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Arabian Post
6 days ago
- Business
- Arabian Post
Dubai Eyes Digital Economy Gains With Cashless Push
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy and Dubai Finance have entered into a strategic partnership to bolster the emirate's ambitions of becoming a fully cashless economy. A Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two bodies outlines a coordinated framework that targets improved governance, fintech innovation, and wider digital payment adoption, in line with the objectives of the Dubai Cashless Strategy. The agreement was formalised during a ceremony attended by H. E. Abdulrahman Saleh Al Saleh, Director General of Dubai Finance, and H. E. Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers. Representing the respective institutions, Saeed Al Gergawi, Vice President of Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, and Ahmad Ali Meftah, Executive Director of the Central Accounts Sector at Dubai Finance, signed the document on behalf of their organisations. ADVERTISEMENT This collaboration underscores Dubai's growing emphasis on integrating digital solutions across public and private sector transactions, as the emirate positions itself as a global fintech and smart governance hub. The new agreement aims to accelerate digital payments across government services while enhancing efficiency, security, and accessibility. Under the framework of the MoU, both entities will establish joint task forces, undertake regular progress evaluations, and implement technology-driven initiatives to modernise financial infrastructure. The emphasis will be on enabling end-to-end digital transactions for individuals and businesses interacting with government entities. Officials involved in the signing highlighted the strategic relevance of the initiative, citing the pivotal role of digital transformation in achieving Dubai's broader economic diversification goals. Saeed Al Gergawi remarked that this step would unlock new economic potential and reinforce Dubai's reputation as a leader in digital innovation. He noted that the Chamber aims to promote the use of cashless technologies across all levels of society, particularly among small businesses and startups. Ahmad Ali Meftah echoed similar sentiments, noting that the DOF views this partnership as an opportunity to develop governance models that leverage real-time payment data and analytics to improve decision-making and transparency. He added that it marks a milestone in the effort to optimise public sector financial management through advanced digital tools. The Dubai Cashless Strategy, announced previously by the Dubai Government, focuses on transforming the way residents and businesses conduct financial transactions. Its three-pillar approach—governance, innovation, and the shift towards a cashless society—provides the structural foundation for this latest collaboration. The strategy also aligns with the UAE Digital Government Strategy 2025, which aims to foster a holistic digital ecosystem nationwide. Dubai has already made significant strides towards cashless integration. Key government services, including health, transport, and municipal utilities, have seen widespread uptake of digital payments. A growing number of private sector entities—particularly in retail, hospitality, and real estate—have also moved to offer fully contactless payment options. Data from payment solutions providers and financial regulators suggest that consumer behaviour in Dubai is increasingly shifting towards digital modes. Contactless transactions, QR-code payments, and mobile wallet usage are seeing double-digit growth, reflecting both convenience and trust in digital platforms. E-commerce platforms and delivery services in the city have reported a significant drop in cash-on-delivery usage, replaced by integrated payment gateways. Despite the surge in adoption, challenges remain. Concerns over cybersecurity, digital exclusion among certain demographics, and interoperability between platforms continue to demand coordinated attention. Experts believe that public-private partnerships, like the one signed this week, are vital to addressing these gaps. The joint initiative between Dubai Finance and Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy aims to prioritise inclusive design and data security in all future systems. Digital finance specialists have observed that the commitment from high-level institutions such as DOF and Dubai Chambers is an indication of long-term policy backing. The formalisation of this cooperation may lead to more unified regulatory frameworks, making it easier for startups and global fintech players to operate in Dubai's ecosystem. The agreement is also expected to boost investor confidence, particularly among digital-first businesses exploring Middle East expansion. Analysts note that initiatives aimed at institutionalising digital payments often serve as catalysts for broader technology adoption, including AI-driven financial services and decentralised finance platforms.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Governor Scott signs bills on health insurance, drug use, technology
