The region is on the mend, albeit slowly and patchily, with South Korea and Thailand leading the way.

CNN: CHILDREN OF THE CRISIS

By inviting all scholars to peruse its archives (something it has done only patchily), Turkey could disarm its critics.

ECONOMIST: Armenians and Turks

Data relating to disease prevalence or causes of death are published only patchily.

ECONOMIST: Beijing wants to clear the air for the Olympics

But the reform Labour said would accompany this investment materialised patchily and belatedly.

ECONOMIST: Labour's record

Many Romani children attend school patchily if at all.

ECONOMIST: Europe's Romanies