Latest news with #GCash
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
PWD prepares plan to reduce commute time at railway crossings
Lucknow: The public works department (PWD) has drawn up a comprehensive infrastructure blueprint to bring down the commute time at major railway crossings in the state. Under the 'Setu Bhandhan' initiative, a budget of Rs 1,111 crore has been earmarked which would be diverted via central road and infrastructure fund (CRIF) to take up the projects. Taking the vision of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath forward, PWD is coordinating closely with the railways to identify the locations where such civil works are needed as per the traffic congestion to take up the railway overbridges or underbrides as required. The Uttar Pradesh State Bridge Corporation Limited will oversee the construction and development of the 10 proposed bridges. Furthermore, CRIF will also be utilised for road-related works, including the construction of bypasses, ring roads, service lanes alongside national highways and widening and strengthening of roads. For these projects, the Yogi govt prepared an action plan for works worth Rs 136 crore, approved at the end of the last financial year. Land acquisition and utility shifting for these projects will be carried out by the state govt itself. Lucknow: The public works department (PWD) has drawn up a comprehensive infrastructure blueprint to bring down the commute time at major railway crossings in the state. Under the 'Setu Bhandhan' initiative, a budget of Rs 1,111 crore has been earmarked which would be diverted via central road and infrastructure fund (CRIF) to take up the projects. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Taking the vision of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath forward, PWD is coordinating closely with the railways to identify the locations where such civil works are needed as per the traffic congestion to take up the railway overbridges or underbrides as required. The Uttar Pradesh State Bridge Corporation Limited will oversee the construction and development of the 10 proposed bridges. Furthermore, CRIF will also be utilised for road-related works, including the construction of bypasses, ring roads, service lanes alongside national highways and widening and strengthening of roads. For these projects, the Yogi govt prepared an action plan for works worth Rs 136 crore, approved at the end of the last financial year. Land acquisition and utility shifting for these projects will be carried out by the state govt itself.
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Zero tariffs for US: Donald Trump announces trade deal with Vietnam; latter subjected to 20% duty
US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that he has struck a trade deal with Vietnam. Under the terms of the deal, Vietnam will impose a 20% tariff on all goods exported to the United States which the US will have to pay zero tariffs. 'I just made a Trade Deal with Vietnam. Details to follow!' he said. Trump made the announcement through his social media platform Truth Social, declaring what he described as a major new trade agreement with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The deal, according to Trump, was finalised following direct talks with Vietnam's general secretary of the Communist Party, To Lam. 'It is my Great Honor to announce that I have just made a Trade Deal with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam after speaking with To Lam, the Highly Respected General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam,' Trump wrote. Outlining the terms, Trump said Vietnam has agreed to pay a 20% tariff on all goods exported to the United States and a 40% tariff on any transshipped goods. The US president also claimed that Vietnam will offer the United States "TOTAL ACCESS" to its domestic markets, allowing its products to be sold there without any import tariffs. 'Vietnam will do something that they have never done before, give the United States of America TOTAL ACCESS to their Markets for Trade. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo In other words, they will 'OPEN THEIR MARKET TO THE UNITED STATES,' meaning that, we will be able to sell our product into Vietnam at ZERO Tariff,' Trump said. He further highlighted the potential of American made SUVs in the Vietnamese market, saying that the SUV or the 'Large Engine Vehicle' that are doing well in the US, would be 'wonderful addition to the various product lines.' He ended the post with a note of appreciation, thanking To Lam. 'Dealing with General Secretary To Lam, which I did personally, was an absolute pleasure. Thank you for your attention to this matter!' The deal comes just a week ahead of the July 9 deadline, when the 90-day window for tariff negotiations was set to expire. With this agreement, Vietnam joins the UK and China as the countries to have reportedly secured a trade deal with the United States so far. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Finextra
