HANOI - BABIES squirmed and wailed as needles plunged into their chubby thighs at a public health clinic on the outskirts of Hanoi on Friday. Like little ones everywhere, the reaction to the sting was never pretty.

Starting next year an extra 6.3 million children worldwide will have the chance to feel that pinch and get vaccinated against some of the world's deadliest illnesses, according to the GAVI Alliance, a global vaccine partnership that helped organize the Hanoi event.

MANILA - THE Philippines rolled out the red carpet in a rock star reception on Friday for pound-for-pound king and newly crowned World Boxing Organisation welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao.

High-ranking officials as well as tens of thousands of fans paid homage as the 30-year-old Pacman flew in five days after demolishing Puerto Rican champ Miguel Cotto to become the only fighter in history to win seven titles in as many weight classes.

UNITED NATIONS- A UN commission issued a resolution on Thursday expressing 'grave concern' over widespread rights abuses in Myanmar and detention of political prisoners including opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The non-binding resolution was adopted in a 92-26 vote, including 65 abstentions, by the General Assembly human rights committee. A similar resolution was adopted last year by 89-29, with 63 abstentions.