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Earlier this year, a video by an Indian travel influencer criticizing the weak power of the Indian passport went viral. He pointed out that while countries like Bhutan and Sri Lanka are welcoming to Indian tourists, getting visas to most Western and European destinations remains difficult. His frustration mirrors the findings of the latest Henley Passport Index, which ranks passports based on visa-free travel access. India slipped five places this year to the 85th spot out of 199 countries, marking another decline in global mobility. The Indian government has yet to comment on the report. The BBC has reached out to the Ministry of External Affairs for clarification. Countries with smaller economies—such as Rwanda (78th), Ghana (74th), and Azerbaijan (72nd)—rank higher than India, despite India being the world’s fifth-largest economy. Over the past decade, India’s passport ranking has generally stayed in the 80s, even falling to 90th in 2021. This contrasts sharply with Asian nations like Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, which have consistently dominated the top positions. Read more: Getting e-passport without police verification in Bangladesh: Documents, fees, and online application process For the second consecutive year, Singapore topped the list, offering visa-free access to 193 countries, followed by South Korea (190) and Japan (189). In comparison, Indian passport holders can visit 57 countries visa-free, sharing the 85th position with Mauritania. A Reflection of Soft Power and Global Influence Passport rankings reflect not only travel convenience but also a nation’s soft power, diplomatic ties, and global reputation. A weak passport means more paperwork, higher visa costs, fewer privileges, and longer approval times. However, despite the drop in rank, the number of countries granting visa-free access to Indian citizens has increased over the years. In 2014, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP came to power, Indians had visa-free access to 52 countries, and the passport ranked 76th. By 2024, that number rose to 62 countries, though India’s rank still slipped to 85th in 2025. Experts say this decline is mainly due to growing global competition. More countries are signing reciprocal visa-free agreements to boost tourism and trade. According to Henley & Partners’ 2025 report, the average number of visa-free destinations worldwide has nearly doubled—from 58 in 2006 to 109 in 2025. Read more: Digital Nomad Visas in Europe in 2026: Top 10 European Countries China, for instance, has expanded its visa-free access from 50 to 82 countries in the past decade, improving its rank from 94th to 60th. India’s ranking, meanwhile, dropped from 77th in July 2025 to 85th in October, after losing visa-free access to two countries. Beyond Diplomacy: Other Factors at Play Former Indian ambassador Achal Malhotra says that factors such as political stability, security, and openness to foreign citizens also influence a country’s passport strength. For example, the U.S. passport, once among the most powerful, has fallen to 12th place, partly due to its inward-looking foreign policy. Mr Malhotra notes that in the 1970s, Indians could travel visa-free to many Western nations, but that changed after the Khalistan movement in the 1980s, which raised concerns about India’s internal stability. Read more: 7 Most Affordable Countries for Citizenship by Investment in 2026 He adds that high emigration rates and cases of visa overstays have made some nations more cautious about granting Indians visa-free access. Moreover, issues such as passport fraud and slow immigration processes also affect India’s standing. In 2024, Delhi Police arrested 203 individuals for alleged passport and visa fraud. A Path Forward Technological advances like India’s new e-passport, which stores biometric data on a secure chip, could help strengthen document security and streamline border checks. But experts agree that diplomatic outreach and bilateral travel agreements will be crucial for improving the global mobility of Indian citizens—and restoring the strength of the Indian passport on the world stage. Source: BBC Read more: Bangladesh moves up one step in global passport strength index

Saudi Arabia is preparing to shorten the validity period of Umrah visas from three months to one month in a move aimed at better managing the growing influx of pilgrims, according to a report by Al Arabiya.net. Citing official sources, the Saudi news outlet said the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah will soon implement the change, reducing the visa’s validity to 30 days from the date of issuance. The new regulation is expected to take effect next week. Since the beginning of the new Umrah season in early June, more than four million Umrah visas have been issued to international pilgrims — a record figure in less than five months. Under the revised rules, a visa will be automatically cancelled 30 days after issuance if the holder fails to enter the Kingdom within that period. However, the adjustment will not impact the duration of stay for those who arrive in Saudi Arabia, as Umrah pilgrims will still be permitted to remain in the country for up to three months. Read more: Bangladesh urges Saudi Arabia to maint 1,000-pilgrim Hajj quota per agency The decision aims to prevent overcrowding in the holy cities of Makkah and Medina during the cooler months, said Ahmed Bajafar, advisor to the National Committee for Umrah and Visit. Although Umrah rituals are performed only in Makkah, many pilgrims also visit Medina to offer prayers at the Prophet Mohammad’s mosque during their trip. Earlier in October, Saudi Arabia tightened Umrah procedures, requiring advance booking of accommodation and verification of transportation arrangements on the Nusuk or Masar platforms upon arrival. The Kingdom has also reiterated that visitors holding any type of visa are eligible to perform Umrah during their stay. With input from Khaleej Times Read more: How to Perform Umrah from Bangladesh?

