Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
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Rewards for tourists who litter pick in Copenhagen
Tourists will be rewarded with free food and activities if they participate in environmentally friendly tasks while visiting Copenhagen, the city’s tourist board has announced. The trial scheme, which begins on 15 July, will see tourist attractions in the Danish capital offer rewards for activities such as litter-picking, travelling by public transport or biking around…
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Liberian president cuts his salary by 40%
Liberia’s President Joseph Boakai has announced that he will slash his salary by 40%. His office said he hoped to set a precedent for “responsible governance” and demonstrate “solidarity” with Liberians. Government salaries have been under intense scrutiny recently as Liberians complain about the rising cost of living. Around one in five people live on…
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Justin Bieber performs at India’s mega wedding
Justin Bieber has become the latest in a string of international stars to perform for the son of India’s richest man and his wife-to-be as they celebrate their upcoming wedding. The Canadian singer flew in to perform for Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant – along with their guests – in Mumbai at the weekend. He…
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China Tesla rival BYD signs $1bn Turkey plant deal
China’s biggest electric car maker BYD has agreed a $1bn (£780m) deal to set up a manufacturing plant in Turkey, as it continues to expand outside its home country. The new plant will be able to produce up to 150,000 vehicles a year, according to Turkish state news agency Anadolu. The facility is expected to…
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Democrats look to Kamala Harris – but could she beat Trump?
On Saturday afternoon, US Vice-President Kamala Harris sat on stage at a black cultural festival in New Orleans, talking about her life story and what she felt she had achieved in the White House. It was the kind of event that the first female, black and South Asian American vice-president has regularly attended throughout her…
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‘You’re not welcome here’: Australia’s treatment of disabled migrants
When Luca was born in a Perth hospital two years ago, it flipped his parents’ world in ways they never expected. With the joy came a shocking diagnosis: Luca had cystic fibrosis. Then Australia – Laura Currie and her husband Dante’s home for eight years – said they couldn’t stay permanently. Luca, his parents were…
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Bardella to lead new far-right European Parliament group
The leader of France’s far-right National Rally (RN), Jordan Bardella, will head a new right-wing grouping in the European Parliament, Patriots for Europe. The announcement came the day after Mr Bardella’s party lost the second round of France’s snap legislative election. In a post-election speech on Sunday night, Mr Bardella announced that the RN’s members…
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Australia appoints special envoy to tackle antisemitism
Australia has appointed a special envoy to combat antisemitism and preserve Australiaz“, amid rising community tension over the Israel-Gaza war. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced lawyer and businesswoman Jillian Segal would consult with community leaders and discrimination experts to advise the government. It follows in the footsteps of countries like the US, Canada, Greece and…
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White House fights back against doubts on Biden fitness
The White House has pushed back on questions about Joe Biden’s mental fitness, with the US president daring doubters in the party to either challenge him or unite behind his candidacy. Mr Biden, 81, took the highly unusual step of calling in to a cable news show, saying: “I am not going anywhere.” In a…
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Russian court jails theatre figures over IS wives play
A Russian playwright and a theatre director have been found guilty of “justifying terrorism” by a military court in Moscow. Director Yevgenia Berkovich and playwright Svetlana Petrichuk were sentenced to six years each for the production of their play The Brave Falcon Finist. Loosely based on true events, the play tells the story of Russian…
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