Headline
FULL LIST: Not American Or British, See 2024 World’s Most Powerful Passports
Published
2 years agoon
By
Editor
Henley Passport Index has listed the most powerful passports in the world on Thursday.
HPI is a global passport-ranking website with an original, authoritative ranking of all the world’s passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa.
Their index is often based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) – the largest, most accurate travel information database – and enhanced by Henley & Partners’ research team.
According to the passport ranking website, four European countries have moved up to share the top spot on the 2024 index.
“Residents of France, Germany, Italy, and Spain now have visa-free access to 194 of 227 destinations, three more than last year.
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“South Korea, Sweden, and Finland all climbed one spot to take joint second place, with access to 193 locations. Austria, Denmark, Ireland, and the Netherlands shared third place, allowing travel to 192 places.”
“The U.K. now ranks joint fourth (access to 191 destinations), while the U.S. retained joint seventh place (188 destinations). A decade ago, the two countries shared the top spot. And comparing this year’s list to the 2014 ranking reveals some other major shifts.”
A report by Times revealed that: “The United Arab Emirates was the fastest climber over the past decade, jumping to 11th place and offering access to 183 destinations without a visa. And China, up two spots this year to land in 62nd place, has visa-free access to 85 destinations — almost twice as many as 10 years ago.”
It added that the chairman of immigration consultancy Henley & Partners, Dr. Christian Kaelin, said that while the general trend over the years had been toward greater travel freedom, the gap between those at either end of the list was wider than ever.
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“The average number of destinations travelers are able to access visa-free has nearly doubled from 58 in 2006 to 111 in 2024,” he said.
“However, as we enter the new year, the top-ranked countries are now able to travel to a staggering 166 more destinations visa-free than Afghanistan, which sits at the bottom of the ranking with access to just 28 countries without a visa.”
Recall that for the past five years, Singapore and Japan have boasted the world’s most powerful travel documents, granting their citizens access to more countries without a prior visa than anyone else.
See the full list below:
France
Germany
Italy
Japan
Singapore
Spain
Finland
South Korea
Sweden
Austria
Denmark
Ireland
Netherlands
Belgium
Luxembourg
Norway
Netherlands
United Kingdom
Greece
Malta
Switzerland
Australia
Czechia
New Zealand
Poland
Canada
Hungary
United States
Estonia
Lithuania
Latvia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Iceland
United Arab Emirates
Cyprus
Liechtenstein
Malaysia
Bulgaria
Croatia
Romania
Monaco
Chile
Argentina
Brazil
San Marino
Andorra
Hong Kong (SAR China)
Brunei
Israel
Barbados
Mexico
Bahamas
St. Kitts and Nevis
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Vatican City
Seychelles
Uruguay
Antigua and Barbuda
Costa Rica
Trinidad and Tobago
Mauritius
Panama
Grenada
St. Lucia
Ukraine
Paraguay
Dominica
Macao (SAR China)
Taiwan (Chinese Taipei)
Peru
Serbia
Guatemala
El Salvador
Columbia
Honduras
Solomon Islands
Samoa
Nicaragua
Tonga
Tuvalu
North Macedonia
Marshall Islands
Montenegro
Venezuela
Kiribati
Albania
Micronesia
Palau Islands
Moldova
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Georgia
Russian Federation
Türkiye
Qatar
South Africa
Belize
Kuwait
Timor-Leste
Ecuador
Maldives
Vanuatu
Bahrain
Botswana
Fiji
Guyana
Jamaica
Nauru
Oman
Saudi Arabia
China
Papua New Guinea
Bolivia
Thailand
Belarus
Suriname
Lesotho
Namibia
eSwatini
Indonesia
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Malawi
Dominican Republic
Kosovo
Tanzania
Azerbaijan
Morocco
Tunisia
Zambia
The Gambia
Cape Verde Islands
Philippines
Uganda
Armenia
Sierra Leone
Ghana
Rwanda
Zimbabwe
Kyrgyzstan
Cuba
Benin
Mongolia
Mozambique
India
Uzbekistan
Gabon
Sao Tome and Principe
Tajikistan
Burkina Faso
Madagascar
Cote d’Ivoire
Guinea
Mauritania
Togo
Equatorial Guinea
Senegal
Niger
Algeria
Cambodia
Guinea-Bissau
Mali
Bhutan
Central African Republic
Chad
Comoro Islands
Egypt
Haiti
Jordan
Vietnam
Angola
Cameroon
Congo (Rep)
Turkmenistan
Burundi
Laos
Liberia
Djibouti
Myanmar
Ethiopia
Congo (Dem. Rep.)
