Iran has sent short-range ballistic missiles to Russia, according to U.S. and European officials, a move that gives Moscow another potent military tool in its war against Ukraine and follows stern Western warnings not to provide those arms to Moscow.

The development comes as Russia has stepped up its missile attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure, killing dozens of civilians in recent days. Washington informed allies of Iran’s shipments this week, European officials said, including a briefing for ambassadors in Washington on Thursday.

A U.S. official confirmed the missiles “have finally been delivered.”

“We have been warning of the deepening security partnership between Russia and Iran since the outset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and are alarmed by these reports,” said National Security Council Spokesman Sean Savett. “We and our partners have made clear both at the G-7 and at the NATO summits this summer that together we are prepared to deliver significant consequences. Any transfer of Iranian ballistic missiles to Russia would represent a dramatic escalation in Iran’s support for Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.”

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A bizarre yet intriguing story has recently gone viral on social media, involving a woman who married herself only to later divorce herself. This woman, Suellen Carey, a 36-year-old influencer and model from Brazil, gained worldwide attention last year when she made headlines for marrying herself in London after struggling with the dating scene. The unconventional act of self-marriage was initially celebrated as a bold statement of self-love and independence.

A year after her solo wedding, Suellen surprised everyone by announcing that she had decided to divorce herself. Despite her efforts to make the marriage work—including attending couple therapy sessions alone—she eventually concluded that the union was not sustainable.

Read it all.

Would she demand an alimony ir a maintenance as well? pic.twitter.com/Nng5xmh75z

— Vikrant ~ विक्रांत (@vikrantkumar) September 6, 2024

Seeing what’s going on inside a body is never easy. While technologies like CT scans, X-rays, MRIs, and microscopy can provide insights, the images are rarely completely clear and can come with side effects like radiation exposure. 

But what if you could apply a substance on the skin, much like a moisturizing cream, and make it transparent, without harming the tissue? 

That’s what Stanford scientists have done using an FDA-approved dye that is commonly found in food, among several other light-absorbing molecules that exhibit similar effects. Published in Science on Sept. 5, the research details how rubbing a dye solution on the skin of a mouse in a lab allowed researchers to see, with the naked eye, through the skin to the internal organs, without making an incision. And, just as easily as the transparency happened, it could be reversed.

“As soon as we rinsed and massaged the skin with water, the effect was reversed within minutes,” said Guosong Hong, assistant professor of materials science and engineering and senior author on the paper. “It’s a stunning result.” 

Read it all.

Read about really creative and innovative research from my colleagues @HongNeuroTech and @BrongersmaMark : a common food dye can make your skin transparent!https://t.co/aizYD8Xnv0

— Alberto Salleo (@asalleo) September 5, 2024

Almighty God, whose only-begotten Son led captivity captive: Multiply among us faithful witnesses like thy servant Hannah More, who will fight for all who are oppressed or held in bondage; and bring us all, we pray, into the glorious liberty that thou hast promised to all thy children; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Episcopal Church also commemorates Hannah More, Religious Writer & Philanthropist, 1833

After success as a fashionable playwright, More became a religious writer, penning popular 'improving tale' tracts (see ALT)

Portrait by HW Pickersgill (1822), ©National Portrait Gallery pic.twitter.com/U5zfIWLOFg

— The Anglican Church in St Petersburg (@anglicanspb) September 6, 2024

O God, who hast commanded us to walk in the Spirit and not to fulfill the lusts of the flesh: Perfect us, we pray thee, in love, that we may conquer our natural selfishness and give ourselves to others.  Fill our hearts with thy joy, and garrison them with thy peace; make us longsuffering and gentle, and thus subdue our hasty and angry tempers; give us faithfulness, meekness and self-control; that so crucifying the flesh with its affections and lusts, we may bring forth the fruit of the Spirit to thy praise and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Stac Pollaidh from Loch Cul Dromannan #Scotland #Assynt #Coigach https://t.co/ERVTYHoo8V pic.twitter.com/TYzHxuz18T

— Damian Shields (@DamianShields1) September 6, 2024

Yea, thou art my rock and my fortress;
    for thy name’s sake lead me and guide me,
 take me out of the net which is hidden for me,
    for thou art my refuge.
 Into thy hand I commit my spirit;
    thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.

