Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

South African authorities say they will continue with legal proceedings against Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotoso who was acquitted of rape last month, even though he has left the country. Mr Omotoso, who denied the 32 charges against him, was accused of sexually assaulting young women from his church in Port Elizabeth. The National Prosecuting Authority…

Dozens of people have died and more injured after tornadoes tore through parts of the central United States. Dramatic footage from several states, including Missouri and Colorado, showed a trail of destruction through towns in the path of the tornadoes. Residents were left to pick through the remains of their destroyed homes as officials warned…

Officers at Pococi Penitentiary in Costa Rica have caught a cat carrying two packages of drugs attached to its body. According to a statement on Facebook from the country’s Ministry of Justice, guards spotted the animal in a green area of the prison on 6 May, before capturing it. The cat was carrying packages containing…

Mayeni Jones BBC News, Johannesburg Getty Images Illegal miners work in mines once owned by large multinationals, which abandoned them because they were no longer profitable This story contains details, including a video, that some people may find distressing. The most shocking thing for Jonathan, who had endured six gruelling months living and working underground…

Portugal’s governing right-of-centre Democratic Alliance has won snap parliamentary elections – the third in as many years – again falling short of a majority. Its leader Luís Montenegro promised supporters to “stimulate investment” and to “guarantee prosperity and social justice”. Socialist leader Pedro Nuno Santos announced his resignation after his party finished in second, and…

Sarah Rainsford, Paul Kirby & Olimpia Zagnat In Bucharest and London Andrei Pungovschi/Getty Images Nicusor Dan had to wait until late into the night before he could be certain of victory The liberal, pro-EU mayor of Bucharest, Nicusor Dan, has fought off a strong challenge from a Romanian right-wing nationalist to win the presidency after…

Austria’s new Eurovision Song Contest winner JJ returned home on Sunday 18 May to a warm welcome at Vienna’s Schwechat Airport after his victory in Basel. Fans, family, and media gathered and cheered as JJ smiled and posed for selfies. The 24-year-old, who is a counter tenor, took the title at the competition with the…

Adam Easton BBC Warsaw correspondent Reuters Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski was narrowly ahead of his conservative rival according to a poll released when voting ended Warsaw’s liberal mayor Rafal Trzaskowski won a narrow victory in Poland’s presidential election, according to an exit poll, but a second-round run-off with conservative historian Karol Nawrocki will be required…

Former US president Joe Biden has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, a statement from his office said on Sunday. Biden, 82, was diagnosed on Friday after he saw a doctor last week for urinary symptoms. The cancer is characterised by a Gleason score of 9 with metastasis to the bone, his office said, meaning it…

Authorities in New York are investigating the site where a Mexican sailing ship struck the Brooklyn Bridge for clues about how the fatal collision occurred. Two people on board were killed and at least 19 others were injured when the Mexican Navy training ship crashed into the bridge on Saturday night. Police said early investigations…