MARAWI (TIP): At least four people were killed and dozens wounded in a bomb attack on a Catholic mass in the insurgency-plagued southern Philippines on December 4, with President Ferdinand Marcos blaming “foreign terrorists”. The blast happened during a morning service at Mindanao State University’s gymnasium in Marawi, the country’s largest Muslim city, which was besieged by Islamist militant groups in 2017.
Police Lieutenant General Emmanuel Peralta said four people were killed and around 50 wounded in the blast from an improvised explosive device.
Other security officials said the bombing may have been a retaliatory attack for a series of military operations against Islamist militant groups in recent days.
Photos posted on the Lanao del Sur provincial government’s Facebook page showed several overturned plastic chairs, shattered glass and debris around a black patch on the floor of the gymnasium.
University student Chris Jurado, 21, told AFP from his hospital bed that the explosion happened during the first Bible reading of the morning mass at 7:00 am (2300 GMT Saturday).
“It was really sudden and everyone ran,” Jurado said.
“When I looked behind me people were lying on the floor. We didn’t know what happened because everything happened so fast.”
Rowena Mae Fernandez, 19, said she did not know what the blast was at first — then others started running.
“My companion and I also ran, even though we fell on the ground at one point. That was the only thing I remembered until I got out of the gym and I fell again,” she said from hospital.
“My friends were crying because they saw my injury.”
Marcos condemned the attack by “foreign terrorists”, describing it as “senseless” and “heinous”, while Pope Francis offered his prayers for the victims. “I am close to the families, to the people of Mindanao, who have already suffered so much,” the pontiff said from his residence in remarks broadcast in Saint Peter’s Square. (AFP)
Month: December 2023
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Four killed in bomb attack on Catholic mass in Philippines
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UK cautioned against ‘unfair’ visa crackdown on Indian professionals, students
LONDON (TIP): Groups representing skilled professionals and students from India on December 4 expressed concerns over a lack of clarity around the UK government’s latest visa crackdown, branding the ban on family dependents as “unfair.” UK Home Secretary James Cleverly tabled a five-point plan in Parliament on Monday that would see overseas care workers banned from bringing family members and skilled professionals having to meet a much higher minimum salary threshold of GBP 38,700.
While the Health and Care visa will be exempt from this hiked salary requirement, it remains unclear how the category will operate for Indian medics in future.
“We will be writing to the Home Secretary urgently to seek clarification; we hope that this does not include doctors and nurses because if it does, we can assure the Home Office that the number of doctors and nurses coming to the UK from India will be nil,” said Dr Ramesh Mehta, founder of the British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (BAPIO), the UK’s largest representative body for nearly 80,000 doctors and 55,000 nurses of Indian origin.
“But even if the changes apply only to care workers, it is extremely unfair if they are not allowed to bring their family. For anyone to provide a satisfactory and good quality care service, they can’t be separated from their own family,” he said.
BAPIO, which works proactively with the National Health Service (NHS) to help address the state-funded system’s “desperate need” for quality doctors and nurses from India, warned that it would be forced to withdraw the voluntary support if the new rules clamp down on family rights. There is also an element of doubt if the Home Office intends to revoke an exemption for professionals under the Health and Care visa from paying the compulsory Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), which Cleverly confirmed would be increasing from the current GBP 624 to GBP 1,035. “We’ve just announced the biggest-ever cut in net migration. No Prime Minister has done this before in history. But the level of net migration is too high and it has to change. I am determined to do it,” said British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, regarding the latest set of visa changes which the government claims could cut migrant numbers by 300,000. (PTI) -
German tourist stabbed to death in Paris ‘terror’ attack
PARIS, FRANCE (TIP): A person known to the French authorities as a radical Islamist with mental health troubles stabbed a German tourist to death and wounded two people in central Paris on December 7 before being arrested, officials said. The attack took place close to the Eiffel Tower during a busy weekend night and came with the country on its highest alert for attacks as tensions rise against the background of the war between Israel and Hamas. “We will not give in to terrorism,” Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne wrote on X, formerly Twitter, after the attack. President Emmanuel Macron said he was sending his condolences to the family of a German killed in the “terrorist attack”.
French anti-terror prosecutors said that they would now take on the investigation.
The attacker was known to authorities as a radical Islamist and was being treated for mental illness, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said at the scene by the River Seine , adding that the man had shouted “Allahu Akbar” (“God is greatest”) before being arrested.
He fatally stabbed the German tourist, born in 1999, with a knife and then used a hammer to attack others as he sought to escape on the other side of the River Seine.
The area by Bir Hakeim bridge, usually thronging with tourists and locals, was cordoned off by police and bright with the flashing lights of security forces and emergency services.
‘Violently threatened them’
The Paris prosecutor’s office said the attacker, born in 1997, is French and has been arrested in an investigation into murder and attempted murder. Darmanin said the man had already been sentenced in 2016 to four years in prison for planning another attack which he failed to carry out. “A man attacked a couple who were foreign tourists. A German tourist who was born in the Philippines died from the stabbing,” he said.
A taxi driver who witnessed the scene intervened, Darmanin said. The attacker then crossed the Seine attacking others and injuring one with a hammer.
Police chased in pursuit and used a taser to neutralise the man, who was then arrested. “He had threatened them very violently… he will now have to answer for his actions before justice,” Darmanin said.
The suspect, who lived with his parents in the Esonnne region south of Paris, told police he could not stand Muslims being killed in “Afghanistan and Palestine”, according to the minister.
Macron, writing on X, thanked security forces for their quick arrest of the suspected attacker and said justice should be served “in the name of the French people”. “Paris is in mourning after this terrible attack,” Transport Minister Clement Beaune wrote on X.
Joseph S., 37 years old, a supermarket manager who asked not to give his last name, witnessed the scene, as he sat in a bar. He heard screams and people shouting “help, help” as they ran. A man wielding an object attacked a man who had fallen down, and within 10 minutes the police arrived, he told AFP. The country has suffered several attacks by Islamist extremists, including the November 2015 suicide and gun attacks in Paris claimed by the Islamic State group in which 130 people were killed. (AFP) -
Vivek Ramaswamy Called “Most Obnoxious Blowhard” For Mocking Nikki Haley
WASHINGTON D.C. (TIP): Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie has slammed his Republican presidential rival Vivek Ramaswamy as the “most obnoxious blowhard in America” after the biotech entrepreneur mocked fellow Indian-American Nikki Haley’s intelligence. Christie, 61, made the stunning remarks during the fourth Republican presidential debate in Arizona. Haley and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis were the two other candidates on the debate stage. Christie’s remarks came after Ramaswamy criticized Haley and claimed that the former governor could not name three provinces in eastern Ukraine where she would send US troops.
“She has no idea what the hell the names of those provinces are, but she wants to send our sons and daughters in our trimmings and our military equipment to go fight it,” said Ramaswamy, 38.
