EST:http://www.youtube.com/@TheMorningMarketBriefingPlease see disclosures:https://www.narwhal.com/disclosure

The European Parliament has approved legislation implementing the EU-US trade deal, marking the final parliamentary step before the agreement formally takes effect.

SpaceX IPO is garnering criticisms, but it's OK because now they're an AI company! Google is ordered by the EU to add clearer credit to AI summaries, but European Parliament is still switching to a French search firm. GoPro is in trouble. Meta has been scanning faces with their glasses. The Surface Laptop gets Leaked. We're already seeing leaks on the NEXT generation of Vivo phones. And what's going on with Apple this week? Let's get our tech week started off RIGHT! -- Show Notes and Links https://somegadgetguy.com/b/4dk Support Talking Tech with SomeGadgetGuy by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/talking-tech-with-somegadgetgu Find out more at https://talking-tech-with-somegadgetgu.pinecast.co This podcast is powered by Pinecast. Try Pinecast for free, forever, no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-c117ce for 40% off for 4 months, and support Talking Tech with SomeGadgetGuy.

Investing in China is like throwing your money down the toilet while also letting someone steal your wallet. Control is an illusion. It's the CCP that's in charge. The European Parliament is pushing for an EU-wide definition of rape centered around consent where consent is revocable at any time. That's right. At any time. Any. Time. Andrew Wilson faced off against Owen Shroyer at the University of South Carolina. We have the highlights. GUEST: Josh Firestine Link to today's sources: https://www.louderwithcrowder.com/sources-april-30-2026 Do not wait for another IRS letter or a frozen bank account. Call (866) 686-1417 or visit https://tnusa.com/CROWDER Download Rumble Wallet now—now with USA₮—and step away from the big banks --- for good! https://rumblewallet.onelink.me/bJsX/crowder Find out more about Debate University here: https://debateuniversity.com/ Share clips from the show & compete to get a mention on the show! Where to get clips: Telegram: http://t.me/LWCClips Discord: https://discord.gg/nfRAZxEbAV Submit link for tracking: https://forms.gle/HZwz7Q7C9hkHecxTA Foundation Daily is made up of premium ingredients to reduce inflammation and stress and promote clean energy and mental clarity. Subscribe now and receive 40% off for life. https://foundationdaily.com/ DOWNLOAD THE RUMBLE APP TODAY: https://rumble.com/our-apps Join Rumble Premium to watch this show every day! http://louderwithcrowder.com/Premium Get your favorite LWC gear: https://crowdershop.com/ Bite-Sized Content: https://rumble.com/c/CrowderBits Subscribe to my podcast: https://feeds.libsyn.com/576250/rss FOLLOW ME: Website: https://louderwithcrowder.com/ X: https://x.com/scrowder Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/louderwithcrowder Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stevencrowderofficial Music by @Pogo