Some particularly poor performing acute trusts were highlighted: Barking, Havering and Redbridge hospitals received a double weak rating, while the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust was deemed weak for the fourth year in a row.

BBC: Watchdog vows to get tough on NHS

This need is especially acute in poor and minority communities, where attracting the best and brightest teachers and having sufficient resources to nurture all students is at crisis levels.

FORBES: How We Can Use Technology To Transform The Classroom

One key obstacle is the acute shortage of healthcare workers in many poor countries, who are crucial to ensure treatments reach those who need them.

BBC: Plan to cut burden of tropical disease

The problem is expected to be more acute in sprawling so-called mega-cities in poor countries, which have more difficulty informing people about how to prevent heat stroke and where infrastructure is lacking.

CNN: Global warming may 'double heat deaths'

The growth is flattered by poor economic performance last year, when the economy was hit by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars).

BBC: NEWS | Business | Singapore economy in growth spurt

In societies like ours, with acute social inequalities, the lack of training in working with children from poor backgrounds and indigenous groups is a critical issue.

UNESCO: MEDIA SERVICES