50% of Filipinos Still Consider Themselves Poor

Fifty percent of Filipinos still consider themselves poor, according to a recent survey of the Social Weather Station. Experts say the government is still failing in reforming the system that's why people feel this way, reports ABS-CBN News.

Qatar Grants Clemency to 10 Filipinos

The government of Qatar has granted clemency to 10 incarcerated overseas Filipinos in light of the Qatar National Day, the Philippine Embassy in Doha reported on January 7. Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani extended clemency to nine men and a woman from the Philippines. He usually issues pardons twice a year, one during the national day, and the other during the holy month of Ramadan, reports ABS-CBN News.

Filipina Inventor's Saltwater Lamp to Be on the Market Soon

Aisa Mijeno (Source: ABS-CBN News)

Filipina scientist Aisa Mijeno's invention, a lamp that runs on saltwater, will be out on the market hopefully within the year, reports ABS-CBN News.

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.