Latest news with #Philippines
Skift
an hour ago
- Business
- Skift
Now, Philippines Becomes Visa-Free for Indian Tourists
The impact of visa waivers on Indian travelers' destination preference is well documented. As the Philippines struggles with the loss of Chinese tourists, it seems to be taking a page from Thailand's notebook to attract outbound surge from India. The Philippines has introduced visa-free entry for Indian tourists. The archipelago is offering two different types of visa waivers to Indians. Indian passport holders can enter the Philippines without a visa for a period of 14 days for tourism only. Tourists entering the Southeast Asian country through this program can neither extend their stay beyond the 14 days nor convert it into any other type of visa. Apart from this, Indian nationals can also get a 30-day non-extendable visa-free entry for tourism purposes if they hold valid visas or residency permits for Australia, Japan, America, Canada, Schengen nations, Singapore, or the United Kingdom. The country's e-visa facility will also be available. The policy came into effect this month itself. India's Importance for Philippines: Last year, while the Philippines recorded its highest-ever tourism receipts at about $13 billion, it also lost out significantly on tourists from China: Only 300,000 Chinese tourists visited as against the target of 2 million. At the Skift Asia Forum earlier this month, Christina Garcia Frasco, tourism secretary of the Republic of the Philippines said, 'The lesson that we learned from that is to really diversify our dependency into other markets as well.' India has now become one of the focus markets for the Philippines. She is also hopeful that direct flights between India and the Philippines will commence 'very soon.' On the development, Gaurav Malik, country director - India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal at online travel platform Agoda, said, "The Philippines' decision to grant visa-free entry to Indian travelers recognizes India as a key market for tourism. The move also reflects Indian travelers' growing interest in Southeast Asia as a whole.' He added that the move is likely to further boost the demand for the Philippines as a preferred travel destination among Indians, as also seen in other destination countries and highlighted by Skift in a feature last September. Philippines Tourism Secretary at the Skift Asia Forum ITC's Welcomhotel Brand Enters Bihar ITC Hotels has signed a Welcomhotel-branded property in Bihar's Bodhgaya. The 98-key hotel marks the brand's debut in the state of Bihar. Bodhgaya is a key destination for Buddhist pilgrims. This came just days after ITC signed a Welcomhotel in Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh, which is a major religious destination for Hindus. The company has recognized this segment as a growth driver in the country's tourism landscape. At the signing of Welcomhotel in Vrindavan, ITC Hotels Managing Director Anil Chadha said, 'India's pilgrimage tourism has witnessed a big upswing. As the country witnesses a surge in domestic travel, spiritual destinations have become vibrant tourism hubs, driving footfall and economic opportunity across various cities and heritage sites.' IndiGo Promoter Sells 6% Stake in Airline IndiGo-parent Interglobe Aviation's promoter Rakesh Gangwal and his family trust on Tuesday sold a 5.72% stake in the low-cost airline, according to exchange filings. Of this, Gangwal sold 0.57% out of his total 5.3% stake in IndiGo, while the family trust sold 5.15% out of a total 8.23% stake in the airline. The shares were offloaded for about INR 113.8 billion ($1.35 billion) through a block deal. A total of 220 million shares were sold in the deal. Last August as well, Gangwal's family trust sold a 5.2% stake in the airline. In March 2024, Gangwal also sold some shares in IndiGo. The stake sale is due to a February 2022 decision by Gangwal to reduce his stake in the budget airline after his alleged fall out with co-founder Rahul Bhatia over corporate governance issues. Last year, Southwest Airlines announced adding Gangwal to its board of directors. Manipur's Move to Boost Homestays The Northeastern state of Manipur has launched a dedicated portal for registration of homestays in the state. The digital initiative is aimed to encourage local communities through tourism. Residents across the state will be able to register their properties as certified homestays using this portal, which will strengthen rural economies while also providing travelers with authentic travel experiences. The state's new homestay policy came into effect this month, in which the government detailed the infrastructure and service benchmarks required from homestays. These looked at guest safety, comfort, and transparency. The policy also standardized room tariffs. Cruise-Focused OTA Int2Cruises Enters India Cruise-focused online travel company Int2Cruises has entered the Indian market. The OTA is headquartered in India, but was first introduced in Singapore and is expanding its presence into other markets such as the United Arab Emirates. In a statement, the company said that the platform aims to make cruise bookings convenient, transparent, and affordable. 'Indian travelers today are confident, digitally savvy, and looking for memorable experiences. But cruise booking remains fragmented and often overwhelming,' said Akansha Agarwal, chief marketing officer at the OTA. Cruise vacations are quickly gaining momentum among Indian travelers, for leisure as well as corporate travel. The government is also looking to ramp up this segment, targeting 1 million cruise tourists by 2029. According to the Indian government, 'The cruise market in India has the potential to grow by 800% over the next decade, driven by rising demand and disposable incomes.' IHG Now Has 50 Operational Hotels in India IHG Hotels & Resorts on Tuesday opened its 50th operational hotel in India - Crowne Plaza Lucknow. The 110-key hotel has been equipped with meeting and event spaces across 40,000 square feet in order to target leisure and business travelers. The hotel chain is continuing to expand its presence across the country. Last year, IHG signed 18 new hotels in India, with around 30% of the signings being in the premium and luxury segments. Currently, the company has almost 70 hotels in its pipeline as it looks to more than double its portfolio in India over the next five years.
