The Indian Panorama

Month: May 2018

  • Europe’s landmark privacy law comes into force

    Europe’s landmark privacy law comes into force

    LONDON(TIP): The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) comes into force on Friday, May 25, giving EU citizens new rights over how their personal data is used. It has been billed as the biggest shake-up of data privacy laws since the birth of the web

    The pan-EU law aims to give its citizens more rights to control over their online information. It has a list of technically demanding requirements, and threatens fines of up to 4% of a company’s annual revenue for serious infringements

    The law covers companies that collect large amounts of customer data, including Facebook and Google. It won’t be overseen by a single authority but instead by a patchwork of national and regional watchdogs across the 28-nation bloc

    The new privacy law (GDPR) seeks to harmonize the scattered data protection laws in the EU and envisages stringent penalties under it. It replaces the existing EC Data Protection Directive (95/46/EC). GDPR seeks to enhance the data privacy rights of users and imposes certain new responsibilities upon data controllers and processors.

    The new law endeavors to create a model for a data protection and privacy framework that will be able to keep pace with rapid advancements in technology. Most importantly, GDPR attempts to give back to individuals control over their personal data, while recognizing the protection of one’s personal data as a fundamental right. Here are some key elements of GDPR:

    New definition of personal data

    Under the GDPR, personal data is anything that relates to an identified or identifiable individual. For example: name, address, email address, location data or computer IP address. Sensitive data, such as religious beliefs, racial or ethnic origin, sexual orientation or trade union membership, are subject to extra protections.

    Higher penalties

    The GDPR foresees fines of 2 to 4 per cent of a company’s annual revenues or 20 million euros ($24 million), whichever is higher.

    Stricter rules on consent

    Companies will need to get freely given, specific, unambiguous and informed consent from individuals to process their data. They will also need users to opt in to the processing of their data – simply giving them an opt out will not be valid. In other words, companies will no longer be able to ask consumers to tick a box after a long set of terms and conditions that most people never read.

    Global scope

    The GDPR will apply to any company that has customers in the EU, whether the firm was established in the bloc or not.

    New rules for data processors

    The GDPR distinguishes between data “controllers” and data “processors”. A data controller determines why personal data must be collected and processed as well as how. A data processor only processes personal data on behalf of the controller and is usually a third-party company.

    For example: A retailer that hires a human resources company to handle payroll and other functions is the data controller, while the human resources company is the data processor.

    Under GDPR, data processors must guarantee the same standards as controllers and ensure they meet the requirements of the law. There must be a legal contract between a processor and a controller, and a processor may not engage another company to process data without the controller’s consent.

    Data breach notifications

    Companies must notify data protection authorities of data breaches within 72 hours of becoming aware of it, if it is likely to impact the rights of individuals. If the breach carries a high risk for individuals, then the company must notify the affected people without undue delay.

    One-stop shop

    The GDPR introduces a “one-stop shop” mechanism to make it easier for companies operating across the EU, for example Facebook, Google and Mastercard. Companies processing data across the bloc will have a lead authority in the country where they have their main establishment, for example Facebook in Ireland.

    The lead authority will be the main point of contact for the company and responsible for ensuring its compliance with GDPR. In cases involving citizens from several countries the lead authority will coordinate with other “concerned” authorities. If there are disputes between authorities, a new body, the European Data Protection Board (EDPB), can make binding decisions. — Reuters

    Lawfulness of data processing

    Companies processing personal data must ensure it is lawful, fair and transparent. They may not use data for purposes other than those for which it was collected, with limited exceptions. Data processing is lawful if:

    • An individual has consented to it
    • It is necessary for the performance of a contract
    • It is necessary to meet a legal obligation under EU or national law
    • It is necessary to protect the vital interests of an individual
    • It is necessary to carry out a task in the public interest under EU or national law
    • It is in the company’s legitimate interest, as long as it does not override an individual’s fundamental rights and freedoms
    • If a company collected data on the basis of consent, then it may not use it for other purposes

    Stronger rights for Europeans

    • People living in the European Union will get the right to:
    • Receive clear and understandable information about who is processing their data and why
    • Access data an organization holds about them
    • Ask for personal data to be erased if there is no longer any legitimate reason to keep it
    • Have data corrected if it is incorrect
    • Move data from one service provider, such as an email service or social network, to another
  • Former Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Venditto acquitted in corruption case

    Former Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Venditto acquitted in corruption case

    LONG ISLAND, NY(TIP) Former Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto was acquitted Thursday, May 24, on all corruption-related charges as a federal jury delivered a partial verdict before continuing its deliberations on his co-defendants, former Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano and his wife, Linda.

    Venditto was cleared on 27 counts that included federal program bribery, honest-services wire fraud and securities fraud in the trial now nearing the end of its 11th week.

    Prosecutors had alleged that Venditto, 68, of North Massapequa, accepted free limo rides and other perks from Singh and, in exchange, helped Singh obtain the more than $20 million in business loans pegged to Oyster Bay’s creditworthiness.

    “Mr. Venditto, you are excused. Good luck,” Azrack said after his verdict was read.

    “Thank you,” he replied.

    He remained stoic in the Central Islip courtroom as, count by count, the “not guilty” findings became a refrain.

    “From the very first day I started in law school, I have had nothing but faith in our justice system and the events of today confirm that faith,” Venditto told the gathered mediapersons after he was dismissed with the well wishes of U.S. District Judge Joan M. Azrack.

    Meanwhile, Jury is set to deliberate on Mangano and Linda cases on Friday, May 25.

  • A bang and a whimper- Trump scraps Kim summit, citing NK’s ‘open hostility’

    A bang and a whimper- Trump scraps Kim summit, citing NK’s ‘open hostility’

    Trump’s announcement came hours after North Korea carried out what it said is the demolition of its nuclear test site.

    WASHINGTON(TIP): US President Donald Trump on Thursday, May 24, called off a historic summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un scheduled for next month, even after North Korea followed through on a pledge to blow up tunnels at its nuclear test site.

    Trump announced his abrupt withdrawal from what would have been a first-ever meeting between a serving US President and a North Korean leader in Singapore on June 12 in a letter to Kim.

    A White House official said a North Korean official’s condemnation of US Vice-President Mike Pence as a “political dummy” was “the last straw” that led to cancelling the summit.

    “Sadly, based on the tremendous anger and open hostility displayed in your most recent statement, I feel it would be inappropriate, at this time, to have this long-planned meeting,” Trump wrote to Kim.

    “Please let this letter serve to represent that the Singapore summit, for the good of both parties, but to the detriment of the world, will not take place.” Trump called it “a missed opportunity” and said he still hoped to meet Kim someday. However, the chances for a quick rescheduling appear remote and cancellation of the summit will renew fears of a return to conflict on the Korean peninsula.

    Earlier on Thursday, North Korea had repeated a threat to pull out of the summit with Trump next month and warned it was prepared for a nuclear showdown with Washington if necessary.

    South Korea’s presidential Blue House appeared taken off guard by Trump’s letter and an official said it was “trying to figure out what President Trump exactly meant.” South Korean President Moon Jae-in had met with Trump at the White House on Tuesday, May 22, to urge him to follow through on the summit and not let a rare opportunity with reclusive North Korea slip away.

    A few hours before Trump announced the cancellation, a small group of international media selected by North Korea witnessed the demolition of tunnels at the Punggye-ri site on Thursday, May 24, which Pyongyang said was proof of its commitment to end nuclear testing.

    Meanwhile, alarm bells began to ring at the world body. Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General said, “I am deeply concerned by the cancellation of the planned meeting in Singapore between the President of the United States and the leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Both the parties must continue their dialogue so as to find a path to the peaceful and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean peninsula”.

