Canada is pushing to finalise a trade agreement with India by the end of 2026 as Prime Minister Mark Carney seeks to reduce reliance on the United States. Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand said negotiations on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement were progressing well. The deal could increase annual bilateral trade in goods and services to $70 billion by 2030, from $30.4 billion in 2025. Canada also plans to deepen cooperation with the European Union in critical minerals, energy and artificial intelligence. The move comes as Ottawa works to diversify trade partnerships amid US protectionist policies. (PC: Reuters)

Three Indian nationals were killed and five others injured in a fire at a residential building in Bochum, Germany, early Tuesday, local media reported Wednesday. The victims were two women aged 25 and 27 and a 26-year-old man. Police arrested a 41-year-old Romanian resident of the building on suspicion of murder. Investigators have ruled out a technical fault and suspect arson, but are still examining whether the fire was deliberately set or started accidentally. Authorities have not released the victims’ names or identified their home states in India. Reports also did not specify the nationalities or further details of the five injured people. The blaze struck a multi-family building in Hofstede. (PC: X)

Britain’s Prince William joined cricket stars Sourav Ganguly, Ajinkya Rahane, Brian Lara, Joe Root and Harry Brook for a friendly tennis-ball cricket match in London on Tuesday. The event took place on The Mall, outside Buckingham Palace, ahead of the Earthshot Prize ceremony in Mumbai on November 17. Rahane described the match as a memorable experience and highlighted cricket’s ability to unite people. Launched by Prince William in 2020, the Earthshot Prize supports innovative solutions to environmental challenges, including climate change, clean air, ocean protection, nature conservation and waste reduction. This year marks its debut in India.

Two groups of people associated with Harvard University have issued contrasting statements over the Delhi protest crackdown and India’s constitutional institutions. On October 12, a group of 100 Harvard alumni condemned alleged police brutality, unlawful detention and violations of protesters’ rights. On Wednesday, another group of 44 Harvard-associated individuals expressed concern over what they called a campaign against institutions, including the Election Commission, Supreme Court and Parliament. The second letter also questioned the unauthorised use of Harvard’s name in political campaigns. The statements come amid protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and criticism of the authorities’ handling of demonstrations in Delhi. (PC: NDTV)

Several American politicians and public figures mistakenly shared photographs of Indian and Russian warships while wishing the US Navy on its 251st birthday on October 13. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and Congressman Tim Moore posted an image of 3 Indian Navy frigates, identified as INS Godavari, INS Brahmaputra and INS Beas. Other officials used pictures of Russian naval vessels. The errors were highlighted by Wall Street Journal journalist Dave Brown on X, drawing criticism and jokes from social media users. The incident turned a celebration of American naval power into an online discussion about identifying warships correctly. (PC: India Today)

India’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports remained robust in September despite disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz crisis, while Oman replaced the United States as the country’s top supplier, according to the report. The US had been India’s largest LNG source in recent months after the West Asia conflict began, but European buyers increased competition for American cargoes. Over the five-month period, US supplies totalled 3.41 million tonnes, accounting for 28.7% of India’s LNG imports. Strong demand pushed Indian importers to purchase spot-market cargoes at unusually high prices, while some Asian buyers cut imports. India also sought suppliers less dependent on Hormuz, prioritising availability over cost for several key sectors. (PC: AP)

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar humorously added Japan to a moderator’s list of India’s foreign policy priorities during a panel discussion. The moderator had described the strategy as engaging America, managing China, cultivating Europe and reassuring Russia. Jaishankar pointed out that Japan was missing, saying, “You forgot a fifth country: Japan.” He joked that he had to mention it or he would be “in trouble at home with my wife.” His wife, Kyoko Jaishankar, is Japanese, and the couple met while he was serving as a diplomat in Tokyo. The exchange drew laughter. Japan’s wider strategic importance to India includes Indo-Pacific cooperation, Quad membership, trade, infrastructure and regional security.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has described India-US relations as a strategic “partnership, not an alliance”, saying countries must reassess their engagement with Washington as its global approach changes. His remarks come amid differences between New Delhi and Washington over trade, tariffs and other bilateral issues, even as both continue cooperating on shared interests. Jaishankar said the shift in US policy was not directed at any single country and required governments to reconsider their relationships with Washington. His comments precede US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s scheduled five-day India visit beginning October 17, during which energy cooperation and broader strategic ties are expected to feature prominently on the agenda.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit India from October 17 to 22, 2026, marking his second official visit this year. After visiting Uzbekistan, he will travel to Mumbai and Jamnagar to meet senior Indian officials and business leaders. Discussions will focus on strengthening strategic ties, expanding energy cooperation, and promoting commercial investment. The visit comes amid ongoing trade negotiations and disagreements over tariffs and Russian energy imports. Both countries aim to deepen economic cooperation and address regional and global challenges. The meetings are expected to play an important role in advancing bilateral relations. (PC: Reuters)

UK universities are withdrawing admission offers to international students, including applicants from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nigeria, amid stricter student visa rules, according to a Financial Times report cited by Firstpost. Under the Basic Compliance Assessment framework introduced in June 2026, institutions must keep student visa refusal rates below 5 per cent, down from 10 per cent, or risk disciplinary action and losing their student sponsor licences. Financial Times analysis of Home Office data found 10.5 per cent of UK study visa applications were withdrawn in the first half of 2026, against 2.3 per cent in 2025. Pakistan’s rate reached 40.9 per cent, Bangladesh’s 23.5 per cent, Nigeria’s 22.7 per cent and India’s 5.2 per cent. (PC: Pixabay)