Recently, in a deal worth more than US$198.2 million, the US State Department approved the potential sale of support services and relatedEquipment for Boeing AH-64E Apache attack helicopters to India. The State Department said the sale will improve India’s ability to respond to current and future threats, strengthen its homeland defense, and deter regional threats.In April, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi flew in India’s indigenously built combat helicopter, the Light Combat.The helicopter (LCH), ‘Prachanda’, is assessing its performance, agility and mission readiness. This raises a question: If India has its own combat helicopters, why does it continue to rely on its Russian and American counterparts? And how does it compare to Apache LCH?

numbers and capacity

According to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Prachanda has a 2-pilot crew, maximum take-off weight 5,800 kg, maximum speed 280 km/h.km/h, a cruise speed of 260 km/h, payload-dependent operational range between 550 and 700 km, a climb rate of 12 meters per second, and the world’s highest operational ceiling of 6,500 metres.On the other hand, according to Boeing, the twin-seater US-made Boeing AH-64E Apache has a maximum take-off weight of 10,432 kg.Speed ​​of 300 km/h, cruise speed of 265 km/h, combat range of 480–500 km, service ceiling of 6,400 m and climb rate of about 14.2 meters per second.Compared to the Apache, the Prachanda has almost the same cruise speed, a larger operating range (the highest), and a larger operational range.Apache excels in terms of double the maximum take-off weight, top speed and faster climb rate. However, combat helicopters have specifications regarding their operational requirements.

various operational requirements

According to HAL, Prachanda has the distinction of being the first attack helicopter to land in Siachen, the world’s highest battlefield. itIt was specifically designed after the need for a light combat helicopter was realized during the Kargil war, which could operate in the high and harsh Himalayan terrain of Siachen, Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh. It weighs just 5.8 tonnes, which is almost half the weight of the Apache.

The American equivalent is for the flat plains, deserts, and semi-desert areas along India’s western and northwestern borders.(Like Rajasthan and Punjab). Which explains its almost double maximum take-off weight compared to the LCH. India requires the capabilities of both helicopters for its overall operational requirements.

replacement of aging fleet

The entire Air Force is undergoing a modernization process, with the aging fleet being actively replaced. during inductionAt the ceremony of Apache helicopters in 2019, the then Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa had said, “Apache combat helicopters are being purchased to replace the Mi-35 fleet. Apaches have been an integral part of many historical campaigns around the world. These aircraft have been specially modified to meet the exacting standards demanded by the Indian Air Force.Highlighting India’s military capabilities, the US State Department said, “India will have no difficulty in integrating these goods and services into its armed forces.”Regarding the deal the US State Department said, “This proposed sale will support foreign policy and national security objectivesOn behalf of the United States by helping to strengthen the US-India strategic relationship and improving the security of a major defense partner“Remains an important force for political stability, peace and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia regions.”Earlier on April 9, the Indian Army had demonstrated the combat power of AH-64 Apache during the live firing exercise ‘Brahmastra’.Pokhran Firing Range. The Army’s performance underlined its growing focus on high-precision, network-centric warfare.The Boeing AH-64 Apache is one of the world’s most advanced multi-role combat helicopters. It is equipped with 30mm chainThe gun can carry Hellfire anti-tank missiles and Hydra rockets, and has advanced targeting systems such as Longbow radar and night-vision sensors. Like Prachanda, Apache AH-64E also has the capability to operate in all weather conditions including night.

Mangaluru: During the SC/ST grievance meeting held at the city police commissioner’s office on Saturday, Dalits expressed concern over the delay in admission to Wenlock District Hospital.Referring to a recent case, Dalit leader SP Anand said that a patient, who was married about a year ago and was diagnosed with stage two cancer, faced difficulty in getting admission in the hospital. Anand said he took up the matter with MLC Evan D’Souza and helped the patient get the BPL card. However, he alleged that the doctors attempted to refer the patient to a private hospital with which they had connections. “The facilities in Wenlock are good, but it has been difficult for poor people to get access,” he said.Responding to the concern, DCP (law and order) Mithun HN said the hospital capacity and related issues would be examined, while DCP (crime and traffic) Ravi Shankar K said the matter would be brought to the notice of the deputy commissioner.Anand also highlighted the need to increase hostel facilities in rural areas, and pointed to confusion over the mention of sub-castes within the Adi Dravidian community during school admissions. The delegates were advised to take up the issue with the Social Welfare Department.Meanwhile, Jagdish Pandeshwar referred to a recent incident near Hoige market, in which a man was allegedly forced, abused and threatened to hand over his mobile phone by unknown persons. He urged authorities to focus on targeting people walking alone at night. In response, the DCP directed Mangaluru South Police to intensify patrolling by using sirens and top lights on patrol vehicles to increase police visibility. Police Inspector was also instructed to ensure installation of CCTV cameras in sensitive areas.Several other issues were raised during the meeting, including permission for excavation activities, drainage issue, family disputes and issues caused by street vendors near Lady Goshen Hospital and Nandigudda.A representative also urged the police to ensure that authorities are informed when houses are rented out to people from outside the district. Concern was also expressed over alleged wheelie riding by minors in the morning in Surathkal-Krishnapura-Katipalla area.The DCP directed all police inspectors to organize police station-level SC/ST grievance meetings regularly and urged Dalit representatives to actively participate in them. DCRE Mangaluru Range SP Simon CA was present.

