IJR News

Don Cooper, White Sox coach for 2005 champions, dies at 70 — 1dDon Cooper, whose 2005 White Sox staff threw four consecutive complete games in the ALCS—first since the 1928 Yankees—has died at 70.

White House reportedly asks OpenAI, Anthropic to withhold AI models from UK — 8hThe White House has asked OpenAI and Anthropic to withhold new AI models from the UK’s AI Security Institute until U.S. authorities review them, citing cybersecurity concerns. The move could disrupt the countries’ established cooperation on pre-release testing as increasingly capable models raise concerns about real-world cyberattacks.

Nicole Hardy I wonder if the cybersecurity excuse is just cover for keeping an edge over allies in the AI race.

Dassault Signs Rafale Cooperation Pact in Portugal — 1dDassault Aviation and its RAFALE partners Thales and Safran signed a Memorandum of Understanding with AED Cluster Portugal to explore industrial cooperation tied to renewing Portugal's F-16 fleet, aiming to deepen ties with Portuguese industry, bolster the local aerospace supply chain, and support economic growth and defense sovereignty. The initiative builds on the partners’ existing presence in Portugal and seeks to strengthen Portugal’s participation in global value chains while positioning the Rafale bid within Europe’s fighter-jet market.

Jared Kim Renewing the F-16 fleet through local partnerships could keep more money and expertise inside the country long term.

Jana Partners Presses Cooper to Replace CEO — Sep 17, 2026Jana Partners on September 18, 2026 pressed Cooper Companies to launch an immediate external CEO search and explore sales of CooperVision and CooperSurgical assets.

Dana Whitfield Cooper should seriously consider selling those divisions to unlock real value for shareholders.

Australia, New Zealand Sign Plan Tasman Naval Pact — 4dAustralia and New Zealand signed Plan Tasman on Sept. 21, 2026, moving their navies from tradition-based cooperation to integration by design.

Tom Gallagher This pact should help both navies operate more smoothly in the Indo-Pacific without relying only on old habits.

Suriname endorses first Caribbean woman for UN secretary-general — 2dSuriname endorsed Guyanese diplomat Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett as a candidate for UN Secretary-General, highlighting the need for multilateralism, dialogue, and a rule-based order, and noting she would be the Caribbean’s first female nominee for the role. The move, supported by CARICOM, underscores Suriname’s push to restore trust in the UN and strengthen international law, peace, and regional cooperation.

Board of Peace Plans $2.45 Billion Gaza Recovery — 1dUS President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace is set to unveil a six-month, $2.45 billion Gaza recovery plan, outlining 66 projects for temporary housing, debris removal, hospital repairs, economic revival, and a multinational security force, with a broader $71.4 billion required over a decade to fully rebuild Gaza. The proposal faces political hurdles, needing cooperation from Israel and Hamas and coming amid Israel’s elections and ongoing debates over disarmament and ceasefire timing.

Sam Okafor A multinational security force could help stabilize things during rebuilding, yet it risks turning into another point of conflict without clear disarmament agreements first.

Bill Gates Calls AI 'Alien Intelligence,' Urges US-China Cooperation — Sep 15, 2026Gates calls AI “alien intelligence” and says governments are “way behind,” as his foundation commits $1B over two years and he urges US-China cooperation.

Sam Okafor No country looks ready for the job losses AI will bring in agriculture and clinics so the warning about inequality feels realistic.

Pregnant Woman, Unborn Child Killed in Independence Crash — 4dIn Independence, Missouri, a 2018 Jeep Renegade lost control on Walnut Street, striking a pregnant woman, her unborn child, and several parked cars. The woman and unborn baby died, the driver remained at the scene and is cooperating as investigators probe the cause.

UN Chief Urges Interdependence at General Assembly — 2dAt the UN General Assembly, Secretary-General António Guterres urged leaders to strengthen cooperation amid wars, climate change, inequality and rapid advances in AI, while countries called for renewed commitment to international law and peaceful dispute resolution. Leaders also discussed practical responses to global challenges, including proposals for an international inequality panel, stronger AI oversight and protection for communities threatened by rising sea levels.

Zelenskyy Launches Carpathian Eight Summit for Regional Cooperation — 6dZelenskyy launched the Carpathian Eight summit in Bukovel Sept. 18-20 with seven neighbors and the EU, with EUR1 billion in deals expected as strikes killed two in Zhytomyr.

Jared Kim This summit with neighbors and the EU might finally deliver some real economic help if the billion euros in deals hold up.