MONTPELIER, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44) – Vermont's Phil Scott had a busy day Thursday as we near the end of the legislative session. He signed six bills into law, and allowed one to become law without his signature. H. 1, which adds exemptions to reporting to the State Ethics Commission, was not signed by Scott. However, he still allowed it to become law, saying that 'it does not rise to the level of a veto' but encouraging legislators to revise it in the future. He objected to any law weakening the State Ethics Commission after its power was strengthened last year. H. 105 relates to the Youth Substance Awareness Safety Program, which provides an alternative to young offenders of drug laws, where they can enroll in an educational program instead of going through civil courts. The bill lowers the minimum age for enrollment from 16 to 10 and includes alcohol-impaired youth drivers in the scope of the program. H. 222 allows state courts to require people convicted of domestic violence offenses to complete an accountability program before they are released from a restraining order. It also allows courts to require an offender return vehicles shared by them and a victim. Vermont exempts some home kitchen businesses from licensing fees H. 231, about fish and game management, increases penalties for snaring animals. It also makes it an offense to transport a cocked crossbow in a vehicle. H. 458 increases accountability for state technology programs. It requires that the state's Agency of Digital Services include more detailed information in its reports, including summaries of the scope, timeline, status, and budget of each of its individual projects. H. 482, about health insurance, allows the Green Mountain Care Board to reduce hospital reimbursement rates for insurers if the insurer is at risk of going bankrupt. It also allows the board to reduce a hospital's budget if the hospital went over budget the previous year, and to appoint an independent overseer to a hospital the board thinks may be out of compliance. Scott signs bill adding felony charge for abuse of a corpse Finally, H. 504 approves minor changes to the charter of the City of Rutland, including changes to the city's purchasing policy. Legislators are still working on some major new legislation, especially an education reform package that Phil Scott decided not to sign after a compromise was reached by the House and Senate. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
California freshwater fish found to be teeming with parasites. How to keep from getting sick
More than 90% of popular freshwater fish in Southern California are carrying human-infecting parasites, researchers say. This poses a significant danger for those who like to eat freshly caught freshwater fish. But there are ways to protect yourself. The parasites are called trematodes. Two species of the flatworms were discovered in California's freshwater fish, according to a study published Tuesday in the Journal of Infectious Diseases. The tiny, flattened and sluglike creatures can cause gastrointestinal problems, weight loss and lethargy when a person eats an infected fish. In some rare and severe cases, the parasites have caused strokes or heart attacks. 'Americans don't usually think about parasites when they eat freshwater fish because it hasn't historically been an issue here,' said Ryan Hechinger, the study's senior author. In fact, even when a person has fallen ill from a locally caught infected freshwater fish, their healthcare provider will typically ask if the patient has recently traveled outside of the United States, Hechinger said. Researchers identified two species of trematode: Haplorchis pumilio and Centrocestus formosanus. These two parasite species have historically infected people in Southeast Asia who eat raw fish, crustaceans or vegetables that carry the parasite larvae. A trematode has a very specific life cycle, leeching onto three hosts that include a freshwater snail, a fish and then a bird or human who ate the infected fish. The parasite was probably carried to the U.S. by the red-rimmed melania, or Malaysian trumpet snail, which is host to a number of parasitic species and was introduced to the United States, Hechinger estimates, decades ago. It inhabits "freshwater springs, streams, lakes and swamps," according to the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, but can occasionally be found in "brackish and marine habitats, especially mangroves" (think the Everglades). The snail first popped up in California in 1972 in a Riverside County ditch, according to the center. Hechinger, through previous and new research, found that the snail and its associated trematode parasites can be widely found in lakes and reservoirs across the state. He's identified the snails in Los Angeles, Imperial, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego counties. In summer and fall 2023, researchers, with the help of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, analyzed fresh fish that were collected at five fishing localities in San Diego County: Miramar, Murray, Lower Otay and San Vicente reservoirs as well as Chollas Lake. The fish included largemouth bass and bluegill. Hechinger and his team found that 93% of all the fish in the study were infected with the H. pumilio parasite, with some individual fish harboring thousands of the parasites. The second parasite, C. formosanus, was found at two of the five locations, where it occurred in 91% of the fish. The parasites are each found on different parts of the fish. H. pumilio is found at the base of the fins and C. formosanus is found on the gills. But the parasites can infect the muscles and connective tissue of the fish, Hechinger said, which is how a person