Abstract. There is growing concern in Europe about the possible rise in the severity and frequency of extreme drought events as a manifestation of climate change. In order to plan suitable adaptation strategies it is important for decision makers to know how drought conditions will develop at regional scales. This paper therefore addresses the issue of future developments in streamflow drought characteristics across Europe.

* Ahead of Davos meeting, forum warns of "lost" generation

* Widening wealth gap ranked as top global risk in 2014

* Extreme weather next most likely cause of major shocks

* Threat of fiscal crises significant, but danger receding

By Ben Hirschler

LONDON, Jan 16 (Reuters) - A chronic gap between rich and poor is yawning wider, posing the biggest single risk to the world in 2014, even as economies in many countries start to recover, the World Economic Forum said on Thursday.

Syrian Crisis Threatens Development in Arab World

UNITED NATIONS, Jan 17 2014 (IPS) - The widespread sectarian violence and ongoing military conflicts in several political hotspots, including Syria, Iraq and Lebanon, have not only claimed thousands of human lives and devastated fragile economies but also undermined the U.N.’s longstanding plans to eradicate hunger and extreme poverty worldwide.