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Travel Apartheid: The World’s Most and Least Powerful Passports for 2022

LONDON, Jan. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — The latest results from the Henley Passport Index show record-breaking levels of travel freedom for top-ranking nations Japan and Singapore, but also the widest recorded global mobility gap since the index’s inception 17 years ago. Without taking temporary Covid-related restrictions into account, passport holders of the two Asian nations can now enter 192 destinations around the world visa-free – 166 more than Afghanistan, which sits at the bottom of the index.
This deepening divide in international mobility between wealthier countries and poorer ones was bought into sharp focus late last year by the raft of punitive Omicron-related restrictions against mainly African nations that U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described as akin to “travel apartheid.” This, even though overall travel freedom levels have expanded significantly over the past two decades. According to historical data from the Henley Passport Index, which ranks all the world’s passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa and is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), an individual could, on average, visit 57 countries in 2006 visa-free. Today, that number has risen to 107, but this overall increase masks a growing disparity between countries in the global north and those in the global south, with nationals from countries such as Sweden and the US able to visit more than 180 destinations visa-free, while passport holders from Angola, Cameroon, and Laos can only enter about 50.
Covid-19 exacerbates inequality in global mobility
Germany and South Korea hold onto joint 2nd spot on the latest ranking, with passport holders able to access 190 destinations visa-free, while Finland, Italy, Luxembourg, and Spain share 3rd place, with a score of 189. The US and the UK passports have regained some of their previous strength after falling all the way to 8th place in 2020 – the lowest spot held by either country in the index’s 17-year history. Both countries now sit in 6th place, with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 186.
Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners and the inventor of the passport index concept, says opening up migration channels is essential for post-pandemic recovery. “Passports and visas are among the most important instruments impacting on social inequality worldwide as they determine opportunities for global mobility. The borders within which we happen to be born, and the documents we are entitled to hold, are no less arbitrary than our skin color. Wealthier states need to encourage positive inward migration to help redistribute and rebalance human and material resources worldwide.”
Commenting in the Henley Global Mobility Report 2022 Q1, which was released today along with the latest Henley Passport Index ranking, Prof. Mehari Taddele Maru from the Migration Policy Centre points out that “the expensive requirements associated with international travel institutionalize inequality and discrimination. Covid-19 and its interplay with instability and inequality has highlighted and exacerbated the shocking disparity in international mobility between wealthy developed nations and their poorer counterparts.”
Further uncertainty predicted for 2022
Remarking in the report on the pandemic’s effect on wider geopolitical trends in migration and mobility, Misha Glenny, award-winning journalist and associate professor at Columbia University’s Harriman Institute, says “the very presence of Omicron points to a major geopolitical failure. Had the US, Britain, and the EU diverted more money and vaccines to southern Africa, the chances of such a robust new strain emerging would have been much lower. Until we share the distribution of vaccines more equitably, new mutations will have the ability to send us all back to square one.”
Dr. Andreas Brauchlin, an internationally renowned cardiology and internal medicine specialist and member of the SIP Medical Family Office Advisory Board in Switzerland, agrees, stating in the report that “an individual’s health and vaccination status are as influential on mobility as their passport’s visa-free access. Being a resident in the ‘wrong’ nation can heavily impact on your access to business, health, and medical services, and make it impossible for some to travel.”
Read the Full Press Release and Henley Global Mobility Report 2022 Q1.

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Vikram Vedha to open its advance bookings in 1250 multiplexes from 24th September

Having received an amazing response from the masses for its amazing trailer, the makers of Hrithik
Roshan and Saif Ali Khan starrer Vikram Vedha are currently creating a buzz all around for its electrifying
dance number ‘Alcoholia’. While the audience is eagerly waiting for the film to hit the theaters, the
makers are all set to open the advance booking windows for the Audience.

Undoubtedly Vikram Vedha is one of the most anticipated movies of the year and the craze for the film
among the audience is constantly rising as the film is inching toward its release date. Putting an end to
the audience’s wait, the makers are all set to start the advance bookings of the film today.

Moreover, Vikram Vedha will have the largest international distribution for a Hindi film, with a record-
breaking 100+ countries worldwide. Before its release, the film has sparked worldwide interest and
appeal, and many countries have already begun advance bookings.

