Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
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Deadly wildfire spreads in southern France
One person has died and another is missing after a massive wildfire swept through parts of southern France, destroying homes and forcing thousands to evacuate. The blaze broke out on Tuesday near the village of La Ribaute in the Aude region, and has already burned more than 13,000 hectares (50 sq miles) – an area…
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Nigeria seizes over 1,600 birds in ‘largest’ wildlife trafficking bust
Nigeria’s customs agency says it has seized over 1,600 birds bound for Kuwait, in what it described as the country’s “largest” wildlife-trafficking bust. Ring-necked parrots and green- and yellow-fronted canaries were intercepted at Lagos International Airport, by Nigeria’s Customs Service (NCS) on 31 July, the agency said in a statement on Tuesday. It is the…
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One dead and thousands evacuated as wildfire spreads in France
Watch: Deadly wildfire spreads in southern France An elderly woman has died and another person is missing after a massive wildfire swept through parts of southern France, destroying homes and forcing thousands to flee. The woman died in her home, seven firefighters have also been treated for smoke inhalation and one person is still missing,…
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Trump’s envoy Witkoff meets Putin as ceasefire deadline looms
US envoy Steve Witkoff and Russia’s Vladimir Putin have met at the Kremlin, as Donald Trump’s deadline for Moscow to agree a ceasefire in Ukraine looms. The talks lasted three hours, Russian media report, after Witkoff landed in Russia early on Wednesday. The US president has said Russia could face hefty sanctions or see secondary…
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Ceremony marks 80th anniversary of atomic bombing
A minute of silence was held in Hiroshima on Wednesday during a ceremony to mark 80 years since the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city. Japanese prime minister Shigeru Ishiba attended the ceremony and urged all countries to work towards nuclear disarmament. “We must make every effort to realise a world…
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Officials attend 80th anniversary of atomic bombing
Shaimaa Khalil Japan Correspondent in Hiroshima Koh Ewe BBC News, Singapore Getty Images Japanese prime minister Shigeru Ishiba (second from right) attended the ceremony in Hiroshima, along with representatives from around the world A silent prayer was held in Japan on Wednesday morning as it marked 80 years since the United States dropped an atomic…
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‘People were sold a lie’
Rebecca Morelle Science Editor Alison Francis Senior Science Journalist David Lochridge David Lochridge was sacked after raising safety concerns When the Titan submersible went missing during a dive to the wreck of the Titanic in 2023, David Lochridge hoped the five people on board – including his former boss – could be rescued. “I always…
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Despite Trump’s peace calls, Russian attacks on Ukraine double since inauguration
Matt Murphy & Ned Davies BBC Verify Reuters Russia has more than doubled the number of drones and missiles fired towards Ukraine since President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January, a BBC Verify analysis has found, despite his calls for a ceasefire. Attacks had already been rising under former President Joe Biden…
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RFK Jr cancels $500m in mRNA vaccine development in the US
The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) plans to cancel $500m (£376m) in funding for mRNA vaccines being developed to counter viruses like the flu and Covid-19. The move will impact 22 projects being led by major pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer and Moderna, for vaccines against bird flu and other viruses, HHS said.…
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Texas Governor Greg Abbott seeks court order to fire top Democrat who fled in row over voting map
Watch: “We have to use every tool” – State lawmaker defends leaving Texas over gerrymandering Texas Governor Greg Abbott has said he is taking legal action to remove from office dozens of Democrats who have fled the state to block a plan to redraw electoral boundaries. He filed a lawsuit with the Texas Supreme Court…
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