In an unusual incident, a Russian-Israeli man, Sergey Vladimirovich Ochigava, managed to fly from Copenhagen to Los Angeles without a passport or ticket, raising security concerns. The mysterious case is now under investigation by the FBI.

Ochigava's actions on the Scandinavian Airlines flight drew attention, with the flight crew noting his peculiar behaviour. He wandered around the plane, frequently changed seats, and requested two meals during each meal service. At one point, he even attempted to consume chocolates that belonged to the cabin crew, reported NBC News.

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<h2>No passport, false information</h2>

Upon landing at Los Angeles International Airport, officials discovered Ochigava had neither a passport nor a visa. He initially provided false information, claiming he left his passport on the airplane.

A subsequent search of his bag revealed Russian and Israeli identification cards but no passport.

Copenhagen Airport, where Ochigava reportedly entered without a valid ticket, is collaborating with authorities.

The FBI has taken charge of the investigation, and the suspect is being held in custody. If convicted of stowing away on an aircraft, Ochigava could face up to five years in prison under US law.

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FBI Agent Caroline Walling shared details from an interview with Ochigava, revealing the suspect's confusion and lack of sleep. Ochigava, a Ph.D. holder in economics and marketing, claimed uncertainty about his journey, citing possible ticket possession but providing no clarity on how he boarded the plane or navigated security in Copenhagen.

Copenhagen Airport expressed serious concern about the breach, acknowledging Ochigava's unauthorised entry.

The investigation is ongoing, and additional details may emerge as the case unfolds.

(With inputs from agencies)

In an unusual incident, a Russian-Israeli man, Sergey Vladimirovich Ochigava, managed to fly from Copenhagen to Los Angeles without a passport or ticket, raising security concerns.

In an unusual incident, a Russian-Israeli man, Sergey Vladimirovich Ochigava, managed to fly from Copenhagen to Los Angeles without a passport or ticket, raising security concerns. The mysterious case is now under investigation by the FBI. Ochigava's actions on the Scandinavian Airlines flight drew attention, with the flight crew noting his peculiar behaviour. He wandered around the plane, frequently changed seats, and requested two meals during each meal service. At one point, he even attempted to consume chocolates that belonged to the cabin crew, reported NBC News. Also read | Zelensky arrives in Capitol to secure another round of funding from Biden No passport, false information Upon landing at Los Angeles International Airport, officials discovered Ochigava had neither a passport nor a visa. He initially provided false information, claiming he left his passport on the airplane. A subsequent search of his bag revealed Russian and Israeli identification cards but no passport. Copenhagen Airport, where Ochigava reportedly entered without a valid ticket, is collaborating with authorities. The FBI has taken charge of the investigation, and the suspect is being held in custody. If convicted of stowing away on an aircraft, Ochigava could face up to five years in prison under US law. Also watch | Russia to hold presidential election in four annexed Ukrainian regions FBI Agent Caroline Walling shared details from an interview with Ochigava, revealing the suspect's confusion and lack of sleep. Ochigava, a Ph.D. holder in economics and marketing, claimed uncertainty about his journey, citing possible ticket possession but providing no clarity on how he boarded the plane or navigated security in Copenhagen. Copenhagen Airport expressed serious concern about the breach, acknowledging Ochigava's unauthorised entry. The investigation is ongoing, and additional details may emerge as the case unfolds. (With inputs from agencies)

Russian man arrives in US without ticket or visa, FBI investigates bizarre incident

Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Interior Minister of Afghanistan held a Pakistani Passport, while negotiating with the Americans in Doha. Haqqani was a UN-designated terrorist who carried a bounty of $10 million. Did the US not know, or did it willingly overlook the fact that Sirajuddin Haqqani was travelling with a Pakistani passport while negotiating with the Americans in Doha?

Pakistani passport scandal involving Taliban's Interior Minister

Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Interior Minister of Afghanistan held a Pakistani Passport while negotiating with the Americans in Doha. Haqqani was a UN-designated terrorist who carried a bounty of $10 million. Did the US not know, or did it willingly overlook the fact that Sirajuddin Haqqani was travelling with a Pakistani passport while negotiating with the Americans in Doha? Mohammed Saleh speaks with Bill Roggio, a Senior Fellow at FDD and editor of FDD's Long War Journal.

Why did Taliban's Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani hold a Pakistani Passport?

Afghanistan and Pakistan are at loggerheads as at this moment Islamabad wants to deport all illegal Afghan refugees from its territory. But there is one man in Kabul for whom Islamabad has always been bending backwards to accommodate and the man in question is Sirajuddin Haqqani the in Interior Minister in the Taliban government a designated Global terrorist.

Taliban's Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani held a Pak passport

Taliban Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, who held a key role in the Doha Agreement negotiations with the United States before the takeover of Kabul and the ouster of US troops, had been issued a five-year Pakistani passport, enabling his travels abroad.&nbsp;Interior ministry officials told The News International that these passports were distributed from various cities in Pakistani provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Balochistan, and Sindh.

Notably, around 30,000 to 40,000 passports allocated to Afghan nationals were subsequently blocked, as officials intensified efforts to tackle the Pakistani passport scandal situation.&nbsp;Passport offices in cities such as Thatta and Karachi in Sindh, as well as undisclosed locations in Balochistan and KP, facilitated this irregular issuance of Pakistani passports.&nbsp;

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The discovery of Haqqani's Pakistani passport came to light when a Peshawar-based journalist, coincidentally on the same flight to Doha as Haqqani, observed him presenting the said passport at the immigration counter.

However, reports said that the mentioned journalist only brought the matter to the attention of passport authorities in August this year. Subsequent inquiries confirmed that the passport was issued in Peshawar during the tenure of the Imran-Khan-led PTI government.

The issuing officer, under the influence of an individual claiming to be a top intelligence officer, produced the travel documents for Haqqani. Both the issuing officer and the person involved in printing the passport have been held by the police.

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<h2>Saudi raises red flag</h2>

Saudi authorities shared samples of Pakistani passports acquired by Afghan nationals seeking employment in Saudi Arabia, which the Pakistani government learned from Saudi authorities are over 12,000 in number. These passports were annulled and individuals using fraudulent documents were repatriated to Afghanistan.

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Prompted by these developments, the Pakistani government launched an investigation, exposing the extensive issuance of passports to Afghan nationals. Pakistan's FIA (Federal Investigation Agency) initiated proceedings against officials involved in the issuance and production of these passports.&nbsp;

This comes as nearly 450,000 Afghan nationals returned to their homeland in the two months following the Pakistani government's announcement to deport all undocumented foreigners. “Those who have been asked to leave are the illegal immigrants here. They don’t enjoy the refugee status,” Durrani Asif Durrani, Pakistan’s special envoy to Afghanistan said Wednesday (Dec 7).&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Taliban Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, who held a key role in the Doha Agreement negotiations with the United States before the takeover of Kabul and the ouster of US troops, had been issued a five-year Pakistani passport, enabling his travels abroad.

Taliban Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, who held a key role in the Doha Agreement negotiations with the United States before the takeover of Kabul and the ouster of US troops, had been issued a five-year Pakistani passport, enabling his travels abroad. Interior ministry officials told The News International that these passports were distributed from various cities in Pakistani provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Balochistan, and Sindh. Notably, around 30,000 to 40,000 passports allocated to Afghan nationals were subsequently blocked, as officials intensified efforts to tackle the Pakistani passport scandal situation. Passport offices in cities such as Thatta and Karachi in Sindh, as well as undisclosed locations in Balochistan and KP, facilitated this irregular issuance of Pakistani passports. Also Read | State of emergency declared in Seychelles after floods and explosion The discovery of Haqqani's Pakistani passport came to light when a Peshawar-based journalist, coincidentally on the same flight to Doha as Haqqani, observed him presenting the said passport at the immigration counter. However, reports said that the mentioned journalist only brought the matter to the attention of passport authorities in August this year. Subsequent inquiries confirmed that the passport was issued in Peshawar during the tenure of the Imran-Khan-led PTI government. The issuing officer, under the influence of an individual claiming to be a top intelligence officer, produced the travel documents for Haqqani. Both the issuing officer and the person involved in printing the passport have been held by the police. Also Read | Ex-boyfriend of celebrity therapist Amie Harwick sentenced to life in prison for her brutal murder Saudi raises red flag Saudi authorities shared samples of Pakistani passports acquired by Afghan nationals seeking employment in Saudi Arabia, which the Pakistani government learned from Saudi authorities are over 12,000 in number. These passports were annulled and individuals using fraudulent documents were repatriated to Afghanistan. Watch | Far-right surge in Eastern Germany, AFD particularly popular among youth × Prompted by these developments, the Pakistani government launched an investigation, exposing the extensive issuance of passports to Afghan nationals. Pakistan's FIA (Federal Investigation Agency) initiated proceedings against officials involved in the issuance and production of these passports. This comes as nearly 450,000 Afghan nationals returned to their homeland in the two months following the Pakistani government's announcement to deport all undocumented foreigners. “Those who have been asked to leave are the illegal immigrants here. They don’t enjoy the refugee status,” Durrani Asif Durrani, Pakistan’s special envoy to Afghanistan said Wednesday (Dec 7). (With inputs from agencies)

Pakistani passport scandal by Taliban interior minister Sirajuddin Haqqani exposed. Here's what happened

The US government has successfully concluded a pilot project for issuing "paperless visas," a move that will propel the gradual phase-out of the traditional stamped visas on passport pages.&nbsp;Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Visa Services Julie Stufft reportedly shared details at a media round table in Washington where she stated, "We did our first small scope pilot of a paperless visa, which means that the visa process is the same but there's no physical visa in someone's passport."

