Ranked: The World’s Most and Least Liked Countries - Visual Capitalist

According to the 2026 Democracy Perception Index, Canada and Switzerland have been named the most liked counties in the world. Both Canada and Switzerland received net perception scores of +36, followed by Japan (+34), Sweden (+33), Norway (+32) and Italy (+32),

The author has realized that being direct and honest leads to better collaboration. For the first seven years I worked as a speech-language pathologist, I prioritized soft politeness. I apologized before offering my opinion and focused on other people's comfort. Taking this approach felt essential to my job — a lot of the conversations at work are emotionally charged for my clients and their parents. One of the big challenges in this role is finding a way to tell the truth to a parent about how their child is struggling without breaking their heart. It's part of my job to communicate difficult informationIn the schools, I'm required to meet with every student's parent at least once a year to discuss their progress and services. As a parent of kids with disabilities, I know how scary those meetings can be, and everyone reacts differently. Some parents walk in the door ready to collaborate with teachers. Some are immediately defensive or even hostile. My goal was always to create a safe atmosphere where parents could process information and emotions as they worked toward a positive partnership.

Both candidates for the Brazilian presidency have called for the disqualification of their rivals over allegations of social media interference, ramping up political drama ahead of the close-fought October 25 runoff election. Brazil’s right-wing presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro has requested the annulment of the candidacy of his rival, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, over what he called unlawful propaganda. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Lula and Bolsonaro spar in Brazil’s fiery first presidential run-off debatelist 2 of 3Brazilian court orders Meta to prove Lula and Bolsonaro get equal treatmentlist 3 of 3Lula challenges Bolsonaro to release personal records before electionend of listLawyers for Bolsonaro filed a request with the Superior Electoral Court on Tuesday, alleging Lula’s “abuse of power” in the mass dissemination of government postings during the campaign period via WhatsApp. Bolsonaro’s camp claimed the Brazilian government sent mass messages to millions of Brazilians via the messaging service, promoting social programmes, benefits and government initiatives in the midst of the presidential race, Brazilian media reported.

As Brussels works on closer ties with both countries, it is also looking for partners to help meet Kyiv’s rising costs. Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney, whose country is likely to face requests for more Ukraine support, acknowledges MEPs as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen applauds in the hemicycle at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Sept. 17, 2026. | Jean-Christophe Verhagen/AFP via Getty Images

A drone strike on a market in a border region disputed by Sudan and South Sudan killed at least 153 people on Monday, according to a local official, the latest in a wave of deadly attacks. The strike pushed the toll from attacks in recent days to more than 250, underscoring the lethality of airstrikes in Sudan’s war, which ⁠erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces ⁠and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Yohanna Akol Ngor, the Abyei administration’s caretaker information minister, blamed Sudan’s military, without providing evidence, for Monday’s attack on Amiet market, north of Abyei town. “We have recorded 153 deaths,” Akol said. Sudan’s military did not respond to a request for comment. A witness said he heard five large explosions that led to a fuel depot nearby catching fire. “People started evacuating the casualties. They ​had injuries from shrapnel on their stomach and legs … In one site, I saw 28 bodies that were burnt,” the witness said, asking not to be named for safety reasons.

Nigeria has confirmed an Ebola case in its capital, Abuja, after a woman who arrived from Uganda tested positive for the virus, the health ministry said. The woman began showing symptoms on 7 October and was admitted to a hospital in Abuja four days later, where she was later diagnosed with Ebola. It is unclear when she arrived in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country. The health minister, Muhammad Pate, said authorities had begun tracing 44 people identified as contacts of the patient. “We are doing everything possible to contain this case by tracing all the contacts the individual may have had,” he said. Uganda’s ministry of health said the patient had only transited through Uganda and that she is a Nigerian woman who had been on a business trip to Congo’s eastern region. The Nigerian authorities have not disclosed her nationality. “Travel through Uganda does not establish that infection occurred here. The location of exposure remains under investigation,” the ministry said in a statement. The ministry insisted Uganda has “no confirmed active Ebola cases”. Nigeria is the latest country to report an Ebola case as the outbreak spreads across the region.