Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
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Rare condition in Brazil town popular for cousin marriage
Giulia Granchi and Vitor Tavares BBC Brasil reporters sent to Serrinha dos Pintos Mariana Castiñeiras/Caroline Souza Affected families in Serrinha dos Pintos lived without a diagnosis until geneticist Silvana Santos arrived Before Silvana Santos arrived in the little town of Serrinha dos Pintos more than 20 years ago, residents had no idea why so many…
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BBC’s tense encounter with sanctioned Israeli settler while filming in West Bank
Fergal Keane & Alice Doyard BBC News Reporting fromJordan Valley Moment BBC has tense encounter with sanctioned Israeli settler Dust was rising on the track. It hung in the hot midday air as the white jeep came towards us. The driver was less than a minute away. “I think it’s Moshe Sharvit,” said Gil Alexander,…
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Hamas to release US-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander as part of efforts to reach Gaza ceasefire
Rushdi Abualouf Gaza correspondent Hugo Bachega Middle East correspondent Getty Images A picture of Edan Alexander can be seen at a demonstration in Israel calling for the release of the remaining hostages Hamas says it will release Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander, who is believed to be the last living captive with US nationality in Gaza,…
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Zelensky challenges Putin to meet him after Trump demands Ukraine-Russia talks
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he is ready to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin “personally” in Istanbul on Thursday for talks over ending the war. His post came shortly after Donald Trump demanded Ukraine agree to Putin’s offer of direct talks between the two countries in Turkey. “There is no point in prolonging the killings.…
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Trump to receive luxury jet for Air Force One from Qatar
US President Donald Trump is set to receive a luxury jumbo jet, intended for use as a presidential plane, from the royal family of Qatar. According to US media reports, the plane will not be ready for use right away, as it will need to be retrofitted. The US government also plans to check the…
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Amber Heard announces birth of twins in Mother’s Day post
Amber Heard has announced the arrival of twins in an Instagram post shared on Mother’s Day in the United States. The American actor revealed that she had welcomed daughter Agnes and son Ocean and was “elated beyond words” to celebrate the “completion” of her family. Heard, 39, welcomed her first daughter, Oonagh, in 2021. Under…
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Taliban suspends chess in Afghanistan over gambling concerns
Thomas Mackintosh BBC News, London AFP via Getty Images A stock image of a man playing chess in a tournament in Kandahar in June 2022 The Taliban government in Afghanistan has banned chess until further notice due to fears the game is a source of gambling. Officials said the game has been prohibited indefinitely until…
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Three men held over suitcases stuffed with hermit crabs
Three men have been arrested in Japan for attempting to smuggle hermit crabs out of the country. The suspects, aged 24, 26 and 27, and widely identified in Japanese media as being Chinese nationals, were detained on Amami, a southerly island where the spiral-shelled crustaceans are a protected species. Authorities were alerted to the men’s…
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Crowds cheer as Pope holds first Sunday address
Pope Leo XIV appealed for “no more war” in a message to world powers during his first Sunday address at the Vatican. The Pope also recited the Regina Caeli prayer, in honour of the Virgin Mary, to the crowd in St Peter’s Square. Thousands of worshippers turned out to see the new pontiff, greeting his…
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Ukraine: What Trump does next is key
Volodymyr Zelensky has given a cautious and diplomatic response to Vladimir Putin’s late-night offer of direct talks in Istanbul next Thursday. The Ukrainian leader might have been expected to slam his opposite number in Moscow for not committing to a 30-day ceasefire, as demanded by Kyiv and its Western allies on Saturday. Instead, writing on…
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