Why did people cross the the Mediterranean?

Over 400, 000 people have crossed the Mediterranean during 2015, undertaking unthinkable journeys from countries like Syria, that have been torn apart by war and persecution. These families are fleeing for their lives, risking the treacherous sea and land crossings.

Which Asian country has roared ahead over the past quarter-century, with millions of its people escaping poverty? And which Asian economy, still mainly rural, will be the continent’s next dynamo? The answers would overlook a country that, in any other part of the world, would stand out for its past success and future promise. Vietnam, with a population of more than 90 million, has notched up the world’s second-fastest growth rate per person since 1990, behind only China.