  • May 25 New York & Dallas Print Editions

    May 25 New York & Dallas Print Editions

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  • Indian Origin Gobind Singh Deo Becomes Malaysia’s First Sikh Minister

    Indian Origin Gobind Singh Deo Becomes Malaysia’s First Sikh Minister

    KUALA LUMPUR (TIP): An Indian origin Sikh politician in Malaysia, Gobind Singh Deo, has become the cabinet minister. He is the first member of the minority community in the country’s history to be appointed as a minister.

    Mr.Deo, 45, who has been given the communications and multimedia portfolio, is among the two politicians of Indian descent included in the Pakatan Harapan coalition’s Cabinet.

    The other Indian origin lawmaker is M Kulasegaran from the Democratic Action Party, who has been made the human resource minister.

    Mr. Deo represents Puchong constituency in the Malaysian Parliament and is the son of late Malaysian lawyer and politician Karpal Singh. He was sworn in during a ceremony at the National Palace yesterday after Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad included him in the new cabinet.

    He was first elected as an MP in the 2008 general elections. Mr. Deo was re-elected to the lower house, with an increased margin, in 2013 and he again won this year’s election with a margin of 47,635 votes.

    The Punjabi community in the country has hailed the appointment of Mr. Deo as the minister.

    “It is good to see Gobind Singh, a member of the Punjabi community in the cabinet. It is a proud and happy occasion for our community. Other than being a recognition of his abilities, it is also a recognition for the long established Punjabi community in Malaysia, Miri Indian Association president, Councillor Karambir Singh was quoted.

    Malaysia has a Sikh population of nearly 1,00,000.

  • Indian Student, Clicking Selfie, Dies After Falling Off Hill In Australia

    Indian Student, Clicking Selfie, Dies After Falling Off Hill In Australia

    MELBOURNE (TIP):  In a tragic incident, a 20-year-old Indian origin student has died after falling off rocks into the ocean from a popular tourist attraction in Western Australia while trying to take a selfie, media reports said.

    Ankit was with friends when he slipped off the 40-metre precipice at The Gap, near the historic port town of Albany, the media reported.

    He was studying in Perth, and had been running and jumping on the rocks before he slipped and plunged into the ocean while taking a photo with friends , the report said.

    His body was recovered from the water just over an hour later following a search involving a rescue helicopter.

    “He was just very careful, just to take a picture and he just slipped down there, on the hill,” his friend was quoted as saying by the report.

    Police are still trying to contact the student’s parents.

    “A young male has gone into the water, and sadly lost their life. This is such a tragic event,” said Dominic Wood, Great Southern District superintendent.

    All I know at this stage is that there is a small group, we think of about five young adults, they were down here within the vicinity of the platform behind me around the rocks,” Wood said.

    “It is a dangerous area but if you take precautions and stay between the bounds, then these things won’t happen.”

    The site was briefly closed two years ago to add a viewing platform and railings and warning signs near the edge.

     

  • Indian Americans Appointed By New York Mayor To Board Of Advisors

    Indian Americans Appointed By New York Mayor To Board Of Advisors

    NEW YORK (TIP):  Two Indian American executives are among 19 people appointed by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio as members to an organization that addresses the city’s most pressing challenges, with a particular focus on improving the lives of vulnerable New Yorkers.

    Hotel Association of New York City President and CEO Vijay Dandapani and Insight Venture Partners Managing Director Deven Parekh, along with 17 other individuals have been appointed members to the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City Board of Advisors.

    Mr. Dandapani is a hotel industry veteran, recognized in 1998 as one of Crain’s New York Business top 100 minority business leaders in New York City.

    In 2002, the Asian American Business Development Center, New York selected him as one of 50 outstanding Asian Americans in Business. He is an alumnus of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration.

    According to its website, the Hotel Association of New York City is one of the oldest professional trade associations in the nation. Currently it represents 280 hotels, 80,000 rooms and about 50,000 employees.

    Mr. Parekh manages investments in vertical and horizontal software and consumer internet companies globally. He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the Economic Club of NY and the Greater NY Partnership.

    He was nominated by former president Barack Obama, and confirmed by the US Senate to serve on the Overseas Private Investment Corporation Board. In addition, he is chairman emeritus of Publicolor, a New York City based non-profit organization that focuses on inner city schools.

    During the period 2010 2012, he served as a Member of the Advisory Board of the US Export-Import Bank which is the official export credit agent of the United States. Mr. Parekh is regularly featured on Forbes’ list of the world’s top venture capitalists.

    For over 20 years, the Board of Advisors has provided expertise and critical support for the Fund as it pursues its goal of creating innovative and evidence-based approaches to address the City’s most pressing challenges, a press statement issued yesterday said.

    “To address the challenges facing our city, we need all New Yorkers pushing for progress together including those in our robust private sector,” de Blasio said.

    First Lady Chirlane McCray, Chair of the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City said the administration depends on New York City’s civic leaders to partner with government to make the city more vibrant and equitable.

    Founded in 1994, the Mayor’s Fund is a not-for-profit organization which annually works with an average of over 80 City programs, projects and initiatives; over 300 institutional funders; and more than 100 community-based organizations.

    The Mayor’s Fund and its partners work on a diverse set of initiatives that address needs across the city’s five boroughs, with a particular focus on improving the lives of vulnerable New Yorkers and New Yorkers in need.

    The Fund has made strategic investments to promote mental health services for all New Yorkers, increase workforce development opportunities for young New Yorkers, and meet the needs of New York City’s diverse immigrant community.

    Recently, the Mayor’s Fund has supported relief work in response to the unprecedented natural disasters that hit Puerto Rico, Texas and the Caribbean, including collecting USD 1.7 million in aid for residents displaced by Hurricane Maria.

     

     

     

  • Indian Origin UK based missing boy found

    Indian Origin UK based missing boy found

    LONDON (TIP): UK based 15-year-old Indian origin Abhimanyu Chohan who disappeared from his school after he was reportedly accused of cheating when he scored 100 per cent marks in an exam has been found safe and well, British police said.

    Abhimanyu went missing from King Henry VIII Independent School in Coventry on May 18thafter he scored 100 per cent marks in a mock test and was worried about getting into trouble.

    West Midlands Police tweeted that he had been found “safe and well”, the media reported.

    On the day he went missing, Abhimanyu changed his clothes and walked out of school – he was caught on CCTV on the highway in the city.

    Abhimanyu’s father Varinder Chohan said his son had been worried about getting in trouble at school after accusations he had cheated on an exam paper.

    His family believe he may have left Coventry and could have travelled as far as Oxfordshire – but he has no money, food or extra clothing.

    “We just want him back safe, this is so unlike him. He’s a bit of a high flyer, he’s a smart kid but he’s not street wise,” Mr Chouhan said.

    “We’re worried he may have thought he was in trouble because he got top marks on a mock exam paper.”

    “We think he might have seen the paper beforehand but we’re not sure exactly what happened.”

    “He was allowed to sit for a completely new paper, so I don’t think there was even a major problem with the school. He is due to sit his General Certificate of Secondary Education’s next year and is on course to do well.

    “But he was worried he might get in trouble because he’s never been in trouble before at all. He’s never been in detention, he’s just a hard-working intelligent kid.”

    Abhimanyu’s mother Navneet said that her son turned 15 about a week ago and “was so happy”, the report said.

    “I dropped him off and he must have then changed,” she said.
    “Police came and said ‘we can do more but have to wait until we are on high alert’.

    “They said maybe he is taking time for himself and wants to clear his head.”

    Relatives have been joined by friends and neighbors to help search for the missing teenager. His aunt, Manjit Sahota, said the family just want him back “safe and sound” and that they “love him so much”.

    In a statement on King Henry VIII School’s official Facebook page, head-master Jason Slack said, “We are all concerned about Abhimanyu’s whereabouts and his safety and the school is working closely with the family and the police to locate Abhimanyu as quickly as possible.”