“Look at the blank expression,” he added. “She doesn’t know the names of the provinces.” Before Haley, 51, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, could respond to Ramaswamy’s remarks, Christie took aim at him and said: “This is the fourth debate that you would’ve been voted in the first 20 minutes as the most obnoxious blowhard in America, so shut the hell up.” “We’re now 25 minutes into this debate and he has insulted Nikki Haley’s basic intelligence. Not her positions, her basic intelligence: She doesn’t know regions and she wouldn’t be able to find something on a map that his three-year-old could find,” he said. “If you want to disagree on issues, that’s fine, and Nikki and I disagree on some issues,” he said.
“I’ve known her for 12 years, which is longer than he’s even started to vote in the Republican primary, and while we disagree about some issues and disagree about who should be president of the United States, what we don’t disagree on is this is a smart, accomplished woman and you should stop insulting her,” he said.
Christie said that Ramaswamy lacked experience and claimed that while he was serving as the top federal prosecutor in New Jersey, the Indian-American businessman was “learning about the provinces in Ukraine sitting with his smarta** mouth at Harvard.”
“All he knows how to do is insult good people who have committed their lives to public service and not say anything that moves the ball down the field for the United States,” Christie said.
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Ramaswamy calls Haley a “fascist”, “corrupt”; she says responding to him “not worth her time”
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): Calling her “fascist” and “corrupt,” biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy launched a tirade against his Republican presidential rival and fellow Indian-American Nikki Haley, who refrained from a verbal duel, saying it is not worth her time to respond to him.
Ramaswamy launched the volley of charges against the former South Carolina governor and US ambassador to the UN in Arizona during the Republican Party’s fourth presidential debate, which was attended by just four candidates, the other two being former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
The front-runner for the Republican Party’s nomination, former President Donald Trump, skipped the debate once again and held a fundraiser in Florida instead.
Participating in the debate, Ramaswamy, 38, accused Haley of having “a corruption problem” and held up a pad of paper with “NIKKI = CORRUPT” written on it. This resulted in a mix of boos and cheers from the audience. He called her “a puppet” and accused her of “using identity politics” as “a form of intellectual fraud.”
“Nikki, you were bankrupt when you left the U.N. After you left the U.N., you became a military contractor,” he started and recounted her journey to end with further allegation: “That math doesn’t add up. It adds up to the fact that you are corrupt.”
“It’s not worth my time to respond to him,” Haley, 51, said when asked by the moderator to respond to the allegations. However, Ramaswamy did not give up and continued to attack Haley.
“The only person more fascist than the Biden (US President Joe Biden) regime now is Nikki Haley, who thinks the government should identify every one of those individuals with an ID,” he alleged. “That is not freedom, that is fascism, and she should come nowhere near the levers of power, let alone the White House,” he said.
Ramaswamy was referring to a recent remark by Haley in which she said that social media users needed to be verified by name, “Every person on social media should be verified, by their name. That’s, first of all, it’s a national security threat. When you do that, all of a sudden, people have to stand by what they say,” she said.
“And it gets rid of the Russian bots, the Iranian bots and the Chinese bots. And then you’re gonna get some civility, when people know their name is next to what they say,” she had said.
Haley defended her remarks on the debate stage.
“What I said was that social media companies need to show us their algorithms. I also said there are millions of bots on social media right now. They’re foreign. They’re Chinese. They’re Iranian. I will always fight for freedom of speech for Americans. We do not need freedom of speech for Russians and Iranians and Hamas. We need social media companies to go and fight back on all of these bots that are happening,” she said. “As a mom, do I think that social media would be more civil if we went and had people’s names next to that? Yes, I do think that because I think we’ve got too much cyber-bullying. I think we’ve got child pornography and all of those things. But having said that, I never said the government should go and require anyone’s names,” Haley said.
Haley, whose popularity has been on the rise, was also attacked by DeSantis. “She caves anytime the Left comes after her, anytime the media comes after her,” he said.
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Influential US Senators criticize India on allegations of plot to assassinate a separatist Sikh in New York
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): A bipartisan group of influential American Senators has criticized India after US prosecutors linked an Indian official to a man charged with conspiring to assassinate a Sikh separatist leader in New York. The Senators were speaking at a Congressional hearing ‘Transnational Repression: A Global Threat to Rights and Security’ organized on Wednesday, December 6, by the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Senator Ben Cardin, chairman of the Committee, said: “We’ve seen disturbing allegations against an Indian government official for involvement in planning to assassinate a US citizen in New York, who was critical of the Indian government. This follows allegations of India’s involvement in the killing of a Canadian Sikh leader. Earlier this year, the Modi government had labelled both critics as terrorists.” The hearing was organized with China in the focus, but India popped up several times, mainly because of the allegations from Canada and the US regarding the theme.
US federal prosecutors on November 29 charged Indian national Nikhil Gupta with working with an Indian government employee in the foiled plot to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh extremist, who is an American and Canadian citizen.
Describing it as a “matter of concern,” India has announced a high-level investigation and asserted that follow-up action will be taken based on the findings of the investigation panel.
Earlier, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on September 18 made an explosive allegation of the “potential” involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil on June 18. India has strongly rejected Trudeau’s allegations as “absurd” and “motivated.”
“We often say we’re the oldest democracy in the world and India is the largest democracy in the world. This is not the behavior of a respectable democracy,” Democratic Senator Tim Kaine said during the hearing.
Ranking Member Senator James Risch, who is a Republican, also raised the issue. “Governments who have gotten away with silencing dissidents inside their own country are now trying to stifle free speech around the world, including the United States. Just last week, the Department of Justice ….unsealed an indictment alleging an Indian government official engaged in a plot to assassinate a US citizen in New York City,” he said.
“It should surprise no one that China is leading the world and using transnational repression to quash any sign of dissent,” he noted at the same time. Testifying before the committee, Michael J. Abramowitz, president of Freedom House, an advocacy group that raises awareness about the fascist threat to American security and values, said the Canadian Prime Minister has implicated the government of India in the June murder of a Sikh activist and a Canadian citizen in Canada. And just last week, the Department of Justice alleged in an indictment that an Indian national in India was hired by an Indian government official to orchestrate the assassination of a US citizen who is a Sikh activist, he said.
“Congress should urge the executive branch to continue to raise transnational repression as a priority issue with our partners and allies. The United States must not hesitate to raise this issue directly at the highest levels with those countries perpetrating, transnational repression, even when those perpetrators are close partners such as Saudi Arabia and India,” Abramowitz said.
Abramowitz said that this should be a matter that is in the bilateral relationship. “If it is being swept under the rug, then I think other governments will not take it as seriously,” he said.
Senator Kaine said that it’s interesting to note that the Indian government’s reaction to the prosecution in the United States has been somewhat different than to the claim that their intelligence officials, at least one official, were implicated in the murder in Canada.
“When the Canadian government Prime Minister Trudeau raised the issue and laid out the evidentiary case, the Indian government responded in a very negative way and asked Ottawa to recall about 40 Canadian diplomats that were in India. When the news of this prosecution in the United States came out, the Indian government at least suggested they were somewhat concerned and potentially chastened by this story and their comments have been a little bit more reasonable,” Kaine said.
On Monday, the US State Department welcomed India’s decision by the Indian to set up a high-level committee to investigate the allegations of an assassination attempt by a junior Indian official on Pannun.
“With respect to this specific case, there is an ongoing law enforcement matter at issue here, and we don’t talk about those from this podium. I would defer to the Department of Justice to do that,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in response to a question.
