News Brief: 1/30/2026

International

Asian countries are enforcing health screenings and additional surveillance at airports for travelers arriving from India after Indian authorities announced the containment of two Nipah virus cases in West Bengal.

The Nipah virus is a zoonotic virus transmitted by fruit bats, pigs and humans. No vaccine exists for the deadly virus which results in fevers, convulsions and vomiting. The World Health Organization reports the fatality rate as between 40% and 75% percent.

The two contained cases were detected in December, but all 196 contacts have been quarantined and tested negative, India’s Health Ministry told ABC News on Tuesday.

Despite no reported cases outside of India, many Asian countries are taking preventative measures.

Indonesia and Thailand’s public airports are enforcing health declarations, temperature checks, and visual monitoring for travelers from India.

Thailand’s Department of Disease Control installed thermal scanners at arrival gates from West Bengal, and Myanmar’s Health Ministry is advocating caution against nonessential travel to West Bengal.

Travelers are encouraged to seek medical care if symptoms develop within 14 days of traveling.

West Bengal has a history of several Nipah outbreaks, including one in 2001 and one in 2007. Before now, the most recent substantial outbreak occurred in Kerala in 2018, resulting in 17 deaths.

National

On Monday, Californians celebrated the well-known bald eagle pair Jackie and Shadow as they laid their second egg of the season.

The arrival of the second egg marks a key event in nesting season and gained nationwide attention on a livestream from the nonprofit organization, Friends of Big Bear Valley. 

Friends of Big Bear Valley announced the exact time of the event Monday evening.

“Egg #2 is here! Jackie laid the 2nd egg of the season at 17:09:24,” the organization said in a social media post. “The process started at approximately 16:57:08.”

The nonprofit explained that eagles do not lay their eggs all at once, instead practicing a phenomenon known as delayed incubation.

“Since Jackie consistently lays eggs 3 days apart, this process slows the development of the first egg(s) laid, so hatching will occur closer together,” the organization wrote. “If Jackie lays a 3rd egg this season, we may continue to see delayed incubation. Only Jackie knows for sure, so we will continue to observe and see what unfolds.”

Friends of Big Bear Valley told viewers that Jackie and Shadow will continue to care for the eggs, and Jackie may have another one on the way.

Local

In the wake of Edmond, Oklahoma’s snowstorm, local drivers took up the responsibility of ensuring first responders could safely get to work every day by offering rides to public servants on Facebook.

Caden Milam, a local tow truck driver, told FOX 25 about his experience helping emergency services get to their jobs.

“It’s times like these where neighbors really help neighbors,” Milam said. “And that’s the part of me that really enjoys humanity as a whole. When a major storm hits, you have people helping people.”

Milam said he was encouraged by the regular people coming together to help others.

“Regular civilians that just want to have their four by fours, Jeeps and Tahoe trucks to give rides to the nurses, police officers, firefighters,” Milam said, “anybody who’s out in the community that may not have the means to get to their work safely and efficiently.”

Jordan Hurley, an Edmond resident, said she was worried about getting to work because of car trouble.

“I was very grateful that I didn’t have to get out with my car in the snow because I was really worried that it wouldn’t make it,” Hurley said. “And so I was very thankful that Caden was able to come pick me up and take me to work so I didn’t lose my job.”
According to KOCO 5, Edmond is still under a cold weather advisory, but temperatures are expected to rise this week, reaching the lower 60s on Saturday.