Hamas releases 10 Thai hostages taken from Israel in separate deal

Hamas has released ten Thai nationals and one Filipino taken during the October 7 attacks. Thai authorities released images of them in an Israeli hospital. Bangkok had been engaging for weeks in its own diplomatic talks to free its nationals held by Hamas. The deal was separate from the one that saw the Israeli hostages released but happened at the same time.

 

Confrontation in South China Sea deepens tensions between China and US-backed Philippines | DW News

 

Tensions are running high between the Philippines and China following a recent confrontation in a disputed area of the South China Sea. Manila condemned the Chinese coast guard on Sunday for firing water cannon at its vessels in the contested waterway, describing it as "illegal" and "dangerous." Beijing, on the other hand, said it had taken "necessary controls" against Philippine boats that had "illegally" entered its waters.

Can China and the Philippines mend their strained ties?

 

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr is in China for his first overseas trip as leader.

The Philippines and China have had a strained relationship in recent years – the next stage of which both sides are looking to shape during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s visit to Beijing.

Manila has historically been a close ally of the United States, but that relationship cooled somewhat under last Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who forged closer ties with Beijing.

Ferdinand Marcos Jr set to achieve landslide win in Philippines Presidential Elections | DW News

 Speaking to his supporters on Tuesday, Marcos Junior urged people to judge him by his actions, and not by his family history. His win marks a return to power of the Marcos family which is accused of running a brutal dictatorship, before a 'People Power' revolution restored democracy to the country in the 80s. On Monday, he thanked his supporters for their work.

Philippines 2022: Authoritarian nostalgia vs hopes of reform

 

As Filipinos vote for a new president, what can they expect for media and free speech? Plus, Taiwan’s political satirists – taking digs at China.

Nostalgia for the days of dictatorship; Filipinos go to the polls as journalists prepare for life post-Duterte.

Voters in the Philippines will go to the polls for a presidential election that pits frontrunner Ferdinand Marcos Jr, the son and namesake of the late dictator, against a human rights lawyer who has promised a transparent government.

Marcos Jr, known as “Bongbong”, whose authoritarian father plundered billions of dollars from the state and presided over rife human rights abuses, has maintained a strong lead in opinion polls in the run-up to Monday’s vote. If elected president, it would mark an extraordinary rehabilitation of one of the country’s most controversial political families.

Marcos is trailed in the polls by Leni Robredo, the current vice-president and a human rights lawyer who has advocated for marginalised groups. As vice president – a position elected separately from the president – she has frequently clashed with president Rodrigo Duterte, and has condemned his so-called “war on drugs’, which has killed as many as 30,000 people according to some estimates, and prompted an investigation by the international criminal court.

The Race to Replace Duterte | Start Here

 

The Philippines election: dynasties, drama and intrigue

Could a Marcos lead the Philippines again?

Bongbong Marcos, aka BBM, is the frontrunner in the race to replace Rodrigo Duterte as president.

There is also an actor, a boxer and some family feuding in the mix.

Nobel Peace Prize for journalists in Russia and Philippines

 

The right to freedom of expression has been recognised by this year's Nobel Peace Prize, which has been awarded to two journalists known for their hard-hitting investigations which have angered their countries' powerful elites and leaders.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to exit politics

 

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte says he has dropped plans to run for vice president, and will retire from politics when his term ends next year. Opponents had questioned whether it would be legal for the controversial leader to run, as the constitution limits presidents to one term in office.

Illegal gold mines in the Philippines

 In the mines of Paracale, workers search for gold using the world’s most dangerous methods. Diving into flooded underground caves, they constantly risk their lives. The business is illegal. But for many, it is the only way they can earn money.

China and the Philippines' battle over disputed territories in the South China Sea

Five years ago, the Philippines won a landmark legal victory over China over disputed territories in the South China Sea - including traditional Filipino fishing grounds like Scarborough Shoal.

 

Philippines Covid surge throws country into disarray - BBC News

A second surge of Covid-19 cases in the Philippines is putting renewed pressure on the healthcare system.
 

Philippines Vaccine Scandal

 

How the consequences of a 2016 dengue vaccination drive caused controversy and led to lasting fears among Filipinos.

Content warning: This film contains images of deceased children.

When the Philippines rolled out a vaccine to protect against the mosquito-borne virus, dengue, in 2016, it marked a world first. But within months, parents claimed their children had died due to the vaccine, and the programme was cancelled.

Life in the Philippines pt 1 | A Foreigner's Perspective

I visited the Philippines to get a glimpse of the everyday lives of Filipinos.

 

Filipino Nurses: New York's Frontliners

We explore the challenges facing immigrant Filipino nurses on the front lines of New York's battle against COVID-19.

An estimated 150,000 Filipino nurses work in the US, earning up to 30 times more than they could back home.

But at what cost?

Many nurses work long hours, some juggling multiple jobs to support their families. Others are exploited, intimidated and forced into indentured labour.

Philippines biggest TV network ABS-CBN loses franchise

Lawmakers in the Philippines have rejected the renewal of a license for the country's top broadcaster, ABS-CBN. The media group employs 11-thousand people, and has an audience of tens of millions of Filipinos. Activists call the move a political vendetta by lawmakers on behalf of President Rodrigo Duterte. The network has clashed with the president, and will now be off the air indefinitely.

Amidst Lockdown, Philippines's Largest TV Network Goes Off Air

Amidst lockdown, Philippines's largest TV network goes off air

The consensus of presidents and prime ministers just about everywhere has been that getting accurate news and information out is vital since it can save lives.

So what have the authorities in the Philippines done? Duterte's government has ordered the country's biggest television broadcaster, ABS-CBN, off the airwaves. The government says the network's franchise had expired, and so had its right to broadcast.

That is nowhere near the full story. President Rodrigo Duterte has persistently attacked ABS-CBN for its critical journalism, including its coverage of his so-called war on drugs. He had long threatened to take the network down.

Now that he has got his wish, other media outlets in Duterte's crosshairs are wondering if and when he will be coming for them. 

CNN Philippines Presents: The Rise of Philippine Chocolate

Philippine chocolate is having a moment, consistently winning awards internationally. What’s behind this sweet victory?

Is ‘Negro’ a Racist Word in the Philippines?

If someone uses the word “Negros”, how would you feel? Would you find it offensive? Well, recently the Filipino boyband SB119 tweeted 'Hello Negros!' to their fans which created a buzz on Twitter and are now accused of being racist. But did you know that “Negros” can mean something entirely different in the Philippines? Do average Filipinos find the word 'Negro' offensive or not? We hit the streets of Manila to find out.

Maria Ressa: War on Truth

In an era of disinformation, the CEO of Rappler takes on forces that she believes are undermining world democracies.

Facebook and other social media giants are being manipulated by governments and corporations, weakening democracies.

No country epitomises the consequences of this battle more so than the Philippines.

And no individual personifies the struggle against it more so than Maria Ressa.

Maria is the editor of Rappler, a digital news outlet that flourished under Facebook, and she now says is being crushed by it as the government uses it to shut down its critics.

Philippines: Dying For Gold

We investigate why people are risking their lives in an illegal gold industry worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

But not everyone is reaping large profits.

Investors desperate to cash in on a market worth hundreds of millions of dollars a year are enticing poor villagers to risk their lives by diving deep below the surface of muddy mangroves in search of gold.

The nuggets they find may eventually fetch a high price, but miners often receive a pittance and there is little safeguard to protect them.