A new Pentagon directive will sharply restrict the ability of transgender service members — those affected by the Trump administration’s ban — to appeal for continued military service, according to a memo obtained by the Associated Press. Under the Oct. 8 memo from Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Anthony Tata, military separation boards no longer have the final say in whether transgender troops can remain in uniform. Even if a board recommends retention, commanders may now override that decision — a departure from long-standing practice that boards act independently. The move follows President Donald Trump’s executive order barring transgender individuals from military service, part of a broader rollback of diversity and inclusion initiatives led by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who argues such measures undermine readiness. While legal challenges continue, the U.S. Supreme Court in May allowed enforcement of the ban to proceed during litigation. New Hurdles for Transgender TroopsThe memo, which service members reportedly received only last week, also requires transgender personnel to appear before separation boards in the uniforms corresponding to their birth-assigned gender. If they fail to comply, the hearings may continue in their absence, and that absence could be used against them. Advocates say the rule effectively prevents many from attending their own hearings. “It’s essentially setting up a predetermined outcome,” said Emily Starbuck Gerson, spokesperson for SPARTA Pride, a group representing transgender troops and veterans. “Now you’re penalizing someone for not showing up because they can’t wear the wrong uniform.”When asked about the memo, Pentagon assistant press secretary Riley Podleski declined to comment, citing ongoing litigation. A similar directive issued by the Air Force in August required separation boards to recommend discharge for any member diagnosed with gender dysphoria, removing their discretion to retain personnel. Gerson said the new, Pentagon-wide policy mirrors that directive but includes “alarming” new requirements such as the uniform rule. The memo states that if a service member “does not conform to uniform and grooming standards, board proceedings will continue with the Service member in absentia,” and their noncompliance may be considered when deciding on separation. Trans Troops Say Policy Strips Away DignityMany transgender service members say they no longer possess uniforms that match their gender at birth — and being forced to wear them would be degrading. Master Sgt. Logan Ireland, an Air Force veteran with 15 years of service, said being required to don a female uniform would “feel like a betrayal.” “Can I put on a skirt or the female dress uniform? Sure,” he said. “But that’s not who I am. It would be like wearing a costume.”Ireland, currently on administrative leave, said the policy disregards years of service and sacrifice. “It denies us the dignity and respect we were promised,” he said.Gerson added that the new rules contradict the military’s stated commitment to merit-based evaluations, ignoring service members’ accomplishments and contributions. Undermining an Established SystemMilitary separation boards traditionally give service members facing discharge an opportunity to make their case before peers. These quasi-legal proceedings allow them to present evidence, have legal representation, and appeal outcomes to federal court. Pentagon policy has long guaranteed such hearings be “fair and impartial.” In the past, boards have even chosen to retain service members involved in serious incidents — including the commanding officer of the USS McCain, responsible for a deadly 2017 collision, and several Marines who took part in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Priya Rashid, a military attorney who has represented hundreds of troops before such boards, said the new policy undermines fairness and due process. “Service members accused of serious misconduct — even violent offenses — are being given more rights than this group, simply because of their gender dysphoria diagnosis,” Rashid said.Advocates warn that the change represents the most significant rollback of transgender rights in the military since the reinstatement of the ban and could effectively end many trans service members’ careers without a fair hearing.

