WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): The United States Senate confirmed Nisha Desai Biswal to serve as the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the US International Development Finance Corporation.
The DFC addresses the most critical challenges facing the developing world by providing loans, loan guarantees, direct equity investments, and political risk insurance for private-sector-led development projects, feasibility studies, and technical assistance.
From 2013 to 2017, Biswal served as Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, a role in which she acted as a point person for the Obama administration on South Asia. In that job, she oversaw the US-India strategic partnership, including the launch of an annual US-India Strategic and Commercial Dialogue, as noted by the White House.
With over 30 years of experience in US foreign policy and international development programs within the Executive Branch, Congress, and the private sector, Biswal most recently held the position of Senior Vice President for International Strategy and Global Initiatives at the US Chamber of Commerce, overseeing the US India Business Council and US Bangladesh Business Council. She has also served as the President of US-India Business Council.
Previously, she served as an Assistant Administrator for Asia at the US Agency for International Development, where she directed and supervised USAID programs and operations across South, Central, and Southeast Asia.
In the early years of her career, Biswal spent more than a decade on Capitol Hill in various roles, including as staff director on the State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee on Appropriations and as professional staff on the Foreign Affairs Committee in the House of Representatives.
Over the years, she has served as the Chair of the Advisory Committee on Voluntary Foreign Aid, a member of the board of the National Democratic Institute, a member of the US Institute of Peace International Advisory Council, the United States Institute of Peace Afghanistan Study Group, and the Aspen Institute’s India-US Track 2 Dialogue on Climate and Energy.
Biswal graduated in international relations and economics from the University of Virginia. She is married to Subrat Biswal and the couple has two daughters, Safya Biswal and Kaya Biswal.
Tag: NRI
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Indian American Nisha Desai Biswal confirmed as deputy CEO of DFC
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Indian American engineer from Alabama sues defense contractor for Hindi language discrimination
ALABAMA (TIP): A 78-year-old Indian American from Alabama has sued a defense contractor alleging that he was fired for speaking Hindi.
The civil rights lawsuit by Anil Varshney, filed in the Northern District of Alabama, names Parsons Corporation and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin, who oversees the United States Missile Defense Agency, as defendants.
The lawsuit alleges that Varshney was heard speaking Hindi during a video call. Varshney claims that he faced based on his language and ethnicity.
“This case arises out of Defendants’ intentional acts to end Mr. Varshney’s highly distinguished engineering career because he is a 78-year-old Indian American,” according to the lawsuit. “Defendants abruptly terminated Mr. Varshney after one of his white colleagues overheard him speaking Hindi to his dying brother-in-law in India and falsely reported him for a violation of ‘security regulations.”
In their court response, Parsons refuted any allegations of wrongdoing and requested the dismissal of the lawsuit.
According to the lawsuit, Varshney had been employed at Parsons’ Huntsville office from July 2011 to October 2022. The incident in question occurred when he received a video call from his brother-in-law while in an unoccupied cubicle.
During this call, which lasted approximately two minutes, he spoke to his brother-in-law. Subsequently, the company alleged that Varshney committed a security violation by using the Facetime application at a classified worksite, leading to his termination. However, Varshney asserts that there was no policy explicitly prohibiting him from accepting such calls, and he disputes the grounds for his dismissal.
The suit alleges that the termination had significant repercussions, as it allegedly blacklisted him from potential future employment opportunities with the Missile Defense Agency. Varshney’s association with the federal agency dates back to 2002 when he initially started working there. He maintained his dual employment at Parsons and the agency until 2022, which the lawsuit cites as a testament to his achieving the American Dream.
Employment discrimination lawsuits are not uncommon in the United States; however, the case alleging discrimination based on speaking an Indian language appears to be one of the first of its kind. -
Indian American Aneira Banwar has been crowned the “Royal International Miss International Princess of the Year 2023
Sushma Malhotra
ORLANDO, FL (TIP): Seven-year-old Aneira Banwar from Virginia, USA has been crowned the “Royal International Miss International Princess of the Year 2023”. Aneira made all Indians proud by winning the title of Royal International Miss International Princess. This competition was organized in the city of Orlando in Florida. In this competition one hundred eighty girls from all over the world participated. During this international competition the judges asked the participants a variety of questions. The judgment was made on the basis of their versatility in responding to those questions.
