Commissioner of Police Raymond Siu Chak-yee announced Monday that there was a near 30 percent increase in crime in the previous year compared to 2022, most of which was caused by the increase in fraud. He also added that the overall rate of solved cases was 31.1 percent, with the rate increasing to 46.2 percent by excluding fraud cases. Siu stated that there were 38,824 fraud cases recorded in 2023, a 42.6 percent increase compared to 2022 and a near quadruple increase compared to 2018's 31,452. Most of the fraud cases included online shopping scams, investment scams, phishing scams, job employment scams, social media scams and telephone scams. In light of the rise of scam cases, he stated the police are increasing enforcement actions along with intercepting scam money, scam forecest, etc.

A Pakistani court on Tuesday sentenced former Prime Minister Imran Khan and one of his party deputies to 10 years in prison each, after finding them guilty of revealing official secrets. According to Zulfiqar Bukhari, spokesman for Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, the court announced the verdict at a prison in the garrison city of Rawalpindi. In the secrets case, Khan is alleged to have waved a confidential document — a classified cable — at a rally after he was toppled. Tuesday's verdict comes weeks after Khan and Qureshi were indicted in the case. During the trial, Khan’s party and supporters had feared he could be sentenced to death for treason.

LUCENA CITY—For four consecutive days, Taal Volcano in Batangas province has consistently emitted an alarmingly high volume of sulfur dioxide, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs). In its bulletin on Monday, Phivolcs reported that the volcano emitted 15,145 metric tons (MT) of toxic sulfur dioxide, or SO2 gas, over the past 24 hours. ADVERTISEMENTState volcanologists also noted a “pronounced upwelling of hot volcanic fluids” in the main crater lake of the volcano, located on Taal Volcano Island, locally known as the “Pulo,” which sits in the middle of Taal Lake. On Jan. 25, the volcano released 15,145 MT of toxic volcanic gas, the highest so far this year, but no seismic activities were recorded at that time. Last year, the volcano logged 11,499 MT on Nov. 9, the highest emission level recorded in 2023.

Public services at risk of being weaponized in Marcos-Duterte feud, analyst saysResidents of Barangay San Nicolas in Binondo, Manila go about their daily routine on September 20, 2023. MANILA, Philippines — Public services meant for marginalized Filipinos may be exploited to capture supporters amid the spat between the Marcoses and the Dutertes, a political science professor said on Monday, underscoring how the public ultimately shoulders the cost of warring political parties. The Presidential Communications Office has yet to disclose to reporters how much public funds were spent on the activity. Recent EDCOM report reveals that a more competent leadership in the education sector is needed so we can get out of the current mess,” the political science professor said. The political science professor said that accusations of corruption that political personalities have been flinging at each other could heighten the public’s distrust if they do not result in actual cases filed.

WHAT do married couples Sarah Geronimo and Matteo Guidicelli, and Ellen Adarna and Derek Ramsay share in common? Both pairs wish they'd be blessed with dragon babies. Sarah Geronimo and Matteo Guidicelli, Ellen Adarna and Derek Ramsay both wish they’d be blessed with Dragon babies, who are considered not only lucky but are also said to be smart and clever. "Sana [Hopefully] 'dragon baby'," Matteo wished in his last interview. As the next best option, the FFF phoned the hospital and asked to be connected to the A's suite.

Good thing my favorite daughter-in-law, who booked my flight to Korea, gave me a heads up at 8:30. Although it was a full flight, everyone was seated quickly, allowing the plane to leave at 1 a.m. The delegation, composed of district officers and fellow Rotary Club presidents, arrived at the hotel some two hours later. Good food, good company and good ambiance made up for the string of Murphy's tests. Each president was given five minutes to report their club's accomplishments for the first half of Rotary Year 2023-2024.

TOKYO, Japan — Japan's Moon lander has resumed operations, the space agency said on Monday, indicating that power had been restored. "Last evening we succeeded in establishing communication with SLIM, and resumed operations," JAXA said on X, formerly Twitter. The agency posted on X an image shot by the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) of "toy poodle", a rock observed near the lander. The touchdown made Japan only the fifth nation to achieve a soft lunar landing, after the United States, the Soviet Union, China and India. US firm Astrobotic's Peregrine lunar lander began leaking fuel after takeoff this month, dooming its mission.

