According to a study published in the Journal of Petrology, the team of scientists were investigating pieces of kimberlite—igneous rocks that sometimes contain diamonds—when they noticed that their mineral signature closely matched an ancient part of Earth’s crust known as the North Atlantic craton (NAC.) Cratons are large, stable blocks of the Earth’s crust usually found in the middle of tectonic plates that form the basis of continents. For example, the North American craton, or Laurentia, sits at the geological core of North America....

Obviously, there are many differences between niqabs and medical masks. The absurdity arises from the French government bending over backwards to frame the blatantly islamophobic veil ban as affirming some vague general principle against covering one’s face. Thus, the anti-niqab law was explicitly grounded in the notion the “Republic is lived with one’s uncovered face”. You can read as much on the government posters and leaflets published at the time and still displayed in many shop windows as a reminder of “the values of Republic”....

One side that has been ravaged by injury more than others is defending World Cup champions France. Some of their biggest names have been ruled out of the tournament all together. This includes 2022 Ballon d’Or winner and star striker Karim Benzema, and star midfielders Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante. But more joined the list after the tournament started. The Sporting News breaks down who is missing out for Les Bleus as they seek to defend their title....

French Prime Minister Jean Castex said the rules will be in effect for at least the next three weeks. One of the new measures prohibits people from eating and drinking in sports stadiums and theaters and on public transportation. People will also have to sit, not stand, at bars and concert venues. Additionally, anyone whose job allows them to work from home will be required to do so for at least three days a week....

Macron said during a televised address translated by France 24 English that the new lockdown is necessary because the country has been “overpowered by a second wave.” The lockdown is expected to last until December but could be extended or shortened depending on what the data reflects in the coming weeks, he said. France introduced its first lockdown in mid-March and began lifting restrictions two months later. While the country appeared to have flattened its virus curve throughout the summer months, new case numbers began increasing in August....

France are aiming to become the first country to win back-to-back World Cups since Brazil accomplished the feat in 1958 and 1962. Morocco downed Portugal 1-0, becoming the first African nation to reach the semifinals. Having also accounted for Spain and Belgium’s exits at this tournament, can they spring their biggest upset yet, and claim the scalp of another heavyweight European side? Here’s all the buildup and team news for France vs....

Five players were infected and three missed training on Friday because of the outbreak, while two more stars were sidelined with injuries. Raphael Varane, Ibrahima Konate and Kingsley Coman were the most recent struck by the flu bug, after Adrien Rabiot and Dayot Upamecano missed the semifinal victory over Morocco. Meanwhile, Deschamps refused to rule out a shock return to the France squad for Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema, although it seems very unlikely he’ll play a part now....

Beamer see everything he’s helped build in Blacksburg, Va., the latest addition a $21.3 million practice facility he labels “the best in the country.” MORE: Top 15 programs since 2000 | ACC non-con schedule rankings | 10 best ACC games Yet the 68-year-old coach dealt with another round of health-and-hot-seat-questions at the ACC Kickoff. South Carolina’s Steve Spurrier isn’t the only coach on the defensive. Beamer hears those seven words just as much, if not more....

Workers arrived with a crane to remove the 10 feet tall statue outside the Municipal Services Building near City Hall in the early hours on Wednesday, the The Philadelphia Inquirer reported. A crane lifted the bronze statue and workers shook it from its stand before it was loaded onto the back of a truck and taken away. Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney took to Twitter after the statue was removed, writing: “The statue represented bigotry, hatred, and oppression for too many people, for too long....

His pacemaker’s batteries, that is. The 41-year-old underwent a scheduled procedure to replace the batteries in his pacemaker for the first time since doctors installed the device in 2005. “It’s not a big surgery,” Hoiberg said. “It’s very routine for people with pacemakers.” Hoiberg felt under the weather in recent days, complaining of light-headedness, so he heeded his wife’s advice to get checked out. “I’m so hypersensitive that I can feel every heartbeat,” he explained....

RUMOURS: Pep & Mou contact Alexis Having failed to qualify for the 2016 European Championships in France, they are now also in real danger of missing out on a spot in the 2018 World Cup and are down to 32nd in the rankings. Netherlands now sit fourth in a six-team group, six points behind leaders France, having won just two of their five qualifying games. Meanwhile Brazil have returned to the top of the pile for the first time in seven years following recent wins over Uruguay, and Paraguay and booking their seat on their plane to Russia....

Anti-Jewish violence at synagogues began in Germany, not on the infamous Kristallnacht night of Nov. 8, 1938, but in 1930, with the rise of Adolf Hitler. For a while, its significance was minimized by Jews. But as history unfolded, abusing Jews by word, as well as deed, at their synagogues was the beginning of the road to genocide. Jew-haters over the decades, foreign and domestic, took their cues from Nazi Germany....

Not in uniform, though. Not in harm’s way. And not under the thumb of anybody who would have the power over his livelihood the way Jerry Jones has, and can flex it as crudely and as self-centered as the Cowboys owner/GM is now. The 36-year-old by then should be in a position free of anyone having to start a “Free Romo” movement — which, actually, someone should start immediately and continue as long as Jones keeps playing these games with Romo’s career, as he made clear at the annual league meeting this week he plans to do as long as he feels like it....

President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron reportedly held a phone call Wednesday that resulted in the decision to send the ambassador back to Washington and meet in Europe at the end of October. France called back the ambassador after the U.S., Australia and the U.K. announced a joint deal to up defense in the Indo-Pacific last week. The agreement led Australia to cancel a multi-billion deal to purchase diesel submarines from France and instead buy nuclear-powered submarines from the U....

The competition is open to both French clubs and those competing in its overseas territories such as Guadeloupe, Martinique, Tahiti, and Saint Martin. This year, half the quarterfinal field was from outside the French top flight, with four clubs from France’s lower divisions. They are attempting to become only the third lower-league club ever to win the competition, and the first since Guingamp in 2009. MORE: PSG, gearing up for Champions League, routs Lille...

All eyes will be on the “King of Clay,” Rafael Nadal as he goes for his 13th title — and fourth consecutive — at Roland Garros. If he wins the tournament, he will match Roger Federer’s record of 20 Grand Slam titles. Nadal is coming off a quarterfinal loss at the Italian Open to Diego Schwartzman. Federer, by the way, is still on the sidelines as he recovers from knee surgery....

The bookmakers’ favorite, Nadal’s chase for a 14th Roland Garros title and a record 21st Grand Slam crown begins at 4 p.m. local time (10 a.m. ET) against Australia’s Alexei Popyrin, the world No. 61. “He’s young, he has the power. He has big shots. As always, I need to be ready for it,” Nadal, the No. 3 seed, said of the 21-year-old. “I need to keep practicing the next couple of days [to] try to be in the best shape possible for the beginning....

Freshman point guard Tyler Ulis was struck by an inadvertent elbow late in the first half and had to be removed from the game temporarily. He returned with the cut closed and taped, then received three stitches to close the wound after he scored 14 points to lead the UK victory. MORE: Wildcats still challenging history | More on win | PHOTOS: Unbeaten college hoops teams | Kentucky’s season...