World at a glance

Asian crisis hits women hardest

BANGKOK: Women and girls in Southeast Asia have been the hardest hit by regional recession, losing jobs, health care and school opportunities, the UN Population Fund said on Thursday. Many women have turned to prostitution to feed their families as factory jobs have become scarce, the UN agency said, but they earn less since their clients are also feeling the economic pinch. Mass unemployment has created a 8220;new poor,8221; thePopulation Fund said. Unemployment is up and so is the number of school dropouts, with girls the most disadvantaged. The recession has been especially hard on single mothers or women with heavy financial commitments.