–Psalm 31:3-5

Stalker Castle in the West Highlands of Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 pic.twitter.com/qGtV6YQk07

— A Beautiful Culture (@ABeautifulCult1) September 6, 2024

Services at English cathedrals clocked up an extra five per cent attendance in 2023, although they have yet to return to pre-pandemic levels, statistics published on Thursday suggest.

The total weekly attendance at regular services at cathedrals in England rose from an average of 28,300 in 2022 to 30,300 in 2023. Despite this increase, the average was still significantly below the 2019 figure of 36,800.

By contrast, visitor numbers have largely recovered. A total of 9.35 million visited in 2023, close to the 2017 total of 9.38 million. The 2023 figure amounts to an increase of 1.4 million from 2022, although the increase in those paying or making a donation amounted to just 45,000.

Read it all (subscription).

Cathedral visitor numbers bounce back after pandemic; services recover more slowly https://t.co/NrLCegKzrx

— Church Times (@ChurchTimes) September 5, 2024

Cyber attacks pose a risk as big as terrorism and flooding, according to two of the world’s biggest insurance groups that are calling for state support to help the industry to absorb losses. 

Insurer Zurich and Marsh McLennan, the world’s biggest insurance broker, say in a new report that cyber threats are “outpacing the ability of traditional insurance and risk management approaches to fully mitigate them”.  There are “limits to the amount of financial loss” the private sector can absorb, the report says, given the potentially huge losses that could be caused by a cyber attack on critical infrastructure.

It proposes a number of steps to address this, including creating public-private partnerships to share losses from currently “uninsurable” events, such as a cyber attack that causes a widespread failure of key infrastructure.

Read it all (subscription).

Insurance groups urge state support for ‘uninsurable’ cyber risks https://t.co/H2zrEsMrLY

— Finance News (@ftfinancenews) September 4, 2024

The next time you are stuck in traffic, look around you. Not at the cars, but the passengers. If you are in America, the chances are that one in 75 of them will be killed by a car—most of those by someone else’s car. Wherever you may be, the folk cocooned in a giant SUV or pickup truck are likelier to survive a collision with another vehicle. But the weight of their machines has a cost, because it makes the roads more dangerous for everyone else. The Economist has found that, for every life the heaviest 1% of SUVs or trucks saves in America, more than a dozen lives are lost in smaller vehicles. This makes traffic jams an ethics class on wheels.

Each year cars kill roughly 40,000 people in America—and not just because it is a big place where people love to drive. The country’s roads are nearly twice as dangerous per mile driven as those in the rest of the rich world. Deaths there involving cars have increased over the past decade, despite the introduction of technology meant to make driving safer.

Weight is to blame. Using data for 7.5m crashes in 14 American states in 2013-23, we found that for every 10,000 crashes the heaviest vehicles kill 37 people in the other car, compared with 5.7 for cars of a median weight and just 2.6 for the lightest. The situation is getting worse. In 2023, 31% of new cars in America weighed over 5,000lb (2.27 tonnes), compared with 22% in 2018. The number of pedestrians killed by cars has almost doubled since 2010. Although a typical car is 25% lighter in Europe and 40% lighter in Japan, electrification will add weight there too, exacerbating the gap between the heaviest vehicles and the lightest. The Ford F-150 Lightning weighs around 40% more than its petrol-engine cousin, because of the battery that moves all those lithium ions from cathode to anode.

Read it all.

The Economist just published a deeply-researched story about car bloat, and it's very, very damning:

"For every life that the heaviest 1% of SUVs and trucks save, there are more than a dozen lives lost in other vehicles."

