Major Shake-Up in World’s Passport Power Ranking

LONDON, July 18, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Japan has been knocked off the top spot on the Henley Passport Index for the first time in five years and bumped into 3rd place, according to the latest ranking, which is based on exclusive and official data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Singapore is now officially the most powerful passport in the world, with its citizens able to visit 192 destinations out of 227 around the world visa-free. Germany, Italy, and Spain all move up into 2nd place with visa-free access to 190 destinations, and Japanese passport holders join those of six other nations — Austria, Finland, France, Luxembourg, South Korea, and Sweden — in 3rd place with access to 189 destinations without a prior visa.

The UK appears to have finally turned the corner after a six-year decline, jumping up two places on the latest ranking to 4th place — a position it last held in 2017. The US, on the other hand, continues its now decade-long slide down the index, plummeting a further two places to 8th spot with access to just 184 destinations visa-free. Both the UK and the US jointly held 1st place on the index nearly 10 years ago in 2014, but have been on a downward trajectory ever since. Afghanistan remains entrenched at the bottom of the Henley Passport Index, with a visa-free access score of just 27, followed by Iraq (score of 29), and Syria (score of 30) — the three weakest passports in the world.

The general trend over the history of the 18-year-old ranking has been towards greater travel freedom, with the average number of destinations travelers are able to access visa-free nearly doubling from 58 in 2006 to 109 in 2023. However, the global mobility gap between those at the top and bottom of the index is now wider than it has ever been, with top-ranked Singapore able to access 165 more destinations visa-free than Afghanistan.

Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners, says only eight countries worldwide have less visa-free access today than they did a decade ago, while others have been more successful in securing greater travel freedom for their citizens. “The UAE has added an impressive 107 destinations to its visa-free score since 2013, resulting in a massive leap of 44 places in the ranking over the past 10 years from 56th to 12th position. Of the countries sitting in the Top 10, the US has seen the smallest increase in its score, securing just 12 additional destinations. Singapore, by comparison, has increased its score by 25, pushing it up five places over the past 10 years to number one.”

Commenting in the Henley Global Mobility Report 2023 Q3, released today alongside the latest index, Greg Lindsay from Cornell Tech’s Jacobs Institute, says that from a purely mechanical perspective, “the story is a simple one — by more or less standing still, the US has fallen behind. While its absolute score has in fact risen over the last decade, the US has been steadily overtaken by rivals such as South Korea, Japan, and Singapore. America’s relentless slide down the rankings is a warning to its neighbor Canada and the rest of the Anglosphere as well.”

The links between visa-free access and openness

Henley & Partners has conducted exclusive new research into the relationship between a country’s openness to foreigners — how many nations it allows to cross its borders visa-free — and its own citizens’ travel freedom. The new Henley Openness Index ranks all 199 countries worldwide according to the number of nationalities they permit entry to without a prior visa.

The Top 20 ‘most open’ countries are all small island nations or African states, except for Cambodia. There are 12 countries that are completely open to all passports and four that don’t allow anyone in visa-free. While the correlation between a high openness score and high visa-free access score is not straightforward, it is notable that Singapore and South Korea — high climbers on the Henley Passport Index Top 10 over last decade, moving up from 6th and 7th respectively in 2013 to 1st and 3rd today — boast relatively high degrees of openness compared to the 5 countries with the biggest disparity between the travel freedom they enjoy, versus the visa-free access they provide to other nationalities. US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan have all either slid down the ranking or remained in the same place as their openness stagnates.

Prof. Peter J. Spiro, who holds the Charles Weiner Chair in international law at Temple University, says America’s extension of visa-free access is low, even by the standard of developed economies. “EU states grant visa-free privileges to more than twice the number of states than does the US. Processing delays, high refusal rates, and a reputation for disagreeable customer service are tarnishing the attractiveness of the US as a destination. Add to that the growing reputation of the US as ridden with gun violence and one can project a long-term trajectory in which US global standing further erodes.”

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Changement majeur dans le classement mondial de la puissance des passeports

LONDRES, 18 juill. 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Pour la première fois en cinq ans, le Japon a été détrôné de la première place du Henley Passport Index pour passer à la 3e place, selon le dernier classement réalisé sur la base des données exclusives et officielles de l’Assocation internationale du transport aérien (IATA). Désormais, c’est Singapour qui délivre officiellement le passeport le plus puissant au monde, permettant à ses citoyens de visiter 192 destinations sur 227 dans le monde sans visa. L’Allemagne, l’Italie et l’Espagne se hissent toutes à la 2e place avec un accès sans visa à 190 destinations, et les détenteurs d’un passeport japonais rejoignent la position de six autres pays : l’Autriche, la Finlande, la France, le Luxembourg, la Corée du Sud et la Suède — en 3e place avec accès à 189 destinations sans visa préalable.