     

     

     

  • Indian Ambassador Navtej Sarna addresses Indian American community in Columbus

    Indian Ambassador Navtej Sarna addresses Indian American community in Columbus

    COLUMBUS (TIP): Indian Ambassador to the United States Navtej Sarna addressed the Indian American community at an event organized by The Federation of Indian Associations of Central Ohio on May 18thand praised their  contribution in the strengthening of the US-India relationship.

    At the event, held in Columbus, Sarna also felicitated 7-year-old Indian American boy Arush Kristipati, who won the National Math Challenge in the Juniors category, conducted by Aloha, New Jersey.

    The Federation of Indian Associations of Central Ohio is a volunteer non-profit organization established in 1983 to bring all the Indian American groups in Central Ohio under one umbrella.

    Addressing the community, Sarna spoke about latest economic developments in India and answered a wide range of questions on India-US relations. He thanked the federation for organizing the event.

    The group announced that it will host the India Festival 2018 on August 25 at the Ohio Expo Centre.

    The India Festival is celebrated each year to create awareness about the Indian culture and to understand how it is adding to the cultural diversity of Ohio. The festival is a one-of-its-kind event presented by Indian community in central Ohio.

  • Indian American Techie Srinivas Kuchibhotla’s killer Adam Purinton pleads guilty to hate crime charges

    Indian American Techie Srinivas Kuchibhotla’s killer Adam Purinton pleads guilty to hate crime charges

    KANSAS (TIP): Indian American Techie Srinivas Kuchibhotla’s killer Adam Purinton, the navy veteran, has pleaded guilty to federal hate crime charges.

    Kuchibhotla died in the shooting incident that happened on February 22 last year after Purinton opened fire at the two Indians under the assumption that they were Iranians.

    Kuchibhotla was an aviation engineer at the Kansas-based technology company Garmin International and was living in the United States with his wife, Sunayana Dumala.

    A third patron, Ian Grillot, a white American, was also wounded as he tried to intervene when Purinton tried fleeing from the bar after the incident.

    Purinton, 53, entered the guilty plea to a three-count indictment on  May 22nd at a Kansas federal court. He is slapped with hate crime and firearm charges.

    The series of events that led to the killing of Kuchibhotla was mentioned the Department of Justice in a press release.

     “Hate crimes are acts of evil, and the Department of Justice has prioritized their zealous prosecution,” said Acting Associate Attorney General Jesse Panuccio. “In this case, the defendant embarked on a murderous rampage with clear premeditation to kill on the basis of race, color, religion, and national origin. It was a hate crime, and he is being brought to justice. While we cannot ameliorate the irreparable harm to the victims and their families, we hope that securing this guilty plea brings them some measure of closure.  And this prosecution sends a message across the nation: hate crimes will not be tolerated.”

    “Nothing we do can provide complete comfort and solace to the victims of this tragic crime and their families,” said U.S. Attorney McAllister. “But our office hopes that the federal life sentence which Mr. Purinton has agreed to request and accept will give them some measure of closure.”

    “Although Purinton has already been convicted of murder in the State of Kansas, and sentenced to life in prison, today’s plea in federal court speaks to his motive,” said FBI Kansas City Special Agent in Charge Darrin Jones. “By his agreement to today’s plea, Purinton acknowledges that his actions were motived by his hatred of the victims’ race, religion, color and national origin.  This type of hatred will never be tolerated.  I think it’s important for the community to see and understand that the FBI is committed to aggressively protecting and preserving the civil rights of all of our communities.”

  • Indian American Aruna Miller Marlyland Democrat received another big endorsement courtesy the Former Obama Chief of Staff Denis McDonough

    Indian American Aruna Miller Marlyland Democrat received another big endorsement courtesy the Former Obama Chief of Staff Denis McDonough

    MARYLAND (TIP): Indian American Maryland Democrat Aruna Miller received another big endorsement on May 22nd courtesy Denis McDonough, former Chief of Staff to President Barack Obama.

    “I know first-hand what it takes to get things done in Washington,” McDonough, who served as chief of staff during Obama’s second term from 2013 to 2017. “Right now, we need experienced leaders who will stand up and fight for our values. Aruna came to this country as an immigrant and benefited from the American dream. I admire how she is giving back.” said Denis McDonough.

    “Denis McDonough led President Obama’s team defending the Affordable Care Act and protecting our environment,” Miller said. “I’m delighted to have his support. In Congress, I won’t let Donald Trump undo the progress we’ve made.”

    Last week, Montgomery County Council Vice President Nancy Navarro had endorsed Miller, who has bagged a series of high-profile endorsements.

    Among Democrats who have so far endorsed her include Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY; US Reps. Pramila Jayapal, D-WA,  Ami Bera, D-CA, Ro Khanna, D-CA, and  Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi; Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett; former Maryland Lieutenant Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend; and Maryland Del. Kumar Barve.

    The primary is on June 26.

    One of Miller’s primary rivals is millionaire David Trone, who spent more than $13 million of his money when he ran unsuccessfully from the 8th congressional district two years ago.

    Trone has so far raised more than $5.6 million and spent $4 million, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

    Miller has remained competitive by doing well in a series of debates and also raising nearly $1.2 million, which is more than the combined amount raised by the five other candidates in the Democratic primary.

  • Indian Americans Sri Kulkarni and Chintan Desai win Democratic congressional primaries in two different states

    Indian Americans Sri Kulkarni and Chintan Desai win Democratic congressional primaries in two different states

    TEXAS & ARKANSAS (TIP): Indian Americans Sri Kulkarni and Chintan Desai have won Democratic party primaries held on May 22ndin Texas and Arkansas respectively.

    Sri Preston Kulkarni, a former US diplomat, won the Democratic primary runoff for Texas’ 22nd Congressional District defeating Letitia Plummer, his only rival.

    In Arkansas, Chintan Desai, a school teacher, won the state’s first congressional district unopposed.

    In the 22nd dirstrict runoff on May 22nd, Kulkarni received 62.1 percent of the total votes polled, while Plummer got 37.88 percent votes.

    The runoff was required after no candidate was able to secure the 50 percent threshold in the primary held in March.

    Kulkarni and Plummer finished first and second in the primary with 31.81 percent and 24.30 percent votes respectively, resulting in a run-off to decide the Democratic nominee for the November election.

    Now Kulkarni will face Republican incumbent Pete Olson in November.

    Earlier, Olson had won the Republican primary in March defeating three candidates.

    “On May 22nd, we made history in District 22. Our movement, uniting diverse communities through shared values, took us across the finish line and helped me become your Democratic nominee for US Congress,” Kulkarni.

    “None of this would have been possible without our hundreds of volunteers, from middle schoolers to senior citizens, and, of course, the thousands of voters who participated in this election,” he thanked his volunteers for the unflinching support they provided, adding that” I am beyond thankful to be in this fight with you. I look forward to working with y’all to make sure our communities and our families get the representation they deserve in Congress.”

    Kulkarni, a former US diplomat, quit his State Department job to run for Congress.

    “According to media reports, Texas 22nd is a Republican leaning district. Olson, a four-term incumbent, has a 10-point advantage in the district. However, Democrats see the district as a pick-up opportunity.

    Arkansas 1st is a heavily Republican seat, which was carried by Trump by 35 points in the last presidential election. Desai’s November opponent, Rep. Rick Crawford has been representing the district since 2011.

  • Indian American Former federal CIO Vivek Kundra joins Sprinklr as COO

    Indian American Former federal CIO Vivek Kundra joins Sprinklr as COO

    New York (TIP):Indian American Former federal Chief Information Vivek Kundra has been named as the Chief Operating Officer of the social media management software provider Sprinklr.

    He was earlier the president of Salesforce, until he left the company in December.

    According to an official press release, with the appointment of Kundra, Sprinklr wants to provide brands a unified platform for customer experience management.

