Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

  • How COVID-19 restrictions are affecting Ramadan

    As Ramadan begins Tuesday, COVID-19 restrictions are affecting Muslim communities around the world in different ways. The spike in coronavirus cases in several countries has affected “iftar” gatherings and how prayers in mosques are conducted. The Associated Press has the story: Muslims begin Ramadan amid lingering COVID-19 restrictions MECCA, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Muslims in…

  • Police and Islamists clash in Pakistan, 4 killed

    Clashes between the Pakistanian Islamist party Tehreek-e-Labiak, led by Saad Rizv, and police increased after authorities arrested Rizv. That party and other Islamist parties have clashed with the government over issues involving Islam, most recently demanding that the government expel France’s ambassador over depictions of Islam”s Prophet Muhammad. The Associated Press has the story: Police…

  • Tenn. police officer recovering from school shooting

    After being shot in the leg by a student, Knoxville Police Officer Adam Willson is now out of surgery and recovering. A high school student opened fire on officers at a school in Knoxville on Monday, and was fatally shot by police. The Associated Press has the story: Knoxville Police Officer Adam Willson out of…

  • Huge ride-hailing company Grab merges with U.S. company

    Grab Holdings, the largest ride-hailing company in Southeast Asia, is merging with U.S.-based Altimeter Growth Capital in order to go public faster. The latter company is already trading on the stock exchange, and the merger will allow Grab to essentially take its place. This is known as an SPAC merger, where one company uses the…

  • Iran increases uranium enrichment after alleged Israeli attack

    After an assault that damaged centrifuges at its Natanz nuclear facility, Iran will be increasing the purity of its uranium enrichment up to 60%. Israel is widely believed to be behind the attack. This further jeopardizes negotiations with bringing the U.S. back into the 2015 nuclear deal, as it puts Iran in further breach of…

  • Russia: Troops on Ukraine border are response to NATO

    Responding to criticism for increasing the number of troops on its border with Ukraine, Russia said said it did so in reaction to aggression from NATO. NATO says this is the largest number of troops Russia has placed on the border since it first annexed the Crimean region from Ukraine in 2014. The Associated Press…

  • Biden brings up Ukraine border aggression with Putin

    Relations between President Vladimir Putin and President Joe Biden have been tense during Biden’s initial presidency, and Biden finally spoke to Putin about Russia placing additional troops on the border with Ukraine. Biden also told Putin that the U.S. would “act firmly in defense of its national interests” in regards to cyberattacks and election in…

  • Two Trump critics for border immigration roles

    Two Trump critics for border immigration roles WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Monday nominated two critics of Trump-era immigration policies for key roles at the Department of Homeland Security. The nominations come as the Biden administration faces a rising number of people attempting to enter the country along the Southwest border. Biden named…

  • Christine Wormuth first woman to lead Army

    Christine Wormuth first woman to lead Army BERLIN (AP) — President Joe Biden plans to nominate Christine Wormuth, a former senior Pentagon official, to be the first woman to lead the Army, the White House said Monday. If confirmed by the Senate as Army secretary, Wormuth would be one of the more powerful officials in…

  • Recreational marijuana legalized in New Mexico

    Recreational marijuana legalized in New Mexico SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed legislation Monday legalizing recreational marijuana use within months and kicking off sales next year, making it the seventh state since November to put an end to pot prohibition. The governor, a Democrat, has supported marijuana reform as…

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