US President Donald Trump on Friday shrugged off criticism from his opponents as he boasted about his cognitive abilities and intelligence during a rally in New York, saying he doesn’t mind being called a “tyrant” or a “dictator”, but he strongly objects to being called “dumb”. “I don’t mind being called a brilliant absolute dictator,” Trump told supporters, “but I don’t want to be called an idiot.” The comments came during a campaign-style appearance in New York’s Hudson Valley with Republican Congressman Mike Lawler, where Trump repeatedly strayed from the economic message and launched into a lengthy defense of his intelligence and mental intensity. At one point, Trump said that criticism surrounding his cognitive fitness prompted him to take a cognitive assessment, which he claimed to have successfully passed. He later told the audience, “I’m the smartest person you’ve ever met.” The nearly 90-minute speech switched rapidly between topics including inflation, crime, immigration, voter ID laws, transgender athletes and a dig at his predecessor Joe Biden. Trump repeatedly mocked Democrats during the event, referring to them as “Democrats”, a term he has used frequently in recent days, while urging supporters to stay politically engaged ahead of the congressional elections. “You have to go vote,” he said, “otherwise this is a rigged election.” The rally was held in support of Lawler, one of the few House Republicans representing a district won by Democrat Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. New York’s 17th Congressional District is expected to be one of the most competitive House races in the country and could play a key role in deciding control of Congress. The event also focused on last year’s expansion of the federal deduction for state and local taxes, commonly known as SALT, an issue of major importance in high-tax states like New York. Trump praised Lawler for aggressively pushing the measure through Congress and joked, “I call him Mr. Salt.” Lawler later thanked Trump for supporting the expansion and said the measure provided significant tax relief to residents of his district. Wearing a red “Mr. Salt” hat, the congressman said that more than 90 percent of families in the district are now able to completely deduct their state and local taxes. During the speech, Trump also defended his macroeconomic agenda. “I’ve cut your taxes, cut taxes on workers, families, small businesses, who are the soul of this state,” he said. “These are all Republican tax cuts. The Democrats voted against every single one of these tax cuts.” The appearance comes as the White House seeks to refocus Trump’s economic record amid declining approval ratings linked to inflation concerns and rising fuel prices following the Iran conflict.

More than a decade ago, when Masooma Ranalvi First to speak publicly about being subjected to circumcision (the local term for female genital mutilation) fgm) at the age of seven, he helped bring the practice within the Dawoodi Bohra community in India into the national spotlight. As the Supreme Court resumes hearing in the long-pending case in which he is a petitioner, fresh evidence from Kerala is also widening the debate beyond the Bohra community. Ranalvi, founder of WeSpeakOut, spoke Mahua Das On why she believes the fight in India could enter a new phaseHas there been any change in the way the court views FGM?It felt different. Even before this, a three-judge bench – Justices Dipak Misra, Chandrachud and Khanwilkar – had made very positive comments. Before the issue moved into religious territory, he raised questions about bodily integrity and talked about child rights. This time, the main issue before the nine-judge bench is the conflict between Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution – religious freedom of the individual versus the right of a sect to manage its own religious practices. We submitted that when a child is subjected to physical alteration and mental suffering in the name of religious observance, it enters into constitutional and criminal scrutiny. On this, Justice Bagchi commented that as far as FGM is concerned, the words ‘health’ and ‘public health’ may suffice. What we are expecting is a recognition from the court that this is a child rights violation, a criminal act, and something that affects physical integrity. If this happens, it will create pressure within the community and on the government to change policy, run awareness campaigns, educate doctors, support survivors and spread awareness about the harms of FGM. It also gives courage to those in the community who are still struggling.The FGM petition has now taken years to wrangle between constitutional benches and questions related to religious practices. What does this lengthy legal bind mean for survivors and activists on the ground?This is an excellent question because no one cared what happened in the intervening seven years. We were really disappointed. More importantly, the practice continued and many girls suffered something that probably could have been avoided had the case been heard earlier. Nobody really sees the urgency of the issue. This is irreparable damage to a child’s body. There should be no room for something like this in a modern society that claims to care about the rights of women and children. Also, the delay forced us to regroup and rethink our strategies. We realized that this is an uphill battle because we are up against a very powerful religious hierarchy, politically and economically. They have made every effort to stop progress on this issue. So, we began to look outward, learn from global movements, and build coalitions. FGM exists in 94 countries and there is conflict everywhere. In Africa, 29 countries have laws against FGM. Last year, WHO released updated guidelines for health workers after almost a decade. Type III infibulation (the most severe type of FGM) receives the most attention, but there are other forms, including notching and pricking.How are Indian groups connecting with the growing Asian network you have created around FGM?Over the past five years, we have been building alliances and learning from each other. An important aspect of this network is that it is telling the world that FGM is not just an African issue. It is also present in many parts of Asia. But in most places, religion is used as justification for maintaining this practice.For years, FGM was seen solely as a Dawoodi Bohra issue. What prompted WeSpeakOut to look into reports of FGM emerging from Sunni communities in Kerala?There were whispers about this practice in Kerala and parts of Tamil NaduBut there was no direct evidence or survivor testimony. Then, around 2017, there came a story about the Kozhikode clinic and a survivor who talked about it. There was a huge reaction against him. After this the matter cooled down again. But we decided to explore it further. Evidence is almost impossible to obtain. In the Bohra community, some of us came forward and gave interviews, so the conversation started. However, our yet-to-be-released exploratory study provides enough evidence to show that more research, data collection, and intervention strategies are needed.What differences did you notice in Kerala compared to the Bohra context?The biggest difference is age. In the Bohra community the age limit is around seven years. In Kerala, FGM is performed around the 40th day after birth. At that age, the area involved is so small that even skilled surgeons will struggle. The possibility of damage to the clitoris is very high. The other difference is who does it. In Kerala, it is the ‘Osathi’ community, women from the barber community traditionally do this work. There are also clinics in some places which points to increasing medicalization. Women survivors talked about difficult sexual experiences, but they did not necessarily connect them to the FGM they had undergone. This understanding comes much later when you begin to understand the function of the clitoris.After working on this issue for over a decade, do you see more Bohra parents choosing not to subject their daughters to circumcision, even if they don’t say so publicly?Absolutely. Wherever we have been able to reach out to women through talks, literature, campaigns or media coverage, it has had a positive impact. But there are still many women who have not heard or engaged in these debates, especially in small towns and rural areas of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh where many Bohras live. There is also another section which openly says that this is their belief and their right, and they want this practice to continue. That’s why outreach matters. The more conversations there are, the more likely it is that this practice will decrease over time.

