IJR News

How to use chopsticksLifestyle — 10hFor first-time users facing rice bowls or noodles who want a steady pinch that lifts food cleanly.

Priya Raman The steady pinch trick finally let me lift rice without it scattering everywhere.

How to paint a roomLifestyle — 16hFor first-time painters who want even walls without drips, bare patches, or peeling later.

Marcus Bell The advice on thin coats makes sense but I still get impatient and go too thick sometimes.

How to do a cartwheelLifestyle — 46mFor first-timers who want a clean sideways rotation they can practice alone on any open floor.

How to hold a chef's knifeLifestyle — 12hFor home cooks who want a steady cut and less chance of the blade twisting the first time they pick up a full-size knife.

Sam Okafor Pinching the blade like that gives way more control than just grabbing the handle.

Keep the bike moving to stay balanced while learning to rideLifestyle — 3dFor first-time riders who want steady balance and a clean first pedal run on flat ground.

Dana Whitfield I still needed a few extra tries to get steady but the balance steps made sense.

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.

Twin brothers umpire first MLB doubleheader together — 2dIdentical twin umpires Austin and Tyler Jones worked together in the major leagues for the first time, officiating both games of a Baltimore Orioles–Toronto Blue Jays doubleheader. The brothers, who had previously umpired together only in the minors, said sharing the experience was a long-held dream.

DoorDash Projects Nationwide Reese’s-Led Halloween Trends — 2dCircus Peanuts orders jumped 350% in DoorDash's 2025 Halloween data; Haribo entered the top 10 for the first time and passed Nerds over three months.

Elena Vasquez Haribo passing nerds shows more people want chewy candy over crunchy this year.

UMass reaches 3-0 for first time since joining FBS after 36-14 win — Sep 19, 2026UMass beat Stonehill 36-14 to reach 3-0 for the first time since joining FBS in 2011, scoring 33 straight points after halfetime.

Chris Dalton UMass turning it around after halftime with those 33 straight points looks like real progress since they joined FBS.

U.S. Invites Putin to G20, Attendance Uncertain — 5dPutin is slated to attend the APEC summit in Shenzhen, China, for the first time since 2017, and is expected to skip the G20 in Florida with Donald Trump. That stance keeps a Putin–Xi–Trump trilateral meeting uncertain and hinges on whether Trump participates in APEC or the G20.

National Estimates Show Monthly Homebuying Costs Now Top Rent — 3dIn New York City, some home and apartment listings may make buying a competitive alternative to rent increases. But nationally, high prices and monthly ownership costs are pushing first-time buyers to record ages and leading many Americans to delay—or reconsider—homeownership, even as interest in buying has risen faster than sales.

Mystics Set Franchise Wins Record With 27th Victory — 3dWashington Mystics extended their franchise-record to 27 wins and clinched a playoff berth under first-year coach Sydney Johnson, with Shakira Austin delivering 25 points and 13 rebounds in the latest win and Cotie McMahon contributing in double figures. Despite being outrebounded by Connecticut, the Mystics solidified their sixth-place standing and continued their timely run into the postseason.

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

Israel, Morocco Agree to Upgrade Diplomatic Ties — Sep 16, 2026Israel and Morocco will exchange ambassadors for the first time after a Sept. 16 New York trilateral. Sa'ar: "The friendship between the Moroccan people and the Jewish people has deep roots and a glorious history."

Rachel Meyers Seeing the US join these talks shows the Abraham Accords still have momentum for practical progress.

Home Sellers May Face Tougher Market After Fed Raises Interest Rates — Sep 17, 2026The housing market could become more favorable to buyers in the months ahead after the Federal Reserve raised interest rates for the first time since July 2023, according to real e… — by Andrew Powell

Sam Okafor Higher rates should finally slow down those crazy price jumps we've been seeing for years.

Derek Hough Says Fatherhood Outranks His Six DWTS Championships — Sep 18, 2026Derek Hough, a six-time DWTS champion and current judge, celebrates becoming a first-time dad to Everley Capri and has even brought his daughter to DWTS events and tours with wife Hayley Erbert. He continues to balance a busy schedule—from Emmys appearances and DWTS judging to live performances and promotional campaigns—while reflecting on how fatherhood reshapes his outlook on his long-running career.

