Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
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Israeli military says first stages of assault on Gaza City have begun
The Israeli military says it has begun the “preliminary actions” of a planned ground offensive to capture and occupy all of Gaza City and already has a hold on its outskirts. A military spokesman said troops were already operating in the Zeitoun and Jabalia areas to lay the groundwork for the offensive, which Defence Minister…
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Oregon firefighters race to save one of the world’s tallest trees
Firefighters in Oregon are racing to save the Doerner Fir – one of the world’s tallest and oldest trees – from a fire that has been burning since Saturday. The giant fir, more than 325ft (99m) tall and estimated to be over 450 years old, has already lost about 50ft to the blaze, which may…
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Denmark scraps book tax to combat “reading crisis”
The Danish government has announced it will abolish a 25% sales tax on books, in an effort to combat a “reading crisis”. The tax is is one of the highest in the world. Culture Minister Jacob Engel-Schmidt says he hopes scrapping it will lead to more books flying off the shelves. The measure is expected…
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Man starts fire and smashes screens with hammer
A busy Italian airport has been partially evacuated after a man set fire to a check-in area. Video footage posted on social media shows chaotic scenes inside Terminal 1 of Milan’s Malpensa airport as a fire rages at one of the desks while a man attacks digital screens before being detained. A man has been…
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US-Mexico border wall to be painted black to deter migrants
The entire US-Mexico border wall will be painted black to make it hotter and harder to climb, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has said, crediting the idea to Donald Trump. While domestic detentions and deportations have been the primary focus of the current immigration crackdown, Trump’s policy bill passed earlier this summer also allocated $46m…
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Israel calls up 60,000 reservists ahead of Gaza City offensive
EPA An Israeli military official said five divisions would be involved in the planned offensive The Israeli military says it is calling up about 60,000 reservists ahead of a planned ground offensive to capture and occupy all of Gaza City. A military official said the reservists would report for duty in September and that most…
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South Korean police tell tourists on holiday island Jeju to behave
Police in Jeju have for the first time released guidelines reminding foreign visitors to behave or face fines, as the South Korean holiday island sees an increasing number of tourists. Jeju police issued the guide following complaints from locals over foreigners’ misbehaviour, including littering and letting children defecate on the street. The guide – printed…
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Aerial footage shows final leg of Swedish church’s move to new home
A 113-year-old church in the far north of Sweden has arrived at its new home after a two-day journey. Aerial footage shows the church hoisted onto specially designed trailers, as it was moved 5km (3 miles) along a road at a maximum speed of 500m an hour, with road fittings like lamp posts and signs…
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Man run over by own bulldozer while fighting Portugal wildfires
A man has died after being run over by a bulldozer he was operating while fighting wildfires in Portugal, bringing the death toll in the country to three, officials said. The 65-year-old worked for a firm hired to fight fires northern municipality of Mirandela and was reportedly run over after falling from his vehicle while…
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M23 rebels killed 40 civilians despite peace process, Human Rights Watch says
M23 rebels killed at least 140 people in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo last month in one of the worst atrocities by the armed group since its resurgence in late 2021, Human Rights Watch has said in a report. This is despite a peace process, brokered by the US and Qatar, to end the conflict…
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