What started as yard work for an Indian-origin couple in New Zealand ended in tragedy when a falling tree branch killed Paradeep Singh, leaving his newly arrived wife with no family, income or support system in the country.Singh was known as Deep to his friends and family. He died this week while carrying out maintenance work on his home in Cambridge, Waikato. He was working outside with others on a holiday when the fatal accident occurred.According to eyewitnesses, Singh was helping in cutting tree branches when he suffered serious head injuries. Friends believe that he may have been injured by a bouncing branch or by equipment being used during work.A spokesperson for the couple’s friends and family told 1News, “A branch hit him on the left side of his head, and may have caused some internal damage.”Hearing his scream, people nearby ran for help.“Paradeep screamed and everyone immediately ran towards him and called the emergency services,” the spokesperson said.Police said officers were called to the property at around 3.15pm to assist ambulance crews. St. John’s later confirmed that it had dispatched a rapid response unit and an operations manager to the scene, but Singh was pronounced dead there. The case has now been referred to the coroner.Singh moved to New Zealand in 2023 and worked as operations manager for a horticulture business. Friends said he was the sole earning member of the family and used to financially support his elderly parents in India, including his paralyzed mother.His wife Kamal recently joined him in New Zealand after they got married about six months ago. Relatives say he has no immediate family in the country and has not yet settled down to a life there.A family spokesperson said, “She came here for him.”He added: “He has no source of income, no money, from my understanding he hasn’t even opened a bank account yet.”Another friend said: “She has no money, no support system, and she’s completely alone at the moment.”The couple had planned to apply for residency in New Zealand and later come back to India for the wedding ceremony with relatives and friends.Friends and local community members have now launched a campaign to bring Singh’s body back to India for cremation and raise funds to support Kamal after the tragedy.Organizers said, “His family is facing unimaginable grief and is in need of immediate assistance.”

New Delhi: Center of Policy Research and Governance (CPRG) and AI4India have published the Future of Jobs in the Age of AI, Emerging Roles, New Opportunities report, a landmark study on the impact of Artificial Intelligence on employment and workforce transformation.According to CPRG, “The report is based on an analysis of active job descriptions and secondary research, as well as primary interviews with AI startup founders, technology and service industry leaders, applied AI practitioners, HR professionals, and academics. It maps emerging roles in the AI ecosystem, from data infrastructure and model development to deployment, governance, and workforce training. Rather than treating job displacement as the key outcome, the report documents a more uneven transition. IS: New roles are appearing while existing roles are being reshaped, many of which are only beginning to be defined.“CPRG Director Ramanand said, “Every major technological shift has restructured the workforce, and AI is no different. What is different this time is the speed. The displacement narrative is too simple, and this report shows why. New roles are emerging across the entire AI value chain, and India needs to lead the way now, starting with how we skill our students. CPRG’s work is to build the evidence base that informs India’s policy response to these shifts. Is, and this report is part of that effort.”The CPRG further said that “India is uniquely positioned in this transformation. We have a young workforce, a growing technology sector, and the scale of manufacturing for these roles that few other countries can do. This is an opportunity that India is well placed to lead.”CPRG Visiting Fellow Pranab Gupta said the ‘Future of Jobs’ report is an effort to examine new, emerging opportunities due to rapid AI proliferation. It is important to note that these opportunities will not be limited to core AI development and deployment roles. “Rather, the various forward and backward linkages of the AI ​​industry will also contribute to job creation.”CPRG Director Ramanand further said, “This report is important in the current global scenario. Across all economies, there is a fundamental question about where jobs are coming from and where they are being lost, and AI is at the center of that transformation. This report is CPRG’s attempt to systematically look at the job landscape and highlight where opportunities are emerging and where changes are taking place.“The report is part of CPRG’s Future of Society initiative, which examines how emerging technologies reshape society and the economy. As the official knowledge partner of the IndiaAI Mission for the India AI Impact Summit 2026, CPRG has hosted several summit events and a series of global and domestic pre-summit events.CPRG was also the only Indian NGO to host an official side event at the Paris AI Action Summit 2025, and its work has been recognized at the Belgrade GPAI Summit 2024.The Center of Policy Research and Governance (CPRG) is a policy research think tank that aims to promote responsive and participatory policy-making. As an institute recognized by the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), it has established itself as a leading voice in technology policy through its ‘Future of Society’ initiative.

