India’s public health authorities are closely monitoring the situation after two confirmed Nipah virus cases in West Bengal, confirmed by the Indian Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). While the cases remain limited, the news has drawn attention because Kerala had previously reported four Nipah infections in 2025, including in the Malappuram and Kozhikode districts, highlighting the regions’ vulnerability to sporadic outbreaks of this rare virus. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Nipah can be highly lethal, with a fatality rate of up to 75%, underscoring why authorities take even isolated detections seriously.

Nipah virus in India

According to the Indian Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), only 2 confirmed Nipah virus cases have been reported in West Bengal since December 2025. A total of 196 contacts linked to these cases were traced, monitored and tested, all of whom were found asymptomatic.In an exclusive interview with ANI, Dr Narender Kumar Arora, President of AIIMS Bilaspur and Chairman of India’s COVID‑19 Working Group, spoke about the presence of Nipah virus in India. He noted that Kerala and West Bengal are endemic regions and that past cases have been carefully monitored.“Nipah virus is a zoonotic disease… highly infectious and fatal. Patients either develop symptoms of encephalitis or severe respiratory disease, and mortality is 40 to 75%, which is very high,” Dr Arora told ANI. He added that recent cases in West Bengal were first detected among healthcare workers, with further monitoring of potentially exposed individuals underway.He also emphasised that no vaccine is currently available. “Monoclonal antibodies are to be given as soon as someone is diagnosed… There is a very limited supply globally, and India is working to ensure sufficient availability,” he said. Dr Arora stressed that minimising contact with fruit bats and other potential carriers is key to preventing infection.

What is Nipah Virus?

The Nipah virus (NiV) is a zoonotic virus, meaning it originally circulates in animals before jumping to humans. ^{Its natural hosts are fruit bats (also known as flying foxes). Humans can become infected by eating fruit contaminated by bat saliva or urine, drinking raw date palm sap, or through close contact with infected pigs or other humans.What makes Nipah particularly concerning is its aggressive nature. Unlike a typical flu, Nipah can cause a range of severe conditions:}

Because there is currently no specific vaccine or cure for Nipah, treatment is limited to “supportive care” (managing symptoms). ^{This is why the World Health Organization (WHO) lists it as a priority pathogen, its high mortality rate and lack of treatment make early detection and strict border control the most effective weapons we have}

Countries on alert

The confirmation of isolated cases in India has prompted heightened vigilance across parts of Asia, with several countries reviewing passenger screening procedures as a precautionary public health measure. In India, health checks at international departure points have been strengthened to identify symptomatic travellers before boarding.International health agencies have stressed that the situation is being closely monitored and remains contained, with surveillance and contact tracing helping prevent wider spread. Officials continue to emphasise vigilance rather than alarm.

Could the UAE get Nipah?

There have been no confirmed cases of Nipah virus in the UAE, and health authorities say the risk remains low. Nevertheless, the UAE’s healthcare system has activated standard monitoring protocols in coordination with major airports.The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) is working with aviation authorities to ensure travellers arriving from regions reporting cases are screened for symptoms such as fever, respiratory distress or neurological signs.Experts note that Nipah does not spread easily, unlike respiratory viruses such as COVID-19, and typically requires prolonged close contact. Preventive screening is therefore a precaution, not a response to any detected spread.For the general public in the UAE, the impact is minimal beyond staying informed. Travellers returning from areas reporting Nipah cases are advised to monitor their health for up to 14 days and seek medical attention if symptoms such as fever, headache or breathing difficulties develop.Health authorities stress that following official advisories, practising good hygiene and reporting symptoms early remain the most effective safeguards. With early detection and transparent communication, officials say the risk of local transmission remains extremely low.

