IJR News

Schröder Joins Putin for Moscow Birthday Celebration — 20hSchröder marked Putin's 74th birthday at the president's Moscow home after Hyperglobus staff applauded him; Kremlin photos show a stove and samovar behind them.

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Communist Party reports 60 detained at Moscow rally — 5dPolice detained dozens of people at a Communist Party rally in Moscow commemorating the 1993 parliamentary uprising, after demonstrators chanted slogans including “Down with the Tsar” and called for political freedoms. Reports differed on the number detained, with estimates ranging from about 20 to 65.

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Marcus Bell Communists pushing anti-Tsar slogans while demanding freedoms shows they're still out of touch with how Russia has changed since 1993.

U.S. Envoys Meet Ukrainian Officials in Miami — 4dZelenskyy said Ukraine is ready for proposed technical-level talks with the United States and Russia, but Washington must prepare and Moscow must agree to participate; he and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also agreed to meet in person and discussed protecting Ukraine’s power grid ahead of winter. Separately, Ukrainian negotiators are due in the United States for talks, with Zelenskyy urging President Trump to increase pressure on Russia.

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Cause Undetermined in Siberian Researcher’s Death — 3dAfter a laboratory researcher in Siberia died of pneumonia of unknown cause, reports raised fears of a possible pneumonic plague outbreak, including claims of quarantines and medical observation; the cause remains unconfirmed. Russian authorities say tests found no work-related pathogens, while the U.S. says it is monitoring the situation and a former CIA officer warns that any perceived cover-up could deepen distrust of Moscow amid economic and wartime strains.

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Reports: Oleshky Residents Risk Mined Roads for FoodWorld — 1dResidents of Russian-occupied Oleshky in southern Ukraine face severe shortages of food, water and medicine, with the last reported food deliveries arriving in May. Some risk crossing mined roads under drone threat to obtain supplies, while others remain trapped; Russia acknowledges supply problems but blames Ukraine, and Kyiv says Moscow rejected proposed evacuation routes.

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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.

BND Chief Warns Germany Risks Conflict With Russia — 4dBND chief Martin Jaeger warned Germany risks armed conflict with Russia, calling Moscow's campaign a shadow war after an explosives-laden drone was found near Ukrainian planes in Leipzig.

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Priya Raman Jaeger has a point about the shadow war, but ramping up defenses now might just provoke Russia more than it deters them.

Russia Warns Diplomats to Leave Kyiv Before New Strikes — 6dRussia renewed its warning for foreign diplomats and nationals to leave Kyiv and avoid traveling to Ukraine, threatening further massive strikes on what it calls military targets. The warning comes amid intensified Russian attacks on the capital’s infrastructure; Ukraine-aligned coverage condemned Moscow’s framing of the strikes as retaliation.

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Derek Foss Intensifying attacks on infrastructure while telling outsiders to go shows Russia wants to isolate Ukraine even more.

Putin's G20 Attendance Uncertain; Russia Weighs US Invitation — Sep 24, 2026President Donald Trump’s invitation for Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend December’s G20 summit in Miami has drawn bipartisan criticism from U.S. senators, who warn it could legitimize Moscow amid its war in Ukraine and alleged support for Iran. France said the United States decides whom to invite, while the Kremlin says it is reviewing the invitation and has not decided whether Putin will attend; Moscow says any negotiations should seek a lasting peace agreement.

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Papal Envoy Visits Ukrainian POWs in Russia — Sep 30, 2026Pope Leo XIV’s envoy, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, visited Ukrainian prisoners held in Moscow and met Russian officials to discuss prisoner exchanges and other humanitarian issues, including missing people and family reunification. Zuppi said he hoped the visit would help advance exchanges, while Russia’s Foreign Ministry said the detention facility met humanitarian standards.

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Epic Report Revisits 70-Year-Old Fake NewsLifestyle — Sep 25, 2026A publisher reflecting on the Moscow-Pullman Daily News’ 115th anniversary defended the newspaper’s commitment to publishing a range of views, even when they draw criticism, as central to its First Amendment mission.

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Russian Emigration Queries Surge Amid Mobilization Fears — Sep 14, 2026Kovcheg saw nearly eight times more emigration inquiries last month than in May; a Moscow woman called the draft 'a one-way ticket.'

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Maya Lindstrom Digital restrictions will make remote work impossible for many, so leaving is a practical step.

Quentin Tarantino vs Martin ScorseseYourlist — VS BattleThe video store savant versus the film-school don — two visions of American violence, guilt, and cool.

EU Faces Backlash Over Delisting Two Russian Billionaires — Sep 23, 2026The EU lifted asset freezes and travel bans on Russian billionaires Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman after French pressure, while renewing broader Russia sanctions for three years. The move, opposed by Ukraine and criticized by Baltic states as a damaging precedent that could weaken pressure on Moscow, has prompted Estonia and Latvia to maintain their own sanctions on the two men.

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US confirms on-orbit weapons to deter China and Russia — Sep 17, 2026Air Force Secretary Troy Meink disclosed undisclosed space-control weapons at National Harbor while withholding every detail, as Space Force plans to double and Moscow warns of gravest consequences.

