(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Thursday, 14 November 2024) At 4:00 AM today, the center of Typhoon “OFEL” (USAGI) was estimated based on all available data at 475 km East Northeast of Virac, Catanduanes or 595 km East of Daet, Camarines Norte (14.6 °N, 128.5 °E ) with maximum sustained winds of 120 km/h and gustiness of up to 150 km/h. It is moving Westward at 35 km/h. TROPICAL CYCLONE OUTSIDE PAR AS OF 3:00 AM TODAY TROPICAL STORM TORAJI (2423) [FORMERLY NIKA] LOCATION: 475 KM WEST OF CALAYAN, CAGAYAN (20.0°N, 117.0°E) MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS: 85 KM/H NEAR THE CENTER GUSTINESS: UP TO 105 KM/H MOVEMENT: WEST NORTHWESTWARD AT 15 KM/H TROPICAL STORM MAN-YI (2424) LOCATION: 2,210 KM EAST OF EASTERN VISAYAS (13.2°N, 145.0°E) MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS: 75 KM/H NEAR THE CENTER GUSTINESS: UP TO 90 KM/H MOVEMENT: WEST SOUTHWESTWARD AT 30 KM/H 𝗙𝗒π—₯π—˜π—–π—”π—¦π—§ π—ͺπ—˜π—”π—§π—›π—˜π—₯ π—–π—’π—‘π——π—œπ—§π—œπ—’π—‘: Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms due to Localized Thunderstorms. Possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms. 𝗙𝗒π—₯π—˜π—–π—”π—¦π—§ π—ͺπ—œπ—‘π—— 𝗔𝗑𝗗 π—–π—’π—”π—¦π—§π—”π—Ÿ π—ͺπ—”π—§π—˜π—₯ π—–π—’π—‘π——π—œπ—§π—œπ—’π—‘: Light to moderate winds coming from Northwest to Southwest will prevail with slight to moderate seas / (0.6 to 2.5 meters).


TOP STORIES - Wednesday, January 18, 2023

TODAY’S TOP STORIES (from online news monitoring)

18 January 2023, Wednesday, as of 5PM

1. Bilibid case update

-Bantag’s plea to inhibit DOJ prosecutors from probing 2 murder charges denied

-DOJ’s panel of prosecutors resumes Jan. 24 probe on deaths of Percy Lapid, Bilibid inmate

[GMA News, Manila Bulletin, ABS-CBN News, Inquirer, CNN PHL, Manila Times]

https://mb.com.ph/2023/01/18/bantags-plea-to-inhibit-doj-prosecutorsfrom-probing-2-murder-charges-denied/

2. Quake

-Magnitude 7.3 quake rocks Sarangani and Davao Occidental; Magnitude 4.7 quake hits Camarines Norte — Phivolcs

-Phivolcs: No tsunami threat to Philippines from strong Indonesia quake

[CNN PHL, GMA News, Manila Bulletin, Rappler, Inquirer, ABS-CBN News, Philstar]

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/scitech/science/857818/magnitude-7-3-quake-jolts-davao-occi9dental-phivolcs/story/?just_in

3. Marcos’ WEF meeting

-Palace: Blair says Marcos' attendance in World Economic Forum sends a good signal

-Mark Villar says Maharlika fund generated interest at 2023 World Economic Forum 

-IMF head says PH an ‘exceptionally well-performing’ country amid turbulence

-Ex-UK PM Tony Blair interested in supporting PH railway projects — DOTr chief Bautista

-Philippines, US hold strategic dialogue on alliance this week

[Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, GMA News, Philstar]

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/857808/palace-blair-says-marcos-attendance-in-world-economic-forum-sends-a-good-signal/story/?just_in

4. Senators question 1995 law requiring all locally-produced salt to be iodized; Seek development, revitalization of ‘diminishing’ PH salt industry

[ABS-CBN News, CNN PHL, Inquirer, GMA News, Manila Bulletin]

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/economy/857812/senators-question-1995-law-requiring-all-locally-produced-salt-to-be-iodized

 

5. Onion supply and other commodities

-Customs denies conspiring with smugglers, DA amid onion crisis 

-Struggling to boost production, DA intensifies anti-smuggling fight

-DTI still finalizing updated SRPs of basic goods

-'Poor planning' of agri dept led to onion crisis – Dar

 [ANC, ABS-CBN News, CNN PHL, Interaksyon, Manila Bulletin, GMA News, Philstar]

https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/1/18/Customs-denies-conspiring-with-smugglers-DA-amid-onion-crisis.html

6. DA okay with smuggled sugar sold at Kadiwa stores

-BOC: Over P24 billion worth of smuggled goods seized in 2022

-Villar irked by DENR exec invoking Land Use Act during salt production discussion

-Farm gate price of eggs per tray in San Jose, Batangas, dubbed the egg basket of the Philippines

[DZBB, GMA News, Manila Times, CNN PHL, Inquirer, ABS-CBN News]

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/857796/da-okay-with-smuggled-sugar-sold-at-kadiwa-stores

7. Abduction of Cebu activists update

-CHR condemns abduction of Cebu development workers, launches investigation

-Father of abducted Cebu activist fearing for family's safety

-House told to condemn, probe apparent abduction of Cebu activists

-German envoy urges probe of Cebu-based activists’ abduction

-Various activist groups protest for justice for death of Manny Asuncion and other activists at DOJ

[GMA News, Philstar, Manila Bulletin, Inquirer]

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/01/18/2238474/chr-condemns-abduction-cebu-development-workers-launches-investigation

8. Air traffic fiasco

-Independent body now handles investigation on CAAP’s airport fiasco

-CAAP engineer in charge of CNS/ATM system goes on leave amid air traffic fiasco probe

-CAAP eyes air traffic management system upgrade after New Year's day fiasco

-2 CAAP officials distance selves from NAIA crisis probe

-No OFW fired due to Jan 1 NAIA crisis, CAB tells House panel

 [CNN PHL, Manila Bulletin, Inquirer]

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1718017/fwd-independent-body-now-handles-investigation-on-caaps-airport-fiasco

9. Hontiveros: Filipinos illegally recruited as crypto-scammers in Cambodia too

[GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin]

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/pinoyabroad/dispatch/857798/hontiveros-filipinos-illegally-recruited-as-crypto-scammers-in-cambodia-too/story/?just_in

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