    “I’ve been incredibly fortunate in my career to learn from amazing leaders running some of the largest companies and governments in the world. All of them share one goal: to build enduring relationships that create value for every one of their constituents,” said Kundra.

    “The social revolution has created an unprecedented disruption for these organizations, but when they overcome it, the results are transformational — for them, and for their customers. I couldn’t be more excited to bring what I’ve learned to the only company that was built from the ground up to solve this problem, and to do so at massive, global scale.”

    Kundra, who was born in New Delhi, is a University of Maryland graduate.

    He has experience creating ecosystems for partners and launching new apps to solve industry-specific challenges. Kundra also launched a new government cloud, opening up new markets and accelerating growth in the United States, Europe, Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific region.

    As the CIO of the Obama Administration, Kundra was responsible for managing $80 billion in annual technology spending. He was responsible for moving the government to the cloud, and strengthening the cybersecurity posture of the nation.

    Sprinklr, which focuses on social media management and customer experience management, was founded by Indian American Ragy Thomas in September 2009.

    “There are only a handful of execs in the world that have scaled SaaS companies at the level we aspire to, and even fewer who understand at their core, as we do, that the ability to create happy customers — listening to, engaging, and reaching them across dozens of digital channels — is the most strategic investment for the modern enterprise. To find both in one person is incredibly rare,” said Thomas, who is also the CEO of Sprinklr. “With a foundation in social, Sprinklr was purpose-built to be the defining enterprise software company for CXM, and with Vivek in our corner, we’re going to be relentless in our pursuit of that vision, executing with more momentum than ever.”

  • Indian American whiz kids winners of the 2018 National Geographic Bee

    Indian American whiz kids winners of the 2018 National Geographic Bee

    WASHINGTON DC (TIP):  Indian American whiz kids won the top three awards at the 30th annual National Geographic Bee competition. Barring two, all the finalists were of Indian origin.

    For the seventh consecutive year, an Indian American kid, Venkat Ranjan, 13, of California was crowned winner of the prestigious competition.

    In second place was Anoushka Buddhikot, 13, of New Jersey, and the third place finisher was Vishal Sareddy, 14, of Georgia. The winners were awarded one of three college scholarships totaling $85,000 at the competition held at the National Geographic headquarters in the nation’s capital.

    Ranjan secured the top award of $50,000, the title of National Geographic Bee Champion, a lifetime membership in the National Geographic Society, including a subscription to the National Geographic magazine, and an all-expenses-paid expedition to the Galapago Islands aboard the National Geographic Endeavour II.

    Buddhikot and Sareddy received $25,000 and $10,000, respectively. Following the preliminary round which was held on May 21st, each of the top ten winners was awarded $500.

    Upon winning the competition, Ranjan confessed to not knowing the answer to the final question and arrived at it by eliminating other options.

    Ranjan started seriously preparing for the competition three years ago. This was the first time he was competing at the national level and he won.

    Buddhikot, who is in eighth grade at Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School, says history is her favorite subject. “I think it’s interesting to learn from the past and be able to bring that back to our future,” she said.

    About preparing for the National Geographic Bee, she mentioned studying for hours every day, especially over summer and the holidays, ever since she was in fourth grade.

    Sareddy, in eighth grade at Riverwatch Middle School, Suwanee, was a returning contestant at the national level.

    “Preparing for the competition was a lot of hard work,” he said. Besides studying atlases and staying abreast of the news, “You have to have a passion for geography which is really your driving force to work this hard and win,” he said. “You also have to have a coach like a parent. For me, it was my Dad.”

    “On stage, you have to be calm. You can’t be stressed or nervous or even over-excited. That can really hurt your performance in the Bee,” he said.

    Sareddy started preparing for the competition from first grade and more seriously from the fourth grade onwards. Given that geography has been his passion ever since he was a child, he would like to pursue a career in that field and cited possible options such as a National Geographic explorer, an international economist, marine biologist, or an archaeologist.

    In school, his favorite subject is social studies, and in his spare time, he likes to play the violin, basketball, runs cross-country, and loves to travel.

    The competition, also known as the Nat Geo Bee, is an annual geography contest open to students ages 10 to 14, organized by the National Geographic Society. It is tough and challenging, but also entertaining and very impressive! The aim is to inspire and reward children for their knowledge and curiosity about the world.

  • Federation of Indian Associations & Siddhivinayak Temple organized Community Outreach Visa & OCI Camp

    Federation of Indian Associations & Siddhivinayak Temple organized Community Outreach Visa & OCI Camp

    NEW JERSEY(TIP): Indian Consulate did Community Outreach program with support of FIA, BJANA and Sri Siddhivinayak temple USA on 13th May 2018 at Sri Siddhivinayak Temple premises. More than 60 people came even in very bad weather.

    Consul General Sandeep Chakraborty with his team helped the people who came to get help for various services like renunciation, power of attorney, attestation of application and did Q&A session. People asked various questions and got clarification regarding AADHAR to Voting process.

    Dr. Avinash Gupta, Chainman, Sri Siddivinayak temple USA, Alok Kumar Exec. VP (FIA) and Vinay Singh President(BJANA) worked hard with complete team to have a successful outreach for community. Srujal Parikh president (FIA) supported the cause for the community and spoke about bringing more events for the community.

  • Indian Overseas Congress, USA denounces BJP’s naked grab of power in Karnataka

    Indian Overseas Congress, USA denounces BJP’s naked grab of power in Karnataka

    NEW YORK(TIP): “BJP has dishonored the office of the Governor and denigrated the constitutional process in democracy in their incessant appetite to grab power at any cost,” said George Abraham, Vice-Chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress, USA. “Unless the people of India recognize the corrosive effect of their actions on institutions they hold dear, the Secular Democracy as we know it could be soon history” Mr. Abraham added.

    Karnataka Governor, Vajubhai Vala, a former Finance Minister under Modi in Gujarat has done a disservice to the nation by not inviting the Congress-JD(S) combine to form the Government. Although it is a post-poll alliance, it is quite evident that they have secured the simple majority that is necessary to claim the right to form the Government. On the other hand, BJP which is short of 8 MLAs might only succeed in their efforts, if they could engage in poaching or horse trading, which is illegal and at the minimum violates the spirit of the constitution.

    By swearing in BJP leader B.S. Yeddyurappa as the next Chief Minister, the Governor appears to have implicitly sanctioned illegal activities that may be already taking place behind the scenes. Janata Dal (S) leader HD Kumaraswamy alleged that Anand Singh, MLA is put under enormous pressure to defect. “Modi government is misusing institutions of the central government. I know they are threatening MLAs. A Congress MLA told me Anand Singh called him and told him ‘they are using ED (Enforcement Directorate), I had a case in ED, and they are going to screw me. I’m sorry I have to protect my interest’,” Mr. Kumaraswamy said, quoting Anand Singh. Previously, he had alleged that Rs. 100 crore and cabinet positions were being offered to his lawmakers”.

    Earlier, in a press briefing, Congress leader P. Chidambaram said the numbers of the Congress party and the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) established that the alliance had a majority in the Karnataka legislature. “The Governor, who is an exalted constitutional office, should not walk on a perilous path which is illegal,” Chidambaram said.

    Rahul Gandhi, the President of Congress Party, has also weighed in on the fast-moving developments in Karnataka.: “The BJP’s irrational insistence that it will form a Govt. in Karnataka, even though it clearly doesn’t have the numbers, is to make a mockery of our Constitution. This morning, while the BJP celebrates its hollow victory, India will mourn the defeat of democracy”.

    Congress Party may also partly to bear the responsibility for this debacle as their over-confidence bordering on arrogance by Siddaramaiya, the former Chief Minister, might have prevented them from forming a pre-poll alliance with Janata Dal (S). It should be noted that although Congress won only 78 seats, its vote-share (38%) was higher than that of BJP’s (36%). And combined with JD (S), the anti-BJP vote share amounts to 56% and thereby nullifies the argument that they have some mandate to govern for next five years.