Punjab Kings won the crucial toss and elected to field first in their IPL 2026 match against Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Stadium as they attempt to keep their fading playoff hopes alive. PBKS came into the competition under immense pressure after six consecutive defeats saw what once looked like a top-two campaign completely derailed. On April 25, Punjab were sitting comfortably on top of the table with 13 points from seven matches, but a dramatic drop in form has pushed them into a desperate battle for survival. captain Shreyas Iyer Deciding to give chase acknowledged the higher stakes in the competition. “We will bowl first. Two changes – Marco and Vishak are in. It is exciting, I would say it is a do or die match for us. “We have never been in this position before and the boys are looking forward to giving their best performance.” Punjab’s qualification equation is complicated. They not only need a win tonight, preferably by a solid margin, but also favorable results elsewhere. Rajasthan Royals The points kept falling and Kolkata Knight Riders failed to significantly improve their net run rate. The season is already out of control for Lucknow, but Captain Rishabh Pant He said his team wanted to finish strong despite a difficult campaign. “We would have also bowled first. This wicket is good for cricket regardless of bowling or batting. It is one of the better batting wickets, it can be a high-scoring match. There are two changes – Arjun and Arshin Kulkarni. It has been a tough season, but at the same time, there has been a lot to learn as a team and individually. I will apologize for the fans, they have come from all over UP. It is tough for us, but we will give our contribution. 100% today.“ Lucknow have also been badly hit by availability issues, with Mitchell Marsh missing out on tonight’s fixture along with overseas players Aiden Markram, Matthew Britzke and Anrich Nortje. Marsh’s absence is particularly significant as the Australian opening batsman has scored 563 runs this season and has formed a disastrous opening partnership with Josh Inglis in recent games.Teams:Lucknow Super Giants (Playing XI): Josh Inglis, Arshin Kulkarni, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper/captain), Abdul Samad, Mukul Chaudhary, Arjun Tendulkar, Mohammed ShamiPrince Yadav, Mohsin Khanpunjab kings (Playing XI): Prabhsimran Singh (w), Priyansh Arya, Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (c), Suryansh Shedge, Shashank Singh, Azmatullah Omarzai, Marco Jansen, Vijaykumar Vishak, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal. With Punjab’s season in jeopardy and Lucknow hoping to end on a positive note, the stakes remain high in Match 68 of IPL 2026.

Sonam Kapoor And Anand Ahuja, who currently lives in London with his two children, is reportedly expanding his property portfolio in the UK. The couple, who earlier made headlines for buying a lavish mansion in Notting Hill worth around Rs 270 crore, has now reportedly added another big real estate investment to their name.According to a report in Hindustan Times, Sonam and Anand have reportedly bought five flats in a building near their mansion for around £4 million i.e. Rs 51.4 crore. The report further claims that the properties were expected to serve as staff housing, a move that has reportedly made some of the building’s residents unhappy.According to the Daily Mail, locals also claimed that a spokesperson associated with the company had reportedly warned that the flats could be converted into “social housing” if residents’ objections continued. However, a representative associated with the couple clarified that the Kapoor family had no direct involvement with the company and said that the flats were acquired purely as investments.One resident told the publication, “We are being intimidated from speaking out just because they are powerful. We have built a sense of community here and it is changing because some billionaire wants to make our house another playground. It will change even more if they call people ‘social housing’. It is a strange threat. The whole thing stinks. Now no one is living in some of the flats. Some work is being completed. But behind the scenes, they have some say in what happens here. How is this acceptable?”The publication also reported that Sonam and Anand are believed to have spent around £4.7 million (Rs 60.4 crore) on renovating their Notting Hill mansion. Apart from their London properties, the couple reportedly also have residences in Mumbai and Delhi.Sonam Kapoor and Anand Ahuja married in March 2018 and welcomed their first child, son Vayu, in August 2022. Earlier this year, on March 29, the couple shared the news of the arrival of their second child via a joint social media announcement.“With immense gratitude and hearts full of love, we are happy to announce the arrival of our baby boy today, March 29th, 2026,” the post read.

