1. Japan passes controversial security bill

    Japan’s parliament approved contentious* legislation on Saturday that enhances the role of the country’s military after the ruling bloc* defeated opposition parties’ last-ditch* effort to block a vote.

    China said it and other Asian neighbors are closely watching the vote because of Japan’s wartime aggression.

    South Korea on Saturday urged Japan to preserve the spirit of its pacifist* constitution in implementing new defense policies.

    2. ‘Russian’ jet enters Japanese airspace

    Japan has lodged a protest* with Russia after scrambling* four jet fighters to intercept* a foreign aircraft — believed to be Russian — which briefly violated its airspace, officials said on September 16.

    The foreign ministry made the protest shortly after the plane entered Japanese airspace off the northernmost main island of Hokkaido, near a disputed island chain.

    “We made the protest through the Russian embassy in Tokyo,” a foreign ministry official said.

    “The Russian side did not confirm the case, only saying they will check facts.”

    3. Al-Assad blames West for refugee crisis

    Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is blaming Western nations for fueling the refugee* crisis by supporting opposition groups in his country’s civil war.

    “If you are worried about them, stop supporting terrorists*,” he said in an interview with Russian news organizations. “That’s what we think regarding the crisis. This is the core of the whole issue of refugees.”

    Europe is struggling to deal with unusually large numbers of migrants arriving at its borders.

    4. Avalanche in French Alps kills seven

    An avalanche* in the French Alps swept seven climbers to their deaths on September 15 on one of the region’s most popular routes.

    The avalanche struck three groups of roped climbers, said Pierre Besnard, the ranking state official in the region.

    Victims included at least two nationalities, Besnard told BFM television.

    He didn’t name the countries.

    The bodies were taken to the town of Briancon.

    5. Floods kill at least 16 in US town

    Rescuers trudged* through muddy streambeds on September 15 in a small town on the Utah-Arizona border in the United States and found the bodies of several children who died. The floodwaters* killed at least 12 people.

    The same flash floods claimed at least four lives in nearby Zion National Park.

    6. Man attempts record pumpkin ride

    An American man who kayaked* 3.5 miles (5.6 km) in an 817-pound (370-kg) pumpkin said his aim was to set a world record and raise awareness about agriculture.

    Todd Sandstrum, 42, from Massachusetts, hopped* into a large carved-out pumpkin with a kayak paddle at South Street East in Raynham and had hopes of making it seven miles to the Weir Village Riverfront Park in Taunton.

    But the trek wasn’t as easy as planned. After battling the water, and some logs and rocks in the river, Sandstrum made it 3.5 miles, where he got into a boat with the pumpkin in tow to finish the course.

    (SD-Agencies)