Tourism department targets Indian market for growth

Travel

REUTERS
THE Department of Tourism (DoT) said it hopes to increase visitor arrivals from India by executing the memorandum of cooperation on tourism signed by India and the Philippines in 2019. 
In a statement on Wednesday, Tourism Secretary Ma. Esperanza Christina G. Frasco said that the Philippines welcomed around 79,000 Indian visitors last year, up 12.4%.
“While this number is smaller relative to our ASEAN neighbors, it represents significant growth,” Ms. Frasco said.
“We see tremendous potential in India’s outbound tourism market, and we are committed to making the Philippines a top destination for Indian tourists,” she added.
Ms. Frasco met with Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat of India’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism on the sidelines of the ASEAN Tourism Forum meetings.
She expressed the Philippines’ readiness to sign an implementation program to execute the 2019 Memorandum of Cooperation.
“We are very hopeful that through our meeting today, through the forthcoming implementation program, and the work that both our teams will do, we can increase from the 79,000 Indians that arrived in the Philippines last year to allow the Philippines to have a bigger share of the over 5 million that arrived to ASEAN in 2024,” Ms. Frasco said. 
The implementation program would cover the expansion of air connectivity, the exchange of travel professionals, and joint marketing promotions to mutually increase tourism flows.
“India and the Philippines both share a long (history of) cultural ties,” said Mr. Singh.
He added that the Philippines “deserves much more” of a share of Indian tourists visiting ASEAN.
VISA LIBERALIZATIONAt the Kapihan sa Manila Prince on Wednesday, Ms. Frasco said: “What happened after the pandemic is that our ASEAN neighbors became very aggressive in their visa liberalization policies, either by adopting electronic visas or implementing visa-free policies for citizens of many countries,” she said.
“That is why the DoT, as early as the start of the administration, advocated (for more liberal visa policies with) the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Bureau of Immigration,” she added.
An electronic visa system used to be in place for Chinese visiting the Philippines; however, this scheme was suspended.
“Visa liberalization is critical. And so with the challenges that we are facing pertaining to the Chinese market, we are now looking at India,” she said.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has given a directive to improve and implement a more efficient and competitive e-visa system for Indians.
“During the ASEAN Tourism Ministers meetings, Thailand announced that it is removing visa requirements, if I’m not mistaken, for at least 90 countries,” Ms. Frasco said.
She added that the Philippines should try to liberalize visa policies for as many countries as possible.
“But in terms of priority, it’s really India that we’re looking at right now for visa liberalization,” she added. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

St. FX University’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing – Accelerated Option Program Exceeds Enrollment Target

Science and Health

This month 48 new students entered the Bachelor of Science in Nursing – Accelerated Option (AO) program at St. FX, which the university describes as an innovative and responsive program that educates baccalaureate-prepared nurses.  That exceeds the enrollment target set by the university’s Rankin School of Nursing.
StFX continues to contribute to the health of Nova Scotia, including exceeding its enrollment target for the Rankin School of Nursing BSc in Nursing – Accelerated Option (AO) program – getting more nurses into the healthcare profession faster. In January 2025, 48 new students entered the AO program, an innovative and responsive program that educates baccalaureate-prepared nurses. AO students pictured here are, l-r, Eva Boyd, Meghan Hershey, Kyle Prinoski and Arial Benoit. (St. FX University photo)
StFX’s AO program, which began in 2017, allows students with the required post-secondary credits the opportunity to earn their degree over 24 continuous months. STFX states the program offers the same nursing education as StFX’s regular four year BScN program but it progresses at a faster, uninterrupted pace that allows graduates to enter or re-enter the workforce sooner.
Rankin School of Nursing Associate Dean, Dr. Amy Hallaran said this is the first year they have a full cohort starting in January.

