India and Malaysia are deepening their defence cooperation, emphasizing maritime security, the defence industry, and collaboration in multilateral forums. The latest step in this growing partnership was the 13th Malaysia-India Defence Cooperation Committee (MIDCOM) meeting, held in Kuala Lumpur on February 19, 2025. Discussions covered a range of topics, including cyber security, artificial intelligence, and expanding bilateral defence engagement. A key highlight of the meeting was the exchange of finalised Terms of Reference (ToR) for setting up a Su-30 forum. This initiative aims to enhance cooperation between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) in maintaining their Sukhoi-30 (Su-30) combat aircraft fleets. Through this platform, both nations will share expertise and best practices in areas such as maintenance, technical support, training, and safety to improve overall operational efficiency. Additionally, India and Malaysia agreed to establish a strategic affairs working group, which will act as a bridge between MIDCOM and its sub-committees, ensuring continued progress in bilateral defence cooperation. Recognizing the growing importance of maritime security, both sides also committed to forming a joint focus group to address non-traditional threats in the region. During the discussions, India’s Defence Secretary Singh highlighted India’s strong defence sector and its potential for collaboration with Malaysian companies, particularly in capability enhancement and modernization. India reaffirmed its support for Malaysia’s role in regional security and unity, especially as Malaysia takes on the ASEAN chairmanship and leads the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus). Malaysia is seen as a key partner in India’s Indo-Pacific strategy, positioned at the crossroads of the Act East Policy, SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region), and the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative. This growing defence partnership builds upon previous agreements, including a 1993 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Defence Cooperation, which has laid the foundation for joint ventures, training programs, and development projects. Earlier, in January 2025, both nations reaffirmed their commitment to counter-terrorism, deradicalization, cyber security, maritime security, and the defence industry, signaling a broad and deepening strategic relationship. With these latest developments, India and Malaysia continue to strengthen their defence and security ties, reinforcing regional stability and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. Disclaimer: This image is taken from The Impressive Times

Rekha Gupta took oath as the Chief Minister of Delhi on Thursday, bringing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) back to power in the national capital after nearly three decades. The grand swearing-in ceremony at Ramlila Ground was attended by top political leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Gupta, a first-time MLA from Shalimar Bagh, made history as Delhi's fourth woman chief minister and the only female leader currently heading an NDA government. Alongside her, six ministers—Parvesh Verma, Ashish Sood, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Kapil Mishra, Ravinder Indraj Singh, and Pankaj Singh—were also sworn in by Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena. The event was a show of strength for the BJP, with several NDA chief ministers, including Maharashtra’s Devendra Fadnavis, Andhra Pradesh’s Chandrababu Naidu, and Goa’s Pramod Sawant, in attendance. Gupta’s Journey and Vision for Delhi: After taking the oath, Gupta expressed her gratitude, saying, "Thank you, Delhi," acknowledging the trust placed in her by the voters and the BJP leadership. Her rise to power has been fueled by years of grassroots work, having served as the president of the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) and a municipal councillor from North Pitampura. She has been a strong advocate for women’s welfare and community development within the BJP. The BJP’s victory marks the end of Arvind Kejriwal’s decade-long Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) rule in Delhi. Congress, too, faced a significant setback, failing to secure a single seat for the third consecutive election, reflecting a major shift in the city’s political landscape. Political figures across party lines welcomed Gupta’s appointment. BJP leaders, including MP Bansuri Swaraj and Union Minister Anupriya Patel, hailed her leadership, while Congress leader Alka Lamba extended her best wishes, stressing the need for prioritizing women’s safety in the capital. Parvesh Verma’s Commitment to a ‘Viksit Delhi’: Following the ceremony, Parvesh Verma, BJP MLA from New Delhi, thanked Delhiites for their overwhelming support in giving the party 48 out of 70 seats. He emphasized the BJP’s vision of transforming Delhi into "the most beautiful capital in the world" and credited PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP President JP Nadda for their leadership. "We will fulfill our promise of a ‘Viksit Delhi’ and implement every commitment made in our manifesto," Verma assured, highlighting the party’s focus on infrastructure, women’s safety, and urban development. With a new government in place, all eyes will be on Gupta and her team as they take on the challenges of governing Delhi and delivering on their promises. Disclaimer: This image is taken from X/@BJP4India