Britain’s largest public sector pension investment pool quietly sold millions of dollars worth of Israeli government bonds after months of pressure from pro-Palestinian campaigners, according to a report by Middle East Eye.Border to Coast Pension Partnership, which manages approximately £120 billion of assets on behalf of approximately two million local government employees, had purchased approximately $29.2 million worth of Israeli government bonds due between 2024 and 2025.The investments were subsequently sold within months, although the organization did not publicly announce the divestment or provide detailed information at the time.According to Middle East Eye, campaigners associated with local government pension schemes discovered the investments while investigating how pension funds were being managed during the Gaza War.Activists from groups including the South Yorkshire Pension Divest for Palestine campaign said they were concerned that pension money was invested in Israeli government bonds, while Israel faced allegations of war crimes and genocide in Gaza.Campaigners organized protests, petitions and pressure campaigns throughout 2025 targeting local pensions authorities and from border to coast.The Israeli bond purchases were made through Pimco, a US-based asset management firm and one of the world’s largest bond managers, the report said.Border to Coast later confirmed that the bonds were sold, but declined to say whether campaign pressure had directly influenced the decision.A spokesperson for the pension partnership said the organization continues to monitor the impact of the Israel-Gaza conflict on investments “in line with our views on ESG issues and our responsible investment policies”.The issue also highlighted wider tensions within UK pension funds over investments linked to the Gaza conflict and the lack of direct guidance from the British government.The planning advisory board for the Local Government Pension Scheme reportedly sought clarification from ministers regarding potential legal liabilities linked to Gaza-related investments.Local Government Minister Alison McGovern later said that foreign policy decisions, including sanctions and divestment policies, were a matter for central government, rather than local authorities.However, he said pension funds may still change investment strategies for financial or fiduciary reasons.The report said Border to Coast still retained investments in several companies listed on the UN database of businesses operating in illegal Israeli settlements, including Airbnb, Booking.com and Bank Leumi.Campaigners have continued to urge further divestment from Israeli settlements and companies linked to the Gaza conflict.

An Indian-origin cancer specialist has been struck off the UK medical register after a tribunal ruled his criminal conviction made him a risk to the public, meaning he can no longer practice medicine in the UK, a more serious sanction than being fired from his job.Shameer Chandran, an oncologist who previously worked at Newcastle Hospital, was sentenced to four years in prison in November after pleading guilty to two counts of controlling and coercive behavior and one count of cruelty to a person under 16.According to the BBC, the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) has now ordered that his name be struck from the medical register.According to the BBC, Chandran did not attend his criminal trial or disciplinary proceedings at Carlisle Crown Court. Reports say he has fled the UK and there is an outstanding warrant for his arrest. Cumbria Police confirmed he was wanted.The tribunal described the crimes as serious and said the behavior involved repeated actions against vulnerable individuals.“It was directed at people who were vulnerable and contained elements of premeditation – seeking to obtain financial benefit from [his victim] Through intimidation,” the report said.The MPTS also found that Chandran had shown no understanding of the seriousness of his actions or their impact: “The tribunal considered that there was a real risk of him causing harm to someone in the future.”The tribunal said that allowing him to continue practicing medicine would seriously damage public confidence in the profession.Emails included in tribunal documents show Chandran criticized his treatment in Britain and said his medical career had been ruined.“I no longer care about the proceedings, as my career has already been destroyed,” he wrote to the General Medical Council (GMC).“I am completely disappointed with the way I was treated in the UK and I will never work in that country again. They treated me like a common criminal without caring about what I had to say and the impact of what they were doing.”Tribunal documents also revealed that Chandran had resigned from his NHS role and left the UK following the GMC’s action against him.“Due to the GMC’s action, I have had to resign from my job and leave the UK. I don’t know how I can help with these proceedings now, as I am not currently working,” he said in another email.Chandran received his MBBS degree from the University of Calicut Academy of Medical Sciences in Pariyaram, Kerala. He later told GMC that he no longer wanted to continue practicing oncology and began working with a friend in a private business while rebuilding his life.However, the tribunal said there was no evidence that he had accepted responsibility or taken steps to remedy his conduct.

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.