South Sudan
Iran
Lebanon
Nigeria
Sudan
Eritrea
Sri Lanka
Bangladesh
North Korea
Libya
Nepal
Palestinian Territory
Somalia
Yemen
Pakistan
Iraq
Syria
Afghanistan
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Trump Administration Proposes New Rule Limiting Nigerians, Others
Published
5 hours agoon
August 28, 2025By
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The Trump administration has unveiled a proposal that would restrict the length of time international students can remain in the United States for their studies.
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the regulation, which is expected to be published on Thursday, would impose a four-year cap on student visas and other categories of temporary admissions.
According to Fox News, the DHS said the proposal is part of efforts to curb “visa abuse” and strengthen the government’s ability to “properly vet and oversee these individuals.”
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It added that some students have “taken advantage of U.S. generosity” and become “forever” students by staying enrolled in colleges to prolong their residence.
“For too long, past Administrations have allowed foreign students and other visa holders to remain in the U.S. virtually indefinitely, posing safety risks, costing untold amount of taxpayer dollars, and disadvantaging U.S. citizens,” a DHS spokesperson stated.
“This new proposed rule would end that abuse once and for all by limiting the amount of time certain visa holders are allowed to remain in the U.S., easing the burden on the federal government to properly oversee foreign students and their history,” the spokesperson continued.
Currently, F visa holders may stay in the U.S. for the “duration of status,” meaning the period they are enrolled full-time. The new proposal would allow stays for the length of a programme but would not permit them to exceed four years, generally less than the time needed for postgraduate studies.
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Foreign journalists would also be affected. Under the plan, they would receive an initial admission period of 240 days, with the possibility of a single extension for another 240 days, but not longer than their assignment.
The DHS said regular assessments would provide “proper oversight” and help reduce the number of people residing in the U.S. on temporary visas.
But education experts warned the measure could hurt universities financially. International students typically pay higher tuition and have fewer opportunities for scholarships, which contributes significantly to the financial support of American colleges.
“It will certainly act as an additional deterrent to international students choosing to study in the United States, to the detriment of American economies, innovation, and global competitiveness,” Fanta Aw, executive director and CEO of NAFSA: Association of International Educators, said in a statement to Politico.
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Russia Hits Ukraine With ‘Massive’ Deadly Overnight Strikes
Published
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August 28, 2025By
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Russian forces launched a “massive” attack on Kyiv on Thursday, hitting the Ukrainian capital with strikes that killed at least four people and wounded around 30 others, Ukrainian officials said.
The attack came as Moscow and Kyiv traded blame over an impasse in diplomatic efforts towards a peace deal spearheaded by US President Donald Trump.
AFP journalists in Kyiv witnessed powerful explosions that illuminated the night sky and left behind a column of smoke.
Ukraine’s Interior Minister Igor Klymenko said the strikes killed four people and wounded “about 30 people.”
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Those killed included a 14-year-old girl, while five children aged seven to 17 were among those who sustained “injuries of varying severity,” Tymur Tkachenko, the head of the city’s military administration, said.
Mayor Vitali Klitschko described the strikes as a “massive attack” that caused damage in several districts of the capital.
Tkachenko said Moscow had fired ballistic and cruise missiles as well as Iranian-designed Shahed drones from different directions to “systematically” target residential buildings.
Red tracer bullets sailed through the night sky in an effort to intercept drones above the city centre, an AFP journalist saw. At least one missile appeared to be shot down.
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Around 100 people took refuge in a subway station, with some lying in sleeping bags and others holding their pets.
A five-story building in the Darnytsky district had collapsed, and a shopping mall was hit in the city centre, Klitschko reported.
– Ukrainian attacks on Russia –
Kyiv suffered one of its worst attacks of the over three-year war on July 31, leaving more than 30 people dead including five children.
Ukrainian officials also reported a Russian strike in the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region on Thursday.
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Russian authorities said they destroyed over 100 Ukrainian drones overnight. A Ukrainian attack sparked a fire at an oil refinery in the Krasnodar region but caused no casualties, according to local officials.
Russian forces have been slowly but steadily gaining ground in Ukraine in recent months, as diplomatic efforts have accelerated.
Trump held a high-profile summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska this month, followed by a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky and European allies.
But there has been little progress since then.
Before concluding any peace agreement, Ukraine wants security guarantees from the West to deter any future Russian attacks.
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Moscow has cast Kyiv’s demands as unrealistic and has raised particular objection to the notion of stationing Western peacekeeping troops in Ukraine.
Zelensky said on Wednesday that members of his administration would meet with US officials in New York on Friday.
The Ukrainian leader said he saw “very arrogant and negative signals from Moscow regarding the negotiations”, urging extra “pressure” to “force Russia to take real steps”.