News.com.au
2 hours ago
- General
- News.com.au
‘Sickening abuse': Darwin man allegedly paid to watch children raped live
Six children in the Philippines are now safe after authorities uncovered a disturbing case of online child abuse allegedly orchestrated by a Darwin man from a yacht and vehicle in the Northern Territory. The man faced Darwin Local Court on Tuesday charged with five serious offences, including allegedly instructing the abuse of children as young as six via live video from a remote location. The investigation began after Australian Border Force officers allegedly discovered child abuse material on the man's mobile phone during a baggage search when he arrived at Darwin Airport on New Year's Day. The matter was referred to the Northern Territory Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (NT JACET) who later executed a search warrant at Dinah Beach on January 3. The man was arrested after being found living between a vehicle and a yacht. Police allege forensic examination of his mobile device uncovered sexually explicit images and videos of children, along with video calls showing the man instructing facilitators in the Philippines to carry out child abuse while he watched live. NT JACET investigators passed information to Australian Federal Police officers in Manila, prompting a Philippines National Police operation in April. That led to the arrest of two suspects and the removal of six children from abusive environments. The Darwin man has been charged with two counts of sexual intercourse with a child outside Australia (maximum 20 years' imprisonment if convicted), two counts of sexual activity with a child outside Australia (maximum 20 years), and one count of possessing child abuse material (maximum 15 years). AFP Superintendent Greg Davis said protecting children was one of the AFP's highest priorities. 'All victims of child sexual exploitation experience lifelong harm because of the selfish actions of their abusers,' Superintendent Davis said. 'The AFP will continue to work closely with local, Commonwealth and international partners to protect children from sickening abuse and together identify offenders and bring them before the courts.' Philippines National Police Brigadier General Portia Manalad praised the co-operation between agencies. 'The PNP Women and Children Protection Centre will continue to locate alleged offenders and rescue victims with the assistance of our foreign partners,' she said. NT Police Senior Sergeant Toby Wilson said the community could be confident police were committed to pursuing offenders and protecting vulnerable children. ABF Commander Tracie Griffin said the case highlighted the critical role of frontline officers. 'Six children are safe because of their diligence and the work of our domestic and international law enforcement partners,' she said.
