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<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image">US Consulate GuadalajaraAn image of the suspect in the shooting of a US consular official in Guadalajara, taken after the shooting, January 6, 2017.</div></div></div>A suspect in the shooting of a US consular official in the Mexican city of Guadalajara was arrested on Sunday, the state prosecutor's office said.The consular official, later identified by a Mexican security official speaking on condition of anonymity as Christopher Ashcraft, was shot by a gunman on Friday as he was leaving a city parking lot.The Jalisco state prosecutor <a href="https://twitter.com/ealmaguerr/status/818139337543983106" target="_blank">said</a> on Twitter that specialized agents made the arrest, but did not provide further details including the name of the suspect or any motive."The detention of the aggressor against the consular agent has been achieved," Eduardo Almaguer, attorney general for Jalisco, the state where Guadalajara is located, <a href="https://twitter.com/ealmaguerr/status/818139337543983106" target="_blank">said</a> on Sunday morning. "The suspect has been handed over to Mexico's federal attorney general's office."Attacks are diplomatic personnel are considered <a href="https://apnews.com/76a6dc454b44434fb616924e0b1a8371" target="_blank">federal crimes</a> in Mexico. Almaguer did not provide any further details, but a source in the Guadalajara police <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/08/man-arrested-shooting-american-consular-official-guadalajara?CMP=share_btn_tw" target="_blank">told</a> The Guardian that the suspect in custody was 31-year-old Zafar Zia, a US citizen of Indian origin.The source said Zia was arrested during a joint operation involving Jalisco state officials, the FBI, and the US Drug Enforcement Administration. <div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">US Consulate GuadalajaraA photo of the suspect in the shooting of a US consular official in Guadalajara, Mexico, taken before the shooting, January 6, 2017.</div></div></div>After the shooting the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/us-consular-official-shot-in-mexico-cartel-involvement-2017-1" target="_blank">FBI offered a $20,000 reward</a> for information that helped identify the shooter. Another source said after the attack that Mexican authorities <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/us-consular-official-shot-in-mexico-cartel-involvement-2017-1" target="_blank">found DEA credentials</a> in Ashcraft's name, though US consulate officials declined to comment on his duties there.<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/08/man-arrested-shooting-american-consular-official-guadalajara?CMP=share_btn_tw" target="_blank">According</a> to The Guardian, at the time of arrest, Zia had a .380 caliber pistol in his waistband, and authorities seized a Honda Accord with California license plates and a wig and sunglasses that may match those seen in footage of the shooting. They also recovered 16 Ziploc bags containing 336 grams of a substance believed to be marijuana.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image">US Consulate GuadalajaraA still image from security-camera footage released by the US consulate in Guadalajara, Mexico, showing Christopher Ashcraft in a parking garage prior to his shooting, January 6, 2016.</div></div></div>Almaguer, the Jalisco state prosecutor, said the shooting appeared to be a "<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/us-consular-official-shot-in-mexico-cartel-involvement-2017-1" target="_blank">direct attack</a>."According to a friend of Ashcraft, the shooter <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/us-consular-official-shot-in-mexico-cartel-involvement-2017-1" target="_blank">asked for him by name</a> at the reception desk of the gym he was in before being shot.Security-camera <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/us-consular-official-shot-in-mexico-cartel-involvement-2017-1" target="_blank">footage shows</a> the shooter at the desk and later shows him following Ashcraft to the parking garage.A <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/us-consular-official-shot-in-mexico-cartel-involvement-2017-1" target="_blank">video posted online</a> by the consulate in Guadalajara also shows the shooter appearing to wait for the official's car to pull up to a parking-lot barrier before shooting directly at the driver and fleeing.Ashcraft was in stable condition receiving care at a local hospital and under protection. He was shot once in the upper right chest, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/us-consular-official-shot-in-mexico-cartel-involvement-2017-1" target="_blank">according</a> to various sources."U.S citizens in the Guadalajara area are urged to restrict their movements outside their homes and places of work to those truly essential," The US Embassy in Mexico <a href="https://mx.usembassy.gov/security-message-u-s-citizens-safety-precautions-january-6th-shooting-consulate-employee/" target="_blank">said</a> in a message to US citizens in the country after the attack."They should also take care not to fall into predictable patterns for those movements that are essential. They should vary the times and routes of their movements," the message added, it what may have been a reference to the apparent tracking of Ashcraft by his assailant.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/USCGGuadalajara/videos/10154616171290129/">US Consulate Guadalajara/Facebook</a>A still image of video released by the US consulate in Guadalajara, showing a man taking aim at a US official, who survived the attack.</div></div></div>Guadalajara is Mexico's second-largest city, and parts of Jalisco state have often seen violence perpetrated by rival drug gangs.The powerful Jalisco New Generation cartel is based in the state and has <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/us-consular-official-shot-in-mexico-cartel-involvement-2017-1" target="_blank">taken part in fighting</a> on the state's southern border. The alleged leader of the once powerful Beltran Leyva Organization cartel <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/us-consular-official-shot-in-mexico-cartel-involvement-2017-1" target="_blank">was captured</a> in a Guadalajara suburb in mid-December."On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I want to thank the Government of Mexico for their swift and decisive arrest of a suspect in the heinous attack against our Foreign Service Officer colleague in Guadalajara, Mexico," US Secretary of State John Kerry <a href="https://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2017/01/266699.htm" target="_blank">said</a> in a statement on Sunday. "My thoughts and prayers remain with this officer and his family during this difficult time. I wish him a speedy recovery."(Reporting for Reuters by David Alire Garcia; editing by Mary Milliken) <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-ford-factory-mexico-us-louisville-kentucky-assembly-lincoln-2016-11">Trump said he prevented a Ford factory from leaving the US - but the company says the move was never planned</a></h3> <div> <div> <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="J3MHJvNzE6fxnFj_lloyp1iFPtNCE5yy" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div> </div> </div> </div>

