International
Morning
26 September 2026
International Current Affairs — 26 September 2026, Morning
25 September 2026
At the end of Chinese President Xi Jinping's three-day state visit to Washington, the White House issued a fact sheet on 25 September 2026 setting out the outcomes of his talks with President Donald Trump.
Under the U.S.-China Board of Trade, the two countries reached consensus on recommendations for more favorable tariff treatment for $30 billion of non-sensitive goods in each direction.
The leaders operationalized the U.S.-China Board of Trade and the U.S.-China Board of Investment, which were chartered during the May 2026 Summit in Beijing.
They agreed to use the term "super intelligence" rather than "artificial intelligence", set up the U.S.-China Super Intelligence (SI) Dialogue with the next exchange by November 2026, and agreed on a bilateral communication channel for SI incidents.
China will import at least 10 million metric tons of coal from the United States in 2027 and again in 2028.
The two sides also agreed that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon and that no country or institution can be allowed to impose tolls on international waterways.
Goods for tariff relief:
$30 billion in each direction
US coal imports by China:
At least 10 million metric tons in 2027 and 2028
Next SI Dialogue exchange:
By November 2026
Why it matters for exams: Relations between the world's two largest economies shape global trade, technology governance and energy markets.
Kerala PSCUPSCBank
In plain words
Board of Trade U.S.-China Board of Trade — A government-to-government body of the two countries for handling trade issues.
Fact sheet — A short official summary of decisions, issued here by the White House.
State visit — The highest level of official visit by a head of state, hosted by another head of state.
26 September 2026
A vessel carrying more than 50 people capsized on Lake Kivu near Idjwi Island in South Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo on the night of Saturday, 26 September 2026.
At least 12 people were killed and dozens remained missing; about 15 people were rescued.
The vessel was carrying fish traders and goods from Bwina on Idjwi Island to Boza.
Local authorities said the cause of the accident was not immediately known.
Earlier the same week, at least 41 people died when a boat capsized on Lake Tanganyika near the Congolese village of Mapera.
Rivers and lakes are a major means of transport in the DRC for over 100 million people.
Confirmed dead:
At least 12
People on board:
More than 50
Rescued:
About 15
Location:
Near Idjwi Island, South Kivu
Why it matters for exams: Africa's Great Lakes — Kivu, Tanganyika and their bordering countries — are frequent world-geography questions, and disasters bring them into the news.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
DRC Democratic Republic of Congo — A large country in central Africa, with its capital at Kinshasa.
Lake Kivu — A large lake in the eastern DRC, crossed every day by many boats carrying people and goods.
26 September 2026
Bangladesh began a nationwide special measles-rubella (MR) vaccination campaign on Saturday, 26 September 2026, as it steps up efforts to contain a measles outbreak.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain inaugurated the drive at the TNT playground in Dhaka's Korail.
Titled the "Intensified MR Catch-up Vaccination", it targets 3.4 million children aged six months to under five years.
The target includes 2.4 million children who were missed earlier and 1 million infants who recently reached six months of age.
The campaign runs through October 31 and aims to find and vaccinate children missed in earlier rounds, as well as those newly eligible.
Earlier vaccination rounds beginning in April covered 18.5 million children.
Target children:
3.4 million
Age group:
Six months to under five years
Campaign ends:
October 31
Why it matters for exams: Measles-rubella elimination drives and catch-up immunisation in South Asia are common public-health questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
MR vaccine Measles-Rubella vaccine — A combined vaccine that protects against measles and rubella.
Catch-up vaccination — A drive to vaccinate children who missed their scheduled doses.