Scientists want microplastics monitored in the Great Lakes. Now, it’s up to the U.S. and Canada

Science and Health

Scientists want the U.S. and Canada to designate microplastics as a “chemical of mutual concern.”The recommendation is part of a new report on how to monitor microplastics in the Great Lakes, released by the Great Lakes Science Advisory Board at the International Joint Commission, an organization that helps the U.S. and Canada tackle water quality issues together.“The Great Lakes have a lot of microplastic. There’s absolutely no doubt,” said Chelsea Rochman, an assistant professor of ecology at the University of Toronto and an author of the report. “The amount of microplastics that I see in urban areas — for example, in Toronto — is striking. It is much higher than I see in the open ocean, or even in the ocean in urban areas. And the amount that we see in our fish, including in our sport fish, is also striking.”The designation would add microplastics to a list of contaminants like PCBs and mercury that both countries are required to monitor under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.“We have a lot of policies on both sides of the border,” Rochman said. “But we can do better, specifically for microplastics.”Microplastic particles can negatively impact aquatic organisms, ranging from stress on an organism’s diet to its reproductive system. Emerging research also shows that microplastics can leach toxic chemicals into organisms.”We see hundreds of particles in the gut of an individual fish here in the Toronto Harbor … and we also see tens or dozens of particles in the muscle, which is the filet, the part that we eat,” Rochman said. “We also know that the concentrations we see in some parts of the Great Lakes are above those that we consider to be a threshold for risk, meaning that the organisms now in our Great Lakes are exposed to levels that could be harmful.”

Figure from the Final Report of the International Joint Commission Great Lakes Science Advisory Board Work Group on Microplastics. (Image: International Joint Commission)

But there’s currently no coordinated regional effort to monitor microplastics across the Great Lakes. That would change if microplastics are added to the binational list of contaminants.The new report lays out a framework for making widespread monitoring possible, like a standardized definition of microplastics and standardized methods for sampling and reporting microplastic pollution.Right now, most data comes from piecemeal research across different academic institutions.“If we’re all sampling in the same way and doing the analysis in the same way … we can compare apples to apples, as opposed to trying to compare apples to oranges,” Rochman said. “If we’re monitoring in such a way that’s not standardized, it’s possible the data won’t have the same trust … as we make decisions that may change how businesses operate, how people operate, et cetera.”The report provides the tools to run long-term, consistent microplastics monitoring programs as opposed to the disparate data that come from academia.Officials from the U.S. and Canada first began considering adding microplastics to the list of “chemicals of mutual concern” in 2023. There’s no timeline for when they’ll make a decision.Funding for much of the work of monitoring pollutants on the U.S. side of the border comes from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. That money is approved through 2026. An extension of that funding through 2031 has passed the U.S. Senate but still needs House approval.On Feb. 12, the International Joint Commission Great Lakes Science Advisory Board will hold a public webinar to discuss their report on the state of science on microplastics. Register here.

Trends that will shape business and society in 2025

Business News

As leaders enter 2025, they know one thing for sure: the coming twelve months will yet again see them face a range of complex and disruptive challenges and opportunities. Using the PEST-model, experts from Jester Strategy outline the top trends they should consider as they navigate their journey to success.
1) Politics
Trump 2.0: towards a ‘G-zero world’?Having just taken office, Trump is already making waves. Ranging from threatening to impose major tariffs, such as 100% on BRICS-country products or 25% on Canada and Mexico, to some eyebrow-raising appointments in top positions.
Needless to say, his plans – and the uncertainty surrounding these plans – will have major repercussions across the globe, in terms of (international) security (e.g. think NATO, Ukraine or the Asia-Pacific), trade, and economy.
With mostly inexperienced loyalists surrounding him, many fear the ‘guardrails’ that were in place during his first term in the office, are gone. The world holds its breath. Will Trump’s policies usher in a (dangerous) ‘G-Zero world’ in which no country/bloc is able and willing to drive the global agenda and maintain order?
Noteworthy 2025 elections: GER and AUSIn February, the Germans will have parliamentary elections after the government coalition collapsed in 2024. As it stands, Merz (CDU) is beating outgoing chancellor Scholz (SPD) in polls. Expect various possible coalitions to be explored as most parties will shun the increasingly popular far-right AfD.
Later this spring, Australians will head to the polls for federal elections. So far current Labour PM Albanese is in a dead heat with centre-right Coalition’s Peter Dutton, who appears to be slightly ahead in the latest polling. Poland will elect a new president in May. The Canadians will be heading to the polls as well later this year to elect a successor to Justin Trudeau.
Israel-Gaza and West-Bank, and LebanonWhile there currently is a cease-fire in place, RANE expects Israel to pursue a more aggressive annexation policy in the West Bank and possible resettlement in Gaza. Especially given a more hawkish, pro-Israel policy to be expected from the White House. Tensions can spiral into a full-scale uprising in the West-Bank later this year.

