UKRAINE-BRAIN DRAIN

KIEV, Ukraine — Alesya Bolot worked for a contemporary arts foundation that converted an abandoned factory into a mecca for young and bright people with daring ideas. Vibrant and cosmopolitan, the 27-year-old would not look out of place in a gallery in New YorkWhen a rebel-controlled local television station portrayed creative people like her as the enemy, she decided it was time to flee. 

GREECE BAILOUT

BRUSSELS — German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Thursday that Greece has committed to work intensively with international creditors in coming days to resolve outstanding issues holding up its access to vital bailout loans. The creditors have made clear that Greece must improve an offer of reforms it would introduce in exchange for 7.2 billion euros ($8.1 billion) in bailout loans.

FRANCE-GERMANY-PLANE-CRASH

PARIS — Families of victims of the Germanwings plane crash are gathering in Paris to meet with investigators, amid lingering questions about why the co-pilot apparently destroyed the plane and how families may be compensated for their loss. The meeting Thursday comes in the same week that the first remains were returned to families after the March 24 crash, which killed all 150 people aboard. 

TURKEY-ERDOGAN

ANKARA, Turkey — In his first televised appearance since his ruling party lost its parliamentary majority, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has asked all Turkish political parties to put aside their differences and rapidly form a new government. Erdogan had campaigned hard in pursuit of a supermajority for the ruling party, which is now forced to seek coalition partners. 

EUROPE-IMMIGRATION-FRAUD

PARIS — Police, immigration specialists and technology experts from 16 countries are seeking ways to tackle the growing problem of identity and document fraud that feeds the movement of terrorists across borders, social welfare scams and traffickers preying on refugees. 

SPAIN-SEPHARDIC JEWS

MADRID — Lawmakers in Spain's lower house of Parliament are expected to give final approval to a law setting up a path toward citizenship for descendants of Sephardic Jews forced to flee the country five centuries ago during the Inquisition.