Le Royaume-Uni semble avoir finalement inversé la tendance après une baisse de six années consécutives en regagnant deux places dans le dernier classement pour passer à la 4e place, une position que le pays a occupé pour la dernière fois en 2017. Les États-Unis, en revanche, poursuivent depuis maintenant une décennie leur dégringolade dans le classement de l’indice, chutant de deux places supplémentaires à la 8e place avec un accès sans visa à seulement 184 destinations. Il y a près de dix ans, en 2014, le Royaume-Uni et les États-Unis occupaient conjointement la 1ère place de l’indice, mais ont suivi depuis une trajectoire descendante. L’Afghanistan reste bien ancrée au bas du Henley Passport Index, avec un score d’accès sans visa de seulement 27, suivi de l’Irak (29) et de la Syrie (30), ces trois pays délivrant les passeports les plus faibles au monde.

Au cours des 18 années de l’histoire du classement, la tendance générale a été vers une plus grande liberté de voyager, le nombre moyen de destinations auxquelles les voyageurs peuvent accéder sans visa ayant presque doublé, passant ainsi de 58 en 2006 à 109 en 2023. Cependant, l’écart de mobilité mondiale entre ceux qui se trouvent au sommet de l’indice et ceux qui se trouvent en bas de celui-ci est à présent plus large qu’il ne l’a jamais été, avec Singapour en tête du classement, ce pays pouvant accéder sans visa à 165 destinations de plus que l’Afghanistan.

Christian H. Kaelin, président de Henley & Partners, déclare que seuls huit pays dans le monde disposent d’un accès sans visa plus limité aujourd’hui qu’il y a dix ans, tandis que d’autres pays ont mieux réussi à obtenir une plus grande liberté de déplacement pour leurs citoyens. « Les Émirats arabes unis ont ajouté le nombre impressionnant de 107 destinations supplémentaires à leur accès sans visa depuis 2013, ce qui a entraîné un bond massif de 44 places dans le classement au cours des 10 dernières années, passant de la 56e à la 12e position. Parmi les pays figurant dans le Top 10, les États-Unis ont enregistré la plus faible augmentation de leur score, n’obtenant que douze destinations supplémentaires. Singapour, en comparaison, a augmenté son score de 25 destinations supplémentaires, faisant grimper ce pays de cinq places au cours des dix dernières années pour devenir numéro un du classement. »

Greg Lindsay de l’Institut Jacobs de Cornell Tech, commentant le Henley Global Mobility Report 2023 Q3, publié aujourd’hui en même temps que le dernier indice, déclare que d’un point de vue purement mécanique, « l’explication est toute simple : en restant plus ou moins dans l’immobilisme, les États-Unis ont pris du retard. Alors que leur score absolu a en réalité augmenté au cours de la dernière décennie, les États-Unis ont été régulièrement dépassés par des rivaux tels que la Corée du Sud, le Japon et Singapour. La chute incessante de l’Amérique dans le classement est un avertissement pour son voisin, le Canada, ainsi que pour le reste de l’anglosphère. »

Les liens entre accès sans visa et ouverture

Henley & Partners a mené de nouvelles recherches exclusives sur la relation qui existe entre l’ouverture d’un pays aux étrangers – à combien de nations il permet de traverser ses frontières sans visa – et la liberté de voyager de ses propres citoyens. Le nouveau Henley Openness Index classe les 199 pays du monde en fonction du nombre de nationalités auxquelles ils autorisent l’entrée sans visa préalable sur leur territoire.

Le Top 20 des pays « les plus ouverts » sont tous des petits États insulaires ou des États africains, à l’exception du Cambodge. On dénombre ainsi douze pays complètement ouverts à tous les passeports, et quatre autres qui n’autorisent personne à entrer sur leur territoire sans visa. Bien que la corrélation entre un score d’ouverture élevé et un score d’accès sans visa élevé ne soit pas toujours simple, il est à noter que Singapour et la Corée du Sud – qui enregistrent les meilleures progressions du Top 10 du Henley Passport Index au cours de la dernière décennie en passant de la 6e et de la 7e place respectivement en 2013 à la 1e et à la 3e place aujourd’hui – affichent des degrés d’ouverture relativement élevés par rapport aux cinq pays présentant la plus grande disparité entre la liberté de voyager dont ils bénéficient et l’accès sans visa qu’ils offrent aux autres nationalités. Les États-Unis, le Canada, l’Australie, la Nouvelle-Zélande et le Japon ont tous reculé dans le classement ou sont restés à la même position parce que leur degré d’ouverture a stagné.

