Author: RACHAEL ADEEGBE
New Zealand experienced a net migration loss of 30,000 people to Australia in 2024, according to Stats NZ. This means more people left New Zealand for Australia than arrived from Australia last year. The figure is close to the 29,400 loss seen in 2023, showing the trend is continuing. Sarah Drake, who speaks for Stats NZ on international migration, said the 2024 loss is the biggest in a calendar year since 2012. However, it is still smaller than the record 43,700 net loss recorded in the year ending March 2012. Between 2004 and 2013, New Zealand regularly saw an average…
Migration is more than just crossing a border, it is the start of a new chapter filled with both opportunities and challenges. Whether you moved in search of safety, stability, or a better future, adapting to a new country can feel overwhelming. From navigating unfamiliar systems to building a sense of belonging, each step counts. This guide shares 10 essential insights that every migrant should know. These tips are gathered from real-life experiences and practical knowledge, aimed at helping you settle with confidence and clarity. No matter your background or destination, this information can empower you to not only survive,…
The European Union is planning a new rule that would make it harder for African countries to receive development aid unless they help stop migrants from coming to Europe. This plan will be part of the EU’s next seven-year budget, starting in 2028. An early version of the document, seen by POLITICO, shows that the European Commission wants to use aid money as a tool to pressure countries to reduce migration. This means countries that don’t do enough to stop people from traveling to Europe may lose funding. This marks a big change in the EU’s current policy. In the…
In Greece, migrant camps that once welcomed new arrivals with basic shelter have now become closed and heavily secured centers. On the island of Samos, one of these new “controlled access” centers looks more like a prison than a place of safety. The large center, which opened in 2021, sits in the middle of the mountains and covers 62 hectares. From far away, it looks like a quiet white field, but a closer look shows rows of small buildings surrounded by barbed wire fences. Inside, migrants live in small prefabricated shelters, and police are constantly on patrol. The camp on…
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has ruled out raising income tax as he faces growing pressure over migration during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to the UK. During Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs), Starmer gave a short but clear answer—“Yes”—when asked if he would stick to his promise not to raise income tax, VAT, or national insurance. Later in the day, Starmer was set to meet President Macron at Downing Street to discuss a possible migrant agreement. The UK is proposing a “one in, one out” deal that would allow it to return small boat migrants to France while agreeing to accept…
Migration is deeply shaping life in Switzerland. Today, about 40% of the Swiss population over the age of 15 has a migration background, meaning they were either born abroad or have parents who were. This makes Switzerland one of the countries with the highest migrant populations in the world, rivaling only nations like Luxembourg, Singapore, and the Gulf states. According to the Federal Statistical Office, 3 million residents in Switzerland had foreign origins by the end of 2023. Of these, 2.4 million were born outside Switzerland and moved in later (first-generation migrants). Another 600,000, often called “segundos”, were born in…
A new report has revealed that migrants held at UK ports and airports are being denied access to their medication, putting their health at serious risk. The Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) inspected several short-term holding facilities and found poor healthcare arrangements, no access to medicine, and unsafe living conditions during detention. The IMB looked at facilities at Bristol and Cardiff airports, and at Poole, Portsmouth, and Newhaven ports, where migrants can be held for up to 24 hours. According to their report, detained individuals are not allowed to keep or take their prescribed medicines, even if it’s critical to their…
Greece is taking urgent action to deal with the sharp rise in migrant arrivals from Libya to Crete, as pressure builds on the country’s borders. On Monday, Greece’s Migration and Asylum Minister, Athanasios Plevris, traveled to Libya along with a high-level EU team to discuss stronger cooperation with Libyan authorities on controlling migration. Plevris was joined by Magnus Brunner, the European Commissioner for Migration, and interior ministers from Italy and Malta. The visit includes meetings with both governments in Libya—one in Tripoli and the other aligned with Khalifa Haftar in Benghazi—to seek better control over migrant departures from the North…
In Taiwan, a growing number of Southeast Asian migrant workers are escaping oppressive work conditions and turning to undocumented labour to survive. Many came to the country legally, hoping for better futures, but found themselves mistreated by brokers and employers, forcing them into a life of hiding. These undocumented migrants now live on the edge of society, fearing deportation and lacking access to basic services like healthcare, housing, and labour rights. One such worker is Bernard, a 45-year-old Filipino who entered Taiwan legally in 2016 to work in an electronics factory. But by 2024, he became undocumented after clashing with…
Thousands of migrant workers living in southern Italy are being exposed to extreme heat, unsafe housing, and dangerous labour conditions. A union in Italy, FLAI CGIL, based in Foggia, has raised serious concerns about the lives of around 5,000 migrants currently living in a makeshift settlement in Borgo Mezzanone, in the region of Puglia. These workers, mostly from Nigeria, Mali, and Ghana, live in temporary huts made of aluminum, without proper ventilation or insulation. During the summer, temperatures often soar above 40°C (104°F), making the tin shelters unbearably hot. The union has called the living conditions “inhumane” and said the…