Day: July 6, 2025

Manila: Microsoft is shutting down its direct operations in Pakistan, ending a 25-year presence in the country, in a move it described as a strategic shift to a partner-led model. According to Philippines News Agency, a Microsoft spokesperson confirmed the company will now serve Pakistani customers through resellers and “other closely located Microsoft offices,” as reported by TechCrunch. The spokesperson emphasized that Microsoft has successfully implemented this model in several other countries and assured that customers will continue to receive the same level of service. The Pakistan Ministry of IT and Telecom stated it would continue to engage with Microsoft’s

Astana: The Philippines secured four silvers and four bronzes on Saturday to increase its medal haul at the Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan. Jhodie Peralta of Zamboanga City pocketed five medals in the women’s 53kg class at Qazaqstan Arena. According to Philippines News Agency, in the Youth category, Peralta placed second in snatch (84kg), clean and jerk (97kg), and total (181kg). In the Junior category, she was third in snatch (84kg) and total (181kg), and fifth in the clean and jerk (97kg). Jerick Icon Castro, competing in the Youth 56kg category, claimed one silver in snatch

Beijing: Authorities in China have issued high heat warnings for 754 provinces, cities, and counties as the strongest heat wave of 2025 grips East Asia, local media reported Friday. According to Philippines News Agency, citing state media, the warning was first issued at 4:30 p.m. local time (1330 GMT) and extended into Saturday, with some areas upgraded to a yellow high temperature alert-one of the country’s top-tier heat warnings. In many parts of the region, temperatures have already exceeded 40°C (104°F), while much of eastern China, the country’s most populous area, is experiencing widespread heat above 35°C (95°F). Widespread heat

Nueva ecija: Police arrested a robbery suspect and recovered several stolen items during a hot pursuit operation in Nueva Ecija on Sunday. The suspect, identified only as ‘Lex,’ 42, of Barangay Mambangnan, San Leonardo town, was nabbed around 7:30 a.m. in Barangay Singalat, Palayan City. Reports said he robbed a 67-year-old victim identified as Fin, who also lives in San Leonardo, on July 3. According to Philippines News Agency, combined elements of San Leonardo and Palayan City police stations, Nueva Ecija Provincial Intelligence Unit, and Regional Special Operations Group-Central Luzon conducted the operation. Seized from the suspect were USD1,900 (about

Manila: The Philippine Navy (PN) on Sunday revealed the “possible transfer” of Abukuma-class destroyer escorts from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). This announcement marks a significant development in the growing defense cooperation between the two nations. According to Philippines News Agency, the PN is currently preparing for a Joint Visual Inspection (JVI) of these naval vessels after receiving an official invitation from Japan’s Ministry of Defense. This inspection is a critical step in the exploratory discussions concerning the potential acquisition of these ships. The Abukuma-class destroyer escorts are designed for anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare, matching the PN’s operational needs