Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has said his country “will not accept a bad deal” simply to reach a trade agreement with the US, as a deadline of 1 August looms before US President Donald Trump begins to impose new tariffs. “Our objective is not to reach a deal whatever it costs,” Carney told reporters…

Human remains found near an archaeological site in the Guatemalan jungle are thought to be those of a US birdwatcher who was reported missing almost two and a half years ago, local officials say. A lilac shirt, sandals and shorts which match those worn by Raymond Vincent Ashcroft the day of his disappearance were found…

An Ethiopian official has denied Donald Trump’s claim that the United States helped fund Ethiopia’s new megadam on the River Nile, saying it is false and “destructive”. Last week, President Trump said the controversial dam was built “with United States money, largely”. Officially known as the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (Gerd), the project is Africa’s…

The son of a woman killed in the Air India plane crash has told the BBC “other remains” were found in her casket after her body was returned to the UK. Miten Patel, whose father also died in the crash, said the coroner identified the mixed-up remains and left him to worry: “How many others…

Getty Images “Corruption lives – the future dies” Ukraine’s government is facing a growing backlash after President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law limiting the independence of two anti-corruption agencies. The contentious bill grants control of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (Nabu) and Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (Sap) to the prosecutor general, who is appointed by the…

Suranjana Tewari Asia Business Correspondent Getty Images US President Donald Trump has called the agreement he reached with Japan the “largest trade deal in history”. It might be premature to make such claims, but it’s certainly the most significant deal since Trump announced his so-called Liberation Day tariffs in April which roiled stock markets and…

Getty Images Japan is a big deal for President Donald Trump’s upheaval of world’s trading system. On his own terms, it could now be said that his aggressive approach is yielding tangible results. Right from the off, the US side has been talking up the chances of a deal with Japan, but despite several delegations,…

EPA Prosecutors in South Korea have apologised to a woman who was convicted for defending herself during a sexually violent attack more than 60 years ago. Choi Mal-ja was sentenced to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years, for biting off part of her attacker’s tongue as he allegedly tried to rape her in…

Erik Menendez has been diagnosed with a “serious medical condition”, his lawyer has told multiple US news outlets. The news comes weeks before he and his brother, Lyle, are set to appear at a parole hearing after spending decades in prison for the murders of their parents. The lawyer did not provide further details about…

President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a bill that critics say weakens the independence of Ukraine’s anti-corruption bodies, sparking protests in several cities and drawing international criticism. The new law grants the prosecutor general control of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (Nabu) and Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (Sap), and critics say it undermines their authority. In an…