Police arrest suspect in the 'direct attack' on US consular official shot in Mexico

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div></div></div>A US consular official was shot while driving out of a parking garage in Guadalajara, Mexico, on Friday a little after 6 p.m. local time.The official, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/07/us-consular-official-shot-mexico" target="_blank">identified</a> as Christopher Ashcraft, 31, a foreign-service officer on his <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/01/07/video-captures-shooting-of-u-s-consular-official-in-mexico/" target="_blank">first posting</a> with the US State Department, was struck on the upper right side of his chest but is in stable condition, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/r-us-consular-official-shot-in-mexico-in-stable-condition-2017-1" target="_blank">according</a> to Mexican authorities.Ashcraft works as&#xa0;a vice consul, a US government source <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/afp/article-4097636/Gunman-wounds-US-consular-official-western-Mexico.html" target="_blank">told</a> AFP."According to the four videos, it was a direct attack," Jalisco state attorney general Eduard Almaguer Ramirez <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/afp/article-4097636/Gunman-wounds-US-consular-official-western-Mexico.html" target="_blank">said</a>. Almaguer also told AFP that Ashcraft interviewed visa applicants at the embassy in the city.The US consulate in the city, which is Mexico's second largest, released footage of the shooting as well as photos of the assailant. No motive for the attack has been established.One clip of security-camera footage posted by the consulate on its Facebook page shows Ashcraft getting a ticket from a parking-garage machine&#xa0;while dressed in gym attire, then walking to his car with the suspected shooter not far behind him. Another clip shows the suspect loitering by the street, waiting until Ashcraft's vehicle, a black Honda Fit, exits the parking garage, then taking a gun from his pocket and firing a single shot through the windshield.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div></div></div>Another clip shows the suspect, clad in white shoes and purple pants and shirt possibly meant to&#xa0;appear like a nurse's uniform, running behind a van after the shooting. He was also wearing sunglasses and a dark-colored wig.After the assailant fires and runs away, the car moves forward and stops, as people run over to the driver's side of the vehicle. Ashcraft was <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/07/us-consular-official-shot-mexico" target="_blank">taken</a> to a local hospital for treatment, where he is under protection.Footage of the shooting is below, but it may be disturbing to some viewers.According to the consulate's Facebook page, the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/USCGGuadalajara/videos/10154616171290129/" target="_blank">FBI is offering</a> a $20,000 reward for information leading to the identification of the shooter.The shooter was apparently targeting Ashcraft. He asked for the US official by name at the gym reception desk and then followed him to his car, a friend of Ashcraft's <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/01/07/video-captures-shooting-of-u-s-consular-official-in-mexico/" target="_blank">told</a> The Washington Post.In the footage below, Ashcraft can be seen retrieving a parking ticket and then walking to his car, with the suspected assailant following.The friend said Ashcraft was recovering but planned to return to the US. "He has no idea what happened," the friend, who has been in contact with Ashcraft since the shooting, told The Post. "But it wasn't random."A source within the Guadalajara police department <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/07/us-consular-official-shot-mexico" target="_blank">told</a> The Guardian that authorities found US Drug Enforcement Administration credentials in Ashcraft's name, though&#xa0;the US consulate declined to comment on his position.The source also said the attack was likely the work of a professional. "That's not an easy shot," he <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/07/us-consular-official-shot-mexico" target="_blank">told</a> The Guardian. "He was probably aiming for the head but he missed as he leaned over to put his ticket in the machine."<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div></div></div>While it's not yet known who the shooter was or if he acted on behalf of a Mexican criminal organization, Jalisco state, an economic center, is a hub of cartel activity. The state is the home base of the Jalisco New Generation cartel, which is widely regarded as <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/r-carnage-and-corruption-upstart-mexican-cartels-path-to-top-2016-10" target="_blank">one of the country's most powerful cartels</a>. And in mid-December, the alleged leader of the once powerful Beltran Leyva Organization cartel <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/alfredo-beltran-guzman-beltran-leyva-sinaloa-cartel-fighting-in-mexico-2016-12" target="_blank">was arrested in a Guadalajara suburb</a>.The CJNG has proven itself willing to take on Mexican authorities. In May 2015 cartel&#xa0;gunmen downed a Mexican military helicopter with a rocket-propelled grenade, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/r-us-consular-official-shot-in-mexico-in-stable-condition-2017-1" target="_blank">killing six</a>. Jalisco's southern border <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/r-us-consular-official-shot-in-mexico-in-stable-condition-2017-1" target="_blank">has also seen fighting</a> between the CJNG and remnants of the Knights Templar cartel, based in neighboring Michoacan."I think that the Mexican cartels, the drug traffickers, have exceedingly become more brazen, and I think that US officials are in danger, very much like we were back in the '80s with the Guadalajara cartel when they kidnapped and assassinated Kiki Camarena," Mike Vigil, a former chief of <keyword id="6356001" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="international">international</keyword> operations for the DEA who was stationed in Mexico, told Business Insider, referring to <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/1-year-the-rise-and-fall-of-worlds-most-ambitious-drug-lord-2016-7" target="_blank">the case of Enrique Camarena</a>, a DEA agent who was kidnapped and killed by members of the Guadalajara cartel, then Mexico's strongest cartel, in 1985. The killing strained US-Mexico relations and triggered a massive crackdown on the Guadalajara cartel, leading to <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/1-year-the-rise-and-fall-of-worlds-most-ambitious-drug-lord-2016-7" target="_blank">the arrest of its top leaders</a> and knocking it from atop the narco hierarchy.The US State Department has issued <a href="https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/alertswarnings/mexico-travel-warning.html" target="_blank">a travel warning</a> for Jalisco, barring US government personnel from "intercity travel after hours" and from using other roads in the area "because of continued instability" in the region.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div></div></div>"The Jalisco New Generation cartel, which operates in that area, is highly violent," Vigil, author of "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Metal-Coffins-Alliance-Cartel-Miguel/dp/0991582195?tag=bisafetynet-20" target="_blank">Metal Coffins: The Blood Alliance Cartel</a>," added. "They don't respect US officials, but what they don't understand is that when these things happen, the full weight of the US government will be brought to bear on them."Investigators from the US and Mexico will now to tap into a pool of contacts in the region in order to ascertain the identity and motive of the shooter."They will activate the large network of informants to make a determination as to whether or not they have any information as to who was responsible for the killings," Vigil told Business Insider. "And there'll be coordination obviously with all US agencies, to include DHS, ATF, the US Marshals, the DEA, because all of them have their own distinct informant network, and ... they'll coordinate with the Mexican federal police, because they'll have jurisdiction.""But this investigation is not going to go away, and what's very critical in these types of situations is that the Mexican government will be given a lot of support," Vigil added. "They sometimes lack the expertise, but with the US government involved, I can assure that this investigation will move forward in a very focused way."<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div></div></div>Attacks on US officials working in Mexico have happened in the past, though in some cases the attackers have said the incidents were the result of mistaken identity.In 2014, Mexican gang leader Arturo Gallegos Castrellon was sentenced to life in prison for his role <a href="https://apnews.com/a5f8d1b69237482e9c58850f74b4ea3d?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&amp;utm_source=Twitter&amp;utm_medium=AP" target="_blank">in the 2010 killings</a> of US consulate employee Leslie Ann Enriquez Catton, her husband, Arthur Redfels, and Alberto Salcido Ceniceros, the husband of another consular employee, in a shooting in Ciudad Juarez.The killings came during <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/rising-violence-in-ciudad-juarez-reminder-of-cartel-fighting-2016-10" target="_blank">the peak of bloody fighting</a> between the Juarez and Sinaloa cartels for control of Juarez.Prosecutors <a href="https://apnews.com/a5f8d1b69237482e9c58850f74b4ea3d?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&amp;utm_source=Twitter&amp;utm_medium=AP" target="_blank">alleged</a> that Castrellon was part of a team of assassins working for Barrio Azteca, an ally of the Juarez cartel, which had ordered the hits. Several gang members testified that the killing was an accident, as the trio was in a car similar to that of members of the Sinaloa cartel.In 2013, a Mexican drug-cartel lieutenant pleaded guilty to murder and attempted murder in relation to <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/jaime-zapata-special-agent-killed-mexico-zetas-cartel-2016-11" target="_blank">the February 15, 2011, attack on ICE agents Jaime Zapata and his partner, Victor Avila</a>, who were driving back to Mexico City after a work-related trip to northern Mexico.Court documents in the case stated that a Los Zetas cartel commander attempted to hijack the agents' government-issued armored SUV while they were driving on Highway 57 in San Luis Potosi state. After Zetas gunmen forced the SUV off the road, the commander ordered the two agents to get out.They refused and tried to identify themselves as American diplomats, but the gunmen opened fire, killing Zapata and wounding Avila.<div></div><div></div> <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-ford-factory-mexico-us-louisville-kentucky-assembly-lincoln-2016-11">Trump said he prevented a Ford factory from leaving the US - but the company says the move was never planned</a></h3> <div> <div> <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="J3MHJvNzE6fxnFj_lloyp1iFPtNCE5yy" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div> </div> </div> </div>

