Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

  • World Bank U-turn ends loan ban to Uganda over gay rights

    World Bank U-turn ends loan ban to Uganda over gay rights

    The World Bank says it is lifting a ban on loans to Uganda that it had put in place two years ago when the country passed a draconian new law against LGBTQ people. In 2023, Uganda voted in some of the world’s harshest anti-homosexual legislation meaning that anybody engaging in certain same-sex acts can be…

  • Bouncy castle operator cleared in tragedy that killed six children

    Bouncy castle operator cleared in tragedy that killed six children

    An Australian bouncy castle operator at the centre of a tragedy in 2021 that killed six children and seriously injured three has been cleared of breaching safety laws. A court found Rosemary Anne Gamble, who runs the business Taz-Zorb, not guilty, ruling that the incident was “due to an unprecedented weather system” that was “impossible…

  • Building housing indigenous art burns down in Canada's wildfires

    Building housing indigenous art burns down in Canada's wildfires

    In a Facebook post, the owner of the store said that they “feel a profound sense of loss” over the destruction of the artefacts. Source link

  • Israel strikes southern Beirut on eve of Eid Al Adha

    Israel strikes southern Beirut on eve of Eid Al Adha

    Israel has carried out several air strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs, saying it was targeting Hezbollah’s drone production. The attack on Thursday night, the eve of Eid Al Adha, one of the most important celebrations in Islam, followed evacuation warnings for several buildings in the area, where Hezbollah is based in the capital. The Israeli…

  • Why a proposed remittance tax by US could hurt India

    Why a proposed remittance tax by US could hurt India

    AFP via Getty Images Trump is pushing his party to back his “big, beautiful bill” Tucked deep in Donald Trump’s sprawling “One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act” is a clause that could quietly take billions from money sent abroad. It proposes a 3.5% tax on remittances sent abroad by foreign workers, including green card holders and…

  • Netanyahu confirms Israel arming clans opposed to Hamas in Gaza

    Netanyahu confirms Israel arming clans opposed to Hamas in Gaza

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed that Israel is arming clans in Gaza that he says are opposed to Hamas. His comments came after Israeli media reports quoted defence sources as saying Netanyahu had authorised giving weapons to one particular group in the south of Gaza. Several Israeli politicians have accused Netanyahu of endangering…

  • Nato chief is determined to give Trump a win with 5% defence spending plan

    Nato chief is determined to give Trump a win with 5% defence spending plan

    Mark Rutte is determined to give Donald Trump a win at the forthcoming Nato summit. The alliance’s secretary general wants to avoid the scenes of 2016 when, while in his first term, the US president berated European allies for not spending enough on defence and taking advantage of the American taxpayer. Trump views relationships, even…

  • Trump and Musk enter bitter feud

    Trump and Musk enter bitter feud

    Anthony Zurcher North America Correspondent Reporting fromWashington DC Trump: “I’m very disappointed in Elon” What happens when the richest person and the most powerful politician have a knock-down, drag-out fight? The world may be about to find out. A disagreement between Elon Musk and Donald Trump started at a simmer last week, began bubbling on…

  • Three journalists among five killed in Israeli strike on Gaza hospital

    Three journalists among five killed in Israeli strike on Gaza hospital

    AFP The Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem said it condemned “in the strongest possible terms” the attack on al-Ahli hospital Five people have been killed in an Israeli strike on al-Ahli hospital in Gaza City, according to the Anglican Church, which operates it. The Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem said three journalists, a father escorting his son…

  • Trump’s new ban dodges pitfalls faced by last attempt, experts say

    Trump’s new ban dodges pitfalls faced by last attempt, experts say

    Emily Atkinson and Neha Gohil BBC News Getty Images Trump’s first travel ban triggered protests across the US in 2017 US President Donald Trump has issued a sweeping new travel ban for people from 12 countries, revisiting a hallmark policy of his first term in office. There are some key differences, however. The original travel…

Got any book recommendations?