  • Trump lists Michael Cohen payment on federal form, raising legal concerns about Stormy Daniels payoff

    Trump lists Michael Cohen payment on federal form, raising legal concerns about Stormy Daniels payoff

    WASHINGTON(TIP): President Trump should have disclosed Michael Cohen’s hush payment to porn star Stormy Daniels as a financial liability last year, the government’s top ethics watchdog concluded Wednesday, potentially opening the President up to legal complications.

    David Apol, acting director of the Government Ethics Office, said in a letter appended to Trump’s 2018 financial disclosure form that a payment Cohen made to “a third party” on behalf of the President during the 2016 election meets the requirements for a reportable “loan.”

    The letter does not explicitly state what Cohen’s payment was for, but the President’s legal team and Cohen himself have previously acknowledged he paid Daniels $130,000 to keep quiet about allegedly having sex with Trump in 2006. Cohen has also admitted the hush payment was issued 11 days before Trump’s election.

    While Apol didn’t say so in his letter, the revelations mean Trump could have committed a crime by not disclosing the liability in his financial disclosure report last year. Apol referred his findings to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein for any “inquiry” the Justice Department may pursue into the matter.

    Trump acknowledged in the disclosure form for the first time that he fully reimbursed Cohen last year for “expenses” ranging between $100,001 and $250,000.

    Ex-Mayor Rudy Giuliani insisted Trump disclosed the repayments to Cohen in this year’s report out of “an abundance of caution.”

    “It’s not a loan, but he reported it anyway,” Giuliani, the latest addition to Trump’s legal team, told the Daily News, directly contradicting Apol’s findings. “It was in fact an expense, like paying a doctor. If you owe a doctor $2,000 and you pay him back, that’s not a liability.”

    Giuliani claimed Trump didn’t list Cohen’s payment to Daniels in last year’s form because he didn’t need to.

    “There’s nothing to report,” Giuliani said.

    Asked if Trump is worried, Giuliani delivered a one-word rebuke: “Nope.”

    Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a legal watchdog group that first flagged Trump’s disclosure omission in March, welcomed Apol’s findings and swiftly filed a criminal complaint against the President. They called on the Justice Department to look into whether he “knowingly and willfully” failed to report required information — an offense punishable by up to one year behind bars.

    “There is substantial evidence that President Trump had knowledge of the loan when he filed his public financial disclosures last year,” Noah Bookbinder, the watchdog’s executive director, said in a statement. “If the department is not already investigating the President’s failure to disclose the loan last year, it should open an investigation immediately.”

    A spokeswoman for the Justice Department declined to comment.

    Attorney Michael Avenatti, who represents Daniels in a civil lawsuit seeking to void her nondisclosure agreement with Cohen, said the financial form “conclusively proves” that Trump, Cohen, Giuliani and the White House deceived the “American people.”

    “This was NOT an accident and it was not isolated,” Avenatti tweeted. “Coverups should always matter.”

    Cohen, Trump’s longtime attorney and personal fixer, had his Manhattan office, home and hotel room raided by FBI agents last month as part of a criminal investigation launched by federal prosecutors in New York. The agents seized a cache of records, including communications between Cohen and his clients.

    Michael Cohen arrives at Manhattan Federal Court on April 16.

    Michael Cohen arrives at Manhattan Federal Court on April 16. (Alec Tabak)

    Whether Trump committed a crime by not disclosing the Cohen payments last year is a matter of whether or not he knowingly omitted them, according to experts.

    “Trump may be wondering today whether the information DOJ seized from Cohen’s office included any emails or other documents showing he knew of the debt when he filed last year’s report,” former Government Ethics Director Walter Shaub tweeted.

    Shaub, who served as the ethics czar between 2013 and 2017, noted that Apol’s letter to Rosenstein is tantamount to a “criminal referral.”

    Shaub also recalled that, while serving as ethics director, Trump attorney Sheri Dillon asked him if the President could submit his 2017 disclosure without certifying its contents as true.

    “The strangest moment in my entire career,” Shaub said.

    Wednesday’s financial disclosure dump also revealed First Lady Melania Trump raked in as much as $1 million last year in royalties from photos of her owned by Getty Images.

    It’s not clear what photos in particular she received royalties for, but her spokeswoman told The News the payments pertained to images taken before Trump took office.

  • McDonald’s® CONTINUES 2018 EDUCATION WORKSHOP SERIES IN EDISON

    McDonald’s® CONTINUES 2018 EDUCATION WORKSHOP SERIES IN EDISON

    As immigration and college tuition in the US rise, McDonald’s continues to provide educational information and resources for students and parents

    OAK BROOK, Ill. (TIP): McDonald’s will continue its popular Education Workshop series of 2018 with Edison, New Jersey as the second stop on the seven-month long tour across the United States. The event will take place on Saturday, May 19 at Edison High School from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm, and will feature speakers covering a variety of topics such as college applications, admissions and financial aid.

    Now in its 11th year, the McDonald’s Education Workshop Series help provide Asian American families with tools and resources designed to navigate the higher education system. McDonald’s is committed to sharing in-language resources to parents who are seeking information on college enrollment and financial assistance while providing engaging and inspiring resources to students.

    “We are so excited to be able to bring back the McDonald’s Education Workshop year after year,” said Lizette Williams, Head of Cultural Engagement – US Marketing, McDonald’s USA. “We continue to see a need in the Asian American community for relevant resources about the American education system and in-language materials, due to population growth largely fueled by immigration. McDonald’s is proud to provide our customers with what’s important to them, access to education.”

    Research shows that only four percent of Asian Pacific Islander American immigrants are English proficient, so there is a vital need for education information and resources to be provided in-language, so they can navigate the process of applications, enrollment and scholarships. One way the McDonald’s Education Workshop Series helps to inform parents and student is through its interactive booth, available at all the workshops, where students can engage in memorable ways to learn about the six critical criteria in college admission. In addition to the commonly-known criteria of grades, test scores and class rank, students should not overlook the importance of recommendations, extracurricular involvement and demonstrated interest to the desired school. Students will also have a chance to speak with representatives from various colleges and obtain scholarship information.

    Attendees can also learn more about Archways to Opportunity, a comprehensive education program McDonald’s launched in 2015 that provides eligible U.S. employees at participating restaurants an opportunity to earn a high school degree and receive tuition assistance. McDonald’s recently announced that it will commit $150 million over the next five years to better provide employees with the resources and financial support they need to pursue their education and career ambitions.

    About McDonald’s

    McDonald’s USA, LLC, serves a variety of menu options made with quality ingredients to more than 25 million customers every day. More than 90 percent of McDonald’s 14,000 U.S. restaurants are independently owned and operated by businessmen and women who are independent employers, and set their own employment policies and practices, including pay and benefits for the people working in their restaurants. For more information, visit www.mcdonalds.com, or follow us on Twitter @McDonalds and Facebook www.facebook.com/McDonaldsUS/.

  • Indian American Susheela Jayapal elected as Oregon’s Multnomah County Commissioner

    Indian American Susheela Jayapal elected as Oregon’s Multnomah County Commissioner

    OREGON(TIP): Susheela Jayapal was elected as the Multnomah County Commissioner in Oregon on May 15th. Jayapal defeated construction contractor Sharon Maxwell, non-profit administrator Bruce Broussard and Maria Garcia.

    Fighting her first major election, Jayapal won a four-way race with 54 percent votes. She replaced the current commissioner Loretta Smith.

    Jayapal is an experienced attorney and advocate and is a long-time community volunteer.

    She was expected to win the election after her strongest opponent, Black Parent Initiative CEO Charles McGee, decided to end his campaign mid-way following a sexual harassment allegation.