'It wasn't random': The FBI is offering $20,000 for information on the shooting of a US consular official in Mexico

Once upon a time, diplomatic tension between the US, world’s most powerful democracy, and India, the world’s most populous democracy, would be sparked off by glamorous allegations of espionage and moles. 
 Now, a tawdry tale of human exploitation, cultural arrogance and <keyword id="46555" type="POSITION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Diplomat">diplomat</keyword>ic doublespeak has embittered the relations between the two ‘supposed’ allies. A senior Indian diplomat in <keyword id="6355838" type="COMPANY" weightage="40" keywordseo="New-York">New York</keyword> was arrested on charges of visa fraud and human trafficking by the US on the complaint of her Indian <keyword id="6425546" type="POSITION" weightage="40" keywordseo="maid">maid</keyword>. 
 
When Indians attack Americans, self-conscious about their stereotypical image as ‘The Ugly American,’ have obviously never met ‘The Assertive Indian’ – especially the privileged ones in India’s class and hierarchy-conscious <keyword id="128755" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Indian-Foreign-Service">Indian Foreign Service</keyword>, who took severe umbrage at the treatment of one of their kin. 
 Bureaucrats shook off their legendary sloth and in retaliation, the <keyword id="50596" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="US-embassy">US embassy</keyword> and the Consular staff were asked to surrender their special IDs; their diplomatic privileges were put under review and in an act that discomfited even common Indians, security at the US institutions was downgraded. 
 
