Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
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Tracking Syrian rebels' lightning offensive as they approach key city
BBC Verify has been tracking the territory captured by Syrian rebels as they move towards Homs. Source link
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Alleged Russian election meddling resurrects dark memories in Romania
Romania’s constitutional court has scrapped the recent presidential election and ordered its rerun, following allegations and evidence of possible Russian interference. This is a shock ruling by Romania’s constitutional court, but it comes after two weeks of high political tension here. All predictions, any certainty, have flown out of the window. So far, the streets…
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Where have anti-Assad rebels taken control?
BBC Rebels have launched a major offensive against the government in Syria, seizing cities in a lightning advance that has expanded the territory under their control. The rebels captured the city of Hama on Thursday in a significant new blow to President Bashar al-Assad and his Russian and Iranian allies. Seizing Hama gives them control…
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Romania’s cancelled presidential election and why it matters
Sarah Rainsford/BBC Forty-eight hours before Romanians were due to vote in a presidential election run-off, the whole process was scrapped because of an unprecedented ruling by the constitutional court. The court’s decision to annul the first round came after a far-right independent candidate, Calin Georgescu, came out of almost nowhere to lead the first round…
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Iran’s uranium enrichment ‘worrisome’ – UN nuclear watchdog
The head of the UN nuclear watchdog has told the BBC Iran’s decision to begin producing significantly more highly enriched uranium was “very worrisome”. Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said Iran was increasing its stockpile of uranium enriched to 60%, just below the level of purity needed for a…
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Russia’s ‘meat-grinder’ tactics bring battlefield success
As 2024 draws to a close, and winter arrives, Russian forces are continuing to push their Ukrainian opponents back. In total, Russia has captured and retaken about 2,350 sq km of territory (907 sq miles) in eastern Ukraine and in Russia’s western Kursk region. But the cost in lives has been horrendous. Britain’s defence ministry…
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Romanian court annuls result of presidential election first round
Romania’s constitutional court has annulled the result of the first round of voting in the presidential election just days before the second round was due to take place. It means the process will be restarted from scratch, with the government due to decide a date for a new vote. The first round was won by…
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EU tries to get closer to South America with trade deal
The European Union has signed a trade deal with four of South America’s biggest economies. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen called the agreement a “truly historic milestone” in an “increasingly confrontational world”. A previous agreement in 2019 never came into force because not all EU member states were willing to ratify it. If…
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Extremist who murdered South Africa’s Chris Hani to be deported to Poland
Reuters Janusz Walus said he killed Chris Hani to stop communism A notorious far-right extremist, convicted of murdering South African anti-apartheid hero Chris Hani, is set to be deported to his native Poland, the government has said. Janusz Walus, 71, gunned down Hani outside his home in 1993 at a tense time when the country…
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US jury orders payout for family of teen who died on theme park ride
A Florida jury has ordered an amusement ride manufacturer pay $310m (£243m) to the family of a teenage boy who fell to his death on their drop ride at an Orlando theme park in 2022. Tyre Sampson weighed 43kg (94lbs) more than the ride’s 129kg limit, when he plunged 30m (98ft) from the ride, which…
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