IJR News

Meme mocks expert predictions on tomato tariffs and crowd sizes — 2dMeme Wars: trending on the Right today.

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Derek Foss Experts keep overestimating both the impact of tariffs on tomatoes and turnout numbers, which the meme makes clear.

Crowds Recreate Depeche Mode Photo on Prague Bridge — 4dTourists are lining up at Prague’s Charles Bridge to recreate a 1988 photograph of Depeche Mode members Dave Gahan and Martin Gore beside the Pietà sculpture. The long-running fan pilgrimage has surged after crowd photos from the band’s 2024 Prague concerts spread on social media.

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Nikola Jokic came to Folsom Field to watch Ralphie the bison run — 2dBefore Colorado faced No. 11 Texas Tech, Jokic stood still on the sideline as Ralphie charged past and DeMar DeRozan worked the crowd. Barstool’s post hit 7,008 likes.

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Tens of Thousands Demonstrate in French School Protests — 4dFrench high-school protests over teacher shortages, crowded classrooms, long schedules and poor facilities have led to school blockades and clashes with police, prompting accusations of excessive force and government claims that the hard left has fueled unrest. While many students and commentators blame deteriorating public services, critics of that account point to rising per-pupil spending and argue that the causes are more complex.

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Fall foliage peaks at different times across regions this season — 2dFall color is expected to spread across much of the country by mid-October, while Arizona’s peak arrives later, with Phoenix waiting until around Christmas. For visitors seeking autumn scenery without summer crowds, several western and northern national parks become quieter in fall, though services may be limited and winter weather can set in.

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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.

France-Switzerland Lake Dries Amid Record Heat — 2dRecord heat, below-average rainfall and underground fissures have left the France-Switzerland border lake Lac des Brenets almost dry, stopping its waterfall and damaging tourism. Locals fear the lake’s recurring droughts may worsen, while the remaining water is crowded with fish.

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Rachel Meyers The fish packed into that shrinking water must be under real stress with no flow left.

Travel Guides Highlight Autumn Getaways and VillagesTravel — 5dTravel features spotlight quieter alternatives to crowded destinations, from English villages such as Silchester and Heacham—with countryside walks, farm shops, lavender fields and beaches—to charming French towns and rural retreats across Europe. They highlight local food, historic streets, scenery and relaxing stays as reasons to explore beyond major tourist hubs.

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Pope Leo celebrates Mass before 800,000 in Paris — Sep 26, 2026Pope Leo XIV drew enormous crowds in Paris for an outdoor Mass, while his procession along the Champs-Élysées featured repeated stops to bless babies and young children.

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China keeps ownership as loaned pandas head to Atlanta — Sep 26, 2026Xi announces two giant pandas for Zoo Atlanta within days under a 10-year lease. Beijing retains title, a fact the 1972 crowds never faced and visitors still rarely see.

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Maya Lindstrom It's good Atlanta gets the pandas, but China holding title the whole time shows it's still their property.

World Tourism Day Explores AI Trends and Indian Getaways Ahead of DiwaliSports — Sep 26, 2026A World Tourism Day roundup explores travel trends and inspiration, including destinations to visit before Diwali crowds and two Indian picks on Lonely Planet’s 2027 Best in Travel list.

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Rachel Meyers Nice to see two Indian destinations on the Lonely Planet list. Might add one to my travel plans for next year.

Containers Block Islamabad, Rawalpindi Routes for Khan Rally — Sep 29, 2026Pakistani authorities have blocked major routes in Islamabad and nearby Rawalpindi with shipping containers ahead of an October 4 march by Imran Khan’s PTI party demanding his release, after the protest was postponed from September 27. The barricades have disrupted commutes and businesses; the government says they are for security and crowd control, while PTI leaders condemn them as an attempt to suppress democratic rights.

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

Pope Leo warns AI risks dehumanization during France visit — Sep 25, 2026Leo XIV opens the first official papal visit to France in 18 years with a warning on AI’s ‘paradise of machines,’ drawing crowds, a youth vigil, and a sharp free-enterprise rebuttal from Peter Thiel.