Globe and Mail
8 hours ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
$787 Billion Digital Healthcare Market Redfined: New Initiatives to Reduce Maternal Deaths and Hospital Nursing Costs from AI Powered Telehealth Company: VSee Health (Nasdaq: VSEE)
$VSEE Major Clients Include NASA, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, McKesson, DaVita and the Entire Nation of Qatar AI-Powered Telehealth Provider with Modular, No-Code/Low-Code Platform. 1,000+ Clients Including NASA, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, McKesson, DaVita, and the Entire Nation of Qatar. Enabling Seamless, Scalable and Secure Digital Health Solutions Across Hospitals, Governments and Enterprise Organizations. "Lego-like" Digital Health Building Blocks to Design a Flexible Telehealth System System Feature Seamless Electronic Health Record (EHR) Integration, Advanced Data Visualizations and Other Scalable Capabilities for Future Needs. Launched New AI-Powered Telehealth to Reduce Maternal Deaths in Remote Philippines. Telenursing Robotics Solution Targeting 3-5% Reduction in Hospital Nursing Costs. Strategic Hospital Pilots and Research Partnerships Position Company for Scalable Growth in $787B Digital Health Market. Shareholder Letter Issued on Company Accomplishments, Initiatives and Strong AI Powered Product Pipeline Setting a Path to Record Success in 2025 $444K County Government Contract, Expanding into Public Sector Healthcare. Partnership Agreement with LanguageLine to Boost Telehealth Adoption with Seamless, Scalable Multilingual Care. $560K Contract with Major Oncology Network. Top Kidney Care Provider to Add VSee Workflow to Oracle Cerner EHR. $2M Contract for Neurocritical Care Expansion at Leading Hospital with Autonomous Robotics and Industry-Disrupting Telenursing Model. Multiple Other Awards in 2025 including Multi-Year, $6M First Year, Government Contract to Deliver Rapid Configurable Telehealth. VSee Health (Nasdaq: VSEE) is a rapidly growing leader in AI-powered telehealth, redefining the $787 billion digital healthcare market with its modular, no-code/low-code platform. Trusted by 1,000+ clients, including NASA, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, McKesson, DaVita, and the entire nation of Qatar, VSEE accelerates telehealth adoption by enabling seamless, scalable and secure digital health solutions across hospitals, governments, and enterprise organizations. Field-tested with 1.5 million+ HIPAA-compliant video encounters per month, VSEE delivers turnkey solutions in critical care, teleradiology, and autonomous robotics, optimizing healthcare operations while increasing billable patient visits and provider efficiency. With a clear path to significant revenue growth and expanding margins, VSEE is positioned to become the foundational infrastructure of digital healthcare, transforming patient care, hospital workflows, and workforce utilization. VSEE has a strategic partnership with AbundaBox to launch AbundaLife™, a groundbreakinghealth record management innovative solution addresses one of the most pressing challenges in healthcare—fragmented medical records—by consolidating personal health data into one secure, comprehensive profile. AbundaLife, supported by VSEE Health's dynamic technology, empowers individuals to manage their health more effectively, enabling providers to deliver better-coordinated care and improving health outcomes. VSEE also has an agreement wih Ava Robotics, a developer of intelligent robots for the workplace, to develop telepresence solutions for the inpatient intensive care market, including the development of a VSEE -powered Ava robot that allows providers to extend their reach and provide personalized care remotely. Launch of AI-Powered Telehealth to Reduce Maternal Deaths in Remote Philippines On May 16th VSEE announced the launch of Project MAMA (Mom's AI for Maternity Aid), an innovative telehealth initiative to reduce high maternal mortality rates in rural, isolated Philippines communities of Zamboanga Sibugay. Working with maternal care physicians and specialists from Stanford University and Ateneo de Zamboanga University, VSEE technology bridges the gap in prenatal care access, enabling women in underserved areas to receive remote OB-GYN consultations via its comprehensive telehealth platform. The solution features AI chatbots responding in local languages, portable diagnostic devices (e.g. ultrasounds) and electronic health records (EHRs) — all operational within four days of deployment. The pilot program represents a VSEE broader vision of bringing accessible healthcare to underserved populations worldwide through adaptable, AI-enhanced telehealth solutions. Advanced Telenursing Robotics Solution Targeting 3-5% Reduction in Hospital Nursing Costs On April 16th VSEE announced completing development of its Telenursing Robotics solution—an AI-driven platform designed to automate routine nursing tasks and reduce labor costs. With nursing expenses representing approximately 60% of hospital operating budgets, this innovation directly targets