"We just piloted this for the first time, so this is not something that's going to be happening in the next year," Stufft added.&nbsp;

Stufft also explained the gradual implementation of this system, saying, "It will take us probably 18 months to have widespread use of this or longer. But it is very exciting that we have had this first step where we have actually seen visitors come through...without a physical paper in their passports."

The official anticipated about the eventual need for an app or similar technology for individuals to display their visa status.

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While expressing her enthusiasm about the initiative, Stufft mentioned, "That will ultimately, in the future, as some other countries do, require an app or something that allows people to show their visa status without the physical paper in their passport."

Addressing the timeline for extending this system to Indian nationals, Stufft reportedly said, "I hope as soon as possible. But this is a long-term project that we have just piloted for the first time. I think we will see widespread use of this not for another year or so, or maybe longer."

She said that the US issued over 1,40,000 visas to Indian students last year and is working to cut down on the waiting period for visa appointments.

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<h2>How is it different from India's e-visa?&nbsp;</h2>

Stufft clarified the difference of the mentioned paperless visa from India's e-visas.

"We don't call it an e-visa (like India) because we have the same visa process up to the point of the paper. An interview is still required by law. If you are getting a paperless visa, it will look all the same until the point where there is no paper."

She also spoke of the benefits while noting that applicants can renew their visas without physical paperwork, reducing complications with mailing documents.

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Having completed the initial pilot in Dublin, Stufft disclosed plans to expand the paperless visa system to other types of visas and regions. According to the official, the phased approach would involve a gradual rollout across the world with a focus on ensuring proper checks. "It will be piece by piece though," she said.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The US government has successfully concluded a pilot project for issuing "paperless visas," a move that will propel the gradual phase-out of the traditional stamped visas on passport pages.

The US government has successfully concluded a pilot project for issuing "paperless visas," a move that will propel the gradual phase-out of the traditional stamped visas on passport pages. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Visa Services Julie Stufft reportedly shared details at a media round table in Washington where she stated, "We did our first small scope pilot of a paperless visa, which means that the visa process is the same but there's no physical visa in someone's passport." "We just piloted this for the first time, so this is not something that's going to be happening in the next year," Stufft added. Stufft also explained the gradual implementation of this system, saying, "It will take us probably 18 months to have widespread use of this or longer. But it is very exciting that we have had this first step where we have actually seen visitors come through...without a physical paper in their passports." The official anticipated about the eventual need for an app or similar technology for individuals to display their visa status. Also Read | Mitsotakis says cancellation of meeting with Sunak will not affect Greece-Britain relations While expressing her enthusiasm about the initiative, Stufft mentioned, "That will ultimately, in the future, as some other countries do, require an app or something that allows people to show their visa status without the physical paper in their passport." Addressing the timeline for extending this system to Indian nationals, Stufft reportedly said, "I hope as soon as possible. But this is a long-term project that we have just piloted for the first time. I think we will see widespread use of this not for another year or so, or maybe longer." She said that the US issued over 1,40,000 visas to Indian students last year and is working to cut down on the waiting period for visa appointments. Also Read | Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Nawaf taken to hospital after emergency: Report How is it different from India's e-visa? Stufft clarified the difference of the mentioned paperless visa from India's e-visas. "We don't call it an e-visa (like India) because we have the same visa process up to the point of the paper. An interview is still required by law. If you are getting a paperless visa, it will look all the same until the point where there is no paper." She also spoke of the benefits while noting that applicants can renew their visas without physical paperwork, reducing complications with mailing documents. Watch | Iranian Navy, IRGC undertake joint operation, intercepts Eisenhower Carrier Group in Gulf of Aden × Having completed the initial pilot in Dublin, Stufft disclosed plans to expand the paperless visa system to other types of visas and regions. According to the official, the phased approach would involve a gradual rollout across the world with a focus on ensuring proper checks. "It will be piece by piece though," she said. (With inputs from agencies)

US to phase out traditional stamped visas by 'paperless' ones. Here's what you should know

What do you do with an expired passport? The correct answer is: get it renewed. However, in India's Kerala, an old man was left flabbergasted by how his family used his old passport.

A video of the incident shared on social media platform X has left netizens in splits. It shows an ordinary passport's transformation into something extraordinarily imaginative or ordinary — your choice.

<h2>What happened?</h2>

X user D Prasanth Nath received a video as a WhatsApp forward. The content? Something too funny to not share.

In it, you can see an Indian passport, which at first look, seems like your run-of-the-mill travel document. However, a closer look reveals that it is a treasure trove of contact numbers.

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Nath, in his post, shares that the passport belongs to an elderly man. The man had submitted it for renewal, completely unaware of its contents.

Watch the video here:

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An elderly gentleman submitted his Passport for renewal. He was not aware of what someone in his house did. 
 
The officer has still not recovered from the shock after seeing this. 
(It's is Malayalam, but you will understand the same) 
 
Rcvd from WA <a href="https://t.co/0dw62o9Csm">pic.twitter.com/0dw62o9Csm</a>
— D Prasanth Nair (@DPrasanthNair) <a href="https://twitter.com/DPrasanthNair/status/1719905801295597626?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Unknown to him, someone in his family had used it as a makeshift phone book, meticulously scribbled with seemingly important contacts. These numbers are accompanied by the names of the people they belong to, all written in Malayalam.

Not only that, the passport was also "optimally" used for budgeting purposes. The last pages have some calculations that could very well be an account of household expenses.

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Sharing the now-viral video that already has more than 895,000 views, Nath wrote: "An elderly gentleman submitted his passport for renewal. He was not aware of what someone in his house did. The officer has still not recovered from the shock after seeing this."

"It's is (in) Malayalam, but you will understand the same," he added.

<h2>Internet reacts</h2>

Netizens were quick to react to the one-minute video, with one user calling it the "Optimum use of resources".

Another left a tongue-in-cheek comment, "If you can't travel at least make use of the pages properly."

Yet another said, "Found some real use for passport!"

One user went a step ahead and used the video to promote sustainability, saying, "Someone put the empty pages in a passport to good use. Instead of issuing every passport with too many empty pages most of which may never be used, go paperless and digital. Time to drop the 18th-century habit of hand-stamping passports with ink and rubber typefaces."

Others, however, didn't find the video funny and pointed out that a passport is government property, and the owner is "likely to be questioned" for defacing it.

(With inputs from agencies)

What do you do with an expired passport? The correct answer is: get it renewed. However, in India's Kerala, an old man was left flabbergasted by how his family used his old passport.

What do you do with an expired passport? The correct answer is: get it renewed. However, in India's Kerala, an old man was left flabbergasted by how his family used his old passport. A video of the incident shared on social media platform X has left netizens in splits. It shows an ordinary passport's transformation into something extraordinarily imaginative or ordinary — your choice. What happened? X user D Prasanth Nath received a video as a WhatsApp forward. The content? Something too funny to not share. In it, you can see an Indian passport, which at first look, seems like your run-of-the-mill travel document. However, a closer look reveals that it is a treasure trove of contact numbers. Also read | Astronomers want to give space a socially conscious makeover, push for renaming Magellan galaxies Nath, in his post, shares that the passport belongs to an elderly man. The man had submitted it for renewal, completely unaware of its contents. Watch the video here: An elderly gentleman submitted his Passport for renewal. He was not aware of what someone in his house did. The officer has still not recovered from the shock after seeing this. (It's is Malayalam, but you will understand the same) Rcvd from WA pic.twitter.com/0dw62o9Csm — D Prasanth Nair (@DPrasanthNair) November 2, 2023 × Unknown to him, someone in his family had used it as a makeshift phone book, meticulously scribbled with seemingly important contacts. These numbers are accompanied by the names of the people they belong to, all written in Malayalam. Not only that, the passport was also "optimally" used for budgeting purposes. The last pages have some calculations that could very well be an account of household expenses. Also read | Watch: Joe Biden makes another gaffe, addresses Vice President Kamala Harris as 'president' Sharing the now-viral video that already has more than 895,000 views, Nath wrote: "An elderly gentleman submitted his passport for renewal. He was not aware of what someone in his house did. The officer has still not recovered from the shock after seeing this." "It's is (in) Malayalam, but you will understand the same," he added. Internet reacts Netizens were quick to react to the one-minute video, with one user calling it the "Optimum use of resources". Another left a tongue-in-cheek comment, "If you can't travel at least make use of the pages properly." Yet another said, "Found some real use for passport!" One user went a step ahead and used the video to promote sustainability, saying, "Someone put the empty pages in a passport to good use. Instead of issuing every passport with too many empty pages most of which may never be used, go paperless and digital. Time to drop the 18th-century habit of hand-stamping passports with ink and rubber typefaces." Others, however, didn't find the video funny and pointed out that a passport is government property, and the owner is "likely to be questioned" for defacing it. (With inputs from agencies)

'Found some real use for passport!' Internet is in splits over THIS unusual use of a passport. Watch!

