Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

Yogita LimayeSouth Asia and Afghanistan correspondent Aakriti Thapar / BBC When Shahnaz went into labour, her husband Abdul called a taxi to take them to the only medical facility accessible to them. “She was in a lot pain,” he says. A 20-minute drive away, the clinic was in Shesh Pol village in Afghanistan’s north-eastern Badakhshan…

The final stage of the Vuelta a Espana has been abandoned after pro-Palestinian protesters entered part of the course in the centre of Madrid. Protesters knocked down barriers and occupied the road at several points on the course including Gran Via, where cyclists were due to pass multiple times. More than 1,000 police officers had…

Watch: Huge explosions as Israeli strikes hit residential buildings in Gaza City Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said US-Israeli relations have “never been stronger”, as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visits to discuss the war in Gaza following Israel’s attack on Hamas members in Qatar. He told reporters the relationship was as strong…

The king of South Africa’s large Zulu community has challenged a professor and cultural expert to a stick fight, saying he had been insulted, along with the entire Zulu nation. King Misuzulu kaZwelithini issued the challenge to Prof Musa Xulu in front of thousands of people who had gathered at his newly built royal palace…

Hermeto Pascoal, the innovative Brazilian composer famed for his blend of jazz and traditional music, has died at the age of 89. The self taught multi-instrumentalist rose from child poverty to international fame – with Miles Davis calling him the most “important musician on the planet”. He was “surrounded by family and fellow musicians,” a…

Romania says a Russian drone has breached its airspace – the second Nato country to report such an incursion. Romanian fighter jets were in the air monitoring a Russian attack in Ukraine on Saturday and were able to track the drone near Ukraine’s southern border, the defence ministry said in a statement. Ukrainian President Volodymyr…

Sandip RoyKolkata, Writer Mudar Patherya The 157-year-old General Post Office (GPO) building remains one of the city’s most recognisable landmarks As the air-conditioned bus weaves through the bustling traffic of the eastern Indian city of Kolkata, tour leader Sujoy Sen lists the many sights on the itinerary. It sounds like a snapshot of the city’s…

Nepal’s newly-appointed interim prime minister says she will be in the post for no longer than six months. “I did not wish for this job. It was after voices from the streets that I was compelled to accept,” Sushila Karki said, speaking for the first time since being sworn into office on Friday. She said…

Sakshi VenkatramanBBC News AP Animals were taken outside as smoke filled Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter on Wednesday Fourteen staff members at a US animal shelter have been taken to hospital after the FBI used an incinerator at the facility to burn two pounds of seized methamphetamine. Staff and some 75 cats and dogs were evacuated…

Reuters A memorial service for right-wing activist Charlie Kirk will be held on 21 September at State Farm Stadium in Arizona, a venue which can seat more than 60,000 people. Turning Point USA, the organisation Kirk co-founded, made the announcement on social media, inviting the public to celebrate his “remarkable life and enduring legacy”. Kirk,…