The overnight incident has sparked more criticism of Australia’s policy to both process asylum seekers offshore and also to bar them from settling in Australia even if their refugee claim is proven. Read more: http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/radio/program/pacific-beat/australian-mps-say-riot-another-reason-to-close-manus-centre/1266970

The Australian Human Rights Commission inquiry into the mandatory and closed detention of children seeking asylum in Australia has been welcomed by the national peak body for refugees. The inquiry will be led by the President of the Australian Human…

A former Bhutan refugee has been named the inaugural New Australian of the Year. Horticulturalist Parsuram Sharma-Luital was nominated by the Refugee Council of Australia for his support for migrant and refugee communities and his broad contribution to Australian society.…

This quick guide provides statistics on the number of asylum seekers that have arrived by boat in Australia since 1976 when the first wave of boats carrying people seeking asylum from the aftermath of the Vietnam War began to arrive.…

Nauru’s justice system is in disarray and cases against scores of asylum seekers are in limbo after the Nauru government sacked its only magistrate and denied its Australian Chief Justice a visa to re-enter the country. Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/courts-in-crisis-as-nauru-sacks-its-only-magistrate-20140119-312u1.html#ixzz2qzbaGNd  

The US-based blog Huffington Post recently constructed a list of the world’s eight most famous refugees sparking a global debate in the blogsphere over just who the world’s most important exiles are. Atop Huffington’s deliberations at number 1 was German-Jewish…

Refugees and migrants with poor language skills are at risk of becoming problem poker machine gamblers, according to gambling counsellors and experts on the social effects of gaming. The poorest suburbs are the areas when the lion’s share of money…

Refugees are at risk of falling seriously ill or missing out on vital health care because they are not familiar with Australia’s health system, according to new research. And many may have mental health issues or illnesses that Australian doctors…

Navid Forogh was driving home after a sellout concert in Kabul, Afghanistan, when a masked gunman appeared from the shadows. He pulled a pistol, fired three shots, then slipped back into the dark. One bullet hit the young singer’s shoulder,…

US immigration is set to undergo radical reform as President Obama prepares to deliver on his first term election promise of setting up ways to allow “illegal aliens” to become legal and to make the immigration process more orderly. White…

Australia’s largest migrant community organisation says it is disappointed with the lack of attention paid to multicultural policy in 2013. The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia, FECCA, believes Australia’s image as a country that celebrates cultural diversity has…

The national body representing Australia’s migrant and refugee communities says it’s informed the federal government it intends to push for legislative recognition of multiculturalism. http://www.sbs.com.au/podcasts/naca/radionews/episode/307086/Renewed-push-for-recognition-of-multiculturalism