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A new survey by The Economist has found that Singapore is the most expensive city to live in in the world for expatriates. Singapore is a very expensive place to buy clothes, manufactured goods and alcohol. The price of utilities is rising. It also has a strong currency which contributes to the cost of living.
More than 74,000 international students applied for Australian student visas in the three months to September 2013, according to Australian immigration. This is the highest figure for four years and seems to show that Australia has recovered as a favoured destination for international students after a three year slump in popularity.
Australia became extremely popular as a destination for international students during the first decade of the 21st century. In 2002, 274,000 international students began study in Australia.
On Thursday, 6th March 2014, the UK's new immigration minister James Brokenshire made his debut speech as minister. His aim seems to have been to show that the Conservatives Party, of which both Mr Brokenshire and the UK's Prime Minister David Cameron are members, is the only party which should be trusted with the UK's immigration regime.
The New Zealand working holiday visa scheme has been expanded to include the Philippines. From 5th February 2014, 100 young Filipinos aged between 18 and 30 have been able to spend a year working and holidaying in New Zealand each year. The agreement is a reciprocal one so 100 New Zealanders will be able to spend a year in the Philippines as well.
The UK's new immigration minister, James Brokenshire, has made his first speech as minister and has said that mass immigration 'puts pressure on social cohesion'. He said that it has been good news for the 'metropolitan elite' but has driven down wages for the working class.
Mr Brokenshire became minister after his predecessor, Mark Harper resigned. Mr Harper offered his resignation to the Prime Minister, David Cameron, after realising that he had been employing an illegal immigrant as his cleaner for seven years.
Australia and New Zealand will jointly host the cricket world cup in 2015. After negotiations between the prime ministers of the two countries, Tony Abbott of Australia and John Key of New Zealand, it has been announced that cricket fans will be able travel to New Zealand for matches during the tournament using an Australian visa.
Ken Morrison of Tourism & Transport Forum Australia said that this would 'make the process simpler and cheaper, encouraging more visitors to travel to both Australia and New Zealand, benefitting the tourism sectors in both countries'.