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in Islamic Republic of Iran
Given the mixed signals—enrichment concessions, Russia's offer, missile purchases, and evacuation warnings—do you think diplomacy or military conflict is more likely in the coming weeks?
— Nicole Hardy
Nicole Hardy · 5d
in Benjamin Netanyahu
How should the U.S. balance its ICC obligations, diplomatic ties with Netanyahu, and the ongoing violence in the West Bank—do these headlines pull in conflicting directions?
— Sam Okafor
Sam Okafor · Jul 29, 2026
in Donald John Trump
With Congress split on war powers amid rising US-Iran tensions and Houthi attacks disrupting Red Sea trade, how should the US balance military response with diplomatic de-escalation?
— Marcus Bell
Marcus Bell · Jul 25, 2026
Lake Ontario Renaming Sparks Diplomatic Tensions
x/donald-john-trump
— 5d
President Donald Trump said the United States is seriously considering renaming Lake Ontario to Lake America as trade talks with Canada stall and business ties with Ontario cool. He tied the proposal to heightened tensions, including threats of higher tariffs and ongoing sparring with Ontario's Doug Ford.
+596
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Russia Declares Pause in Ukraine Peace Talks
World
— Aug 22, 2026
As the Russia-Ukraine war persists, Pakistan urged the UN Security Council for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a return to diplomacy, emphasizing international humanitarian law and protection of civilians, while Ukraine and its allies push for renewed momentum in negotiations and sustained support. While Finland’s president highlighted how Ukraine’s long-range strikes against Russia could pressure Moscow toward talks, Kyiv’s foreign minister pressed for intensified negotiations with Washington and Moscow, reflecting a broad push for a negotiated settlement amid shifting public sentiment in Russia and persistent Western involvement.
+44
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Six Months Into US-Iran War, Families Strained
World
— 2d
Six months into the US-Iran war, more than 50,000 U.S. troops are in the region as ongoing deployments, fighting, and diplomacy drive prolonged separations, financial strain, and high anxiety for military families, with 18 service members killed and more than 750 wounded. A Blue Star Families survey found 81% of about 200 active-duty families reporting elevated stress, prompting leaders like Courtney Sanders to expand online resources, webinars, and in-person support to help families cope.
+2
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European critics barred from Gaza coordination center
World
— 2d
The United Kingdom and other European governments warn Israel against expelling officials from the Gaza ceasefire coordination center, arguing such moves would undermine the 20-point peace plan and humanitarian efforts. Reports of Dutch and Spanish diplomats being removed, along with broader tensions over Israeli settlement policy, raise concerns about the consistency of diplomacy and global energy/shipping stability in a volatile region.
+4
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On X · @Pokemon_Champs
Takuma Yamazaki Named 2026 Pokémon VGC Masters World Champion
Japanese player Takuma Yamazaki wins the Masters Division at the 2026 Pokémon World Championships with a Mega Dragonite team, drawing widespread positive community reaction for his underdog victory and standout plays.
426 likes · 14m
UK Contracts Worth Billions Linked to Settlements Reported
World
— 2d
Al Jazeera’s investigation shows at least 17 UK public-sector contracts worth roughly £2.1–£2.9 billion go to firms tied to Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including major groups linked to Motorola Solutions and others. The disclosures coincide with calls by Labour MPs to ban settlement trade and reports that UK officials and Mayor Andy Burnham are weighing sanctions, highlighting potential diplomatic and economic repercussions for the UK and its relationship with the US.
+5
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Ranking
Most underrated cities in America
America's biggest cities hog all the spotlight, while dozens of smaller gems get overlooked despite great food, culture, and character. These underrated cities deserve recognition beyond the usual coastal favorites. Cast your vote and help crown the most underappreciated city in the country.
693 votes · 21 candidates
Diplomats Return to Middle East Embassies
World
— 4d
The United States is gradually restoring staffing at several Middle East embassies that were evacuated or downsized during Iran-related tensions, with diplomats and some family members allowed to return and posts operating at limited levels (typically about 75–85% capacity) in places like Lebanon, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iraq’s Baghdad, signaling a measured move toward normalcy without full-scale restoration. The changes are largely driven by administrative and HR policies on how long personnel can be away while still receiving benefits, rather than a shift in broader policy toward Iran.
+2
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Gaza, West Bank strikes kill five, three
World
— 2d
Israeli airstrikes in Gaza killed five people on Friday as a fragile ceasefire frays, with casualties reported in multiple locations and ongoing Israeli strikes despite international efforts to pause hostilities. Separately, the Iran war is disrupting shipping in the Persian Gulf, leaving thousands of sailors stranded, while Iran and Russia pursue renewed energy ties and the U.S. imposes restrictions on a major Egyptian bank amid broader regional diplomacy.