    Congratulating her sister, Pramila Jayapal tweeted, “My sister, @SusheelaJayapal, just became the first #SouthAsian American elected in Oregon!!! #DiversityMatters”

    Jayapal was endorsed by the Indian American Impact Fund.

    “Tonight’s win by @SusheelaJayapal is our second big win of the cycle, following @RamForSenate’s sweeping primary victory which positions him to be the first Indian American to serve in the Illinois state legislature. This is what progress and history look like!” the Impact Fund tweeted.

    Susheela Jayapal holds an undergraduate degree in economics from Swarthmore College and a law degree from the University of Chicago Law School.

    She worked as a litigator at law firms in San Francisco and Portland. She also served as the General Counsel at Adidas America, serving as a member of the senior executive team responsible for the legal affairs of what was then a $1 billion company.

    As an attorney, Jayapal represented the government in taking on corrupt and negligent bank officers during the fiscal crisis of the 1980s; provided free legal services to people seeking political asylum in the U.S.; and worked on improving labor conditions at factories in Southeast Asia, developing and implementing adidas’ first set of labor standards.

  • Indian American women lawmakers introduce a new bill to monitor the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention centers in the United States

    Indian American women lawmakers introduce a new bill to monitor the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention centers in the United States

    WASHINGTON(TIP): Indian American women lawmakers Rep. Pramila Jayapal and Sen. Kamala Harris on May 15thintroduced a new bill titled Detention Oversight Not Expansion (DONE) Act to monitor the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention centers in the United States.

    The bill is meant to keep a close watch of the ICE detention centers and proposes to halt the funding for any new construction, and expansion of such facilities.

    According to the two Democrats, over the last two decades, the number of non-citizens held at ICE detention centers in the United States has increased by 400 percent and the inmates of these centers include women, children and pregnant women.

    The bill’s text also says that these inmates are often mistreated by the ICE agents and are forced to live in deplorable conditions, in violation of their basic rights.

    “Even though the U.S. already houses the largest immigrant detention system in the world, the Trump Administration wants more detention beds without any oversight,” said Jayapal in an official release posted on her website.

    “The countless number of horrific assaults, senseless abuses and needless deaths of immigrants in detention prove that ICE isn’t able to police itself. Our bill demands a higher accountability of ICE and a stop to detention expansion because our nation doesn’t need more violence and further militarization – what we need is comprehensive and humane reform and real accountability,” she added.

    “ICE’s indiscriminate approach to immigration enforcement continues to sow fear and anxiety in communities across the nation and strict oversight is long overdue,” said Harris.

    “It is unconscionable to subject detainees to inhumane conditions that include cases of unchecked sexual abuse, outright medical negligence, lack of access to counsel, and in some cases, even death. It’s time to end the expansion of these facilities that divert these resources to address true public safety threats,” she added.

    The new bill proposed by Jayapal and Harris require the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to submit a report to Congress that includes a plan to decrease the number of detention beds by 50 percent of the number available as of the date of the enactment of this Act by using alternatives to detention that are less costly to the taxpayer and have been shown to be successful.

    It also proposes restoring and expanding the Family Case Management Program and calls for DHS’ Office of Inspector General to conduct unannounced inspections of all immigration detention facilities to ensure compliance with national standards, focusing on the health, safety and care of detainees, especially as it relates to pregnant women. The DHS OIG will be required to submit a report of its findings to Congress.

    Jayapal and Harris also recommend the DHS Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties to conduct similar investigations and submit a report of its findings to Congress.

     

  • Indian American-founded SpringML opens office in Indianapolis and India

    Indian American-founded SpringML opens office in Indianapolis and India

    PLEASANTON, CA(TIP): On May 15th, SpringML, Inc., a leader in machine learning and advanced data analytics services, announced that it is expanding with new offices in Indianapolis and Hyderabad, India.

    Indian Americans Prabhu Palanisamy and Girish Reddy are co-founders of the company. Palanisamy is the President and Chief Strategy Officer of the company, while Reddy is the Chief Technology Officer.

    “In order to better serve our growing customer base, we are expanding our capabilities and starting to scale,” said Charles Landry, CEO of SpringML in a press release.

    “Opening offices in Indianapolis and Hyderabad gives us access to large, highly educated talent pools with great proximity to customers and partners,” he said. “It also provides great career opportunities for those looking to join a company and work on complex machine learning solutions.”

    Founded in 2015, SpringML helps businesses accelerate by providing them insights from their data. The company’s application solutions and services apply machine learning to find solutions to some of the business problems, enabling them to serve customers quantifiable results. SpringML maintains strategic partnerships with Salesforce and Google.

    The release also says that the new capabilities will enhance SpringML’s commitment to provide state-of-the-art enterprise solutions and services that help customers benefit from the latest advances in machine learning and AI.

    Our work in the energy, healthcare, technology and media industries drives major improvements to speed and accuracy by leveraging the power of automation and artificial intelligence.

    Headquartered in Pleasanton, CA, SpringML is a Premier Google Cloud and Salesforce partner. The company has offices across North America.

  • WIZCRAFT INTERNATIONAL ANNOUNCES THE DATES FOR THE 19TH EDITION OF NEXA IIFA AWARDS THAILAND

    WIZCRAFT INTERNATIONAL ANNOUNCES THE DATES FOR THE 19TH EDITION OF NEXA IIFA AWARDS THAILAND

    The Biggest Celebration of Indian Cinema IIFA Weekend And Awards 2018 heads to Bangkok!

    NEW YORK (TIP): IIFA fever returns to Bangkok, Thailand exactly after a decade with the 19th edition of the NEXA IIFA Awards styled by Myntra. Bangkok would play host to a mélange of glitz, glamour and Bollywood’s finest talent, global dignitaries, world media, Indian cinema fans and enthusiasts from across the globe at the highly anticipated star-studded weekend from 22nd & 24th June, at the reputed Siam Niramit Theatre.

    The principal partners for the 19th edition are: Host Destination Partner Tourism Authority of Thailand; Title Sponsor NEXA, Styled By Myntra; Cause Partner Woosh Washing expert campaigning about Equality at home; Official Hotel Partner Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park; Venue Partner Siam Niramit;

    To reveal key highlights about the upcoming IIFA festivities, Bollywood bigwigs Ranbir Kapoor, Karan Johar, Dia Mirza, Shahid Kapoor and Kartik Aaryan were joined by notable dignitaries at the Official IIFA Press Conference in Delhi today.

    NEXA IIFA Awards is all set to take place at the gem of Bangkok’s entertainment scene, the grandiose Siam Niramit, which is adorned by Thailand’s heritage, art and culture and hosts the country’s most-popular theatre production and a must-see show.

    A stellar line-up of hosts and performances were revealed!

    Fans of the biggest celebration of Indian cinema will see the rising star Kartik Aaryan and the talented Ayushmann Khurrana host the vibrant IIFA Rocks 2018. The star-studded NEXA IIFA Awards would be hosted by Karan Johar and Riteish Deshmukh who are all set to mesmerize the audiences with their charismatic energy.

    The first set of performers revealed for the NEXA IIFA Awards include swashbuckling performances by Bollywood megastars Ranbir Kapoor and Shahid Kapoor. The organisers shared that over the next couple of weeks more performers would be revealed.

    This year, IIFA has proudly partnered with Woosh Washing Expert, to support the cause of equality at home – ‘Barabari Ghar Se Shuru’. This partnership provides a platform to contribute and raise awareness for Women Empowerment and Gender Equality.

    In its continuing effort to campaign about environment protection, the IIFAs and the United Nations Environment have come together to campaign, “Beat Plastic Pollution”, the theme for World Environment Day, 2018. With India as the host of World Environment Day (WED) IIFA-UN would combine the voice of celebrity with the power of the IIFA platform and reach  to combat one of the greatest environmental challenges of our time. The UN continues its partnership with IIFA this year with a collaborative advocacy campaign to tackle the pressing issue of plastic pollution, under the aegis of Greening the IIFA.

