Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

Ana Faguy BBC News, Washington DC Watch: President Trump signs order to shut education department ‘once and for all’ US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing officials to begin dismantling the Department of Education, a promise he made on the 2024 campaign trail. “We’re going to shut it down as quickly as…

A US federal judge said the government “evaded its obligations” to answer his questions about this weekend’s deportations of alleged Venezuelan gang members. James Boasberg, the top federal judge in Washington DC, gave justice department lawyers a Thursday deadline provide information on the government’s deportation of Venezuelans to El Salvador by plane. They provided a…

Four Canadians were executed in China on drug-related charges earlier this year, Canadian authorities have confirmed. All of them were dual citizens and their identities have been withheld, Canada’s foreign minister Mélanie Joly said. A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Canada urged Ottawa to “stop making irresponsible remarks”, as pundits feared a further downturn…

Each successful identification “gives renewed hope” that other women “can also have their identities returned to them”, said Interpol Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza. “Our work is not just about solving cases, it’s also about restoring dignity to victims and giving a voice to those affected by tragedy,” he said. Lima was found dead in a…

Following two days of sometimes violent protests, Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo has withdrawn a decree which would have made car insurance compulsory in the Central American nation. Under the new law, owners of cars, lorries, buses and motorbikes would have been required to take out insurance to cover harm caused to others in the event…

Volodymyr Zelensky has said Ukrainian officials will meet their US counterparts in Saudi Arabia next Monday, after the Kremlin confirmed US-Russia talks there the same day. The latest talks come as the US attempts to broker a ceasefire between the two nations after more than three years of war. The Ukrainian leader said Russia “must…

Newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is likely to call a national election for 28 April, potentially as soon as this Sunday, multiple news outlets report. With Canada’s businesses reeling from a trade dispute with the US, Carney – a former two-time central banker – is expected to pitch himself as the candidate best…

The world’s oldest Michelin-starred restaurant, Georges Blanc, has lost its third star, according to French media reports. Georges Blanc, the 82-year-old French chef in charge of the restaurant in south-east France, told the AFP news agency that they “weren’t expecting it”. “We’ll make do with the two stars… maybe we’ll be less elitist and a…

Guy Delauney Balkans correspondent Reuters Some in Kocani carried photos of loved ones who died in the blaze Thousands have gathered at cemeteries across North Macedonia for the funerals of dozens of people killed in a nightclub fire on Sunday. The blaze tore through the small Pulse club in the town of Kocani, killing 59…

Silvano Hajid BBC Indonesian EPA Critics warn that changes to Indonesia’s military law could return Indonesia to the dark days of Suharto’s military dictatorship regime Indonesia’s parliament has passed controversial changes to legislation that will allow its military a bigger role in government. Critics warn that the move could return Indonesia to the dark days…