IJR News

Pope Leo warns France against assisted dying, surrogacy — 2dDuring his visit to France, Pope Leo XIV condemned assisted dying, surrogacy, genetic manipulation and the trade in human organs, arguing that science and technology must serve human dignity and the common good. He also urged ethical guidance for technological progress and defended a secularism that leaves room for religion.

Gregg Popovich Marries Former Assistant’s Ex-Wife — 4dGregg Popovich, 77, married Mary Barth Budenholzer on Sept. 16 in Bexar County; she is the ex-wife of longtime Spurs assistant Mike Budenholzer.

Nicole Hardy Popovich marrying his old assistant's ex at 77 might stir up some awkwardness around the Spurs but it's their private choice.

Amazon Expands Seller Assistant Into AI Agents That Automate Pricing and Listings — 4dDays after blocking Meta's Muse, Amazon on Sept. 23, 2026 launched always-on Seller Assistant workflows and a Claude plugin; 90% of partners already use third-party AI.

Nicole Hardy Sellers should still review the automated changes closely since pricing mistakes can hurt profits quickly.

Blue Cross analysis links AI coding to $942M in added costs — 3dA BCBSA study released Thursday linked AI-assisted hospital coding to $942M in added costs over two years as complex stays rose from 37% to 40%.

Dana Whitfield The $942 million hit to Blue Cross plans shows these tools mainly benefit billing departments, not patients or actual treatment.

Trump, Xi Extend Trade Truce Amid Tensions — 5dAhead of President Donald Trump’s summit with Xi Jinping, Beijing warned Washington not to challenge its positions on Taiwan, human rights and democracy, China’s political system, or its development rights. A U.S. security expert also urged Trump to press Xi to end alleged Chinese support for Iran, including assistance with drones, missiles and economic ties.

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.

Evangelicals Urge Israel to Halt West Bank ViolenceGood News — 4dChurches across several communities announced worship services, concerts, youth and family programs, and food assistance. Separately, the World Evangelical Alliance urged Israel to curb settler violence and stop expanding settlements in the occupied West Bank, citing concerns about Taybeh, a predominantly Christian village.

Philadelphia Union beat Orlando City 4-2 — 3dThe Philadelphia Union beat Orlando City 4-2 for their sixth consecutive win, with Milan Iloski scoring a hat trick and Indiana Vassilev adding a goal and two assists. Orlando’s late rally fell short as Philadelphia strengthened its position in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

Sounders beat Minnesota 3-1, extend unbeaten streak to seven — 2dThe Seattle Sounders beat Minnesota United 3-1, extending their unbeaten run to seven matches and moving back into the Western Conference playoff picture. Jordan Morris, Hassani Dotson and Paul Arriola scored, while Albert Rusnák assisted twice; the win also marked coach Brian Schmetzer’s 150th MLS victory.

Memory Care Costs $1,169 More Than Assisted Living per Month — Sep 15, 2026Memory care runs $6,999 a month on average, $1,169 above assisted living’s $5,830, according to A Place for Mom data through July 2, 2026.

Rachel Meyers The extra supervision for dementia patients justifies some added cost, but over a thousand dollars monthly feels excessive without more transparent breakdowns of the services.

Police Investigate Two Deaths Across Virgin IslandsWorld — 4dGreenwich officer Josh Weinstock received a MADD award after making 248 DWI arrests in five years. Separately, a house fire injured a resident and firefighter, while the town is collecting reports of September flood damage as officials assess whether to seek federal assistance.

US weighs UN travel curbs for Cuban officials — 3dThe Trump administration is weighing tighter limits on Cuban officials traveling to the U.N. as it intensifies pressure on Havana; Cuba’s foreign minister denounced the measures as collective punishment, while U.S. sanctions’ effects on fuel, essential goods and aid delivery remain a concern. Washington says its approach includes humanitarian assistance and channels benefiting Cuba’s private sector, though aid groups face significant logistical barriers.

Rachel Meyers The focus on humanitarian channels is smart but logistics for aid groups need fixing fast to reach people.

Jim Carrey vs Adam SandlerYourlist — VS BattleRubber-faced mania versus deadpan slob comedy — two 90s comedy titans, two entirely different engines.

Messi Scores 100th Goal as Miami Wins Campeones Cup — Sep 17, 2026Lionel Messi scored his 100th Inter Miami goal and assisted Casemiro's header in a 2-0 Campeones Cup win over Cruz Azul.

Dana Whitfield Messi's 100th goal for Miami came at the perfect time to seal that clean sheet win.

iPhone 18 Pro Details Purportedly Leaked By Verizon's AI Assistant — Sep 9, 2026

Nicole Hardy This leak makes me wonder what other private info that Verizon tool might be sharing.