Will US President Trump change the dynamics in the Middle East in 2025?

Syria’s complex new realityBe careful what you wish for… A lesson the West learned following the Arab Spring. With Assad’s ruthless rule over, will HTS provide stability in a complex Syria and region in turmoil?
Ukraine begrudgingly open to negotiate?With US support increasingly uncertain under the Trump administration and Republican-led Congress, all eyes are on the EU to pick up the slack. However, aid for Ukraine is facing lower political support there as well, possibly strengthening Putin’s bargaining position. Some form of ceasefire talks can be expected but will remain fragile at best and certainly will not offer any long-term solutions.
Chinese containment facing headwindsWill Trump’s more isolationist and transactional approach perhaps embolden Beijing to escalate the conflict with Taiwan as the US’ support might be called into question? Meanwhile, key US allies Japan and South Korea are preoccupied with internal political scandals, slowing (further) regional security cooperation.
2) Economy
Moderate global growth, yet with a big asteriskModerate economic growth is foreseen globally (no recession really to be expected), with inflation declining, wage growth normalising, and central bank slowering interest rates (ECB: approximately 2%, FED

Sensus Healthcare to Report 2024 Fourth Quarter and Full Year Financial Results and Hold Business Update Conference Call on Wednesday, February 5, 2025

Business News

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BOCA RATON, Fla.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Jan 22, 2025–Sensus Healthcare, Inc. (Nasdaq: SRTS), a medical device company specializing in highly effective, non-invasive, minimally-invasive and cost-effective treatments for oncological and non-oncological skin conditions, announces the company will report financial results for the 2024 fourth quarter and full year on Wednesday, February 5, 2025. Management will hold a conference call beginning at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time to review the results, provide a business update and answer questions.Participants are encouraged to pre-register for the conference call using this link to receive a unique dial-in number to bypass the live operator. Participants may pre-register at any time, including up to and after the call start time. Those unable to pre-register can access the conference call by dialing 844-481-2811 (U.S. and Canada Toll Free) or 412-317-0676 (International). Please ask the operator to be connected to the Sensus Healthcare conference call.
The call will be webcast live and can be accessed at this link, which is also in the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at www.sensushealthcare.com.Following the conclusion of the conference call, a telephone replay will be available until March 5 th by dialing 877-344-7529 (U.S. Toll Free), 855-669-9658 (Canada Toll Free) or 412-317-0088 (International). At the system prompt, enter the replay code 5636219. An archived webcast will be available in the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website for a period of time.About Sensus HealthcareSensus Healthcare, Inc. is a global pioneer in the development and delivery of non-invasive treatments for skin cancer and keloids. Leveraging its cutting-edge superficial radiotherapy (SRT and IG-SRT) technology, the company provides healthcare providers with a highly effective, patient-centric treatment platform. With a dedication to driving innovation in radiation oncology, Sensus Healthcare offers solutions that are safe, precise, and adaptable to a variety of clinical settings. For more information, please visit www.sensushealthcare.com.View source version on businesswire.com:https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250122504110/en/CONTACT: Alliance Advisors IR

Why are some business leaders favouring ‘MEI’ over DEI?

