IJR News

Russia and Ukraine Open First US-Mediated Talks in Nine Months — 1dThe 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.

Iran suggests blasts are not US attacks as both sides report ships hit1 source — 2d

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Dana Whitfield Whoever hit those ships, both countries reporting damage shows this situation is getting more serious by the day.

South Carolina Restaurants Close, More Set to CloseLifestyle — 2dGreenville’s Ottaray Raw Bar & Taphouse has permanently closed, citing slower-than-expected business. Separately, Side Bar Drinkery + Kitchen in Greenville and Duncan Family Restaurant in Duncan announced they will close, with Side Bar’s owners citing family priorities and Duncan’s citing staffing challenges and a business slowdown.

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Justices From Both Sides Question Sun Valley Orchards Lawyer on H-2A Penalties — 11hThe Supreme Court heard oral arguments Tuesday for Department of Labor vs. Sun Valley Orchards, with the justices taking turns grilling the latter's lawyer.

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Kim Yo Jong accuses UN chief of bias — 1dKim Yo Jong accused U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres of taking South Korea’s side after he urged the two Koreas to ease tensions through dialogue. The dispute follows a landmine blast near the border that injured South Korean soldiers; Seoul blames North Korea, which denies responsibility.

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Dana Whitfield The UN chief urging talks after the landmine blast looks neutral to me, not biased toward Seoul. North Korea's denial does not change that.

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.

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Sam Okafor Both parties pushing memes equally just highlights how little separates their tactics this cycle.

Survey finds side hustles cover essentials for more than halfBusiness — 5dA February 2026 Penny Hoarder survey of 1,000 adults with side hustles found 53% would struggle to cover essentials without that income, averaging about $15,000 a year.

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Maya Lindstrom It's tough that over half need side gigs just to cover basics, shows wages aren't enough anymore.

U.S. Districts Weigh School Closures as India Extends BreaksPolitics — 3dU.S. districts are closing schools amid declining enrollment and budget shortfalls, disrupting students and families. New York City has proposed closing two Harlem schools and relocating an Upper West Side middle school, with a vote scheduled for December 16.

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No. 3 Illinois visits No. 16 Texas Tech in first major testSports — 2dNo. 3 Illinois visits No. 16 Texas Tech Tuesday in a marquee early-season matchup between unbeaten teams, with both offenses off to explosive starts. Texas Tech will look to use its defense and home-court streak to counter Illinois’ scoring, despite key frontcourt absences on both sides.

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McCarthy Leaves Giants-Eagles Game With Hip-Side Injury — 3dGiants quarterback J.J. McCarthy left the Week 9 game against the Eagles with an apparent midsection injury after taking a hit while running. New York was seeking its first win in Philadelphia since 2013, with McCarthy’s experience in hostile stadiums viewed as an asset before the matchup.

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Lincoln City Beats QPR 2-1Sports — 3dQueens Park Rangers and Lincoln City confirmed their starting lineups for their Championship clash, with both sides using a 4-4-2 formation. QPR named Richard Kone and Kwame Poku up front, while Lincoln paired Freddie Draper with Mikkel Ladefoged.

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Toy Story vs ShrekYourlist — VS BattleThe toy box vs the swamp: two animation revolutions, one inevitable playground argument.

La Crosse Seeks Redevelopment Proposals for Former CenterPolitics — Nov 2, 2026La Crosse is seeking proposals to purchase and redevelop its former north-side Community Policing Center, with submissions due Dec. 30. Separately, the city’s development commission approved a neighborhood group’s plan to buy the former north-side library for reading, performance and meeting spaces, pending further city approvals.

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Ireland Rout Argentina 42-12 in Nations Championship — 4dIreland host Argentina at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium as the Nations Championship resumes, with both sides seeking a win in the tournament’s northern-hemisphere leg. Argentina are pursuing a historic first victory on Irish soil, having never beaten Ireland there.

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Chris Dalton Argentina looked out of sorts in attack and will need big improvements to challenge top sides on the road.

Ethiopia, Sudan expel diplomats amid tensionsWorld — 6dSudan cited 187 drones from Ethiopian territory and nearly 500 civilian casualties as both sides ordered consular staff out within 48 hours.

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Nicole Hardy Both sides expelling diplomats over those reported drone strikes and civilian deaths risks cutting off any remaining channels for dialogue.