Malaysian authorities say situation at land border with Singapore back under control following day of auto-gate chaos
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Independent Singapore
4 hours ago
- Independent Singapore
Singapore passport remains world's most powerful in July 2025 ranking
Photo: Depositphotos/ [email protected] (for illustration purposes only) SINGAPORE: Singapore has once again topped the global passport rankings. According to the Henley Passport Index for July 2025, the Singapore passport holds on to its title as the most powerful passport in the world, offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 193 destinations. The index, published by London-based global citizenship and residence advisory firm Henley & Partners, is widely recognised as a benchmark for global passport strength. The ranking is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and assesses the number of destinations passport holders can enter without a prior visa. Coming in just behind Singapore are Japan and South Korea, both tied in second place with 190 visa-free destinations. These three Asian powerhouses have consistently ranked near the top of the index in recent years. In third place are seven European countries — Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Spain — each offering passport holders access to 189 countries without needing a visa in advance. India climbed several spots to reach 77th place, thanks to expanded bilateral travel agreements. At the other end of the spectrum, Afghanistan remains at the bottom of the list, with its citizens able to travel visa-free to only 25 destinations. () => { const trigger = if ('IntersectionObserver' in window && trigger) { const observer = new IntersectionObserver((entries, observer) => { => { if ( { lazyLoader(); // You should define lazyLoader() elsewhere or inline here // Run once } }); }, { rootMargin: '800px', threshold: 0.1 }); } else { // Fallback setTimeout(lazyLoader, 3000); } });
Independent Singapore
a day ago
- Independent Singapore
'My weekends are never long enough to do what I want': Singaporeans say SG is definitely NOT boring
Screengrab from SINGAPORE: When a local Reddit user asked, 'Is Singapore really that boring?' the answer given by many was a loud and resounding 'No,' and the secret is knowing what's in the city-state to do. In a post on r/askSingapore, u/Administrative_Leg85 wrote that their friend said that Singapore is very boring. The friend also said they should have more overseas trips, but added that they find Hong Kong and China are boring as well, and when the post author suggests that they go hiking, their friends say it's too hot. 'When I say we could throw a dart at the map and go to where it lands and explore the local area, they say that Singapore is just boring and they can't be bothered to go out and look,' u/Administrative_Leg85 wrote, adding, 'So is Singapore really that boring to people here? Because I don't think so, since there are a lot of places I've never been and want to go.' The post has since received many comments, with a number of commenters debating on the finer points of why people get bored in the Little Red Dot. While agreeing that the heat and humidity can often make outdoor activities very challenging, many also had some very helpful suggestions for the post author. 'For the size of the country, there's a surprising number of things to be doing. Saying this as someone who has to plan like 10 dates a month. Plenty of good restaurants, bars, musicals, concerts, sports activities, etc. Last month was Gastrobeats, this month is Sentosa Grillfest, etc. Pick up a hobby, climbing, pickleball, golfing, pilates, spinning, find your tribe. I go out twice a week with my friends and twice a week with my girlfriend. I like my job. Before bed, I doom scroll TikTok and send my friends dumb reels. All these things make me feel I have a pretty fulfilling life, even as someone who gets bored easily and has a hyperactive brain,' was a top comment on the thread. 'Had the same thought, but I changed my mindset recently. I want to be a tourist in my own country, so I started going to museums, now planning to take the open-roof bus in town, boat on SG river. Going to meetups to meet randos even tho I'm socially awkward. I think, ultimately, it is the mentality. When traveling overseas, you are in a holiday mood. So everywhere seems fun. So use that mentality here and explore SG like never before,' another wrote. 