Armed groups who reportedly massacred at least 460 people at a hospital in Sudan’s Darfur region launched their attack in several waves, abducting medical workers and later killing patients, staff, and civilians sheltering inside, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Friday. The assault on Tuesday targeted Saudi Hospital in el-Fasher, a city that had been under siege for 18 months before being captured by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a powerful paramilitary group. Witnesses described fighters moving house to house, killing civilians and committing sexual assaults. Details from the city remain limited, as communications are down and humanitarian access has been cut off. The total death toll from the fighting remains unclear. El-Fasher’s fall marks a new phase in Sudan’s devastating two-year civil war between the RSF and the national army. The conflict has already killed more than 40,000 people, though aid agencies believe the true toll is far higher. It has displaced over 14 million people, triggered deadly disease outbreaks, and caused famine in several parts of Darfur and beyond. Survivors Flee Amid ChaosLocated about 800 kilometers (500 miles) southwest of Khartoum, el-Fasher is now largely cut off. Aid organizations operating there have mostly withdrawn. According to the U.N. migration agency, more than 62,000 people fled the city between Sunday and Wednesday, though only about 5,000 have reached the refugee camp in Tawila, 40 miles away, according to the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC). The fate of tens of thousands of others remains unknown. Among the displaced is Fatima Abdulrahim, 70, who fled el-Fasher with her grandchildren. She told the Associated Press she spent five days escaping through gunfire and shelling, often hiding in trenches or behind walls. “Thirst almost killed us,” she said. “We ate grass from the roadside. The dead on the streets were countless.”She said militiamen robbed her group, beat children, and shot young men trying to bring food into the city. At least 450 wounded people have been admitted to Tawila Hospital, many suffering from malnutrition or sexual violence, said Adam Rojal, a local spokesperson for displaced communities. The NRC reported that new arrivals included people with untreated fractures and gunshot wounds, while Doctors Without Borders said 40 of 70 children under five arriving Monday were severely malnourished. WHO Details the Hospital MassacreWHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier provided new information about the killings at Saudi Hospital, which had been the only functioning medical facility in el-Fasher during the siege. He said gunmen attacked the hospital at least three times. On their first assault, they abducted several doctors and nurses — six of whom remain missing. When they returned, they opened fire on those inside, and during a third visit “finished off what was still standing,” Lindmeier said. Videos circulating online show bodies strewn across hospital wards and a fighter shooting a man, though the Associated Press could not independently verify them. The RSF has denied carrying out the massacre, posting a video Thursday that appeared to show its fighters providing care to patients inside the hospital. The timing and authenticity of the footage remain unconfirmed. Dr. Teresa Zakaria, WHO’s head of humanitarian operations, said the hospital is now offering only “limited services.” Since the city’s capture, “there is no longer any humanitarian health presence in el-Fasher, and access remains blocked,” she said. RSF Accused of AtrocitiesEl-Fasher was the Sudanese army’s last major stronghold in Darfur. Its capture gives the RSF near-total control over the vast western region and raises fears that Sudan could fracture further, with the military holding Khartoum and the country’s north and east. The RSF and allied militias have been repeatedly accused of massacres and mass rapes during their campaigns in Khartoum and across Darfur, often targeting civilians from non-Arab African communities. The RSF’s roots lie in the Arab Janjaweed militias, responsible for atrocities in Darfur in the 2000s that killed an estimated 300,000 people. Once armed and supported by Sudan’s military to crush rebel uprisings, the Janjaweed were later reorganized into the RSF as an official force. After jointly toppling longtime ruler Omar al-Bashir in 2019, the RSF and the army briefly shared power before clashing in 2023, igniting the current war.