In yet another sign of Pakistan's weakening economy, the South Asian country's citizens are now facing difficulties to secure new passports due to scarcity of lamination paper.&nbsp;

Reports in the Pakistani media cited instances of students facing an extraordinary delay in obtaining their passports amid looming admission deadlines overseas.&nbsp;

Thousands of Pakistanis who need a passport for&nbsp;travelling abroad for study, work&nbsp;or leisure remain stuck, with no end to their ordeal in sight.

"I was all set to move to Dubai for work soon. My family and I were beyond ecstatic that our fortunes would finally change but the mismanagement of Directorate General of Immigration &amp; Passports (DGI&amp;P) seems to have cost me my golden ticket out poverty and this country," an individual who went by &nbsp;last name Gul, was quoted as saying by the Express Tribune.

"My student visa for Italy was recently approved and I had to be in the country in October. However, the unavailability of a passport robbed me of an opportunity to leave," Hira, a potential student in Italy, was quoted as saying by the publication.&nbsp;

Pakistan has had a history of such inefficiencies in issuing passports to its citizens in the past as well.

In 2013, passport printing came to a similar halt due to the DGI&amp;P owing money to printers and a lack of lamination papers, The Express Tribune reported.

"The situation will soon be under control and passport issuance will continue as normal," Qadir Yar Tiwana, the Director General for Media of the Ministry of Interior, the parent ministry of DGI&amp;P, was quoted as saying by the Express Tribune.&nbsp;

But Pakistani residents do not agree with Tiwana's assertions.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/dont-blame-afghanistan-for-your-failures-taliban-shoot-back-at-pakistan-656727">Don't blame Afghanistan for your failures: Taliban shoot back at Pakistan</a>

The Express Tribune report&nbsp;quoted&nbsp;Faizan, a resident of North Nazimabad in Karachi, a city which receives around 3,000 passport applications every day as per official estimates.

"I submitted my application more than 2 months ago and have not received my passport yet," he said. 
 
"My passport has not arrived to date and I have had to cancel all my plans for travelling abroad," an irate Amir, a resident of the Gulshan-e-Iqbal area of Karachi said.

Also watch |&nbsp;Protests at Afghanistan-Pakistan border, anger over new rules for Afghan visitors | World News| WION

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A senior officer of the passport office in Peshawar told The Express Tribune&nbsp;that they could presently only process 12 to 13 passports per day as compared to 3,000 to 4,000 passports per day previously.

"People may have to wait for another month or two," the official was quoted as saying by the paper on the condition of anonymity.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

In yet another sign of Pakistan's weakening economy, the South Asian country's citizens are now facing difficulties to secure new passports due to scarcity of lamination paper.

In yet another sign of Pakistan's weakening economy, the South Asian country's citizens are now facing difficulties to secure new passports due to scarcity of lamination paper. Reports in the Pakistani media cited instances of students facing an extraordinary delay in obtaining their passports amid looming admission deadlines overseas. Thousands of Pakistanis who need a passport for travelling abroad for study, work or leisure remain stuck, with no end to their ordeal in sight. "I was all set to move to Dubai for work soon. My family and I were beyond ecstatic that our fortunes would finally change but the mismanagement of Directorate General of Immigration & Passports (DGI&P) seems to have cost me my golden ticket out poverty and this country," an individual who went by last name Gul, was quoted as saying by the Express Tribune. "My student visa for Italy was recently approved and I had to be in the country in October. However, the unavailability of a passport robbed me of an opportunity to leave," Hira, a potential student in Italy, was quoted as saying by the publication. Pakistan has had a history of such inefficiencies in issuing passports to its citizens in the past as well. In 2013, passport printing came to a similar halt due to the DGI&P owing money to printers and a lack of lamination papers, The Express Tribune reported. "The situation will soon be under control and passport issuance will continue as normal," Qadir Yar Tiwana, the Director General for Media of the Ministry of Interior, the parent ministry of DGI&P, was quoted as saying by the Express Tribune. But Pakistani residents do not agree with Tiwana's assertions. Also read | Don't blame Afghanistan for your failures: Taliban shoot back at Pakistan The Express Tribune report quoted Faizan, a resident of North Nazimabad in Karachi, a city which receives around 3,000 passport applications every day as per official estimates. "I submitted my application more than 2 months ago and have not received my passport yet," he said. "My passport has not arrived to date and I have had to cancel all my plans for travelling abroad," an irate Amir, a resident of the Gulshan-e-Iqbal area of Karachi said. Also watch | Protests at Afghanistan-Pakistan border, anger over new rules for Afghan visitors | World News| WION × A senior officer of the passport office in Peshawar told The Express Tribune that they could presently only process 12 to 13 passports per day as compared to 3,000 to 4,000 passports per day previously. "People may have to wait for another month or two," the official was quoted as saying by the paper on the condition of anonymity. (With inputs from agencies)

No passports for Pakistanis as country now faces shortage of lamination paper

In this episode of Tech It Out, We explain how AI-powered drones spot wildfires, and we also tell you everything about Digital Passports. Further, find out how South Korea is emerging as a major defence industry player. Do watch the full show.

High-tech South Korean weapons, Digital Passports, and more

Here we bring you a quick round-up of all the latest news and top trending headlines from all across the globe. The Indian passport's rank has improved in the latest Henley Passport Index. India's rank has gone up from 87 to 80. Indian can now travel to 57 destinations without a visa. Watch to know more.

The world's strongest passport | Johnson & Johnson subsidiary files for bankruptcy

A Delhi court, on Friday, partially allowed an application moved by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi seeking a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the issuance of an "ordinary passport".

The Rouse Avenue Court of Delhi granted the no-objection certificate to India’s top opposition leader for 3 years.

On Friday, the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Vaibhav Mehta said that Gandhi is granted NOC valid for 3 years.

"People who have been involved in graver offences have been granted passports for ten years. It includes 2G and Coal scam etc. Issuance of passport for ten years is given as a matter of routine," advocate Cheema added.&nbsp;

Former Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy, during earlier submissions, filed the reply in the Delhi Court, opposing the Congress party leader's plea and submitted that the applicant (Rahul Gandhi) has no-valid or effective reason for the passport to be issued for 10 years.

In the reply, it is submitted that "the application is devoid of any merit for issuance of passport for 10 years."

He further in his reply submitted that the court may exercise the prudence to give permission after investigating and examining all the other matters that are correlated before deciding on the litigation of the applicant in the broad spectrum of areas of justice and law.

He added that at this stage, the NOC for the passport for the applicant may not be more than one year and may be reviewed annually or as deemed fit by this court. &nbsp;

"The right to hold a passport, like all other Fundamental Rights, is not an absolute Right and is subject to reasonable restrictions imposed by the Government in the interest of national security, public order, morality, and prevention of crime," Swamy added.

The Delhi Court had asked Subramanian Swamy, on Wednesday (May 24), to file his written submissions by Friday while hearing the plea for a fresh passport by Rahul Gandhi, who is an accused in the National Herald case.

Gandhi, who moved to the court seeking NOC to secure an ordinary passport, had surrendered his diplomatic travel document after his disqualification as an MP.

<h2>No pending criminal cases against Gandhi, says counsel</h2>

Counsel for Gandhi, Advocate Tarannum Cheema, who appeared along with advocates Nikhil Bhalla and Sumit Kumar, pursued the grant of the no objection certificate (NOC), stating that there are 'no criminal cases pending' against him, as per news agency ANI.

"The applicant ceased to be a Member of Parliament in March 2023 and as such he surrendered his diplomatic passport and is applying for a fresh ordinary passport. By way of the present application, the applicant is seeking permission and no objection from this Court for issuance of a fresh ordinary passport to him."&nbsp;

Rahul Gandhi's advocates submitted that there are no criminal proceedings pending and that travelling abroad is a fundamental right.

(With inputs from agencies)

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A Delhi court, on Friday, partially allowed an application moved by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi seeking a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the issuance of an "ordinary passport".