Well worth your time: https://t.co/eHalcNkiBX pic.twitter.com/1RBfAooX6V

— David Zipper (@DavidZipper) September 1, 2024

O Eternal Lord God, without whose aid we cannot do the things that we would: Look mercifully upon the waywardness of our hearts, and strengthen us against evil; that as citizens of thy holy kingdom we may walk henceforth in the power of the Spirit, and bring forth fruit to thy glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Morning everyone hope you are well. Wandering around the Coniston Fells away from the main paths it's fantastic how many becks and cascades that are dotted around. Have a great day. #LakeDistrict @keswickbootco pic.twitter.com/4HbTS6MNjL

— Rod Hutchinson (@lakesrhino) September 5, 2024

Trust in the Lord, and do good;
so you will dwell in the land, and enjoy security.
Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him, and he will act.

–Psalm 37:3-5

English garden pic.twitter.com/lmGopAhsva

— Veritatis Cupitor (@English1Maiden) September 5, 2024

O Our God, we believe in thee, we hope in thee, and we love thee, because thou hast created us, redeemed us, and dost sanctify us. Increase our faith, strengthen our hope, and deepen our love, that giving up ourselves wholly to thy will, we may serve thee faithfully all the rest of our life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

—The Narrow Way, Being a Complete Manual of Devotion with a Guide to Confirmation and Holy Communion (London: J. Whitaker and Sons, 1893)

Morning everyone hope you are well. Morning mist clearing over Brothers Water. Have a great day. #LakeDistrict @keswickbootco pic.twitter.com/REaR3Uzpb0

— Rod Hutchinson (@lakesrhino) September 4, 2024

Now when day came, there was no small stir among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. And when Herod had sought for him and could not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesare’a, and remained there. Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon; and they came to him in a body, and having persuaded Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king’s country for food. On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and made an oration to them. And the people shouted, “The voice of a god, and not of man!” Immediately an angel of the Lord smote him, because he did not give God the glory; and he was eaten by worms and died. But the word of God grew and multiplied. And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their mission, bringing with them John whose other name was Mark.

–Acts 12:18-25

Avalon gate. The gate at the bottom of Glastonbury Tor at sunrise. pic.twitter.com/VfPjfltYmE

— Michelle Cowbourne (@Glastomichelle) September 4, 2024

“I was thinking how can this be? How can somebody who’s clearly lived a long time and worked so hard be out here in this heat pushing carts,” Swensen said.

According to the heat index for that day, it felt like 111 degrees. Swensen was already heading home to put her groceries away but couldn’t shake the feeling of seeing McCormick outside, pushing the shopping carts, so she returned.

Swensen approached McCormick and learned he worked at the store to make ends meet. He has been pushing shopping carts outside for 23 years. Living off $1,100 in Social Security each month, McCormick’s bills totaled $2,500. He worked at Winn Dixie to fill the gap.

Read it all or you can enjoy the video.

The British biologist J. B. S. Haldane once quipped that “there is no great invention, from fire to flying, which has not been hailed as an insult to some god”. The concept of “playing God” is a well-known cultural trope. For most people the phrase implies Promethean hubris, an arrogant overextension of human capabilities and ambitions beyond what is appropriate, potentially leading to unforeseen and uncontrollable consequences. But who decides what humanity’s “proper” limits might be? Might the quest for a deeper understanding of our world be an act of service, aimed at safeguarding our world on the one hand and promoting human flourishing on the other?

Playing God: Science, religion and the future of humanity by Nick Spencer and Hannah Waite offers an engaging and helpful overview of the contemporary debates on these themes. Both writers are associated with the London-based Theos think tank, which hosts public debates, discussions and lectures about religion and society. Although the theme of “playing God” is emphasized in the work’s main title, its focus is better seen as an exploration of the interaction of science and religion in discussing a series of questions raised, but not answered, by technological advance.

Read it all.

'The question shifts from whether we should play at being God to how we should do this.'

Alister McGrath (@alisteremcgrath) on what theology might teach us about technological hubris
https://t.co/KsRh8JBYti

— The TLS (@TheTLS) August 23, 2024

Annapolis historian Janice Hayes-Williams remembers visiting this graveyard with her uncle, George Phelps Jr., in 2001. As they wandered through it that day, he keptmuttering to himself. “Jesus. … Jesus. … Jesus.”

“It was overwhelming to my uncle and me,” Hayes-Williams, 67, recalled on a hot July morning as she walked past the numbered markers. “The word that came to mind was ‘disposable.’”

