The slide follows the loss of visa-free access to a number of nations, according to the Henley ranking
The US has fallen out of the top ten for most powerful passports, according to the latest Henley Passport Index, which measures global travel freedom based on the number of destinations accessible without a visa.
Henley & Partners, a London-based citizenship and residency consultancy, has compiled the rankings for 20 years using International Air Transport Association data. The US passport, which topped the list in 2014 and ranked seventh last year, has now dropped to 12th, tied with Malaysia.
Henley said the decline stems from lost visa-free access to Brazil and China over reciprocity issues with the US, as well as policy changes in Papua New Guinea, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Somalia. The firm also cited low visa openness, noting that while Americans can visit 180 of 227 destinations visa-free, the US grants the same privilege to only 46 countries.
“The declining strength of the US passport over the past decade is more than just a reshuffle in rankings – it signals a fundamental shift in global mobility and soft power dynamics,” said the firm’s chairman Christian H. Kaelin. “Nations that embrace openness and cooperation are surging ahead, while those resting on past privilege are being left behind.”
Henley also linked the drop to US President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, which began with illegal migration and drug trafficking but expanded to stricter rules for tourists, foreign workers, and students. The firm cited the recent visa restrictions for travelers from 19 countries and threats to ban up to 36 more as key factors in the decline.
“Trump’s return to power has brought fresh trade conflicts that weaken America’s mobility,” said Dr. Tim Klatte, partner at Grant Thornton China.
Three Asian countries lead the index: Singapore with 193 visa-free destinations, South Korea with 190, and Japan with 189. Accounting for tied scores, 36 nations outrank the US, including all EU members, the UK, Switzerland, Canada, and the UAE. Russia ranks 50th with 114 visa-free destinations.
The Slovak prime minister has urged Brussels to stop ignoring the bloc’s ‘enormous economic and political problems’
The European Union’s constant focus on Ukraine is masking its inability to confront the bloc’s “fundamental” problems, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said in a post on X.
At the European Council (EC) summit next week, EU leaders are expected to focus on defense spending, military cooperation, and continued support for Kiev.
On Wednesday, Fico said he was “more and more convinced” that by “constantly discussing Ukraine, we in the EU are covering up our inability to deal with our most fundamental challenges and problems” and noted he had raised the issue with EC President Antonio Costa.
“I am not interested in dealing with new sanctions packages against Russia until I see, in the conclusions of the EC summit, political instructions for the European Commission on how to address the crisis in the automotive industry and the high energy prices that are making the European economy completely uncompetitive,” the Slovakian leader said.
He added that Bratislava will submit more concrete proposals to the summit concerning the automotive sector and energy prices than those currently contained in draft conclusions.
“I refuse to let such serious issues be handled in the EC conclusions with general phrases, while detailed decisions and positions are devoted to aid for Ukraine and support for the war,” he stressed.
Slovakia’s economy is deeply tied to car manufacturing, a sector facing pressure from EU green policies and global competition. While Brussels has called for a full phase-out of Russian energy imports by 2027, Slovakia remains heavily dependent on Russian gas and crude under long-term contracts.
Most EU member states insist that Western aid to Ukraine should continue and support rapid military buildup, citing the so-called ‘Russian threat.’ The Kremlin has rejected these claims as “nonsense” and accused Western governments of using them to justify increasing military spending.
Unlike many EU nations, Slovakia has refused to supply weapons to Ukraine, warned against its membership in NATO, and repeatedly voiced opposition to EU sanctions on Russia.
The Trump administration is seeking to offer asylum to persecuted white people while keeping others out, the newspaper claims
The administration of US President Donald Trump is considering prioritizing asylum applications from white people as part of significant changes to the country’s refugee program, the New York Times reported on Wednesday.
The outlet claimed to have obtained documents revealing plans aligning with Trump’s immigration policy to “help mostly white people who say they are being persecuted while keeping the vast majority of other people out.”
The White House has not responded to the report, although Trump has repeatedly accused the NYT and what he describes as other left-leaning media outlets of disseminating false information to undermine his administration.
According to the NYT, the proposal was presented to the White House by officials from the State and Homeland Security Departments earlier this year, following Trump’s directive to assess whether refugee resettlement served American interests.