AFP
Headline
Two US Pastors Arrested In $50m Human Trafficking, Fraud Case
Published
10 hours agoon
August 28, 2025By
Editor
Two church leaders in the United States have been arrested in an alleged multi-million-dollar conspiracy after multiple Federal Bureau of Investigation raids across the country on Wednesday, including one in Hillsborough County’s exclusive Avila neighborhood.
In a statement issued via its website on Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Justice said Michelle Brannon, 56, was arrested at a mansion near Tampa, while David Taylor, 53, was arrested in North Carolina over allegations of multi-million dollar money laundering, forced labour and human trafficking.
According to the DOJ, Taylor and Brannon are the leaders of Kingdom of God Global Church, formerly known as Joshua Media Ministries International.
The Justice Department said Taylor referred to himself as “Apostle” and to Brannon as his Executive Director.
FBI officials said law enforcement arrested Brannon early Wednesday at 706 Guisando De Avila in Hillsborough County, which is owned by the church, according to property records.
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Investigators arrested Taylor on Wednesday morning in North Carolina, while SWAT and FBI agents also raided a hotel owned by the church in Houston.
A 10-count indictment alleged that Taylor and Brannon ran call centres in Florida, Texas, Missouri, and Michigan to solicit donations to the church.
The pair convinced their victims to work at the call centres and work for Taylor as personal servants – referred to as “armour bearers” – for long hours without pay, according to the indictment.
Federal investigators said Taylor and Brannon “controlled every aspect of the daily living of their victims,” who slept at the call centre or in a “ministry” house and were not allowed to leave without permission.
The indictment also says the suspects forced the victims to transport women to Taylor and ensure that those women took Plan B emergency contraceptives.
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The church received about $50 million in donations through its call centres dating back to 2014, according to the DOJ.
Taylor and Brannon are accused of using much of that money to buy luxury properties, luxury vehicles, and sporting equipment such as boats, jet skis, and ATVs.
Taylor and Brannon face charges of forced labour, conspiracy to commit forced labour, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Each alleged crime carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Michigan returned a 10-count indictment against two defendants for their alleged roles in a forced labour and money laundering conspiracy that victimised individuals in Michigan, Florida, Texas, and Missouri.
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Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said the two defendants were arrested in North Carolina and Florida in a nationwide takedown of their forced labour organistion.
“Combating human trafficking is a top priority for the Department of Justice.
“We are committed to relentlessly pursuing and ending this scourge and obtaining justice for the victims,” he said.
Also speaking, U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon Jr. for the Eastern District of Michigan, said, “We will use every lawful tool against human traffickers and seek justice for their victims.
“A case like this is only possible through a concerted effort with our federal partners across the country and the non-governmental agencies who provide victim support. We thank them all.”
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“The indictment of David Taylor and Michelle Brannon demonstrates the FBI’s steadfast efforts to protect the American people from human exploitation and financial crimes, including forced labour and money laundering.
“The alleged actions are deeply troubling. I want to thank the members of the FBI Detroit Field Office, with strong support from our federal and agency partners in the FBI Tampa Field Office, FBI Jacksonville Field Office, FBI St. Louis Field Office, FBI Charlotte Field Office, FBI Houston Field Office, and the Detroit IRS-CI Field Office, in addition to several local, county and state law enforcement partners, for their role in executing this multi-state operation.
“The FBI in Michigan will continue to investigate those who violate federal law and remain focused on ensuring the protection and safety of our nation,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Reuben Coleman of the FBI Detroit Field Office.
“Money laundering is tax evasion in progress, and in this case, the proceeds funded an alleged human trafficking ring and supported a luxury lifestyle under the guise of a religious ministry.
“IRS-CI stands committed to fighting human trafficking and labor exploitation, and pursuing those who hide their profits gained from the extreme victimization of the vulnerable,” said Special Agent in Charge Karen Wingerd of IRS Criminal Investigation, Detroit Field Office.
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According to the DOJ, conspiracy to commit forced labour carries up to 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine up to $250,000, while forced labour carries up to 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine up to $250,000.
It noted that conspiracy to commit money laundering carries up to 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine up to $500,000 or twice the value of the properties involved in the money laundering transactions.
It was gathered that Brannon appeared in federal court in Tampa on Wednesday afternoon, but an attorney for Brannon wasn’t present.
A judge asked where her attorney was and whether she had representation.
Brannon told the judge that she had two private attorneys, out of St. Louis and Oklahoma, who were already working with them. However, she said she hadn’t heard from either of them.
The judge said the attorneys were not able to be reached through the phone numbers provided to federal prosecutors. It’s not clear if Brannon has legal representation at this point.
The judge continued Brannon’s hearing to Thursday afternoon. He instructed Brannon to find an attorney in the Tampa area in the meantime.
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