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Indian American executive Amrapali “Ami” Gan quits as OnlyFans CEO
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): : Indian American executive Amrapali “Ami” Gan is leaving as CEO of OnlyFans, an internet content subscription service based in London to lead Hoxton Projects, a marketing company she has founded. She spent nearly three years as CEO of the creator platform that supports adult content. She will be replaced by chief strategy and operations officer Keily Blair.
“Spending nearly 3 years at OnlyFans while it echoed throughout the cultural zeitgeist, has been beyond rewarding,” Gan wrote in a Twitter thread.
The Mumbai-born Gan has spent most of her life in California, where she currently lives. She reportedly operated from the company’s offices in Los Angeles.
In her stint as the CEO of OnlyFans, she accomplished business goals such as prioritizing platform safety, scaling the organization globally and growing the platform’s community of fans and creators.
According to Gan’s tweet, OnlyFans paid out $10 billion in creator earnings and made it twice to the FT’s list of Europe’s Fastest Growing Companies during her tenure as CEO. She added creator-led content on the platform increased at a steady pace and OnlyFans also launched its safety and transparency center when she served as the CEO. “Within this time, I’ve accomplished incredible goals for the business including enhancing its priority focus on platform safety, scaling the organization globally, and growing OF’s diverse community of creators and fans,” Gan wrote. Ami Gan’ new venture, Hoxton Projects, will delve deep into the field of communication and marketing to help founders and growing business to expand their impression.
“Hoxton Projects reimagines the agency paradigm to support founders and growing businesses on how to best communicate and market their purpose and competitive advantage,” Gan tweeted.
Shortly before Gan took over as CEO, OnlyFans announced that it would ban sexually explicit content, sending its community of creators into an uproar. However, this decision was eventually reversed. Despite her tenure as a CEO, Gan’s background is in marketing; she was previously the chief marketing officer of OnlyFans, and before that, she led communications efforts at Cannabis Cafe, Red Bull, Quest Nutrition and other companies.
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Indian American Democrat Raja Krishnamoorthi recognized by Nonpartisan Common Ground Committee
WASHINGTON D.C. (TIP): Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, an Illinois Democrat, has been recognized by the Common Ground Committee as a “Common Ground Champion” who “seeks points of agreement and solutions on social and political issues through listening and productive conversation.”
The nonpartisan committee is a nonprofit that works to “help citizens hold leaders accountable for progress and civil discourse,” according to its website. Its primary mission is to address the national challenges of polarization and incivility, by inspiring and motivating the public to seek common ground and promote healing.
Krishnamoorthi’s recognition was based on an analysis of the Indian American congressman’s record in the U.S. House of Representatives.
“I am honored to be recognized by the Common Ground Committee for my approach to working with colleagues, regardless of party, to address the challenges facing our country,” the Democrat serving his fourth term in the US House of Representatives said in a press release. “While I believe it is essential that we approach the business of the American people with a clear recognition that we can disagree without being disagreeable, we also need to deliver results. Even beyond the value of constructive engagement for its own sake, a bipartisan, collaborative approach is also the most effective one for serving my constituents.”
Scoring in the top 4% on the Common Ground Score Card’s evaluation of his official performance, personal actions, communications, and commitments, Krishnamoorthi has shown unwavering dedication in combating the detrimental effects of polarized thinking and governance among elected officials and their constituents, the release said. His efforts include working tirelessly to overcome gridlock and fostering “a private discourse that builds understanding and public discourse that uncovers common ground through passionate but civil debate where facts are valued and participants listen to each other,” it added.
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Indian woman in US for higher studies found starving on Chicago street, belongings stolen
HYDERABAD/NEW YORK (TIP): Syeda Lulu Minhaj Zaidi from Hyderabad had gone to the US to pursue a master’s degree. A video of Zaidi has recently surfaced online in which she is reportedly found starving on a street in Chicago. Her belongings were allegedly stolen. Her mother has written to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar asking for help. She had gone to the US to pursue her MS from TRINE University in Detroit. The video was shared by the spokesperson of the Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT) Amjadullah Khan on Twitter. She was found in a bad condition, sitting in a corner looking pale and fragile.