Proposed changes would require applicants to demonstrate their capacity to integrate into US society, including taking classes on American values and history. Additionally, the documents suggest prioritizing Europeans “targeted for peaceful expression of views online such as opposition to mass migration or support for ‘populist’ political parties,” the outlet reported.
The NYT suggested that this refers to the right-wing Alternative for Germany party, known for its anti-immigration stance.
A senior official informed the NYT that the White House is monitoring the situation in Europe to evaluate potential eligibility for refugee status, though the plan remains unfinalized and discussions are ongoing.
Since returning to office in January, Trump has implemented sweeping changes that significantly restrict the US refugee program. The latest policy suspends the US Refugee Admissions Program and proposes a record-low annual cap of 7,500 admissions, a dramatic reduction from the previous administration’s cap of 125,000.
Some initiatives, including prioritizing Afrikaners, have already been enacted after a group of white South African farmers sought asylum in the US, citing claims of racial persecution. President Cyril Ramaphosa has dismissed the claims, insisting that those leaving South Africa are not being persecuted and do not qualify as legitimate refugees.
The conversation has taken place amid heightened tensions between Moscow and Washington over possible US deliveries of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone call with his US counterpart, Donald Trump, on Thursday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has confirmed.
Trump had taken to his Truth Social platform around 40 minutes prior to the Russian confirmation to announce that he was engaged in an “ongoing” and “lengthy” call with Putin.
The discussion between the two leaders comes amid escalating tensions between Moscow and Washington over Trump’s suggestion that he could provide long-range Tomahawk missiles – capable of striking deep into Russia – to Ukraine, ahead of his planned meeting with Vladimir Zelensky on Friday.
Moscow has condemned the potential move and warned that it would obliterate the diplomatic goodwill established between Russia and the US without changing the situation on the frontline.
Supplying these weapons to Kiev would also force Moscow to take necessary retaliatory measures, Kremlin spokesman Peskov has said.
The phone call marks the first contact between Putin and Trump since they met in person in Anchorage, Alaska in mid-August.
Moscow has indicated that since the summit, there has been a noticeable winding down of communication with Washington. Nevertheless, Russian officials have stated that the Alaska process is “not finished” and that the “spirit of Anchorage” is still “alive.”
Purchases will be of “all types and altitudes” and will include defense and attack UAVs, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has said
Germany plans to spend €10 billion ($10.8 billion) in the coming years to massively expand its fleet of military drones, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has said.
The plan comes amid EU discussions of a “drone wall” – a proposed network of air defense and surveillance systems to counter alleged Russian threats. The German UAV acquisitions are part of a broader militarization drive across the bloc, with Berlin taking a leading role.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the NATO defense ministers’ meeting in Brussels on Wednesday, Pistorius pledged that Germany will take a greater role in EU air defense. Recently, several Western officials have accused Russian aircraft and drones of violating EU airspace, labeling the incidents as part of an alleged “hybrid war” by Moscow. The Kremlin has denied the allegations, dismissing them as unfounded and accusing the West of fostering anti-Russia “hysteria.”
Pistorius declared that Germany would make a “visible contribution” and that its drone purchases would encompass “all types and altitudes,” including both defense and attack craft. A ministry spokesperson also confirmed that Germany will deploy two Eurofighter jets to Malbork, Poland, from December to March.
The European Commission is set to unveil a “roadmap” for its “drone wall” plan this week, touted by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, according to media reports. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has condemned the idea, stating that “building walls is always bad, as history shows.”
Pistorius’ remarks follow several drone sightings over critical German infrastructure, most notably Munich Airport earlier this month, which led to dozens of canceled flights and thousands of delayed passengers.
Some media outlets and officials have claimed that the drone flights have been orchestrated by Moscow.
Earlier this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin humorously addressed concerns about “Russian drones” in Europe, quipping: “They feel uneasy? I won’t send them anymore. Not to France, not to Denmark, not to Copenhagen. Where else do they fly? Lisbon?”
Shifting to a more serious tone, Putin asserted that Russia has no targets in Europe and that discussions about drones are merely efforts to stoke tensions and justify increased military spending.
