New book ‘God’s Diplomats’ unveils the secret history of Vatican diplomacy

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — One of the Vatican’s most important but least studied departments is actually one of its most extensive: the massive network of lay and religious people engaged in peacemaking, information gathering and international diplomacy who throughout history have swayed governments and challenged kings. In a new book, ‘God’s Diplomats: Pope Francis, Vatican…

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Taliban would take back Europe’s Afghan deportees to face courts, says spokesman

VIENNA: The Taliban government in Afghanistan would accept any Afghan migrants whose applications for asylum were rejected in Europe and they would then face court, an Austrian newspaper quoted a Taliban spokesman as saying on Monday. Austria’s conservative-led government has taken a hard line on Afghan asylum seekers and refugees within the European Union, with…

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Ariana Grande Reveals She’s Not the One Singing on Kanye West’s ‘Donda’

“Vocals under MB Stadium in #atl before the start of #DONDA 2…The entire album is a masterpiece. I’m so grateful,” Stalone had written on her own Instagram post. She also tweeted to share the song’s credits and tell fans how flattered she was that her vocals were compared to Grande’s. Despite receiving largely positive reviews from fans about the…

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Esports Brand XSET Partners With Drai’s Nightclub for Concerts, Gaming Cabanas

Drai’s Las Vegas vice president of sales and hospitality Philip Loomis  tells Billboard that he connected with XSET chief merchandising and licensing officer Will Eddins after participating in a virtual panel together and recognizing “the synergy that already exists between our two spaces,” Loomis says. “We view nightlife and gaming as cultural hubs that not only touch…

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Marlon James on His Follow-Up to Black Leopard, Red Wolf and the Importance of Fantasy

See the full cover for Moon Witch, Spider King by artist Pablo Gerardo Camacho below!Image: Riverhead BooksMarlon James began his Dark Star trilogy—aka “the African Game of Thrones”—with 2019’s highly acclaimed Black Leopard, Red Wolf, which is currently being adapted for the screen by Michael B. Jordan. The second book in the series, Moon Witch, Spider…

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Frontliners new breed of heroes

UNSUNG HEROES Delivery riders cruise past a mural depicting pandemic frontliners along Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City on Sunday, August 29. The Philippines will celebrate National Heroes Day on Monday, August 30. PHOTO BY J. GERARD SEGUIA ON National Heroes Day, President Rodrigo Duterte paid tribute to frontliners who continue to serve the public amid…

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Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘Sour’ Returns to No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart After Vinyl Release

The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption as measured in equivalent album units. Units comprise album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). Each unit equals one album sale, or 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or…

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Beastie Boys’ Mike D, Flying Lotus, Lupe Fiasco & Others Mourn Death of Reggae Legend Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry

“Blessed journey into the infinite,” Flying Lotus, whose real name is Steven Ellison, wrote on Twitter. “RIP Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry.” Rapper Fiasco also remembered Perry, tweeting, “AFRICAN BLOOD IS FLOWING THROUGH I VEINS SO I AND I SHALL NEVER FADE AWAY!!!!” During his decades-long career, Perry built his legendary Black Ark studio in Kingston, which…

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Satellites launched to determine source of methane, carbon dioxide emissions

A US-based organisation is launching a constellation of satellites in space with the sole purpose of detecting methane and carbon dioxide concentrations across the globe.  Concentrations of the toxic gases most responsible for climate change and toxic air pollution will be mapped by satellites and aircraft equipped with high-performance visible/infrared imaging spectrometers. The project is…

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Police Recruitment Experience and Assessment Day (with photos)

Police Recruitment Experience and Assessment Day (with photos) **************************************************************      The Hong Kong Police Force today (August 29) held the Police Recruitment Experience and Assessment Day at the Hong Kong Police College to showcase to participants a wide range of policing elements including the recruitment selection process, foundation training programmes, and the police duties of new…

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Spider-Man: No Way Home’s Trailer in Animation for Your Saturday Morning Cartoon Viewing Pleasure

Screenshot: Marvel via 100Bombs StudiosWe got the first, highly-anticipated trailer this week for Sony/Marvel’s Spider-Man: No Way Home. If that wasn’t enough to satisfy you, a YouTuber has recreated it (yes, already!) using animation from Spider-Man: The Animated Series—with a little helping hand from the animated The Incredible Hulk.YouTube channel 100Bombs Studios published this incredibly…

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Eric Clapton Seemingly Addresses COVID-19 Policies in New Protest Song ‘This Has Gotta Stop’: Watch

In the accompanying animated music video, faceless figures gather in protest holding signs emblazoned with such messages as “Liberty,” “Enough is Enough” and “Stop.” Elsewhere, the clip features socially charged references to the over consumption of media and concerns about climate change. In July, Clapton stated that he won’t grace “any stage where there is…

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Biden Says Another Terrorist Attack on Kabul Airport is ‘Highly Likely’ in Next 36 Hours

