Pacquiao to Retire After April Fight

Manny Pacquiao (Source: LA Times)

The People’s Champ Manny Pacquiao will hang up his boxing gloves after a bout against Timothy Bradley on April 9 to focus on a career in politics. More at Asian Journal.

UN Disaster Chief Lauds PH Risk Reduction Moves

Margareta Wahlstrom, the outgoing head of the Geneva-based United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction lauded the Philippines anew for having the right disaster risk reduction and management policies, as well as taking proactive climate change adaptation and mitigation measures, reports Inquirer.net.

Fewer Filipinos Were Unemployed in 2015

There were fewer unemployed Filipinos in 2015 than a year ago, a preliminary report of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed. reports Rappler.com. PSA said in a statement late Wednesday, December 30, that the number of unemployed Filipinos slid to 6.5% in 2015 compared to 6.8% in 2014. This translates to about 2.6 million jobless Filipinos in 2015.

Fil-Am Agent Helped Capture 'Silk Road' Drug Kingpin

Gary Alford (Photo by Gary Cole of the New York Times)

Using only Google and other internet resources, a Filipino American Internal Revenue Service (IRS) special agent took down one of America’s most wanted online drug kingpins, reports ABS-CBN News. Gary Alford, 38, is getting credit for connecting the name of Ross Ulbricht to "Dread Pirate", an alias Ulbricht used as the mastermind behind the online drug bazaar known as "Silk Road," which sold about $300,000 worth of heroin and other illegal drugs per day.

Filipino Photojournalist Trapped in Dubai Fire

Photographer Dennis Mallari (Source: www.telegraph.co.uk/Photo by Geoff Pugh)

Dennis Mallari, who was working for a Dubai newspaper, was stranded at the balcony of the hotel’s 48th floor, reports Inquirer.net. He was there to take photos of the fireworks display at the nearby Burj Khalifa. He was rescued after some time and was treated for smoke inhalation.

World's Oldest Restaurant Lauds Filipinos' Work Ethic

Even the world’s oldest restaurant, Restaurante Sobrino de Botin, in Madrid, Spain, has Filipino employees who are highly valued for their service. The restaurant, popularly known as Botin, holds the Guinness Book of World Record for the oldest and still operating restaurant in the world. Ten percent of its employees are Filipino, reports ABS-CBN News.

Miss Philippines Pia Wurtzbach Wins 2015 Miss Universe Crown After Announcement Mix-Up

Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach of the Philippines (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

After a mix-up, Miss Philippines Pia Wurtzbach was crowned Miss Universe 2015 on Sunday, December 20 (Monday, December 21 in Manila) at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas.

First runner-up was Miss Colombia, Ariadna Gutierrez, who was first announced as the winner by host Steve Harvey, in a mix-up that he said was a "horrible mistake" on his part. Second runner-up was Miss USA, Olivia Jordan. Read more on Rappler.com.

Manila Is Toughest City in the World to Navigate

Manila was voted the toughest city in the world to navigate , a recent survey from automobile technology company Drivemode showed. The research revealed that more half (58 percent) of drivers in Manila used navigation apps such as Waze and Google Maps while driving. Riyadh followed as the second toughest city to navigate with 54 percent and New Delhi was third with 52 percent, reports Inquirer.net.