Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

Jennifer McKiernanPolitical reporter Getty Images The UK military is focused on defending the nation rather than stopping asylum seekers from crossing the Channel, a cabinet minister has said. US President Donald Trump suggested that military intervention could be used to deal with illegal migration to the UK during his state visit this week. But Trade…

Caroline Hawleydiplomatic correspondent and Aleks Phillips QATARI GOVERNMENT Barbie and Peter Reynolds (right) will first fly to Qatar for medical checks, before returning to the UK A British couple who were detained for nearly eight months by the Taliban in Afghanistan have been released. Peter Reynolds, 80, and his wife Barbie, 76, who have lived…

Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel has been pulled off air “indefinitely” by ABC over comments he made about the shooting of right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk. In his Monday night monologue, Kimmel said the “MAGA gang” was trying to score political points off Kirk’s killing, and mocked the president’s reaction to the shooting. The BBC’s Regan Morris…

The US has for the sixth time vetoed a draft resolution at the United Nations Security Council that would have demanded an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages. US deputy Middle East envoy Morgan Ortagus said the text did not go far enough in condemning Hamas or recognise Israel’s right…

Animal welfare activists in India are mourning the death of a much-loved elephant they long sought to rehabilitate. Shankar, the lone African elephant at Delhi’s zoo who spent much of his life in isolation, refused food on Wednesday and collapsed by evening. Despite veterinary efforts, the 29-year-old male died within 40 minutes, officials said. For…

The Taliban government has removed books written by women from the university teaching system in Afghanistan as part of a new ban which has also outlawed the teaching of human rights and sexual harassment. Some 140 books by women – including titles like “Safety in the Chemical Laboratory” – were among 680 books found to…

The leader of the controversial Unification Church has denied allegations that her organisation bribed South Korea’s former first lady with luxury gifts in exchange for business favours. Han Hak-ja flatly rejected claims that she directed the bribery when confronted by reporters as she emerged from nine hours of questioning at the prosecutor’s office. “No… Why…

Katty KayUS Special Correspondent BBC It has been a brutal week in America and I’m not the only one wondering whether the country can pull itself out of this spiral of hatred and violence. After one of the most searing assassinations in US history, the governor of Utah pleaded for Americans to turn down the…

Prosecutors have downgraded some of the most serious sex abuse charges against veteran broadcaster and former Wallabies coach Alan Jones after a court hearing on Thursday. Mr Jones now faces 27 charges which allege that he indecently assaulted or groped nine men over two decades. Eleven charges of aggravated indecent assault – deemed more serious…

Watch: Trump accuses journalist of “hurting Australia” Donald Trump has accused an Australian journalist of “hurting Australia” after he was asked about his business deals while in office. John Lyons from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) asked Trump how much wealthier he had become since returning to the White House in January during Trump’s state…