The world economy is likely to stay resilient this year despite President Donald Trump's protectionist trade policies, driven largely by heavy investments in artificial intelligence by companies in North America and Asia, the International Monetary Fund said in a report on Monday.

According to the IMF report, global economic growth is projected at 3.3% in 2026 and 3.2% in 2027, from an estimated 3.3% expansion in 2025. The 2026 outlook has been revised up by 20 basis points from the October forecast, while the 2027 projection remains unchanged.

The world economy “continues to show notable resilience despite significant US-led trade disruptions and heightened uncertainty,” IMF chief economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas and his colleague Tobias Adrian wrote in a blog post accompanying the latest update to the fund's World Economic Outlook.

China's birth rates sunk to a record low in 2025, despite the government rolling out a spate of incentives to boost it, as the country's population fell for the fourth straight year.

Government data on Monday showed that the country's birth rate fell to 5.63 per 1,000 people – a record low since the Communist Party took power in 1949 – while its death rate rose to 8.04 per 1,000 people, the highest since 1968.

Its population fell 3.39 million to reach 1.4 billion by the end of 2025, marking a quicker decline than the previous year.

Faced with an ageing population and sluggish economy, Beijing has been trying hard to encourage more young people to marry and have children.

India is set to reach $4,000 per capita income by 2030, enabling it to transition to an upper middle-income country and join China and Indonesia in the current classification, an SBI Research report said on Monday.

India took 60 years since Independence to reach a $1 trillion economy and achieved $2 trillion in another seven years, in 2014.

The country reached $3 trillion in another seven years in 2021 and $4 trillion in another four years, in 2025.

“India is likely to achieve $5 trillion in another two years. India reached $1,000 per capita income in 62 years since Independence, in 2009. It achieved $2,000 per capita income in another 10 years, in 2019, and $3,000 per capita income in another seven years, in 2026,” said Dr Soumya Kanti Ghosh, Group Chief Economic Advisor, State Bank of India.

A mix of carmine and scarlet, with a hint of orange — a new hue, inspired by an elderly woman at Barcelona’s opera house, whose elegance struck a young Valentino Garavani.

The colour, introduced to the fashion world several years later, in 1959, with a strapless cocktail dress of draped tulle, has carried his name — “Valentino red” — ⁠ever since, doubling as the eponymous Italian fashion group’s signature.

“I think a woman dressed in red is always wonderful, she is the perfect image of a heroine,” Valentino wrote in the book “Rosso” (Red), released in 2022. He ‍would include at least one red dress in every ‍one of his collections.

Valentino, one of Italy’s leading ‍fashion designers, died on Monday at his Roman residence, his foundation announced. He was 93 years old.

The cause of death was not immediately known.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday announced a single emergency number for the residents of the capital, highlighting that the move falls in line with the decision of the Ministry of Home Affairs to declare ‘112’ as the national emergency number.

Soon, the residents of Delhi will be able to access multiple emergency services by dialling a unified helpline 112, instead of calling different numbers.

“Depending on the nature of the emergency, the police, fire services, ambulance and disaster management agencies can be alerted simultaneously by dialling 112," Gupta said.

The Chief Minister further said that assistance can be sought not only on the phone but also via a mobile app, an emergency button, or even SMS.

“Assistance can be sought not only by phone but also via a mobile app, an emergency button, SMS, and online platforms, ensuring that even if a citizen is unable to speak, they can still send a distress signal with ease," she said.

Apple farm waste may soon help protect metal pipes, machinery, and infrastructure from corrosion.

An international research team led by Nagaland University (NU) has found a way to turn discarded apple leaves into a highly effective, eco-friendly corrosion inhibitor, offering up to 96.2% protection for copper in harsh chemical conditions.

The study, carried out in collaboration with the University of Science and Technology Beijing (USTB), shows that tiny carbon particles made from apple leaves can shield metals from corrosion without using toxic chemicals commonly employed in industry.

The authors of the study are Ambrish Singh of the NU’s Department of Chemistry and Yujie Qiang, Ye Zhang, Xinyang Liu, and Ying Jin of the USTB’s National Centre for Materials Service Safety. The former is a visiting professor at the USTB.

Their findings were published in the Journal of Alloys and Compounds, a leading international scientific journal.

In a landmark move for urban resilience in the Global South, Mumbai is slated to host the ‘Mumbai Climate Week 2026’ from February 17 to 19.

This significant milestone marks India’s first city-led initiative dedicated to fostering local action through citizen-driven solutions and is grounded in the critical recognition that the climate crisis is, at its core, a fundamental child rights issue.

In a strategic partnership, UNICEF India and YuWaah have been named the official youth engagement partners.

The organisers aim to empower the next generation to become active agents of change within their communities. These efforts seek to bridge the gap between grassroots student participation and high-level civic leadership, ensuring a cleaner and safer future for all.

Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh on Friday (January 16, 2026) announced that European Union leaders Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, will be the chief guests at India’s 77th Republic Day celebrations.

In a briefing to media persons ahead of Republic Day, he said that the 90-minute Republic Day Parade on January 26 along Kartavya Path will be themed around 150 years of ‘Vande Mataram’, a theme that will also anchor the Beating the Retreat ceremony.

In a symbolic move to end VIP culture, the Defence Secretary announced to the media that enclosures at the Republic Day Parade will be named after rivers of India, while those at the Beating the Retreat ceremony will be named after musical instruments. For the first time, a European naval contingent will also take part in the parade.

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) continues to play a transformative role in India's skill development landscape through its flagship CSIR Integrated Skill Initiative, a national programme aligned with the Government of India's vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Skill India.

Designed to bridge the gap between scientific research and industry-ready skills, the initiative integrates skill development with science and technology by leveraging CSIR's extensive research infrastructure, nationwide laboratory network, and deep scientific expertise.

The programme aims to address real-world industrial, societal, and entrepreneurial demands while enhancing employability across diverse sectors, Ministry of Science & Technology said in a statement.

The state government on Tuesday launched a five-year scheme ‘Aame Padhiba Aama Bhasare’ along with a 100-day campaign to prevent child marriage and a pilot project to prevent teenage pregnancy and support teenage mothers.

Launching the initiatives, deputy chief minister Pravati Parida said women empowerment is the key to a developed Odisha and providing a safe, equal and respectful environment to women and children is the priority of the state government.

Under the five-year scheme, early childhood education will be provided to children in the age group of 3-6 years in their mother tongue in line with the National Education Policy, 2020. In the first phase, the scheme will be implemented in Munda, Kui, Saura, Kuvi, Gondi and Koya languages in Keonjhar, Kandhamal, Gajapati, Rayagada, Nabarangpur and Malkangiri districts.