Le professeur Peter J. Spiro, titulaire de la chaire Charles Weiner de droit international à l’université Temple, affirme que l’extension de l’accès sans visa proposée par les États-Unis est faible, même par rapport à la norme des économies développées. « Les États de l’UE accordent des privilèges sans visa à plus de deux fois plus d’États que ne le font les États-Unis. Les retards de traitement, les taux de refus élevés et la réputation d’un service client désagréable ternissent l’attrait des États-Unis en tant que destination. Si l’on ajoute à cela la réputation croissante des États-Unis en tant que pays en proie à la violence armée, on peut envisager une trajectoire à long terme dans laquelle la position mondiale des États-Unis s’érode davantage encore. »

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Grande Mudança na Classificação Mundial de Passaportes

LONDRES, July 18, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — O Japão foi destituído do primeiro lugar no Henley Passport Index pela primeira vez em cinco anos e esbarrou no 3º lugar, de acordo com a última classificação, que é baseada em dados exclusivos e oficiais da Associação Internacional de Transporte Aéreo (IATA). Agora, Cingapura possui oficialmente o passaporte mais poderoso do mundo, com seus cidadãos podendo visitar 192 destinos de um total de 227 ao redor do mundo, sem a necessidade de visto. Alemanha, Itália e Espanha sobem para o 2º lugar, com acesso sem visto a 190 destinos, e os portadores de passaporte japonês se juntam aos de outras seis nações — Áustria, Finlândia, França, Luxemburgo, Coreia do Sul e Suécia — em 3ºlugar, com acesso a 189 destinos sem visto prévio.

O Reino Unido parece ter finalmente dado a volta por cima depois de um declínio de seis anos, saltando duas posições na última classificação para o 4º lugar — uma posição que ocupou pela última vez em 2017. Os EUA, por outro lado, continuam sua queda de uma década no índice, despencando mais duas posições para o 8º lugar, com acesso a apenas 184 destinos sem visto. Tanto o Reino Unido quanto os EUA ocupavam juntos o 1º lugar no índice há quase 10 anos, em 2014, mas estão em uma trajetória de queda desde então. O Afeganistão continua entrincheirado na parte inferior do Henley Passport Index, com uma pontuação de acesso sem visto de apenas 27, seguido pelo Iraque (pontuação de 29) e Síria (pontuação de 30) — os três passaportes mais fracos do mundo.

A tendência geral ao longo da história da classificação de 18 anos tem sido no sentido de uma maior liberdade de viagens, com o número médio de destinos que os viajantes conseguem acessar sem visto quase duplicando, de 58 em 2006 para 109 em 2023. No entanto, a diferença de mobilidade global entre aqueles que estão no topo e na base do índice é agora maior do que nunca, com Cingapura no primeiro lugar capaz de acessar 165 destinos a mais, sem visto, do que o Afeganistão.

O Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, presidente da Henley & Partners, diz que apenas oito países em todo o mundo têm menos acesso sem visto hoje do que há uma década, enquanto outros foram mais bem-sucedidos em garantir maior liberdade de viagem para seus cidadãos. “Os Emirados Árabes Unidos adicionaram impressionantes 107 destinos à sua pontuação sem visto desde 2013, resultando em um salto maciço de 44 posições na classificação nos últimos 10 anos, da 56ª para a 12ª posição. Dos países que estão no Top 10, os EUA tiveram o menor aumento em sua pontuação, garantindo apenas 12 destinos adicionais. Cingapura, em comparação, aumentou sua pontuação em 25, empurrando-a cinco posições nos últimos 10 anos para o número um.”

Comentando no Henley Global Mobility Report 2023 Q3, divulgado hoje junto com o último índice, Greg Lindsay do Jacobs Institute da Cornell Tech, diz que, de uma perspectiva puramente mecânica, “a história é simples: ao ficarem mais ou menos parados, os EUA ficaram para trás. Embora sua pontuação absoluta tenha de fato aumentado na última década, os EUA têm sido constantemente ultrapassados por rivais como Coreia do Sul, Japão e Cingapura. A queda implacável dos Estados Unidos na classificação é um alerta para seu vizinho Canadá e para o resto da Anglosfera também.”