A Delhi court, on Friday, partially allowed an application moved by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi seeking a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the issuance of an "ordinary passport". The Rouse Avenue Court of Delhi granted the no-objection certificate to India’s top opposition leader for 3 years. On Friday, the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Vaibhav Mehta said that Gandhi is granted NOC valid for 3 years. "People who have been involved in graver offences have been granted passports for ten years. It includes 2G and Coal scam etc. Issuance of passport for ten years is given as a matter of routine," advocate Cheema added. Former Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy, during earlier submissions, filed the reply in the Delhi Court, opposing the Congress party leader's plea and submitted that the applicant (Rahul Gandhi) has no-valid or effective reason for the passport to be issued for 10 years. In the reply, it is submitted that "the application is devoid of any merit for issuance of passport for 10 years." He further in his reply submitted that the court may exercise the prudence to give permission after investigating and examining all the other matters that are correlated before deciding on the litigation of the applicant in the broad spectrum of areas of justice and law. He added that at this stage, the NOC for the passport for the applicant may not be more than one year and may be reviewed annually or as deemed fit by this court. "The right to hold a passport, like all other Fundamental Rights, is not an absolute Right and is subject to reasonable restrictions imposed by the Government in the interest of national security, public order, morality, and prevention of crime," Swamy added. The Delhi Court had asked Subramanian Swamy, on Wednesday (May 24), to file his written submissions by Friday while hearing the plea for a fresh passport by Rahul Gandhi, who is an accused in the National Herald case. Gandhi, who moved to the court seeking NOC to secure an ordinary passport, had surrendered his diplomatic travel document after his disqualification as an MP. No pending criminal cases against Gandhi, says counsel Counsel for Gandhi, Advocate Tarannum Cheema, who appeared along with advocates Nikhil Bhalla and Sumit Kumar, pursued the grant of the no objection certificate (NOC), stating that there are 'no criminal cases pending' against him, as per news agency ANI. "The applicant ceased to be a Member of Parliament in March 2023 and as such he surrendered his diplomatic passport and is applying for a fresh ordinary passport. By way of the present application, the applicant is seeking permission and no objection from this Court for issuance of a fresh ordinary passport to him." Rahul Gandhi's advocates submitted that there are no criminal proceedings pending and that travelling abroad is a fundamental right. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Delhi court grants No Objection Certificate to Rahul Gandhi for issuance of ‘ordinary passport’ for 3 years

The daughter of former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti has accused the Government of India of curbing her fundamental rights by issuing a conditional passport after a year of court litigation. Iltija Mufti has alleged that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) branch of Jammu and Kashmir Police has been misleading the court with different lies and are opposing the issuance of a passport to her.&nbsp;

Iltija Mufti was issued a passport valid only for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and for a limited period of two years. Iltija, 35, had approached the Jammu and Kashmir high court after the travel document was denied by the regional passport office, citing an adverse report from CID.&nbsp;

Addressing a press conference at Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) headquarters in Srinagar, Iltija Mufti said “CID and Deputy Solicitor General is pressuring me to withdraw my petition in court, but I will not withdraw my petition as I have full faith in judiciary”.&nbsp;

Iltija further said that “the passport officer is lying when he says that I’m going to the UAE for further studies, instead I have stated in my application that I want to go UK (United Kingdom) or any other country for pursuing higher studies”.

“Despite knowing I'm not involved in any FIR or any other anti-national activity, how come the passport officer issued me a conditional passport just before the hearing in court. She said it’s ‘Andher Nagri’ here as the passport office is putting blame on the CID department and CID is putting blame on the passport office. In between I'm the actual sufferer,” said Iltija Mufti.&nbsp;

Iltija has decided to further fight for her rights. Meanwhile, the regional passport officer, Srinagar has said that after two years, an assessment will be done, and a decision will be taken accordingly on the further validity of Iltija's passport. 
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The daughter of former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti has accused the Government of India of curbing her fundamental rights by issuing a conditional passport after a year of court litigation.

The daughter of former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti has accused the Government of India of curbing her fundamental rights by issuing a conditional passport after a year of court litigation. Iltija Mufti has alleged that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) branch of Jammu and Kashmir Police has been misleading the court with different lies and are opposing the issuance of a passport to her. Iltija Mufti was issued a passport valid only for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and for a limited period of two years. Iltija, 35, had approached the Jammu and Kashmir high court after the travel document was denied by the regional passport office, citing an adverse report from CID. Addressing a press conference at Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) headquarters in Srinagar, Iltija Mufti said “CID and Deputy Solicitor General is pressuring me to withdraw my petition in court, but I will not withdraw my petition as I have full faith in judiciary”. Iltija further said that “the passport officer is lying when he says that I’m going to the UAE for further studies, instead I have stated in my application that I want to go UK (United Kingdom) or any other country for pursuing higher studies”. “Despite knowing I'm not involved in any FIR or any other anti-national activity, how come the passport officer issued me a conditional passport just before the hearing in court. She said it’s ‘Andher Nagri’ here as the passport office is putting blame on the CID department and CID is putting blame on the passport office. In between I'm the actual sufferer,” said Iltija Mufti. Iltija has decided to further fight for her rights. Meanwhile, the regional passport officer, Srinagar has said that after two years, an assessment will be done, and a decision will be taken accordingly on the further validity of Iltija's passport. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

India: Mehbooba Mufti’s daughter slams government over issuance of conditional passport

The number of Russians acquiring new passports with revised gender markers soared in 2022,&nbsp;according to a report by the independent news source Mediazona. In contrast to 554 passports in 2021 and 428 in 2020, 936 new passports were issued last year citing "sex change" according to statistics provided by Russia's interior ministry.&nbsp;The statistics also revealed that the sudden rise started in March, right after Russia invaded Ukraine.

“Human rights advocates who spoke to Mediazona said that the spike is likely a result of the war in Ukraine and Russia’s crackdown on LGBTQ+ rights as transgender people seek to avoid mobilisation and fear that authorities could ban transitioning altogether in the future,” the report said.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-war-president-zelensky-calls-for-faster-military-aid-says-situation-in-east-very-difficult-562221">Ukraine war: President Zelensky calls for faster military aid, says situation in east very difficult</a>

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Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Russia has seen a significant increase in new passports issued due to gender transition. We explain why many Russian trans people decided to update their documents now, amid war<a href="https://t.co/28hKjlDBWv">https://t.co/28hKjlDBWv</a> <a href="https://t.co/x34WBUc8eG">pic.twitter.com/x34WBUc8eG</a>
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“In December 2022, 119 Russians received passports with updated gender markers, more than in any previous month on record,” it added.

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Report: Thousands of Ukrainian children put through Russian ‘re-education’ camps

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The claims emerge months after Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, approved a limited mobilisation in an effort to support Moscow's soldiers, who were suffering significant casualties on the battlefield. Sergei Shoigu, the Russian defence minister, announced in September that 300,000 reservists will be called up to help Moscow's military operation. But rumours started to spread that Russia was gathering up homeless people and deploying them at&nbsp;the front lines. 
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The number of Russians acquiring new passports with revised gender markers soared in 2022, according to a report by the independent news source Mediazona. In contrast to 554 passports in 2021 and 428 in 2020, 936 new passports were issued last year citing "sex change" according to statistics provided by Russia's interior ministry.

The number of Russians acquiring new passports with revised gender markers soared in 2022, according to a report by the independent news source Mediazona. In contrast to 554 passports in 2021 and 428 in 2020, 936 new passports were issued last year citing "sex change" according to statistics provided by Russia's interior ministry. The statistics also revealed that the sudden rise started in March, right after Russia invaded Ukraine. “Human rights advocates who spoke to Mediazona said that the spike is likely a result of the war in Ukraine and Russia’s crackdown on LGBTQ+ rights as transgender people seek to avoid mobilisation and fear that authorities could ban transitioning altogether in the future,” the report said. ALSO READ | Ukraine war: President Zelensky calls for faster military aid, says situation in east very difficult Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Russia has seen a significant increase in new passports issued due to gender transition. We explain why many Russian trans people decided to update their documents now, amid warhttps://t.co/28hKjlDBWv pic.twitter.com/x34WBUc8eG — Mediazona (@mediazona_en) February 14, 2023 × “In December 2022, 119 Russians received passports with updated gender markers, more than in any previous month on record,” it added. ALSO WATCH | Report: Thousands of Ukrainian children put through Russian ‘re-education’ camps The claims emerge months after Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, approved a limited mobilisation in an effort to support Moscow's soldiers, who were suffering significant casualties on the battlefield. Sergei Shoigu, the Russian defence minister, announced in September that 300,000 reservists will be called up to help Moscow's military operation. But rumours started to spread that Russia was gathering up homeless people and deploying them at the front lines. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Russia: 'Sex change' cited as reason for 936 new passports in 2022, says report

In a move to improve citizen services and expedite the passport issuance process, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has introduced the mPassport Police App that will expedite the police verification process. India's Home Minister Amit Shah gave out 350 mobile tablets to the personnel of the Special Branch/Delhi Police on the occasion of Delhi Police Raising Day for the police verification process using the app.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/the-real-reason-why-microsoft-backed-openai-developing-customizable-chatgpt-563016">The real reason why Microsoft-backed OpenAI developing customisable ChatGPT</a>

The tablets will streamline the process of police verification and submission of reports, making it digital and paperless. With the use of the app, the verification process is slated to be reduced from 15 days to just 5 days, effectively cutting down the passport issuance timeline by 10 days.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/why-poland-belarusian-president-invites-biden-to-minsk-instead-to-end-the-war-563028">'Why Poland?': Belarusian president invites Biden to Minsk instead, to 'end the war'</a>

This move is expected to benefit citizens who have been struggling with delays in the passport issuance. Abhishek Dubey, Regional Passport Officer, Delhi in a release said, "Various steps have been taken (by the ministry of external affairs) to streamline and expedite the process."