Here are the top 5 news of the day

Rubio-Modi talks focus on Indo-Pacific, trade and defense ties

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Saturday and the two countries sought to strengthen strategic cooperation in defence, trade, technology and regional security. Rubio’s visit, which will also include meetings with Quad ministers, comes amid growing India-US engagement in the Indo-Pacific and expanding discussions on energy and critical technologies. Read the full story

Samarth Singh sent on seven days police remand in Twisha Sharma death case

Police on Saturday obtained seven-day remand of Samarth Singh, the main accused in the death case of his wife Twisha Sharma, after producing him in a Bhopal court following his arrest in Jabalpur. The investigators said the accused was not cooperating in the investigation, while the authorities also warned of action against anyone providing shelter to him during the period he was absconding. Read the full story

Uganda confirms three new cases of Ebola as concerns over outbreak grow

Uganda has confirmed three new Ebola infections, bringing the total number of cases in the current outbreak to five, as authorities step up efforts to trace contacts and stop the spread of the Bundibugyo strain. The World Health Organization has warned that the outbreak poses a high regional risk, particularly due to the absence of a vaccine for this strain and continued cross-border movement involving the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Read the full story

Joint anti-terrorism operation underway in Rajouri after contact with suspects

The Army said contact with suspected terrorists was established in the critical Mughlan area of ​​Rajouri during a joint operation by the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and CRPF. Security forces launched a cordon and search operation following intelligence inputs, while additional forces were deployed as the encounter continued. Read the full story

Cockroach Janata Party founder claims website removed amid online controversy

Abhijit Dubke on Saturday claimed that the website of the Cockroach Janata Party has been taken down and accused the BJP-led Center of “dictatorial behaviour”. The meme-driven online movement, which has gained popularity among young users amid the outrage over the alleged NEET-UG paper leak, has established itself as a platform for satire, criticism and digital activism. Read the full story

Producer Ramesh Taurani has broken his silence on the controversy related to ‘Hai Jawaani To Ishq Hona Hai’ and veteran producer Vashu Bhagnani. Taurani made it clear that the matter was well understood and assured that it would have no impact on the promotion of the film or its scheduled release.

Ramesh Taurani says there will be no impact on the release of ‘Hai Jawaani Toh Ishq Hona Hai’

When questions were raised about the legal notice related to the controversy at the film’s trailer launch event, Taurani did not shy away from addressing them directly. He was composed and confident while speaking, making it clear that things were already being taken care of. He strongly dismissed any possibility of the film’s promotion or release being affected, saying, “There is no problem. Whatever we had, it has been sorted out.” “And whatever comes next will also be sorted out. So, there is no problem. And it is a matter under consideration. So, we are handling it,” he added, leaving no scope for any further speculation.

What is the controversy regarding ‘Hai Jawaani To Ishq Hona Hai’

The controversy began when Vashu Bhagnani alleged that songs from one of his films were recreated and used without his permission. Bhagnani has made it clear that his fight is not about money, but about what is right and what is wrong.

Vashu Bhagnani expressed disappointment over the controversy of the song ‘Hai Jawaani To Ishq Hona Hai’

Vashu didn’t hold back when it came to expressing his disappointment over David’s alleged involvement in recreating songs from his films for ‘Hai Jawaani Toh Ishq Hona Hai’. The fact that the film stars David’s own son Varun made the situation even more personal and painful for him. “At least he should have come to me and told me what I should do, he is my son)… How can you shoot the same songs for another producer? There should be ethics in the industry..., Bhagnani said. He also opened up about his deep personal bond with David Dhawan, making it clear that the hurt goes far beyond any legal or financial dispute. He said, “David is my brother. I have lunch and dinner with him. I gave my life for him. Financially, it is fine, but emotionally the whole family is broken.”

Vashu Bhagnani rejects claims of technical glitch regarding trailer launch of ‘Hai Jawaani Toh Ishq Hona Hai’

Bhagnani also challenged the official reason given for canceling the first trailer launch, completely rejecting the claim of a technical glitch. He alleged that the real reason behind the sudden cancellation was the team’s awareness of the ongoing court proceedings and fear of contempt of court. “They canceled because they knew about the contempt of court. Now they have gone and filed a petition in the Patna court.” They knew very well that if anything happened it would be contempt of court. But they made an excuse by calling it a disturbance,” he claimed.

