EU Donates $3.5M to Central Visayas Quake Victims

The European Union is providing $3.5 million in humanitarian aid to about 350,000 people who lost their homes and livelihoods when a magnitude-7.2 earthquake ravaged Bohol island and nearby provinces in Central Visayas on October 15, reports Inquirer.net.

PH Seeks Extension for OFW's Blood Money

The Philippines is seeking an extension to save an OFW who is facing execution in Saudi Arabia as the deadline to raise the $1-million blood money to save Joselito Zapanta passed, reports Inquirer.net. $1 million is needed to pay the family of his landlord’s Sudanese accountant whom Zapanta killed in a rental dispute in 2007.

Canada Slashing Backlogs, Reuniting Families

Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander on November 1 pledged aggressive action to reunite more families in 2014, reports Balita Pinoy.  Canada aims to admit 50,000 parents and grandparents over two years (2012 and 2013) and  an additional 20,000 in 2014.

Pinay Mom Abandons Kids in Greek Police Station

Police officers in Ampelokipoi of Athens were astounded when a Filipina mother abandoned her kids, ages 9 to 13, reports Tsismosaonline. The Filipina stopped her car at front of the door of the Police Department of Ambelokipoi and left four boys before disappearing. 

Drug Trafficking Tops Offenses of Filipinos in HK Jails

Nearly 30 Filipinos are in jail in Hongkong for alleged drug trafficking offenses, reports Hongkong News. There were 139 Filipinos detained in Hong Kong prison facilities as of September, their cases ranging from minor offenses to theft, drug-trafficking and murder. 

Filipinos in Rome Can Now Get Free Legal Aid

Filipinos in Rome may now avail of legal counseling services from the Philippine Embassy there, reports GMA News. The Department of Foreign Affairs said the embassy formalized agreements with two Italian law offices that will provide the free legal aid on the embassy premises that started Monday, Oct. 28.

Five Filipino Students Get Perfect Scores in Aussie Math Contest

Five Filipino students got perfect scores in the 2013 Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC), joining an elite group of only 24 students with that record among over 300,000 from over 40 countries who participated in this year's competition, reports Interaksyon.com.

Red Bull Stunt in Rice Terrace Draws Ire

Philippine conservationists denounced a wakeskating “stunt” at an ancient mountain rice terrace, accusing sponsors Red Bull of exploiting the UNESCO World Heritage site, reports Inquirer.net. Professional wakeskaters Brian Grubb of the United States and Dominik Preisner of Germany are shown on a video on YouTube skimming on the waters of the Banaue rice terraces. Wakeskating is similar to wakeboarding.