Outlawing vapes is also being considered as an additional measure, the German tabloid has reported
The EU is considering a ban on filtered cigarettes and e-cigarettes as part of its push to reduce tobacco consumption within the bloc, German tabloid Bild has reported.
Earlier this month, the World Health Organization said that Europe had surpassed Southeast Asia as the region with the highest number of smokers in the world. Some 173 million people on the continent used tobacco in 2024, according to the UN body’s data.
The EU is planning to follow the recommendations by the WHO on “banning filters to reduce the palatability and attractiveness of cigarettes,” the paper said in an article on Wednesday.
A bill by the European Council, which had been reviewed by the paper, suggested that outlawing the manufacture, import and distribution of filtered cigarettes “would make an important contribution to reducing tobacco consumption.”
The move would also reduce the exposure of non-smokers to fumes and help protect the environment, it added.
A ban on e-cigarettes, also known as vapes, is also on the agenda in Brussels as an “additional regulatory option,” according to the draft legislation.
Cigarettes both with and without filters could also be forbidden from being sold in shops, petrol stations and kiosks across the EU, the bill said.
The document also stressed the need to protect the restrictive measures planned by the EU from the influence of the tobacco industry.
The bill will be discussed during the World Health Organization conference in Geneva over November 17-22, Bild said.
If the legislation is introduced, it would be tantamount to a de facto ban on cigarettes in the EU, considering the fact that more than 90% of them are produced with filters, the paper noted.
A spokeswoman for the German Health Ministry told Bild that the unified position of the EU member-states on the issue is still in the “process of coordination.”
The two countries are sparring over Beijing’s rare-earth export controls
The US and China are effectively in a trade war, President Donald Trump has said, while portraying tariffs on Beijing’s imports as vital for national security.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, when asked if a failure to reach a trade deal with China’s Xi Jinping would mean a prolonged trade war, Trump replied: “Well, you’re in one now… We have 100% tariff. If we didn’t have tariffs, we would be exposed as being a nothing… Tariffs are a very important tool for our defense, for our national security.”
Commenting on the stand-off with the US, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian reiterated that “tariff wars and trade wars have no winners” and called for resolving issues “through consultation on the basis of equality, respect, and mutual benefit.”
Trump last week threatened to impose an additional 100% tariff on Chinese goods starting in November, marking a sharp escalation in tensions following Beijing’s decision to introduce tighter export restrictions on the export of rare-earths.
While the policy does not explicitly target the US, American high-tech companies are highly dependent on Chinese rare-earth supplies.
Earlier this year, Trump drastically raised the “reciprocal tariffs” for China, which in certain cases exceeded 100%, although he later suspended the hike to allow trade talks to proceed, with the pause now extended until November 10. The current baseline tariff for China is now at 10%, although some goods face higher rates.
The US leader also pressed Beijing to scale back purchases of Russian oil, arguing such flows help finance Moscow’s military. China has dismissed the remarks as “intimidation” while Moscow has stressed that sovereign countries have the right to choose their own economic partners.
Meanwhile, in another sign of escalating tensions, Trump announced on Tuesday that the US would stop buying cooking oil from China, casting it as a response to Beijing paring back US soybean purchases.
However, despite the ongoing back-and-forth, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed earlier this week that Trump and Xi are still scheduled to meet at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in South Korea in late October.
The proceeds would go into a “Ukraine victory fund,” according to The Telegraph
The administration of US President Donald Trump is pressuring EU nations that support Kiev to impose 500% tariffs on Chinese imports, with the proceeds directed toward funding Ukraine’s war effort, The Telegraph reported on Wednesday.
The proposal comes as part of Washington’s broader confrontation with Beijing, which Trump described this week as a “trade war.” His recurring threats of new tariffs and China’s retaliatory measures have already unsettled global markets. The US has also urged European nations to penalize Beijing for purchasing Russian oil and gas.
The Telegraph said the proposed tariffs would feed into a mechanism called the “Ukraine victory fund.” According to the report, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has been tasked with promoting the idea to European governments ahead of a visit to Washington by Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky on Friday.