Watch | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/japan-rocket-boosters-fail-to-fire-resulting-in-cancellation-of-launch-562993">Japan: Rocket boosters fail to fire, resulting in cancellation of launch</a>

The move is being seen as a major step towards improving citizen services and streamlining the passport issuance system. With the use of mobile tablets and the mPassport Police App, citizens can expect faster and more efficient verification, which will make it easier for them to obtain passports. 
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In a move to improve citizen services and expedite the passport issuance process, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has introduced the mPassport Police App that will expedite the police verification process.

In a move to improve citizen services and expedite the passport issuance process, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has introduced the mPassport Police App that will expedite the police verification process. India's Home Minister Amit Shah gave out 350 mobile tablets to the personnel of the Special Branch/Delhi Police on the occasion of Delhi Police Raising Day for the police verification process using the app. Also Read | The real reason why Microsoft-backed OpenAI developing customisable ChatGPT The tablets will streamline the process of police verification and submission of reports, making it digital and paperless. With the use of the app, the verification process is slated to be reduced from 15 days to just 5 days, effectively cutting down the passport issuance timeline by 10 days. Also Read | 'Why Poland?': Belarusian president invites Biden to Minsk instead, to 'end the war' This move is expected to benefit citizens who have been struggling with delays in the passport issuance. Abhishek Dubey, Regional Passport Officer, Delhi in a release said, "Various steps have been taken (by the ministry of external affairs) to streamline and expedite the process." Watch | Japan: Rocket boosters fail to fire, resulting in cancellation of launch The move is being seen as a major step towards improving citizen services and streamlining the passport issuance system. With the use of mobile tablets and the mPassport Police App, citizens can expect faster and more efficient verification, which will make it easier for them to obtain passports. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Mobile tablets for Delhi Police personnel to expedite passport issuance process

Which are the world's most powerful and least powerful passports? How is the power of your passport determined? Molly Gambhir tells you.

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Henley Passport Index: Most powerful passports for 2023

China has announced that it will resume issuing regular visas and passports, marking yet another significant departure from the anti-virus constraints that kept the nation closed for nearly three years. This could result in a massive influx of Chinese citizens travelling abroad for the Lunar New Year holiday next month.

The move on Tuesday comes as President Xi Jinping's administration strives to reverse an economic downturn by making more drastic reforms that are pulling back some of the tightest anti-virus restrictions in the world. China's infection rate was kept low by regulations that kept millions of people inside their homes, but they also fostered popular unrest and stunted the country's economic development.

In response to the most recent decision, free-spending Chinese visitors may flock to economically struggling regions of Asia and Europe for the Lunar New Year, which starts on January 22.&nbsp;

When the COVID-19 pandemic first broke out in early 2020, China ceased providing passports and visas to outsiders.

As per National Immigration Administration of China, passport applications for Chinese tourists travelling overseas will begin to be accepted on January 8. It said that it will continue granting permission for travellers and entrepreneurs to go to Hong Kong, a region of China with independent border controls.

According to the organisation, it will accept applications for standard visas and residence permits. There was no mention of when full-scale international tourist travel may be permitted; it was just said that the administration will "gradually restart" permitting foreign tourists.

(With inputs from agencies)

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China has announced that it will resume issuing regular visas and passports, marking yet another significant departure from the anti-virus constraints that kept the nation closed for nearly three years.

China has announced that it will resume issuing regular visas and passports, marking yet another significant departure from the anti-virus constraints that kept the nation closed for nearly three years. This could result in a massive influx of Chinese citizens travelling abroad for the Lunar New Year holiday next month. The move on Tuesday comes as President Xi Jinping's administration strives to reverse an economic downturn by making more drastic reforms that are pulling back some of the tightest anti-virus restrictions in the world. China's infection rate was kept low by regulations that kept millions of people inside their homes, but they also fostered popular unrest and stunted the country's economic development. In response to the most recent decision, free-spending Chinese visitors may flock to economically struggling regions of Asia and Europe for the Lunar New Year, which starts on January 22. When the COVID-19 pandemic first broke out in early 2020, China ceased providing passports and visas to outsiders. As per National Immigration Administration of China, passport applications for Chinese tourists travelling overseas will begin to be accepted on January 8. It said that it will continue granting permission for travellers and entrepreneurs to go to Hong Kong, a region of China with independent border controls. According to the organisation, it will accept applications for standard visas and residence permits. There was no mention of when full-scale international tourist travel may be permitted; it was just said that the administration will "gradually restart" permitting foreign tourists. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

China to resume issuing regular visas, passports as Covid curbs relax

New visa rules issued by UAE authorities can stop you from flying to and from the country if your passport doesn’t mention your name in the desired way. On November 21, 2022, Indian Airlines, including Spice jet, Indigo and Air India Express, notified travel agents across India about UAE’s new immigration rule. As per the new guidelines, a traveller must make sure both his/her first name and surname are mentioned in the passport. Passengers, whose passports don’t mention both first names and surnames won’t be allowed to enter the UAE. The rule only applies to those coming to UAE on tourist and on-arrival visas.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uae-job-exploration-visa-check-eligibility-documents-fees-and-more-522790">UAE job exploration visa: Check eligibility, documents, fees and more</a>

<h2>What is the new rule issued by the UAE authorities?</h2>

As per instructions from UAE authorities, passengers with a single name on their passports won’t be issued visas and shall not be allowed to travel to and from the country.

In case, if the visa has been issued already, the passenger with a single name on the passport will be declared an inadmissible passenger (INAD) by the immigration. The rule doesn’t apply to those holding legitimate residence permission or a work visa. The new rules have already been implemented on 21st November, 2022.

<h2>How will the new visa rules be applied by the UAE authorities?</h2>

A notification issued by Air India Express has explained the UAE’s new visa rules through a suitable example. For example, if a passenger’s name mentioned in the first name section is PARVEEN, and the&nbsp;surname section is blank; or his first name section is blank and the surname section mentions PARVEEN, his visa application won’t be entertained by the authorities.

New visa rules issued by UAE authorities can stop you from flying to and from the country if your passport doesn’t mention your name in the desired way. On November 21, 2022, Indian Airlines, including Spice jet, Indigo and Air India Express, notified travel agents across India about UAE’s new immigration rule.

New visa rules issued by UAE authorities can stop you from flying to and from the country if your passport doesn’t mention your name in the desired way. On November 21, 2022, Indian Airlines, including Spice jet, Indigo and Air India Express, notified travel agents across India about UAE’s new immigration rule. As per the new guidelines, a traveller must make sure both his/her first name and surname are mentioned in the passport. Passengers, whose passports don’t mention both first names and surnames won’t be allowed to enter the UAE. The rule only applies to those coming to UAE on tourist and on-arrival visas. Also Read: UAE job exploration visa: Check eligibility, documents, fees and more What is the new rule issued by the UAE authorities? As per instructions from UAE authorities, passengers with a single name on their passports won’t be issued visas and shall not be allowed to travel to and from the country. In case, if the visa has been issued already, the passenger with a single name on the passport will be declared an inadmissible passenger (INAD) by the immigration. The rule doesn’t apply to those holding legitimate residence permission or a work visa. The new rules have already been implemented on 21st November, 2022. How will the new visa rules be applied by the UAE authorities? A notification issued by Air India Express has explained the UAE’s new visa rules through a suitable example. For example, if a passenger’s name mentioned in the first name section is PARVEEN, and the surname section is blank; or his first name section is blank and the surname section mentions PARVEEN, his visa application won’t be entertained by the authorities.

UAE new visa rules: You won’t be able to fly if THIS detail is missing in your passport

Authorities in Iran have returned the&nbsp;passport&nbsp;of Ali Daei, the country's football legend confirmed to AFP on Monday, after confiscating it for supporting protests over Mahsa Amini's death. Iran has been gripped by nationwide demonstrations since the 22-year-old Kurdish woman's death was announced on September 16, three days after she was arrested in Tehran for allegedly violating the country's strict dress code. The street violence has led to dozens of deaths, mostly of protesters but also of members of the security forces. Hundreds have also been arrested.

