Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
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Ros Atkins on… President Trump’s history with Ukraine
Volodymyr Zelensky has pledged to “make things right” after Donald Trump paused military aid to Ukraine following a tense meeting in the Oval Office. But that heated exchange between President Trump and President Zelensky is by no means the first time the two men have crossed paths. In 2019, President Trump faced an impeachment inquiry…
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Hong Kong billionaire to sell Panama Canal ports to US firm
A Hong Kong-based company has agreed to sell most of its stake in two key ports on the Panama Canal to a group led by US investment firm BlackRock. The sale comes after weeks of complaining by President Donald Trump that the canal is under Chinese control and that the US should take control of…
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What to look out for at the National People’s Congress
The BBC’s Stephen McDonell explains what to look out for at China’s annual National People’s Congress (NPC), which began on Wednesday. The week-long meeting is attended by nearly 3,000 delegates from provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities and the armed forces. They usher through decisions that have already been made behind closed doors by party leaders. Still,…
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Can Europe provide a credible answer on Ukraine?
PARSA/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock Over the weekend, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer hosted what he called a ‘coalition of the willing’ “It’s certainly one way of focusing our minds — and wallets! Donald Trump is doing us a favour, if we choose to think about it that way. And we may as well look on the bright…
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China sets growth target of “around 5%” as it reels from Trump tariffs
João da Silva Business reporter, BBC News Getty Images China has set an economic growth target for this year of “around 5%” and pledged to pump billions of dollars into its ailing economy, which is now facing a trade war with the US. China’s leaders unveiled the plan as thousands of delegates attend the National…
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Men risk drowning to flee conscription by rebels
Nomsa Maseko BBC News, Rugombo BBC Jordan Bita says he kept away from main roads, trekking through bush, to avoid the advancing rebels Jordan Bita preferred to risk his life swimming across a roaring river than stay at home and be conscripted by rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The 25-year-old clung on to…
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Migrants rescued after several days stranded on oil platform
Thirty-two migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean have been rescued by an NGO ship after spending several days stranded on an oil platform off the coast of Tunisia. “Women, men and children” were shipwrecked with no food or water, according to Mediterranea, a migrant rescue charity. One person on the platform had died, the charity…
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MPs told to stop complaining about use of Māori name
Kathryn Armstrong BBC News Getty Images MPs are able to use English, Māori or New Zealand sign language, when speaking in Parliament The speaker of the house in New Zealand’s parliament says he will not consider any further complaints from lawmakers over the use of the country’s Māori name in proceedings. “Aotearoa is regularly used…
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Pope ‘stable’ after yesterday’s respiratory failure, Vatican says
Pope Francis has remained stable after suffering two episodes of respiratory failure on Monday. In its nightly update, the Vatican said the Pope did not present any further episodes of respiratory failure or bronchospasm. “He remained afebrile, always alert, cooperative with therapies and well-oriented”, the statement said. The 88-year-old pontiff has been in hospital since…
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Trudeau says US wants to collapse Canada’s economy with tariffs
Nadine Yousif and James FitzGerald BBC News, Toronto and London Watch: ‘A dumb thing to do’ – Moments from Trudeau’s speech slamming US tariffs Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has slammed Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs on Canada, calling it a “very dumb thing to do” and vowed to conduct a “relentless fight” to protect its economy.…
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