Health officials in Gaza said Friday that Israel has returned the bodies of 30 Palestinians, a day after Palestinian militants transferred the remains of two Israeli hostages to the Red Cross. According to the Israeli military, the handover of the two hostages’ remains marks another step forward in maintaining the fragile ceasefire, even amid renewed Israeli airstrikes in Gaza this week. The remains were first given to the International Committee of the Red Cross in Gaza, then transported into Israel for identification at the National Institute of Forensic Medicine. Late Thursday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed the remains belonged to Sahar Baruch and Amiram Cooper, both of whom were abducted during Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack that ignited the ongoing war. Since the ceasefire took effect, Hamas has returned the remains of 17 hostages, with 11 more expected to be handed over under the terms of the deal. In exchange, Israel has so far returned 195 Palestinian bodies to Gaza authorities, though their identities remain unconfirmed. Officials say it is unclear whether they were killed during the Oct. 7 assault, died in Israeli custody, or were recovered during Israel’s ground operations in Gaza. Gazan health authorities say efforts to identify the remains have been hampered by a lack of DNA testing kits. Remembering the HostagesBaruch, 25, had been preparing to study electrical engineering when he was kidnapped from Kibbutz Be’eri. His brother, Idan, was killed in the same attack. The Israeli military later said Baruch was killed during a failed rescue attempt three months into his captivity. Cooper, 84, was an economist and one of the founders of Kibbutz Nir Oz. He was taken hostage along with his wife, Nurit, who was released after 17 days. Israeli officials confirmed in June 2024 that Cooper had been killed in Gaza. Overnight Strikes Leave Dozens InjuredDespite the ceasefire formally remaining in place, renewed Israeli strikes overnight injured at least 40 people in Khan Younis, according to Mohammad Saar, head of nursing at Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza. The Israeli army said its attacks targeted “terrorist infrastructure posing a threat to troops” in the area, which is currently under Israeli military control. Earlier in the week, Israeli strikes killed more than 100 people following the shooting death of an Israeli soldier in Rafah. Netanyahu accused Hamas of breaching the ceasefire deal by delaying the return of hostage remains, though Hamas denied involvement in the attack and in turn accused Israel of violating the truce. Speaking at a military graduation ceremony in southern Israel, Netanyahu warned: “If Hamas continues to blatantly violate the ceasefire, it will face powerful strikes, as it did in recent days.”He added that Israel would “act as needed” to remove threats to its forces and reiterated his goal of a demilitarized Gaza — whether enforced by foreign powers or by Israel itself. Ceasefire Under StrainThe international mediators of the ceasefire — Egypt, Qatar, and the United States — have reportedly warned Hamas that Israel will resume military operations in areas still occupied by its fighters after a Thursday deadline expired. A senior U.S. official, speaking anonymously, said Hamas was told that militants must withdraw from the “yellow zone” within 24 hours or risk renewed Israeli strikes. The ceasefire’s enforcement, the official said, allows Israel to target Hamas positions if they remain beyond the designated lines. The truce, launched on October 10, aims to wind down a war that has become the deadliest and most destructive in the long history of Israel-Hamas conflict. The war began after Hamas-led militants killed around 1,200 people in Israel and took 251 hostages in their October 2023 attack. In the two years since, Israel’s offensive has killed more than 68,600 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. While the ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants, independent experts consider its data largely credible. Israel has disputed the figures but has not released alternative numbers.

No one stands above the monarchy — not even the king’s own brother. That principle has now brought an end to Prince Andrew’s royal status. As controversy surrounding Andrew’s ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein continued to mount, and as lawmakers questioned his rent-free stay at the Royal Lodge near Windsor Castle, King Charles III took decisive action on Thursday to protect the institution’s reputation. In a statement from Buckingham Palace, the king announced that Andrew had been stripped of all his royal titles and honors, including his birthright as “prince.” From now on, he will be known simply as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. He has also been ordered to vacate Royal Lodge, the 30-room residence he has occupied for more than two decades. Read more: Princess Kate says sorry for manipulated family photo, saying she was experimenting with editing “The monarchy needed to draw the thickest possible line between Andrew and the rest of the royal family,” said Craig Prescott, a constitutional law expert at Royal Holloway, University of London. “And that’s exactly what the king has done.” A Decisive Break The king’s move followed an earlier, less formal agreement that Andrew would cease using his titles — a step that failed to stem a surge of negative headlines. The continued media scrutiny and calls from Parliament for further sanctions threatened to trigger a public debate about Andrew’s conduct. Charles’s decision comes as he, at 76 and undergoing treatment for cancer, seeks to strengthen the monarchy and stabilize it for his heir, Prince William. “This was clearly about putting the royal house in order, both now and for the future,” said George Gross, a royal historian at King’s College London. “It makes things easier for