"Upon my return from abroad, my&nbsp;passport&nbsp;was confiscated by police at Tehran's international airport in the presence of my family and other people," Daei said, in his first comments to the media since the beginning of the protests. "The receipt they gave me said I had to go to the public and revolutionary prosecutor in the capital (Tehran) to follow up the case," he noted. The&nbsp;passport's confiscation "wasn't and isn't an important issue for me, so I didn't go anywhere", Daei said, adding that the authorities "returned it after two or three days". Daei on September 27 used social media to call on the government to "solve the problems of the Iranian people rather than using repression, violence and arrests". "The confiscation of Ali Daei's&nbsp;passport&nbsp;was due to what he wrote on Instagram in response to the death of Mahsa Amini," reformist paper Hammihan reported earlier Monday.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/the-goat-virat-kohli-hails-cristiano-ronaldo-as-manchester-united-star-completes-700-club-goals-524159">'The GOAT': Virat Kohli hails Cristiano Ronaldo as Manchester United star completes 700 club goals</a>

<h2>- 'Lack of respect' -</h2>

Nicknamed "Shahriar" ("king" in Farsi), the former forward held the record for the most international goals scored -- 109 -- until September 2021, when Cristiano Ronaldo overtook him. Daei, 52, was one of Iran's first players to compete in a European league. He played in the Bundesliga, first with Arminia Bielefeld before joining Bayern Munich and then Hertha Berlin. Hertha on Sunday tweeted that it was "dismayed looking at the current situation in Iran. Our former player Ali Daei is no longer permitted to leave the country because he has come out in favour of women's rights."

The football star told AFP: "Unfortunately, I don't understand why they seized my&nbsp;passport. And after this lack of respect, what does the return of the&nbsp;passport&nbsp;mean legally?"&nbsp;A number of Iranian sportsmen, actors and filmmakers have thrown their weight behind the demonstrations, asking authorities in the Islamic republic to listen to the people's demands.On Thursday, local media reported that former Bayern Munich midfielder Ali Karimi was facing prosecution over his support for the protests.

The authorities have also seized the passports of singer Homayoun Shajarian and his wife, actress Sahar Dolatshahi, as well as that of filmmaker Mehran Modiri, the ILNA news agency reported on Sunday.

On September 30, Iranian authorities arrested former football player Hossein Mahini over his support for the protests, accusing him of "encouraging riots". Mahini was reportedly released on bail early last week.

Authorities in Iran have returned the passport of Ali Daei, the country's football legend confirmed to AFP on Monday, after confiscating it for supporting protests over Mahsa Amini's death.

Authorities in Iran have returned the passport of Ali Daei, the country's football legend confirmed to AFP on Monday, after confiscating it for supporting protests over Mahsa Amini's death. Iran has been gripped by nationwide demonstrations since the 22-year-old Kurdish woman's death was announced on September 16, three days after she was arrested in Tehran for allegedly violating the country's strict dress code. The street violence has led to dozens of deaths, mostly of protesters but also of members of the security forces. Hundreds have also been arrested. "Upon my return from abroad, my passport was confiscated by police at Tehran's international airport in the presence of my family and other people," Daei said, in his first comments to the media since the beginning of the protests. "The receipt they gave me said I had to go to the public and revolutionary prosecutor in the capital (Tehran) to follow up the case," he noted. The passport's confiscation "wasn't and isn't an important issue for me, so I didn't go anywhere", Daei said, adding that the authorities "returned it after two or three days". Daei on September 27 used social media to call on the government to "solve the problems of the Iranian people rather than using repression, violence and arrests". "The confiscation of Ali Daei's passport was due to what he wrote on Instagram in response to the death of Mahsa Amini," reformist paper Hammihan reported earlier Monday. ALSO READ | 'The GOAT': Virat Kohli hails Cristiano Ronaldo as Manchester United star completes 700 club goals - 'Lack of respect' - Nicknamed "Shahriar" ("king" in Farsi), the former forward held the record for the most international goals scored -- 109 -- until September 2021, when Cristiano Ronaldo overtook him. Daei, 52, was one of Iran's first players to compete in a European league. He played in the Bundesliga, first with Arminia Bielefeld before joining Bayern Munich and then Hertha Berlin. Hertha on Sunday tweeted that it was "dismayed looking at the current situation in Iran. Our former player Ali Daei is no longer permitted to leave the country because he has come out in favour of women's rights." The football star told AFP: "Unfortunately, I don't understand why they seized my passport. And after this lack of respect, what does the return of the passport mean legally?" A number of Iranian sportsmen, actors and filmmakers have thrown their weight behind the demonstrations, asking authorities in the Islamic republic to listen to the people's demands.On Thursday, local media reported that former Bayern Munich midfielder Ali Karimi was facing prosecution over his support for the protests. The authorities have also seized the passports of singer Homayoun Shajarian and his wife, actress Sahar Dolatshahi, as well as that of filmmaker Mehran Modiri, the ILNA news agency reported on Sunday. On September 30, Iranian authorities arrested former football player Hossein Mahini over his support for the protests, accusing him of "encouraging riots". Mahini was reportedly released on bail early last week.

Iran football star Ali Daei's passport seized for supporting protests

Japan, Singapore, and South Korea have the world's strongest passports, according to the most recent rankings made public by Henley Passport Index. For the sixth year running, a Japanese passport continues to be the most effective and allows for hassle-free travel into 193 nations. Singapore and South Korea, which are ranked second and third in the most recent Henley Passport Index, respectively, offer access to 192 nations.

What place does India hold?

The 87th-ranked Indian passport offers simple entry to 60 nations. The reopening of international travel has aided in the resilience of passports. After the coronavirus pandemic broke out in March 2020, India had to halt foreign flights in order to stop the spread of covid-19. After two years, the prohibition was ultimately lifted in March of this year. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-worlds-most-and-least-powerful-passports-499183">In pics - World's most and least powerful passports</a>

The full list of countries that accept Indian passports without requiring a visa is as follows: 
 
<img alt="Indian passport" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="23aa5815-b849-43d6-ad28-ed8801f938ab" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/1_24.JPG" />

<img alt="Indian passport" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="6ca1c14b-9b2d-44be-aef3-fb78c7f18c9b" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/2_15.JPG" />

<img alt="Indian passport" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3a430105-7beb-4e46-ae13-cb895156bc7e" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/3_5.JPG" />

<img alt="Indian passport" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0a2343ee-e752-4336-b582-df1c3a71de41" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/4_3.JPG" />

Access to a tourist site without a visa not only makes travel more affordable but also less complicated. Germany, Spain, Finland, Luxembourg, and Italy are among the other top 10 nations. According to the most recent rankings, the US is ranked seventh with a score of 186, while the UK is ranked sixth with access to 187 countries.

The 50th-ranked Russian travel documents are recognised by 119 countries with ease. Afghanistan's passport is the least useful, allowing entry into only 27 countries, whereas China came in at number 69, with access to 80 nations.

"The recovery and reclamation of our travel freedoms, and our innate instinct to move and migrate, will take time," Henley &amp; Partners Chairman Christian Kaelin said in a statement.

The index, which is based on data from 17 years, aids affluent people and governments in evaluating the worth of citizenship around the world by identifying which passports provide the greatest amounts of visa-free or visa-on-arrival access.

The Henley Passport Index is the first and most reliable ranking of all passports in the world based on how many countries their holders can visit without a visa. The index was developed by the research team at Henley &amp; Partners and is based exclusively on information from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the largest and most reliable source of travel-related statistics.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Japan, Singapore, and South Korea have the world's strongest passports, according to the most recent rankings made public by Henley Passport Index. For the sixth year running, a Japanese passport continues to be the most effective and allows for hassle-free travel into 193 nations.

Japan, Singapore, and South Korea have the world's strongest passports, according to the most recent rankings made public by Henley Passport Index. For the sixth year running, a Japanese passport continues to be the most effective and allows for hassle-free travel into 193 nations. Singapore and South Korea, which are ranked second and third in the most recent Henley Passport Index, respectively, offer access to 192 nations. What place does India hold? The 87th-ranked Indian passport offers simple entry to 60 nations. The reopening of international travel has aided in the resilience of passports. After the coronavirus pandemic broke out in March 2020, India had to halt foreign flights in order to stop the spread of covid-19. After two years, the prohibition was ultimately lifted in March of this year. In pics - World's most and least powerful passports The full list of countries that accept Indian passports without requiring a visa is as follows: Access to a tourist site without a visa not only makes travel more affordable but also less complicated. Germany, Spain, Finland, Luxembourg, and Italy are among the other top 10 nations. According to the most recent rankings, the US is ranked seventh with a score of 186, while the UK is ranked sixth with access to 187 countries. The 50th-ranked Russian travel documents are recognised by 119 countries with ease. Afghanistan's passport is the least useful, allowing entry into only 27 countries, whereas China came in at number 69, with access to 80 nations. "The recovery and reclamation of our travel freedoms, and our innate instinct to move and migrate, will take time," Henley & Partners Chairman Christian Kaelin said in a statement. The index, which is based on data from 17 years, aids affluent people and governments in evaluating the worth of citizenship around the world by identifying which passports provide the greatest amounts of visa-free or visa-on-arrival access. The Henley Passport Index is the first and most reliable ranking of all passports in the world based on how many countries their holders can visit without a visa. The index was developed by the research team at Henley & Partners and is based exclusively on information from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the largest and most reliable source of travel-related statistics. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

How powerful is the Indian passport? Indians get visa-free access to these 60 countries

In pics - World's most and least powerful passports

Sri Lankans have been queuing up, for food, fuel, and more recently passports. Sri Lankans have been applying for new passports in a bid to leave the country amid the economic crisis.

