Welcome to The Times of Israel’s Daily Briefing, your 15-minute audio update on what’s happening in Israel, the Middle East, and the Jewish world, from Sunday through Thursday.

Environmental reporter Sue Surkes and health and science writer Nathan Jeffay join host Jessica Steinberg on today's podcast.

Jeffay discusses current reports that Omicron will become the dominant strain of COVID in Israel within one to two weeks, with rampant quarantining. He also expands on a recent article, summing up what's known so far about the new variant and COVID.

Surkes looks at how the bird flu reached Israel and how its affecting local poultry farms and wild birds in the Hula Lake, along with recommendations about where to buy eggs and poultry.

Surkes offers some updates about progress in the government regarding climate change legislation, along with a victory from green groups to limit the oil deal that had been signed between a state company and an Israeli-United Arab Emirates business consortium.

Discussed articles include:

Transmission rate highest since July; positive COVID tests top 2% as Omicron spreads

Rising cases, empty wards: Israel’s COVID situation explained in six graphs

5,000 dead cranes counted at Hula Lake reserve amidst bird flu outbreak

Hundreds of thousands of chickens to be culled as bird flu spreads; egg shortage due

Coalition MKs to push climate law within weeks to force PM’s hand

Green groups claim victory, withdraw court petition against Eilat oil deal

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IMAGE: Health care workers take test samples of Israelis in a drive through complex to check if they have been infected with COVID-19, in Modi'in, on December 26, 2021. (Yossi Aloni/Flash90)

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