Thousands of devotees thronged a church in the Philippine capital for a glimpse of a centuries-old statue of Jesus Christ believed to have miraculous healing powers, after an annual parade was cancelled due to Covid-19.

In the Philippines, economic anxiety, declining mental health, the prohibitive cost of seeking help and the risk of further economic damage feed off each other in a vicious spiral.

Rights groups report that police killed activists in a raid meant to target militants. UN officials have blamed Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte for encouraging police violence.

Facebook has agreed to pay Rupert Murdoch's News Corp for its journalism content in Australia, a month after the social media platform temporarily blocked news links inside the country over legislation pressing digital giants to compensate publishers.

Disappointment with mainstream media's portrayal of farmer protests has given rise to new independent journalism. One group has introduced a grassroots, volunteer-run newspaper to cover the demonstrations.

The remains of Filipinos killed in Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war are starting to be exhumed as the leases on their graves expire and poor families struggle to renew the contracts.

Philippines Vice President Leni Robredo, an arch-rival of President Rodrigo Duterte and staunch critic of his deadly drug war, said Thursday she will run for the top job, becoming the leading opposition candidate in a crowded election field.

Philippines journalist Maria Ressa speaks after winning Nobel Peace Prize for fighting for freedom of expression at a time when democracy is increasingly under threat.

Advocates have praised the award for drawing global attention to the Philippines' struggle for press freedom and human rights. It also marks the first time the prize has been handed to a journalist.

FRANCE 24 spoke to this year's joint Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa, co-founder of the digital media company Rappler and an outspoken critic of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. Asked whether journalism is becoming more dangerous around the world, she told FRANCE 24: "It is more dangerous, it requires more sacrifices, just to do what journalists have always done."

As an investigative journalist in the Philippines, Maria Ressa has seen firsthand the impact of the gradual erosion of journalistic freedoms in her country. Under President Rodrigo Duterte, press freedom rankings have fallen to a record low.

Journalism teachers in Hong Kong can no longer teach freely amid an ongoing crackdown on free press by the government. Some are adapting to the new situation and changing their strategy.