“When this alleged incident was brought to our attention, we made it very clear at the most senior levels of our government to the most senior levels of the Indian government how seriously we would treat something like this. They have opened an investigation into the matter and we look forward to seeing the results of that investigation,” he told reporters at his daily news conference.
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Indian motel manager sentenced for trafficking, forced labor in US
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): A 71-year-old Indian motel manager in the US state of Georgia has been sentenced to 57 months in prison for trafficking a woman for peonage and slavery, and ordered to pay over USD 40,000 in restitution to seven people, officials said.
According to court documents, Shreesh Tiwari, an Indian national and legal US permanent resident, began managing the Budgetel Motel in Cartersville, Georgia, in 2020.
Tiwari hired the woman to work as a maid at the motel and provided her with a room. He was aware that the victim had previously experienced homelessness, struggled with a heroin addiction and lost custody of her young child, the Department of Justice said in a statement. Tiwari promised the victim that he would help her regain custody of her child by providing her with pay, an apartment and an attorney, it said.
However, instead of following through with his promises, Tiwari monitored the victim’s interactions with motel guests and employees and forbade her from speaking to them, federal prosecutors alleged.
He also discouraged the victim from communicating with her family and friends, falsely claiming that they did not care about her, they added. Tiwari made sexual overtures to the victim and often threatened to evict her from the room he provided her at the motel, the prosecutors said.
They said Tiwari also threatened to report the victim’s drug use to law enforcement or child welfare agencies.
Tiwari began to regularly “evict” the victim from her motel room and even locked her out of her room at night without warning, according to the statement.
Ultimately, he required the victim to perform sex acts with him to stay at the motel. If she did not, Tiwari removed her from the property, causing her to be homeless, it added.
“Human trafficking can occur anywhere since traffickers are adept at identifying someone’s vulnerabilities and often fraudulently extend hope to someone looking for an opportunity to improve their dire circumstances,” Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said.
“Tiwari used his position of power to ruthlessly abuse a victim he knew had already suffered immeasurably,” said US Attorney Ryan K Buchanan for the Northern District of Georgia. “The level of this defendant’s callousness is shocking. But we are thankful that our community is now safer, and other potential victims spared… Our office also intends for Tiwari’s prosecution and sentence to provide a stark warning to other traffickers,” he said.
Acting Special Agent in Charge Travis Pickard of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Atlanta said Tiwari preyed upon the victim’s difficult past and fear of homelessness to control and extort her, subjecting her to unspeakable horrors.
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2023 the best year historically for US-India ties: says former top American trade official
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): The relationship between the US and India has been very productive, in particular on the trade and technology front, and 2023 can be considered the best year historically for bilateral ties, according to a former top American trade official. Arun Kumar, an Indian-American, who served as the assistant secretary of Commerce for Global Markets and director general of the US and Foreign Commercial Service (USFCS) during the Obama administration, said this during an interview with PTI here. “Looking back on 2023, it was a very productive year for the US-India relationship, by many accounts the best year historically,” he said.
Currently a managing partner of Celesta, Kumar most recently served as the chairman and CEO of KPMG in India.
“The relationship is on a strong upward trajectory. This is backed by numbers as well. Trade doubled over the last eight years to a level of USD 190 billion in 2022. Major commitments were made by US companies in India – from Apple to Micron,” he said.
Following the Covid-19 pandemic, when remote working across the globe became well-accepted, there was a significant increase in the activities of global capability centers based in India, he said.
Both countries seemed to have found an unprecedented congruence of views in a move to make onshore, be it the Modi government’s “Make In India” or the Biden administration’s support of advanced manufacturing in America, to contend with tumult in global supply chains and China’s economic rise, Kumar added.
“The optical high point in 2023 undoubtedly was the state visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Washington in June. This was surrounded by a steady drumbeat of activities advancing the relationship,” he said.
On areas of alignment between the two countries, Kumar said that from a geoeconomics point of view, India and the US are in generally good spots relative to the rest of the world.
The US growth rate has bounced back to pre-Covid levels, unlike in Europe and China where this has not happened, Kumar said, adding that India’s growth rate has picked up, exceeding many estimates, and is among the fastest-growing large economies.
Inflation pressures seem to be easing in both economies, he said.
Kumar said both countries today share some important points of view that result in economic alignment. COVID-19 – and geopolitical tensions – brought into focus for both countries the need for resilience as opposed to only efficiency or cost optimization in supply chains.
They both share a desire to boost manufacturing, for jobs, skills and strategic reasons, he further said.
With over a quarter of the world’s manufacturing being based in China, the need for supply chain diversification brings opportunities for manufacturing to India. The quality of India’s manufacturing capabilities has been steadily advancing and with these kinds of operations, this trend will accelerate, Kumar said.
“Beyond the bilateral relationships, increased alignment was promoted through important multilateral initiatives where both countries have prominent roles. “The Quad configuration began taking on more of an economic dimension. Knowledge sharing and capacity building initiatives were launched in infrastructure, connectivity, technology and financing,” he pointed out. Referring to the launch of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) initiative in May, Kumar said it aims to advance resilience in supply chains, promote clean energy and sustainability, and advance capacity building in a range of areas.
The lofty goal is to promote cooperation, stability, prosperity, development, and peace within the region, he added.
“The I2U2 (India, Israel, the US and the UAE), a framework of four countries working together on economic issues, is worth noting as an example of US-India cooperation. This may temporarily take a back seat considering the current Middle East situation.
“This unique grouping of countries identifies bankable projects with a particular focus on joint investments and new initiatives in water, energy, transportation, space, health, food security, and technology,” Kumar said.
Kumar, who is active in the technology field, said a very important development to note is the rising conviction that technology will play a defining role in deepening the US-India partnership.
The Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) launched in January 2023 is a major milestone in US-India relations. The plan is to mobilize governments, businesses, and academic institutions to collaborate to accomplish the strategic technology partnership, he told PTI.
The stated goal is for the United States and India to foster an open, accessible, and secure technology ecosystem, based on confidence and trust that reinforces our shared values and democratic institutions.
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Hunter Biden Indicted on Tax Charges
SACRAMENTO (TIP): The special counsel investigating Hunter Biden charged the president’s son late Thursday, December 7, on nine counts stemming from his failure to pay his federal taxes on time on millions in income from foreign businesses, the second indictment against him this year — and the latest development in a case Republicans have made the cornerstone of a possible impeachment of President Biden, The New York Times reported. A grand jury in the Central District of California charged Mr. Biden with three counts each of evasion of a tax assessment, failure to file and pay taxes, and filing a false or fraudulent tax return, according to the 56-page indictment. Mr. Biden “engaged in a four-year scheme to not pay at least $1.4 million in self-assessed federal taxes he owed for tax years 2016 through 2019” wrote the special counsel, David C. Weiss, who first began investigating the president’s son five years ago as the Trump-appointed U.S. attorney for Delaware.