The Uttar Pradesh government, led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, presented its ninth budget for the financial year 2025-26 in the state assembly on February 20. Finance Minister Suresh Khanna announced a budget of ₹8,08,736.06 crore, marking a 9.8 percent increase from the previous year. The budget continues to focus on key areas such as infrastructure, education, healthcare, social welfare, and economic development, in line with the government's long-term vision. The total budget size stands at ₹8.08 trillion, with 20.5 percent allocated for capital expenditure. This spending will prioritize infrastructure, industrial growth, mobility, and investment promotion. Uttar Pradesh has seen significant improvement in its fiscal health, with the fiscal index rising from 37.0 between 2014 and 2019 to 45.9 in 2022-23, making it a leader in financial management. Over the past five years, the state’s capital expenditure has grown from 14.8 percent to 19.3 percent, surpassing the national average for major states. The government has also set an ambitious goal of transforming Uttar Pradesh into a $1 trillion economy by implementing strategic sector-wise plans in agriculture, infrastructure, IT, healthcare, education, tourism, and business investments. Infrastructure and urban development remain a key priority in this budget. The government has announced the construction of four new expressways and has allocated 22 percent of the total budget for infrastructure development. Under the Smart City Mission, 58 municipal corporations will be developed into smart cities. ₹400 crore has been allocated for the State Smart City Scheme, while ₹800 crore has been set aside for Green Road Infrastructure Development in urban areas. The budget also includes ₹1,000 crore for urban flood and stormwater drainage projects, ₹450 crore for Kanha Gaushala and stray cattle shelters, and ₹50 crore for new urban infrastructure services. The transport and connectivity sector will receive a boost, with ₹400 crore allocated for the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation to expand bus fleets and develop depots. The government has also set aside ₹100 crore for the purchase of medium-range electric buses and ₹50 crore for setting up charging stations under the Chief Minister’s Gram Jodo Yojana. In the education and skill development sector, 13 percent of the budget has been allocated to improve access to quality learning. ₹24 crore will be used to provide laptops and smartphones to government employees for online work. The government has also announced the construction of hostels for working women in Varanasi, Meerut, Prayagraj, Gorakhpur, Kanpur, Jhansi, and Agra, with a total budget of ₹170 crore. Atal Residential Schools will expand their student capacity from 360 to 1,000 per school. ₹50 crore has been allocated for the development of science parks, science cities, and observatories in cities like Agra and Varanasi. Healthcare and social welfare programs will receive 6 percent of the budget. ₹252 crore has been earmarked for the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Bal Seva Yojana, which supports children orphaned due to COVID-19. The budget includes ₹971 crore for additional honorarium payments to Anganwadi workers and ₹100 crore for the Chief Minister’s Sashakt Suposhan Yojana, which provides nutritional support for mothers and children. Integrated child development projects will receive ₹4,119 crore, while ₹2,980 crore has been set aside for widow pension payments. The Mukhyamantri Kanya Sumangala Yojana, which provides financial aid for girls’ education and well-being, has been allocated ₹700 crore. Under the Kanya Vivah Sahayata Yojana, ₹55,000 will be given for same-caste marriages and ₹61,000 for inter-caste marriages. The government has introduced several initiatives to promote women’s empowerment. Meritorious female students will be provided with scooters under a new scheme. Working women’s hostels will be constructed in key cities, and Anganwadi centers will be strengthened to provide better nutritional support to women and children. Agriculture and farmers’ welfare remain a major focus, with 11 percent of the budget dedicated to agriculture and allied services. ₹1,050 crore has been allocated for the Chief Minister Kisan Durghatna Kalyan Yojana, which provides financial assistance in cases of accidental death or disability. ₹509 crore has been set aside for installing solar pumps under the PM Kusum Yojana, while ₹124 crore has been allocated to promote natural farming across all districts. The government has also earmarked ₹251 crore for the Seed Park Development Project under the Uttar Pradesh Seed Self-Reliance Policy 2024 and ₹200 crore for agricultural productivity enhancement schemes. Additionally, ₹200 crore has been set aside for the World Bank-aided Uttar Pradesh AgriEase Project. The budget emphasizes employment generation and the growth of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). A total of 92,919 new government jobs will be filled through direct recruitment. The state’s MSME sector continues to be a major employment generator, with 1.65 crore people employed in 96 lakh small-scale industries, making Uttar Pradesh a leader in this sector. The housing and rural development sector has received a significant allocation in this budget. ₹4,882 crore has been allocated for the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin) to build more than 36 lakh rural homes. ₹1,200 crore has been set aside for the Chief Minister Awas Yojana (Gramin). The government has also allocated ₹1,088 crore for road maintenance under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana and ₹427 crore for the Deendayal Upadhyay Gramin Kaushalya Yojana, which provides skill training for rural youth. Additionally, ₹5,372 crore has been allocated to generate 34 crore person-days of employment under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA). The budget sets ambitious revenue generation targets to sustain economic growth. The state aims to collect ₹63,000 crore through excise duty, ₹38,150 crore through stamp and registration fees, and ₹14,000 crore through vehicle tax collections. Energy and digital development initiatives form another key part of the budget. The government plans to establish eight new data center parks and has committed to developing Ayodhya as a Solar City. ₹4,100 crore has been allocated for the Amrit 2.0 Scheme to improve urban water supply infrastructure, with 39 lakh new drinking water connections planned under this initiative. Several special announcements have also been made in the budget. Beneficiaries of the Ujjwala scheme will now receive two free LPG cylinders per year. ₹400 crore has been allocated for the Smart City Mission, while ₹50 crore has been earmarked for new urban development programs. The Uttar Pradesh Budget 2025-26 reflects Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s vision of economic expansion, infrastructure growth, and social welfare. By focusing on strategic investments in key sectors, the government aims to accelerate the state’s transformation into a major economic powerhouse while ensuring inclusive development for all sections of society. Disclaimer: This image is taken from X/@yogiadityanath.

