India's economy is projected to grow at 6.4% this year and 6.6% in 2027, according to a report by the United Nations.

The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) said in the report released Monday that economies in South and South-West Asia grew by 5.4% in 2025, compared to 5.2% in 2024, driven largely by strong growth in India.

India's growth edged up to 7.4% in 2025, “supported by robust consumption, especially from the rural economy along with goods and services tax rate cuts, and export frontloading ahead of the United States’ tariffs,” the report, titled Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2026, said.

It said in India, economic activities moderated in the second half of 2025 as exports to the United States declined by 25% following the introduction of 50 per cent tariffs in August 2025. The services sector remained a key growth driver.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has received an indigenously developed satellite imaging system, 'Prajna', to enhance the real-time decision support for the security agencies.

Secretary of the Department of Defence Research and Development (DRDO) Samir V Kamat handed over the satellite imaging system to Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan on Monday at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Home Affairs, Kartavya Bhawan-3.

The AI-enabled system, developed by the DRDO's Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR), will strengthen the country's internal security, playing a key role in monitoring sensitive regions and supporting counter-terrorism operations.

Apple CEO Tim Cook, who has led Apple since 2011, will step down on September 1, 2026, ending a 15-year leadership tenure. He will move to an Executive Chairman role, with current hardware engineering head John Ternus stepping in as the new CEO. This transition concludes a period of significant growth and shifts leadership to focus on future innovation.

Apple has ‌named insider John Ternus as its next chief executive, tasking the ‌long-time hardware chief to steer the company after Tim Cook, ‌as the iPhone maker gears up for an industry change spurred by artificial intelligence. Ternus, who joined Apple in 2001, has recently overseen the company’s hardware engineering efforts and ‌has played ‌a ⁠key role in reigniting sales of products such as Apple’s Mac computers, which have gained market share in recent years.

India and South Korea are deepening economic ties at a time of rising inflation risks, energy insecurity and supply chain disruptions driven by global conflicts, signing 16 memorandums of understanding (MoU) across electric mobility, green energy and advanced manufacturing. The two countries are aiming to double bilateral trade to $54 billion by 2030, targeting nearly 18 per cent annual growth.

The agreements, signed on April 20, 2026, during a visit of South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, come as inflationary pressures, driven by volatile energy markets and geopolitical tensions, force countries to reconfigure trade, technology partnerships and industrial strategies.

At the same time, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said India has “almost finalised” the first tranche of a bilateral trade agreement with the United States, signalling a parallel push to secure market access and diversify trade ties.

The KALE Foundation today announced that Arthur Law, Co-founder and Managing Principal of Storefriendly Asia, has been named a Young Global Leader 2026 by the World Economic Forum.

Arthur is recognised for redefining urban living by enabling households and businesses to reclaim space in some of the world's most densely populated cities. He is the architect behind Storefriendly Asia's transformation from an operator into Asia's leading tech-enabled self-storage platform. Under the vision to "Make Space for the Future," he has steered the firm's growth, serving over 40,000 households and forging partnerships with Blackstone and Partners Group that bring together entrepreneurship, technology and institutional capital in reshaping urban living.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed contracts worth Rs 975 crore with two Indian firms for the procurement of trawl assembly systems for T-72 and T-90 tanks, aimed at strengthening the Army’s land mine-clearing and mobility capabilities.

The contracts have been awarded to Bharat Earth Movers Limited and Electro Pneumatics and Hydraulics (India) Pvt Ltd (EPHL), according to a media statement by the MoD.

“The TRAWL Assembly for T-72/T-90 Tanks is a critical equipment developed by DRDO which will enhance the minefield breaching capability of the Indian Army. It would generate additional capability of creating Vehicle Safe Lanes through minefields with anti-tank mines with proximity magnetic fuses, thus enhancing the operational effectiveness of the Indian Army,” the media statement said.

Desmond Morris, the zoologist, author, artist and television presenter, has died aged 98.

Morris was best known for his book, The Naked Ape, which was published in 1967. It framed modern humans as still being fundamentally ape-like despite our technological advances and evolution.

He was also a surrealist painter and exhibited his work around the world alongside artists such as Joan Miró.

Morris's son Jason confirmed his death on 20 April, calling his father "a great man and an even better father and grandfather", who lived "a lifetime of exploration, curiosity and creativity".

A NASA astronaut has shared a stunning view of a meteor shower as seen from space, drawing attention online. The post highlights the ongoing Lyrid meteor shower and offers a unique perspective from orbit.

Jessica Meir shared a post describing her experience of photographing shooting stars from the International Space Station. She said that the Lyrid meteor shower is currently taking place and mentioned that she was fortunate to capture some images from the Space Station's cupola.

She explained that the Lyrids are an annual event and are best viewed in the Northern Hemisphere by looking toward the constellation Lyra in the eastern sky. She added that the meteor shower is expected to peak between April 21 and 22.

Japan on Tuesday scrapped a ban on lethal weapons exports, a major change in its postwar pacifist policy as the country seeks to build up its arms industry amid worries over Chinese and North Korean aggression.

The approval by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's Cabinet of the new guideline clears a final set of hurdles for many arms sales, including of a next-generation fighter jet and combat drones.

China criticized the change in policy, but it has been largely welcomed by Japanese defense partners like Australia and attracted interest from Southeast Asia and Europe.

India’s economy is projected to grow at 6.4% this year and 6.6% in 2027, according to a report by the United Nations. The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) said in the report released yesterday that economies in South and South-West Asia grew by 5.4% in 2025, compared to 5.2% in 2024, driven largely by strong growth in India.

India’s growth edged up to 7.4% in 2025, supported by robust consumption, especially from the rural economy, along with goods and services tax rate cuts and export frontloading ahead of the United States’ tariffs.

The report, titled Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2026, projected India to register a 6.4% growth rate in 2026 and 6.6% next year. Inflation for the country is projected to be 4.4% this year and 4.3% in 2027.