    Additionally, as part of its commitment to preserving cinema heritage, this year IIFA Foundation will be collaborating with OSIAN’s auction house, India’s foremost Arts and cultural Institution & Auction House, to showcase vintage cinema memorabilia at an exhibition event which will be held at the Bangkok Marriott Marquis, Queens Park hotel from June 21st to June 23rd. A glimpse of the memorabilia was displayed at the press conference.

    Commenting on the occasion, Karan Johar said, “I was privileged to be at the Millennium Dome in London when the IIFAs were born and I’ve participated in the journey across the world. My father and I have been part of the IIFA Advisory Board and share the passion to take Indian cinema across the world. The impact of the IIFAs can be felt in the growth of distribution and film incentives in key markets around the globe. I wish the IIFAs well and more power to the organizing team of Wizcraft.”

    Commenting on the association, Mr.Stapanaseth Isra, Director, Tourism Authority of Thailand New Delhi Office said, “IIFA 2018 will prove to be beneficial for the publicity of Thailand’s tourism industry, which will contribute to enhancing the positive image of the country and attract Indian tourists by showcasing a variety of tourism products Thailand has to offer. The event also complies with TAT’s directions to promote Thailand as a preferred destination for Indians.”

    Speaking on the association, Mr. R.S. Kalsi, Sr. Executive, Director-Marketing & Sales, Maruti Suzuki India Limited said “Our country is changing at a rapid pace and so are the aspirations of our new- age customers. The sophisticated, discerning and highly ambitious customers want to enjoy higher level of experiences when they are buying a car. At NEXA we are providing them just that by offering them the best car buying experience that meets global standards.

    There’s no denying that Indian Cinema today has made its global mark with innovative ideas, great technology, and a creative outlook. And IIFA, being the global flag bearer of Indian films recognises and honours this talent. That’s why IIFA is such a perfect fit with NEXA’s vision. As partners for 4 years, we have grown together to provide audiences more exciting and innovative experiences.”

    Sharing his thoughts, Ranbir Kapoor commented, “IIFA Bangkok holds a very special place in my heart, I won the best debutante award at IIFA 2008 in Bangkok. The 19th Edition of IIFA Weekend And Awards is going to be a great one and I am eager to connect with my fans and look forward to giving a power-packed performance.”

    Speaking on the association, Ms. Gunjan Soni, CMO, Myntra and Head, Jabong said, “As the style partner and Co-Powered By sponsor of IIFA-2018, we at Myntra are working towards a liaison between fashion and Bollywood Indian cinema. We are not going to be a passive sponsor but are working with IIFA on several properties like a stoppable fashion show that offer the consumers the opportunity to own and experience the personal fashion choices of their favourite celebrities. The previous edition of IIFA held in New York, with Myntra as the style partner was a huge success for us and was positively received by Myntra users. We expect this visibility to grow further during the current edition in Bangkok. We are very excited and look forward to the event. “

    Expressing his excitement, Shahid Kapoor said, “IIFA has always been close to my heart and it its 19th year IIFA is all set to recreate memories in Bangkok for the second time. I am thrilled to be performing at the spectacular awards night and what better venue than the treasured Siam Niramit.”

    Kartik Aaryan added saying, “I am excited to debut as a host at IIFA Rocks this year. As an actor, you always want to be a part of something as big as IIFA, whether to perform or host. IIFA certainly gives you the biggest audience to entertain with your performance and I look forward to hosting a great show. Like every Bollywood fan, I too am looking forward to IIFA Bangkok”.

    Andre Timmins, Director- Wizcraft International, the producers and creators of the IIFAs said, “We are pleased to be taking IIFA back to Bangkok after 10 years.  IIFA has grown over this decade and we are excited to celebrate the grandeur and excitement in Amazing Thailand. Vibrant Bangkok is the perfect host to welcome and embrace the spirit of Bollywood like no other and it’s a pleasure to see Thailand welcome IIFA with open arms for the second time. IIFA continues the endeavour to build bridges between countries, communities and cultures and increase businesses such as tourism, wedding and MICE among others for host destinations.”

    Commenting on their association, Mr. Yogesh Jain, Managing Director, Woosh Washing Expert said, “We’re glad to announce Woosh Washing Expert as a Proud Cause Partner of IIFA 2018. As we believe in the power of gender equality and women empowerment, we’re proud to support the cause- Equality Begins At Home”. Let’s all support ‘Barabari Ghar Se Shuru’.

    Commenting on the association, Khun Pannin, Founder, Siam Niramit said “Indian Cinema has grown continuously over the years to attain its current status as a top player in the world film industry. IIFA has grown with it, producing ever more exceptional events at amazing venues throughout the world. This year, Siam Niramit is honored and delighted to welcome IIFA back to Bangkok as we play host for the second time in 10 years. We are very excited to collaborate with IIFA to bring this extraordinary world event to our country.”

    IIFA is dedicated to building bridges across cinemas, businesses, communities and nations, creating everyone’s dream: “One People. One World”. The 19th Edition NEXA IIFA Awards Styled by Myntra aims to bring the magic of Indian cinema not only to Bangkok but also to the whole of South-East Asia.

    Other key partners of IIFA 2018 include Associate Sponsor QNET; Official Travel & Hospitality Management Partner Wedniksha; Airport Hospitality Partner Pranaam GVK Guest Services.

    The 19th edition kick-started on April 27th with the IIFA Voting Weekend commencing the peer voting process for the NEXA IIFA Awards styled by Myntra, which saw members of the Indian Film Industry show their support to IIFA as they came forward to vote for their peers. The auditors of the Awards process, EY, would soon be revealing the nominations of the Popular Awards which would then be open for public voting on iifa.com

    Fans and media are welcome to keep abreast of the latest news and details on IIFA and Hindi cinema by logging on to www.iifa.com or checking out the social media handles:

    • Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/iifa
    • Twitter – https://twitter.com/iifa
    • Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IIFA/

    About IIFA (International Indian Film Academy)

    Conceptualized and produced by Wizcraft International and supported by the key members of the Indian film fraternity, IIFA is the most appreciated South Asian film academy and a global platform that gives the Indian film fraternity an opportunity to reach audiences in international territories. The alliances made via the platform of IIFA provide huge benefits and gain to India and an equally important objective is to create similar benefits in the host country.  The aim is to establish a system of mutual benefit to both India as well as the host destinations by boosting tourism, economic development, trade, culture, cross-border investments and film co-productions.

    Wizcraft International promotes the IIFA Weekend & Awards globally each year and travel to new, exciting and beautiful destinations, taking the film fraternity to unite and celebrate the best of Indian film and culture, thereby taking Indian Cinema and India to a wider audience. www.iifa.com

    About Wizcraft International Entertainment

    Wizcraft International Entertainment, India’s leading media and Entertainment Company is dedicated to showcasing its expertise on the world stage.  Having conceptualized some of the grandest events globally including the 50 Years of Indian Independence, the 30 Years of Mauritian Independence, the 10 years of the South African Freedom Struggle, the Commonwealth Games Opening and Closing ceremonies in Delhi as well as the Handover ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, & the prestigious International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards & Weekend for 18 years in over 12 countries, Wizcraft has contributed towards brand building for India across the world.  It has pioneered and developed India’s biggest entertainment brand IIFA which has taken Indian Cinema and culture to the world. The growth story of the company reflects the evolution of the Indian event management & entertainment industry itself. Driven by its vision “Believe in the power of dreams” the company is committed to quality and innovation, while setting its sights on greater peaks of achievement.