KYIV – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy firmly rejected a US demand for $500 billion worth of mineral resources as repayment for American wartime aid, arguing that the US has not provided nearly that amount in support and has offered no concrete security guarantees in return. Facing intense pressure from Trump’s administration, Zelenskiy pointed out that Washington has supplied Ukraine with $67 billion in weapons and $31.5 billion in direct budgetary aid over the nearly three-year conflict with Russia—far less than the sum being requested. "You can’t just call it $500 billion and expect us to return that in minerals or anything else. That’s not a serious negotiation," Zelenskiy stated. Trump has insisted that Kyiv hand over $500 billion in rare earth minerals in exchange for US support. Last week, Washington presented a deal, but Ukraine refused to sign it in its current form. Zelenskiy criticized the proposal for lacking essential security guarantees that Ukraine desperately needs to defend itself against Russian aggression. He revealed that the draft deal suggested the US take ownership of 50% of Ukraine’s critical minerals—a term he found unacceptable. "I am here to defend Ukraine, not to sell it. I told them, ‘Give us something positive. Write in some guarantees, and we’ll consider a memorandum... some kind of percentage agreement.’ But they only insisted on 50%. So I said, ‘No.’ Let the lawyers rework it," he explained. The debate over how much aid the US has actually given Ukraine is becoming a key diplomatic issue as Kyiv fights to maintain Washington’s crucial support. Trump recently questioned where all the aid money had gone. In response, Zelenskiy clarified that the US and the European Union together have provided about $200 billion, while Ukraine itself has contributed around $120 billion to its war effort, covering the remaining costs of $320 billion in total military expenditures. Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters file.

It's a crime where the offenders are often victims themselves. Cyberscam hubs have rapidly expanded across Southeast Asia, with Myanmar's ongoing unrest providing an even greater advantage for criminal syndicates to thrive. In this episode, Teresa Tang speaks with CNA's May Wong and Saksith Saiyasombut to explore the issue. Disclaimer:This podcast is taken from CNA.

Networking can sometimes feel transactional, but it doesn't have to be. In a conversation with Tiffany Ang, CNA TODAY journalist Gwenneth Teo shares insights from career coaches and her own experiences on mastering the art of networking. Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.

Teresa Tang discusses the unprecedented political crisis surrounding impeached South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol, including his declaration of martial law and ongoing trials for both impeachment and insurrection. In an interview with CNA's Lim Yun Suk, Tang highlights the logistical and emotional difficulties of covering this complex situation. Disclaimer: This Prodcast is taken from CNA.

Despite decades of progress, polio remains a threat in some parts of the world. This episode explores the challenges to eradication and what’s being done to end the disease for good. Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.