MUMBAI: Omkar Shinde, the 27-year-old man arrested on Sunday for the murder of a college teacher inside a local train following a spat over alighting, told investigators that someone had pulled his hair in the compartment and he presumed it was the victim. Police are yet to find the murder weapon, a small pair of tongs used to pick jewels, which Shinde disposed of following the incident.On Saturday evening, Alok Kumar Singh (33), a teacher at Narsee Monjee College, was waiting in the passage of a Borivli-bound slow local to get off at Maladstation. Shinde was standing behind him and asked him if he wanted to alight and, if so, to move ahead. Singh responded that there was a female passenger in front of him. The two were bickering till the train reached the station around 5.45 pm. Shinde allegedly stabbed Singh in the left side of his abdomen with a small pair of tongs and jumped off the train. He was arrested in less than 24 hours.Shinde has told investigators that someone had pulled his hair in the compartment, which caused him to lose his cool. Presuming it to be Singh, he pulled out the pair of small tongs from his trouser pocket. Working in theimitation jewellery industry, the tongs were a part of a tool kit that he carried with him to work and back home.Shinde claimed he was not aware that the consequence of his action would be fatal. On Tuesday, a police team from Borivli GRP (Govt Railway Police) took Shinde to his residence in a bid to search for the murder weapon. He was also taken along the route that he took after the incident. He is yet to point out where he disposed of the weapon.Police have also shown CCTV footage of the incident and the events that transpired thereafter to the family of the victim, who have been alleging a delay in treatment. Refuting the allegations, police and WR officials said Singh was moved to the Babasaheb Ambedkar Hospital in Kandivli between 6 pm and 6.05 pm, within 20 minutes of the incident. He was pronounced dead on admission at the hospital at 6.15 pm. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a WR staffer said Singh’s colleague, Sudhir Kumar Trivedi, who was accompanying him in the train and is the prime witness, held a handkerchief on the wound to stop blood flow. Trivedi and other passengers were dialling railway helplines to seek medical assistance.

As the world prepares for the T20 World Cup 2026 to kick off on February 7, the spotlight has shifted to veteran insights regarding the favorites. In a recent analysis shared via the Sky Sports Cricket YouTube channel on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, former England captain Eoin Morgan provided a comprehensive breakdown of the tournament, highlighting why one particular side enters the tournament as a nearly invincible force.

Eoin Morgan reveals which team he sees as the ‘team to beat’ in T20 World Cup 2026

Morgan did not mince words when discussing the defending champions, labeling them the team to beat by a significant margin. He attributed this dominance to a combination of depth and local familiarity.

“Well, here I think the out and out favorites by a country mile are India. Home conditions, they won’t have to play a game outside of India if they go all the way to the final. Then there’s the talent they keep producing across all bases. When you think of T20 and how unpredictable it can be, you want to box off going into a tournament the uncertainty of what might occur. That means top-order batters who are aggressive, middle-order batters who can play spin on slow wickets and are also power hitters, spinners that turn it both ways, ideally at least one wrist spinner in your squad, and then quicks with variations, left-arm, right-arm, people who can bowl it to death.” Morgan said.

While the technical superiority of the Indian side is evident, Morgan also discussed the human element that could impact the co-hosts. He noted that while their roster is head and shoulders above everybody else, the burden of expectation from a home crowd is a factor that every world-class team must navigate.

“India stands head and shoulders above everybody else before a ball is bowled. Now, we know the unpredictability of T20 World Cups, you’re dealing with teams, humans, emotion, and the pressure that home advantage sometimes applies to teams around the world. So it’s going to be fascinating to see how they both handle it and perform from start to finish. Sitting alongside or behind India or Australia alone, then I’d have teams like South Africa, England, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand as well, all capable of getting to the latter stages, semi-finals, or final, but I think they’re mainly competing against India.” Morgan concluded.

Also READ: Not Abhishek Sharma! Dale Steyn predicts leading run-scorer for T20 World Cup 2026

Dominant form and T20 World Cup 2026 schedule

Heading into the tournament, the ‘Men in Blue’ are in clinical form, currently leading their five-match home series against New Zealand with a commanding 3-0 lead. Suryakumar Yadav‘s side has been ruthless, securing victories by margins as large as eight wickets and 60 balls to spare, underlining their status as world-rank leaders.

India will look to carry this momentum into their World Cup campaign, which begins with a high-energy opener against the USA at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on February 7. This will be followed by a clash against Namibia in Delhi on February 12, before moving to Colombo for the tournament’s most anticipated group stage match against Pakistan on February 15. They conclude their Group A fixtures on February 18 against the Netherlands at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the very venue that will later host the tournament’s grand final on March 8.

