Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
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World’s ‘first openly gay imam’ shot dead in South Africa
Muhsin Hendricks, a pioneering figure dubbed the world’s first openly gay imam, has been shot dead in South Africa. The 57-year-old cleric ran a mosque in Cape Town intended as a safe haven for gay and other marginalised Muslims. He was killed on Saturday morning after the car in which he was travelling near the…
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Grieving families recount horror of deadly crush
Abhinav Goel and Dilnawaz Pasha BBC Hindi, Delhi Crowds join deadly ‘stampede’ at New Delhi railway station On Sunday morning, the New Delhi Railway Station in India’s capital looked much like it always does; bustling, with its many platforms full of eager, impatient passengers waiting to catch their trains. But on Saturday night, a deadly…
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Watch the moment a man is swallowed by humpback whale
A humpback whale briefly trapped a kayaker in its mouth off Chilean Patagonia before quickly releasing him unharmed. Adrián Simancas was kayaking with his father, Dell Simancas, when the massive whale suddenly surfaced, trapping the young man and his yellow kayak in its mouth for a few seconds before letting him go. Dell, just meters…
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DR Congo singer killed filming music video in conflict-hit Goma
A popular Congalese musician has been killed while filming a music video in Goma, which was overrun by M23 militants, after releasing a song condemning the rebel occupation of the city. The body of Delphin Katembo Vinywasiki, better known as Delcat Idengo, was found in a street on Thursday with his head partially covered with…
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Put your clothes on or pay a fine, Portuguese resort warns
Tourists in the popular Portuguese city of Albufeira may soon be banned from wandering its streets in swimwear, or face a hefty fine. The beachside city in the southern Algarve region, a favourite with British holidaymakers, has revised its code of conduct, explicitly prohibiting people from being in a state of partial or complete nudity…
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Looting reported as rebels advance on DR Congo city
Chaotic scenes have been unfolding in Bukavu in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo as the M23 rebel group continues its offensive in the region. On Saturday there were reports of sporadic gunfire and widespread looting in the city, including at a World Food Programme depot, with residents sheltering in their homes. It follows conflicting reports…
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Critics say Google rules put profits over privacy
Privacy campaigners have called Google’s new rules on tracking people online “a blatant disregard for user privacy.” Changes which come in on Sunday permit so-called “fingerprinting”, which allows online advertisers to collect more data about users including their IP addresses and information about their devices. Google says this data is already widely used by other…
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How ‘Montoya, por favor!’ broke the internet
Telecinco (Mediaset España) Clips of Jose Carlos Montoya’s spiralling meltdown at watching his girlfriend Anita cheat have gone viral wordwide Reality TV gold has a new three-word definition: “Montoya, por favor!” If you’ve been anywhere near social media over the past fortnight, you’ll know the raw drama setting the internet ablaze this award season hasn’t…
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Crested cranes: Uganda’s disappearing national bird
Wycliffe Muia BBC News, Mbarara Getty Images With its distinctive golden crown, red throat pouch and slender black legs, the crested crane is beloved in Uganda – featuring on the East African nation’s flag and coat of arms. All the country’s national sports teams are also nicknamed after the iconic bird, but in recent years…
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Pudding debate splits island nation
Gemma Handy Reporter, St John’s, Antigua Gemma Handy Novella Payne uses traditional recipes learnt from her grandmother It is not cricket or politics that triggers the most ardent debate in Antigua and Barbuda. It is the ingredients of a beloved national dish. The question of whether “ducana” – a sweet potato and coconut dumpling –…
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