Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

Paul MellyWest Africa analyst AFP via Getty Images Spain is kicking against the prevailing political mood among Western nations when it comes to migration and policies regarding the African continent. At a time when the US, the UK, France and Germany are all cutting back their development aid budgets, Madrid remains committed to continued expansion,…

Former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga has died at the age of 80, family sources have told the BBC. Odinga died on Wednesday while receiving medical treatment at a hospital in India. Indian police told the AFP news agency that he was walking with family members and a personal doctor “when he suddenly collapsed”. He…

China Customs Customs officers recently seized a batch of maps bound for export, which they described as “problematic” Chinese customs officers in eastern Shandong province have seized 60,000 maps that “mislabelled” the self-governed island of Taiwan, which Beijing claims as part of its territory. The maps, authorities said, also “omitted important islands” in the South…

Footage shows a house drifting out to sea after the remnants of Typhoon Halong hit Alaska over the weekend. After crossing the Pacific Ocean, the storm brought hurricane-force winds that left one person dead and another two missing. Authorities have rescued two dozen people from homes that drifted out to sea as around 1,300 were…

At least 16 people have died after a huge fire broke out at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with officials warning that the toll could rise. Sixteen bodies have been recovered but were burned beyond recognition, the fire service said. Distraught relatives gathered outside the four-storey factory in Dhaka’s Mirpur area on Tuesday in search…

Lauren Turner and Osmond Chia Reuters The US government has seized more than $14bn (£10.5bn) in bitcoin and charged the founder of a Cambodian business empire, Prince Group, with allegedly masterminding a massive cryptocurrency scam. UK and Cambodian national Chen Zhi was charged on Tuesday in New York for allegedly engaging in a wire-fraud conspiracy…

Paulin Kola and Chris Graham ‘We want to raise our children’: Life in Gaza after hostages and prisoners released Hamas has returned the bodies of four more deceased hostages, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has said, with identification work underway. The Red Cross retrieved the remains in coffins and handed them over to the Israeli…

Watch: Surveillance video shows suspect setting Pennsylvania governor’s mansion on fire The man accused of setting Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s residence on fire in April was sentenced to 25 to 50 years in state prison as part of a plea deal. Cody Balmer, 38, pleaded guilty to attempted murder, aggravated arson, 22 counts of arson,…

Jeremy BowenInternational editor ‘We want to raise our children’: Life in Gaza after hostages and prisoners released Donald Trump’s quick trip to Israel and Egypt was the victory lap he wanted. Anyone watching the speeches he made in Jerusalem and Sharm el-Sheikh could see a man luxuriating in his power – enjoying the applause in…

The Trump administration is looking for alternative ways to ensure federal law enforcement officers are paid as the government shutdown enters its third week. With Democrats and Republicans locked in a stalemate over the shutdown, officials in government are exploring alternative ways of paying for some key programmes, including a food programme for women and…