The charges come after Mr. Biden had appeared this summer to be on the verge of a plea deal that would not have led to jail time and in the view of his lawyer at the time would have granted him immunity for potential crimes stemming from his business dealings. But the deal collapsed at the last minute, and in September he was indicted on separate charges stemming from his failure to acknowledge his drug use when he purchased a handgun in 2018. The new indictment also comes on the cusp of a vote by the Republican-led House to formalize its impeachment inquiry into President Biden, which is based almost entirely on unsubstantiated allegations that he benefited from his son’s lucrative consulting work for companies in Ukraine and China.
The decision to file criminal charges against the president’s troubled son was an extraordinary step for Mr. Weiss, who was named a special counsel in August by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland after the dramatic last-minute collapse of the plea deal that would have resolved the long-running investigation without Mr. Biden serving any prison time.
The Hunter Biden case sits at the crowded intersection of America’s colliding political and legal systems. There is now a very real prospect that President Biden’s son will be defending himself in two federal criminal trials during a presidential election year — as former President Donald J. Trump, his father’s likely opponent, confronts two possible trials in his federal documents and election interference cases.
Republican leaders in the House released draft text of a procedural impeachment resolution against President Biden on Thursday, just hours before word of the new charges started to percolate through official Washington. It is not clear what effect the indictment will have their inquiry.
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Middlesex County Commissioner Director Ronald G. Rios issues a statement regarding the retirement of Keep Middlesex Moving Executive Director Bill Neary
MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NJ (TIP): “On behalf of the entire Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners, we are proud to announce the retirement of long-time Middlesex County partner and the Executive Director of Keep Middlesex Moving (KMM), Bill Neary. Bill has served as a leader at Keep Middlesex Moving, a non-profit transportation management association that works with businesses, commuters, elected officials, community groups and other partners to implement programs that reduce congestion, increase safety, and improve air quality – for over 18 years.Under Mr. Neary’s leadership, KMM grew and evolved from focusing on primarily ridesharing and traffic mitigation to what it is today, an organization at the forefront of modern transportation inclusive of pedestrian safety, electric and autonomous vehicles, accessible mass transit, and micro transit. Mr. Neary always understood the commuting needs of Middlesex County residents whether it’s getting to the doctor’s office or to work – safety and accessibility was and is prioritized.
Additionally, during Mr. Neary’s tenure, he invested heavily in increasing and expanding direct communication to residents through leveraging social media channels like YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook as well as creating KMM’s own podcast to share new information and news about transit to leveraging local police communications tools to spread important notices broadly.
In addition to his service at KMM, Mr. Neary has been an active participant in the community through organizations such as Salvation Army, where he serves as an Advisory Board member; Einstein’s Alley, promoting STEM education from Route 1 to Princeton; Healthier Middlesex, serving as board member; and as the Chairman of the Board of the Regional Chamber of Commerce from 2017 to 2022. Earlier in his career, Mr. Neary served as the mayor of his hometown, East Brunswick. His contributions have benefitted not only KMM but the entire Middlesex County community.
As Mr. Neary retires, Middlesex County’s Department of Transportation will work closely with the team at KMM to welcome a new era of transportation management and to ensure our community of residents and businesses have access to modern and safe means of transit. DataCity, the nation’s first smart-mobility living lab in the heart of a dense, urban city, New Brunswick; and our award-winning Vision Zero Action Plan, a strategy to eliminate traffic fatalities and severe injuries among road users and to ensure safe and equitable mobility for all residents – are just a few marquee initiatives led by the County.
My colleagues and I look forward to defining the future of transportation in Middlesex County with KMM.”
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The Ultimate Travel & Visa Company Expands Operations with the Opening of a New Office in New York
Ultimate Travel and Visa, a leading provider of Indian Consular Services and Visa services to other Countries mainly Schengen, UK., is pleased to announce the opening of its new office in the heart of New York. This strategic expansion is a testament to our commitment to providing exceptional travel experiences and meeting the growing demand for our services in the region. The new office, located at 3000 Hempstead TPKE #303, Levittown – Long Island, New York, will serve as a hub for our team of experienced travel professionals dedicated to giving services that not only meet but exceed the expectations of our discerning clients. With this expansion, Ultimate Travel & Visa aims to further enhance accessibility and convenience for travelers seeking unparalleled service and expert guidance in planning their trips.
The CEO of the Company, Mr. Ranjeet Singh said that reliability has been at the core of our business, and we take pride in being a trusted name in the travel industry. Our team is known for its unwavering dedication to customer satisfaction, ensuring that every interaction is seamless and memorable. Whether it’s a service required for Visa, OCI, Passport, Attestation of Documents and all other Consular services Ultimate Travel and Visa is committed to providing personalized and stress-free experiences.
As a testament to our reliability and commitment to customer satisfaction, in our over 5 years of operations we are proud to have garnered positive reviews and testimonials from our satisfied clients. These endorsements highlight our attention to detail, expertise in services that exceed expectations.
Ultimate Travel and Visa Company has consistently raised the bar in the travel industry for the past 5 years and the new office at New York marks a significant milestone in our journey. We look forward to continuing to serve our clients with the same passion, dedication, and reliability that have been the hallmarks of our brand.
For more information about Ultimate Travel and Visa Company and our services, please visit ultimatetravelandvisa.com or contact us at 516 390 0708 (New York)
347 589 9208 (Central Helpline) or at info@ultimatetravelandvisa.comAbout US
Ultimate Travel and Visa Company is a 5-year-old travel agency dedicated to providing exceptional services. The CEO Mr. Ranjeet Singh has worked with some
of the major Global Visa Company and his deep understanding of visa processes, coupled with a commitment to excellence, has set the agency apart in the travel industry.
Under his guidance the company is on an ambitious trajectory to expand its footprint throughout North America. The visionary strategy involves a unique partnership model aimed at establishing offices in key locations, ensuring that our services are easily accessible to a broader audience. -
NICOLE JORDAN-MARTIN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CEO OF NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/COMMUNITY CARE, NAMED AS A RECIPIENT OF THE 2023 EMPIRE WHOLE HEALTH HEROES AWARDS
- The award honors individuals who have made exceptional contributions towards promoting whole health initiatives in New York City
NEW YORK, NY (TIP): NYC Health + Hospitals announced on December 1, that Nicole Jordan-Martin, MPA, FACHE, the Executive Director and CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/Community Care, has been named one of the 25 recipients of the prestigious 2023 Empire Whole Health Heroes Awards. This recognition is a joint initiative of Crain’s New York and Empire BlueCross BlueShield to honor individuals who have made exceptional contributions towards promoting whole health initiatives in New York City. The 2023 Empire Whole Health Heroes Award recipients were recognized for leading health care innovation and driving community impact.
As the Executive Director and CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/Community Care, Jordan-Martin leads clinical and supportive services delivery to more than 18,000 patients annually in their homes and other community-based settings. One of her passions is convening various actors across the community landscape to develop innovative partnerships for grassroots collective impact. She continues to build and leverage collaboratives of health care, health plans, and community-based organizations to comprehensively address the needs of Medicaid beneficiaries, uninsured individuals, undocumented immigrants, and other vulnerable groups, including those affected by homelessness, justice involvement, HIV, serious mental illness, and alcohol and substance use. She strongly believes that these collective impact collaboratives are critical to the development of new models of care to address the specific needs of these vulnerable groups; expansion of pathways for service delivery, geographic reach, and service offerings; and increased delivery of a myriad of home- and community-based health, wellness, social and family support programs, services and resources. She also strongly advocates for highlighting and addressing health disparities through structural and policy changes, funding, innovation, research, and community engagement.
