Expat news
Everyday life
Figures are alarming. Since the start of the year, Portugal is being devastated by a new wave of COVID-19. The country has a record of more than 840,000 cases and nearly 17,000 deaths, with hundreds of new cases reported every day. Still, Portugal has kept its appeal for expats.
Colombia
Colombia is slowly coming out of nearly two weeks of tension. The recent protests got 1,506 persons injured and 26 dead. The Colombian government and international organisations made an urgent call for peace.
Everyday life
Things are getting worse in India, with a death toll of over 218,000 deaths and more than 20 million positive COVID-19 cases. As the health system crumbles under the rising pressure, several countries have expressed their concerns. Some have closed their borders to travellers from India, while others are setting up aid plans.
Everyday life
Nordic countries, especially Finland, Norway, Denmark and Sweden, stand out in many global rankings for years. In fact, they are some of the world's happiest countries, offering unparalleled quality of life in spite of the pandemic. Recently, they also topped the freedom of the press report by Reporters Without Borders. What is so special about these countries?
Everyday life
The Freedom of the Press Index gives an insight into the importance of freedom of opinion and freedom of expression in different countries around the world -- which is crucial for those who wish to relocate abroad. Let's have a look at countries the press is free and where it is censored.
This week, Mauritius lost five spots in the Freedom of the Press ranking by Reporters without Borders. Last month, the Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) report produced by the V-Dem Institute at the University of Gothenburg ranked Mauritius in the top 10 autocratizing countries. What does this mean about the state of democracy on the island? Should you be worried?
Visas
Canada recently launched six new immigration programs that are paving the way to permanent residency. These programs are mainly intended for essential workers, international students and French-speaking expats who are already on its territory.
Everyday life
Things seem to be getting worse for British expats within the European Union. Following the Brexit, many of them are losing jobs and are being denied healthcare, higher education and even bank accounts, according to international media. But here's what the Withdrawal Agreement, which came into force on February 1, 2020, says about all this.
Work
South Korea is planning to introduce a digital nomad visa like many other countries to attract foreign talent. It also intends to ease visa restrictions for foreign professionals in the fields of research and development and new industries. But why is the country taking such a step amid the crisis?
Everyday life
Three months after the Brexit, British expats in the European Union still don't see the light at the end of the tunnel, and it looks like things are getting worse. Last week, a number of Britons were deported upon their arrival in Spain. While others are still in limbo, Britons in France, for example, fear losing their driving license. Let's have a look at what's happening.
Work
Official figures are quite surprising! Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, some 480,000 Australians who were abroad have returned home with their talents. What does this mean for expatriates in Australia and foreign professionals who are looking to relocate there?
Everyday life
Things are getting worse in Brazil as Covid-19 leads to over 280,000 deaths. Brazil is now the world's second-most affected country after the USA. How did this happen. Expats have their say.
Everyday life
Religion is an aspect that we often fail to consider when moving abroad. Yet, it can have a considerable impact on expats' lives, as in Switzerland, where more than half of the population favours the burqa ban. The country joins France, Belgium, Bulgaria and Austria, which also have burqa bans.
Everyday life
This year's International Women's Day theme is Choose To Challenge, inviting observation, critical thinking, reflection, and communication to solve problems and bring change. To this end, let's all take some time today to think about how we will help forge a gender-equal world, not just today but every day.
Work
Her Excellency Dr Kate O'Shaughnessy is the fifth consecutive female Australian High Commissioner to Mauritius and Seychelles and Ambassador to Madagascar and Comoros. On the occasion of International Women's Day 2021, we asked her thoughts about women in the diplomatic world and in decision-making.
Visas
America's forty-sixth President, Joe Biden, has rightfully committed himself to reform the ill immigration system he inherited from Mr Trump, and rectify America's reputation as an unwelcoming and solitary country. Mr Biden aspires to re-instil into American communities the pride in diversity and kick in international mobility to attract some of the brightest and most talented in the world and grow the economy.
Mauritius has been on the blacklist of the European Union since June 19, 2020. A situation that remains worrying for Mauritius as an international financial centre. But as the relevant authorities are working hard to pull the country out of the blacklist, the future does not seem so bleak.
Work
Globally, factors such as inflation, unemployment, and economic growth define salaries. With the ongoing pandemic, countries have witnessed an increase in unemployment levels, higher inflation rates, and an economy that is in an indefinite crisis. What does it mean for salaries?
Other Types
Work
Labor shortages in some sectors are playing out alongside unemployment rates that, depending on the country, remain stubbornly high. Young people are particularly at risk of failing to find work in their field or anywhere else. So, how are young professionals thinking about moving abroad in this climate?
Argentina
As an expat who has made South America's Southern Cone my home, I explained last year why Latin America is the new frontier and how to get residency here. This year, I've been spending a lot of time in the new Land of Opportunity: Argentina. After taking a chainsaw to inflation, President Milei is now wielding the magic wand of citizenship by investment to foreign investors in Argentina.
Everyday life
Expat life is often seen as an exciting adventure: a new country, new opportunities, and a rich cultural experience. Moving abroad represents, for many, a major life project — one filled with hope and the promise of a fresh start. When you make that move as a couple, it can feel even more reassuring. You're not going it alone; you have each other, with the shared belief that this change will bring you closer and create lasting memories together. And it truly can. But living abroad also brings profound upheaval: the loss of familiar landmarks, constant cultural adjustment, distance from family and friends, and sometimes a complete professional reinvention. All of these factors can unsettle not only your individual sense of balance but also the foundation of your relationship.
Everyday life
In an interview with French newspaper Le Figaro, Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), stated that the current energy crisis is "worse than those of 1973, 1979, and 2022 combined." Compounded by the war in the Middle East, the crisis is pushing governments to fast-track their energy transition policies, from fuel taxes and vehicle use restrictions to incentives for remote work. Should expats brace for lasting disruptions to their daily lives? And how can they adapt to this new reality?
Costa Rica
It is the 4th-happiest country in the world. For the first time, Costa Rica has broken into the top 5 happiest countries on the planet, and it is the first Latin American nation to reach the upper ranks of the list. This strong showing mirrors Costa Rica's reputation among expats: the country consistently ranks among the best places to live abroad. So what makes Costa Rica so appealing? And how do you go about settling there as a foreigner?
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