  • “The Surajpur Connection” by Ambassador Prabhu Dayal launched in Delhi

    “The Surajpur Connection” by Ambassador Prabhu Dayal launched in Delhi

    I.S. Saluja

    NEW YORK / NEW DELHI (TIP): A former Consul General of India in New York, Ambassador Prabhu Dayal’s   book ‘The Surajpur Connection’ was launched, May 15 evening in Delhi by former Union Ministers Yashwant Sinha and Shatrughan Sinha at a function held at the India International Centre. The function was hosted by Amod K Kanth, Founder of Prayas.  The  caricatures for the book have been done by Prabhu’s wife Chandini Dayal. The book is a novella and deals with social issues of child kidnapping and trafficking of children.

    It is Prabhu Dayal’s second book. The first, “Karachi Halwa” was first published in 2015. The book is a witty but insightful portrayal of Zia ul Haq’s rule in Pakistan. Ambassador Prabhu Dayal shares his recollections of that period and keeps one laughing throughout his account.

    “The Surajpur Connection” is available on Amazon. Both the print version as well as the kindle version are available on Amazon.in

    On Amazon.com, only the Kindle version is available at present, while the print version will be available in a few weeks.

    Within 2 days of the book launch, the book has been rapidly climbing the chart on Amazon.in.

    Product details

    Paperback: 160 pages

    Publisher: Zorba Books (9 May 2018)

    Language: English

    ISBN-10: 9387456218

    ISBN-13: 978-9387456211

    Product Dimensions: 20 x 13 x 1 cm

    Average Customer Review: Be the first to review this item

    Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #5,190 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

    #493 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Contemporary Fiction

  • Emmy-Nominated filmmaker Tirlok Malik’s new film “On Golden Years” to Premiere on TV Asia

    Emmy-Nominated filmmaker Tirlok Malik’s new film “On Golden Years” to Premiere on TV Asia

     NEW YORK(TIP): The television premiere of Tirlok Malik’s new film On Golden Yearswill be shown on TV Asia on June 1st, 2018 at 8pm and June 3rd, 2018 at 1pm.

    Malik who is an Indian American and a New Yorker has made many films starting from Lonely In America, Love, Lust & Marriage, Khushiyaan, On Golden Years and many more. They all deal with the effects of migration in America.

    As an immigrant, when we come in the search of American Dream, at times we find ourselves we are “Lonely In America.” After achieving and living the American Dream, we also realize if we want real “Khushiyaan” (meaning: happiness), we need to make time to visit our aging parents and family in India.

    Now, in “On Golden Years” (the time to retire), some of us have conflicts such as deciding whether to retire in India vs America, contentedness vs regrets, etc. We need to come to terms with life as an immigrant: the retirement of the American Dream.  This romantic comedy teaches us to live every day like Valentine’s Day.

    The film On Golden Years is written and directed by New York Emmy nominated filmmaker Tirlok Malik

    The film On Golden Years is written and directed by New York Emmy nominated filmmaker Tirlok Malik. The idea of the story is inspired from the book Seeking Rootsby Iggy. Iggy Ignatius is also the codirector/producer of the film. The film stars Ranjit Chowdhry, Jyoti Singh, Reeves Lehmann, Shetal Shah, Noor Naghmi, Tirlok Malik, Shruti Tewari, Farokh Daruwala, Indu Gajwani, Prof. Indrajit S. Saluja, Lovllien Kaurr, Sandeep Suri, Iggy Igantius, Kamlesh Gupta and many more. The film has been shot at the Indian retirement community Shantiniketan in Florida. Other credits of the film are Director of Photography Christo Bakalov B.A.C., Music by Peter Lobo, Art Direction by Sunita Babber, Editing by Tom Knight and others.  Malik has given chances to many new talents in front or behind the camera.

    The Indian Panorama Editor Prof. Indrajit S Saluja who plays a role in the movie, is seen with the maker of the film Tirlok Malik (extreme left), actor Lovllien Kaurr and the Director of Photography Christo Bakalov (on the right)

    Apple Productions has also worked with some of the biggest names in cinema including Sanjay Dutt, Rajnikanth, Surya, Manisha Koirala, Mithun Chakravarti, Raveena Tandon, Anupam Kher, Mammootty, Tananna, Kamal Hassan, Sunny Deol, and Kangana Ranaut. Malik has won many awards, including the New York Citizens’ Award from the New York Mayor’s office, and his work is acclaimed worldwide.

    Malik and the cast of On Golden Yearsare very happy to have this premiere on TV Asia. TV Asia is the first cable television channel developed for the International South Asian community and celebrating their 25th anniversary.  CEO of TV Asia Padma Shri H R Shah congratulates Tirlok Malik for all the movies he has made about being an immigrant in America.

    As Tirlok Malik says, “Migration can bring many complex feelings, sometimes watching cinematic stories can show us the way”.

     

     

  • ZEE TV Announces America’s Smartest Family

    ZEE TV Announces America’s Smartest Family

    NEW YORK(TIP): This past weekend, Chicago’s very own Dash Family won the coveted title of champions on the first season of Zee TV’s America’s Smartest Family and took home the cash prize of $10,000.

    “We are super excited to be the winners of America’s Smartest Family. It was our first national TV experience and we enjoyed it thoroughly. It was a great platform for Anmol to showcase his talent. Many thanks to Zee and Touchdown Media for a great experience” said Bibhudatta Dash

    The Somani Family from Monroe, New Jersey was the Runner-Up of the show and took home a cash prize of $5000.

    “It was a great experience to participate in America’s Smartest Family. We had a lot of fun going through various rounds. It made us realize the importance of keeping your eyes and ears open. There is so much to learn in this world. It also gave our son Rishi a great exposure to the world of quizzing. Hopefully, this experience will help him read and learn a lot about the world rather than just US and India. Definitely, the most enriching experience in our lives. The crew and host were awesome. They took good care of us and I would like to thank them for giving us the opportunity” said Rashmi Somani

    Zee TV’s original production – Americas’ Smartest Family, has become a popular reality TV show amongst the South Asian community which attracted a huge audience throughout the season. The show initially began with 16 families dwindling down as the families battled it out until there were only two of the smartest families remaining. They both had to compete against each other in the finale for 10,000 cash prize and the title of America’s Smartest Family.

    In the previous episodes, round one and two consisted of four questions, with a dice roll deciding which family goes first. Participants could choose from one of five topics – science, math, arts & entertainment, history, and geography. But there was a small twist in the grand finale; once a category is chosen at the end, the participants were forced to answer from the last remaining category. There were no deductions for the wrong answer.

    As the game progressed, questions become tougher and lot more challenging. By rounds three and four – each correct answer was worth 200 points. During the fifth and final round, the game took a turn and host Zaid Ali made the round stimulating by offering clues. If the team answered correctly without a clue, a maximum of 1000 points was awarded. If the family chose to get clues, each clue cost them 200 points. For the grand finale, the category for the final round was math and, in the end, the Dash family won by 300 points.

    America’s Smartest Family was conceptualized as a Zee Originals property and produced by Touchdown Productions.

    To stay updated with the latest announcements and news about “America’s Smartest Family,” visit https://www.zeeoriginals.com/americas-smartest-family/

    About Zee Network

    Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited is one of India’s leading television media and entertainment companies. It is amongst the largest producers and aggregators of Hindi programming in the world, with an extensive library housing over 222,000 hours of television content. With rights to more than 3,818 movie titles from foremost studios and of iconic film stars, ZEE houses the world’s largest Hindi film library. Through its strong presence worldwide, Zee entertains over 1 billion viewers across 172 countries.

    About Zee TV USA

    Zee TV USA was the first ever Hindi General Entertainment channel to be launched in the US way back in 1998. Since the start of the journey more than 2 decades ago, Zee now has 43 networks and full time dedicated workforce across 5 different locations all across the North America and Caribbean. Zee TV USA was the first Asian channel to launch in HD. Zee TV was the first Hindi network to be measured by Nielsen in the US, Zee TV is also the most widely available Hindi General Entertainment network on all major DTH, Cable, Telco and IPTV platforms with availability over 86 million US households.