About NYC Health + Hospitals/Community Care
NYC Health + Hospitals/Community Care reaches outside the walls of our hospitals and clinics to ensure that our patients access the highest quality of care and support they need when returning to the community. We offer expert services to patients residing in Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx. For more information, visit: www.nychealthandhospitals.org/services/community-care/.
About NYC Health + Hospitals
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AICC Unveils New Leadership and Elected New Board for 2024-26
EDISON, NJ (TIP) : he Asian Indian Chamber of Commerce (AICC) is pleased to announce the results of the recently concluded elections for the Board of Directors. The elections, held on November 29, 2023, at the prestigious Mogul Ballroom in Edison, NJ, saw enthusiastic participation of members.
The newly elected Board of Directors for the term 2024-26 is as follows:
- Rajeev Krishna
- Rekha Sarathy
- Chetan Wattamwar
- Harry Mehta
- Ilayas Quraishi
- Komal Dangi
- Ajay Kumar
- Neha Mahajan
- Parag Nevatia
- Shachi Rai Gupta
This term marks the inclusion of three new faces, Neha Mahajan, Shachi Rai Gupta, and Ajay Kumar, bringing fresh perspectives and energy to the AICC leadership.
Each member of the newly elected board brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm, and their leadership is expected to contribute significantly to the growth and success of the chamber.
During the election event, current President Rajeev Krishna highlighted the accomplishments of the last two years under his leadership. He expressed gratitude to the dedicated Board members who worked tirelessly to elevate the organization. President Krishna also envisioned the AICC reaching new heights, mentioning his aspiration to organize AI technology seminars to impact small businesses positively. He encouraged Board members to share their ideas and actively participate in implementing them. Anil Bansal and Priti Pandya Patel, past presidents of AICC, served as the election committee members. They efficiently organized the election process, announced the results, and extended heartfelt congratulations to the new board.
As a gesture of appreciation to the members, Kunal Lamba, a singing sensation from New Jersey, mesmerized the audience with Bollywood melodies at the event.
For further information, please contact:
Asian Indian Chamber of Commerce
Administrator
Office Tel: 732-847-4760
Asian Indian Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 266
Iselin, NJ 08830
About the Asian Indian Chamber of Commerce
The Asian Indian Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to promoting the economic vitality and prosperity of the Asian Indian business community in the United States. Through networking events, educational programs, and advocacy, AICC fosters collaboration and growth opportunities for its members.
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Mahua Moitra Expelled From Parliament Over Cash-For-Query Row
- Mamata Banerjee accused the BJP of having “planned” the expulsion of Ms Moitra
NEW DELHI (TIP): Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra has been expelled from the Lok Sabha following an Ethics Committee report into the ‘cash for query’ charges against her. Ms Moitra, 49, was accused of taking bribes, including ₹ 2 crore in cash and “luxury gift items”, from businessman Darshan Hiranandani, in exchange for asking questions critical of the Narendra Modi government in Parliament.
Ms Moitra was also accused of surrendering log-in credentials to a confidential account on the parliamentary website so Mr Hiranandani could post questions directly. A fiery critic of the Modi government, Ms Moitra had denied the bribery charges but admitted to sharing the log-in details. After a tempestuous discussion and voice vote, Mr Birla said, “This House accepts the conclusions of the Committee – that MP Mahua Moitra’s conduct was immoral and indecent. So, it is not appropriate for her to continue as an MP…”Hours earlier the Ethics Committee presented its report – a nearly 500-page tome – in the House, triggering a furious row between the ruling BJP and the opposition, including Ms Moitra’s party.
In the brief discussion that followed, apoplectic opposition MPs from the Congress and Trinamool demanded more time to study the material, and fought for Ms Moitra to be allowed to speak.
However, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla refused permission, citing the 2005 expulsion of 10 MPs, including six from the BJP, who were caught in a similar controversy. Then Speaker, Somnath Chatterjee, said the MPs had lost the right to speak in the House after the report was tabled.
The report against Ms Moitra noted “allegations of accepting illegal gratification (are) clearly established and are undeniable”, and that “taking gifts from (a) businessman to whom she handed over log-in (details) amounts to a quid pro quo… unbecoming of an MP and is unethical conduct”.
On the point Ms Moitra accepted cash as part of the bribes, the report called for the government to “criminally investigate and unearth the ‘money trail’”, for which it said it “does not have expertise”.
The Ethics Committee’s final recommendation was that “…Smt Mahua Moitra, MP, may be expelled from the membership of the Seventeenth Lok Sabha”. It also called for “a legal institutional inquiry by the Government… in view of unethical, heinous, and criminal conduct of Smt Mahua Moitra…”
This morning, as she walked into Parliament, a typically fierce Ms Moitra paused only to tell reporters, “Maa Durga aa gayi hai, ab dekhenge…Jab naash manuj par chhata hai, pehle vivek mar jaata hai (Maa Durga has come! Now we will see.. when destruction comes, conscience dies first).”
Trinamool boss and Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the BJP of having “planned” the expulsion of Ms Moitra – who is one of the ruling party’s fiercest and most vocal critics. “… but this will help her before the election,” Ms Banerjee said. The 2024 Lok Sabha election is just months away.
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Bharatiya American Community Celebrates BJP’s Grand Victory in New York
Ladies at the celebration NEW HYDE PARK, NY (TIP): “This is Modi Era. Modi means performance”, said Mr Jagdish Sewhani, President of The American India Public Affairs Committee in New York. People have voted for good governance and performance . The credit for this victory goes to our “yashasvi” Prime Minister Narendra Modiji. The Strategy developed by his team Home Minister Amit Shahji and Party President J P Naddaji decimated the opposition.
The results are a reflection of mood of the country.
Mr Sewhani further said that people of three states have shown full confidence in BJP, its governance and its leadership, under the guidance of visionary Prime Minister Modi ji.
People Voted for Modi Guarantee. It Shows they Trust Prime Minister Modi under whose Leadership Bharat is Growing Economically, Culturally, Socially and Strategically. Today, Bharat is among Top five Economies of the world with GDP of 4 trillion., and thanks to the leadership of prime minister Modi ji, I have no doubt that in next 25 years Bharat will be a 40 Trillion economy.
Mr Sewhani further said that people have outrightly rejected caste politics and voted for” Development ,Development, Development.” This is Semi Final . Final will be next year and I’m confident that BJP will again be blessed by people of Bharat. We Bharatiya Americans need to play important role by aggressively campaigning for the BJP and its Candidates in 2024 Elections. Dr Narinder Kukar, Chintu Patel , Dr Dipak Nandi , Sunil Hali, Amba Sharma, ,Dr Urmilesh Arya , Satvinder Satta , Kulbir Singh, Indu Jaiswal , Anju Sharma, Pinki Jaggi, Dr Pushp Bhansali , and Dr Sanil Sarkar also spoke at the celebrations.