As ligações entre a isenção de vistos e a abertura

A Henley & Partners realizou uma nova pesquisa exclusiva sobre a relação entre a abertura de um país a estrangeiros — quantas nações ele permite cruzar suas fronteiras sem visto — e a liberdade de viagem de seus próprios cidadãos. O novo Henley Openness Index classifica todos os 199 países em todo o mundo de acordo com o número de nacionalidades que permitem a entrada sem visto prévio.

Os 20 países “mais abertos” são todas as pequenas nações insulares ou estados africanos, exceto o Camboja. Há 12 países que estão completamente abertos a todos os passaportes e quatro que não permitem que ninguém fique sem visto. Embora a correlação entre uma alta pontuação de abertura e alta pontuação de acesso sem visto não seja direta, é notável que Cingapura e Coreia do Sul — os que mais subiram no Henley Passport Index Top 10 na última década, passando de 6º e 7º respectivamente em 2013 para 1º e 3º hoje — ostentam graus relativamente altos de abertura em comparação com os 5 países com a maior disparidade entre a liberdade de viagem de que desfrutam, versus o acesso sem visto que proporcionam a outras nacionalidades. EUA, Canadá, Austrália, Nova Zelândia e Japão caíram na classificação ou permaneceram no mesmo lugar com a estagnação de sua abertura.

O Prof. Peter J. Spiro, que ocupa a Cátedra Charles Weiner de Direito Internacional na Temple University, diz que a extensão do acesso americano à isenção de vistos é baixa, mesmo para o padrão das economias desenvolvidas. “Os países da UE concedem privilégios de isenção de visto a mais do dobro do número de países do que os EUA. Atrasos no processamento, altas taxas de recusa e uma reputação de atendimento ao cliente desagradável estão manchando a atratividade dos EUA como destino. Acrescente-se a isso a crescente reputação dos EUA como dominados pela violência armada e pode-se projetar uma trajetória de longo prazo em que a posição global dos EUA se desgasta ainda mais.”

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Create institutional structures to support innovations – African educational institutions told

Professor Melissa Nobles, Chancellor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA has encouraged institutions of higher learning in Africa to prioritise setting up structures to support innovation.

She said this had become even more important to help create spaces for learning as the world advances with scientific and technological discoveries.

Prof. Nobles who was addressing students, researchers, and women leaders in innovation at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi, indicated that Africa’s population would triple by the end of the century, which called for improvement in innovation and discoveries in the continent.

‘For Africa to take its rightful place globally, it is important that we innovate for the future,’ she observed.

She envisaged that about 40 per cent of the world’s population by 2100 would be Africans, so it was important to think about young Africans now.

‘We will need engineers, writers, doctors and many other occupations now and in the future as the world continues to change with scientific and technological discoveries and this should be possible when women are also empowered to become innovators,’ she emphasised.

The Programme was themed ‘Inspiring the Next Generation of Women Innovators’ and was put together by the KNUST Engineering Education Project (KEEP) and the Responsible Artificial Intelligence Lab (RAIL).

It created opportunities for women leaders in innovation to share their rich experiences to inspire the next generation of women innovators.

Prof Nobles, citing instances of the benefits of encouraging learning of innovation, said MIT had over the last two decades established an innovation center to mentor learners to discover useful technologies in the society.

She advised that people should be innovative to augment the existing technologies and make the world a progressive haven, adding that, ‘The future belongs to those who can navigate their way through the digital space.’

Prof. Mrs. Rita Akosua Dickson, Vice-Chancellor, KNUST, noted that the fourth industrial revolution was powered by artificial intelligent (AI).

She said through the Digital Development Technology Thematic group of the KNUST Engineering Education project, the RAIL had been set up in the Faculty of Chemical and Computer Engineering to lead the charge in building capacity in Africa to drive the AI revolution.

According to her, Africa had not even scratched the surface as far as AI interventions in driving key sectors of the economy were concerned.

Prof. Mrs. Dickson said it called for an all-hands-on deck approach in building capacity in AI.

The VC emphasised the importance of collaboration, saying that, global impacts could be attained through establishing partnerships.

‘In today’s world collaborations cannot be a luxury anymore, you either collaborate and expand or keep to yourself and collapse. We at KNUST have chosen the former,’ she noted.

She said as the KNUST strived to excel in teaching, research, and community work, it would continue to collaborate with global universities whose vision and purpose align with the KNUST.

She said innovation was at the very core of the strategic plan of KNUST and the institution recognising the gap regarding women in STEM had made various interventions over the years.

Source: Ghana News Agency

PS Emphasises Tree Planting For Climate Change Mitigation

The Water and Sanitation Principal Secretary, Dr. Kipronoh Rono, has underscored the importance of tree planting in a bid to mitigate climate change.

