Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
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Syria rescuers end search for secret cells in Saydnaya prison
EPA Rescue workers from the White Helmets say they have ended their search operation for possible detainees in secret cells or basements at Syria’s notorious Saydnaya military prison without finding anyone. Specialised teams assisted by K9 dog units and individuals familiar with the layout combed the prison and its grounds on Monday, as crowds gathered…
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Mining the Pacific – future proofing or fool’s gold?
BBC/Lindle Markwell Plans to mine the Cook Islands’ seabed have drawn condemnation from activists who fear damage to the environment “They look like chocolate truffles, just don’t eat them,” jokes Jean Mason, the curator of the Cook Islands Library and Museum as she reaches into a display cabinet and pulls out a black, knobbly rock.…
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What is rage-baiting and why is it profitable?
Winta Zesu Winta Zesu has made a business out of rage-baiting “I get a lot of hate”. The words of content creator Winta Zesu, who last year made $150,000 (£117,000) from posting on social media. What separates Winta from other influencers? The people commenting on her posts and driving traffic to her videos are often…
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Olympic cyclist pleads guilty over wife’s car death
Former world champion cyclist Rohan Dennis has pleaded guilty over a car incident in Australia which killed his wife, fellow Olympian Melissa Hoskins. Hoskins died in hospital on 30 December 2023, after being struck by a vehicle being driven by Dennis outside their home in Adelaide. The 34-year-old was initially charged with dangerous driving causing…
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New Zealand to ban greyhound racing, citing high injury rates
New Zealand has announced plans to ban greyhound racing, citing an “unacceptably high” rate of injuries. The sport has long faced criticism in the country, with some breeders accused of mistreating or doping the animals. The government plans to wind down the industry over the next 20 months, to allow time for the rehoming of…
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Luigi Mangione charged with murder of healthcare CEO
BBC Luigi Mangione A 26-year-old man has been charged with murder in last week’s fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City. Luigi Mangione was taken into custody at a McDonald’s in the town of Altoona, Pennsylvania, about 280 miles (450km) west of New York City on Monday after a customer at…
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Will bribery charges hinder India’s renewable energy goals?
Reuters Billionaire Gautam Adani, who founded the Adani Group, was charged with fraud in the US last month Bribery charges by a US court against the Adani Group are unlikely to significantly upset India’s clean energy goals, industry leaders have told the BBC. Delhi has pledged to source half of its energy needs or 500…
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Suspect in healthcare CEO killing arrested at McDonald’s
A 26-year-old man has been arrested in connection with last week’s fatal shooting in New York City of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Luigi Mangione, 26, was taken into custody at a McDonald’s in the town of Altoona, Pennsylvania, about 280 miles (450km) west of New York City on Monday after a customer at the fast-food…
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Assad’s police threatened to bury me and my reporting. Now I’m back, and free
BBC Eleven years ago, I left Damascus not knowing if I would ever be back. Back then, the city was in the grip of war. Intense violence, which followed President Bashar al-Assad’s brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protests, engulfed the capital. At any moment you could be shot dead on the streets. I reported for the…
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Rupert Murdoch loses bid to change trust in ‘Succession’ battle
A real-life “Succession” battle for Rupert Murdoch’s media empire has ended with a Nevada court commissioner denying the billionaire’s bid to change a family trust and give control to his eldest son. The case pitted the 93-year-old against three of his children over who would gain the power to control News Corp and Fox News…
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