President Joe Biden delivers remarks about Afghanistan, from the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., August 26, 2021. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters) President Biden said Saturday that the situation on the ground in Afghanistan continues to be “extremely dangerous” and that an attack on the Kabul airport is “highly likely” in the next 24-36…

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‘No better country in world than India’: Sikhs evacuated from Afghanistan thank Indian government

Afghan Sikhs who reached India thanked the government for their safe evacuation from Afghanistan. The Indian government is working day and night to evacuate its citizen from Afghanistan after the Taliban took control of the country and also chalk out a plan to proceed after deadly bomb blasts outside Kabul airport disrupted the evacuation process. …

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The Infamous Comic Book Moment Behind Spider-Man: No Way Home’s Multiversal Twist

Doctor Strange begins the spell that will wipe Peter Parker’s public identity from the world.Image: Paolo Rivera and Joe Caramagna/Marvel ComicsAt the center of Spider-Man: No Way Home’s explosive trailer is a simple request from Peter Parker that seemingly turns the Marvel universe upside down: can magic make the world forget he’s Spider-Man? It’s a…

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Trudeau campaign rally cancelled over security concerns amid protests

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau is vowing to meet “anger with compassion” after a Friday evening campaign rally was cancelled amid protests.Protesters wait for Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau to arrive at a campaign event in Bolton, Ont., on Friday that was later cancelled over security concerns. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau is vowing to…

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How Do We Know How Old Fossils Are?

Illustration: Elena Scotti (Photos: Getty Images, Shutterstock)Paleolithic hunters built mammoth traps in what is now Mexico some 14,700 years ago. An unknown sea creature left footprints in sand some 550 million years ago, making them the oldest known footprints on Earth. The mysterious Denisovan humans reached southeast Asia 160,000 years ago, as evidenced by a…

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Big Oil Coined ‘Carbon Footprints’ to Blame Us for Their Greed. Keep Them on the Hook.

Photo: Yasin Akgul/AFP (Getty Images)This story originally appeared in The Guardian and is republished here as part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story.Personal virtue is an eternally seductive goal in progressive movements, and the climate movement is no exception. People pop up all the time to boast…

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Watch Foo Fighters Finally Jam on Stage With 11-Year-Old Drum Phenom Nandi Bushell

The British tween joined the group for “Everlong” in Los Angeles. After a year of mutual admiration, Dave Grohl and Foo Fighters finally jammed on stage with British tween drum phenom Nandi Bushell during Thursday night’s (Aug. 26) Los Angeles show. The pint-sized pounder gained world-wide attention during the pandemic for her insanely good drum skills…

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Social grants: Here are SASSA payment dates for September 2021

The schedule for social grants SASSA payment dates for September 2021 is now available, including for disability, older persons and all other grants. Given the social distancing requirements aimed at curbing COVID-19 infections, the SA Social Security Agency (SASSA) allocates different payment dates for different grant categories. The different dates are selected to avoid situations…

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Policing the pocket listings

This is HousingWire’s two-part series examining the ramifications of NAR’s decision last year to ban pocket listings. Part 1 looked at the history of the ban and inherent enforcement problems it posed. Part 2 examines how MLSs have implemented the measure so far, and legal challenges to the pocket prohibition.  Ryan Cook has a few…

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Amazon Launches Free Prime Membership for Students, Plus Music Streaming from 99 Cents

Amazon Prime Student DiscountsHere are some of the other Amazon deals and discounts for students for 2021. 1. Music Streaming New to Amazon’s Prime Student program is the ability to access Amazon Music Unlimited for just $0.99/month which includes free access to Amazon Music HD — the highest-quality streaming audio you can currently find online.…

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My First Year at Bon Appétit

Every Wednesday, Bon Appétit executive editor Sonia Chopra shares what’s going on at BA—the stories she’s loved reading, the recipes she’s been making, and more. If you sign up for our newsletter, you’ll get her letter before everyone else.It’s hard to believe that as of this week, I’ve been writing to you for a full…

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Thandiwe Newton Knows Her Solo: A Star Wars Story Character’s Death Was Bad

Val (Thandiwe Newton) looks skeptical, as well she should.Image: LucasfilmSolo is not the most well-respected of Star Wars movies, but there’s one moment that felt especially egregious: the weird, confusing sacrifice of Val, played by Thandiwe Newton.In the film, she’s a pragmatic criminal and sharpshooter in Tobias Beckett’s crew who helps stage a heist to…

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Travis Scott Surprised His Daughter Stormi With a School Bus & The Internet Went to Town About It

The wheels on the bus go ’round and ’round, and Travis Scott made sure his 3-year-old daughter Stormi experienced that feeling with a big, yellow surprise. On Tuesday, Kylie Jenner shared pictures of their daughter touching the outside of a yellow school bus and exploring its burgundy upholstered interior while writing, “All Stormi has been…