Also READ: India’s leading wicket-taker in T20 World Cup 2026? Suresh Raina and Anil Kumble reveal their picks

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NEW DELHI: KL Rahul has revealed that retirement has crossed his mind, though he insists it is still “some time away” and promises he won’t prolong the decision when the moment arrives. In a candid chat with former England captain Kevin Pietersen on his YouTube channel, Rahul said stepping away from cricket would not be a tough choice, noting that life continues beyond the sport.“I’ve (thought about it). I don’t think it’s (retirement) gonna be that difficult,” the 33-year-old told Pietersen.

“If you’re honest with yourself, when it’s time, it’s time. And there’s no point dragging it. Obviously, I’m some time away.”Rahul’s impressive international record includes 4,053 runs in 67 Tests at an average of 35.8, 3,360 runs in 94 ODIs at 50.9, and 2,265 runs in 72 T20Is at 37.75, with a strike rate of 139.He also reflected on his perspective regarding fame and importance, explaining that seeing himself as just another player helps make the retirement decision easier. “Just quit. Just enjoy the stuff that you’ve got and you have your family and just do that. That’s the hardest battle. So I try and tell myself that I’m not that important. Cricket in our country will carry on. Cricket in the world will carry on. There are more important things in life and I think this mindset I’ve always had, but ever since I’ve had my first baby, it’s just like, the way you look at life is completely different,” he said.Rahul further discussed the “hardest battle” of dealing with recurring injuries, which forced him to question his ability to continue at the top level. “There have been times when I’m injured and I’ve been injured so many times and that’s the hardest battle that you have to face. It’s not the pain that the physio puts you through or the surgeon puts you through. It’s the mental battle where your mind just gives up. When it happens so many times, your mind is just like, you’ve done enough. You’ve been lucky enough that cricket’s given you enough money. You can survive for the next how many ever years.”Looking ahead, Rahul is set to represent Karnataka in a crucial Ranji Trophy clash against Punjab in Mohali on Thursday.

NEW DELHI: European Council President Antonio Costa on Tuesday said he was “very proud” of his ancestral roots in Goa and described the connection between Europe and India as “something personal to me”, as New Delhi and the European Union announced the conclusion of an ambitious free trade agreement (FTA), described as the “mother of all deals.”“Today is a historic moment. We are opening a new chapter in our relations – on trade, on security, on people-to-people ties,” Costa said at a press conference at the Hyderabad House in the presence of PM Modi and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen following the India–EU summit talksDuring his remarks, Costa highlighted his personal connection with India, saying he was “also an overseas Indian citizen,” and pulled out his Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card from his suit pocket and showed it to the gathering.“Also because we conclude today our trade negotiations, we relaunched at the Leaders’ meeting that I had the pleasure to host, in May 2021, in my previous capacity. Our summit sends a clear message to the world: at a time when the global order is being fundamentally reshaped, the European Union and India stand together as strategic and reliable partners,” Costa said.“Today, we are taking our partnership to the next level,” he added.“I am the President of the European Council, but I am also an overseas Indian citizen. Then, as you can imagine, for me, it has a special meaning. I am very proud of my roots in Goa, where my father’s family came from. And, the connection between Europe and India is something personal to me,” he said.In line with their vision for a rules-based global order, India and the 27-nation EU bloc also rolled out a joint comprehensive strategic agenda for the next five years and finalised 13 agreements, including one related to the conclusion of FTA negotiations.The OCI scheme, meant for persons of Indian origin who are foreign nationals, was introduced through an amendment to the Citizenship Act, 1955, in August 2005. A registered OCI holder is granted a multiple-entry, multi-purpose, lifelong visa to visit India, though the status does not provide political rights, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.Goa was a Portuguese territory for several centuries before it was liberated from colonial rule on December 19, 1961. Costa was born in Lisbon, Portugal, on July 17, 1961, nearly five months before Goa’s liberation.Earlier, Prime Minister Modi hosted von der Leyen and Costa for the summit talks in New Delhi. The two EU leaders were also chief guests at the 77th Republic Day celebrations at Kartavya Path on Monday.“Thank you dear Prime Minister Modi, for welcoming us on this special occasion. We were privileged yesterday to be your Chief Guests for the Republic Day celebrations, such an impressive display of India’s capabilities and diversity,” Costa said.