one of the most pressing cost challenges in healthcare. Initial modeling suggests hospitals deploying the VSEE solution could reduce nursing-related expenses by 3–5%, while also enhancing patient throughput and experience. VSee Health Highlights AI-Powered Telehealth On April 2nd VSEE released an update highlighting how the Company is at the forefront, pioneering AI-driven telehealth solutions that are revolutionizing patient care. An AI-Powered, Modular Approach to Telehealth VSEE offers a modular, no-code/low-code telehealth platform that allows healthcare organizations to build customized solutions tailored to their specific needs. Dubbed as "Lego-like" digital health building blocks, this flexible system enables seamless Electronic Health Record (EHR) integration, advanced data visualizations, and scalable capabilities that prepare healthcare institutions for the future. Expanding Partnerships and Strategic Growth The VSEE growing client portfolio and strategic partnerships further cement its leadership in the digital health space: Government Expansion: A $444K county government contract to provide a white-label telehealth and data analytics platform for mental and behavioral health services, signaling VSEE expansion into public sector healthcare. Major Oncology Network: A $560K contract to implement a secure telehealth platform, showcasing VSEE ability to scale within specialty healthcare. Oracle Cerner EHR Integration: A partnership with a top kidney care provider to integrate VSEE workflow into Oracle Cerner EHR, boosting telehealth call completion rates by 88%. Robotic Innovations: A $2 million contract with a leading hospital for neurocritical care expansion, leveraging autonomous robotics and an industry-disrupting telenursing model. Government Multi-Year Contract: A multi-year contract valued at $6 million in its first year, allowing VSEE to deliver rapid-configurable telehealth solutions for a national healthcare program. Strategic Collaborations for Enhanced Telehealth Adoption Beyond direct contracts, VSEE is accelerating telehealth adoption through groundbreaking partnerships: AbundaBox Collaboration: Launching AbundaLife, a health record management platform that consolidates fragmented medical records into a secure, comprehensive profile. Ava Robotics Partnership: Developing telepresence robots for inpatient intensive care, enabling remote providers to offer real-time, personalized care. LanguageLine Solutions Integration: Facilitating one-touch interpreter access in over 240 languages, ensuring seamless multilingual healthcare services. Field-Tested, Scalable, and Secure Digital Health Infrastructure With over 1.5 million HIPAA-compliant video encounters per month, VSEE delivers turnkey telehealth solutions in critical care, teleradiology, and autonomous robotics. VSEE technology enhances hospital operations by increasing billable patient visits and optimizing provider efficiency. This ability to streamline operations while ensuring high-quality patient care positions VSEE as a foundational infrastructure provider in digital healthcare. Outlook Following Nasdaq Listing Since listing on Nasdaq in mid-2024, VSEE has expanded its market presence while navigating short-seller activity, a common occurrence among companies following SPAC mergers. The company reports a growing portfolio of contracts and continues to develop its AI-driven product offerings, with further updates expected in 2025. For more information on $VSEE visit: Disclosure listed on the CorporateAds website Media Contact Company Name: Vsee Health, Inc. Contact Person: Anne Chang Email: Send Email Phone: 626-513-1824 Address: One Gateway Center Suite 507 300 Washington St. City: Newton State: Massachusetts Country: United States Website:
Zawya
15 hours ago
- Business
- Zawya
Asian stocks climb on Wall Street boost, currencies waver against strong dollar
Reuters - Emerging Asian stock markets advanced on Wednesday, mirroring Wall Street's overnight gains, while currencies were tepid after strong economic data buoyed the dollar, despite lingering concerns about the U.S. fiscal health and trade policies. Philippine stocks jumped 0.7%, while the Singapore market climbed 0.6% to a two-week peak. South Korean shares ended up 1.3% at a more than three-month closing high. U.S. President Donald Trump backed away over the weekend from his threat to slap 50% tariffs on imports from the European Union next month, agreeing to extend the deadline until July 9. U.S. consumer confidence data coming in much better-than-expected added to the optimism, helping stocks on Wall Street surge overnight as investors returned from a three-day extended weekend. The dollar index, which measures the U.S. currency against six rivals, also inched up 0.2%, adding to Tuesday's 0.6% advance. Positive developments from across the world, including the progress in the U.S.