In the video, she is heard saying her name is Syeda Lulu Minhaj Zaidi and she belongs to Hyderabad in India. She says that she was taken to a hospital for treatment, but she fell weak after blood samples were taken for testing.
A man in the video offered her food and assured her help. He even asked her to return to India.
Moved by her video, netizens reacted stating that she must be brought back to Hyderabad at the earliest.
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Five Indian Americans appointed to key jobs by Virginia Governor
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): Five Indian Americans have been given key administration and board appointments by Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin “as we continue to make Virginia the best place to live, work and raise a family.” “Their critical work will provide essential help as we move into my administration’s day two agenda,” he stated announcing a long slate of appointments last week.
Dr, Bimaljit Singh Sandhu, a gastroenterologist at Richmond Gastroenterology Associates, took oath as a board member of the Virginia Commonwealth University Health System Authority on Tuesday.
As board member, Sandhu will play a pivotal role in the state’s health education system.
The board’s responsibilities include overseeing the operations of the health system, as well as providing strategic direction to various medical schools and hospitals.
“It’s a lot of responsibility. We provide direction as far as the fundraising, giving strategic direction to the different medical schools and hospitals so that we are at the cutting edge and provide the best care to the Virginians,” Sandhu said after the swearing-in ceremony in Richmond.
Hailing from Faridkot in Punjab, Sandhu migrated to the US in 2004 as a faculty member of Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center.
Harshad Barot, owner of Galaxy Corporation and Kamlesh Dave, President, Heart Care Associates, were named to the Virginia Asian Advisory Board, which serves as a formal liaison between the administration and the diverse and rapidly growing Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities in the Commonwealth.
In their new role, Barot and Dave will advise the Governor on ways to improve economic and cultural links between the Commonwealth and Asian nations.
Padmanabhan Seshaiyer, Professor and Director of George Mason University, and Kunal Kumar, President of Pooja Group, were named to the Virginia Board of Workforce Development.
The board acts as the principal advisor to the Governor and provides strategic leadership to the state regarding the workforce development system and its efforts to create a strong workforce aligned with employer needs.
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UK opens second ballot for Young Professionals Scheme visas for Indians
Ballot, which closes on July 27, offers eligible young Indians the opportunity to live, work or study in UK for up to two years
LONDON (TIP): The British government on Tuesday opened its second ballot under the UK-India Young Professional Scheme for Indians aged between 18 and 30 years with graduate-level qualifications for visas to the UK. The ballot, which closes on July 27, offers eligible young Indians the opportunity to live, work or study in the UK for up to two years. “The second ballot of the Young Professionals Scheme is now OPEN,” the British High Commission in New Delhi tweeted. “If you are an Indian national between 18-30 years of age with a graduate or postgraduate qualification, consider applying for the India Young Professionals Scheme visa. Ballot closes at 1.30 pm on July 27,” it said. There are a total of 3,000 places available under the scheme for the year 2023 and UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) said that most places were given in the first ballot which took place in February. The remaining places will be chosen at random from this month’s ballot.
While it’s free to enter the ballot, applicants are told they must only enter if they plan to apply for the visa, which costs 259 pound, and are able to meet the financial, educational and other requirements.
Additional costs involved include a 940 pound healthcare surcharge and proof that the applicant has 2,530 pounds in personal savings.
Under the reciprocal arrangement signed off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his UK counterpart, Rishi Sunak, at the G20 summit in Indonesia last November, British nationals would also be offered similar visas to live and work in India. The launch of the UK-India Young Professionals Scheme was dubbed a “significant moment” for the bilateral relationship and the UK’s wider commitment to forging stronger links with the Indo-Pacific region to strengthen both Indian and British economies.
It was also seen as an effort to propel the ongoing free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations, which completed 11 rounds of talks this month. “I know first-hand the incredible value of the deep cultural and historic ties we have with India. I am pleased that even more of India’s brightest young people will now have the opportunity to experience all that life in the UK has to offer – and vice-versa – making our economies and societies richer,” said Sunak, as he green-lit the scheme in November 2022.
