(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Sunday, 28 May 2023) At 3:00 AM today, the center of the eye of Typhoon "BETTY" {MAWAR} was estimated based on all available data at 825 km East of Northern Luzon (17.1°N, 129.5°E), with maximum sustained winds of 175 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 215 km/h. It is moving West Northwestward at 20 km/h. Southwesterly Windflow affecting the western sections of Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. 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 Trough of TY BETTY / Southwesterly Windflow. Possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms. Moderate to Strong winds coming from West to Southwest will prevail with Moderate to Rough seas / (2.5 to 5.0 meters).


TOP STORIES – Tuesday, April 18, 2023

TODAY’S TOP STORIES (from online news monitoring)

18 April 2023, Tuesday, as of 9:00 a.m.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala talks to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the Malacañang Palace grounds in Manila on April 17, 2023. MPC pool photo
1. CZECH PM VISITS MANILA

-Czech PM, Marcos hold bilateral talks in Malacañang; discuss defense, trade cooperation

-Czech Republic’s Petr Fiala: ‘First’ European PM to visit PH under Marcos

-PBBM, PM Fiala launch book highlighting Phl, Czech Republic cultural, diplomatic exchanges

-West PHL Sea among topics discussed between Marcos, Czech PM

-Visiting Czech PM cites connections rooted in history

-Czech Republic backs PH military modernization

[ABS-CBN News Online, PhilStar, Inquirer, GMA News Online, CNN PHL Online, Manila Bulletin, Daily Tribune, Rappler, Manila Times]

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/17/23/marcos-czech-pm-hold-bilateral-talks-in-malacaang

2. PHL logs 2,386 new COVID-19 cases from April 10-16, 2023

[Inquirer, Philstar, GMA News, CNN PHL Online, Manila Bulletin]

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/867190/ph-logs-2-386-new-covid-19-cases-from-april-10-16-2023/story/?top_picks&order=1

3. NFA shelves plan to import 330,000 tons of rice

[Inquirer, Philstar, Manila Standard, ABS-CBN News Online]

https://manilastandard.net/news/top-stories/314322429/nfa-shelves-plan-to-import-330000-tons-of-rice.html

4. GOV. DEGAMO SLAY CASE

Teves questions Remulla's statements on 'terrorist' tag; found it funny

-Teves still mum about his whereabouts

-Bato says Pryde Teves’ ‘makeshift’ firing range at sugar mill illegal

-Teves hopes Senate probe won't turn into an investigation 'in aid of epal-isation'

-'Ginastusan ng gobyerno': Teves questions P800,000 gov't spending to bring people to Senate Degamo probe

-Firearm used in Degamo slay slipped through PNP custody – NBI

[Rappler, ABS-CBN News Online, PhilStar, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Daily Tribune, GMA News Online]

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/17/23/its-becoming-a-circus-teves-questions-terrorist-tag

5. 53% of Filipino families got aid in 4th quarter of 2022 —SWS

[Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, GMA News Online, ABS-CBN News Online]

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1757652/over-half-of-filipinos-received-aid-in-4th-quarter-of-2022-sws-survey-shows

6. Durante, 6 others in Plaza slay to face court martial

[ABS-CBN News, CNN PHL, GMA News, Rappler]

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/867228/durante-6-others-in-plaza-slay-to-face-court-martial/story/

7. ANTI INSURGENCY CAMPAIGN

-Alleged NPA leader arrested in Malaysia

-VP Duterte visits 7 Masbate schools after rebel attacks

[Philstar, CNN PHL, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin]

https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/4/17/alleged-npa-leader-arrested-malaysia.html

8. DFA: Contingency plans ready for OFWs in Taiwan in case tension sparks

-OFWs safe amid China-Taiwan row – MECO chief

-P10.6 billion DMW fund available for Taiwan OFW emergency repatriation –Estrada

[Daily Tribune, Inquirer, GMA News]

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/867217/philippines-contingency-plans-for-ofws-in-taiwan-ready-dfa/story/

 © Philippine Information Agency Monitoring Unit