Queues in Sri Lanka – for fuel, food & now passports

Five Iranian crew of a cargo plane grounded in Argentina since last week have had their passports temporarily seized pending a probe into possible links to Iran's Revolutionary Guards, officials said Monday.

A judge on Monday ordered their travel documents held for an additional 72 hours after Security Minister Anibal Fernandez said information had been received from "foreign organizations" that some among the crew may be linked to companies with ties to the Guards.

The Revolutionary Guards, Iran's ideological army, is on a US blacklist of foreign "terrorist organizations."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/two-iranian-aerospace-officials-martyred-while-on-mission-487829">Two Iranian aerospace officials ‘martyred while on mission’</a>

A routine check found "things that were not logical," Fernandez told Perfil radio on Monday.

"They had declared a crew that was smaller than the one that traveled," he said, adding the matter was "still under investigation."

He said the five Iranians were in a hotel.

Officials originally said their passports had been taken but would be returned if they left the country on a scheduled flight while investigations continued into the plane's origins.&nbsp;

The Venezuelan Boeing 747 cargo plane reportedly carrying car parts first landed in Cordoba, Argentina on Monday last week, then tried to travel to neighboring Uruguay, but was denied entry and returned to Ezeiza outside Buenos Aires.

The crew also included 14 Venezuelans, who were free to go.

Neighboring Paraguay had warned of the aircraft's presence in the area, Paraguayan interior minister Federico Gonzalez said.&nbsp;

"The other intelligence services in the region were alerted and, as a result, Argentina and other countries took action," he said.

'Propaganda'

Iran said Monday that Argentina's move was part of a "propaganda" campaign against Tehran amid tensions with Western countries over negotiations to revive a 2015 nuclear deal.

The grounding of the cargo plane came days before Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro visited Tehran on Saturday for the allies, both subject to US sanctions, to sign a 20-year cooperation pact.

Watch |&nbsp;Argentina protests against femicide: 'Justice is slow and patriarchal'

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Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh told reporters the grounding of the plane was part of efforts seeking to "cause a feeling of insecurity."

"These recent weeks are filled with propaganda, are full of psychological operations, these wars of words that want to infiltrate the minds and composure of the people," said Khatibzadeh.&nbsp;

"This news is one of those."

The plane was sold by Iran's Mahan Air to a Venezuelan company last year, he said.

Mahan Air is accused by the United States of links with Iran's Revolutionary Guards.

Monday's court ruling to hold the crew's passports came after&nbsp;a successful bid by the DAIA organization that represents Argentina's Jewish community to be listed as a plaintiff in the investigation.

Interpol has arrest warrants out for former Iranian leaders suspected of involvement in an attack on a Jewish center in Buenos Aires in 1994 that killed 85 people and injured hundreds.&nbsp;

It remains the deadliest terror attack in the country with South America's largest Jewish population.

The grounding of the plane came as a resolution was adopted by the International Atomic Energy Agency's Board of Governors to censure Iran.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-enriching-uranium-at-an-unprecedented-rate-dangerously-close-to-nukes-israeli-pm-bennett-487478">&nbsp;Iran enriching uranium at unprecedented rate, dangerously close to nukes: Israeli PM Bennett</a>

Talks in Vienna, under way since April last year, aim to return the US to a nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) that it left in 2018.

The deal had given Iran sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program to guarantee that it could not develop a nuclear weapon, something Tehran has always denied wanting to do.

Iran said Monday that all measures it has taken to roll back on its commitments under the deal are "reversible".

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Five Iranian crew of a cargo plane grounded in Argentina since last week have had their passports temporarily seized pending a probe into possible links to Iran's Revolutionary Guards, officials said Monday.

Five Iranian crew of a cargo plane grounded in Argentina since last week have had their passports temporarily seized pending a probe into possible links to Iran's Revolutionary Guards, officials said Monday. A judge on Monday ordered their travel documents held for an additional 72 hours after Security Minister Anibal Fernandez said information had been received from "foreign organizations" that some among the crew may be linked to companies with ties to the Guards. The Revolutionary Guards, Iran's ideological army, is on a US blacklist of foreign "terrorist organizations." Also read | Two Iranian aerospace officials ‘martyred while on mission’ A routine check found "things that were not logical," Fernandez told Perfil radio on Monday. "They had declared a crew that was smaller than the one that traveled," he said, adding the matter was "still under investigation." He said the five Iranians were in a hotel. Officials originally said their passports had been taken but would be returned if they left the country on a scheduled flight while investigations continued into the plane's origins. The Venezuelan Boeing 747 cargo plane reportedly carrying car parts first landed in Cordoba, Argentina on Monday last week, then tried to travel to neighboring Uruguay, but was denied entry and returned to Ezeiza outside Buenos Aires. The crew also included 14 Venezuelans, who were free to go. Neighboring Paraguay had warned of the aircraft's presence in the area, Paraguayan interior minister Federico Gonzalez said. "The other intelligence services in the region were alerted and, as a result, Argentina and other countries took action," he said. 'Propaganda' Iran said Monday that Argentina's move was part of a "propaganda" campaign against Tehran amid tensions with Western countries over negotiations to revive a 2015 nuclear deal. The grounding of the cargo plane came days before Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro visited Tehran on Saturday for the allies, both subject to US sanctions, to sign a 20-year cooperation pact. Watch | Argentina protests against femicide: 'Justice is slow and patriarchal' Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh told reporters the grounding of the plane was part of efforts seeking to "cause a feeling of insecurity." "These recent weeks are filled with propaganda, are full of psychological operations, these wars of words that want to infiltrate the minds and composure of the people," said Khatibzadeh. "This news is one of those." The plane was sold by Iran's Mahan Air to a Venezuelan company last year, he said. Mahan Air is accused by the United States of links with Iran's Revolutionary Guards. Monday's court ruling to hold the crew's passports came after a successful bid by the DAIA organization that represents Argentina's Jewish community to be listed as a plaintiff in the investigation. Interpol has arrest warrants out for former Iranian leaders suspected of involvement in an attack on a Jewish center in Buenos Aires in 1994 that killed 85 people and injured hundreds. It remains the deadliest terror attack in the country with South America's largest Jewish population. The grounding of the plane came as a resolution was adopted by the International Atomic Energy Agency's Board of Governors to censure Iran. Also read | Iran enriching uranium at unprecedented rate, dangerously close to nukes: Israeli PM Bennett Talks in Vienna, under way since April last year, aim to return the US to a nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) that it left in 2018. The deal had given Iran sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program to guarantee that it could not develop a nuclear weapon, something Tehran has always denied wanting to do. Iran said Monday that all measures it has taken to roll back on its commitments under the deal are "reversible". WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Argentina seizes passports of grounded plane's Iranian crew

Ontario is easing Covid curbs starting from Thursday. Also, vaccine passport requirements will be lifted in the Canadian province starting from March 1. Premier Doug Ford, while speaking at a press conference said, "We're going to get rid of the passports."

He further explained that the majority of people have been vaccinated and the peak of cases, which was triggered by the Omicron variant, had passed.&nbsp;

From Thursday, social gatherings can increase to 50 people indoors and 100 outdoors. Sports arenas will now be allowed to operate at 50 per cent capacity. The same is for concert venues and live theatres.&nbsp; 
Cinemas, however, can operate at full capacity.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-covid-restrictions-eased-for-vaccinated-british-travellers-452978">Also read |&nbsp;France: Covid restrictions eased for vaccinated British travellers</a>

Dr Kieran Moore, chief medical officer of health, in a report by a local media outlet said, "Thanks to the efforts of Ontarians to help blunt the transmission of Omicron, our health care indicators suggest a general improvement in the Covid situation in the province."

This comes in as demonstrators have been blockading the nation's capital Ottawa, located in Ontario, for over two weeks now.&nbsp;

The demonstrators in Ottawa, Ontario and elsewhere have been primarily demanding an end to all Covid vaccine mandates and other restrictions including mask requirements. Protesters have also called for Trudeau’s resignation.

(With inputs from agencies)

Ontario is easing Covid curbs starting from Thursday. Also, vaccine passport requirements will be lifted in the Canadian province starting from March 1. Premier Doug Ford, while speaking at a press conference said, "We're going to get rid of the passports.