Worse still, the salaries that US diplomatic staff in India are paying to Indians employed by them have been subjected to scrutiny in an attempt to pay the US back in its own coin. 
 
United state of hypocrisy 
Ironically, both countries are now united in their hypocrisy. The US claimed to hold the rule of law above diplomatic niceties even after an ex-diplomat had ‘outed’ several egregious instances of Uncle Sam’s chosen ones having violated the law overseas and getting away with it. 
 The <keyword id="44734" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Indian-Government">Indian government</keyword> played to the gallery as well, suitably aided by sections of the Indian media, which would make Fox News blush. Accusing the US of cultural imperialism had raised a few eyebrows and some people pointed out that the US case was being prosecuted by an Indian-American, who claimed he was just doing his job. 
 
What makes the situation near bizarre is that for most Indian diplomats, a posting in the US is highly sought after and is seen as the mark of a high-flier. On the other hand, US diplomats could be stationed in a worse country than the democratic, liberal, English-speaking India, where thanks to a colonial hangover, the status and day-to-day social courtesies accorded to the Americans can be immense. 
 Regardless of the media and the political spin, the ball is in a <keyword id="42823" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="US-court">US court</keyword> for now. Real diplomacy may be required once the verdict comes in.

India-US Showdown – A Saga Of
Immorality, Immunity & Impunity

<ul class="summary-list"><li>US weapons could begin arriving in Ukraine in a matter of days, according to The New York Times.</li><li> Russia is intensifying attacks on Ukraine in the window before aid arrives. </li></ul>The release of a $61 billion aid bill by the US Senate on Tuesday is a massive boost to Ukraine in its battle against Russia's invasion.According to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/24/world/europe/ukraine-aid-senate.html">The New York Times</a>, US weapons could start arriving in Ukraine within days. But on parts of the front line, Ukraine's situation is desperate. And it still has a major problem that aid can't fix: a lack of troops. "The most important source of Ukrainian weakness is the lack of manpower," Konrad Muzyka, director of the Rochan military consultancy in Poland, told Reuters.Oleksandr, a battalion commander, told <a target="_blank" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/02/08/ukraine-soldiers-shortage-infantry-russia/">The Washington Post</a> in February that companies in his unit are staffed at around 35% of normal levels. With this shortage of manpower, Ukraine is fighting off intensifying attacks as Russia seeks to exploit the window before crucial aid arrives, think tank <a target="_blank" href="https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-april-21-2024#:~:text=on%20April%2021.-,US%2Dsanctioned%2C%20pro%2DKremlin%20Moldovan%20politician%20Ilan%20Shor%20created,October%2020%20Moldovan%20presidential%20election.">The Institute for the Study of War said Sunday.</a>US President Joe Biden said he'll sign the US aid bill Wednesday, meaning that US military equipment from bases in Europe can begin arriving in Ukraine in a matter of days. But it's unclear how long it'll take to arrive in sufficient amounts at the front line to make a difference, with one Ukrainian MP telling <a target="_blank" href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-war-us-weapons-battle-impact-43072858c26195f6c91565c1ebbf1629">The Associated Press it could take months.</a>In the strategically crucial city of Chasiv Yar in Donestk, East Ukraine, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.wsj.com/world/inside-a-besieged-ukrainian-city-where-soldiers-await-u-s-arms-5f27b4d3?st=e4tlv3koqst40zp&amp;reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink">The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday</a> that the situation is increasingly desperate for Ukraine's military.Russia has used glide bombs to devastating effect on Ukrainian positions in the city, and Ukrainian forces are being outfired at a 10 to one ratio, the report said.Russian drone strikes, the report said, mean that crucial supplies and reinforcements aren't getting through. "During that time, soldiers sometimes run out of food, water and medicine. Attack drones hunt vehicles bringing materiel and fresh troops to the front line. Soldiers with treatable wounds die waiting days for evacuations because no one can reach them," reported The Wall Street Journal.American weapons will help Ukraine's forces counter the attacks. Meanwhile, Ukraine's government has reduced the draft age from 27 to 25, meaning thousands of new recruits will soon be deployed on the front line.This week, Ukraine said it had suspended consular services for military-age male Ukrainians abroad, in an apparent attempt to get tough on young men who fled the country to avoid being sent to fight. In the meantime, Russia is battling against a weakened enemy."I would expect the situation to probably continue to deteriorate over the next three months, but if mobilization goes according to plan and the US aid is unblocked, then the situation should improve from autumn onwards,"Muzyka, the Polish analyst, told Reuters.