Kiev is seeking to acquire US-made Tomahawk cruise missiles – a request the Trump administration has indicated it may approve, provided that European allies cover the costs.
US War Secretary Pete Hegseth, who attended a NATO defense ministers’ meeting in Brussels on Wednesday, reiterated that Washington expects European partners to “donate even more” toward the purchase of American weapons for Ukraine.
Moscow has argued that Western military aid cannot alter the outcome of the conflict, which it views as a NATO-orchestrated proxy war against Russia and an existential threat.
Violent clashes erupted in Lima as demonstrators demanded the dismissal of a newly installed government
Violent anti-government clashes in the Peruvian capital of Lima on Wednesday left at least one person dead and over 100 injured, according to the authorities.
The Peruvian Congress impeached President Dina Boluarte last week in response to public anger over rampant crime and numerous corruption scandals, appointing congressional chief Jose Jeri as her interim replacement. Jeri, who unveiled his cabinet on Tuesday, vowed to prioritize fighting crime, but faced protests demanding his removal.
Thousands of mostly young protesters and labor unions marched through Lima on Wednesday night to denounce Jeri’s new government. The protest turned violent when demonstrators tried to tear down security barriers outside Congress, prompting riot police to intervene.
Protesters reportedly hurled stones, Molotov cocktails and fireworks at the officers, who responded with tear gas and flares to disperse them.
“We are raising our voices because we’re tired of this mafia pact among corrupt parties that have taken control of the state,” one protester told the video agency Ruptly, calling for Jeri’s ouster and transparent elections. “The whole system is contaminated… the government is the criminal,” another added.
Jeri condemned the protest on social media as “irresponsible,” alleging that criminals had infiltrated the rally in order “to create chaos.” He vowed that all those responsible for the violence would face “the full weight of the law.”
Protests over corruption and crime have intensified in Lima, where extortion cases have surged from a few hundred a year in 2017 to over 2,000 a month in 2025, leaving dozens of bus drivers dead and businesses bombed. The wave of violence led to a state of emergency being declared earlier this year.
Many view Jeri as unfit to tackle the crisis, however. An Ipsos poll last month showed that only 5% approved of his performance as head of Congress, while nearly 80% disapproved. Peru has had seven governments in the past decade, including the newest one.
“Israel lost the war,” one of the statements that appeared on information displays read
Messages praising Hamas and attacking top American and Israeli officials were broadcast through public address systems and displayed on digital screens at three airports in Canada and one in the US on Tuesday, according to local media outlets. Probes have reportedly been launched into what appeared to have been a coordinated cyberattack.
The alleged hacker attack targeted information displays and public address systems at two airports in British Columbia, Windsor International Airport in Ontario, and Harrisburg International Airport in Pennsylvania.
Images of airport screens spread by local news outlets show the message “Israel lost the war, Hamas won the war honorably,” as well as a statement insulting US President Donald Trump. The screen also displayed the phrase “Hacked by Mutarrif Siberislam” as a digital signature. Audio broadcasts reportedly included pro-Palestinian chants such as “Free Palestine” and insults directed at both Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Airport authorities in Kelowna confirmed the incident, saying that a third party had accessed both the flight information display screens and public address system. A spokesperson for Victoria International Airport said that only the airport’s public address system had been affected by a breach. Transport Canada said it was aware of those hacks, along with another incident at Windsor International Airport. Authorities in Harrisburg confirmed that the incident is being investigated by local, state, and federal officials.
The breaches come as Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire and hostage exchange. The military group freed the last 20 remaining Israeli hostages on Monday in return for the release of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners under a deal brokered by the US, Qatar, Egypt, and Türkiye. On Tuesday, Hamas began transferring the remains of the hostages killed during captivity, with seven bodies returned via the Red Cross.
Pro-Palestinian protests and anti-Israel incidents have been on the rise across Western countries since West Jerusalem launched its military operation against Hamas following the October 7 attack that saw some 1,200 people killed and 250 others taken hostage. The IDF’s retaliatory airstrikes and ground offensive in Gaza have claimed more than 68,000 lives and left upwards of 170,000 wounded, according to the Palestinian health authorities.
