Odisha reports 8 new Covid infections; active cases stand at 110

by Argus News

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Even as a uptrend in daily Covid19 cases has been marked in some States, Odisha looks to have remained in a relaxing situation with the number of infections fluctuating below 20, as marked in the last seven days.

Bhubaneswar, Apr 20: Even as a uptrend in daily Covid19 cases has been marked in some States, Odisha looks to have remained in a relaxing situation with the number of infections fluctuating below 20, as marked in the last seven days.

According to the data tweeted by the Information and Public Relations Department, eight new Covid cases, including one child below 18 years’ age, were detected from five districts in Odisha in the last 24 hours against 16 reported the preceding day.

Of the new cases, five were detected from among the quarantined people and the rest three detected as local contacts. While two cases each were reported from Cuttack, Sambalpur and Sundargarh, one case each was detected from Balangir and Khurda.

With the new infections, the State’s Covid infection tally mounted to 12,87,959.

The data also showed that eight patients recovered in the period, taking the total recoveries to 12,78,672. After recoveries and deaths (9,123 due to Covid infection and 53 for other than Covid), the State’s active cases stood at 110.

Drug Bust In Ahmedabad: Over 1 Kg Of Mephedrone Worth Rs 1.20 Cr Seized

by Pabitra Mohan Senapaty

Ahmedabad, Sep 21: Ahmedabad city's crime branch seized over 1 kg of mephedrone (MD) drugs from two separate locations in the city on Thursday.

The estimated street value of the seized drugs stands at a staggering Rs 1.20 crore in the international market, highlighting the severity of the illicit narcotics trade.

The police have filed cases against eight individuals in connection with these drug seizures.

Of the eight, four suspects have been apprehended by law enforcement officials, while efforts continue to locate and apprehend the remaining four individuals implicated in these cases.

Four suspects in two distinct cases, while four additional individuals connected to the drug trade remain on the run, actively sought by law enforcement authorities.

The crime branch executed the first seizure of approximately 500 grams of MD drugs near Narol, leading to the initiation of a criminal case.

Simultaneously, another cache of around 595 grams of MD drugs was uncovered near Charodi village, prompting the filing of a separate case.

During this operation, one individual was arrested in Charodi while in possession of the illicit drugs.

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Preliminary investigations suggest that the seized drugs were transported from a village in Palanpur with the intent to be sold within the city.

The alleged involvement of individuals Zakir Hussin and Anwar Hussain in the drug trade has come to light.

(IANS)

Pakistan Poll Body Says Elections To Be Held In Last Week Of January

by Hemanta Pande

Islamabad, Sep 21: The Election Commission of Pakistan on Thursday announced that the elections will take place next year in January, according to Dawn.

Notably, the elections will be held in the last week of January, according to the poll body.

The ECP stated in a statement that it had examined the apportionment of seats, Dawn reported.

The preliminary list of constituencies will be published on September 27, 2023, according to the decision made by the ECP on Thursday after reviewing the delimitation process's development.

The final list of constituencies will be released on November 30 after complaints and comments regarding the preliminary lists have been heard, according to several media reports in Pakistan.

The election will then be scheduled for a 54-day period, with voting taking place in the final week of January 2024.

Earlier, in August, Pakistan President Arif Alvi invited Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja for a meeting to “fix an appropriate date” for general elections.

In his letter to the Chief Election Commissioner, Alvi referred to Article 244 of the Constitution and said that he was duty-bound to get the elections conducted within the prescribed 90-day period after Pakistan's National Assembly was dissolved prematurely.

However, a recent amendment to the Elections Act 2017 allowed the ECP to announce the dates for elections unilaterally without having to consult the president.

After the dissolution of the National Assembly of Pakistan in August, Senator Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar was picked as caretaker Prime Minister of the country.

Commenting on the upcoming general elections, PM Kakar earlier said that he hopes that the ECP would thoroughly look into the matter of holding free and fair polls as per the Constitution.

Meanwhile expressing his views on the prerogative to announce the election date, the interim prime minister put his weight behind the ECP. “The president has announced the polls date, whereas it is in fact the ECP’s prerogative”. (ANI)

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Women workers of BJP to make arrangements for PM Modi's meeting in Jaipur

by Pabitra Mohan Senapaty

Jaipur, Sep 21: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the closing ceremony of four ‘Parivartan Yatras’ in Jaipur on September 25 and arrangements for the meeting will be managed by women workers of the BJP.

With this endeavour, women in Jaipur will express their gratitude to PM Modi for the Nari Shakti Vandan Bill.

BJP’s state general secretary Bhajanlal Sharma said that for the first time in the country, all the responsibility for a Prime Minister's meeting will be handled by women. This has not been done before for any political rally, he added.

The responsibility for all the arrangements for the pandal for PM Modi's meeting has been given to the women, which includes work related to the pandal seating arrangement (officials, workers and the public), stage operation, electricity and water arrangements, parking and security.

However, men will be helping the women in making the arrangements.

PM Narendra Modi's meeting is going to be held in Jaipur after about four and a half years.

On September 25, Modi will officially conclude the BJP's Parivartan Yatra in Jaipur. The meeting will be held in Surajpura (Vatika) of Dadiya Panchayat in Jaipur district.