Gentlemen at the celebration -
FIA and Indian American community held a commemorative celebration to mark the historic announcement of Garba’s Inclusion in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List
TIMES SQUARE, NY CITY (TIP): Times Square reverberated with the beats and music of ‘Garba’ as members of the Indian-American community performed the traditional Gujarati dance at the iconic New York City destination to celebrate its inclusion in UNESCO’s cultural heritage list.
FIA NY-NJ-CT-NE along with support from a host of community organizations and Consulate General of India NY, held a commemorative garba celebration at the ‘Crossroads of the world’, – Times Square. The celebration marked the recent inclusion of Garba as an Intangible Cultural Heritage.Garba, considered to be among the oldest forms of group dance and longest dance festival spanning 9 nights (Navratri) is a very popular group folk dance form in key states of India including Gujarat, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. It has gained sensational liking among the overseas Indian diaspora in countries like the UAE (Dubai), USA, UK, Australia, Canada and many others. This historic, prestigious and distinguished milestone Tag of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity was announced during UNESCO’s 18th session in Kasane, Botswana on December 6th 2023. The leading organization for this initiative, the Federation of Indian Associations NY-NJ-CT-NE (FIA) extended an open invitation to the entire Indian American community to join in this momentous celebration at Times Square, NYC which was supported by Consulate General of India NY. Free transportation, complimentary refreshments and participation certificates shall be provided for all performing attendees. The event was a spectacular showcase of the rich cultural heritage of Gujarat as attendees donned traditional Garba attires. The vivid colors and intricate designs of their attire were a sight to behold, and one could feel the energy and pride emanating from them as they represented their culture on a global platform. The atmosphere was electric with excitement and anticipation, and it was clear that everyone was thoroughly enjoying themselves.
In addition to the Federation of Indian Associations NY-NJ-CT-NE, the event was made possible through the support and collaboration of esteemed partner organizations, including the Consulate General of India, New York, GANA, BJANA, Siddhivinayak Temple USA, Times Group, Aaj Tak, The Indian Panorama, EBC Radio, The South Asian Times, AUM Dance Academy, Parikh WorldWide media, TV Asia, ITV gold, World BB TV, New India Abroad, The Indian Eye, Radio Zindagi, and Radio Dil.
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Long Island Indo American Lions Club held a Musical Extravaganza, Singing Competition
FLORAL PARK, NY (TIP): Long Island Indo American Lions Club held a Musical Extravaganza , Singing Competition on Sunday December 3rd, 2023 at Tyson Center located in Floral Park. This event was attended by many members of Lions club as well as non members. The Auditorium was packed with music lovers. Melodious singing by talented competitors took the audience through the different eras of Bollywood songs.
This event was conceptualized by Shyam Gajwani, President of Long Island Indo American Lions Club and it was put together with the help of Program Coordinator Jignesh Shah. The Program was well managed and organized by the team comprising of Anju Sharma, Sanju Sharma, Sital Shah and Indu Gajwani.
The three prominent personalities, Mrs. Purnima Desai, Manik Malhotra and Sai Sagar Patnaik with great musical knowledge were appointed as judges to select the winners.Shreya Sanghavani was declared the winner. 2nd Prize went to Danzel Tarkan, 3rd prize to Divyesh Tripathi, 4th Prize to Sukhpreet Kohli, and 5th Prize to Ajit Shah. All the participants were awarded participation certificates and a gift.
Indu Gajwani said the organizers were thankful to sponsors Mr. Kanak Golia, Mr. Navin Shah & Madhu Pareek of NAVIKA, Mr. Anil Shah, Mr. Kelly and Mansi Lalwani, and Atul Pareek for their support for the event.
The organizers were grateful to team and volunteers Yogini Oza, Dr. Gobind Oza, Nimesh Shah, Shyam & Madhu Agarwal, Pradeep Gosalia, Shila Shah and Lata Atmarani. -
Delia DeRiggi-Whitton Designated to Lead Nassau County Legislature’s Democratic Caucus
MINEOLA, N.Y. (TIP): Nassau County Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton (D – Glen Cove) has been designated to serve as leader by the members of the Nassau County Legislative Democratic Caucus starting in 2024.
DeRiggi-Whitton, 55, of Glen Cove, won her seventh two-year term with more than 64 percent of the vote in the 2023 general election. As caucus leader, DeRiggi-Whitton would succeed current Minority Leader Kevan Abrahams, who has served in the role since 2012 and is leaving office at year’s end after not seeking re-election.
As Leader, Legislator DeRiggi-Whitton said the Democratic caucus will remain keenly focused upon oversight of the Blakeman administration; reaffirm the Legislature’s crucial role as a provider of checks and balances as a coequal branch of government; and prioritize the delivery of initiatives that will make Nassau more affordable and protect the environment; preserve public safety; reinvest in infrastructure; and enhance the response to the ongoing opioid drug addiction crisis. “Being selected by my colleagues to lead our caucus at such a dynamic time in the history of the Legislature is a tremendous honor, and I am deeply humbled by the trust they have placed in me,” DeRiggi-Whitton said. “As I embark upon this exciting new chapter as a public servant, I want to thank Nassau County Democratic Committee Chairman Jay Jacobs and my Democratic colleagues for their support, and extend my gratitude to my colleague and friend Kevan Abrahams for his guidance and leadership during the last 12 years. I am beyond proud to lead our team into the future, and we are ready to directly confront and overcome Nassau County’s greatest challenges.”
Legislator DeRiggi-Whitton’s selection as Minority Leader will be formalized in January during organizational meetings for the 15th term of the Nassau County Legislature. Under the Nassau County Charter, the Legislator who receives a majority of votes from the body’s 19 members becomes Presiding Officer; the runner-up in that tally from the opposing party becomes Minority Leader. Legislator DeRiggi-Whitton’s ascension will mark the latest milestone in two decades of service as an elected official. Prior to becoming a Legislator, DeRiggi-Whitton served two terms on the Glen Cove City Council, where she began to build her reputation as a fiscal hawk and strident environmental advocate who was acutely aware of the community’s needs.
During this time, she further distinguished herself in numerous philanthropic endeavors such as the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation. After her daughter Amanda was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age three, Delia has been an outspoken advocate for diabetes awareness, treatment, and research, and remains a prolific fundraiser who has helped to raise well over $1 million through annual “Cooking for a Cure” events.
She is a founding board member of the not-for-profit First City Project Collective, which seeks to leverage the community-building power of the arts to spark an artistic and economic renaissance in downtown Glen Cove. One of the organization’s signature events is an annual Toys for Tots drive at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, which has grown from its roots in Glen Cove to become the largest one-day collection event in America.
Delia is married to Richard Valicenti and is the mother of three adult daughters and an adult stepson. Her father, Hon. Donald DeRiggi, is a retired Nassau County judge and past Mayor of Glen Cove. Delia’s mother, Dr. Mildred “Millie” DeRiggi, is a noted local historian who previously worked as an answer/question writer for the legendary quiz shows “Jeopardy!” and “G.E. College Bowl” during the 1960s.