US weapons could start arriving in Ukraine within days, but it still has a major problem that aid can't fix       

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Travel horror stories surrounding damaged passports have been making headlines. </li><li>But how much damage is too much for a passport to be considered ineligible for travel?</li></ul>Picture it: You're about to set off on the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-trips-to-book-for-2024-underrated-destinations-travel-planner">overseas vacation</a> of a lifetime. With <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-i-pack-only-carry-on-month-long-trip-packing-tips-2023">bags packed</a> and boarding passes ready to go, you make it to the airport with plenty of time before departure.That's when the nightmare begins. Before boarding, an airline official stops you with the bad news that you're not going anywhere. Why? Your passport is too damaged for travel.You might assume a passport has to be ripped to shreds to be denied boarding, but that's not always the case.A British family recently told Business Insider's Monica Humphries that they <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/family-missed-vacation-tear-passport-2024-1">missed out on their dream holiday</a> to Alicante, Spain, because their son's passport had a 1-centimeter rip near the binding of the first page. It would've been 19-year-old Jake Burton's first flight, his mother said.As a result, the family spent New Year's Eve at home in the UK and lost out on £1,234, or about $1,570.Determining if a passport is too damaged for travel often comes down to the opinion of a border authority. Still, BI asked Steve Diehl, chief corporate development officer of <a target="_blank" href="https://cibtvisas.com/">CIBTvisas</a>, a global visa and passport service, to share the common reasons it happens and how to avoid it.<h2>Page tears are just one of many reasons your passport can cause you problems at the airport</h2>According to Diehl, there are several reasons border authorities could deny boarding to a traveler.Besides tears on pages and covers, you may not be able to travel if you have loose or missing passport covers, hanging threads on page edges, or frayed bindings.Diehl also said that warped or bent covers, worn or curling page edges, peeling plastic, water damage, and damage to the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip could lead to issues.Unauthorized markings or unofficial stickers could also prevent you from being able to use your passport, according to Diehl."Some tourist attractions will have their own 'passport stamp,' but since these are not official government agencies, they could invalidate your passport," Diehl said.<div type="image" title="Loose bindings and frayed edges are common reasons a passport is deemed too damaged for travel." height="851" width="1280" msid="107174370" hostid="261" sizebytes="78476"></div>"As a rule of thumb, if you're unsure whether the passport is too damaged or not, it's better to assume it's too damaged and replace it," he added. "The last thing you want is to have a vacation ruined because border authorities declared your passport invalid due to damages."Diehl said there are also worse things than having a passport deemed too damaged."Authorities may question the authenticity of a damaged passport," he said, which could cause them to "detain you or send you home.""It's much better to play it safe," he said.<h2>Keeping your passport in good condition is key</h2>Diehl said that the easiest way to avoid being turned away at the airport for having a damaged passport is to keep it safe."Keep it out of arms reach from pets and small children. If you can, invest in a case that will protect it from spills and the elements, especially while traveling," he told BI.He said waterproof cases are best, but travelers could also try storing their passports in Ziploc bags as a more cost-effective measure.Depending on the destination, it may also be worth keeping photocopies of a passport handy."If you're traveling somewhere with inclement weather, where there may be snow or rain, make clear, colored copies of the passport as a backup in case anything should happen," Diehl said.The worst thing that can happen is realizing a passport is damaged too late, so he also recommends inspecting a passport every couple of months to know well ahead of time whether it needs to be replaced.<div type="image" title="Airport" height="683" width="1024" msid="107174371" hostid="261" sizebytes="98266"></div>Replacing a passport is also a completely different process to renewing it, he added."Most of the time, you can't just send it in. You'll need to go to an acceptance facility, embassy, or passport agency in person and bring the proper materials so the government can issue you a brand-new passport," he said. "If you can, schedule an appointment with the facility first so you don't have to wait in line."In the US, current processing times for a passport replacement can take up to eight weeks, according to <a target="_blank" href="https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/processing-times.html">the US Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs</a>. When expedited, the minimum processing time is two weeks."Getting a new passport after you damaged the last one can be a stressful process," Diehl said. "It's different and more complicated than other passport applications, and not having your passport in good shape on time could delay your travel plans."

Is your passport too damaged for travel? Here are 11 reasons it could be, and how to avoid them.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The Kremlin has expressed openness to a potential prisoner swap that could involve Evan Gershkovich.</li><li>Gershkovich, a WSJ reporter, was detained by Russian officials in March on suspicion of espionage.</li></ul>Russia on Tuesday held the door open for a potential talks with the United States regarding a possible prisoner exchange that could involve detained Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. "There are certain contacts in this regard, but we do not want to make them public in any way," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said during a briefing with journalists, <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/russia-discusses-prisoner-swaps-with-u-s-66ee7212">according to The Journal</a>. "They must continue in complete silence."Peskov then said that "the lawful right to consular contacts must be ensured on both sides."Gershkovich, a 31-year-old American correspondent who was accredited to work as a journalist by the Russian Foreign Ministry, was detained by Russian authorities in the city of Yekaterinburg — about 1,100 miles east of Moscow — on March 29.Russia's internal security service at the time said that it had detained Gershkovich, accusing him of "espionage in the interests of the American government."The Journal has vehemently the allegations and has demanded that Gershkovich be released.President Joe Biden has expressed his firm commitment in working to return Gershkovich to the US, with the administration classifying him as a wrongfully detained citizen."Evan went to Russia to shed light on the darkness that you all escaped from, years ago," Biden <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/apr/30/joe-biden-hails-absolute-courage-of-detained-journalist-evan-gershkovich">told Gershkovich's parents</a> during the White House correspondents dinner in April. "Absolute courage … to the entire family, everyone in this hall stands with you. We're working every day to secure his release."The US has told the Kremlin that Gershkovich is not a spy and is not a government official.Roger Carstens, the special envoy for hostage affairs, said last month that the US has continued to press the Russian government for Gershkovich's release, but reiterated that officials at the Kremlin weren't readily willing to speak about the situation."He's not a spy. We've been very clear with that with the Russians. The Russians, however, have been playing a tough game," Carstens said during the Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado, according to the Journal. "They're not willing to really talk to us about him yet."A US State Department spokesperson on Tuesday didn't provide additional details to the Journal on any potential talks, pointing to its work to free Gershkovich, along with that of Paul Whelan — a former US Marine serving a 16-year sentence in Russia on espionage charges that the US considers to be politically motivated.

