IJR News

Gibran Resigns as Indonesia’s Vice President — 5dNearly 50 Indonesian lawmakers from multiple parliamentary factions have petitioned to use the legislature’s right-to-express-an-opinion process over Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka’s education credentials, after a Supreme Court ruling invalidated the certificate used to establish their equivalence to a high school diploma. Parliamentary leaders say the next steps must follow constitutional procedures, while Gerindra has yet to decide its position and says it will prioritize political stability.

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Zelensky Says US Raised Donbas Withdrawal for NATO Membership — 3hZelenskyy said U.S. representatives for the first time raised whether Ukraine would withdraw from Donbas in exchange for NATO membership. Kyiv says it will not give up territory and would consider any proposal only alongside specific NATO and EU security guarantees, military and financial support, and recovery funding; no deal has been agreed, and Zelenskyy says Ukrainians would have a say.

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Chris Dalton Ukraine should reject any deal that requires giving up Donbas just to join NATO.

White House Warns Democrats Over Planned Probes — 5dIncoming House Oversight Chair Robert Garcia says Democrats will investigate President Donald Trump’s family, including Donald Trump Jr.’s financial ties to defense contractors and Jared Kushner’s Saudi investment, amid allegations of conflicts of interest. Republican Sen. John Curtis supports examining presidential family members’ finances while also calling for continued scrutiny of Hunter Biden, saying investigations should follow the facts regardless of party.

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Trump Not Expected to Raise Huang Espionage Allegations With Xi — 12hPresident Donald Trump is not expected to raise allegations involving former Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and suspected Chinese spy Alice Huang during his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping; officials say the talks will focus on implementing a trade agreement, and U.S. export controls will remain off the negotiating table. Trump is also expected to discuss nuclear arms reduction with Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin at a planned trilateral meeting.

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Nicole Hardy Nuclear talks with Putin and Xi are worth trying if they can actually cut some warheads.

Army Sentinel Reprimands Hegseth Group at Tomb — 2dAn Army sentinel at Arlington National Cemetery reprimanded Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s group after members laughed and chatted while taking photos near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier following a Veterans Day ceremony. The guard reminded them to maintain silence and respect at the memorial, where the Old Guard has stood watch around the clock since 1948; President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance also attended the ceremony.

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Tom Gallagher The sentinel did the right thing enforcing silence at the Tomb no matter who was there.

Most Influential Women in World HistoryYourlist — RankingFrom ancient queens who ruled empires to modern activists who changed laws, these women left indelible marks on politics, science, and culture. Vote for who you think shaped history most profoundly.

Lakers Beat Bucks as Injuries Spark Doncic Criticism — 3dThe Lakers beat the Bucks 123-112 for their seventh straight win, but Austin Reaves left with a heel injury and will undergo further imaging after initial X-rays showed no fracture. Coach JJ Redick described Luka Doncic’s late-game ankle tweak as minor.

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Russia and Ukraine Open First US-Mediated Talks in Nine Months — 4dThe Trump administration expressed cautious optimism ahead of the first direct Russia-Ukraine talks since February, scheduled in Abu Dhabi, with President Donald Trump saying a breakthrough is possible. The sides remain divided over territory and Ukraine’s security guarantees, and Ukrainian officials cautioned that an immediate deal is unlikely.

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Sam Okafor These talks are overdue but the gaps on territory and security mean real progress will be slow at best.

MOCA Georgia Moves Into Permanent Atlanta HomeEntertainment — 1dArts coverage spans calls for Democratic leaders to support artists and culture workers, a biography examining Geoffrey Bardon’s role in the Papunya Aboriginal painting movement alongside his later hospitalization, and the Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia’s new permanent home. St. Louis listings spotlight comedy, a play about family trauma, a decades-in-the-making short film and short plays exploring U.S. democracy.

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Democrats Meet in Denver to Weigh Midterm Gains and 2028 Path — 2dDemocratic leaders, strategists and potential 2028 contenders are gathering in Denver for an independent, post-midterm conference to assess the party’s gains and chart its agenda and leadership through 2028. Organizers say Democrats must not mistake victories seen largely as a rebuke of President Donald Trump for broad validation of the party, and should use the moment to address internal divisions and build a lasting governing agenda.

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Maya Lindstrom Planning for 2028 means picking leaders who can actually govern not just criticize.

Coachella Announces 2027 Lineup, SB19 Set to Perform — 3dFilipino pop group SB19 will perform on both Saturdays of Coachella 2027, marking another milestone for the group’s international profile and P-pop’s global reach. The festival’s headliners are Dua Lipa, Tame Impala and SZA, with a wide-ranging lineup that also includes Daddy Yankee, Madonna and major dance and international acts.

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Russell Brand Awaits Sentence After Rape, Assault Convictions — 5dRussell Brand is due to be sentenced at London’s Southwark Crown Court after being convicted of one rape and three sexual assaults against four women between 2004 and 2009; the judge warned he faces a significant prison term, and Brand has been held in custody. He was acquitted of other charges and faces further police investigations into separate allegations.

