Veteran playback singer Asha Bhosle passed away at the age of 92 in Mumbai on Sunday following a cardiac arrest and pulmonary complications.

Her son Anand Bhosle confirmed the news of her death and said, "She is no more. Her last rites will be held at 4 p.m. tomorrow at Shivaji Park in Mumbai,'' as per NDTV.

Earlier in the day, news agency PTI reported that the legendary singer remained in critical condition after she hospitalised in South Mumbai's Breach Candy Hospital on Saturday.

Her granddaughter, Zanai, took to Instagram to share details about Bhosle's health on April 11. "My grandmother, Asha Bhosle due to extreme exhaustion and suffering a chest infection has been admitted to hospital and we request you to value our privacy. Treatment is ongoing and hopefully everything will be well and we shall update you positively," she wrote.

The first-ever life-size statue of Swami Vivekananda in the U.S. was unveiled in Seattle, honouring the renowned Indian philosopher and spiritual leader.

The life-size bronze statue, installed at the busy Westlake Square in downtown Seattle, is the first such installation hosted by a city government anywhere in the U.S., officials said.

Sculpted by Indian artist Naresh Kumar Kumawat, it was jointly unveiled on Saturday (April 11, 2026) by Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson and Consul General of India in Seattle Prakash Gupta.

An Indian Army contingent comprising 60 personnel departed today for the 7th edition of the India-Uzbekistan joint military exercise, Exercise DUSTLIK. The exercise, which commenced today in Uzbekistan, will continue until the 25th of this month.

The Defence Ministry noted the exercise is conducted on a yearly basis alternatively in India and Uzbekistan, with an aim to foster military cooperation and enhance combined capabilities to execute joint operations in semi-mountainous terrain. It will enable the two sides to share their best practices in Tactics, Techniques and Procedures of conducting joint operations and will further strengthen interoperability, operational synergy and joint command and control coordination between the contingents.

The event will also provide an opportunity to enhance the level of defence cooperation, further fostering bilateral relations between the two friendly nations. The Indian Armed Forces contingent is being represented by 45 personnel from the Indian Army, majorly from a Battalion of the MAHAR Regiment and 15 personnel from the Indian Air Force. The Uzbekistan contingent also comprises a total of 60 personnel from the Uzbekistan Army and Air Force.

Amid heightened naval deployments driven by energy security concerns in West Asia, the Indian Navy will convene its Commanders’ Conference 2026 in the capital from April 14 to 16, with a focus on conflict lessons and inter-services jointness.

The first edition of the biannual Commanders’ Conference will bring together the Navy’s top leadership for a comprehensive review of operational posture, capability development and strategic alignment with national security objectives.

“This edition holds significance in the light of swift naval deployments to safeguard India’s energy security amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia, with convergence of multinational forces in the Indian Ocean Region,” the government said in a statement on Sunday.

The Indian Army has established 88.4 FM Radio Sikkim Sundari, Sikkim's first Border Village Community Radio Station in East Sikkim, to improve communication and information access in remote high-altitude border areas.

According to a press release, dedicated to the citizens of India in Sikkim, the station addresses challenges of geographic isolation, harsh weather, and limited mobile and internet connectivity. It aims to bridge the information gap by providing reliable and timely communication.

As per the release, the radio station will broadcast local news, weather updates, and information on government schemes, while also promoting regional culture and addressing community issues. It will provide an opportunity for local youth to participate, develop communication skills, and contribute to community engagement.

India on Sunday categorically rejected China renaming some places in Arunachal Pradesh and said such claims and attempts to manufacture baseless narratives cannot alter the "undeniable reality" that they are part of Indian territories.

China should refrain from actions which inject negativity into relations and undermine efforts to create better understanding, it said.

New Delhi's reaction came in response to Beijing announcing Chinese names for several places in Arunachal Pradesh.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has appointed his military secretary, Major General Roman Gofman, as the next Director of the Israeli Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations, Mossad, following approval from the advisory committee on senior appointments.

In a social media post, Netanyahu praised Gofman’s credentials, describing him as an outstanding officer, adding that he had demonstrated “impressive resourcefulness” and an ability to think outside the box, particularly during the ongoing war. According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, Gofman is set to assume office on July 2, 2026, for a five-year term. The appointment comes at a critical time for Israel’s intelligence and security apparatus, with ongoing regional tensions and evolving security challenges.

Marking World Quantum Day, Andhra Pradesh is set to emerge as a hub for India’s quantum technology revolution with the launch of two state-of-the-art quantum computer test beds under the Amaravati Quantum Valley initiative.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu will inaugurate the facilities on April 14 at SRM University, Amaravati, and virtually at Medha Towers, Gannavaram. These Quantum Reference Facilities make Andhra Pradesh the first state in India to host a dedicated quantum test and certification ecosystem.

Developed entirely with indigenous technology, the test beds will enable rigorous testing and certification of quantum computing hardware. The 1Q test bed, set up by Qubitech at Medha Towers, and the 1S test bed at SRM University using superconducting technology, will operate at temperatures close to -273°C.

Registrations for the 19th edition of the Mumbai International Film Festival – MIFF for Documentary, Short Fiction and Animation Films are open till Sunday. MIFF 2026 will be held from 15th to 21st June 2026 at the NFDC Complex in Mumbai.

One of the key highlights of the festival will be the second edition of the WAVES Doc Bazaar, which is scheduled from 16th to 18th June 2026. The Doc Bazaar will feature multiple verticals, including a Co-production Market, Viewing Room, and Work in Progress Lab. It aims to facilitate connections between global buyers and sellers of non-feature films while fostering collaboration and innovation in documentary filmmaking, production, and distribution.

Established in 1990, MIFF is South Asia’s oldest and largest non-feature film festival and is held biennially. Organized by the National Film Development Corporation, the festival not only provides a valuable platform for networking and co-production opportunities but also offers cash awards of around 55 lakh rupees, including the prestigious Golden Conch Award for Best Documentary that carries a cash prize of ten lakh rupees.

Consequent upon the approval of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), Shri Anand Kumar Pal, Indian Cost Accounts Service (ICoAS), has assumed the charge of Chief Adviser (Cost) in the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, today.

A 1997-batch officer of the ICoAS, Shri Anand Kumar Pal was serving as Additional Chief Adviser (Cost) in the Ministry of Defence.

He is a qualified Cost Accountant and holds a bachelor’s degree in Commerce and a bachelor’s degree in Law. He has vast experience of over 30 years in the fields of financial analysis, public policy and its implementation, WTO trade policy, and costing and pricing methodologies in both strategic and non-strategic sectors.

He has previously worked in the Department of Economic Affairs, Department of Public Enterprises, Fertilizer Industries Coordination Committee (FICC), Directorate General of Trade Remedies, Ministry of Defence, National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), and the Department of Revenue.

During his tenure in the Ministry of Defence, he played a significant role in achieving substantial cost savings in the procurement of defence armaments, equipment, and platforms.