The Kremlin is open to discussions over a potential prisoner swap for detained Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich, report says

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Mexico launched a non-binary passport, allowing people to select "X" instead of male or female.</li><li>Mexico joins 16 other countries, including the United States, that allow non-binary passports.</li></ul>Mexico has granted non-binary citizens the option to check "X" on their passports.It is the country's first passport that doesn't require its citizens to pick a gender marker of either male or female, Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrared <a href="https://www.gob.mx/sre/en/articulos/foreign-secretary-marcelo-ebrard-issues-first-non-binary-passports-in-mexico-and-abroad-334216?idiom=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> last week."Important changes always begin as cultural changes. Today's ceremony is going to change our culture and, therefore, our daily lives," Ebrared <a href="https://www.gob.mx/sre/en/articulos/foreign-secretary-marcelo-ebrard-issues-first-non-binary-passports-in-mexico-and-abroad-334216?idiom=en">said</a> at a ceremony marking the change. "What we are doing has to do with a community that has the right to identity."The announcement came last week on the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia. Mexico joined some 16 other countries that allow a non-binary option on passports, a press release from the Mexican government said. "Today, we are advancing along with other progressive countries," said Carlos Candelaria, the director general of Passport Offices. Other <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/which-countries-recognize-third-gender-option-passports-1643167">countries</a> that offer non-binary passports include the <a href="https://www.state.gov/issuance-of-the-first-u-s-passport-with-an-x-gender-marker/#:~:text=The%20Department%20has%20issued%20the,.state.gov%2Fgender." target="_blank" rel="noopener">United States</a>, Argentina, Austria, Australia, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, India, and Nepal."We endorse our support for sexual diversity," Ebrared said in a statement, according to <a href="https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/05/21/mexico-gender-marker-passports/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Pink News</a>. "All rights must be guaranteed for all identities. No more hate speech – diversity enriches and flourishes."The government invited Mexican activist Ociel Baena to receive the first non-binary passport in the nation. Jaime Vázquez Bracho, the director general of Consular Services, said the country was protecting human rights."In 2022, when we issued the first birth certificates at our consulates, the Foreign Secretary promised to work on issuing non-binary documents," Bracho said in the press release. "Today, we have the honor of seeing the Foreign Secretary deliver the first non-binary passport."

Mexico introduced a non-binary passport, allowing people to write their gender as 'x' instead of male or female

<ul><li>An individual travelling to the United States on a business or <keyword id="6369102" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tourist-visa" source="Orion">tourist visa</keyword> -- B-1, B-2 -- can apply for new jobs and even appear in interviews.</li><li>At the same time, the USCIS said that before beginning any new employment, a petition and request for a change of status from B-1 or B-2 to an employment-authorized status must be approved.</li></ul>WASHINGTON: An individual travelling to the United States on a business or tourist visa -- B-1, B-2 -- can apply for new jobs and even appear in interviews, a federal agency said Wednesday, but asked prospective employees to ensure the applicants have changed their visa status before starting the new role. In a note, and a series of tweets, the <keyword id="6354458" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="US" source="Orion">US</keyword> Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said when nonimmigrant workers are laid off, they may not be aware of their options and may, in some instances, wrongly assume that they have no option but to leave the country within 60 days. The maximum 60-day grace period starts the day after termination of employment, which is typically determined based on the last day for which a salary or wage is paid. When a nonimmigrant worker's employment is terminated, either voluntarily or involuntarily, they typically may take one of the several actions, if eligible, to remain in a period of authorised stay in the United States. These include filing an application for a change of nonimmigrant status; filing an application for adjustment of status; filing an application for a "compelling circumstances" employment authorization document; or be the beneficiary of a nonfrivolous petition to change employer. "If one of these actions occurs within the up to 60-day grace period, the nonimmigrant's period of authorized stay in the United States can exceed 60 days, even if they lose their previous nonimmigrant status," the USCIS said. If the worker takes no action within the grace period, they and their dependents may then need to depart the United States within 60 days, or when their authorized validity period ends, whichever is shorter, it said. "Many people have asked if they can look for a new <keyword id="6355569" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="job" source="Orion">job</keyword> while in B-1 or B-2 status. The answer is, yes. Searching for employment and interviewing for a position are permissible B-1 or B-2 activities," the US Citizenship and Immigration Services said in a series of tweets. At the same time, the USCIS said that before beginning any new employment, a petition and request for a change of status from B-1 or B-2 to an employment-authorized status must be approved, and the new status must take effect. "Alternatively, if the change of status request is denied or the petition for new employment requested consular or port of entry notification, the individual must depart the US and be admitted in an employment-authorized classification before beginning the new employment," the USCIS said. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/how-you-can-open-the-ai-chatbot-directly-from-macs-menu-bar/articleshow/98449632.cms#:~:text=Once%20you%20have%20downloaded%20the,%2C%20simply%20click%20on%20'Open.">ChatGPT just got more accessible: Here’s how you can open the AI Chatbot directly from Mac's menu bar</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/chatgpt-prompts-to-boost-your-productivity-and-creativity-in-2023/articleshow/98693400.cms">ChatGPT prompts to boost your productivity and creativity in 2023</a>

One can apply for job, give interviews while on tourist or business visa in US: Federal agency