(Source: PTI)
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Two Indian-origin men plead guilty to drug trafficking in US
NEW YORK (TIP): Two Indian-origin men have pleaded guilty to drug and firearms charges arising from a drug trafficking venture run out of a motel in the US. Kamal Bhula, 44, of Albuquerque, and Pragneshkumar “Pete” Patel, 36, of Montgomery, Alabama are among the three charged for maintaining a drug-involved premise at a motel in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Both Bhula and Patel have pleaded guilty to one count each of maintaining a drug-involved premise, the Attorney’s Office of New Mexico said in a statement on Monday, July 24.
The third accused, Jonathan Craft, 36, of Albuquerque, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm or ammunition. The release dated July 17 said that Bhula and Craft will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. A federal grand jury indicted Bhula and Craft on June 20, 2019. Patel was indicted on November 5, 2019. According to court records, Patel owned the Best Choice Inn at 7640 Central Avenue SE and was the on-site manager from September 2017 to March 2018, when Bhula leased the property from Patel and took over as the on-site manager.
Craft lived and worked at Best Choice Inn, claiming to be in charge when Bhula was away.
Craft sold drugs from his room, permitted others to do the same, and permitted individuals to use drugs on the premises. Craft also unlawfully possessed a firearm.
Bhula and Patel allowed drug trafficking at the motel and personally observed and profited from those who used controlled substances on the premises. At sentencing, Bhula, Craft and Patel each face up to 20 years in prison, the release added.
(Source: PTI)
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More than 66% of 10.34 million NRIs live in Gulf countries: RTI reply
1.28 million NRIs live in the US, .25 million in Australia and .17 million in Canada
NAGPUR, INDIA (TIP): Of the estimated 10.34 million Non-Resident Indians, more than 66 per cent are in the Gulf countries of UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain, the External Affairs Ministry has said in an RTI reply. The data is as of March 2022, said the ministry.
An NRI is an Indian citizen who is ordinarily residing outside India and holds an Indian passport.
Nagpur-based banker Abhay Kolarkar said he had sought the data pertaining to NRIs and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) under Right to Information (RTI) a few months ago and the ministry’s reply reached him in the last week of June. In its RTI reply, the ministry said that an estimated 10.34 million NRIs live in 210 countries. Of these, 8.8 million overseas Indians live in six Gulf nations.
While 3.4 million NRIs live in the United Arab Emirates, 2.5 million live in Saudi Arabia, followed by 1.2 million in Kuwait, .74 million in Qatar, .77 million in Oman and .32 million in Bahrain.
Kolarkar said he wanted the data to get a sense of the number of NRIs who might be affected in case of a war or a humanitarian crisis on foreign soil. As per the RTI reply, 1.28 million NRIs live in the US. The number is .35 million for the UK, .24 million for Australia, .22 million for Malaysia, and .17million for Canada.
However, the Gulf nations have very few PIOs, while the US has more such persons.
A PIO is a person who or any of whose ancestors was an Indian national and who is presently holding another country’s citizenship or nationality i.e., he or she is holding a foreign passport.
At .31 million , the US has the most number of PIOs compared to other countries, said the RTI reply. It is followed by .27 million in Malaysia, .2 million in Myanmar, .16 million in Sri Lanka and .15 million in Canada.
(Source: PTI)
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Prominent Indian American Dalit activist, Milind Makwana dies of heart attack during a city council hearing in California
Paramjit Aujla
SACRAMENTO (TIP): A prominent Indian American Dalit activist fighting against the recent caste discrimination bill in California Assembly died of a heart attack as he passionately spoke against it at a city council meeting in Cupertino, sending shock waves amongst the Hindu-American community in the country.
Milind Makwana, according to his close friends and family, spoke at the City Council meeting on July 18 against SB403, the anti-caste discrimination bill in California State Assembly. Throughout the day, the Cupertino-based activist participated in various meetings and the City Council hearing, speaking passionately against it and stating that the bill was anti-Dalit. Tragically, he collapsed moments after the hearing at the Cupertino City Council.
“Milind had this clear conviction that Dalits and Bahujan are also Hindu. He was passionate about justice for underprivileged communities and, at the same time, wanted mutual trust and harmony among all communities,” his wife Purvi Makwana said in a statement issued by the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS).
