Asian Airports Implement Precautions Following Nipah Virus Cases in India
Airports across Asia implemented urgent measures, including temperature screening, after two cases of Nipah virus were detected in India in late December, according to Sky News. The Indian health ministry released a statement on January 27th confirming the cases in the eastern state of West Bengal. Authorities in Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia have put precautions in place to prevent the spread of the highly lethal disease.
Nipah virus is a cause for concern due to its high mortality rate. Sky News reported that it is a highly lethal virus.
In other news, the FBI seized the online criminal marketplace RAMP, a predominantly Russian-language forum that claimed to be the only place ransomware was allowed, Ars Technica reported. The takedown of RAMP's dark web and clear web sites occurred on Wednesday as part of the agency's efforts to combat the increasing threat of ransomware attacks against critical infrastructure and organizations worldwide. According to Ars Technica, visits to both sites now display pages indicating that the FBI has taken control of the RAMP domains. The seizure follows the takedown of other online crime forums, such as XSS, whose leader was arrested last year by Europol, leaving RAMP as one of the leading platforms for online criminal activity.
Meanwhile, in the UK, dozens of flood warnings remained in effect across Hampshire and Dorset following Storm Chandra, Euronews reported. Homes and cars were submerged in floodwaters in Somerset on Wednesday, with aerial footage showing the extent of the damage. A major incident was declared in Somerset, where approximately 50 properties in Ilminster, West Coker, Taunton, Mudford, and West Camel were impacted by the flooding, according to Somerset Council.
In the United States, the Trump administration has made changes to the Department of Energy's oversight of nuclear power plant safety and security, TechCrunch reported. According to an NPR report cited by TechCrunch, about a third of the rulebook has been eliminated, and several sections have been heavily revised. Previous requirements aimed at limiting groundwater and environmental contamination are now suggestions, potentially impacting human and environmental health.
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