<ul><li>This is the second attack on the <keyword id="72335" type="General" weightage="40" keywordseo="indian-consulate" source="Orion">Indian Consulate</keyword> in <keyword id="12161" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="san-francisco" source="Orion">San Francisco</keyword> by Khalistani supporters within months. </li><li>The attack caused limited damage and no staff members were harmed.</li><li>India has requested partner countries to not give space to extremist Khalistani ideology.</li></ul> India's consulate in San Francisco came under an attack from <keyword id="116131" type="General" weightage="60" keywordseo="khalistan" source="Orion">Khalistan</keyword> supporters who tried to set the diplomatic facility on fire in the second such act of violence within months, drawing strong condemnation from the US government which termed it a "criminal offence". A video by Khalistan supporters, dated July 2 posted on Twitter, showed the act of arson at the Indian Consulate in San Francisco. The video, with the words "violence begets violence" emblazoned over it, also showed news articles related to the death of Canada-based Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Nijjar, one of India's most-wanted terrorists who carried a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh on his head, was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Canada last month. Responding to the incident, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller in a tweet on Monday said: "The US strongly condemns the reported vandalism and attempted arson against the Indian Consulate in San Francisco on Saturday. Vandalism or violence against diplomatic facilities or foreign diplomats in the US is a criminal offence." Diya TV, a South Asian broadcast TV network in the US, said in a tweet that "a fire was set early Sunday morning between 1:30-2:30 am in the San Francisco Indian Consulate." "The fire was suppressed quickly by the San Francisco Department, the damage was limited and no staffers were harmed. Local, state and federal authorities have been notified," it said. The outlet also posted a video of the arson attack. A poster being shared on social media says that a "Khalistan Freedom Rally" will be organised on July 8 that will start in Berkeley, California and end at the Indian embassy in San Francisco. This is the second time within months that the Indian Consulate in San Francisco came under attack from Khalistani supporters. On March 19, a group of pro-Khalistan protesters attacked and damaged the Indian Consulate in San Francisco. Raising pro-Khalistan slogans, the protesters broke open the makeshift security barriers raised by the city police and installed two so-called Khalistani flags inside the Consulate premises. Two consulate personnel soon removed these flags. Ajay Bhutoria, an Indian community leader, said the attack on India's consulate in San Francisco is extremely concerning and must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. "It is deeply disturbing to see such acts of violence targeting diplomatic missions," he said. "The Indian consulate serves as an essential hub for providing consular services and fostering bilateral relations between India and the United States. It is crucial that the staff and members of the consulate are able to operate in a safe and secure environment, free from any threat or harm," he added. Bhutoria asked the San Francisco Police Department to swiftly investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice. "Ensuring the safety and security of diplomatic missions is not only a responsibility of the host country but also a fundamental obligation under international law," he said. It is imperative that such incidents are met with a strong response from the authorities to deter any further attacks and ensure the safety of diplomatic personnel, he said. "Let us stand united against violence and work towards promoting peace, understanding, and harmonious relations," Bhutoria said. India's reaction External Affairs Minister <keyword id="491850" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="s-jaishankar" source="Orion">S Jaishankar</keyword> on Monday said India has asked its partner countries such as Canada, the UK and the US not to give space to "extremist Khalistani ideology" as it is "not good" for relations. He was responding to reports of Khalistani posters in Canada naming senior Indian diplomats. The minister said the issue will be raised with the government of that country. The "radical, extremist Khalistani ideology" is not good for India or its partner countries such as the US, Canada, the UK and Australia, he told reporters on the sidelines of a BJP outreach campaign. "We have already requested our partner countries like Canada, the US, the UK and Australia where sometimes Khalistani activities happen, not to give space to Khalistanis. Because their (Khalistanis) radical, extremist thinking is neither good for us nor for them nor our relations," the minister said. "We will raise the issue of posters with those governments," Jaishankar said. PTI YAS MRJ NSA AKJ NSA NSA

US condemns attempted arson at Indian Consulate in San Francisco by Khalistan supporters

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The US Embassy in Moscow is urging Americans to leave Russia as soon as possible.</li><li>The embassy warned that dual nationals could be conscripted into military service.</li></ul>The US Embassy in Moscow said in a new security alert that US citizens should not travel to Russia and urged those traveling or residing in the country to get out "immediately," warning that dual nationals could be conscripted for military service as Russian leadership scrambles to find more people to fight in Ukraine. "On September 21, the Russian government began a mobilization of its citizens to the armed forces in support of its invasion of Ukraine," the security alert said. "Russia may refuse to acknowledge dual nationals' US citizenship, deny their access to US consular assistance, prevent their departure from Russia, and conscript dual nationals for military service.""If you wish to depart Russia, you should make independent arrangements as soon as possible," the alert added.The embassy said that it has "severe limitations" in its ability to assist Americans, underscoring that options for transportation "may suddenly become even more limited.""We remind US citizens that the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression are not guaranteed in Russia," the alert went on to say. "Avoid all political or social protests and do not photograph security personnel at these events," it said, adding that "Russian authorities have arrested US citizens who have participated in demonstrations."The embassy has consistently urged Americans against traveling to Russia while advising those in the country to depart, but this new security alert contains a particularly stark warning given recent developments.Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a partial military mobilization last week, calling up hundreds of thousands of reservists. Though Putin said that only people who had previously served "and have specific military occupational specialties and corresponding experience" would be impacted, reports indicate that that people without prior military service are also being forced to enlist. Putin's mobilization decree came as Russia faces major manpower problems in Ukraine, where Russian forces are estimated to have suffered as many as 80,000 casualties, if not more, since the war began in late February. The mobilization has faced resistance in Russia, prompting protests and leading thousands of men to flee the country. There have been traffic jams at the Russian border, and plane tickets have sold out, even as the prices have skyrocketed.

