Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

A notorious gang leader has died after he was shot inside a courthouse in Sri Lanka by a gunman disguised as a lawyer, say police. Police say the gunman used a revolver which was smuggled in a hollowed-out book by a female suspect, who remains at large. Gang leader Sanjeewa Kumara Samararathne had been escorted…

Canada has beaten the United States after the two countries battled it out on the rink in a championship game that proved to be about more than just ice hockey. The 4 Nations Face Off final ended 3-2 in overtime. On any ordinary day, this fixture would have been a significant one for the two…

Mountain police in Italy have urged tourists not to get too close to Mount Etna’s lava flows, as people flock to the area following the volcano’s latest eruption. Restrictions in force require people to stay a minimum distance 500 metres from the lava flow and to visit only if accompanied by guides. Skiing nearby is…

João da Silva Business reporter CCTV A meeting between Chinese president Xi Jinping and some of the country’s foremost business leaders this week has fuelled excitement and speculation, after Alibaba founder Jack Ma was pictured at the event. The charismatic and colourful Mr Ma, who was one of China’s most prominent businessmen, had withdrawn from…

Getty Images A political tidal wave is crashing across Germany. That’s what the hard-right nationalist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party firmly believes. It is labelled “radical”, “racist” and “anti-democratic” by opponents. Germany’s domestic intelligence service says the party is “anti-constitutional”. But if polls are right, the AfD will become Germany’s second largest political force after…

BBC Eye Investigations BBC World Service BBC An Indian pharmaceutical company is manufacturing unlicensed, highly addictive opioids and exporting them illegally to West Africa where they are driving a major public health crisis in countries including Ghana, Nigeria, and Cote D’Ivoire, a BBC Eye investigation has revealed. Aveo Pharmaceuticals, based in Mumbai, makes a range…

One of four bodies returned from Gaza to Israel on Thursday is not hostage Shiri Bibas, as claimed by Hamas, the Israeli military said. The news that Shiri Bibas, 33, and her two sons, Ariel and Kfir, who would now be aged five and two, were dead triggered an outpouring of grief in Israel. The…

Steven McIntosh Entertainment reporter Getty Images The closing credits of 2021’s No Time To Die, the most recent film in the 007 series, ended with a familiar message: “James Bond will return.” But for the last few years, fans haven’t been so sure. A year after the release of Daniel Craig’s final film in the…

Ros Atkins on… the fight for Ukraine’s critical minerals Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky needs to return to the negotiating table and strike a deal on US access to Ukraine’s critical minerals, White House national security adviser Mike Waltz has said. On Wednesday, Zelensky rejected US demands for a share of its rare earth minerals –…

Donald Trump thinks Ukraine owes the US a substantial slice of its vast mineral resources in exchange for its military support during Kyiv’s war with Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected Trump’s demands. The BBC’s Analysis Editor Ros Atkins looks at what the US President wants – and whether he’s likely to get it.…