Oil prices top $100 a barrel for first time since July after US and Iran strikesBusiness — Sep 9, 2026

Elena Vasquez This spike shows why we should have built up domestic energy production years ago.

Could you pass as a prompt engineer?Quizie — QuizFifteen real prompting scenarios — pick the move an actual pro would make. The rank at the end is built for your bio.

Canada Inflation Holds at 3% as Grocery Price Growth Slows — Sep 14, 2026Canada's annual inflation held at 3% in August as grocery inflation slowed to 2.8%, falling below the headline rate for the first time since July 2024.

Chris Dalton Three percent is still too high and will keep squeezing budgets until the Bank of Canada cuts rates further.

Yu Wins Third Asian Games Gold, Sets Record — 5dChina's 13-year-old swimming sensation Yu Zidi extended her Asian Games dominance with multiple golds and world-leading times, including record-breaking performances in the women's 200m medley and other events. The Nagoya-Aichi Games also featured the first known doping case, as Thailand's Pitchamon Opatniputh tested positive for furosemide, alongside tight finishes and notable results across swimming and badminton.

Sikh Truck Driver Stabbed 17 Times in Wyoming — Sep 17, 2026A Punjabi Sikh truck driver, Gurvinder Singh, was stabbed 17 times at a Wyoming rest area and a 45-year-old man, Andrew Kris Bzdak, has been charged with attempted first-degree murder, though motive remains unknown. Civil rights groups including CAIR and the American Sikh Council are calling for a transparent investigation into possible racial or religious bias, linking the attack to a controversial DHS social media post about “Mr Singh” that was later removed.

Cardi B targets 2027 for next album and expanded world tour — Sep 18, 2026Cardi B says she’s already in the studio working on her next album with a 2027 target and has two songs completed, while plotting a massively expanded world tour that will include Europe for the first time. She stressed not letting long gaps occur between projects and has been actively building a team as she teases further music and global plans after her recent iHeart performances.

Fever's Lexie Hull Returns After Face Injury — Sep 19, 2026Lexie Hull has remained a reliable starter for the Indiana Fever as they pursue playoff positioning, contributing around 5 points and 3 rebounds per game while coaches continue to rotate the lineup, including inserting Raven Johnson at times. Hull survived a first-half injury scare but returned to play, and off the court she announced her engagement to Will Matthiessen, with a wedding planned for November 2026.

Delaware Set for First SEC Game at VanderbiltSports — Sep 9, 2026Delaware, in its first season at the FBS and 1-0 after beating Merrimack, heads to Nashville to face a Vanderbilt squad that is also 1-0 after a win over Austin Peay. Vanderbilt, who used a two-quarterback system in the win and is weighing the best formula under coach Clark Lea, will try to handle a Delaware team eager to test itself against an SEC opponent for the first time in this series.

Afghan Woman Deported After First Alien Terrorist Court Case — Sep 11, 2026Nazira Haji Zada, an Afghan woman linked to an ISIS-inspired plot, was deported after the Justice Department used the long-dormant Alien Terrorist Removal Court for the first time. Officials call the outcome a national-security victory, while defense counsel warn that the court’s proceedings threaten due process and constitutional rights.

Priya Raman Sending her back to Afghanistan after the deportation order could just move the problem elsewhere.

CDU Suffers Setbacks in Berlin, Mecklenburg Elections — Sep 17, 2026Berlin voters head to the polls with The Left (Die Linke) leading in polls and Elif Eralp poised to push for the mayoralty, while CDU and AfD remain behind as the balance of power could hinge on a coalition. The election also features first-time votes for 16- and 17-year-olds, Merkel voting by post, and analysts suggesting possible three-way coalitions among The Left, Greens, and SPD to form Berlin’s next government.

Kade Anderson Earns First MLB Win Over Rangers — Sep 9, 2026Seattle Mariners left-hander Kade Anderson earned his first Major League win with six innings of one-run ball against the Texas Rangers, marking his first quality start and a key breakthrough after an up-and-down early stretch. Analysts highlighted his ability to stretch through six innings, finish strong against Rangers hitters a third time, and his ongoing growth as Seattle's top pitching prospect.