标签： Asia

In a landmark development for Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations, citizens of member states now have access to comprehensive healthcare services across the region, regardless of their country of residence or visit. This initiative underscores the GCC’s commitment to fostering unity and equal treatment among its citizens. During 2023, over 204,000 Gulf nationals benefited from government medical services outside their home countries, as revealed by Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the GCC, during a meeting of GCC health ministers. The scope of healthcare services varies based on the duration of stay. Visitors staying up to three months are entitled to primary healthcare, emergency and ambulance services, and hospitalisation for critical cases until the emergency is resolved. For those residing in a GCC country for over three months, with valid residency and property ownership or lease contracts, all health services in hospitals and government health centres are accessible. The GCC region boasts an extensive healthcare infrastructure, with over 863 hospitals and 3,400 health centres and complexes. This initiative reflects the GCC’s vision of a ‘collective homeland,’ where citizens enjoy benefits equivalent to those of nationals in each member state. In the UAE, GCC nationals working in the private sector are treated equally to Emirati nationals in terms of employment and insurance coverage, as per Cabinet Resolution No. 72/5 of 2007. This policy, however, does not impact the Emiratisation quota for UAE citizens in the private sector. The move highlights the GCC’s dedication to enhancing regional integration and improving the quality of life for its citizens.

A retired US colonel involved in the investigation into the killing of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh has asserted that she was deliberately shot by an Israeli soldier. In an interview with Zeteo News, Steve Gabavics, who served as chief of staff at the Office of the United States Security Coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority (USSC) at the time of the incident, revealed that his findings concluded the shooting was intentional. Gabavics also accused the Biden administration of downplaying the results to maintain diplomatic relations with Israel. Israeli forces killed Abu Akleh during a raid in Jenin, occupied West Bank, in May 2022, sparking international outrage. While the Israeli army claimed the shooting was accidental, independent investigations and Gabavics’s evidence suggest otherwise. Gabavics presented his findings to General Michael Fenzel, who dismissed them, citing Israeli officials’ claims of a tragic accident. Gabavics expressed frustration over the US government’s perceived bias toward Israel, stating, ‘The favoritism is always toward the Israelis. Very little of that goes to the Palestinians.’

A bus operated by Air India’s ground-handling service provider, AI SATS, caught fire at Terminal 3 of New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport on Tuesday. The incident occurred near bay number 32, close to a parked aircraft. Fortunately, no passengers were onboard at the time, and there were no reported injuries or casualties. Airport emergency teams, including the Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) unit, responded promptly, extinguishing the blaze within minutes and preventing it from escalating. The Delhi Airport Authority confirmed that the bus was stationary and vacant during the incident, and all airport operations remained unaffected. In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), the airport emphasized that passenger and staff safety remains their top priority. The swift action of the emergency teams ensured that the situation was contained without disrupting flight schedules or causing harm to individuals. This incident highlights the efficiency of the airport’s emergency response protocols and their commitment to maintaining operational continuity even in unforeseen circumstances.

In a pre-dawn operation on Tuesday, Israeli forces conducted a raid on the village of Kafr Qud, located west of Jenin in the occupied West Bank, resulting in the deaths of three Palestinians. The operation involved air strikes and intense exchanges of fire, according to local media reports. The Palestinian General Authority for Civil Affairs identified the deceased as Abdullah Mohammed Omar Jalamneh, 27, Qais Ibrahim Mohammed al-Baytawi, 21, and Ahmad Azmi Aref Nashrati, 29. Israeli media stated that the army had cornered the three men inside a cave before snipers shot them, killing two and wounding the third. Subsequent air strikes killed the remaining individual, and Israeli forces later seized at least two of the bodies. The Israeli army claimed the men were planning attacks in the area but provided no further evidence. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz announced that forces would remain in northern West Bank refugee camps, including Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nur Shams, which have been targeted since January, causing widespread destruction. Hamas and the Islamic Jihad condemned the raid, labeling it a ‘dangerous escalation.’ Since October 2023, Israeli forces have increasingly used air strikes in the West Bank, with over 100 such attacks reported in the past two years. UN figures reveal that more than 1,000 Palestinians in the West Bank have been killed by Israeli fire during this period, including 213 children, 20 women, and seven individuals with disabilities. This death toll represents 43 percent of all Palestinians killed in the occupied West Bank over the past two decades.