Tourists are pushing students and locals out of Amsterdam´s city centre

The article discusses the housing crisis in Amsterdam, where an influx of tourists and a shortage of student homes are pushing students and locals out of the city centre. Universities report a deficit of 12,000 student homes, and private solutions like The Student Hotel are emerging, offering accommodations for both students and tourists. However, this model is criticized for catering to wealthier students and not addressing the structural issues of the housing market. The article features opinions from a Canadian student, Nicola, and Jorick Beijer, manager of The Class of 2020 foundation, which aims to solve student housing problems. The foundation is calling for more regulation and innovative housing solutions, while entrepreneur Charlie MacGregor, founder of The Student Hotel, acknowledges the systemic failures of the housing market in Amsterdam.

Syrian Children in Europe

Goodnight Stories from Refugees: 'The Great Journey'

Journalists Annabella Stieren and Brindusa Nastasa, along with Syrian illustrator Yara Said, collected goodnight stories from refugees in Turkey and Greece, focusing on the Husseini family from Afghanistan who were living in a tent near Cesme, Turkey. The family, including Jawad Husseini, his wife Azade, their children Mohammed and Hussein, and Jawad's pregnant sister Hamile, were waiting to be smuggled to Chios, a Greek island. They were discovered by Binour Eser, a Turkish retiree volunteering with the local organization Imece, who provided them shelter and assistance. The stories reflect the family's experiences and the hope and warmth they share with their children despite their hardships.

Streams of Refugees Seek Sanctuary in Europe

The article discusses the impending eviction of refugees from the 'Jungle' camp in Calais, France, where a French court in Lille has delayed the judgement on eviction. The camp, home to an estimated 6,000 refugees, is facing a government-led demolition which will displace many, including over 800 refugees and numerous unaccompanied minors. British volunteer Liz Clegg and her team provide support to the most vulnerable in the camp, especially children. The French government plans to move refugees into new container housing with no community spaces, raising concerns among volunteers and refugees. The article highlights the lack of support from organizations like UNHCR and Save the Children, and the bureaucratic challenges faced by minors trying to legally reach family in the EU. The piece is part of a special coverage on refugees seeking sanctuary in Europe and is written by Annabella Stieren and Brindusa Nastasa, supported by the Reporters in the Field fellowship.

British Macer Gifford fights for Kurds against ISIS

Macer Gifford, a British former currency trader, joined the YPG, a Kurdish militia in Syria, to fight against the Islamic State. Without Kurdish roots, he was driven by a sense of duty and dissatisfaction with the international community's inaction. Gifford's experiences include intense combat and the psychological toll of war. The YPG, which includes foreign fighters like Gifford, is not a professional army but a volunteer force defending their homeland. The article details Gifford's journey, the guerrilla warfare tactics used against ISIS, and the YPG's principles of respecting the dead. Gifford plans to return to Rojava, despite the risks and the concerns of his family.