In Sri Lanka, as the presidential elections approach, details regarding postal ballots have been shared by the Election Commission.   The Commission announced that the postal vote ballot papers will be delivered to the post offices on Monday.   Chairman of the EC, R.M.A.L. Ratnayake stated that the printing of the postal ballot papers is nearing completion.   The postal voting for the presidential election is scheduled for September 4th, 5th, and 6th.   The Election Commission also noted that government employees who are unable to cast their votes by post on those dates will be able to vote at district secretariat offices on September 11th and 12th.   This year, over 7 lakh government employees are eligible for postal voting.   Meanwhile, local media quoted Senior Deputy Postmaster General Rajitha K. Ranasinghe confirming special arrangements to ensure the safe transportation of postal ballot papers delivered to his department.

The Maharashtra Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, has approved the implementation of a revised National Pension Scheme (NPS) for state government employees on the lines of the Centre’s Unified Pension Scheme (UPS).   The revised National Pension Scheme of the state government will be implemented from March 1, 2024. There are 13.45 lakh state government employees and also from local self-government.   Of the 13.45 lakh employees, 8.27 lakh employees are presently covered under the National Pension Scheme.   The Cabinet gave its consent based on the report submitted by a high-level committee headed by retired IAS officer Suresh Kumar which had recommended that the state government should bear the risk of investment in the NPS.   As per the revised pension scheme, the employees will get a pension equal to 50 percent of their last salary plus dearness allowance and 60 percent of the family pension.     However, the difference between the UPS and the state government’s revised NPS is that under the UPS the employees will get an average of the last 12 months’ salary and in the revised NPS they will get a pension equal to 50 percent of their last salary.   The Cabinet also gave approval to increase the scope of the scheme of providing uninterrupted electricity to farmers during the day.   The government also approved various irrigation projects to benefit Pune, Nashik, Jalgaon districts.

The 2nd India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable (ISMR), aimed at further strengthening trade and economic ties between the two countries, will be held in Singapore today.   Four union ministers – Nirmala Sitharaman, Piyush Goyal, S Jaishankar and Ashwini Vaishnaw, will attend the meeting. During their visit, the ministers will interact with their Singaporean counterparts and leadership.   The ISMR is a unique mechanism established to set a new agenda for India-Singapore bilateral relations. Its inaugural meeting was held in New Delhi in September 2022.   This second meeting will enable both sides to review various aspects of their strategic partnership and identify new avenues to further elevate and broaden it.    For India, Singapore has been a major source of FDI (foreign direct investment).   In 2023-24, Singapore was the largest source of these inflows, with 11.77 billion dollar investments into Indian markets. The cumulative inflow of FDI from Singapore from April 2000 to March 2024 was 159.94 billion dollars.   In bilateral trade, Singapore was the sixth largest global trade partner of India in 2023-24 with a total trade of 35.61 billion dollars, which accounts for approximately 29 percent of India’s total trade with ASEAN (Association for Southeast Asian Nations).    India’s exports stood at 14.41 billion dollars, while imports were 21.2 billion dollars. The trade gap is in the favour of Singapore.   Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal discussed bilateral trade and investment issues with the global business leaders in Singapore yesterday.   In a statement, Ministry of Commerce and Industry said, during the the meeting, key discussions were held to explore and enhance investment opportunities between India and Singapore, focusing on mutual growth and collaboration across diverse sectors.   The Ministry said that the focus was on exploring investment opportunities in India, leveraging the country’s economic growth, and fostering collaboration across various sectors.   These discussions emphasized scaling up investments including the SME sector.   The Ministry said, These engagements underscore the commitment to strengthening economic ties between India and Singapore for mutual growth and innovation.   The Union Minister also visited the Institute of Technical Education-ITE Headquarters and ITE College Central in Singapore to explore opportunities for collaboration between India and Singapore in developing cutting-edge learning environments.

