'Nothing Like Voting, I Vote for Sure' theme for National Voters' Day

by Argus News

New Delhi, Jan 25: "Nothing Like Voting, I Vote for Sure," is the theme for this year's National Voters' Day (NVD).

The main purpose of the NVD celebration on January 25 is to create electoral awareness amongst citizens and encourage them to participate in the electoral process. Dedicated to the voters of the country, the National Voters' Day is also used to facilitate enrolment of voters, specially the newly eligible ones. New voters are felicitated and handed over their Elector Photo Identity Card (EPIC) in the NVD functions held across the country.

President Droupadi Murmu will be the Chief Guest at the national function being organised in New Delhi. Union Minister for Law and Justice, Kiren Rijiju will grace the function as Guest of Honour.

During the event, the President will give away the National Awards for the year 2022. National Awards for the Best Electoral Practices will be presented to State and District level officers for their outstanding performance in the conduct of elections during 2022 in different spheres such as IT initiatives, Security Management, Election Management, Accessible Election, Electoral Roll and contribution in the field of voter awareness and outreach. National Awards will also be given to important stakeholders like government departments, and media organizations for their valuable contribution towards voters' awareness.

Officials said that a first copy of the ECI Publication "Electing the First President- An illustrated Chronicle of India's Presidential Elections" will be presented to the President by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar. The book, which is the first of its kind publication, gives glimpses into the historic journey of Presidential Elections in the country. It throws light on the nuances of the Presidential Electoral system and associated constitutional provisions through the timelines of the past 16 Presidential elections.

An ECI song - "Main Bharat Hoon- Hum Bharat Ke Matdata Hain" produced by ECI in association with Subhash Ghai Foundation, will also be screened. The song brings forth the power of vote and celebrates the spirit of inclusive, accessible, ethical, participative and festive elections in the largest and most vibrant democracy of the world.

Since 2011, National Voters' Day is celebrated on January 25 every year across the country to mark the foundation day of the Election Commission of India on January 25, 1950.

(IANS)

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HIV Drug May Help Prevent Covid-19 Variants: Study

by Manisha Das

San Francisco, Dec 10: Researchers have said that an HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) drug could stop many coronavirus diseases, including the SARS-CoV-2 variants when given to infected cells at the right concentration.

The researchers have previously shown that a booster drug called -- "cobicistat", which is normally used to reinforce the effect of anti-HIV drugs, could have antiviral properties against a SARS-CoV-2 variant circulating in Europe in early 2020.

In the study, published in the journal Antiviral Research, the researchers investigated whether the anti-SARS-CoV-2 properties of cobicistat were maintained against the key variants of concern (VOCs) of SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses, including Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV).

With a death rate of over 30 per cent, MERS-CoV circulates throughout the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia without a vaccine or specific treatment.

The researchers also compared cobicistat's effects to those of ritonavir, a structurally similar molecule that is also one of the components of Paxlovid, the current gold standard for antiviral treatment of SARS-CoV-2.

Using automated image analysis for screening and parallel comparison of the anti-coronavirus effects of cobicistat and ritonavir, the researchers discovered that cobicistat and ritonavir both act against all eight VOCs of SARS-CoV-2 tested as well as other human coronaviruses, including MERS-CoV.

"Our study shows that the CYP3A inhibitors ritonavir and, to a higher extent, cobicistat can be repurposed as broadly effective anti-coronavirus agents at concentrations potentially achievable in vivo by adjusting currently approved dosing regimens," the researchers said.

The findings suggested that cobicistat is more effective than ritonavir. Both drugs demonstrated anti-coronavirus activity in vitro at well-tolerated doses that were higher than those currently used for anti-HIV drug booster activity and in Paxlovid.

Cobicistat and ritonavir both inhibited coronavirus replication when used at these higher doses, both alone and in combination with other drugs.

(IANS)

Dhiraj Sahu I-T Raids: Cash Counting Continues On 5th Day

by Manisha Das

Bhubaneswar, Dec 10: The counting of cash seized from a distillery unit, allegedly linked to Congress MP Dhiraj Prasad Sahu located at Sudpada in Odisha's Balangir district continued on the fifth day even as several counting machines broke down due to the heavy workload, said sources on Sunday.

Some mechanics were reportedly present at the bank to immediately repair the counting machines.

Officials of SBI informed the media persons that counting of notes has ended in Sambalpur and Titilagarh branches. The official sources said that Rs 11 crore has been seized from Titilagarh while the amount seized in Sambalpur stood at Rs 37.50 crore.

Sources claimed that around 60 staffers and several machines have been engaged at the SBI branch at Balangir for the counting of the cash brought to the branch in 176 bags.

The officials reportedly finished counting cash stashed in 102 bags amounting to around Rs 140 crore till Saturday night.

Meanwhile, unconfirmed sources claimed that the counting of cash kept in another 40 odd bags has been completed till Sunday afternoon increasing the seizure amount to around Rs 180 crore. The counting is expected to be finished by Sunday evening.

On the other hand, a team of Income Tax officials from Hyderabad has reached Balangir to assist in the investigation.

Notably, the Income Tax officials launched simultaneous raids at different places related to Boudh Distillery Private Limited, an Odisha-based distillery firm, and other liquor businessmen linked to the firm in Balangir, Sambalpur, Sundargarh, Bhubaneswar in Odisha, Kolkata in West Bengal and Bokaro in Jharkhand on Wednesday.

The sleuths stumbled upon huge cash stashed in two almirahs at the Sudpada distillery unit in Bolangir district. The officials later took the cash in 156 bags to a nearby branch of State Bank of India (SBI) for counting. Sources stated that the cash recovered from the distillery firm was estimated to be over Rs 200 crore.

Later, the I-T officials also recovered more cash during searches at the house of the manager, Bunty Sahu at Sudpada distillery unit on Friday.

(IANS)

Also Read : Odisha News

Impact Player Rule In IPL Not Encouraging All-Rounders To Bowl, Says Wasim Jaffer

by Manisha Das

New Delhi, Dec 10: Former India batter Wasim Jaffer said on Sunday that the Indian Premier League (IPL) needs to take away the 'Impact Player' rule since it is not encouraging all-rounders to bowl and their lack of bowling is a lack of concern for Indian cricket.

Wasim took to 'X' to express his concerns about how 'impact player' rule has halted the bowling and overall development of all-rounders.

"I think IPL needs to take away the impact player rule, as it's not encouraging the all-rounders to bowl much and lack of ARs and batters not bowling is a major area of concern for Indian cricket. Thoughts? #IPL2024 #iplauction2024," said Jaffer.

As per the impact player rule, any franchise during the course of the match, can substitute a member of the playing eleven from anyone out of five substitutes named alongside the starting eleven during the toss. This was done to give teams more depth in their batting or bowling.