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Asia Tightens Airport Screening as Nipah Virus Concerns Rise

  Airport health authorities wearing protective masks monitor passengers from international flights arriving at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok, Thailand, amid reports of a Nipah outbreak. Airports across Asia are stepping up health surveillance as several countries respond to renewed concerns over the Nipah virus following confirmed cases in India. The virus, known for its high fatality rate and potential for human‑to‑human transmission, has prompted authorities to reintroduce precautionary screening measures to limit cross‑border spread. Health officials in Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Nepal, and Taiwan have implemented temperature checks, health declarations, and targeted monitoring of passengers arriving from affected regions. While the number of confirmed cases remains limited, the severity of the virus has led governments to act swiftly. Nipah virus infections are rare but dangerous, with symptoms ranging from fever and headaches to severe respir...

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Revised Account Emerges in Gaza Aid Worker Tragedy

 

The Israeli military has revised its initial account of the tragic killing of 15 emergency workers near Rafah in southern Gaza on March 23. Initially, the military claimed that soldiers fired on vehicles approaching their position "suspiciously" in the dark, without lights or markings, and identified the victims as militants from Hamas and Islamic Jihad. However, newly surfaced video footage from one of the victims' mobile phones, released by the Palestinian Red Crescent, contradicts this narrative.

The video shows emergency workers in uniforms, operating clearly marked ambulances and fire trucks with their lights on, being fired upon by soldiers. Munther Abed, the sole survivor and a paramedic with the Palestinian Red Crescent, corroborated this, stating that soldiers targeted clearly marked emergency vehicles.

An Israeli military official acknowledged that the initial report from the field was mistaken and attributed the error to the person providing the account. Investigations are ongoing, with conclusions expected to be presented to army commanders. The United Nations and the Palestinian Red Crescent have called for an independent inquiry into the incident, which has drawn international attention and condemnation.

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