+8
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Thai woman jailed one year in Myanmar immigration case
x/myanmar
— 4d
A Thai woman, Pavinee Supasirivisan, was sentenced to one year in prison in Myanmar for immigration violations related to the death of her ex-husband, a U.S. diplomat, with a potential murder charge still under investigation. Western outlets identify the victim as Daniel Paul Riva, a U.S. State Department officer, and the incident occurred near the U.S. Embassy at the Sakura Residence & Hotel.
+3
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Chiune Sugihara Writes Visas Until the Train Leaves
Good News
— FROM 1940
Defying his own government, a Japanese diplomat hand-wrote transit visas for 18-20 hours a day — and kept signing them through the train window as he left.
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The Pulse
Trump Takes a Sharpie to the Map — Teases More Could Come
Renaming lakes with a Sharpie from the Oval Office. We're in a new era of cartography and no body of water is safe.
2d · 2 reads
Pakistan's Munir Visits Tehran to Revive US-Iran Talks
x/pakistani
— Aug 22, 2026
Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir will lead a Pakistani delegation to Tehran to bolster bilateral cooperation and regional security, with talks expected between senior Iranian officials. The exchanges underscore Pakistan's role in mediating Iran-U.S. tensions and broader West Asia stability, including discussions with Egypt and efforts to advance diplomatic solutions amid regional tensions.
+217
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Trump Submits Saudi Nuclear Deal Tied to Israel Normalization
x/donald-john-trump
— 5d
President Donald Trump has sent a civil nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia to Congress, insisting it will move forward only if Riyadh normalizes relations with Israel as part of the Abraham Accords. The deal, aimed at involving U.S. firms in developing Saudi nuclear infrastructure, could reshape Middle East power dynamics and trigger sharp congressional debate over security and regional diplomacy.
+17
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VS Battle
Jim Carrey vs Adam Sandler
Rubber-faced mania versus deadpan slob comedy — two 90s comedy titans, two entirely different engines.
Jim Carrey vs Adam Sandler · 146 votes — pick a side
US to redeploy Middle East diplomats with staged staffing
x/united-states-of-america
— 5d
The United States is preparing to redeploy diplomats to Middle East embassies that were evacuated during the Iran conflict, with staffing likely to resume in posts including Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait and Oman as soon as this week. Officials say the move reflects a perceived easing of tensions and a rollback of emergency measures, signaling a return to normal operations under President Trump despite stalled talks with Iran.
+19
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Iran Warns Allies as U.S. Sanctions Escalate
x/donald-john-trump
— Aug 21, 2026
The United States is escalating with unprecedented sanctions and a naval blockade aimed at isolating Iran, while China rejects unilateral measures as illegal and urges diplomacy, complicating Tehran's crisis; Iran denounces the moves as economic terrorism as Washington pressures allies to cut ties.
+222
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Japan, Taiwan seek to mend ties with China
x/people-s-republic-of-china
— 6d
A cross-party group of Japanese lawmakers, including a member of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's party, traveled to Beijing to mend strained China relations after Takaichi's Taiwan remarks, with officials saying communications have been severed and a window for dialogue may be sought, while Takaichi warned that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could threaten Japan and justify the use of force. Separately, Taiwan's Deputy Legislative Speaker Johnny Chiang led a delegation to Tokyo to attend the Asian-Pacific Parliamentarians’ Union meetings to bolster parliamentary diplomacy with Japan, focusing on trade, culture, and regional supply-chain resilience.
+8
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On X · @FCBarcelona
FC Barcelona Shares Video Captioning "Gordon Means Business" on Anthony Gordon
The official FC Barcelona account posted a short positive video hyping new signing Anthony Gordon, drawing mostly supportive fan reactions with no significant opposition.
435 likes · 15m
Israeli strikes kill at least two in Gaza
x/jared-kushner
— Aug 22, 2026
US envoy Jared Kushner warned Hamas in Cairo that any violation of the disarmament framework would halt the process and invite international action, signaling strict verification and potential Israeli or international support to counter noncompliance. Amid this diplomacy, reports and attacks in Gaza indicate ongoing ceasefire violations and casualties, underscoring the fragility of the deal.
+5
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Quiz
What's your money personality?
Somewhere between spreadsheet monk and payday comet. Twelve questions to diagnose your financial alter ego.
3 min · today's quiz
Trump Flags Off Freedom 250 Grand Prix
x/donald-john-trump
— Aug 21, 2026
President Donald Trump, in his capacity as current president, will wave the green flag to start the Washington Grand Prix IndyCar race and will complete a parade lap in the presidential limousine as part of a nationwide celebration of the 250th anniversary, while drivers and teams participate in White House and Capitol events that underscore the spectacle and diplomacy surrounding the event.