In Kolkata, Central Bureau of Investigation, CBI, is conducting polygraph test on seven persons including the former principal of R G Kar Medical College and Hospital Sandip Ghosh.   Polygraph test is also being conducted on two civic volunteers of Kolkata Police including Sanjay Rai, the lone arrested person in the incident and four doctors who were with the victim before the incident. The necessary approval for the polygraph test was given to CBI by the Sealdah Court. Sanjay Rai was given 14 days jail custody yesterday by the same Court.   Meanwhile, the Special Investigation Team, SIT, has handed over the documents to the CBI as per the orders of Calcutta High Court yesterday.

One of India’s finest white-ball batsman Shikhar Dhawan has announced retirement from all forms of international and domestic Cricket. 38-year-old Dhawan shared an emotional retirement video on his social media and thanked his family, coach and team members for their support. The left-handed batter appeared in 37 Tests, 167 ODIs and 68 T20Is for Team India.   Dhawan was also popular with the title of Mr ICC for his fabulous batting stats in the ODI tournaments. He scored a total 10 thousand 867 runs in the international Cricket including 6793 runs in ODIs. Dhawan has 17 tons and 39 fifties registered on his name in ODIs. He also captained India in 15 games. He last played for India in the ODI series against Bangladesh in December 2022. In his 222-game IPL career, Dhawan scored 6,769 runs and was a one-time championship winner with the Sunrisers Hyderabad, in 2016.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will share his thoughts with the people of the country and abroad in the ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme on Akashvani at 11 AM tomorrow. It will be the 113th episode of the monthly radio programme.   The programme will be broadcast on the entire network of Akashvani and Doordarshan, the AIR News website and the Newsonair mobile app. It will also be live-streamed on the YouTube channels of the AIR News, DD News, PMO and Information and Broadcasting Ministry. Akashvani will broadcast the programme in regional languages immediately after the Hindi broadcast.

The bodies of 24 people belonging to the Jalgaon district of Maharashtra who lost their lives in the Nepal bus accident will be brought back today. The bodies will be brought to Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh, and from there, they will be transported to Nashik in an Indian Air Force aircraft, and then they will be handed over to their families.   Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde spoke to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other senior officials about bringing the dead bodies back to Maharashtra. Mr. Shinde said that the Union Home Minister assured him of full support, and a special officer has been appointed to coordinate the whole process. Mr. Shinde expressed grief about the deaths of these 24 people and extended condolences to the grieving families. He also contacted the relief and rehabilitation officers in the state and the centre and took stock of the relief operation in Nepal.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in Raipur last night on a three-day visit to Chhattisgarh. He will chair a series of meetings on anti-Naxal operations today, August 24. Mr. Shah is scheduled to visit the ashram of Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya in Champaran town of Raipur district this morning. Later, he will chair a meeting of Chief Secretaries and Directors General of Police (DGPs) of Chhattisgarh and neighbouring states on interstate coordination. He will then chair a meeting on security and development in Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected areas of the state.     Anti-Naxal operations have intensified in Chhattisgarh since the BJP came to power in last year’s assembly elections. As many as 142 Naxalites have been killed by security forces in the state so far this year. Tomorrow, Mr. Shah will inaugurate an office of the Narcotics Control Bureau in Raipur at 10:30 am and chair a review meeting. He will then chair a meeting on the expansion of the cooperative sector in Chhattisgarh.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Kyiv today on the second and final leg of his two nation tour to Poland and Ukraine.    The Prime Minister arrived in Kyiv from Poland by train. Members of the Indian diaspora accorded a warm welcome to the Prime Minister on his arrival in Kyiv. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the multimedia Martyrologist exposition on children at the National Museum of History of Ukraine in Kyiv. He was accompanied by the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy.     Both the leaders honoured the memory of children. Prime Minister Modi was deeply touched by the poignant exposition set up in memory of children who have lost their lives in the conflict. He expressed his sorrow at the tragic loss of young lives and as a mark of respect placed a toy in their memory. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at his statue in Kyiv. He underscored the timeless relevance of Mahatma Gandhi’s message of peace in building a harmonious society. He noted that the path shown by him offered solutions to present day global challenges.     This is the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Ukraine after the diplomatic relations between the two countries began in 1992. Mr Modi and Mr Zelenskyy will hold discussions on the entire gamut of bilateral relations, ranging from economic and business linkages, agriculture, infrastructure, health and education, pharmaceuticals, defense, culture, and people-to-people ties. This visit is taking place against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which will also form part of the discussions. India has consistently advocated for diplomacy and dialogue to reach a negotiated settlement. Mr Modi’s landmark visit to Ukraine will help further consolidation and expansion of bilateral ties.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that India and the US are natural allies and are destined to be strong partners. The Minister addressed the Indian diaspora in Washington on the first day of his official visit to the US. Mr. Singh had a lively interaction with the Indian community in Washington DC. He said, it is heartwarming to see how the Indian community continues to cherish and uphold their cultural values and maintain their connection to their roots.   During the Defence Minister’s visit to Washington, India and the US signed the Security of Supplies Arrangement document (SOSA), and Memorandum of Agreement regarding the Assignment of Liaison Officers. With the signing of SOSA, India and the US agreed to provide priority support for goods and services that promote national defence. The Arrangement will enable both countries to acquire the industrial resources they need from one another to resolve unanticipated supply chain disruptions to meet national security needs. SOSA is an important mechanism to strengthen interoperability with US defence trade partners. India is the eighteenth SOSA partner of the US. Other SOSA partners include Australia, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.     Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Washington yesterday evening on a four-day visit to the United States at the invitation of the US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin. During the visit, Mr Singh will hold a bilateral meeting with his US counterpart and also meet the US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. The Defence Minister will also chair a high-level round table meeting with the US defence industry on the ongoing and future defence collaborations.