“We both kept saying, ‘A cemetery of patients and no names? No names?’ It was more than unbelievable,” she said. “This is not how you treat human beings.”

Read it all.

Their graves were marked only by numbers. She fought to find their names. https://t.co/vFukMCQVze

— Joe Heim (@JoeHeim) August 31, 2024

‘The best stories begin with a wound’–TLS January 2022.

Do not let its simplicity beguile you into missing its significance–KSH/.

🍃Guten Morgen ☀️ pic.twitter.com/LM2vy7TZF7

— 💫Stein_harmonie🍀🧚‍♀️ (@SteinHarmonie) September 3, 2024

We are back to normal posting mode after taking a break during the later summer for vacation and special projects–KSH.

Sunshine and lower humidity this morning at Surfside Pier. Feels good! 📸 Lisa Rieither #scwx #ncwx pic.twitter.com/VKSqqMTT23

— Ed Piotrowski (@EdPiotrowski) September 3, 2024

Eternal God, who didst raise up thine servant Phoebe as a deacon in thy church and benefactor of the Gospel, such that she took the message of thine Apostle Paul into the very heart of a hostile empire; grant unto us thy same grace, that aided by her prayers and example, we too may take the Gospel unto the ends of the earth, Through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord; who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

September 3: Commemoration of Saint Phoebe, DIACONESS, "servant of the Lord among the faithful of Cencreas (Corinth), who attended to Saint Paul and many others, as the apostle himself writes in the letter to the Romans [16, 1-2]" (Roman Martyrology). pic.twitter.com/KD2obYvLQo

— Leo the Great (@LeotheGreat19) September 3, 2024

Almighty God,
whose only Son has opened for us
a new and living way into your presence:
give us pure hearts and steadfast wills
to worship you in spirit and in truth;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.

Ander weer op komst. Fijne dinsdag😀 #natuur #landschap #zomer #Rhenen #ElstUt #Elsterbuitenwaard #Nederrijn #zonsondergang #mooieluchten pic.twitter.com/JQyt0VFDub

— Tjark Dieterman (@DietermanTjark) September 3, 2024

About that time Herod the king laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church. He killed James the brother of John with the sword; and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. So Peter was kept in prison; but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.

The very night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison; and behold, an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands. And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your mantle around you and follow me.” And he went out and followed him; he did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened to them of its own accord, and they went out and passed on through one street; and immediately the angel left him. And Peter came to himself, and said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”

When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a maid named Rhoda came to answer. Recognizing Peter’s voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and told that Peter was standing at the gate. They said to her, “You are mad.” But she insisted that it was so. They said, “It is his angel!” But Peter continued knocking; and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell this to James and to the brethren.” Then he departed and went to another place.

–Acts 12:1-17

Un, deux, trois, soleil, Sion ☀️☀️☀️🇨🇭#valais #suisse #Switzerland pic.twitter.com/Ultbm9oxtd

— Délèze Dominique (@DelezeD) September 3, 2024

On this three day weekend, when we rest from our usual labors, loving Father, we pray for all who shoulder the tasks of human laboring the marketplace, in factories and offices, in the professions, and in family living.

We thank you, Lord, for the gift and opportunity of work; may our efforts always be pure of heart, for the good of others and the glory of your name.

We lift up to you all who long for just employment and those who work to defend the rights and needs of workers everywhere.

May those of us who are now retired always remember that we still make a valuable contribution to our Church and our world by our prayers and deeds of charity.

May our working and our resting all give praise to you until the day we share together in eternal rest with all our departed in your Kingdom as you live and reign Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

–-The Archdiocese of Detroit

In 1894, President Cleveland signed a bill that declared #LaborDay a national holiday.https://t.co/jdF8qHxTJz pic.twitter.com/GcCrF2SJkq

— Presidential Trivia (@triviapotus) September 2, 2024

O Lord, we pray that your grace may always precede and follow after us, that we may continually be given to good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

Sunday morning sunrise from the Cross st Belin UMC in Murrells Inlet. 📸 Travis Huffstetler. #scwx #ncwx pic.twitter.com/IPOnZimt2J

