Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

  • Scepticism in Goma over peace deal between DR Congo and Rwanda

    Scepticism in Goma over peace deal between DR Congo and Rwanda

    The signing of a peace agreement between the governments of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda in Washington has elicited mixed reactions, with the former Congolese president, Joseph Kabila, describing it as “nothing more than a trade agreement”. The deal signed on Friday demanded the “disengagement, disarmament and conditional integration” of armed groups fighting…

  • Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez wedding leaves Venice divided

    Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez wedding leaves Venice divided

    Sarah Rainsford Rome Correspondent Reuters Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez pictured on Saturday on the final day of their wedding celebrations in Venice The lavish wedding party of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and TV presenter Lauren Sanchez concludes this evening in Venice with the main gala event. But as their celebrity guests step into water…

  • Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ lawyers make final arguments to jurors

    Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ lawyers make final arguments to jurors

    Madeline Halpert & Sakshi Venkatraman BBC News, New York Reuters Mr Agnifilo framed Combs’ victims as willing participants in so-called freak-offs The sex trafficking and racketeering case against hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs was “badly, badly exaggerated”, his lawyer told a panel of 12 New York jurors on Friday. In his closing, Marc Agnifilo argued…

  • Netanyahu claims victory over Iran – but polling shows many Israelis don’t trust him

    Netanyahu claims victory over Iran – but polling shows many Israelis don’t trust him

    Reuters Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits a site in Israel hit by Iranian missiles Back in March, as he turned his back on a ceasefire process that was delivering results, the Israeli prime minister took a decision described by some commentators as akin to “political suicide”. The Gaza ceasefire deal, brokered by Donald Trump’s envoy…

  • Trump on a high after ‘tremendous’ wins at home and abroad

    Trump on a high after ‘tremendous’ wins at home and abroad

    Bernd Debusmann Jr BBC News, at the White House Getty Images Donald Trump’s week began with an on-air expletive as he lost his cool over his mounting frustrations with Iran and Israel’s shaky ceasefire. It ended with a beaming US president holding court at the White House – not once, but twice – as he…

  • Southern Europe swelters as heatwave spreads

    Southern Europe swelters as heatwave spreads

    Health and fire warnings have been issued in countries across southern Europe, with temperatures expected to exceed 40C in some places over the weekend. Italy, Greece, France, Spain and Portugal are among the countries affected – with the Spanish city of Seville forecast to hit 42C on Sunday. Hot air from North Africa, which is…

  • On the ground in Venice for Jeff Bezos’s glitzy wedding

    On the ground in Venice for Jeff Bezos’s glitzy wedding

    Reporting from Venice, BBC Rome correspondent Sarah Rainsford says protests against the lavish wedding of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his new wife are continuing. Celebrity wedding guests have descended on the city to celebrate the nuptials of one of the world’s richest men to TV presenter Lauren Sanchez. Protesters have criticised the billionaire for…

  • The push to turn a backyard tackle game into a global sport

    The push to turn a backyard tackle game into a global sport

    Lana Lam and Tiffanie Turnbull BBC News, Sydney Watch: People compete in Auckland RUNIT championship league event “Defender ready?” calls the host. A thumbs up and moments later, two burly men – with no protective gear – run full speed at each other before they clash, the unmistakable sound of flesh and bone crunching. The…

  • Anger and uncertainty in Iran as crowds mourn dead

    Anger and uncertainty in Iran as crowds mourn dead

    The BBC’s Chief International Correspondent Lyse Doucet reports from Tehran, where a mass state funeral took place on Saturday. Crowds gathered to mourn the deaths of about 60 people, including military commanders and nuclear scientists, killed during the 12-day conflict with Israel. The conflict ended with a ceasefire earlier this week, after the US became…

  • Iran holds state funeral for military leaders killed in Israel conflict

    Iran holds state funeral for military leaders killed in Israel conflict

    A state funeral is taking place in Iran for about 60 people, including military commanders and nuclear scientists, killed during the 12-day conflict with Israel. Coffins draped in the Iranian flag, bearing portraits of deceased commanders, were flanked by crowds near Tehran’s Enghelab Square. The conflict ended with a ceasefire earlier this week, after the…

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