TOP STORIES – Friday, 18 August, 2023

TODAY’S TOP STORIES (from online and print media monitoring)

18 August 2023, Friday, as of 5:00 p.m.

1. Rice supply

-Marcos assures public of ‘stable’ rice supply, price stability as palay harvest starts

-Govt inaction blamed for rice price hike

-Senator asks gov’t to draft back-up plan on rice supply

-DA: Palay harvest to hit record high this year

[The Manila Times, Manila Standard, Manila Bulletin, GMA News, CNN PHL, Philstar, Daily Tribune, ABS-CBN News]

https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/8/18/palay-harvest-to-peak-late-september-october-2023.html

2. DFA: Elderly Filipino among Hawaii wildfire dead

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

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/18/23/filipino-killed-in-hawaii-wildfire-dfa

3. SC reprimands five lawyers for homophobic socmed posts

[Business Mirror, Inquirer, CNN PHL, Manila Times, Philstar, Daily Tribune, Manila Standard, Rappler]

https://businessmirror.com.ph/2023/08/17/sc-reprimands-five-lawyers-for-homophobic-socmed-posts/

4. PH-Japan relation

-BBM wants deeper defense, trade ties with Japan

-NoKor’s ICBM test worries Marcos

-Stronger PH-Japan maritime security cooperation eyed

- Marcos calls for deeper partnership on defense, security with Japan

[The Philippine Star, The  Manila Times, Daily Tribune, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard, One News PH]

https://www.manilatimes.net/2023/08/18/news/national/marcos-seeks-deeper-trade-security-ties-with-japan

5. PH-Germany relation

-Germany to boost ties with PH; backs relaunching of PH-EU free trade agreement talks

-German’s help on ecology sought

[The Manila Times, Manila Standard, Daily Tribune, GMA News, Manila Bulletin]

https://mb.com.ph/2023/8/18/germany-backs-ph-eu-free-trade-agreement-negotiations

6. West PHL Sea

-China using ‘operators’ to divide PH on WPS — NSC

-PH must learn to live with China, says Salceda

[Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Philippine Star, Manila Bulletin, Daily Tribunes]

https://globalnation.inquirer.net/218006/china-using-operators-to-divide-ph-on-wps-nsc

7. Choice of Locsin as special envoy to China draws praise

[Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard, Daily Tribune, Business Mirror, GMA News]

https://businessmirror.com.ph/2023/08/18/choice-of-locsin-as-special-envoy-to-china-draws-praise

8. Senate probe into Bilibid 'mass grave' to now focus on Cataroja's escape —Tolentino

[Rappler, Manila Bulletinm Inquirer, CNN PHL, ABS-CBN News, Daily Tribune, GMA News]

https://tribune.net.ph/2023/08/18/missing-nbp-detainee-arrested

9. MUP pension

-Defense chief Teodoro against mandatory contribution for military pension

[GMA News, Rappler, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin]

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/879269/gibo-concerned-over-proposed-mandatory-pension-contributions-for-soldiers

10. DepEd: Aug. 29 class opening to push through in EMBO schools despite Makati-Taguig row

-VP Sara stops Taguig takeover

-Taguig insists writ of execution not needed to exercise jurisdiction over 10 barangays

[GMA News, Inquirer, Rappler, Daily Tribune, Philstar]

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/metro/879279/deped-aug-29-class-opening-to-push-through-in-embo-schools-despite-makati-taguig-row

11. Apollo Quiboloy's Facebook, Instagram pages unavailable

[GMA News, Rappler, ABS-CBN News]

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/17/23/quiboloys-facebook-instagram-pages-appear-unavailable

© Philippine Information Agency Monitoring Unit