'Can't speak for the rest, but my weekends are never long enough to do what I want to do. Over the years, the things you can do here, both free and paid, have increased massively, and you can almost find an interest group for the most obscure things. Things I enjoy in SG: Free performances at Esplanade, botanical gardens, Fort Canning Attending crafting workshops – pottery, etc Hiking/jogging in our nature parks and forest. Can reach up to 30- to 40-km loop if you know the routes. Cycling along the park connectors in the neighbourhood or the big parks, e.g., East Coast, West Coast, Green Corridor Loads of activities/courses at your local Community Centre Visit some local quirky sites – Hwa Par Villa, Hot Springs Free library ebooks, access to learning platforms Hangout at culture zones – Tiong Bahru/Little India/Joo Chiat… More are popping up everywhere,' shared a commenter. /TISG See also Hong Kong unrest drives tourists, businesses to Singapore Read also: Malaysian actor says sorry after backlash for saying Singapore is 'man-made' and 'too boring' () => { const trigger = if ('IntersectionObserver' in window && trigger) { const observer = new IntersectionObserver((entries, observer) => { => { if ( { lazyLoader(); // You should define lazyLoader() elsewhere or inline here // Run once } }); }, { rootMargin: '800px', threshold: 0.1 }); } else { // Fallback setTimeout(lazyLoader, 3000); } });
CNA
a day ago
- CNA
Some visitors to the United States will soon need to pay US$250 'visa integrity fee'
SINGAPORE: International visitors to the United States will be required to pay a 'visa integrity fee' of at least US$250, CNN reported on Tuesday (Jul 22), citing a provision in President Donald Trump's flagship tax and spending Bill that was passed earlier this month. The US$250 fee will apply to all visitors who are required to obtain non-immigrant visas to enter the US. This includes business and leisure travellers, as well as international students. The fee will be in addition to existing visa and immigration fees. Tourists and business travellers from countries or regions that are part of the US visa waiver program - such as Singapore, Australia, Japan and many European countries - are not required to obtain visas for stays of 90 days or less. US Visa Waiver Program The US Visa Waiver Program enables most citizens or nationals of participating countries or territories to travel to the US for tourism or business for stays of 90 days or less without obtaining a visa, though they must still have a valid Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) approval. Travellers must be a citizen or national of the following countries or territories: Andorra Australia Austria Belgium Brunei Chile Croatia Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Israel Italy Japan Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Monaco Netherlands New Zealand Norway Poland Portugal Qatar San Marino Singapore Slovakia Slovenia South Korea Spain Sweden Switzerland Taiwan United Kingdom Collapse According to the legislative provision, visitors will be required to make payment at the same time their visas are issued. There will be no fee waivers, though visitors who comply with their visa provisions can have the fee reimbursed after their trip is over. Any fees that are not reimbursed "shall be deposited into the general fund of the Treasury", a provision in the Bill says. The initial fee for fiscal year 2025 is outlined at either US$250 or greater, determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security. The fee is also subject to annual adjustments for inflation. "The intent behind this refund provision is to incentivise compliance with US immigration laws by treating the US$250 as a refundable security deposit - essentially rewarding those who follow the rules," wrote immigration lawyer Steven A Brown, a partner at Houston-based Reddy Neumann Brown PC, in a blog post on his firm's website. Trump on Jul 4 signed his "Big Beautiful Bill" into law, saying that the Bill's passage would supercharge the US economy. However, it is also expected to add trillions of dollars to the US deficit. Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has cracked down on immigration, banning citizens from several countries and making efforts to deny enrollment of foreign students. While the visa integrity fee was approved after the Bill was passed, it has not been implemented yet. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the agency instituting the new fee, has not provided any specific details about the refund process or other aspects of the implementation of the fee. 'The visa integrity fee requires cross-agency coordination before implementation,' CNN reported, citing a DHS spokesperson. Brown warned that the fee reimbursement is not automatic, and that the burden will likely fall on visa holders to prove compliance and request the refund through a process that has not yet been announced. 'Until those procedures are announced, employers and foreign nationals should treat the US$250 visa integrity fee as a non-refundable upfront cost and plan accordingly,' Brown said. 'If a refund becomes viable in the future, it may provide an added benefit - but for now, it remains a theoretical incentive awaiting implementation guidelines.'