Vashu Bhagnani says his fight is bigger than the ‘Hai Jawaani To Ishq Hona Hai’ controversy

Despite the bitter legal battle, Bhagnani made it clear that he had no intention of coming in the way of the film’s release. He said that he is ready to find a middle path and resolve the matter through dialogue. He kept his demands simple and clear, saying, “Delete my scenes, make a deal with me or take permission, that’s all I’m asking.” Bhagnani also emphasized that their fight is bigger than just this one dispute – it is about standing up for the rights of producers and protecting intellectual property across the entire industry. He said, “My fight is not for me. My fight is for the public. It is about justice and morality.” He also pointed to the interim protection granted by the court to Pooja Entertainment in its legal battle against Tips Music over alleged unauthorized use of Bollywood intellectual property rights. Bhagnani, through his lawyer, clarified that the court’s status quo order includes everything mentioned in the lawsuit. The lawyer said, “I believe he has not read the court order carefully. The order clearly states that the entire music rights, songs and films mentioned in the plaintiff’s suit come under the ‘status quo’ order.”

The trailer of ‘Hai Jawaani Toh Ishq Hona Hai’ has finally been released.

On Saturday, the trailer of ‘Hai Jawaani Toh Ishq Hona Hai’ was finally released, and it offered what fans of David Dhawan’s films have always loved, a lively and entertaining mix of comedy, romance, music and family drama. The film marks the fourth time David and Varun have come together and the trailer suggests that it is going to be another fun ride. led by Varun Dhawan, Mrinal ThakurAnd Pooja HegdeThe story revolves around a chaotic love triangle filled with comic misunderstandings, relationship drama and high-energy humour. There is a strong ensemble cast which includes Rakesh Bedi, Chunky Pandey, Jimmy Shergill, Mouni Roy. Rajesh Kumarand Ali Asgar in the lead roles.

‘Chunari Chunari’ and other songs from ‘Hai Jawaani Toh Ishq Hona Hai’ are making waves online

The trailer is full of energetic musical moments, including a remix version of the much-loved 1990s song ‘Chunari Chunari’. Other tracks like ‘Waah’, ‘Tera Ho Jaun’ and ‘Vyah Karvado Ji’ are also making waves online ahead of the film’s release. Director David Dhawan, who is clearly eager to entertain the audience as always, spoke about the film in a press note saying, “This is my 46th film, and entertaining my audiences gives me the greatest joy. The film has all the ingredients of a classic family entertainer, humour, illusion, music and heart. With Hai Jawaani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, we wanted to create a thoroughly entertaining film full of laughter, music, romance and family entertainment. We are excited to let the audience experience the energy and madness of the film.”

Release date of ‘Hai Jawaani Toh Ishq Hona Hai’

‘Hai Jawaani Toh Ishq Hona Hai’ is all set to hit the theaters worldwide on June 5, 2026.

Uganda confirmed three new Ebola cases on Saturday, bringing the total number of infections in the current outbreak in the country to five, as authorities stepped up contact tracing efforts to stop the spread of the rare Bundibugyo strain of the virus.According to Uganda’s health ministry, the new cases include a driver who transported the country’s first confirmed Ebola patient and a health worker who contracted it while caring for that patient. Reuters reported that both were identified as known contacts and are currently undergoing treatment.The third confirmed case is a woman from the Democratic Republic of the Congo who entered Uganda with mild abdominal symptoms. Authorities said he traveled from Arua near the border to Entebbe before seeking treatment at a private hospital in Kampala.The ministry said the woman initially showed signs of recovery and returned to Congo, but later tested positive for Ebola after follow-up testing based on information from a pilot involved in transporting her.“All identified contacts linked to the confirmed cases are being closely monitored,” the ministry said, urging the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious symptoms.The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern and warned that the risk of a national epidemic in Congo remains “very high”.About 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths have been reported in Uganda’s neighbor Congo, which remains the epicenter of the outbreak.WHO has said that delayed detection, the absence of a vaccine or virus-specific treatment for the Bundibugyo strain, widespread armed violence and high mobility among the population have made Congo particularly vulnerable.It comes after WHO Africa Director Mohamed Yacoub Janabi warned on Friday against underestimating the outbreak, saying doing so would be a big mistake. “It would be a big mistake to underestimate this, especially with this strain of Bundibugyo virus, for which we do not have a vaccine,” he said.“So I would really encourage everyone, let’s help each other, we can get this thing under control,” he said.Janabi also said the Ebola outbreak in Congo has received relatively limited international attention compared to this month’s hantavirus outbreak involving cruise ship passengers from 23 countries.He further warned that a single Ebola contact case could trigger widespread transmission beyond Congo and Uganda, saying, “You just need one contact case to put us all at risk.”