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Priya Raman It's nice to see such strong turnout for the first papal visit in years, and the youth vigil shows real interest in these issues.

Longtime Lakers Announcer Lawrence Tanter Dies at 76 — Sep 24, 2026When LeBron James hit 50,000 points in 2025, Lakers PA announcer Lawrence Tanter told the crowd they had "just witnessed history." Tanter has died at 76 after 43 seasons.

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Pope Leo Draws Huge Crowd for Paris Mass — Sep 25, 2026Pope Leo XIV led prayers at Paris’ Notre-Dame Cathedral, the first papal visit since the 2019 fire, and urged French Catholics to renew their mission and build a welcoming Church. The Vatican kept the occasion pastoral despite political interest in the cathedral’s restoration and reopening.

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Pope Leo draws 800,000 to France visit — Sep 28, 2026Pope Leo XIV drew large crowds during a four-day visit to France, urging the country and Europe to draw on their Christian heritage as he addressed human dignity, bioethics, secularism, abuse and technology. He also advocated a migration approach that pairs safe, legal routes and integration with a right to remain in one’s home country, a position that contrasts with some U.S. bishops’ calls to resist immigration enforcement.

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The Big FiveQuizie — QuizThe personality model scientists actually use — five traits, twenty questions, your real percentages, and an AI read of what your mix means.

With large crowds attending, Norway lays King Harald to rest — Sep 9, 2026

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Churches Plan Animal Blessings for St. Francis Feast — Sep 24, 2026Churches are holding Blessing of the Animals services around the Feast of St. Francis, inviting pets and, in some cases, photos or stuffed animals to receive a blessing. The services celebrate the bond between people and animals; at one Portland event, a husky joined the priest’s singing and delighted the crowd.

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Browns Lead Panthers at Halftime as Watson Returns — Sep 26, 2026Deshaun Watson entered Cleveland’s home opener under scrutiny after preseason boos and concerns about his turnovers, with Browns coaches saying strong play was key to winning fans back. The crowd’s initial response was subdued, then turned to cheers as Watson scrambled for first downs; he opened against Carolina with 37 passing yards and 20 rushing yards in the first quarter.

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US and Chinese fast-food chains open outlets in each other's markets — Sep 20, 2026Church's opened its first Shanghai store last month with 600 more planned as Mixue drew cold crowds in New York in two-way U.S.-China fast-food expansion.

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Tom Gallagher Seeing chains swap markets like this should give customers more choices without raising prices much.

Vance Answers Mexican Flag Waver With Sharp Line at Dallas Rally — Sep 11, 2026Vice President JD Vance addressed a flag-waver at the RNC event in Dallas with a quick retort that fired up the crowd and spread fast online. @nicksortor

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Marcus Bell Vance's reply was direct and on point without escalating things unnecessarily.

Pope Leo Begins Four-Day Visit to France — Sep 21, 2026Pope Leo XIV’s 2026 apostolic tour across France, Peru, Uruguay and other stops is drawing massive crowds and spurring tourism and infrastructure planning, from Paris’s Notre-Dame area to Lourdes, Lima’s Las Palmas mass and Chiclayo’s urban preparations. The visits are framed as both a major spiritual renewal for local communities and a significant economic and logistical undertaking for host cities.

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USF Opens Hartline Era With 19-9 Win — Sep 12, 2026The USF Bulls beat FIU 19-9 in the 2026 season opener at Raymond James Stadium, highlighted by a defensive performance that forced three turnovers. A crowd of 41,847, including more than 9,500 students, celebrated the Bulls' first win of coach Brian Hartline's tenure.

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Tom Gallagher Hartline gets his first win and the crowd really showed up with over 9500 students.

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.

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JJ Spaun Wins BMW PGA Championship Debut — Sep 18, 2026JJ Spaun won the 2026 BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth with a 17-under 271 to edge a crowded leaderboard, as Manuel Elvira and Filippo Celli led the field in the third round and Rory McIlroy stayed within two of the lead heading into the final day. The event opened with Aaron Rai and Joakim Lagergren atop the standings, while big-name players such as Koepka, Rahm, and Fleetwood missed the cut amid a challenging setup and deep field.

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