Oil rises on fresh Middle East fears after attack on US baseWorking oil pumpjacks on the outskirts of Maricopa in Kern County, California, on September 21, 2023, where agriculture and oil are key to the region's economy. HONG KONG, China — Oil rose Monday on fresh Middle East fears as Joe Biden pledged to retaliate after blaming Iran-backed rebels for the killing of three US service members in a drone attack on a base in Jordan. Both main crude contracts rose more than one percent in early trade -- hitting levels not seen since November -- before paring the gains slightly. There was little immediate reaction from traders to news that a Hong Kong court had issued a winding-up order against Chinese developer Evergrande. The decision came amid worries that a huge debt crisis in China's property sector could spill over into the wider economy.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., together with the First Family and members of the Cabinet, launched the 'Bagong Pilipinas' brand of governance during a kick-off rally at the Quirino Grandstand in the City of Manila on Sunday, January 28, 2024. Video From RTVMGet the latest newsdelivered to your inbox Sign up for The Manila Times newsletters By signing up with an email address, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., together with the First Family and members of the Cabinet, launched the 'Bagong Pilipinas' brand of governance during a kick-off rally at the Quirino Grandstand in the City of Manila on Sunday, January 28, 2024. Video From RTVMGet the latest newsdelivered to your inbox Sign up for The Manila Times newsletters By signing up with an email address, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

A Philippine flag flutters from BRP Sierra Madre, a dilapidated Philippine Navy ship that has been aground since 1999 and became a Philippine military detachment on the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, part of the Spratly Islands, in the South China Sea. (Reuters)The Chinese coastguard said it had made "temporary special arrangements" to allow the Philippines to deliver supplies to troops at a grounded World War Two-era vessel at a disputed reef. The Chinese coastguard has previously deployed vessels to block missions by the Philippines to supply troops on the transport ship, which has become a military outpost at the Second Thomas Shoal, 190 km (118 miles) off the Philippine Island of Palawan. "On Jan. 21, a small aircraft from the Philippines airdropped supplies to the illegally beached warship," the WeChat statement said. China, which claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, points to a line on its maps that cuts into the exclusive economic zones of Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia.

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved the military’s revised wish list for new weaponry and equipment to shore up the country’s defenses against threats, in the face of a rapidly evolving regional security landscape. ADVERTISEMENTDefense sources said the revised procurement plan would have a timeline of 10 years and cost around P2 trillion. A list of equipment under the new plan was not immediately available. The previous Horizon 3 list included multi-role fighters, radars, frigates, missile systems, and rescue helicopters. The Department of National Defense (DND) has been allocated a P278-billion budget for 2024, with P40 billion intended for the AFP modernization program.

ILOILO CITY, Iloilo, Philippines — This city’s famed Dinagyang Festival came to an end on Sunday with thousands of people pouring into the city’s streets to watch the dance parade that marked the end of festivities held in honor of the Señor Sto. Dinagyang Festival, positioned as the focal point of Iloilo City’s cultural calendar, features marquee events, such as the Ati-Ati Tribes competition, Kasadyahan sa Kabanwahanan, Dinagyang ILOmination and Sadsad sa Calle Real. Visitors were also treated to the Dinagyang Festival Costumes Exhibit from Jan. 17 to Jan. 28 and the One Visayas Creative Expo 2024 from Jan. 22 to Jan. 28. The festival also featured the Iloilo Drumbeats Competition on Jan. 25 and the Viva Music Festival on Jan. 27 and Jan. 28. Subscribe to our daily newsletter SIGN ME UPThe Ati-Atihan Festival, also in honor of the Sto.

Farmers, fishers say ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ offers no solutions to their problemsFishermen arrive to unload their catch for the day at a fish port in Paranaque, Metro Manila on July 12, 2023. MANILA, Philippines — Peasant groups denounced Sunday the so-called “Bagong Pilipinas” (New Philippines) movement of the Marcos Jr. administration, saying this fails to address the root causes of their struggles and offers no real solutions to the country’s problems. The government will hold a rally this afternoon at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila to launch the “Bagong Pilipinas” branding, which started in 2023. Similarly, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) said that “Bagong Pilipinas”—which is reminiscent of the Bagong Lipunan (New Society) vision of ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr.—“cannot cover up” the country’s long-standing problems. “The New Philippines does not provide real and effective solutions to the country's problems,” it added.

SAN FRANCISCO, United States — Social media platform X, formerly Twitter, will open a moderation office in Texas with an emphasis on fighting content linked to child sexual abuse, the company said. X's announcement comes ahead of a hearing in the US Senate on Wednesday, titled "Big Tech and the Online Child Sexual Exploitation Crisis." She was in Washington last week to meet with elected officials from both parties on topics including child protection, content moderation, disinformation and artificial intelligence. "We wanted to help Senators/staff understand how X is a new company and what has evolved over the past 14 months. The action was the first against a major online platform since Brussels implemented the Digital Services Act (DSA), a sweeping piece of European Union legislation that strengthens online companies' responsibility for content moderation.