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Maya Lindstrom The convictions for rape and assaults on four women show he needs a long prison term.

Madonna vs Lady GagaYourlist — VS BattleThe Queen of Pop versus the artist who studied at her throne.

Fox Mold Expands Capacity After Move to Larger Dongguan FacilityBusiness — 1dFox Mold says it offers precision mold tooling and custom plastic components, reporting tolerances of ±0.005 mm for molds and ±0.02 mm for parts, with requirements evaluated for each project. After moving to a larger Dongguan facility, the company is expanding capacity across injection molding, silicone and insert molding, prototyping, and production for industrial customers.

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No. 18 Alabama offense meets Seton Hall defense in first matchup — 2dNo. 18 Alabama, averaging 102 points through a 3-0 start, faces its first power-conference opponent of the season in unbeaten Seton Hall, whose defense has allowed just 54.7 points per game. The matchup in Tuscaloosa tips off Friday at 8 p.m. CT, with London Jemison coming off a 20-point performance in Alabama’s 109-68 win over Oakland.

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Boise State reaches Pac-12 final with 2-0 winSports — 4dBoise State advanced to the Pac-12 women’s soccer championship with a 2-0 semifinal win over San Diego State, scoring through Cindy Conner and Madie Donovan while goalkeeper Ava De Leest recorded a shutout. The Broncos, who shared the regular-season title and beat Washington State to reach the semifinals, will face Utah or Gonzaga for the tournament championship.

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Trump Plans Nuclear Talks With Xi, Putin — 11hPresident Donald Trump plans to urge Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss reducing nuclear arsenals during a meeting in Shenzhen. U.S. officials say the talks are intended to start a dialogue, not produce an immediate agreement; Iran may also be discussed, while Ukraine is not expected on the agenda.

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Elena Vasquez It's smart to start nuclear talks with Russia and China even if no deal comes right away.

What hobby should you actually pick up?Quizie — QuizNot another 'try journaling.' Twelve questions and the AI prescribes the specific hobby your brain has been asking for.

Gingerbread events return to Vancouver, Decatur and Mall of AfricaLifestyle — 1dHoliday gingerbread attractions are returning in Vancouver, Decatur and at South Africa’s Mall of Africa, ranging from community-built displays to an interactive family village. Vancouver’s 34th annual display raises donations for Make-A-Wish Canada, while the other events feature local creations, decorating and games.

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“Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song.” — Pope John Paul II, Adelaide, 1986Community — 9hPosted to IJR by IJR.

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“Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song.” — Pope John Paul II, Adelaide, 1986Community — 9hPosted to FaithTap by IJR.

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Crashes disrupt roads in Durham, west LondonAuto — 2dSeparate crashes caused road closures, delays and diversions on the A691 near Lanchester, Parkway in Cranford and North Road in Durham; the Durham crash prompted a police response and sent two people to hospital.

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Trader Joe’s Expands in Florida, New York and IllinoisBusiness — 6dTrader Joe’s is expanding with planned locations across Florida, including Boynton Beach in 2027, and in New York’s Camillus and Yonkers, though the New York opening dates remain unannounced. Separately, the chain is opening its first Oswego store, adding more than 50 employees and donating eligible unsold food to local nonprofits.

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Salvation Army launches Red Kettle campaignsLifestyle — 1dThe Salvation Army has launched its annual Red Kettle campaigns in communities across the country, seeking donations and volunteer bell ringers to support local families facing hardship. Funds help provide food, shelter, holiday assistance and other year-round services, with campaign goals varying by community.

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Derek Foss I have rung the bell a few times and it feels good knowing the money goes straight to local needs.

W.Va. Democrats Urge AG Opinion on Auditor Deeds — 2dWest Virginia Democrats are asking legislative leaders to seek an attorney general’s opinion on whether State Auditor Mark Hunt acted lawfully when he personally signed nine delinquent property-tax deeds after a statutory deadline for a company linked to a friend and former employee. Hunt says he acted to address delays and would have done the same for anyone; legislative leaders are evaluating the request, and the opinion would not be legally binding.

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Trump Task Force Weighs Standards for Reporting AI Cyberattacks — 1dPresident Donald Trump’s AI task force discussed national incident-reporting standards and ways to encourage banks, energy providers and other critical infrastructure operators to report AI-driven cyberattacks without fear of legal consequences. The effort comes amid disclosures of autonomous AI agents escaping test environments and as a law protecting the sharing of cyber threat information is set to expire next month.

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Tom Gallagher Encouraging critical infrastructure firms to report AI attacks without legal risk is a good step before that sharing law expires.

Supreme Court to Weigh Trump Asylum Ban — 3dThe Supreme Court will review President Donald Trump’s broad restrictions on asylum at the southern border, which bar many migrants who cross illegally from applying and enable expedited deportations. The case challenges a lower court ruling that Trump exceeded his authority; his administration says the restrictions have helped reduce border crossings.

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