1) World leaders adopt declaration on refugees at UN.
- The leaders from 193 countries came together to adopt the `New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants` at the United Nations to save the lives of over 65 million refugees and migrants and share responsibility.
- The declaration adopted is not legally binding but calls on the member countries to protect refugees` human rights, boost humanitarian aid and work on their resettlement.
- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon congratulated Member States on the 22-page `New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants` adopted at the first-ever summit on Addressing Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants at the UN General Assembly.
2) Thousands evacuated as typhoon Malakas makes landfall in Japan.
- Thousands of residents have been ordered to evacuate their homes in southern Japan as Typhoon Malakas pounds the island of Kyushu.
- Flooding, high waves and swollen rivers in western and southern Japan as the season`s 16th typhoon made landfall on Osumi Peninsula, bringing strong winds and torrential rain.
- Record rainfall of more than 120 millimetres in an hour was recorded near Makurazaki City and the southern part of Kagoshima Prefecture.
- Wind speeds of up to 44.5 metres per second were logged in Makurazaki City.
- About 56,000 households in Kagoshima prefecture suffered power outages, while some flooding was reported in Takanabe Town after the area was hit by 109.5 millimetres of rain in an hour.
3) 193 countries sign declaration to stamp out drug-resistant infections.
- The 193 countries of the United Nations (UN) have signed a landmark declaration to rid the world of drug-resistant infections or Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) or superbugs.
- It is the fourth time a UN declaration has been reached on a health issue, following HIV in 2001, non-communicable diseases in 2011 and Ebola in 2013.
- The signatory countries now have two years to submit action plan. These submitted plans are expected to address the seriousness and scope of the situation. It will also agree on sustainable, multisectoral approaches to addressing antimicrobial resistance.
- Antimicrobial resistance happens when microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites change when they are exposed to antimicrobial drugs.
- These microorganisms are also termed as ``superbugs``. As a result, the medicines or drugs become ineffective and infections persist in the body futher increasing the risk of spread to others.
4) Magnitude-5.3 quake jolts Tibet: USGS.
- The U.S. Geological Survey reports that a magnitude-5.3 earthquake has hit Tibet.
- According to Chinese news agency Xinhua the temblor hit Litang County, Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze, in China`s Sichuan Province. The agency cited the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC).
- The quake hit about 104 kilometers (65 miles) southwest of Rulong.
- The quake`s epicenter had a depth of about 25 kilometers (40 kilometers), according to the USGS.
5) Saudi Arabia celebrates its 86th National Day.
- Saudi Arabia is celebrating its 86th National Day with a strategic vision to take the Kingdom to new heights of progress and prosperity under the leadership of King Salman.
- On the 17th of Jomada Al-oula 1351, a royal decree was issued to declare the unification of all parts of the modern kingdom under the name of Saudi Arabia, King Abdulaziz. September 23rd 1932, the day of the proclamation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
- United Arab Emirates also joins Saudi Arabia`s National Day celebrations.
6) India, China join hands for sustainable tea production.
- The United Planters Association of Southern India (UPASI) and China Tea Marketing Association (CTMA) signed a first-ever Memorandum of Understanding to promote sustainable tea production and consumption.
- The aim of the agreement is to incrementally achieve relevant UN-mandated Sustainable Development Goals while building an inclusive, sustainable and resilient future for the tea industry.
- Developing joint campaigns to increase consumption of high-quality green and black tea in global markets, and enhancing consumer satisfaction and benefits to producers.
- Conducting joint research and development in tea matters, as well as disseminate and exchange economic, technical and scientific information, statistics and studies.
7) Obama opens new African American Museum.
- President Barack Obama opened the National Museum of African American History and Culture, an institution dedicated to the many threads of black suffering and triumph.
- The first black President of the United States cut the ribbon to inaugurate the striking 37,000-square-meter bronze-clad edifice before thousands of spectators gathered in the nation`s capital Washington to witness the historic opening.
- The Smithsonian`s 19th addition to its sprawling museum and research complex is the first national museum tasked with documenting the uncomfortable truths of the country`s systematic oppression of black people.
8) India to Ratify Paris Climate Agreement.
- The Union cabinet approved the country`s move to formally join the Paris Agreement on climate change by giving its green signal for its ratification.
- The country will submit its instrument of ratification to the United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
- European Union (28 nations), which accounts for over 10 per cent of the total global emission of greenhouse gases, has decided to submit its instrument of ratification.
- It is now certain that the Paris Agreement will come into force with India on board at the time of the next UN climate conference (Conference of Parties - COP22), scheduled to take place in Marrakech, Morocco.
- As per the Paris Agreement clause, the agreement will come into force 30 days after 55 countries, representing 55 per cent of global emissions, deposit their instruments of ratification, acceptance or accession with the UN secretary general.
9) India, China hold 1st high-level dialogue to combat terror.
- India and China have hold the first High Level Dialogue on Counter-terrorism and Security held in Beijing, capital city of China.
- The meeting was co-chaired by R.N. Ravi, Chairman of Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC) and Wang Yongqing, Secretary General of Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission of China.
- In the high level dialogue both countries discussed on ways to enhance security and cooperation to combat terror.
- They exchanged information on respective policies to deal with terrorism, and further enhance their understanding on issues of major concern.
- They also exchanged views on the international and regional security situation. It also deliberated on measures to jointly deal with security threats and reached important consensus in this regard.
10) Switzerland Ratifies Tax Convention.
- Paving the way for the automatic exchange of tax information with India and other nations, Switzerland has ratified the multilateral convention on administrative assistance in taxation matters.
- In efforts to clamp down on the black money menace, India has been seeking tax information from various countries, including Switzerland.
- The instruments of ratification for the Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters (Administrative Assistance Convention) were deposited with Paris-based OECD.
- The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) sets the global tax standards and the convention has been prepared by it.
11) Typhoon Megi hits Taiwan, Four died & 268 injured.
- Four people were killed and 268 others were injured in Taiwan as Typhoon Megi travelled across the island.
- More than 14,000 people were evacuated due to the typhoon and more than 72,000 homes were cut off from water supplies.
- The typhoon made landfall at Hualien City in the east part of the island with winds of up 198 km per hour, according to the island`s meteorological agency, which issued land and sea warnings for the storm system.
- Typhoon Megi was the third storm system to hit the island, following Typhoon Meranti, which left one person dead and more than 50 injured when it swept across the southern part of the island, and Typhoon Malakas.
12) Pakistan`s parliament passed Hindu Marriage Bill.
- Pakistan’s lower house of Parliament has passed a landmark bill giving its small Hindu minority the right to register marriages, the last major hurdle on the way to enacting a law aimed at protecting women’s rights.
- Hindu women have been disproportionately targeted for abduction, forced conversions and rape because their marriages were never officially recognised and therefore not provable in court.
- The National Assembly passed the bill after 10 months of deliberation. The Senate is expected to pass the law without any significant delay.
- The new bill sets the minimum age for marriage for Hindus at 18. The minimum legal age for marriage for citizens of other religions is 18 for men and 16 for women.
- The new law also legalises remarriage for a widow six months after her husband’s death.