Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

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…

Watch: ‘I just signed the largest trade deal in history’ says Trump on Japanese tariffs President Donald Trump says the US has agreed to a “massive” trade deal with Japan, one of the country’s largest trading partners. Japan has agreed to invest $550bn (£407bn) in the US while its goods sold to America would be…

Getty Images Achuthanandan was a former chief minister of Kerala state Thousands are paying their respects to veteran Indian communist leader VS Achuthanandan whose funeral will be held on Wednesday. VS, as he was popularly known, died on Monday at the age of 101. He was a founding member of India’s largest communist party and…

PA Media Peter and Barbie Reynolds were arrested in Afghanistan in February The son of a British couple detained by the Taliban five months ago has told the BBC that he fears they may die in prison. Peter Reynolds, 80, and Barbie, 76, were arrested on 1 February while returning to their home in central…

The government has revealed details of its plans to cut foreign aid, with support for children’s education and women’s health in Africa facing the biggest reductions. The government said in February it would slash foreign aid spending by 40% – from 0.5% of gross national income to 0.3% – to increase defence spending to 2.5%…

Getty Images British singer-songwriter FKA Twigs and Hollywood actor Shia LaBeouf have reached an agreement in her 2020 abuse lawsuit. FKA Twigs, whose real name is Tahliah Debrett Barnett, had accused her former partner of physical, mental and emotional abuse. In a joint statement, their lawyers confirmed the settlement, but said the details would “remain…

Mark Savage Music Correspondent Reuters Fans, musicians and former bandmates have paid tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, the frontman of pioneering heavy metal band Black Sabbath, who has died aged 76. Black Sabbath have “lost our brother”, says the band’s co-founder Tony Iommi, while bassist Terence “Geezer” Butler remembered their final gig and drummer Bill Ward…

Getty Images Kohberger has not offered an explanation for the crimes, though he’s confessed to breaking in and killing the four students Weeks before he was due to stand trial, after years of professing his innocence, Bryan Kohberger made a shocking decision – he was pleading guilty. The 30-year-old faced the death penalty for the…

Gary O’Donoghue Chief North America correspondent BBC It was a warm, late May afternoon in 2024 in lower Manhattan. The jury in Donald Trump’s trial over hush money paid by his former lawyer to adult film star Stormy Daniels was out deliberating for a second day. Assuming we were in for a long wait, I…

Sam Gruet Technology Reporter Getty Images Digital trucking apps look to minimise trucks without cargo When Jared first started out in trucking more than two decades ago, he didn’t anticipate he’d be on tour with a country music star, hauling guitars, amps, and other pieces of on-stage equipment. “It just happened, right place, right time,”…