Prince William — and it always felt inevitable.” Scandal Still Looms While the king’s actions may protect the monarchy’s image, they do not resolve Andrew’s legal and reputational troubles. Renewed attention to his past was sparked by the release of a memoir from Virginia Giuffre, who claimed she was trafficked by Epstein and coerced into having sex with Andrew when she was 17. Giuffre, who had been living in Australia, died by suicide earlier this year. Read more: Prince Harry says William called Meghan “difficult, rude and abrasive” before physical attack Her brother, Sky Roberts, praised her efforts to expose both Epstein and Andrew, and called for the prince’s prosecution. Andrew has consistently denied all allegations. Historian Andrew Lownie, author of Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, told the BBC that he expects further revelations and possible investigations into Andrew’s conduct, including potential abuses of public office. “I don’t think it’s over — but at least the palace is taking firm action,” Lownie said. A Troubled Past Andrew, 65, the late Queen Elizabeth II’s second son, served over 20 years in the Royal Navy before becoming a full-time royal in 2001. His career and reputation have long been clouded by controversy. In 2007, he sold a home near Windsor Castle for 20% above its £15 million asking price to Timur Kulibayev, the Kazakh president’s son-in-law, raising concerns about potential influence-peddling. His connections to figures linked to Libya’s Moammar Gadhafi also prompted his removal as the UK’s special trade envoy. Read more: Harry and Meghan slam British tabloids in new Netflix series Despite these scandals, Andrew was long protected by the queen, who was said to have had a soft spot for her son. That protection crumbled after his disastrous 2019 BBC interview, in which he failed to express sympathy for Epstein’s victims and offered implausible denials. Public backlash forced him to give up all official duties and charity roles soon after. Now, King Charles has completed the separation by severing Andrew’s remaining royal ties. He will be relocated to the king’s private Sandringham estate after vacating the Royal Lodge — a long-disputed residence he had refused to surrender. A Monarchy in Transition Experts say the decision reflects a broader shift in how the royal family is adapting to modern accountability. Craig Prescott noted that while public criticism of the monarchy was muted during Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, Charles faces greater scrutiny and a more demanding public. “This marks a transition toward a monarchy that functions more like a public institution — subject to oversight and public expectation,” Prescott said. “There was both public and parliamentary pressure for the king to act, and he has done so.” Read more: Kate, Princess of Wales, says she has cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy

Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to defend global free trade at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit on Friday, where he took center stage after U.S. President Donald Trump skipped the meeting. The annual regional forum, held this year in the South Korean city of Gyeongju, opened a day after Trump departed the country. His earlier meeting with Xi had produced agreements aimed at easing the trade tensions that have rattled the global economy. Although the two leaders’ talks dominated attention, Trump’s absence from APEC underscored his continued rejection of large multilateral gatherings. Critics warn that this could further damage America’s reputation in a forum representing almost 40% of the global population and more than half of world trade. Xi Calls for Unity and Open Trade Addressing APEC’s opening session, Xi urged member nations to strengthen cooperation amid global uncertainty. “The more turbulent the times, the more we must work together,” he said, noting that the world faces “rapid changes and increasing volatility.” He emphasized the importance of stable supply chains, countering U.S. efforts to separate from China economically. Xi also called for deeper collaboration in green industries and clean energy. Read more: Xi, Carney meet in South Korea to rebuild strained China-Canada ties In a written message to the APEC CEO summit, Xi reaffirmed that China remains open to investment and committed to the multilateral trading system. “Those who establish a presence in the Chinese market will seize key opportunities in global competition,” he wrote. “Investing in China means investing in the future.” Representing Trump, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington’s efforts to rebalance trade were aimed at ensuring “fair and reciprocal” terms, and at creating more resilient production networks that reduce dependence on vulnerable sectors. Xi’s Diplomatic Meetings The summit marked Xi’s first visit to South Korea in 11 years. On the sidelines, he met with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. During talks with Takaichi, Xi called for a “constructive and stable relationship for a new era,” while Takaichi expressed hopes of addressing bilateral issues and building a stronger personal rapport with Xi. Xi is also expected to meet South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Saturday, with discussions likely to include North Korea’s nuclear program. APEC’s Growing Challenges Founded in 1989 to promote free and open trade across the Asia-Pacific, APEC now faces mounting challenges, including U.S.