Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

Rushdi Abualouf Gaza correspondent James Chater BBC News, London Reuters Israel has intensified its offensive on Gaza in recent days At least 38 Palestinians were killed in a series of Israeli air strikes across the Gaza Strip during a half-hour period overnight, according to Palestinian medics. Israeli warplanes struck several locations, including a school in…

Getty Images Yuri Grigorovich’s productions of Ivan the Terrible and Romeo and Juliet redefined Soviet ballet Acclaimed Russian ballet choreographer, Yuri Grigorovich, has died aged 98. Described as one of the greatest choreographers of the 20th century, he was artistic director of the Bolshoi Ballet from 1964 to 1995, which he is said to have…

Jeremy Bowen International Editor Reuters IDF attacks in Gaza have killed thousands since Israel ended a ceasefire in March Israel went to war after the Hamas attacks of 7 October 2023 armed with an arsenal of weapons mostly paid for, supplied and then resupplied by the United States. Its other allies gave Israel something just…

Police in India have arrested a local YouTuber on suspicions of spying for Pakistan. Jyoti Malhotra, a travel influencer from the northern Indian state of Haryana, allegedly travelled to the neighbouring country several times – her last trip was in March 2025. Police in Haryana allege that she was in touch with a Pakistan High…

France will build a new high-security prison in its overseas territory of French Guiana to house drug traffickers and radical Islamists, the country’s justice minister announced during a visit to the territory. Gérald Darmanin told Le Journal du Dimanche (JDD) newspaper that the prison would target organised crime “at all levels” of the drug supply…

Sean “Diddy” Combs allegedly used a hammer to try to break into his ex-girlfriend’s apartment after the now-infamous assault at an Intercontinental Hotel in 2016, a New York court has heard. Security video of Mr Combs’ assault on his then-girlfriend Casandra “Cassie” Ventura has been shown to the jury several times in his sex-trafficking trial.…

Watch: Pope Leo greets US Vice-President JD Vance after inaugural Mass US Vice-President JD Vance has invited Pope Leo to make an official visit to Washington following a “cordial” meeting the Vatican, the White House has confirmed. Vance handed the pontiff a letter from President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump inviting him to…

Anbarasan Ethirajan South Asia Regional Editor X/Shehbaz Sharif Chinese warplanes, used by Pakistan, made their combat debut during the recent hostilities The four-day conflict between arch-rivals India and Pakistan this month ended with a ceasefire and both claiming victory – but it now appears that China’s defence industry might also be an unlikely winner. The…

Ben Chu, Tom Edgington and Tamara Kovacevic BBC Verify Getty Images A deal to “reset” relations between the UK and the EU following Brexit has been agreed at a summit in London. The agreement covers a range of issues, including defence, fishing, the trade in food products and the ability of young people to move…

Sarah Rainsford Eastern Europe correspondent EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Imagine having a president called Nicky. That’s what Romanians just voted for: a softly-spoken, slightly geeky mathematician who everyone refers to by his first name, Nicusor – or Nicky. On Monday, hours after claiming victory in the elections, the new president picked up his daughter from school as usual.…