— Ed Piotrowski (@EdPiotrowski) September 1, 2024

Almighty God, who in Christ Jesus hast fulfilled to the sons of men thy ancient word of promise: Grant us grace to lay hold upon that promise by a living faith, that we may receive thy gift of righteousness, and at the last may enter upon our eternal inheritance; through the merits of the same thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Good morning Charleston, South Carolina 🫶🫶🫶 pic.twitter.com/0E40mG0mNG

— Charleston Daily (@ChuckTownDaily) August 31, 2024

O Holy Spirit the Comforter, Spirit of Jesus, come Thou upon us and dwell within us.  Not of ourselves, but of Thee is our life.  Teach us that we may know; cleanse us and purify us within; strengthen us to persevere, lest we fall away from Thee.  Come into us, Thou Who art already there, that by Thine arrival again Thou mayest enter into Thy possession anew.  And out of worldly death in which we languish create in us the life that shall make us as Thou art, through inward unity in which we are one with Thee.  Come, then, eternal Spirit, Who with the Father and the Son art one God, and abide with us for ever.     

Friday greetings #ogunquit #maine #sunrise ⁦@KatieWGME⁩ ⁦@ChristianWGME⁩ ⁦@JeffWGME⁩ @aysiawgme ⁦⁦@DanWGME⁩ ⁦@MalWGME⁩ ⁦@LaurenOHealy⁩ ⁦@EmilyWGME⁩ ⁦@RyanWGME⁩ ⁦@StormHour⁩ ⁦@WGME⁩ pic.twitter.com/rccFhpWXXB

— Realtor Rick 💙 (@rick03907) August 30, 2024

O Lord Jesus Christ, only-begotten Son of Thine eternal Father, Thou hast said that without Thee we can do nothing.  O Lord, I embrace with faith and with my whole heart and soul what Thou hast said.  Help me, a sinner, to finish the work which I now undertake for Thee; in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.     

Jolie balade entre la frontière Suisse et italienne, Col du Gd-St-Bernard🇨🇭🏔️🇮🇹#valais #suisse #switzerland #italy @valaiswallis @MySwitzerland_e pic.twitter.com/EzcVhJMRcV

— Délèze Dominique (@DelezeD) August 29, 2024

May the grace of the Lord Jesus sanctify us and keep us from all evil; may He drive far from us all hurtful things, and purify both our souls and bodies; may He bind us to Himself by the bond of love, and may His peace abound in our hearts.     

A view that you can’t ignore – this is the Wrekin seen from Cressage Bridge, with a wonderful display of clouds and blue sky reflected in the River Severn. I always check out the conditions when I drive past, and last week was no exception. #Shropshire pic.twitter.com/m3jzaJmglr

— ShropshireAndBeyond (@ShropsAndBeyond) August 28, 2024

O Blessed Lord, who by thy word and example hast shown us the meaning of neighbourliness and the way of love: Grant that we may learn to recognize as our neighbour every fellow man who needs our help, and to serve him with a love that is costly and unselfish, like thine own love for us.  We ask this for thy name’s sake.

Respirer… profiter… déguster… paysage de rêve, Lac de Tseuzier, Anzère🏔️💛💙🏔️🌺🇨🇭#valais #suisse #switzerland @valaiswallis @Anzere365 @MySwitzerland_e pic.twitter.com/mlMM37H2xp

— Délèze Dominique (@DelezeD) August 27, 2024

Let your continual mercy, O Lord, cleanse and defend your Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without your help, protect and govern it always by your goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Morning everyone hope you are well. Wise Een Tarn Boathouse on Claife Heights. Amazing how many vantage points there are with the Langdales as a backdrop. Have a great day. #LakeDistrict@keswickbootco pic.twitter.com/ep8qM6xbmY

— Rod Hutchinson (@lakesrhino) August 26, 2024

Almighty God,
who called your Church to bear witness
that you were in Christ reconciling the world to yourself:
help us to proclaim the good news of your love,
that all who hear it may be drawn to you;
through him who was lifted up on the cross,
and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.

away from it all#hiking #weekend pic.twitter.com/u7rhaAtoNe

— Portmann Carrick (@PortmannCarrick) August 25, 2024