NEWS

As the world started to limp back to normalcy after getting hit by COVID-19 pandemic around two years ago, it is feared that the deadly virus is resurging again in several countries across the globe. In the last few days, many countries including Russia, the United Kingdom, China, Singapore, Ukraine and other countries in Eastern Europe have witnessed a significant rise in coronavirus cases. 

According to World Health Organisation (WHO), the highest numbers of new COVID-19 cases were reported from the UK (283,756 new cases; an increase of 14 per cent) and Russia (217,322 new cases; an increase of 15 per cent). 

It is to be noted that over 50,000 Covid cases have been recorded in the UK for the first time since July 17. It is learnt that Delta has been the dominant variant in the UK but the cases of AY.4.2 delta sub-lineage (also called Delta plus) is currently increasing in frequency, according to the latest report from the UK Health Security Agency. The report said that Delta plus “sub-lineage accounted for approximately 6 per cent of all sequences generated, on an increasing trajectory”.

The idea of an All India Judicial Service on the lines of central services like IAS and IPS seems to be coming closer to fruition with the Centre building a broader consensus with the higher judiciary on the issue and setting the stage for consultations with states.

Law minister Kiren Rijiju has called a state law ministers’ meeting in November where the formation of AIJS is likely to be on the table along with the issue of development of infrastructure for subordinate courts. To bring the states on board, the Centre is not averse to accommodating concerns of various states on being given freedom to continue with the recruitment of judicial officers for the subordinate judiciary.

An Indian event to launch a new initiative to make critical infrastructure in small island states resilient against disasters induced by climate change is expected to be one of the biggest sideshows at the COP26 meeting in Glasgow.

The 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference began in the Scottish city on Sunday. The conference, which will see participation from the leaders of countries around the world, will continue until November 12.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch IRIS, or Infrastructure for Resilient Island States, in the presence of leaders from several countries.

New Delhi:  Aryan Khan, son of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, walked out of the Arthur Road prison, after spending 22 days in the central Mumbai facility following his arrest during a drug raid on a cruise ship off the city coast. The 23-year-old, arrested on October 3 by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), walked out of the prison, his home' since October 8, at 11 am and got into a waiting car, which reached his actual home Mannat in suburban Bandra shortly after 11.30 am.

Half an hour before Aryan came out, his father's bodyguard got down from a white Range Rover car waiting outside the prison and stood near the facility's gate. He was seen speaking to policemen posted there. Around 11 am, the car started moving slowly near the prison's gate and stopped to receive Aryan. The Range Rover was part of the convoy which left Mannat shortly after 8 am and reached a spot in near the prison around 9 am, where it halted to avoid a traffic jam in the area, an official said.

A large crowd of Shah Rukh Khan's fans had gathered outside the prison since early morning. A sizeable media contingent was also present to cover Aryan's release from the jail. Outside the prison, fans and onlookers cheering for Shah Rukh Khan and Aryan and trying to catch a glimpse of the superstar were in for a disappointment as they could not see the actor's face and had to assume that he was in the vehicle.