Thai university opens international scholarship slots for post-grad science programsThis photo shows the Chulabhorn Graduate Institute in Bangkok, Thailand. MANILA, Philippines — Chulabhorn Royal Academy in Bangkok, Thailand is offering 15 full-ride scholarship slots for international students, including from the Philippines, who wish to pursue their master's degree studies in science and technology. In a memorandum signed by Commission on Higher Education Chairperson Popoy De Vera, Filipino students are invited to apply for the master’s scholarship program of the Chulabhorn Graduate Institute (CGI) Postgraduate Scholarship of the Chulabhorn Royal Academy. CGI’s scholarship program is being offered in the following Master’s degree programs:Applied Biological Sciences with a focus on Environmental HealthEnvironmental ToxicologyChemical Sciences. Chulabhorn Royal Academy—named after Princess Chulabhorn Walailak—is a multidisciplinary post-graduate academic institute in Bangkok, Thailand established in 2005.

Customs seized counterfeit goods with a total market value of about HK$4.5 million at the Tuen Mun River Trade Terminal Customs Cargo Examination Compound last Monday. After conducting a risk assessment, customs officers intercepted a 40-foot container arriving in Hong Kong from Guangdong Nansha that was scheduled to head to Canada last Monday (Jun 5). After investigating the container, the officers discovered a large number of suspected counterfeit goods, such as footwear, perfumes, jewelry, wristwatches, and wallets. The customs officers seized approximately 11,000 items with an estimated market value of HK$4.5 million. The Customs spokesman has stated they will increase their cooperation with the mainland and overseas law enforcement to crack down on cross-boundary counterfeit goods activities.

AHMEDABAD/MUMBAI — Four boys drowned after venturing into rough seas in Mumbai as Indian authorities began evacuating people from western coastal areas on Tuesday, two days before a powerful cyclone approaches Gujarat state and neighboring southern Pakistan. Eight districts in coastal Gujarat are expected to be affected, the state government said. Gujarat is home to many offshore oil installations and major ports in the country and most have been forced to suspend operations. Two of India’s largest ports – Kandla and Mundra – located in Gujarat, have suspended operations, the state government said. Other ports including Bedi, Navlakhi, Porbandar, Okha, Pipavav and Bhavnagar have also closed due to the cyclone, according to shipping sources.

NOT SMOOTH Two men sit under a sign of Credit Suisse displayed on a building in Lugano on June 9, 2023. AFP PHOTO NOT SMOOTH Two men sit under a sign of Credit Suisse displayed on a building in Lugano on June 9, 2023. AFP PHOTOThe country's leading bank UBS was forced into a marriage to prevent its rival from going under, but it hasn't waited for Monday to start preparing to absorb Credit Suisse. Credit Suisse risked collapse when its share prices plunged more than 30 percent during trading on March 15, after three US regional lenders folded. The deal includes guarantees for UBS in case there are any nasty surprises in the Credit Suisse cupboards.

ADB calls for greater female inclusion in fintechIn the multilateral lender’s blog, ADB senior social development specialist Zonibel Woods, ADB integrity officer Richeline Mascarinas and communications consultant Micah Nazal said increasing female leadership and participation in the digital and fintech industry would require girls and young women to have a strong foundation in STEM. Citing a LinkedIn research, they said skills that are in demand are rapidly changing, with digital skills now having the highest demand in many sectors. Women also represent less than 13 percent of leadership as founders and as members of executive boards of fintech firms. “Fintech plays a role in financial inclusion; having women in fintech allows for the development of products that respond to women’s needs,” the ADB experts said. They also said investors would need to help provide an enabling business environment for women and to invest in female entrepreneurs.

Philippines urged to scale up emissions reduction targetsMANILA, Philippines — The Philippines’ nationally determined commitment (NDC) or emissions reduction targets are currently viewed as modest, highlighting the need for further action in the areas of electric vehicles and nature conservation, based on a recent report on Southeast Asia’s progress towards decarbonization. Additionally, the country’s policy allowing 100 percent foreign ownership of renewable energy infrastructure presents further opportunities for growth. The report said that Southeast Asia needs to reduce greenhouse gases emissions by 33 percent to meet NDCs targets by 2030. Philippines’ green investments, for its part, have declined to $900 million in 2022 versus $2.8 billion the previous year. “Southeast Asia will need to double down on its decarbonization efforts to achieve the dual purpose of economic growth and decarbonization,” it said.

The Hong Kong teen and a British male student suffered serious injuries in the hammer attack at Blundell's School in Tiverton, Devon, in southwest England, on Friday, reports said. Three days after the incident, Hong Kong's Immigration Department confirmed the teenager's family had sought its help. Education consultant Samuel Chan Sze-ming, founder of Britannia StudyLink, said the school has not been a popular choice among Hong Kong parents. He said the school asked all 260 boarding students to leave the campus after Friday's attack. A woman, Chan, said her younger sister, who is a Year 11 student, is in boarding school in Cambridge.

