Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
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US tech firms feel pinch from China tariffs
Daniel Thomas Business reporter, BBC News Getty Images Almost 80% of smartphones sold in the US are made in China Deena Ghazarian had only been in business for a year when the trade policies of President Donald Trump’s first term of office sent her company into a tailspin. It was 2019 and her California-based firm,…
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Zimbabwe, President Mnangagwa, Blessed Geza and the drama of succession
Shingai Nyoka BBC News, Harare Blessed Geza / Facebook Blessed “Bombshell” Geza has gone into hiding and been expelled from the ruling party for his outspoken remarks A long convoy of armoured personnel tanks rolling through a Harare neighbourhood sparked concerns – for a brief moment – that a military coup was afoot in Zimbabwe.…
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SpaceX launch to help stranded astronauts home postponed
A Nasa-SpaceX mission that aimed to clear the way for two stranded astronauts to get back to earth has been postponed. The Falcon 9 launch from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station was put back due to a hydraulic ground issue. There is another possible launch opportunity on Thursday. The rocket aimed to fly four…
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US team headed to Moscow for Ukraine talks as Putin visits Kursk
US officials are headed to Russia to discuss a potential ceasefire in Ukraine, according to President Donald Trump. The news comes after Ukrainian officials agreed to a 30-day ceasefire following a highly anticipated meeting with American officials in Saudi Arabia. Earlier, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the “ball is truly in their [Russia’s]…
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Former mafia boss shot dead on Grenoble motorway
Police are investigating the fatal shooting of a 71-year-old former mafia boss on a motorway near Grenoble in south-eastern France. Jean-Pierre Maldera, described by French media as a “godfather” of the local mafia in the 1980s, was reportedly chased in his car and shot as he travelled up the A41 motorway on Wednesday morning. The…
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Iran leader rejects nuclear talks with US as Trump letter arrives
Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has rejected the idea of negotiations with the US over its nuclear programme, as Tehran confirmed receiving a letter from President Donald Trump. Last week, Trump said the letter proposed talks on a deal that would prevent Iran acquiring nuclear weapons and avert possible military action. Although Khamenei said…
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What to know about Duterte’s ICC arrest warrant in 92 seconds…
The former president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, has arrived in the Netherlands after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant over his deadly “war on drugs”. During Duterte’s time in office, thousands of small-time drug dealers, users and others were killed without trial. BBC correspondent Anna Holligan reports from The Hague. Video…
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EU hits back at Trump tariffs and warns against trade war
Paul Kirby, Bethany Bell & Adam Easton In London, Rome & Warsaw Getty Images Imports of American jeans, motorcyles and bourbon will be hit by EU countermeasures In Brussels, it was just after 06:00 on Wednesday. But it was midnight in Washington DC when President Donald Trump’s 25% tariffs on steel and aluminium took effect…
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Ex-Philippine leader in The Hague after drug war arrest
Getty Images Duterte was arrested in Manila in a dramatic turn of events A plane carrying former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte has arrived in the Netherlands where he is to face charges of crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court (ICC) over his deadly “war on drugs”. Duterte was arrested at Manila airport on…
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BBC tracks deadly fentanyl targeted by Trump tariffs
BBC Jay, a dealer who crossed the border to Mexico from LA, says there will always be demand for fentanyl The fentanyl dealer from Los Angeles stands to the side watching carefully as a Mexican drugs cartel operative prepares his latest shipment. The synthetic opioid drug is wrapped in foil, sealed in plastic, then dropped…
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