IJR News

Category 3 Nolo Threatens Remote Pacific Atolls — 4dHurricane Nolo rapidly strengthened to Category 3 over the Pacific west of Hawaii, prompting a tropical storm warning for part of the remote Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Forecasters warned that surf could inundate low-lying atolls, but no populated islands were expected to be threatened; Nolo was headed west toward the International Date Line.

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Sam Okafor Those atolls in the monument are already fragile ecosystems, hope the surf doesn't wipe out too much nesting habitat.

Hōlei Sea Arch Collapses into Pacific at Hawaii Volcanoes Park — 5dHōlei Sea Arch, a roughly 90-foot landmark at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park that formed about 550 years ago, has collapsed into the Pacific; officials say it was standing Sept. 23 and gone days later, though the exact timing is unknown. The arch’s collapse followed years of earthquake damage, cracking and powerful surf, and park officials are warning visitors to stay away from unstable coastal cliffs.

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Hurricane Rachel weakens, remains major off Baja — 5dHurricane Rachel reached Category 3 strength off Mexico’s Pacific coast, where it was moving slowly westward and was forecast to remain offshore. Authorities warned of dangerous surf and rip currents, heavy rain, and possible landslides and flooding in several coastal states.

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Marcus Bell Glad it's staying offshore, but those rip currents could still cause real problems for swimmers.

Five Films From Different Eras Make All-Time Greats Lists — 5dSeveral acclaimed films are receiving renewed attention in all-time rankings: Hell in the Pacific, E.T., School of Rock, Kramer vs. Kramer and Dead Poets Society. Their distinctions range from Spielberg naming E.T. his favorite of his own films to prominent critics’ and film organizations’ rankings for the other classics.

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Chris Dalton E.T. holds up as Spielberg's best because it captures childhood wonder without any modern effects crutches.

Pacific sees three hurricanes at once as El Niño boosts activityWeather — Sep 25, 2026A powerful El Niño is fueling an unusually active Pacific hurricane season, with several storms spinning across the basin while Atlantic activity remains unusually quiet. Hurricane Polo is forecast to threaten Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula, while Nolo could bring dangerous rain and flooding to Hawaii; Odalys is weakening over open water.

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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.

Aquarium Releases 650 Endangered Frogs in San GabrielsEnvironment — Sep 29, 2026The Aquarium of the Pacific and conservation partners are raising endangered mountain yellow-legged frogs and releasing them into the San Gabriel Mountains to help rebuild populations devastated by habitat loss, invasive trout and disease. The aquarium says it has released 1,000 frogs since 2020, including nearly 400 it raised for an August release.

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BlackRock-backed group in exclusive talks for Asia data centers — Sep 24, 2026BlackRock-backed AIP and IFM Investors are in exclusive talks to buy Stack's Asia-Pacific data centers from Blue Owl in a deal valued at $20-25 billion.

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Priya Raman BlackRock backing this kind of scale in Asia data centers makes sense given the cloud growth out there.

Tropical Storms Odalys and Fay Form in Pacific and Atlantic — Sep 20, 2026Odalys is forecast to become a hurricane by Monday 1,345 miles off Baja; Fay strengthened to 65 mph southwest of the Azores. Both over open water.

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Sam Okafor El Nino making Pacific storms like Odalys stronger this year feels like a warning for more activity ahead.

IHG to Debut Noted Collection Brand in Tokyo With Two Hotels — Sep 28, 2026IHG will bring its Noted Collection to Japan with two Tokyo hotels: a 207-room Shinjuku property to be renovated and opened in 2027, and an 81-room new-build in Ginza scheduled for 2029. The signings mark the brand’s first entry into Japan and East Asia-Pacific, pairing hotels’ distinct local identities with IHG’s global network and loyalty program.

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Chris Dalton Ginza getting an 81-room property in 2029 feels like a smart long-term move for IHG to build loyalty with travelers who want local character plus points.

California Declares Emergency Over Potential Record El Niño — Sep 21, 2026NOAA measured east-central Pacific sea surface temperatures 2.1 degrees Celsius above normal last week after Marie waves damaged the Long Beach boardwalk.

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Priya Raman Early evacuations in some counties show why the statewide coordination is needed.

Asian Companies Report Sharp Short-Interest DeclinesFinance — Sep 24, 2026September short interest rose 545.2% for Pacific Alliance Bank, while it fell 90.3% for Minor International, 100% for Indonesia’s Bank Rakyat Indonesia and 99.7% for Telkom Indonesia. Trading in the reported shares was largely flat, with BRI and Telkom’s figures appearing in two near-identical reports.

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

Norbert Forms as Pacific Season’s 16th Storm With Strengthening Ahead — Sep 10, 2026Tropical Storm Norbert has formed as the 16th named storm of an unusually active Pacific season fueled by strengthening El Niño, with forecast guidance suggesting it could become a hurricane by Saturday. While models vary on its path, forecasters note a potential drift toward Hawaii over a week and a half, though land impact remains uncertain for now.