Business News

Open this photo in gallery:’MEI versus DEI’ is dangerous framing because it implies that people of diverse backgrounds are inherently lacking in merit.Getty ImagesAsk Women and WorkQuestion: I’m hearing MEI being talked about as a replacement for DEI. What does that mean? And how could it impact opportunities for people of colour and other folks from diverse backgrounds?We asked Camille Dundas, racial equity consultant and principal educator at The IDEA Practice, to tackle this one:MEI stands for merit, excellent, intelligence. It’s a term coined by Alexandr Wang, the CEO of a tech company called Scale AI, and the concept claims to focus on merit without regard for things like race, gender, etc. Wang has been quoted saying this approach will “naturally yield a variety of backgrounds, perspectives and ideas.”The concept has gained some traction in the big tech industry and among some other business leaders, but it’s frustrating because DEI does not advocate for people to be hired because they’re racialized or queer or disabled. It advocates for people not to be excluded from a candidate pool because they are racialized, queer, disabled, etc. So, MEI is actually part of DEI; hiring on merit is the goal of DEI in hiring.MEI sounds like a great idea, right? Just hire the best person for the job. But this approach exposes a complete disconnect from the reality of anyone who’s ever faced any kind of discrimination in the workplace. People hire people they know through their friends, family or past coworkers. People hire people who make them comfortable. You have lots of super-qualified people who are getting screened out of candidate pool because of those very same things that MEI is trying to convince you are irrelevant: race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, etc. Humans make decisions based on biases.There is a story that is going viral right now about a woman named Aliyah Jones, a Black woman who was finding it difficult to get an interview even though she had an impressive digital design background. So, she made a duplicate of her LinkedIn page, except she changed the name and the photos to an AI-generated image of white woman with blond hair and blue eyes. She applied to 300 jobs and found that her fake profile with the white woman photo got an interview invitation 58 per cent of the time compared with her own real LinkedIn profile, which only got interview callbacks 9 per cent of the time. There are lots of formal studies backing up her experiment, one done right here in Canada from the University of British Columbia. This is the kind of thing DEI seeks to address.I think MEI is about control. It’s about decision-makers not wanting to give up the benefits of operating without transparency and accountability – two things that DEI demands. DEI requires you to show why you hired this person over that person. Nobody wants to explain why a woman is getting paid less for the same job as a man at their company. No recruiter wants to explain why they suddenly ended an interview when they realized the candidate has a disability.It’s dangerous how things are being framed as MEI versus DEI. It implies people of diverse backgrounds are inherently lacking in merit and that white, straight males are the default qualification. That impacts anyone who has ever been marginalized, including white people.The issues that DEI addresses are not going away. Marginalized people are not going to stop advocating for equity. Companies absolutely should be on the lookout for bad DEI practices, like those that advocate for quotas. Goals and targets are a different thing; they are aspirational. Companies need to evaluate their hiring practices and root out bias and discrimination. They also need to implement workplace education programs so that there is awareness across all levels of management about how bias shows up in the workplace. People need to have the tools and language to confront these things instead of ignoring them and pretending they’re not happening.Must readsTrust is what gives leaders influence. Eight strategies to build it with your team“As a leader, trust is what allows you to influence, inspire and guide,” says Merge Gupta-Sunderji, chief executive officer of the leadership development consultancy Turning Managers Into Leaders.“Building trust is not something you do once or twice, it is a process. Fortunately, there are many deliberate actions you can take to progressively establish an environment in which respect, collaboration and mutual confidence thrive. You don’t have to use every tool every time or every day, but the more you utilize them, the stronger your foundation of trust and credibility will become.”Thinking of a career change? Here’s how to make the leap successfully“Like any important decision in life, you want to take a step back and make sure that you’re doing your due diligence on basically who you are,” said Laura Hambley, founder of Canada Career Counselling.She said the first step is diving into the past and taking stock of your likes, dislikes, skills, talent, education, values and beliefs.“If you could do it again, what would you have done differently?” she said.In case you missed itTips for entrepreneurs experiencing post-holiday anxiety“The holiday season is non-stop for many entrepreneurs,” says Sarah Burrows, assistant professor of entrepreneurship at Smith School of Business at Queen’s University.“Then you’re hit with January, and you experience this lull and you’re not sure what to do with that time. You may experience a decrease in revenue and that is certainly going to exacerbate your stress. But it’s very important to leverage the lull of a post-holiday season to re-energize and refocus and really take care of yourself.”More from The GlobeAre you reading this newsletter on the web or did someone forward the e-mail to you? If so, you can sign up for the Women and Work newsletter here.