Dr. Tapan Malik stands out as a prominent figure in both the business and social sectors, earning recognition for his exceptional contributions to philanthropic efforts in West Bengal. His unwavering dedication to uplifting underprivileged communities has not only transformed lives but has also garnered him immense respect and admiration from peers and beneficiaries alike. The recent accolade of the Bharat Seva Puraskar 2024, awarded by the Veyil Foundation, serves as a significant acknowledgment of his relentless commitment to social welfare. This prestigious honor highlights the profound impact of his work in the region, showcasing his ability to effect positive change and inspire others to follow in his footsteps. In his capacity as a businessman, Dr. Malik has adeptly maneuvered through the intricate landscape of the corporate world, all while placing a strong emphasis on social responsibility. His business initiatives are not merely profit-driven; they are deeply rooted in a desire to provide essential support and protection to impoverished populations. By ensuring that these communities have access to vital resources—such as education, healthcare, and employment opportunities—he is actively working to enhance their quality of life. Dr. Malik's various projects reflect a nuanced understanding of the multifaceted challenges faced by marginalized groups, and he has consistently sought innovative solutions to address these pressing issues. His approach combines strategic business acumen with a compassionate commitment to social equity, making him a role model for aspiring entrepreneurs and philanthropists alike. Beyond his entrepreneurial achievements, Dr. Malik plays a pivotal role as the Vice President of World Human Rights Protection Communications, where he passionately advocates for the rights and dignity of individuals worldwide. His dual identity as both a successful businessman and a dedicated social activist underscores his belief in the transformative power of integrating economic success with a steadfast commitment to social justice. Through his leadership, he not only champions the cause of human rights but also encourages others to recognize their potential to drive meaningful social change. Dr. Malik's vision extends beyond his immediate endeavors; he aspires to cultivate a culture of social responsibility among business leaders and communities, inspiring them to contribute to the collective betterment of society. His work serves as a powerful reminder that true success is measured not just by financial achievements, but by the positive impact one has on the lives of others.

India and the United States have entered into a bilateral, non-binding Security of Supply Arrangement (SOSA) that will enable both countries to acquire the industrial resources they need from one another to resolve unanticipated supply chain disruptions to meet national security needs, the Pentagon said in a statement.   The deal was signed yesterday by Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy Vic Ramdass, on behalf of the US Department of Defence, and Additional Secretary and Director General (Acquisitions) Samir Kumar, on behalf of India’s Ministry of Defence. Through the SOSA, the US and India agree to provide reciprocal priority support for goods and services that promote national defence, the US Department of Defense said in a statement.