Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

Former US President Joe Biden expressed his gratitude for the words of support that have poured in after he announced his cancer diagnosis on Sunday. “Cancer touches us all,” Biden wrote on social media on Monday morning. “Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places.…

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has ordered residents of Khan Younis to evacuate as it prepares to launch an “unprecedented attack”. People were ordered to move towards al-Mawasi in the west of the strip, in one of the largest evacuation orders issued by the Israeli military in recent months. An Arabic statement shared by IDF…

Israel’s prime minister has said his decision to allow a “minimal” amount of food into Gaza after 11 weeks of blockade followed pressure from allies in the US Senate. “We must not reach a situation of famine, both from a practical and a diplomatic standpoint,” Benjamin Netanyahu stressed in a video in response to criticism…

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…