Ontario is easing Covid curbs starting from Thursday. Also, vaccine passport requirements will be lifted in the Canadian province starting from March 1. Premier Doug Ford, while speaking at a press conference said, "We're going to get rid of the passports." He further explained that the majority of people have been vaccinated and the peak of cases, which was triggered by the Omicron variant, had passed. From Thursday, social gatherings can increase to 50 people indoors and 100 outdoors. Sports arenas will now be allowed to operate at 50 per cent capacity. The same is for concert venues and live theatres. Cinemas, however, can operate at full capacity. Also read | France: Covid restrictions eased for vaccinated British travellers Dr Kieran Moore, chief medical officer of health, in a report by a local media outlet said, "Thanks to the efforts of Ontarians to help blunt the transmission of Omicron, our health care indicators suggest a general improvement in the Covid situation in the province." This comes in as demonstrators have been blockading the nation's capital Ottawa, located in Ontario, for over two weeks now. The demonstrators in Ottawa, Ontario and elsewhere have been primarily demanding an end to all Covid vaccine mandates and other restrictions including mask requirements. Protesters have also called for Trudeau’s resignation. (With inputs from agencies)

Canada's Ontario to lift Covid vaccine passport requirement

San Francisco-born Eileen Gu, who lifted the host country to the top of the medals table at the Beijing Olympics with a Freeski Big Air gold on Tuesday, remained evasive on whether she was still holding an American passport.

China does not allow dual nationality, and state media have previously reported that the 18-year-old renounced her U.S. citizenship after she became a Chinese national at the age of 15.

Gu would not confirm that on Tuesday.

"So I grew up spending 25-30% (of my time) in China. I`m fluent in Mandarin and English and fluent culturally in both," she answered when asked if she was still an American citizen.

"So coming here, I really feel there was a sense of coming home. I feel just as American as Chinese. I don`t feel I`m taking advantage of one or another. They understand that my mission is to foster a connection between countries and not a divisive force."

When the reporter asked again, the news conference moderator interjected: "Next question, please."

The fashion model and incoming Stanford University student whose Weibo following has ballooned to almost three million from just under two million on Monday says she feels at home in China.

"There`s like a tower here you can see from the top of the course. And I`m also seeing it from my house in Beijing," she explained, where her face is ubiquitous in advertising.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/beijing-winter-olympics-tennis-star-peng-shuai-watches-as-eileen-gu-puts-china-atop-medals-table-451392">Beijing Winter Olympics: Tennis star Peng Shuai watches as Eileen Gu puts China atop medals table</a>

In 2019, China relaxed rules that had been in force for more than a decade barring national team athletes from taking part in commercial activities without approval, paving the way for Gu to become the face of Chinese brands from the Bank of China and China Mobile to Mengniu Dairy and Luckin Coffee.

Hugely popular in China, Gu has had a better Olympics so far than Zhu Yi, the figure skater who gave up American citizenship in 2018 to compete for China and was blasted on Weibo when she fell during her short programme in the team event on Sunday.

The hashtag "Zhu Yi has fallen" later disappeared from Weibo. Gu offered her support.

"I just met Zhu a few days ago. I went to see her training. She`s such a nice person. She`s amazing. Whoever qualifies the Olympics is already amazing," she said.

"Making mistakes under huge pressure is part of sports. We should have sportsmanship and we can`t always do our best on the platform, but the most important thing is she`s safe and she enjoys the process.

"Of course, everyone hopes she can do better, but she is the one who hopes she could do better the most. I hope people can understand her more."

San Francisco-born Eileen Gu, who lifted the host country to the top of the medals table at the Beijing Olympics with a Freeski Big Air gold on Tuesday, remained evasive on whether she was still holding an American passport.

San Francisco-born Eileen Gu, who lifted the host country to the top of the medals table at the Beijing Olympics with a Freeski Big Air gold on Tuesday, remained evasive on whether she was still holding an American passport. China does not allow dual nationality, and state media have previously reported that the 18-year-old renounced her U.S. citizenship after she became a Chinese national at the age of 15. Gu would not confirm that on Tuesday. "So I grew up spending 25-30% (of my time) in China. I`m fluent in Mandarin and English and fluent culturally in both," she answered when asked if she was still an American citizen. "So coming here, I really feel there was a sense of coming home. I feel just as American as Chinese. I don`t feel I`m taking advantage of one or another. They understand that my mission is to foster a connection between countries and not a divisive force." When the reporter asked again, the news conference moderator interjected: "Next question, please." The fashion model and incoming Stanford University student whose Weibo following has ballooned to almost three million from just under two million on Monday says she feels at home in China. "There`s like a tower here you can see from the top of the course. And I`m also seeing it from my house in Beijing," she explained, where her face is ubiquitous in advertising. ALSO READ: Beijing Winter Olympics: Tennis star Peng Shuai watches as Eileen Gu puts China atop medals table In 2019, China relaxed rules that had been in force for more than a decade barring national team athletes from taking part in commercial activities without approval, paving the way for Gu to become the face of Chinese brands from the Bank of China and China Mobile to Mengniu Dairy and Luckin Coffee. Hugely popular in China, Gu has had a better Olympics so far than Zhu Yi, the figure skater who gave up American citizenship in 2018 to compete for China and was blasted on Weibo when she fell during her short programme in the team event on Sunday. The hashtag "Zhu Yi has fallen" later disappeared from Weibo. Gu offered her support. "I just met Zhu a few days ago. I went to see her training. She`s such a nice person. She`s amazing. Whoever qualifies the Olympics is already amazing," she said. "Making mistakes under huge pressure is part of sports. We should have sportsmanship and we can`t always do our best on the platform, but the most important thing is she`s safe and she enjoys the process. "Of course, everyone hopes she can do better, but she is the one who hopes she could do better the most. I hope people can understand her more."

Eileen Gu dodges US passport question after lifting China to top of the medals table at Beijing Games

A person identified as an American diplomat has been accused of providing a fake passport to a Syrian national. He has now been arrested. As per reports by Turkey's news agency, the man was detained at Istanbul Airport on November 11. Later, he was formally arrested for selling a forged passport for $10,000.&nbsp;

A state department spokesperson, in a statement, said, "We are aware of the detention of a U.S. citizen in Turkey. The individual is not a US diplomat. We are providing appropriate consular services."

The Syrian was detained and questioned. However, he was released later after there were proceedings for forging the documents.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/boycott-intel-grows-louder-in-china-for-raising-concern-over-xinjiang-forced-labour-439207">Also read |&nbsp;‘Boycott Intel’ grows louder in China for raising concern over Xinjiang forced labour</a>

The American man has been identified as having the initials D.J.K. and working at the US embassy in Beirut. The Syrian was trying to fly to Germany using the passport in D.J.K.'s name.

The US embassy in Ankara has not made any comments so far. There was also no response from the US embassy in Beirut.

After an examination of the security camera, it was concluded that D.J.K. handed over the passport to the Syrian national at the airport and the two also exchanged clothes.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

A person identified as an American diplomat has been accused of providing a fake passport to a Syrian national. He has now been arrested. As per reports by Turkey's news agency, the man was detained at Istanbul Airport on November 11.

A person identified as an American diplomat has been accused of providing a fake passport to a Syrian national. He has now been arrested. As per reports by Turkey's news agency, the man was detained at Istanbul Airport on November 11. Later, he was formally arrested for selling a forged passport for $10,000. A state department spokesperson, in a statement, said, "We are aware of the detention of a U.S. citizen in Turkey. The individual is not a US diplomat. We are providing appropriate consular services." The Syrian was detained and questioned. However, he was released later after there were proceedings for forging the documents. Also read | ‘Boycott Intel’ grows louder in China for raising concern over Xinjiang forced labour The American man has been identified as having the initials D.J.K. and working at the US embassy in Beirut. The Syrian was trying to fly to Germany using the passport in D.J.K.'s name. The US embassy in Ankara has not made any comments so far. There was also no response from the US embassy in Beirut. After an examination of the security camera, it was concluded that D.J.K. handed over the passport to the Syrian national at the airport and the two also exchanged clothes. (With inputs from agencies)

US diplomat arrested for allegedly selling fake passport to Syrian national in Turkey

In a bid to provide relief to thousands of Afghan people, the interim Taliban government is all set to start reissuing passports.

Afghanistan: Taliban to resume issuing passports

United States has issued its first Gender X passport, U.S. is not the first country to allow citizens to declare themselves as non-binary, third gender on their passports. India, and 14 other countries, already have the provision. Palki Sharma brings you a report.

Gravitas: U.S. issues its first Gender X passport

These countries allow non-binary gender on passports like in US

The United States has issued its first-ever passport offering a third gender designation, 'X' for those who identify as intersex.

US issues first-ever passport with 'X' gender marker

People in Afghanistan are still clamoring to leave the country, crowds of people desperate to get travel documents gathered at the passport office in Kabul.

Months of passport delay restricted Afghans trying to leave Kabul

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