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Dave Grohl, Lindsey Buckingham & More Featured on Halsey’s ‘If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power’ Album

The Oscar- and Grammy-winning producers are spearheading the production of the 13-song project, whose official track list Halsey unveiled earlier this month (sans credits to the additional musicians). According to Spin’s review of the album, Grohl provides drums for “Honey,” while Sitel plays guitar on “You Asked for This” and Buckingham lends his acoustic talents on “Darling.” Palladino…

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Maitland Ward Still Making Big Money Since OnlyFans’ ‘Cowardly’ Porn Ban

Maitland Ward OnlyFans’ Porn Ban a ‘Cowardly’ Move!!! They’re Gonna Regret It 8/25/2021 12:30 AM PT this publication.com Maitland Ward’s railing on OnlyFans for “cowardly” banning porn from its platform, but despite the impending move, she’s still raking it in big time. We got Maitland leaving The Maybourne Hotel in Bev. Hills Tuesday and she told…

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Biden’s Cybersecurity Summit Will Gather Very Important People to Solve America’s Hacking Problem

Photo: Al Drago (Getty Images)President Joe Biden and other White House officials plan to meet with a cadre of business, tech, and education leaders on Wednesday to discuss a pretty pressing issue: How exactly to keep America from getting hacked so much. After a year of increasingly catastrophic cyberattacks (on everything from our beer and…

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Billie Eilish Gets Animated in ‘Happier Than Ever’ Disney+ Trailer

Among the guests who join Eilish are brother/producer Finneas, as well as the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus, the Los Angeles Philharmonic conducted by music and artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel and Brazilian guitarist Romero Lubambo. The orchestral arrangements were done by David Campbell (Ariana Grande, Harry Styles). “It’s a concert film but it’s also a story at the same…

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Mystery Uranium Cubes in U.S. Labs Likely From Nazi Experiment

A uranium cube in a protective case at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Washington.Photo: Andrea Starr/Pacific Northwest National LaboratoryA research team based at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Washington is working to certify that mysterious uranium cubes in American laboratories were once part of Nazi Germany’s efforts to build a successful nuclear program.…

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Princeton Digital Group Announces a $150 Million New Data Center in Indonesia

JAKARTA, Aug 25, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – Singapore-based Princeton Digital Group (PDG), Asia’s leading data center provider, today announced plans for a greenfield development in Jakarta, Indonesia, as part of PDG’s plan to expand its footprint to serve its customers’ needs in the booming Indonesian digital economy. With 19 data centers across 5 countries…

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Netflix’s Magic: The Gathering Series Summons Brandon Routh to Be Its Lead

Brandon Routh contemplates his deck build.Image: The CWIt was only last week that we learned that longtime Transformers cartoon producer Jeff Kline would be replacing Marvel Cinematic Universe architects Joe and Anthony Russo as the showrunner for Netflix’s animated series based on the venerable Magic: The Gathering card game. Apparently, Kline’s determined to hit the…

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Ancient History of Rhinos, Including Woolly Ancestors, Revealed in DNA Study

Artist’s interpretation of woolly rhinos. Image: Beth ZaikenNew research details the evolutionary history of rhinoceroses, exposing a surprising lack of genetic diversity throughout their long history. Given that all living species of rhinos are currently endangered and facing their own genetic bottlenecks, the new research could improve conservation efforts.At a scientific meeting held a few…

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‘The Balloon Never Had a Chance’

British Library digitized image from page 203 of Hartmann the Anarchist, etc.Image: British Library“Sir! Direct hit! The balloon’s canvas has been ruptured and is falling to the Earth from a height of approximately 18 kilometers. They will hit the ground in approximately one minute—unless the gentlemen have jetpacks on board, there’s no chance they’ll survive…

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This May Be a ‘Heisenberg Cube’ From the Nazis’ Failed Nuke Program, Scientists Say

Robertson with PNNL’s cube, which is in a protective case. IAndrea Starr/PNNLABSTRACT breaks down mind-bending scientific research, future tech, new discoveries, and major breakthroughs.Scientists are close to confirming the provenance of a uranium cube that is widely suspected to have originated in Nazi Germany as part of the regime’s nuclear weapons program. The cutting-edge research sheds…

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AmericanaFest Requiring Proof of Vaccination or Negative COVID Test for Attendance

AmericanaFest has revealed updated health and safety guidelines for this year’s festival, which is slated for Sept. 22-25 at several venues in Nashville. According to the new protocols, all festival attendees are required to show proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test for entry to any of the festival’s events, including concerts and…

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Odisha Man Records Self Video While Committing Suicide Over Wife’s ‘Illicit Affair’  

In a shocking incident, a man allegedly committed suicide by hanging after keeping his mobile phone in video recording mode at Sologaon village Parjang police limits of Dhenkanal district.Pradeep Behera, a truck driver, reportedly took the extreme step after suspecting his wife of having illicit relation with another youth from the same village, alleged his…

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