eating it can get sick despite cutting off the head and fins. "The other thing we have to remember," he said, "is the possibility of contamination on the food preparation surfaces and utensils." The risk is real, but the precautions you can take against illness are straightforward. Thorough cooking of any freshwater fish that could potentially be infected can prevent illness, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. If you choose to eat the fish raw, the agency advises you eat freshwater fish that has been previously frozen. Freezing will kill parasites that may be present. However, the FDA said freezing doesn't kill all harmful germs, so the safest route is to thoroughly cook your seafood. As part of this study, researchers conducted a survey of 125 YouTube videos with a total of 5 million views and found that 65% of these videos did not mention proper cooking or freezing of caught fish. The lack of proper food preparation not only promotes the transmission of parasites but can also increase the odds of infection, Hechinger said. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
04-06-2025
- Health
- Los Angeles Times
California freshwater fish found to be teeming with parasites. How to keep from getting sick
More than 90% of popular freshwater fish in Southern California are carrying human-infecting parasites, researchers say. This poses a significant danger for those who like to eat freshly caught freshwater fish. But there are ways to protect yourself. The parasites are called trematodes. Two species of the flatworms were discovered in California's freshwater fish, according to a study published Tuesday in the Journal of Infectious Diseases. The tiny, flattened and sluglike creatures can cause gastrointestinal problems, weight loss and lethargy when a person eats an infected fish. In some rare and severe cases, the parasites have caused strokes or heart attacks. 'Americans don't usually think about parasites when they eat freshwater fish because it hasn't historically been an issue here,' said Ryan Hechinger, the study's senior author. In fact, even when a person has fallen ill from a locally caught infected freshwater fish, their healthcare provider will typically ask if the patient has recently traveled outside of the United States, Hechinger said. Researchers identified two species of trematode: Haplorchis pumilio and Centrocestus formosanus. These two parasite species have historically infected people in Southeast Asia who eat raw fish, crustaceans or vegetables that carry the parasite larvae. A trematode has a very specific life cycle, leeching onto three hosts that include a freshwater snail, a fish and then a bird or human who ate the infected fish. The parasite was probably carried to the U.S. by the red-rimmed melania, or Malaysian trumpet snail, which is host to a number of parasitic species and was introduced to the United States, Hechinger estimates, decades ago. It inhabits 'freshwater springs, streams, lakes and swamps,' according to the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, but can occasionally be found in 'brackish and marine habitats, especially mangroves' (think the Everglades). The snail first popped up in California in 1972 in a Riverside County ditch, according to the center. Hechinger, through previous and new research, found that the snail and its associated trematode parasites can be widely found in lakes and reservoirs across the state. He's identified the snails in Los Angeles, Imperial, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego counties. In summer and fall 2023, researchers, with the help of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, analyzed fresh fish that were collected at five fishing localities in San Diego County: Miramar, Murray, Lower Otay and San Vicente reservoirs as well as Chollas Lake. The fish included largemouth bass and bluegill. Hechinger and his team found that 93% of all the fish in the study were infected with the H. pumilio parasite, with some individual fish harboring thousands of the parasites. The second parasite, C. formosanus, was found at two of the five locations, where it occurred in 91% of the fish. The parasites are each found on different parts of the fish. H. pumilio is found at the base of the fins and C. formosanus is found on the gills. But the parasites can infect the muscles and connective tissue of the fish, Hechinger said, which is how a person eating it can get sick despite cutting off the head and fins. 'The other thing we have to remember,' he said, 'is the possibility of contamination on the food preparation surfaces and utensils.' The risk is real, but the precautions you can take against illness are straightforward. Thorough cooking of any freshwater fish that could potentially be infected can prevent illness, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. If you choose to eat the fish raw, the agency advises you eat freshwater fish that has been previously frozen. Freezing will kill parasites that may be present. However, the FDA said freezing doesn't kill all harmful germs, so the safest route is to thoroughly cook your seafood. As part of this study, researchers conducted a survey of 125 YouTube videos with a total of 5 million views and found that 65% of these videos did not mention proper cooking or freezing of caught fish. The lack of proper food preparation not only promotes the transmission of parasites but can also increase the odds of infection, Hechinger said.
