logo
SOCOE awards scholarships to five top students in Miri

SOCOE awards scholarships to five top students in Miri

Borneo Post28-04-2025
Ting (centre) takes a group photo with the sponsorship recipients and other guests.
KUCHING (April 28): Five outstanding secondary school students from Miri were recently awarded monetary scholarships to support their education pursuits.
The sponsorships were funded by Sarawak-based technology firm SOCOE Sdn Bhd (SOCOE) under its charitable arm, SOCOE Kasih, which focuses on broader corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts, prioritising education, sustainable development, and community capacity-building across Sarawak.
According to a statement, the initiative aimed to alleviate the financial burden faced by deserving students, while promoting academic distinction and social responsibility.
'It is hoped that the sponsorship can provide a much-needed boost for the recipients to pursue their fields of interest by covering some of their academic expenses,' said a SOCOE spokesperson.
The recipients received their sponsorships at the fourth edition of the Education, Career and Entrepreneur Fair, which was held at Pullman Waterfront Miri last weekend.
The sponsorships, presented by Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Sebastian Ting, underscored the fair's commitment to empowering the next generation of leaders to strengthening Sarawak's talent pipeline.
'I am humbled and pleased to have my efforts recognised,' said one of the recipients, who expressed her gratitude for the sponsorship.
'It is encouraging to know that companies are investing in local talents, and giving back to the community by enabling younger generations to fulfil their dream and contribute to a better tomorrow,' she said. education scholarship SOCOE Sdn Bhd students
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Vietnam's passport ranking rises to 84th in the world, unlocking new opportunities for global travel and integration
Vietnam's passport ranking rises to 84th in the world, unlocking new opportunities for global travel and integration

The Star

time4 hours ago

  • The Star

Vietnam's passport ranking rises to 84th in the world, unlocking new opportunities for global travel and integration

Vietnamese passport holders can now enter 51 destinations without a traditional visa - on par with several other developing nations. -- Photo: HANOI (Vietnam News/ANN): Vietnam's passport has climbed seven places to rank 84th out of 199 countries and territories in the Henley Passport Index for the third quarter of 2025, up from 91st earlier this year and 87th in 2024. The improvement, announced on July 22 by UK-based Henley & Partners, signals stronger global confidence in Vietnam and presents broader opportunities for its citizens in tourism, trade, and international integration. The Henley Passport Index ranks passports based on the number of destinations their holders can access without a visa, or with simplified procedures such as e-visas, visas on arrival, or electronic travel authorisations (ETAs). Vietnamese passport holders can now enter 51 destinations without a traditional visa - on par with several other developing nations. Though still ranked in the lower-middle tier globally, the recent jump reflects growing trust in Vietnam's foreign policy, administrative transparency, and international reputation. It is also one of Vietnam's most significant upward moves since Henley & Partners began tracking global passport access nearly two decades ago using data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Vietnamese citizens can currently travel visa-free or with simplified entry to several Asean countries, including Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines, as well as to destinations in Africa, South America, Central Asia, and South Asia, such as Kenya, Panama, Kyrgyzstan, Iran, and the Maldives. In South-East Asia, Vietnam's passport ranks above Laos (92nd) and Myanmar (93rd), while Singapore remains at the top worldwide with visa-free access to 195 destinations. According to tourism and policy experts, a passport's ranking reflects more than mobility, it serves as a 'soft measure' of a country's political stability, global standing, and the trust placed in its citizens. The improvement also mirrors Vietnam's efforts in bilateral diplomacy, upgrades in e-passport systems, and negotiations for visa waivers with countries across Asia, Africa, and the Pacific. Experts also noted the broader impact on outbound tourism. Visa-free access stimulates demand for international travel and enables Vietnamese tour operators to design more diverse and high-end packages. Better passport access allows students, businesspeople, and workers to engage internationally with greater ease, enhancing Vietnam's role as a contributor to global culture, trade, and diplomacy. As Vietnam continues to modernise its passport system and expand diplomatic ties, the rising passport ranking not only reflects progress but also serves as a gateway for millions to explore the world and represent their country with pride. According to the National Statistics Office, more than 4 million Vietnamese citizens traveled abroad in the first half of 2025, marking a 53.9% increase compared to the same period in 2024. - Vietnam News/ANN