Meta unveils AI personal assistant linked to WhatsApp and Instagram — Sep 8, 2026

Dana Whitfield It seems like another way for Meta to push their AI into everything we do online.

Shepard triple-double leads Wings past Sparks 97-77 — Sep 18, 2026Jessica Shepard recorded her fifth triple-double with 13 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists as Dallas beat Los Angeles 97-77 for its fifth straight win and a franchise wins-record tie.

Sam Okafor Bueckers scoring 19 points helped set the tone, but the third-quarter run was what really put the Sparks away.

Can you read data — or just vibes?Quizie — QuizFifteen questions on charts, stats, and the tricks numbers play. The rank tells everyone whether to trust your slides.

Taj Gibson Retires, Joins Bulls Coaching Staff — Sep 14, 2026At 41, after a trade to New Orleans, Taj Gibson retired rather than play an 18th season—he was the 35th NBA player to appear in his 40s—and joins the Bulls as an assistant under Splitter.

Priya Raman Taj Gibson always brought solid defense and leadership, so having him coach the Bulls should help the young guys a lot.

Liverpool signings aid unbeaten run while United newcomers struggle early — 5dAcross these clubs, the summer window produced hefty outlays and high expectations, yet early returns were mixed: Liverpool’s high-profile signings have not yet translated into consistent impact as Andoni Iraola shapes his squad, while Manchester United’s new signings under Michael Carrick have shown uneven form with players like Andrey Santos struggling to complete 90 minutes. In contrast, Premier Soccer League signings have begun to pay off quickly, with several players delivering goals and assists and signaling positive early returns for their clubs.

British Man Charged With Assisting Russian Intelligence — Sep 9, 2026A 31-year-old British man, Joshua Cammidge, has been charged under the National Security Act with assisting a foreign intelligence service and preparing to commit an act of sabotage after alleged contact with the GRU Volunteer Corps, which is tied to Russia's military intelligence. He was arrested in Swindon and is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court, with the investigation led by Counter Terrorism Policing London.

Elena Vasquez The sabotage angle is what worries me most, since it shows intent beyond just passing information to the GRU.

Olivia Miles Surpasses WNBA Rookie Scoring Record — Sep 19, 2026Olivia Miles of the Minnesota Lynx is closing in on Caitlin Clark’s rookie scoring record, tying it at 769 points and likely to surpass it with a few games left, while already setting rookie benchmarks in 3-pointers and early-season totals. Despite a few tough outings and the Lynx’s skid, Miles remains the frontrunner in rookie scoring and assists and is in MVP conversations as Clark’s 2024 debut record is highlighted in comparison.

Maya Lindstrom Miles is on another level this year, tying that record while leading in assists too shows she's not just a scorer.

Commons Rejects Assisted Dying Bill — Sep 8, 2026Two Labour MPs warned against using the Parliament Act to force the assisted dying bill through Parliament amid Lords opposition, warning it could trigger a constitutional confrontation as the bill returns to the Commons. The coverage highlights debate over scrutiny and potential railroading, with both supporters arguing for a tightly regulated, voluntary option for terminally ill adults and opponents stressing safeguards and proper process.

Five Killed, Five Injured in Kansas House FireWorld — Sep 14, 2026A house fire in Independence, Kansas killed five people—four children and their grandmother—and left five others hospitalized, including the children's mother, as investigators work to determine the cause. Community response includes memorials at the scene and a GoFundMe effort to assist with funeral and medical expenses.

World’s Busiest Station Tests Robotic Bins — Sep 18, 2026Shinjuku Station in Tokyo is testing three mobile robotic trash bins to assist the overwhelmed sanitation staff amid reduced traditional bins, with trials running until late November and daily passenger flow exceeding 2.7 million. The slow-moving, about-1-meter-tall robots navigate crowds to collect waste, return to a collection point when full, and are evaluated for safety, navigation, and passenger engagement, drawing both concerns about efficiency and enthusiasm from tourists.

Norway Assists Stranded Russians After Svalbard Vessel SeizureWorld — Sep 4, 2026Norway seized the Russian vessel Professor Molchanov in Svalbard at the request of Ukrainian company Naftogaz, leaving passengers and crew stranded and prompting Russia to condemn what it calls piracy. Oslo says it is acting under its international obligations and will provide assistance to Russian citizens affected on Svalbard, while stressing that sanctions exemptions and the Svalbard Treaty allow ongoing Russian activity there.

Catholic Groups Sue Illinois Over Assisted-Suicide LawHealth — Sep 7, 2026Catholic leaders including Cardinal Cupich, two orders of nuns, and a Catholic pharmacist have sued Illinois to block or challenge the End-of-Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act, claiming it would force them to violate their religious beliefs and require referrals for assisted suicide. Proponents argue the law protects patient rights and religious liberty for others, while courts weigh injunctions as the law nears its start date.