Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

Amensisa IfaBBC Africa , Addis Ababa Luis Tato/AFP/Getty Images Ethiopia is celebrating the start of its new year – 2018. The country has its own unique calendar, meaning it is seven years behind the Western calendar. Amensisa Ifa/BBC These yellow “adey ababa” blooms are associated with the celebration. They grow wild around the capital, Addis…

The wife of former US Senator Robert Menendez has been sentenced to 4 and a half years in prison for aiding her husband in a bribery scheme involving stacks of cash, gold bars and a Mercedes-Benz. Nadine Menendez, 58, was convicted in April of 15 counts, including bribery, after jurors found she acted as a…

Pumza FihlaniSouthern Africa correspondent, Johannesburg Gallo Images via Getty Images Thabo Bester was dubbed the “Facebook rapist” as he lured his victims through the site One of South Africa’s most notorious rapists and murderers, Thabo Bester, has taken court action to block Netflix from broadcasting a documentary about his life – including how he allegedly…

Watch: How the Charlie Kirk shooting unfolded Charlie Kirk, an influential right-wing activist and a close ally of US President Donald Trump, was shot dead while speaking at an event at a university in Utah. Here is what we know. What happened? Kirk, 31, was speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem on 10 September,…

This is a huge moment for Brazil. Ex-President Jair Bolsonaro has been convicted of attempting a coup and leading an armed criminal group after losing the last election, which culminated in his supporters attacking government buildings. He now faces a lengthy prison sentence, after Brazil’s Supreme Court reached the majority of three votes needed to…

The former President of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, has been found guilty of plotting a military coup. Brazil’s Supreme Court reached the majority of three votes needed to find him guilty. One judge voted to acquit him, and another is yet to vote. The 70-year-old has been convicted of leading a conspiracy aimed at keeping him…

EPA/ Shutterstock Alexander Lukashenko met the US special envoy in Belarus ahead of the prisoner releases Dozens of political prisoners have been freed from Belarusian prisons as part of a deal between authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko and US President Donald Trump. Fifty-two prisoners have been released, including trade union leaders, journalists and activists, but more…

Minutes into his trial, Ryan Routh, the man accused of trying to assassinate Donald Trump, got cut off by the judge for veering off topic. “Modern trials seem to eliminate all that is human,” Routh, who is defending himself, told jurors as he began his opening remarks on Thursday. He opened with a “history” of…

AFP via Getty Images Police and army inspect damage to a house destroyed by debris from a shot down Russian drone in Poland on 10 September Several Nato members are sending troops, artillery, and air defence systems to secure its eastern flank after what Poland called an unprecedented Russian drone incursion into its airspace. In…

South Sudan’s First Vice-President Riek Machar has been charged with murder, treason and crimes against humanity in a move that some fear could reignite the country’s civil war. Justice Minister Joseph Geng Akech said the charges against Machar relate to an attack in March by a militia allegedly linked to the vice-president. The roads leading…