8 hours ago
- Business
- Finextra
Ant International launches AI travel companion for digital wallets
With launch partners including Agoda, Fliggy and Ant International introduces Alipay+ Voyager, an AI travel companion integrated into digital wallets for the travel industry to simplify and enhance travel experiences for global consumers. 0 Alipay+ Voyager combines Ant International's agentic AI capabilities with the galaxy of cross-border travel services offered by OTA partners and 100 million global merchants in Alipay+'s partner ecosystem. Through its one single AI interface embedded in e-wallets and super apps, Alipay+ Voyager assists travellers, via text or voice in their local language, to complete itinerary planning, booking, and purchasing in-destination merchant offerings with a seamless flow. Alipay+ Voyager is first launched on three of Asia's biggest mobile wallets, Alipay (Chinese mainland), AlipayHK (Hong Kong SAR, China) and GCash (the Philippines) ahead of the summer travel peak. It will roll out to more Alipay+ payment partners throughout 2025. Alipay+, started as a cross-border payment technology solution, now helping 36 leading e-wallets and payment apps with 1.7 billion consumer accounts connect to over 100 million merchants. The Alipay+ Wallet Tech team has been working with e-wallet partners in emerging markets to develop payment, security and growth capabilities and solutions since 2015. Today, the team plans to further build out other agentic AI suites for different industries on Alipay+ GenAI Cockpit, its main AI platform for fintechs. Driving Global Connectivity and Growth in the Merchant-Wallet-Consumer Ecosystem The online travel market is expected to grow 10% annually through 2032, with mobile already making up two-thirds of traffic. Travellers, especially Gen Zs, increasingly favour unique, hyperlocal experiences, using mobile-first, all-in-one solutions to uncover their best options. Alipay+ Voyager has a number of distinct features: • Intelligent end-to-end assistance from one single hub in familiar wallets: research, decision and action support before, during and after the trip • Real-time global-to-local connections: seamless transitioning to local services like ride-hailing, public transport, shopping, dining and sightseeing; • Purposeful, forward-looking curation: Voyager AI intuitively understands a user's preferences, proactively solves problems when there are issues such as flight delays or bad weather, and surfaces hyper-relevant options in real-time before a traveller even asks, all within their home e-wallet; • A new growth gateway for merchants and OTAs: captures multiple core markets through one easy deployment across the largest regional and global e-wallets. 'Travellers today are using more tech to enhance their trips, and there is a need for the industry to adapt and meet these new and emerging expectations,' said Douglas Feagin, President of Ant International. 'By integrating a proactive, always-on AI travel companion within digital wallets that consumers already use frequently, we're empowering travel and wallet partners with new opportunities to engage travellers in a more relevant, personalised way, through every step of their journey.' Gil Hazan, Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, Agoda, said: "At Agoda, we are committed to making travel more accessible and seamless for everyone. By integrating our extensive supply network as one of Asia's leading online travel platforms with Alipay+ Voyager's expansive wallet partnerships, we can offer travellers a more convenient and personalized booking experience. This collaboration enables us to reach a broader audience and provide tailored travel solutions that cater to the diverse needs of today's travellers."