Vikram Vedha is presented by Gulshan Kumar, T-Series, and Reliance Entertainment in association with
Friday Filmworks and Jio Studios and a YNOT Studios Production. The film is directed by Pushkar and
Gayatri and produced by Bhushan Kumar, S. Sashikanth and Reliance Entertainment. Vikram Vedha will hit the big screens globally on 30th September 2022.

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Manoj Bajpayee will take 1 week off from his schedule to attend all the rituals on his fathers 1st death Anniversary day.

Three times National Film Awards and the Padma Shri winning actor Manoj Bajpayee who has completed three decades in the showbiz business and Juggling with multiple projects between different genres, characters and mediums. Manoj Bajpayee is a powerhouse actor when it comes to Indian cinema. Even if you haven’t seen many of his movies, you will have heard of talented actor Manoj Bajpayee’s name because of his brilliant performances in his films. The finest actor has become synonymous with content-driven subjects who also have been consistently working in multiple film industries.

The finest actor of Hindi cinema Manoj Bajpayee who has several movies lined up this year, will be taking 1 week off from his current project, which is directed by Apurva(Aspirant fame & produced by Vinod Bhanushali in mid september and will be leaving for his home town with his wife and daughter to attend all the puja rituals on his father’s 1st death anniversary day. Manoj Bajpayee’s father RK Bajpayee passed away at 83, last year in Delhi.

The actor believes that a family is a very important & priority in his life, in spite of his erratic schedules or no matter where he is, it is his first priority to always be with his family with all his support & spend time with them in any situations.After finishing all the rituals puja and family work,Manoj will immediately resume his shoot to finish his project on time without taking any time for himself.

Manoj Bajpayee has recently finished his 3 upcoming projects, one with Ram Reddy’s untitled film, which also has talented actor Deepika Dobriyal in the film. After that he finished RSVP’s Despatch, (A investigative thriller set in the world of crime journalism.) directed by Kanu Behl. Abhishek Chaubeys’s film which also has star cast like Konkana Sen, Sayaji Shinde,Naseer sir and some well known talented actors from south. Fox Stars Studios,Chalkboard Entertainment, Autonomous Works film, Gulmohar directed by Rahul Chittella ( who was assistant of Meena Nair) working with Veteran actress Sharmila Tagore, and Amol Palekar along with Suraj Sharma (Life of Pi) and Simran Rishi Bagga in pivotal roles.

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Here comes the title of Jackky Bhagnani’s Jjust Music upcoming RVD’s soulful creation ‘Raaz’

Jackky Bhagnani’s Jjust Music has been coming up with some really amazing songs one after the other and now they are here with the title of their upcoming heart-touching melody by RVD, a soulful creation ‘Raaz’. It’s a melodious song by an Indie rap artist, RVD that evokes his potential lover to become his secret as that way she’ll go down to the grave with him and stay with him forever. 

The song captures a glimpse of feelings that brings a boy close to the emotions of his lover encapsulating his zest for involving her in his life a secret that will stay with him for life. Jotting down his deepest emotions learn from his life, RVD beautifully communicates through his art in music a feeling of true happiness that can only be appreciated and enjoyed in privacy as the unconditional bond they share is completely sacred which the world won’t understand as they’re not in our shoes. 

Moreover, the artist in a true sense, RVD is an artist who’s been given all the love by the world but battles and deals with his own loneliness by making music, he talks about how he has learned ‘you can’t be lonely if you’re comfortable being alone’ in the process, and through only music, he can express these thoughts. He is an artist who makes modernized music with a blend of cultural touches in Urdu and Punjabi languages, which makes him stand out from the general crowd.

RVD, is an Indie rap artist from Kolkata, West Bengal who’s been making much sound on the east side. Performed alongside pan India artists like Mohit Chauhan, Dino James, Zareen, Kayan, Gully Gang, etc. With tracks like ‘Riha’ and ‘Iteyhaas’ which have done extremely well, RVD has even caught a lot of attention and traction in the general crowd and the gaming world on a pan-India basis.

Meanwhile, Jjust Music made it to the headlines for it’s first PAN India music video Mashooka starring bold and quirky Rakul Preet. The song turned out to be a huge success and was received well by the audience.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ci2B4nfA-K6/?igshid=ODBkMDk1MTU=

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