(UPDATE) VICE PRESIDENT Sara Duterte, Sen. Rafael "Raffy" Tulfo and former vice president Maria Leonor "Leni" Robredo emerged as the top three choices as possible bets in the 2028 presidential election, according to a recent survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS). VICE PRESIDENT Sara Duterte. Contributed Photo VICE PRESIDENT Sara Duterte. There are talks that Vice President Duterte aims to become a second-generation leader like Marcos. Sara Duterte was expected to run for president last year but in a move that surprised her supporters, chose to become Marcos' running mate instead.

Perfect, Pasilyo and other songs for your wedding playlistAnother top choice of hip couples of the moment is Pasilyo by the band Sunkissed Lola. And how nice to know that today’s bride has a lot of beautiful songs on which she can build her memories on. “You are perfect…” sang Sheeran to his bride, his high school sweetheart Cherry Seaborne and he sounds so sincere. It’s nice to know that today’s bride has a lot of beautiful songs which she can build her memories on. It is a simple song with a light pop melody but that pasilyo means the church aisle.

China deployed a reconnaissance aircraft over Pacific waters east of Taiwan last week that Chinese media said monitored and gathered intelligence on an exercise involving the navies of the United States, Japan, France and Canada. The islands separate the East China Sea from the Philippine Sea, and dot the West Pacific between Japan and Taiwan, which China claims as its territory. The Japanese defence ministry reported a sighting of a Y-9 reconnaissance variant in the Pacific on Thursday. A spokesperson for the Japanese ministry said on Monday it was analysing a piece of equipment attached to the undercarriage of the Y-9 variant that had not been seen before. Days before the quadrilateral exercise, the coast guards of the Philippines, United States and Japan held their first trilateral exercise off the coast of a western Philippine province.

MANILA, Philippines — Former senator Rodolfo ‘Pong’ Biazon, who dedicated his life to defending freedom and democracy, died on Monday, his family announced. ADVERTISEMENT“It is with deep sadness that we announce that the bell has rung and the last Taps [have] been sung for General Rodolfo Gaspar Biazon,” said Muntinlupa City Mayor Ruffy Biazon in a statement. During Corazon “Cory” Aquino’s administration, the senior Biazon held the position of Chief of Staff for the Armed Forces of the Philippines. On Sunday, June 11, Mayor Biazon asked for prayers for his father, who was still in hospital. Biazon’s aide had discovered the plans and received orders from higher-ups to shoot Biazon if he decided to defect.

A 65-year-old woman who climbed a tree in an attempt to harvest lychee from it fell to her death on Monday. The tragedy happened at around 11.01 am this morning when the woman Wong tried to climb up the four-meter-tall tree to harvest lychee from it. It is understood that the woman lost her footing during the climb and fell unconscious after the fall. Her friends reported the incident to authorities and parademics later rushed the woman to Tin Shui Wai Hospital - where she was pronounced dead after resuscitation attempts. Police were investigating the incident and the cause of the woman’s death is pending an autopsy.

MANILA, Philippines — With the country celebrating its 125th Independence Day, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. challenged Filipinos to assert the liberties that their ancestors had fought for. “I challenge each of us: On the 125th year since the declaration of our freedom, let us assert our liberty day by day. According to Marcos Jr., the flag, national march, and written proclamation of independence were a result of the battles and sacrifices of the Philippine people. Marcos Jr. then urged Filipinos to take charge of the fight that earned the country its freedom. RELATED STORIESMarcos: Philippines will not lose one inch of its territoryOn Independence Day, Bongbong Marcos urges Filipinos to free PH from pandemic, ‘cancel culture’jeYour subscription could not be saved.

French Open champ Djokovic back as World No. It was a 388th week as the world's number one for the 36-year-old Djokovic, who jumped two places in the standings after his French Open victory. He beat Spanish rival Carlos Alcaraz, 20, who had held the number one spot until the French Open, in the semi-final. Fourteen-time French Open winner Nadal, however, paid the price for his absence through his long-term hip injury, dropping 121 places to 136th in the rankings. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 7595 pts (+2)2.

(UPDATE) ONCE his potential stint in the NBA Summer League is over, Filipino NBA hopeful Kai Sotto said that he will shift his focus to his Gilas Pilipinas duties and the FIBA Basketball World Cup. Sotto, 21, is a member of the 21-man Gilas pool for the World Cup set in August. Kai Sotto FIBA PHOTO Kai Sotto FIBA PHOTO"Summer League won't be a conflict in terms of scheduling before the World Cup. I'm just about to focus all in on the Summer League, try my best to make it to the NBA. After the Summer League, I'm pretty much focused on the World Cup."