Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
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Luigi Mangione pleads not guilty to murdering healthcare CEO
The suspect accused of killing UnitedHealthCare CEO Brian Thompson has pleaded not guilty to New York state murder and terrorism charges. Luigi Mangione, 26, appeared in court on Monday to be arraigned on 11 state criminal counts, including murder a crime of terrorism. He also faces federal stalking and murder charges that could lead to…
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Ex-Israeli agents reveal how Hezbollah pager attacks were carried out
Two former Israeli intelligence agents have revealed how members of the Lebanese Shia militant group Hezbollah used Israeli made walkie-talkies booby-trapped with explosives for 10 years before they were detonated in a surprise attack in September this year. The two ex-Mossad agents told US CBS News how the service duped Hezbollah into buying thousands of…
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President Joe Biden commutes 37 out of 40 federal death sentences
US President Joe Biden has commuted the sentences of 37 out of 40 federal death row inmates, switching their penalty to life in prison without parole. Among those are nine people convicted of murdering fellow prisoners, four for murders committed during bank robberies and one who killed a prison guard. In a statement, Biden said…
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Guatemala police clash with Jewish sect over 160 at-risk children
Authorities in Guatemala have resisted efforts by members of a Jewish sect to recapture 160 children rescued from its premises. The children were taken into care on Friday when police raided a farm used by the Lev Tahor movement, which is under investigation in several countries for serious sexual offences. Interior Minister Francisco Jimenez said…
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Abseiling Santa descends from Guatemala bridge to deliver toys
A firefighter dressed as Santa Claus abseiled down a bridge in Guatemala City to give gifts to children. Municipal firefighter Hector Chacon donned the red robes and beard, and with the help of his colleagues descended 70m to greet dozens of children waiting for him below. Mr Chacon, 78, has done this for 27 years…
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‘I was raped by Assad’s thugs
BBC René says he is now happy to be photographed “because the republic of fear is gone” It belonged to his grandmother. Something solid. A thing to hold in his hands, and run his fingers across, and trace the path of memory. A small thing of beauty, inlaid with a delicate mosaic. René opens the…
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‘It’s pure beauty’ – Italy’s largest medieval mosaics restored
Reuters The Monreale cathedral was declared a Unesco World Heritage Site in 2015, and has recently undergone extensive restoration On a hill overlooking the city of Palermo, in Sicily, sits a lesser-known gem of Italian art: the cathedral of Monreale. Built in the 12th century under Norman rule, it boasts Italy’s largest Byzantine-style mosaics, second…
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90-year-old with Parkinson’s enters weightlifting contest
A 90-year-old with Parkinson’s disease was cheered on by three generations of her family while competing in a weightlifting competition for over 70’s in Taipei, Taiwan. During the three-round competition, Cheng Chen Chin-Mei lifted 35, 40 and 45 kg. “I want to tell all the old people to join the workout. You don’t need to…
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BBC reporter returns to childhood home destroyed in Syria civil war
Yarmouk refugee camp in Damascus became synonymous with the suffering of the Syrian people during the country’s civil war, which began in 2011. It was the de facto capital of the Palestinian refugee diaspora in the Middle East, housing around 150,000 people. But it was destroyed in the conflict, enduring a siege and brutal fighting…
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Cook Islands wants its own passport. New Zealand says no
New Zealand has rejected a proposal by the Cook Islands to introduce a separate passport for its citizens while allowing them to retain New Zealand citizenship. Cook Islands, a self-governing Pacific nation, is in “free association” with New Zealand, which is responsible for the former’s foreign affairs and defence. Cook Islanders can also live, work…
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