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
Harvard doctor reveals what really happens when you quit sugar for 30 days
If you've ever thought about giving up sugar but immediately pictured a life without cake, cookies, or your favorite sweet chai—you're not alone. Sugar is woven into just about everything we eat, from your morning granola to that innocent-looking salad dressing. But according to Dr. Saurabh Sethi, a Harvard-trained doctor and wellness expert, ditching sugar for just 30 days might be one of the best things you can do for your body. And no, it's not just about losing weight. In a recent video that's now buzzing across health circles online, Dr. Sethi breaks down exactly what happens when you give up added sugars for a month—and the benefits are more than skin deep. We're talking about major changes inside your body, the kind you won't see on the scale but will feel in your energy, focus, and even long-term disease prevention. "Your liver fat starts to drop" Dr. Sethi explains that when you quit sugar, especially fructose-heavy processed sugar, your liver fat starts to drop. That's a big deal, considering fatty liver disease is becoming alarmingly common—even in people who don't drink alcohol. Just a month without added sugar can reduce liver inflammation and start reversing early signs of damage. "Kidney function improves, especially if you are insulin resistant or pre-diabetic" If you're insulin resistant, pre-diabetic, or just on the blood sugar rollercoaster more often than you'd like to admit, quitting sugar can actually improve kidney function. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo That's because excess sugar and high insulin levels can strain the kidneys over time. Give them a break, and they bounce back surprisingly well. "Inflammation in your artery goes down" One of the less talked-about benefits of ditching sugar is how much it helps your arteries. Chronic sugar intake leads to inflammation in your arterial walls, which is one of the sneaky precursors to heart disease. Cut the sugar, and those inflamed pathways begin to calm down, reducing your risk of heart attack and stroke. "Clearer thinking and better focus" Ever feel like your brain is in a fog after dessert? Turns out, it's not just in your head—well, it is, but not your imagination. Dr. Sethi says that mental clarity and focus improve significantly when sugar is out of the picture. Your brain thrives on stable energy, and sugar spikes followed by crashes don't help. After a few weeks without sugar, many people report better productivity and a noticeable boost in concentration. "Your immune system gets stronger, because sugar weakens white blood cells" Want to fight off that seasonal bug or recover faster from illness? Your immune system needs to be in top shape. Here's the kicker: sugar weakens your white blood cells, the front-line defenders of your immune system. In just 30 days without added sugar, your immune system becomes noticeably more resilient, which is especially helpful in today's post-pandemic world. "You can retain more key minerals like magnesium, calcium and zinc" Another hidden perk? Your body becomes better at holding onto essential minerals like magnesium, calcium, and zinc when there's no sugar messing with your metabolism. These minerals are crucial for everything from bone health to muscle recovery to keeping your mood in check. So what happens when you break up with sugar for 30 days? According to Dr. Sethi, your body goes through a major internal reboot—your liver trims down, your brain sharpens, your immune system strengthens, and your organs get a much-needed breather. It's not about punishment or restriction—it's about giving your body the space to heal and thrive. And here's the best part: you don't have to quit sugar forever. But even a month-long break can lead to real, tangible improvements in your health. Think of it as a detox your future self will thank you for—one cup of unsweetened tea at a time.
Time of India
12 hours ago
- Science
- Time of India
Methane-tracking satellite backed by Bezos lost in space
Representative Image An $88 million (€77.4 million) satellite backed by Jeff Bezos has disappeared in space while conducting a climate change mission, New Zealand officials said on Wednesday. MethaneSAT , which was designed to evaluate greenhouse gas emissions with "unprecedented resolution," was also funded by Wellington and the US-based Environmental Defense Fund . However, the satellite was plagued with technical problems and recently stopped responding to its Earth-bound controllers. "Clearly, this is a disappointing development," said Andrew Johnson, a senior official at the New Zealand Space Agency. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo "As those who work in the space sector know, space is inherently challenging, and every attempt, successful or not, pushes the boundaries of what we know and what we're capable of." Project not in vain, EDF argues: The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), which was in charge of the project, said it was "difficult news" but would not relent in its efforts to track methane. "We're seeing this as a setback, not a failure," Amy Middleton, senior vice president at the EDF, told the Reuters news agency. "We've made so much progress and so much has been learned that if we hadn't taken this risk, we wouldn't have any of these learnings." The launch of MethaneSAT in March of last year was a milestone in a years-long campaign to hold some 120 countries accountable to their 2021 pledge to curb methane emissions . It also sought to help enforce a further pledge from 50 oil and gas firms made at the Dubai COP28 climate summit in December 2023 to eliminate methane and routine gas flaring. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, with 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. Scientists say capping leaks from oil and gas wells and equipment is, therefore, one of the fastest ways to start tackling global warming. The EDF had received a $100 million funding boost from the Bezos Earth Fund in 2020 and received other financial support from Arnold Ventures, the Robertson Foundation and the TED Audacious Project and EDF donors. The mission was also carried out in partnership with the New Zealand Space Agency.
