U.N. sees Syria progress timely for migrant crisis
VALLETTA (Reuters) – Progress toward negotiations in Syria offers a glimmer of hope for easing the refugee crisis sweeping into Europe, a senior U.N. official said on Wednesday as diplomats prepared for talks later in the week.
U.N. taps crowdfunding app to tackle refugee camp food shortages
BERLIN (Reuters) – The United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) has responded to a funding crunch by developing a mobile app that lets people around the world donate money to help feed the 4 million displaced Syrians living in neighboring countries.
Ex-soldier arrested over Northern Ireland 1972 killings released on bail
BELFAST (Reuters) – The 66-year-old former British soldier arrested in relation to the killing of 13 Roman Catholic civil rights marchers in Northern Ireland over 40 years ago has been released on bail pending further inquiries, police said on Wednesda…
Bleak job prospects drive South Korean youth to vocational schools
BUCHEON, South Korea (Reuters) – Living in a country obsessed with academic success, Jang Dong-hae did what every South Korean parent dreads when he dropped out of university a year into a finance degree, doubting whether it would get him a job with a …
Italy’s Renzi wants Balkan states’ EU accession expedited
BERLIN (Reuters) – The European Union should make it a priority to admit Balkan states as members, since they are on the frontline of Europe’s refugee crisis, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said.
U.N. warns against cuts in development aid due to refugee crisis
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday warned against proposed reductions in development aid by wealthy countries struggling to cope with Europe’s refugee and migration crisis, saying such cuts would be counter-produ…
EU to offer Africans aid, other benefits to cut migration: plan
VALLETTA (Reuters) – The European Union has offered African states a range of aid as well as easier visa access and lower costs for migrants sending cash home in return for help to curb migration into the EU, including by taking back illegal immigrants…
Growing number of asylum seekers opt for Arctic route to enter Europe
KIRKENES, Norway (Reuters) – As winter sets in, Norway’s Arctic frontier with Russia is becoming one of the fastest-growing routes for asylum seekers to enter Western Europe, despite being inhospitable, cold and — soon — permanently dark.
Court move deepens Spanish standoff over Catalan secession
MADRID (Reuters) – Spain’s Constitutional Court blocked Catalonia’s attempted secession process on Wednesday by agreeing to hear a Spanish government appeal against it, deepening a stand-off over the potential breakaway.
Putin says Russia needs own investigation into doping allegations
SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday Russia needed to conduct its own investigation into allegations its athletes had systematically taken performance-enhancing substances and that someone needed to take personal respons…