Macron, Carney plan Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon summit — 6dMacron will travel to Saint Pierre and Miquelon with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to reaffirm France-Canada ties and discuss the archipelago’s sovereignty, digital and space infrastructure, and turning the territory into a base for polar cooperation, amid broader talks about France’s presence across five oceans and Ottawa’s potential as an EU associate member. The visit underscores North Atlantic strategy, economic and regional concerns on Saint Pierre and Miquelon, and comes as tensions with Washington and calls for European sovereignty shape the context of Franco-Canadian cooperation.

Roy Cooper Says Democrats Need Room for Socialist Candidates: Report — Sep 11, 2026Former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate, said Democrats should make room for a broad range of views rather than distance themselves from s… — by Andrew Powell

Priya Raman A big tent party works better when it includes different ideas instead of policing what candidates can say.

Rubio promises security cooperation to Colombia's new president — Sep 8, 2026

AI, Semiconductor Cooperation Spans 35 Countries — Sep 16, 2026BRICS leader Xi Jinping pushed for AI cooperation, including open-source initiatives, to expand access and governance while warning that open access must be paired with domestic capability and strong cybersecurity. Meanwhile, India emphasizes semiconductor self-reliance through selective domestic strengths and trusted global partnerships, underscoring the need to diversify global supply chains, as AI and semiconductor research advance through a large international conference showcasing collaboration across 35 countries on AI, circuits, and hardware-software co-design.

Brewers Set Franchise Record With 98th Win — 3dThe Milwaukee Brewers set a franchise-record with their 98th win by shutting out the Baltimore Orioles 3-0 to complete a sweep and secure the NL Central while holding the majors' best record. William Contreras homered, Cooper Pratt drove in two, Jackson Chourio joined the 20-20-20 club to start his career, and Trevor Megill earned the save as Jacob Misiorowski worked a brief, workload-managed start.

Marcus Bell Chourio hitting the 20-20-20 mark so early is a big reason this team keeps breaking records.

UN Experts Say Belarus Justice System Targets Critics — Sep 15, 2026UN experts’ Sep 15, 2026 report: Belarus justice system systematically represses Lukashenko critics since 2020; some abuses may be crimes against humanity. Belarus did not cooperate.

Derek Foss Without cooperation from Minsk it's hard to see how these abuses can be properly investigated or the victims get any justice.

Skillet’s John Cooper says church abuse caused depression behind ‘After the Storm’Good News — Sep 7, 2026John Cooper of Skillet describes how conflict at his church of 30 years triggered depression that shaped the new EP After the Storm while his faith held firm.

Trump Faces Big Decision on Iran Attacks or Deal as Conflict Nears Seven Months — Sep 16, 2026President Trump will meet with Gulf Cooperation Council leaders on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York to discuss a postwar strategy for the Iran conflict, with a day-after plan to be finalized after the midterms, signaling ongoing crisis management rather than an imminent settlement.

Hefei Convention Displays 10,000 Exhibits on China's Intelligent Manufacturing — 3dThe 2026 World Manufacturing Convention in Hefei showcased Anhui’s shift from traditional industries like optical films to a broad, intelligent manufacturing ecosystem, highlighting advances in unmanned systems, quantum technology, and AI-driven production for global competitiveness. The event drew government and business leaders from over 50 countries, with more than 900 companies exhibiting across 70,000 square meters and emphasis on international cooperation, openness, and new opportunities for global manufacturing partnerships, including the UK as guest country of honor.

Alice Cooper Finds Sobriety in ChristGood News — FROM 1983Rock star credits Bible study for recovery.

Lambeth Palace Withdraws Award to Pakistani Cleric — Sep 17, 2026The Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, awarded Tahir Ashrafi, a Pakistani cleric who once praised Osama Bin Laden, the Hubert Walter Award for Reconciliation and Interfaith Cooperation on the 25th anniversary of 9/11, provoking widespread backlash from survivors, politicians, and faith groups. Critics say the choice undermines efforts against terrorism and calls for an apology and accountability for interfaith recognitions.

Two U.S. Officials Injured in Eswatini Shooting — Sep 15, 2026Two U.S. government officials were accidentally shot and injured by Eswatini's defence force during an anti-smuggling operation, with investigations ongoing and diplomatic coordination underway between the two countries. Eswatini says its longstanding relationship with Washington remains in focus, noting past cooperation on deportations as it reviews the incident.

Nicole Hardy Investigations will help, but incidents like this make me wonder if joint operations need stricter rules of engagement from the start.

US, Germany Sign Defense Industry Declaration — Sep 15, 2026The United States and Germany are deepening defense cooperation, signing agreements and letters of intent to align weapons procurement, boost defense industrial ties, and balance European and American defense roles as stocks dwindle and new security challenges emerge, with a focus on strengthening supply chains, R&D, and joint production capacity.

Maya Lindstrom This deal makes sense for restocking weapons and sharing production know-how between the two countries.