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Marcus Bell Keeping the details secret is fine but doubling the Space Force size will cost taxpayers plenty.

Air Force confirms US space-control weapons now operating in orbit — Sep 16, 2026Air Force Secretary Troy Meink confirms deployed space-control weapons at a Maryland conference, drawing Beijing and Moscow protests while withholding the details that keep deterrence intact.

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Priya Raman Deterrence works best when adversaries know we have the edge but can't predict exactly how we'll use it.

Russian Strikes Kill Seven as Ceasefire Efforts Stall — Sep 21, 2026Multiple reports underscore persistent attempts to restart Ukraine-Russia peace talks with the United States, while Moscow says there has been no progress but remains hopeful for trilateral negotiations, and Kyiv’s leadership continues to push for de-escalation and security guarantees. Turkey signals it could host new talks by end-2026, as efforts to secure a ceasefire and political settlement face ongoing disagreements and market skepticism regarding any near-term breakthrough.

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The grammar gatekeeper testQuizie — QuizTwelve spelling and grammar traps that catch almost everyone. Pass, and the AI knights you. Fail, and it's gentle about it. Mostly.

Ukraine Launches Largest Drone Assault on Moscow — Sep 17, 2026A series of Russian drone strikes hit Ukrainian cities, destroying shopping centers and damaging commercial facilities, with fires in Kryvyi Rih, Zaporizhzhia, and the Kyiv region and multiple reports of injuries or casualties as rescue services work to assess damage. Civilians, including children near skateparks, were reported as witnesses or victims, and authorities warned that the situation remains dangerous with ongoing alerts and follow-up strikes anticipated.

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Russia Places Nestlé, Auchan Assets Under Administration — Sep 17, 2026President Vladimir Putin has ordered the temporary administration of Nestlé’s and Auchan’s Russian assets, transferring control to the local firm L.E.V. Management as part of Moscow’s broader use of temporary administration to influence foreign-owned businesses operating in Russia; reports also note related actions affecting LS brands like Leroy Merlin and ongoing questions about ownership transfers and capacity plans.

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Russia’s Wartime Economy Faces Debt, Spending Strain — Sep 18, 2026Despite high oil revenue and relatively low unemployment cushioning Moscow’s wartime spending, Russia’s economy is under mounting stress from ballooning budget deficits and rising debt as growth slows and consumer confidence wanes. Analysts warn these weaknesses could herald a longer-term crisis, even as the Kremlin pursues a narrative of stability ahead of its stage-managed parliamentary election amid refinery disruptions, fuel shortages, and higher energy costs.

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Trump Signs Russia Sanctions and Tariff Bill — Sep 15, 2026Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the US House’s passage of the Lindsey Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, linking it to Russia’s overnight missile and drone strikes that damaged energy infrastructure and injured civilians across eight regions. He urged that sanctions remain strong and not be eased, calling the bill a powerful tool to pressure Moscow toward peace amid ongoing attacks and renewed diplomacy efforts with partners.

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Trump Claims Russia-Ukraine Energy Strike Agreement — Sep 10, 2026Zelenskyy warned that Ukraine would respond symmetrically to Russian winter strikes on its energy system while still urging a step-by-step path to ending the war, including an energy truce, a protected energy infrastructure, and continued prisoner exchanges and humanitarian efforts. He also highlighted intensified Russian attacks against civilian targets, urging stronger air defense and sustained Western pressure on Moscow as casualties rise.

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NATO Allies Halt Russian Cable Drill Near Svalbard — Sep 10, 2026NATO allies Britain, Norway and the United States stopped Russian submarines from completing a covert drill near Svalbard in which Moscow’s GUGI agency simulated deploying a device to disable critical undersea cables; no cables were harmed as the vessels withdrew, underscoring Western alarm about Russia potentially targeting communications in a future conflict. The incident highlights the strategic Bear Gap corridor and ongoing concerns that Russia could escalate sabotage operations and test NATO’s Article 5 commitment.

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Derek Foss It's reassuring NATO acted fast to block Russia's cable sabotage practice near Svalbard before anything got damaged.

U.S. Hosts G20 Energy Talks Amid Fuel Shock — Sep 14, 2026The United States hosts a three-day G20 Energy Abundance summit in Houston with delegations from major economies and oil producers, focusing on expanding affordable baseload power, mineral supply chains, and streamlined infrastructure while Moscow’s participation and the Russia invite controversy test diplomatic lines. The discussions come as the Iran conflict disrupts global energy flows, pushing crude above $100 a barrel and lifting U.S. diesel to a record $6.20 per gallon and gasoline costs about 44% higher than pre-war levels, highlighting energy-security concerns ahead of winter.

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Ukrainian designer says new missile system will reach MoscowWorld — Sep 8, 2026

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Hungary expels 10 Russian diplomats, Moscow vows harsh response — Sep 8, 2026

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Derek Foss This kind of tit for tat only makes future talks between Europe and Russia harder.