+19
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Trump Plans Meeting With Kim Jong Un
x/donald-john-trump
— Aug 23, 2026
President Trump says he will meet Kim Jong Un as North Korea’s economy booms, signaling a renewed push for high‑level diplomacy with a leader whose growing nuclear capability and Moscow–Iran ties have given him greater bargaining leverage. Analysts caution that while Trump seeks a new summit and has signaled a lighter military footprint from Seoul, Kim’s stronger position and Iran-related tensions complicate the path to any denuclearization deal and may shape a more limited, crisis-focused agreement.
+3
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Syria, Israel security talks expected to resume
x/united-states-of-america
— Aug 23, 2026
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani says security talks with Israel should resume soon, but Damascus remains deeply mistrustful and insists Israel must halt attacks and respect Syria’s security concerns as talks frozen after the Iran war and an airbase strike, with earlier progress suggesting both sides had agreed on many elements of a security framework. He urged Israel to seize a historic diplomatic opportunity while Washington continues to press for a brokered security arrangement and gradual steps toward de-escalation and trust-building along the border.
+5
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Iran-U.S. Talks Stall; Oman Mediation Emerges
x/donald-john-trump
— Aug 15, 2026
The 60-day US-Iran memorandum of understanding is poised to expire, testing whether diplomacy can hold as both sides trade accusations of violations while the Strait of Hormuz remains a focal point of heightened tensions and naval activity. Leadership on both sides—Trump asserting eventual US control over Hormuz and Iranian officials rejecting it—continues to drive a fragile standoff as military deployments and ongoing talks attempt to avert a return to wider conflict.
+358
5
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Sarah Kim
The quiet part of this story is in the last paragraph, as usual.
On X · @elonmusk
Elon Musk Highlights Grok AI’s Instant Video Subtitle Feature in Brief Post
Elon Musk posted simply “Grok” while quoting a user demo showing the AI adding accurate, timed subtitles (plus source credit) to a short video clip from the movie Aliens in seconds. The post is trending due to Musk’s reach and interest in xAI/Grok’s practical multimodal capabilities.
595 likes · 16m
China, Indonesia Plan Jakarta Security Economic Talks
x/people-s-republic-of-china
— Aug 20, 2026
China and Indonesia are conducting high-level talks in Jakarta, including a Comprehensive Strategic Dialogue and a 2+2 meeting, to deepen economic, defense, and security cooperation as they navigate a complex bilateral relationship amid tensions in the South China Sea and broader great-power competition. The discussions, prompted by a new strategic partnership framework, aim to align development strategies, bolster investment and trade, and project influence through defence diplomacy while balancing ties with both Beijing and Washington.
+2
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US sanctions Hezbollah highlighting Iran ties
x/united-states-of-america
— Aug 20, 2026
The United States has expanded sanctions on Hezbollah, redesignating the group to underscore its ties to Iran’s IRGC-Quds Force and targeting individuals involved in cash-smuggling networks. The measures form part of a broader effort to pressure Hezbollah and Iran, including actions against Lebanese officials and pushes for disarmament, with implications for regional diplomacy and security policy.
+6
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South Korea estimates North Korea has 80-120 warheads
x/donald-john-trump
— Aug 20, 2026
South Korea's defence minister said North Korea likely has 80-120 nuclear warheads, a figure well above Trump's 57 and higher than Washington's estimates, while stressing Seoul cannot officially confirm exact numbers and that the country remains under the U.S. nuclear umbrella as denuclearization efforts continue. The remarks come as Trump seeks to engage with Kim Jong-un and to scale back joint US-SK drills, signaling renewed diplomacy on the Korean Peninsula.
+4
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Trump plans Kim Jong Un meeting
x/donald-john-trump
— Aug 18, 2026
President Trump is pushing aides to arrange an in-person meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, potentially as soon as November during his Asia trip, per Wall Street Journal reports. The effort reflects a renewed push for diplomacy from his first term and accompanies a move to substantially reduce joint U.S.–South Korea military drills, with previous Trump–Kim encounters having occurred in 2018 and 2019.
+8
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France Plans to Expel Iranian Diplomats
x/france
— Aug 18, 2026
France says it will expel two Iranian diplomats in retaliation for a July incident in which French embassy staff in Tehran were detained and intimidated, accusing Iran of fabricating charges. Tehran retaliated by barring two French diplomats and accusing them of violations of the Vienna Convention, highlighting escalating France-Iran diplomatic tensions.
+4
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On X · @playpokemon
Takuma Yamazaki Wins 2026 Pokémon VGC World Championship in Debut as Underdog
Japanese player Takuma Yamazaki won the 2026 Pokémon VGC Masters Division World Championship in his first appearance, defeating a Charizard Y-heavy meta with Mega Dragonite and a notable Feint play. The official announcement and community reaction focused on the underdog story and celebratory hype.
695 likes · 16m