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Senator Liu Encourages New Yorkers to Weigh in on School Governance and Mayoral Accountability, AKA Mayoral Control
NEW YORK , NY (TIP): State Senator John Liu, Chair of the Senate Committee on NYC Education, today encouraged New Yorkers to take advantage of the upcoming five-borough public hearings on mayoral accountability, aka mayoral control of public schools. The hearings are hosted by the New York State Education Department (SED) and will be open to the public. The first public hearing will take place in the Bronx on Tuesday, December 5 at DeWitt Clinton High School from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
In 2022, the state legislature passed a two-year extension of mayoral control with new checks and balances that added more members to the Panel for Educational Policy and required the State Education Commissioner to conduct a comprehensive review and assessment of the overall effectiveness of NYC’s school governance system. This review must include a study of school governance models and best practices used by other major municipal school systems, including those that have already reverted from mayoral control to more democratic systems. Additionally, the State Education Commissioner must hold a public hearing in each borough to engage and solicit input from the public on school governance. SED has created a website with additional details for providing oral and/or submitting written electronic testimony by January 31, 2024 at 5 p.m.
State Senator John Liu stated, “It is time to seriously examine the now two decades of experience of running NYC schools under mayoral accountability/control, and SED has taken on this important work, as well as the work of analyzing changes made in other major school systems in recent years. Part of this process requires SED to hold public hearings in each of the five boroughs, and I encourage all stakeholders in our schools to participate. We should leave no stone unturned in considering how NYC schools can be best governed going forward, whether through mayoral control or otherwise.
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Bruhud New York Seniors Organize a spectacular Diwali Celebration
- Acting Consul General Dr. Varun Jeph as Chief Guest and Prem Bhandari as keynote speaker graced the occasion
FLUSHING, NY (TIP): Bruhud New York Seniors , a nonprofit organization serving the greater NYC area since 2009, held a spectacular Diwali celebration at the Hindu community center in Flushing on December 2, 2023.
Bruhud New York Seniors officials and honorees with Dr. Varun Jeph and Prem Bhandari The event drew over 700 guests from the tri state area and was graced by Chief Guest acting Consul General. Dr. Varun Jeph, along with keynote speaker, Prem Bhandari, Chairman of Jaipur Foot USA,. The two lauded the contribution of the Indian American community.
Ajay S. Patel, President of Bruhud New York Seniors shared the vision of community unity, emphasizing Bruhud Seniors’ role in fulfilling this vision. He laid out Plans for 2024 which include a free artificial limb fitment mega camp in Ahmedabad and medical seminars in collaboration with Jaipur Foot USA.
A view of the gathering The event honored a few community leaders and volunteers, which included, among others, Harish Thakkar, former President of AIA-NY, for their outstanding services.
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Indian American Rishi Kumar takes lead in California congressional race as per Polls
- Parminder Aujla
SAN FRANCISCO (TIP): In a recent poll conducted for the open California Congressional District 16 seat, Indian American Democrat Rishi Kumar has emerged as the frontrunner in a closely contested race, positioning himself as a formidable candidate in a field of 10 hopefuls.
Kumar, a software tech executive, previously challenged incumbent Anna Eshoo in the November 2022 election, securing an impressive 42.3 percent of the votes. In the current race, he leads with 12 percent of the vote, surpassing competitors Joe Simitian at 1 percent, Sam Liccardo at 7 percent, and Low at 6 percent. However, a significant portion of likely voters, approximately 57 percent, remains undecided.
The poll, conducted by Clarity Campaign Labs, surveyed 633 registered voters in CD-16. Clarity, a nationally recognized polling leader, is utilized by major Democratic organizations such as the DNC, DCCC, DGA, DSCC, and DAGA. As the race unfolds, Rishi Kumar’s lead showcases his growing support and positions him as a strong contender for the California Congressional District 16 seat.
Results of the poll were shared with the American Bazaar by Kumar’s campaign.
One of Kumar’s key campaign points is his status as the sole non-career politician in the race, emphasizing his refusal to accept PAC money, developer contributions, and special interest group funding. He highlights a track record of accomplishments, including a notable reduction in crime during his tenure on the Saratoga Council.
Kumar has also served on former Gov. Jerry Brown’s University of California Regent committee and California’s Department of Education K-12 public school computer science implementation panel. His political journey includes multiple elected terms as a Saratoga Councilmember, where he secured reelection with the highest votes in 66 years, even surpassing the incumbent mayor. Kumar has also served as both a Delegate and Executive Board member of the California Democratic Party.
Kumar’s platform addresses a range of critical issues, including crime reduction, tackling inflation, advocating for abortion rights, supporting Congressional term limits, overturning Citizens United to promote clean money in American politics, advocating for a ban on insider trading in Congress, addressing climate change, and boosting Silicon Valley’s innovation economy. He emphasizes a focus on the upcoming Artificial Intelligence automation economy.
Born to Indra Prasad and Shanta Prasad, Rishi is married to Seema Kumar, with two sons, Rishub and Shivaum Kumar. He attributes his success to their role in his life.
With a master’s in mechanical engineering from the University of Connecticut, Rishi Kumar has been living in Silicon Valley for nearly 20 years. -
Indian American Usha Reddi seeks another term as Kansas State Senate
KANSAS (TIP): Indian American incumbent Usha Reddi has filed papers to run for the Kansas State Senate from the state’s 22nd district. The Democrat has been serving in the senate since January after the previous occupant of the seat, Tom Hawk, retired from the legislature. Her term is set to expire in January 2025.
A public-school teacher, Reddi previously served on the Manhattan City Commission in Kansas for 10 years.
On Wednesday afternoon, she announced her candidacy on X, formerly known as Twitter: “Just filed as a candidate for the Kansas State Senate in the 2024 election! Public service is a significant part of my life, and I am dedicated to continuing to work for the people as your State Senator!”
On her campaign website, Reddi explains why she’s running: “I served as the Mayor in 2016-2017 and in 2020 and worked closely with Kansas State University, Fort Riley, Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce, Manhattan-Ogden USD383, and social service organizations in the community to ensure economic vitality and the well-being of residents. Public service is the will to listen and hear from individuals who will feel the most impact on the ground from laws voted on in Topeka.”
Reddi’s family arrived in Columbus, OH, from Andhra Pradesh, India in 1973. She holds a master’s in educational leadership from Kansas State University and two bachelor’s degrees: one in Developmental Psychology from Ohio State University and another in Elementary Education from Kansas State.
The newly redistricted 22nd district is located in Riley County.
Reddi, a naturalized American, is married to Brian Neuhoff. She has three children from a previous marriage.
In January, she was nominated to the senate her party’s precinct chairs ahead of the country Party Chair Katie Allen. -
Indian American national security expert Krystle Kaul running for US Congress
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): Krystle Kaul, an Indian American foreign policy and national security expert with roots in Kashmir, has announced that she will run for the US House of Representatives from a Congressional district in Virginia with a focus on core issues like public safety, education and healthcare.
Kaul, if elected in 2024, would be only the second Indian American woman to be elected to the House of Representatives after Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal.
Pramila Jayapal’s sister Susheela Jayapal has also thrown her hat in the race to the Congress from the third Congressional District of Oregon.