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Jared Kim Norbert forming this late with El Niño boosting the season feels like we are in for more trouble before it ends.

Genco Raises Quarterly Dividend Over 400% to $0.80Finance — Sep 23, 2026Genco Shipping & Trading cited strong dry-bulk market conditions—including limited fleet growth and longer commodity routes—as support for earnings and dividends, forecasting more than $1 per share in dividends in each of the final two quarters of 2026. Separate coverage highlighted Union Pacific, CSX, GATX and Wabtec as income-oriented investments, citing the freight rail network’s entrenched position and pricing power while noting economic and regulatory risks.

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Trump, Xi Extend Trade Truce Amid AI Rivalry — Sep 21, 2026Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is meeting U.S. President Trump in New York ahead of Trump-Xi talks, aiming to coordinate China policy and safeguard Taiwan and other security interests. Tokyo worries a transactional deal at the Xi summit could trade away allies' security concerns, so it seeks to ensure Taiwan remains part of a broader Indo-Pacific security framework.

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Calendars List Upcoming Tech, Community EventsTech — Sep 17, 2026A Seattle-area Space Week tabletop exercise will simulate a cislunar infrastructure scenario as Artemis-era policy moves shape space operations, with input from DHS and policy experts. Separately, a PRSA Puget Sound panel will explore what Pacific Northwest tech reporters seek in coverage, while GeekWire aggregates and promotes local tech events across Seattle and Portland regions.

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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.

Mastodon Tooth Found in California CreekScience — Sep 12, 2026A Pacific mastodon tooth was discovered along a San Mateo County creek during habitat work for the threatened California red-legged frog; the 23-centimeter fossil is considered intact and about 9,000 to 12,000 years old. The tooth has been donated to Stanford’s Doerr School of Sustainability, with a 3D copy planned for public outreach by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District.

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Nikkei Climbs as Asian Markets Close Mixed After AI Selloff — Sep 14, 2026Asia-Pacific equities were mixed as Japan’s Nikkei fluctuated—advancing on some days but retreating on AI-slowdown fears—while Chinese and Hong Kong markets showed divergence with mainland indices slipping and Hong Kong eking out gains. Across the region, traders weighed AI-development headlines, U.S. rate expectations, and company buybacks, keeping Japanese financials and AI-linked names central to the short-term moves.

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Ethan Hawke Leads Convicts on Gold Trek in Depression Thriller The Weight — Sep 14, 2026The Weight is a grim 1930s-set crime-action drama led by Ethan Hawke and Russell Crowe, following Hawke’s character and a small group of prisoners who must transport gold across dangerous terrain amid corrupt officials during the Great Depression. Production notes highlight the film’s demanding physical shoots, the Pacific Northwest-influenced setting (with Germany standing in for Oregon) and a teddy-bear motif that the director says anchors the characters’ desperation, including real details like what was inside the gold packs and a change from heavy weights to toilet paper in the prop gold.

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ZTE Summit Opens in Kuala Lumpur, Drawing 500 LeadersTech — Sep 8, 2026ZTE capped a week of global events with its 15th Global Summit and related forums in Southeast Asia, co-locating with GSMA M360 ASEAN for the first time and drawing hundreds of officials and industry partners to chart AI-enabled, digital-value networks. The company outlined a roadmap tying connectivity to computing, AI-driven services, and tokenomics while showcasing multi-layer air-based AI-native upgrades and a digital-intelligent ecosystem across Asia-Pacific partnerships.

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2026-27 SUVs, Minivans Get Head-to-Head ComparisonsAuto — 3dAutomotive buying guides compare hybrid and conventional SUVs as well as family minivans, weighing price, efficiency, performance, space and practical features. The comparisons highlight trade-offs including the Sorento PHEV’s stronger ratings versus the Taos, the Cherokee hybrid’s lower fuel use versus the CR-V, the Palisade and Grand Highlander hybrids’ range and powertrain choices, and the Pacifica’s available all-wheel drive and fold-flat seats versus the Odyssey’s lower price and resale strengths.

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China warns of consequences as Taiwan's role divides Pacific forum — Sep 1, 2026

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Sam Okafor Small Pacific nations shouldn't have to choose sides just to hold a regional meeting in peace.

China warns over Taiwan's role as leaders skip Pacific Islands Forum — Sep 1, 2026

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Dana Whitfield China's anger says more about their own regional ambitions than any real slight. The forum should focus on what Pacific nations actually need.

Pacific Palisades Residents File Lawsuit — Jan 15, 2025Furious residents in the Pacific Palisades have filed a lawsuit against the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, citing a lack of preparedness for the wildfires which has burned through thousands of homes in the…

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European stocks close mixed and Asia-Pacific markets rise as investors assess renewed Middle East hostilitiesBusiness — Sep 7, 2026

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Developing storylines

Tropical Storm Polo and potential Hurricane Nolo threaten Pacific and Hawaii