–EU talks and speculation that the Japanese government could adjust its level of bond issuance, seem to have driven the demand for U.S. assets, Maybank analysts said. "The gains in U.S. assets came on the back of strong economic data overnight, which some market concerns about the country's fiscal outlook," Poon Panichpibool, a market strategist at Krung Thai Bank, said. "However, it could just be a brief moment of rebound," he said, adding that fiscal concerns could flare up depending on how the U.S. Senate votes on Trump's tax-cut bill that is expected to add to the debt pile in the world's largest economy. Emerging Asian currencies, which have benefited from broader weakness in the greenback this month, were subdued on Wednesday. The Indian rupee weakened 0.2%, while the Singapore dollar appreciated marginally. The South Korean won was largely flat at 1,376.40. Investors are now focused on the Bank of Korea's monetary policy decision on Thursday, where the central bank is expected to lower its key rate by 25 basis points after economic activity contracted last quarter and April inflation came closer to the central bank's target. "Board members are likely to focus on tariff impact on growth, U.S.-Korea trade talks, and recent KRW appreciation," analysts at BofA Global Research said. In Malaysia, the ringgit and equities edged up 0.1% each. Malaysia's Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli said he had submitted his resignation, after losing a contest for the deputy presidency of the premier's political party. HIGHLIGHTS: ** ASEAN leaders agree tariff deals with the U.S. should not harm fellow members ** U.S. trade deal could boost Indian exports, government report says ** Demand at Japan's 40-year bond auction sinks as fiscal doubts prevail Asia stock indexes and currencies at 0724 GMT COUNTRY FX RIC FX DAILY FX YTD % INDEX STOCKS STOCKS % DAILY YTD % % Japan +0.03 +8.94 0.00 -5.44 China India -0.24 +0.09 -0.13 4.86 Indonesi -0.09 -1.20 0.04 1.72 a Malaysia +0.12 +5.63 0.09 -6.99 Philippi -0.06 +4.56 0.64 -1.58 nes Singapor +0.00 +5.95 0.44 3.32 e Taiwan +0.19 +9.65 0.10 -7.28 Thailand +0.14 +4.88 0.21 -16.74 Reuters
Arab News
16 hours ago
- Business
- Arab News
Saudi Arabia offers fully funded scholarships to Filipino students
MANILA: Saudi Arabia has opened 265 fully funded scholarships for Filipino students for the upcoming academic year, its ambassador to the Philippines announced on Wednesday, as a part of efforts to strengthen educational ties under Vision 2030. The 'Study in Saudi' scholarship is open to all Filipinos, including those residing in the Kingdom, the Philippines, or elsewhere. The program offers opportunities to pursue undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in science, technology, engineering, arts and math fields. In addition courses are offered in social sciences, business administration, economics, agriculture, Arabic, political science, Islamic law, and media. 'The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia places great emphasis on international education as a foundation of its Vision 2030,' Faisal Ibrahim Al-Ghamdi, the Kingdom's ambassador-designate to the Philippines, said during a press conference in Manila. 'The scholarships we are announcing today align with this strategic direction, which reflect the Kingdom's continued commitment to supporting higher education for Filipino students. 'A total of 265 fully funded scholarships are being offered, covering both undergraduate and graduate degrees.' The courses are offered at 25 Saudi universities, including the nation's top academic institutions. These include King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, King Saud University in Riyadh, Umm Al-Qura University in Makkah, King Faisal University in Al-Ahsa, as well Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University — the world's largest women's university, which is prominent in the fields of education and health. 'These opportunities will enable Filipino students to join prestigious Saudi universities, where they will study alongside peers from around the world in academic environments that seamlessly blend tradition and innovation — offering an enriching educational experience unlike any other,' Al-Ghamdi said. 'These scholarships go beyond tuition fees. They include financial stipends, accommodation, medical insurance, annual round-trip air tickets, and many other benefits that ensure students can focus entirely on their academic goals.' Nearly 1 million Filipinos are living and working in Saudi Arabia, making up the sixth-largest expatriate community in the Kingdom. Currently, more than 800 of them are enrolled in Saudi universities. This ongoing partnership is exemplified by the presence of more than 806 Filipino students currently enrolled in Saudi universities across diverse programs. 'These students are benefiting from advanced learning opportunities and comprehensive care — a testament to the Kingdom's unwavering dedication to international students,' Al-Ghamdi said. He added that the scholarship, which aims to connect young people from both countries, helps in 'strengthening cultural and intellectual ties and reaffirming the Kingdom's commitment to supporting education in friendly countries.'
