Child deaths halved since 1990, but UN goal missed

PARIS: The number of deaths among children under five has halved globally since 1990 -- well short of the UN goal of slashing infant mortality by two-thirds in 25 years, said data released Wednesday.

Only 62 of 195 countries met targets they adopted 15 years ago, said a study which measured the world's performance in one of the eight so-called Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for a healthier, more prosperous world.