Newsweek
03-06-2025
- General
- Newsweek
People in California Warned Over Parasite-Riddled Fish
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Southern Californians have been warned that more than 90 percent of popular game fish have been found to contain invasive, parasitic worms that can infect humans. Two species of the parasitic flatworms known as "trematodes" were found infecting five species of freshwater fish from San Diego County in a study by researchers from University of California, San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Infection with the worms typically causes gastrointestinal problems, lethargy and weight loss in humans—but severe cases have even been known to cause heart attack and strokes. "Americans don't usually think about parasites when they eat freshwater fish because it hasn't historically been an issue here," said paper author and ecologist Ryan Hechinger in a statement. However, he added: "These parasites are here in the U.S., and they're infecting fish that people are eating. "We hope this study can help make public health officials, doctors and the public more aware." This bluegill analyzed by the team (main) was found to contain 16,973 'Haplorchis pumilio' parasitic worms (inset) This bluegill analyzed by the team (main) was found to contain 16,973 'Haplorchis pumilio' parasitic worms (inset) Emma Palmer / Hudson Pinto In their study, the researchers sampled 84 fish—representing seven species, including largemouth bass and bluegill—from five popular fishing spots around San Diego County. The team identified two species of invasive trematode in the fish: Haplorchis pumilio and Centrocestus formosanus. H. pumilio was found in 93 percent of all fish sampled—with some individual fish harboring thousands of the parasitic worms. C. formosanus, meanwhile, occurred in 91 percent of the fish from two of the locations. Both worms are believed to have arrived in the U.S. from Southeast Asia more than a decade ago, traveling inside the bodies of one of their hosts—an invasive aquatic species known as the Malaysian trumpet snail (Melanoides tuberculata.) Today, M. tuberculata can be found in 17 states, as well as Puerto Rico—and both it and its parasites are widespread in California. The worms have a life cycle that involves living inside three hosts: first, the trumpet snail; then, a fish; and finally a warm-blooded vertebrate like birds or humans that are unlucky enough to eat the infected fish. Hechinger said there is "no need to panic," as the risk from the parasites can be neutralized by either cooking the fish or, if planning to consume them raw, freezing for at least one week beforehand. A survey of social-media videos conducted by the team alongside their field work, however, revealed that some Americans are consuming freshwater fish raw without these precautions—putting them at risk of infections. "Nearly 5 million views shows there is widespread interest and possibly a widespread practice of folks eating freshwater fish raw," said paper author and marine scientist Emma Palmer of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center in a statement. Palmer conducted the research into the parasites while undertaking her graduate studies at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Stock image: A Malaysian trumpet snail ('Melanoides tuberculata') is seen on a white background. Stock image: A Malaysian trumpet snail ('Melanoides tuberculata') is seen on a white background. Marlonneke/iStock / Getty Images Plus It is unclear what impact the invasive worms might be having on the fish connoisseurs of Southern California, the researchers said. "There haven't been any reported cases of these parasites infecting Americans, but nobody is looking for cases, and doctors aren't required to report them," said Hechinger. He added: "This kind of research is so important to identifying new public health threats." Based on their findings, to better track the parasites, the researchers have recommended that these fish-borne worm infections be added to the list of diseases that doctors are required to report to public-health officials. Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about astronomy? Let us know via science@ Reference Palmer, E. M., Metz, D.C.G., & Hechinger, R. F. (2025). Further Evidence for Plausible Transmission of Fishborne Trematodiases in the United States: Game Fish Carry Human-Infectious Trematodes and Are Eaten Raw. The Journal of Infectious Diseases.