Dr. Rono was speaking at Koiwa Boys High School in Konoin sub-county, where he presided over the planting of 2,500 bamboo and numerous avocado seedlings along the Koiwa springs within the school land.

The PS encouraged students and members of the community to take ownership of their environment and actively participate in such initiatives for a sustainable future.

‘We need to protect water catchment areas countrywide for the sake of our future generations. We are planning to plant at least 15 billion trees in the next five years as per the presidential directive; this needs to start with us and trickle down to the ground,’ he explained.

Dr. Ronoh further urged the students to dare to dream and set their visions higher and higher, ensuring they reach their full aspirations for posterity.

‘The government has set aside almost Sh600 billion, which is around 27 per cent of the national budget for education; therefore, I want to challenge students here today to dare dream; you are our future leaders, and you should focus to achieve your goals,’ he reiterated.

During the event, Water Resources Authority (WRA) CEO Mohamed Shurie presented a certificate of adoption to the school, recognising their dedication to preserving the invaluable Koiwa Springs in their vicinity.

The school vowed to continue safeguarding and cultivating water-friendly trees, thereby laying the foundation for future sustainable water resources.

Shurie echoed a critical message: ‘Water does not simply flow from taps; it originates from catchments.’

The CEO urged every citizen to embrace the responsibility of conserving and protecting these essential ecosystems.

Emphasising the importance of clean and abundant water, he called on Kenyans to sow the seeds of change by planting as many water-friendly trees as possible.

Meanwhile, the PS, who was the chief guest, demonstrated the unwavering government’s commitment to environmental conservation by donating 10,000 avocado seedlings to various community groups, Water Resources User Associations (WRUAs), and neighbouring schools, symbolising a collective step towards nurturing a greener and more sustainable future.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Governor Wants Youth To Embrace Vocational Training

Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani has identified technical and vocational skills acquisition as a necessary ingredient in the socio-economic progress of the county.

Achani has said technical and vocational education is imperative for all round development, noting that young people should embrace Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to acquire hands-on skills that will enhance their socio-economic status.

The governor said her administration is turning its focus to the provision of technical skills in a bid to address the growing deficit in skilled labour in the county, adding that there was a need for young people to value technical and vocational skills other than dreaming of white collar jobs.

Achani made the remarks during the official opening of a technical workshop at the Makina vocational training centre, in Mackinnon ward, Kinango sub-county.

Achani at the same time officially opened the Kamale ECD and Kamale Polytechnic girls’ hostel in Samburu/Chengoni ward Samburu sub-county.

She said the Kamale Polytechnic girls’ hostel has a capacity to accommodate 48 students with 16 cubicles.

‘As a devolved unit we are out to tap into the full potential of vocational and technical education and contribute to the development of the local economy,’ she said, adding that youth should embrace technical and vocational training to reduce poverty and unemployment.

She said residents should discard the negative perception that the vocational courses are for persons that have failed to pass secondary school level with good grades which is not true.

Achani went on to say that enrolling in technical colleges reduces idleness among the youth, thereby reducing their involvement in crime and drug and substance abuse.

She said the county would continue to creat opportunities in the TVET space to get more youth to acquire rightful skills such as automobile mechanics, carpentry, welding, masonry, refrigeration and air conditioning, beauty therapy, tailoring and dressmaking among other practical skills.

‘These diverse training will prepare the youth for the future and create employment avenues and help reduce youth unemployment in the county,’ she said, adding that the county would provide start-up equipment to the youth upon completion of technical and vocational courses.

The Governor stated that most of the village vocational training institutes are fully equipped with state-of- the- art machines and tools that will facilitate practical learning and skills acquisition.

Accompanied by Kwale Women Representative Fatuma Masito, the governor has assured of her administration’s readiness to sustain investment in technical and vocational education to drive economic growth at the grassroots.

Achani said that the devolved government has since the advent of devolution in 2013, built 41 technical and vocational training centres designed to help local youth gain practical skills for the labour market and self-reliance.

The county boss added that the essence was to make youths in the county employable in the competitive labour environment through the empowerment programmes and infrastructural development.

On her part, Masito commended the governor for reviving technical education in the coastal county for human capital development.

Masito said it was unfortunate that some of the youth did not embrace or patronize vocational and technical education in the region.

She has stressed the need for youths in the region to embrace vocational training and technical skills instead of desperately seeking academic certificates for the elusive white-collar jobs.

Masito also advised the youth not to look down on vocational and technical education, since it has the potential to equip them with the requisite skills to enable them to become self-employed.

Source: Kenya News Agency