Asian governments pledge to reduce disparities to help children

Twenty-six Asian governments pledged Friday to work towards reducing disparities within their countries in a bid to improve the lives of the region’s 600 million children. In a declaration, the countries pledged to "find ways to guarantee free or affordable services to all members of society. We recognise that the survival, growth and development of…

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UNICEF head calls for more investment in Asia-Pacific youth

Asian governments are spending much less on public health than the global average, the head of the UN children’s agency said Wednesday in an appeal for more investment in the region’s youth. UNICEF head Carol Bellamy also said the fruits of unprecedented economic growth in the East Asian and Pacific region have not been shared…

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Thailand’s deficits spark wariness but outlook remains upbeat: analysts

The announcement of Thailand’s largest current account deficit since before the Asian financial crisis has sparked unease among analysts but they are still largely upbeat about economic prospects this year. Central bank figures released last Monday showed a 942-million-dollar current account deficit in January, the highest in nearly eight years. The figure dominated headlines as…

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