The 2nd India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) meeting took place in the capital on Friday. This council, launched in February 2023, is aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation, boosting trade and investment, and leveraging the strengths of both India and the EU to maintain technological and industrial leadership while upholding shared values. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar shared on X that he participated in the meeting alongside his cabinet colleagues Piyush Goyal and Ashwini Vaishnaw. He expressed gratitude to Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security, and Democracy of the European Commission, as well as Maros Sefcovic and Ekaterina Zaharieva from the EU, for their partnership. Jaishankar highlighted the progress made in digital partnerships, clean and green energy initiatives, and trade and investment. He also discussed emerging opportunities in sectors like semiconductors, AI, 6G, electric vehicles, and green hydrogen. Confident about the discussions, he believes they will lead to stronger economic, trade, and technological ties between India and the EU. The India-EU TTC was first announced in April 2022 during European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s visit to India. It serves as a platform for both sides to collaborate on key issues at the intersection of trade, technology, and security. Notably, this is only the second such council for the EU and the first of its kind for India. The TTC is co-chaired by India's Ministers for External Affairs, Commerce & Industry, and Communications & IT. Under this framework, three working groups have been established, including one focused on Strategic Technologies, Digital Governance, and Digital Connectivity, which is led by the Secretary of India’s Ministry of Electronics and IT. Disclaimer: This image is taken from Business Standard.

Brigadier-General (BG) Cai Dexian has been appointed as the next Chief of Army (COA) for Singapore and will officially take over the role on 21 March 2025. He is currently serving as the Commander of the 3rd Singapore Division and will succeed Major-General (MG) David Neo, who has held the position since March 2022. The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) has stated that this transition is part of the Singapore Armed Forces’ (SAF) ongoing leadership renewal process. MG Neo, who is 47 years old, was the first Commando officer to be appointed as the Chief of Army. Having joined the SAF in 1996, he has held a variety of command and staff positions throughout his career. His leadership roles have included commanding the First Battalion Singapore Guards, the 2nd Singapore Infantry Brigade, and the 3rd Singapore Division. In addition to his operational leadership, he has served in strategic roles such as Head of the Joint Plans and Transformation Department, Director of Joint Operations, and Deputy Secretary (Technology) at MINDEF. During his tenure as Chief of Army, MG Neo played a key role in modernizing the Singapore Army and ensuring its continued operational readiness. He was instrumental in implementing the Army 2040 transformation plan, which introduced new warfighting strategies, improved coordination between the different branches of the SAF, and enhanced the army’s technological capabilities. Under his leadership, the army successfully resumed large-scale local and overseas training exercises that had been suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He also strengthened international military cooperation by working closely with regional and global defense partners. In addition to these strategic efforts, MG Neo oversaw several significant operations, including the disposal of one of the largest wartime bombs ever found in Singapore and the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. His leadership ensured that the Singapore Army remained well-prepared to respond to both national security threats and humanitarian crises. BG Cai Dexian, who is 40 years old, has been a part of the SAF since 2003 and began his military career as an SAF Overseas Scholar. As an Armour Officer, he has taken on multiple leadership roles throughout his service, including Commanding Officer of the 48th Battalion Singapore Armoured Regiment, Commander of the 8th Singapore Armoured Brigade, Head of the Joint Plans and Transformation Department, and Director of Personnel Policy. His extensive experience in both operational command and strategic planning has prepared him for this new leadership position. As the Commander of the 3rd Singapore Division, BG Cai has been actively involved in developing new military capabilities and advancing the SAF’s transformation efforts. He played a crucial role in establishing the SAF’s Digital and Intelligence Service, which focuses on cybersecurity and modern intelligence operations. He was also a key contributor to the SAF 2040 long-term plan, which outlines the future direction of Singapore’s defense strategy. Beyond his contributions to military transformation, BG Cai has also represented the SAF in international operations. In 2012, he was deployed to Afghanistan as part of Singapore’s efforts to support global reconstruction initiatives. His experiences in both combat training and international cooperation have shaped his approach to military leadership. The Ministry of Defence has expressed its deep appreciation for MG Neo’s service and leadership, recognizing his contributions to strengthening the Singapore Army’s operational effectiveness and strategic vision. As BG Cai prepares to step into the role of Chief of Army, the SAF is expected to continue evolving and adapting to meet the security challenges of the future. Disclaimer: This image is taken from Ministry of Defence.

India’s Foreign Secretary, Vikram Misri, visited China in January 2025, during which both countries made key announcements regarding the future of their bilateral relations. During his visit, he met with Wang Yi, China’s Foreign Minister, who also serves as the Director of the Office of the Central Commission of Foreign Affairs and is a politburo member of the Communist Party. Additionally, he held discussions with Liu Jianchao, Minister of the International Department of the Chinese Communist Party. Following these meetings, India released a statement suggesting that efforts are underway to restore various aspects of bilateral relations. This includes plans to resume media and think tank exchanges, the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, and bilateral flights, all of which are expected to take shape by the summer of 2025. Disclaimer:This image is taken from AFP.

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

Prince Andrew finds himself embroiled in controversy once more, this time over a meeting with businessman Yang Tengbo, who has denied allegations of spying for China. The incident has raised concerns in the UK Parliament about potential espionage infiltration within British institutions, while prompting outrage in Beijing. For Prince Andrew, the controversy resulted in him skipping the royal family's Christmas dinner at Sandringham. The allegations against Yang Tengbo have sparked significant debate and tension, as reported by Dan Sabbagh and David Pegg. Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from The Guardian.

For nearly three years, Myanmar has been governed by military rule following a coup. However, on October 27, 2023, a collaborative effort between resistance forces and ethnic armed groups initiated an offensive against the military. CNA's Leong Wai Kit discusses with Teresa Tang the advancements made by these groups and the future trajectory of the country. <i>Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.</i>