Both Kaul and Susheela Jayapal, from the Democratic Party, will have to win the party’s primary next year to bag the party’s nomination for the November 2024 general elections.
Fluent in eight languages, including Hindi, Punjabi, Dari, Urdu and Arabic, Kaul, the first Kashmiri-origin person to ever run for Congress, said her decision to run for the 10th Congressional District of Virginia came after Democratic Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton who has represented the constituency since 2019 announced her decision not to seek re-election. Kaul has spent her professional life in the national security establishment from the Pentagon to think tanks and the defense industry.
She said education, healthcare and public Safety are the “three core issues” she would focus on in her campaign.
The 10th Congressional District of Virginia encompasses parts of Virginia that have one of the highest concentrations of Indian Americans and South Asians in the state, like Loudoun County, Fairfax County and Prince Williams County. Elaborating on her promises to the electorate, she said: “The first foremost being is education…The second one is improving our healthcare system here. “We have a lot of small business owners and just making healthcare more affordable and more accessible. So, from prescription drugs to seeing specialists, that is something that is a concern. And the third is public safety, making sure we have safe neighborhoods, safe schools, safe communities,” Kaul, who is in her late thirties, told PTI in a recent interview.
Kaul said when it comes to national security, she would take a very strong stance on counter-terrorism.
As a child, at her home in Long Island, where she grew up, she very often heard stories about the conflict in Kashmir from her father.
“..that was when my father was sharing accounts of the tension in Kashmir. I was very interested in learning more about Kashmir. I made it a point to focus my studies on understanding the conflict there…,” she said.
“I had a desire to eventually run for Congress. But obviously, it’s a path. It’s a journey to get there. So, I first devoted my studies, my first three degrees, to understanding diplomacy, negotiation, political science, and all the theory that you need to understand,” she said.
“So, I have fallen in the footsteps of (Congresswoman) Abigail Spanberger (a former CIA officer). There are about nine democrats who have entered Congress with prior service in the Department of Defense… several of whom I know personally as well,” she said.
Kaul, who has travelled to more than 70 countries, was born and raised in Long Island, New York.
Her father, who is from Safapora in Kashmir, came to the US at the age of 26. Her mother, a Punjabi from Delhi, migrated at the age of seven.
“My father has worked in the insurance business and my mother has done work in real estate,” she said.
After Long Island in New York, Kaul spent a few years in Wayne, New Jersey where she attended Vidyapith as a kid and she studied Sanskrit Vedic heritage, Hindi, mythology, the religion.
She shifted to Washington DC when she was 17 for a college education.
She graduated with a B A from American University, MAs from Brown University and Johns Hopkins University (SAIS) and has a PhD in Political Science in progress at Brown University.
A national leader in the defense and intelligence community, she served as a Director (GS-15) of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency at the Department of Defense, the Director of Strategic Communications of the US Air Force and NATO for General Dynamics Information Technology, and as an Intelligence Political-Military Expert at US Central Command. “The majority of my career has been with the Department of Defense. I worked for a number of large defense contractors and consulting firms, including Deloitte, General Dynamics, Lidos, and Booz Allen Hamilton,” she said. The announcement that she is running for Congress has created a buzz in the Indian American community. “Very positive. I have a great deal of support from several organizations that back Indian American candidates, that back South Asian American candidates across the country,” she said, describing it as an outpouring of support. -
Indian American Global venture capitalist Deven Parekh nominated to IDFC board
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): President Joe Biden has nominated Deven J. Parekh, a leading Indian American global venture capitalist, to the Board of Directors of the US International Development Finance Corporation for a fresh term of three years.
The White House sent the nomination of Parekh, a Managing Director at Insight Partners, a growth equity investment fund based in New York City, to the Senate Thursday. Parekh was initially nominated as a member of the IDFC board for a term of three years by President Donald Trump in June 2020.
Since joining Insight in 2000, Parekh has made more than 140 investments in enterprise software, data, and consumer internet businesses globally, including in North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and Australia, according to his White House profile.
In addition to his work at Insight and for the Development Finance Corporation, Parekh serves as a Board Member for the Council on Foreign Relations, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, NYU Langone, the Tisch New York MS Research Center, and the Economic Club of New York.
He has previously served on the Board of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, the Advisory Board of the US Export-Import Bank, and the Technical Advisory Council of the Federal Communications Commission.
He is Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Publicolor, a non-profit organization focused on New York City public schools. In 2021, Parekh received the Robert F. Kennedy Ripple of Hope Award. He is also a Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute.
Prior to joining Insight, Parekh was a Principal at Berenson Minella & Company, a New York-based merchant banking firm, where he served on the M&A Committee.
He also worked for Blackstone on M&A and other investment activities. Parekh has a BS in Economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
By statute, the Development Finance Corporation Board of Directors includes four members recommended to the President from Senate and House leadership. Parekh is the nominee recommended by the Senate Majority Leader. -
Indian-origin eighty-one-year-old novelist awarded Singapore’s highest arts accolade
SINGAPORE (TIP): Eighty-one-year-old Indian-origin writer Meira Chand was among the three Singaporeans conferred the Cultural Medallion, the city-state’s most prestigious arts accolade, in recognition of their artistic excellence and contribution to enriching the country’s arts and culture scene.
Chand, fellow novelist Suchen Christine Lim and Malay dance veteran Osman Abdul Hamid received the award from President Tharman Shanmugaratnam at a ceremony held at the Istana on Tuesday, media reported.
The award comes with an SGD 80,000 grant for each recipient to support their artistic pursuits.
A Singaporean of Swiss Indian parentage, Chand, along with Lim, is the first English-language female writer to be conferred the award since Ho Minfong in 1997.
Chand is an award-winning novelist known for her depiction of multicultural societies. Her ‘The Painted Cage’ (1986) was longlisted for the prestigious Booker Prize, the report said.
“Each of our three new Cultural Medallion recipients is being recognized for their explorations through life and for inspiring many others, not least the next generation of artists,” President Tharman said in a statement.
From England to Japan, India to Singapore, Chand’s life, according to her website, straddles the world, and her many novels mirror her journey to pin down the experience of these different cultures upon her and her relationship with them.
According to her website, she was born in London to a Swiss mother and Indian father, grew up, and was educated in the UK. In 1962, she went to Japan with her Indian husband, where she taught art at an international school. Leaving Japan for Mumbai in 1971, she lived in India for five years, where she began writing.
Calling India a “life-changing experience”, the novelist said, “For the first time in my life, I met a half of myself I had never known. There was simply no way I could understand that experience but through writing,” according to her website. The Cultural Medallion, instituted in 1979 by late President and then Minister of Culture Ong Teng Cheong, is the city-state’s “highest arts accolade, honoring individuals whose artistic excellence, contribution, and commitment have enriched and distinguished Singapore’s arts and culture scene,” according to the National Arts Council website. It celebrates inspiring local arts practitioners who display professional maturity in their practice through a distinctive body of work, and who have made extraordinary contributions to Singapore’s artistic development, the website said. The award has been conferred on132 artists in the fields of film, literary arts, performing arts, and visual arts, it said.
Last year, 56-year-old Tamilian Hindu Aravinth Kumarasamy was conferred the prestigious award.