Author: RACHAEL ADEEGBE

Rupert Murdoch’s Wall Street Journal has delivered a strong public criticism of Donald Trump, using the achievements of newly announced Nobel Prize-winning immigrants to highlight what it called the dangers of his anti-immigration stance. In a sharply worded editorial, the Journal accused Trump of pushing policies that threaten the United States’ long-term innovation and global competitiveness. The paper’s editorial board argued that the former president’s crackdown on both legal and illegal immigration ignores how deeply America’s success depends on attracting international talent. “Welcoming immigrants to the U.S. is out of fashion on the political right these days, even for those…

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) in Qatar has announced its 2026 holiday schedule while also introducing a major digital upgrade for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). On Thursday, October 9, the DMW confirmed that the Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) will now be integrated into the OFW Travel Pass, making travel documentation easier through the eGovPH app. The announcement, made via the DMW’s official Facebook video post, revealed that balik-manggagawa workers—those returning to the same employer, job, and country—can now use the digital OFW Travel Pass as their official exit clearance, eliminating the need for the old OEC. “The OFW Travel…

A Taiwanese lawmaker has urged the government to allow migrant workers to temporarily assist farmers facing severe labour shortages, following widespread furloughs caused by US trade tariffs. During a recent legislative committee meeting, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Chung Chia-pin proposed that foreign workers who have been suspended from industrial jobs should be permitted to help out in the agricultural sector. He explained that many migrant workers in manufacturing and related industries had lost their jobs but were excluded from existing government support programs. Chung emphasized that the Ministry of Agriculture already has a framework in place to allow migrant…

Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health has introduced new, stricter regulations for medical certificates issued to migrant workers, following a significant rise in the number of foreign labourers entering the country. According to Dr. Akom Praditsuwan, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Health Service Support (DHSS), the number of registered migrant workers has increased sharply from 3.3 million in 2024 to about 4.08 million in 2025. While this surge reflects Thailand’s strong economic performance and growing demand for labour, officials have raised concerns over potential public health risks, particularly the spread of infectious diseases. To address these concerns, the DHSS has…

The proportion of people in Switzerland with a migration background has slightly increased, reaching 41% of the permanent resident population aged 15 and above in 2024, according to the Federal Statistical Office. The data, published on October 9, 2025, shows that approximately 3 million residents now have roots outside Switzerland — an increase of 1.1% compared to the previous year. Of this group, about 80% were born abroad, making them part of the first generation of migrants, while the remaining 20% were born in Switzerland, representing the second generation. This demographic shift highlights Switzerland’s continuing evolution into one of Europe’s…

Italy’s Council of State, the nation’s highest administrative court, has ruled that migrants in the country’s Repatriation Centers (CPRs) must be guaranteed adequate healthcare and psychological support. The landmark ruling rejects parts of a March 4, 2024 Interior Ministry decree that limited the level of medical assistance provided to migrants awaiting deportation. The court emphasized that Italy is legally and morally obligated to safeguard the physical and mental well-being of people housed in CPRs. It stated that healthcare assistance should align with constitutional and international human rights standards, particularly for those with psychiatric conditions or undergoing medical treatment. The ruling…

Spain has declared an emergency in the Balearic Islands after the region became Europe’s fastest-growing short sea crossing for migrants arriving from North Africa. Despite a national decline in irregular migration, the islands have seen a major increase, with more than 6,000 migrants arriving by the end of September 2025, official figures show. Data released in August revealed that irregular migration to the Balearics rose by 170 percent in the first half of 2025, reaching around 3,000 people. The majority of the small wooden boats, known as pateras, are believed to have departed from Algeria, signalling a shift in migration…

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has sparked controversy after posting a social media video showing migrant arrests set to a song by country artist Zach Bryan. The video, which used his hit “Revival,” appeared shortly after Bryan shared a snippet of his upcoming track “Bad News”, a song criticizing ICE raids under the Trump administration. The post, which featured Border Patrol and ICE agents conducting raids and detaining migrants, was captioned “We’re Having an All Night Revival.” Many saw the use of the song as a jab at Bryan, who had just released politically charged lyrics about immigration…

J. Antonio Fernández has made history as the first layperson to lead Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York, one of the largest faith-based organizations in the United States. His appointment, which began on September 15, 2025, marks a major milestone for the charity that supports over 400,000 people across ten counties each year. Before coming to New York, Fernández led Catholic Charities in San Antonio, where he worked on the front lines of the migrant crisis. In 2022, he witnessed one of the deadliest human smuggling incidents in U.S. history when 53 migrants were found dead inside a…

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has announced a major new policy pledge to abolish stamp duty if her party returns to power. Speaking at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester, Badenoch described the plan as a key part of her economic vision to restore confidence, boost the housing market, and reconnect with voters across the UK. In a passionate address to delegates, Badenoch said removing stamp duty would make homeownership more accessible and drive spending in related sectors like construction, interior design, and local trade. She argued that “a society where no one can afford to buy or move is…