Humanoid robots embodiment of China's AI ambitions
Humanoid robots embodiment of China's AI ambitions

New Straits Times

time7 hours ago

  • New Straits Times

Humanoid robots embodiment of China's AI ambitions

SERVING craft beer, playing mahjong, stacking shelves and boxing, the dozens of humanoid robots at Shanghai's World AI Conference (WAIC) this weekend were embodiments of China's growing AI prowess and ambition. The annual event is primed at showcasing China's progress in the ever-evolving field of artificial intelligence, with the government aiming to position the country as a world leader on both technology and regulation as it snaps at the United States' heels. Opening the event on Saturday, Premier Li Qiang announced China would set up a new organisation for cooperation on AI governance, warning the benefits of development must be balanced with the risks. But in the cavernous expo next door, the mood was more giddy than concerned. "Demand is currently very strong, whether in terms of data, scenarios, model training, or artificial construction. The overall atmosphere in all these areas is very lively," said Yang Yifan, R&D director at Transwarp, a Shanghai-based AI platform provider. This year's WAIC is the first since a breakthrough moment for Chinese AI this January when startup DeepSeek unveiled an AI model that performed as well as top US systems for an apparent fraction of the cost. Organisers said the forum involved more than 800 companies, showcasing over 3,000 products – the undeniable crowd pleasers being the humanoid robots and their raft of slightly surreal party tricks. At one booth, a robot played drums, half a beat out of time, to Queen's "We Will Rock You" while a man in safety goggles and a security vest hyped up a giggling crowd. Other droids, some dressed in working overalls or baseball caps, manned assembly lines, played curling with human opponents or sloppily served soft drinks from a dispenser. While most of the machines on display were still a little jerky, the increasing sophistication year-on-year was clear to see. The Chinese government has poured support into robotics, an area in which some experts think China might already have the upper hand over the United States. At Hangzhou-based Unitree's stall, its G1 android – around 130 centimetres (four feet) tall, with a two-hour battery life – kicked, pivoted and punched, keeping its balance with relative fluidity as it shadowboxed around a ring. Ahead of the conference's opening, Unitree announced it would launch a full-size humanoid, the R1, for under US$6,000. Most high-tech helpers don't need hardware though. At the expo, AI companions – in the form of middle-aged businessmen, scantily clad women and ancient warriors – waved at people from screens, asking how their day was, while other stalls ran demos allowing visitors to create their own digital avatars. Tech giant Baidu on Saturday announced a new generation of technology for its "digital humans" – AI agents modelled on real people, which it says are "capable of thinking, making decisions, and collaborating." The company recently ran a six-hour e-commerce broadcast hosted by the "digital human" of a well-known streamer and another avatar. The two agents beat the human streamer's debut sales in some categories, Baidu said. Over 10,000 businesses are using the technology already, the department's head Wu Chenxia told AFP. Asked about the impact on jobs – one of the major concerns raised around widespread AI adoption – Wu insisted that AI was a tool that should be used to improve quality and save time and effort, which still required human input. For now, few visitors to the WAIC expo seemed worried about the potential ramifications of the back-flipping dog robots they were excitedly watching. "When it comes to China's AI development, we have a comparatively good foundation of data and also a wealth of application scenarios," said Transwarp's Yang.

US investment firm in talks to buy ST Telemedia Global Data Centres
US investment firm in talks to buy ST Telemedia Global Data Centres

New Straits Times

time13 hours ago

  • New Straits Times

US investment firm in talks to buy ST Telemedia Global Data Centres

SINGAPORE: US investment firm KKR is in talks to buy Singapore-based ST Telemedia Global Data Centres in a deal that could value the Asian infrastructure provider at more than US$5 billion, Bloomberg News reported on Saturday, citing people familiar with the matter. KKR and STT declined to comment to Reuters' requests for comments on the report. KKR is already a backer of the closely held data centre company with a 14.1 per cent stake, Bloomberg News reported. In 2024, a consortium of KKR and Singapore Telecommunications invested S$1.75 billion (US$1.37 billion) in ST Telemedia, whose businesses include data centres and infrastructure technology.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store