-China rivalry, supply chain disruptions, aging populations, and the impact of artificial intelligence on employment. Under Trump, Washington has shifted from cooperation to competition with Beijing, with tariff hikes and an “America First” agenda unsettling global markets and challenging decades of globalization. Read more: WHO: Militia Assault on Darfur hospital came in multiple waves Opening the summit, host President Lee urged members to focus on solidarity and shared prosperity. “We may not always stand on the same side, but we can unite around our common goal of mutual growth,” he said. Canada’s Carney echoed that sentiment, announcing plans to double his country’s non-U.S. exports within a decade, citing “one of the most profound global shifts since the fall of the Berlin Wall.” Despite the positive tone after Trump and Xi’s meeting, experts warn that tensions could flare again as both nations vie for dominance in manufacturing and emerging technologies like AI. “Bringing the two largest economies together to ease tariff and export disputes helped avert the worst outcomes for global trade,” said Leif-Eric Easley, professor at Ewha Womans University. “But APEC should be more than a platform for trade truces — it must advance cooperation on sustainable and digital trade.” South Korea Seeks Consensus As host, South Korea is pushing for all 21 member economies to adopt a joint statement — a goal that eluded APEC in 2018 due to U.S.-China friction. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun recently said that while a strong pro–free trade statement may be difficult, Seoul hopes for a broader declaration highlighting regional peace and prosperity. This year’s agenda also prioritizes collaboration on artificial intelligence and demographic challenges. Read more: Have deep relations with US, extensive economic ties with China: Touhid Hossain

The United Nations human rights chief on Friday condemned U.S. military strikes against boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean suspected of carrying illegal drugs from South America, calling them “unacceptable” and urging they be stopped. U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called for an investigation into the attacks, marking the first condemnation of this kind by a U.N. body. Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for Türk, told a regular U.N. briefing that the strikes “and their mounting human cost are unacceptable.” She added that the U.S. must halt such attacks and take all steps necessary to prevent extrajudicial killings aboard these boats. Türk believes that U.S. airstrikes on these vessels violate international human rights law. While U.S. officials, including President Donald Trump, have defended the strikes as necessary to curb drug trafficking, Shamdasani emphasized that lethal force is only permissible as a last resort against imminent threats to life. Otherwise, such actions violate the right to life and constitute extrajudicial killings. She noted the strikes occur outside any armed conflict or hostilities, highlighting the legal and human rights concerns surrounding the campaign. Source: AP

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Friday held talks in South Korea aimed at restoring their long-troubled relationship, calling for “pragmatic and constructive” cooperation between the two nations. Meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, both leaders described the encounter as a “turning point” in bilateral ties, according to statements from Beijing and Ottawa. Xi said relations between China and Canada were showing signs of recovery due to efforts from both sides. “We are ready to work with Canada to use this meeting as an opportunity to bring our bilateral relations back on a healthy, stable, and sustainable track,” he said, as reported by Chinese state media. Carney, who assumed office in March, accepted Xi’s invitation to visit China, though no date was announced. China-Canada ties plunged in late 2018 after Canadian authorities detained Meng Wanzhou, a senior Huawei executive, under a U.S. extradition request. In response, China arrested two Canadian citizens, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, accusing them of espionage. Although all three were released in 2021, the relationship remained frosty, strained further by Ottawa’s decision in 2024 to impose a 100% tariff on Chinese electric vehicles and a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum. China has since offered to remove its import taxes on select Canadian goods if the EV tariff is lifted. According to the Canadian statement, both leaders instructed their officials to quickly resolve trade disputes and other irritants, particularly involving EVs, canola, and seafood. Xi also called for expanding “pragmatic cooperation” in the fields of economy, trade, and energy — sectors where both countries have been affected by tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.  

The United Nations human rights chief has denounced recent U.S. military airstrikes on boats allegedly involved in drug trafficking from South America, calling them “unacceptable” and demanding an immediate halt. In what appeared to be the first such criticism from a UN body, Volker Türk urged an independent investigation into the attacks, which have reportedly killed more than 60 people since early September, according to UN human rights office spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani. “These attacks and their growing human toll are unacceptable,” Shamdasani told reporters in Geneva on Friday, quoting Türk. She added that the strikes “violate international human rights law” and constitute extrajudicial killings. U.S. President Donald Trump has defended the operations as part of a broader campaign to block drug shipments from reaching the United States. However, the UN rights office stressed that combating illegal drug trafficking must remain a law enforcement issue, governed by international rules that strictly limit the use of lethal force. “The United States must immediately cease these attacks and take all necessary measures to prevent further loss of life,” Shamdasani said. She emphasized that while Washington has framed the actions as part of anti-narcotics and counterterrorism efforts, global agreements clearly define such matters as requiring proportionate and lawful responses.