US embassy in Moscow urges Americans to leave Russia immediately, warning that dual nationals could be drafted into the Ukraine war

<ul class="summary-list"><li>An American Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was arrested in Russia on Thursday. </li><li>Gershkovich is being held on charges of espionage for his reporting about the invasion of Ukraine. </li></ul>Evan Gershkovich, the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-arrests-wsj-journal-reporter-fsb-evan-gershkovich-espionage-charges-2023-3">Wall Street Journal reporter arrested Thursday in Russia on espionage charges</a>, is the first American journalist to be detained and accused of spying by the country since the Cold War.Gershkovich, a New York-born journalist based in Moscow, was detained in Yekaterinburg, a city in the Ural mountains. The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) accused him of "trying to obtain secret information" according to a <a href="https://ria.ru/20230330/korrespondent-1861767077.html">statement</a> published in the state-sponsored media outlet RIA Novosti, saying Gershkovich was acting "on the instructions of the United States."Though the US has not officially designated Gershkovich as unlawfully detained, the Biden administration has issued a <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/03/30/statement-from-press-secretary-karine-jean-pierre-on-evan-gershkovich/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> condemning Russia's arrest of the reporter and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/30/us-condemns-arrest-of-wsj-journalist-as-russia-accused-of-hostage-taking" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Guardian</a> reported White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called the espionage charges "ridiculous" and "unacceptable."The Wall Street Journal has not been in contact with Gershkovich since his arrest, but the outlet vehemently denies that he was doing anything other than reporting while in Russia. On Saturday, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/reporter-detained-russia-spy-allegations-wagner-group-ukraine-war-rcna77656" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">NBC reported</a> that Gershkovich had been investigating the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wagner-group-recruiting-soldiers-russian-schools-youth-clubs-2023-3">private military company called the Wagner Group</a> and a tank factory in Yekaterinburg. "The Wall Street Journal demands the immediate release of our colleague, Evan Gershkovich, a distinguished journalist who was arrested while reporting in Russia," the news outlet said in a Saturday <a href="https://www.dowjones.com/press-room/april-1-2023-statement-from-the-wall-street-journal-on-reporter-evan-gershkovich/">statement</a>, which was emailed to Insider. "We know what's going on in the world because of the fearless reporting of journalists like Evan. Evan's case is a vicious affront to a free press, and should spur outrage in all free people and governments throughout the world. No reporter should ever be detained for simply doing their job."The last time an American journalist was arrested on spying charges in Russia was in 1986, when Nicholas D. Daniloff a reporter for US News and World Report newspaper and magazine, was accused by the Soviet Union's KGB agency of espionage, five years before the end of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cold-war-russia-china-ukraine-america-nuclear-scarier-foreign-policy-2022-3">the Cold War</a>.Daniloff spent weeks in a Russian prison while the Reagan administration negotiated his release, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/30/business/wsj-journalist-arrested-russia/index.html">CNN</a> reported."In my case, the FBI had arrested a Soviet in New York for espionage, and the Russians then arrested me," Daniloff told <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/30/business/wsj-journalist-arrested-russia/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CNN</a>, adding that the negotiation that eventually secured his release also included a "solution for the guy who was arrested in New York."The White House has not indicated whether negotiations have begun to secure Gershkovich's release, but a Thursday <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/03/30/statement-from-press-secretary-karine-jean-pierre-on-evan-gershkovich/">statement</a> from the Biden administration indicated officials are "in direct touch with the Russian government on this matter, including actively working to secure consular access to Mr. Gershkovich.""The targeting of American citizens by the Russian government is unacceptable. We condemn the detention of Mr. Gershkovich in the strongest terms," Jean-Pierre said in the <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/03/30/statement-from-press-secretary-karine-jean-pierre-on-evan-gershkovich/">statement</a>. "We also condemn the Russian government's continued targeting and repression of journalists and freedom of the press."The Biden administration recently <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/freed-russian-viktor-bout-wholeheartedly-supports-russias-war-ukraine-2022-12">negotiated the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner</a>, who had been sentenced to nine years in a penal colony for possession of hash oil, in exchange for a notorious Russian arms dealer, Viktor Bout. Other Americans, including the <a href="https://www.insider.com/paul-whelan-likely-lost-hope-brother-britney-griner-russia-prison-2022-12">former Marine Paul Whelan</a> jailed since 2018, remain in Russian custody.Emma Tucker, editor-in-chief of The Wall Street Journal, <a href="https://twitter.com/WSJPR/status/1642303118137253888">told</a> CNN's Anderson Cooper on Friday that US State Department officials are working with the outlet to find a way to get Gershkovich released from Russian custody."We're very optimistic that the US government will designate him — they're moving quickly towards designating him as unlawfully detained," Tucker <a href="https://twitter.com/WSJPR/status/1642303118137253888" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> Cooper. "When that happens, that's an official recognition that the charges against him are bogus. And then after that things, we hope, could move a bit more swiftly."

Russia's arrest of Evan Gershkovich is the first time the country has accused an American journalist of spying since the Cold War. The Wall Street Journal calls the targeting of their reporter 'a vicious affront to a free press.'

You Searched For "Consular Services" and got 11 results

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