‘Leon’ weakens into a typhoon

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical cyclone Leon has weakened into a typhoon as it passes close to Orchid Island in southern Taiwan, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Thursday.

Moving northwestward at 25 kilometers per hour (kph), Leon was last spotted 155 kilometers (kms) north of Itbayat, Batanes while packing maximum sust