Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

  • One killed and at least six injured in mass stabbing in Manitoba

    One killed and at least six injured in mass stabbing in Manitoba

    Canadian police say one person has died and at least six were injured in a mass stabbing attack in a First Nations community in the province of Manitoba. On Thursday, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said the suspect in the stabbing had also died. The incident, described by police as a “mass casualty” event,…

  • Ebola in DR Congo: New outbreak kills 15

    Ebola in DR Congo: New outbreak kills 15

    At least 15 people have died in a new outbreak of the Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the country’s health ministry has said. The presence of the virus had been confirmed in a 34-year-old pregnant woman who was admitted to hospital last month after showing symptoms that included a high fever and…

  • Ukraine has unbreakable pledge from West with Trump’s backing

    Ukraine has unbreakable pledge from West with Trump’s backing

    Paul KirbyEurope digital editor Getty Images Ukraine’s president joined France’s Emmanuel Macron for the summit at the Élysée Palace UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has told a summit of about 30 Western countries that they had an “unbreakable pledge” to Ukraine that was backed by the US, and now had to press Russia to…

  • Legendary Italian designer Giorgio Armani dies

    Legendary Italian designer Giorgio Armani dies

    Annabel RackhamCulture reporter Getty Images Armani reimagined and modernised women’s and men’s suits The Italian fashion designer and billionaire brand owner Giorgio Armani has died at the age of 91. He was the archetype of Italian style and elegance, reimagining men’s and women’s suits for a modern audience. Armani, which began as a fashion company,…

  • PM Andrew Holness wins rare third term

    PM Andrew Holness wins rare third term

    Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness, 53, has won a rare third term in office after his Labour Party sailed to victory in Monday’s election. The Caribbean nation’s electoral commission said the Labour Party had won 34 seats, beating the opposition People’s National Party (PNP), which secured 29 seats, according to preliminary figures. The candidate for…

  • Might Xi and Putin be on to something?

    Might Xi and Putin be on to something?

    Michelle RobertsDigital health editor, BBC News BBC Organ transplants certainly save lives but having surgery is a big undertaking with significant risks Is it possible to become immortal with the help of organ transplants? That was the unexpected topic of discussion this week between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin when they…

  • Lisbon funicular cable crash: Who are the victims?

    Lisbon funicular cable crash: Who are the victims?

    Portugal is in mourning after at least 17 people died and some 20 more were injured when Lisbon’s famous funicular cable railway derailed on Wednesday evening. A transport worker was among those killed, while a three-year-old German boy was reported to have escaped with minor injuries. Those hurt include four Portuguese, and 11 foreign nationals…

  • Witnesses describe fatal Lisbon funicular crash

    Witnesses describe fatal Lisbon funicular crash

    It was just after 18:00 on Wednesday when a carriage on Lisbon’s famous Gloria funicular came around the bend of a steep cobblestoned street, crashed into a building, and crumpled, an eyewitness said. “It hit a building with brutal force and collapsed like a cardboard box,” Teresa d’Avó told Portuguese television channel SIC, adding it…

  • As the 50% tariff impasse continues, is retaliation an option for India?

    As the 50% tariff impasse continues, is retaliation an option for India?

    Nikhil InamdarBBC News, Mumbai Hindustan Times via Getty Images Prolonged 50% tariffs could shave off as much as 0.8% of India’s GDP US President Donald Trump’s 50% tariffs on India came into effect on 27 August. So far, rather than retaliating, India has put forth a carefully orchestrated geopolitical response to signal its displeasure to…

  • It’s 4,000 miles from Ukraine

    It’s 4,000 miles from Ukraine

    Steve RosenbergRussia editor in Vladivostok BBC All the players in Soyuz, the local Para ice hockey team, lost limbs fighting in Ukraine At an ice rink in Vladivostok in Russia’s far east, 30-year-old Dmitry Afanasyev is in training with teammates from Soyuz, the local Para ice hockey team. The players have removed their prosthetic legs…

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