“All his life, he had stood for Dharma. I urge the community to support and take forward Milind’s dream of Justice, Harmony, and Dharma,” Purvi said. This past weekend, the community started a fundraiser and raised more than USD 280,000. Living, growing, and assimilating in a foreign land is a challenge for any immigrant community, and the micro-minority Hindu community is not an exception to this rule. Milind became highly alert and concerned by California’s SB403 Bill, ‘Discrimination on the basis of ancestry’, that unjustly branded the Hindu-American community based on the castes, HSS said in a statement.
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Indian-origin student dies after being assaulted during carjacking in Canada
MISSISSAUGA, TORONTO (TIP): A 24-year-old Indian student, who worked as a food delivery partner in Canada, has been killed after he was violently assaulted during a deadly carjacking, according to media reports.
Gurvinder Nath was delivering pizza at around 2.10 am on July 9 in Mississauga’s Britannia and Creditview roads, when unidentified suspects confronted him and tried to steal his vehicle, the news reported.
“Investigators do believe that there are multiple suspects involved and that the food order was placed as a means of luring the driver to this specific area,” Inspector Phil King of Peel Regional Police’s Homicide Bureau said, adding that investigators had obtained an audio recording of the Pizza order placed before the attack.
After Nath arrived, he was “violently assaulted” and left critically injured by a suspect who robbed him of his vehicle and fled the scene, police said.
Multiple witnesses came to his aid and called for help before Nath was rushed to a trauma center where he was pronounced dead on July 14.
Siddhartha Nath, Consul General of India in Toronto, said Nath’s death is a “heartrending loss” and he extended his condolences to family members, friends and the wider community, the media reported.
He said the consulate general has contacted the family after his death.
“It was heartening for me to see how the community responded, came together both online and physically to support the family in this time of grief,” the Consul General said.
“Of course, nothing can make good the loss, but it will be some solace to the grieving family and it’s also a signal of the spirit of the community because it is in times like this when the spirit and the solidarity and the sense of empathy is tested.”
The Consul General said he hopes the people responsible are brought to justice.
Inspector King said despite the infancy of the investigation, police believe Nath was an innocent victim.
Nath’s vehicle was found abandoned in the hours following the attack in the area of Old Creditview and Old Derry roads — less than five kilometers from the crime scene, King said.
“The working theory is that perhaps there may have been extensive injuries (to Nath) that may not have been anticipated and that may have caused (the suspects) to get rid of the vehicle early,” he said.
The vehicle has since been forensically examined and “several” pieces of evidence retrieved, King added.
Police say there is no known connection between Nath and his attackers.
“I would like to remind those involved that regardless of your level of participation, you are complicit in the murder of Gurvinder Nath and you will be arrested and charged accordingly,” King said.
Nath’s body will be flown to India on July 27 with the help of the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Last week, media spoke to family and friends of Nath, who said the Brampton resident was on summer break before he returned to his final semester of business school. “He was innocent, he was just delivering pizza [when] random people hit him on his head,” Nath’s cousin, Balram Krishan, said.
Nath arrived in Canada from India in July of 2021 and had plans to open his own business.
On Saturday, more than 200 people gathered in Mississauga at a candlelight vigil for Nath.
Speakers at the vigil said that Nath came to Canada carrying his family’s hopes and now his family is dealing with grief at the loss of one of its three sons. “You come to Canada with a dream. You start your life. But these people stole a dream,” Bobby Sidhu, a friend of a relative of Nath, said.
Sidhu said: “Canada was known for peace. And I hope that in our country such senseless and merciless crime will come to an end. Everyone could relate to Gurvinder. I think that’s the reason the community has come together.”
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Indian-American business leader Shamina Singh appointed to serve on President’s Export Council
Shamina Singh has studied at Harvard, Yale, Stanford, and the Indian School of Business
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): US President Joe Biden has announced his intent to appoint Shamina Singh, a prominent Indian-American business leader, to the President’s Export Council, which serves as the principal national advisory committee on international trade. Singh, who is the Founder and President of the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, has said that she is “honored to join the group of esteemed leaders that make up the President’s Export Council.” According to a statement from the White House, on July 14, President Biden announced his intent to appoint Singh to serve in the key role. “I am deeply honored to join the group of esteemed leaders that make up the President’s Export Council,” Singh said.
The President’s Export Council serves as the principal national advisory committee on international trade. The Council advises the president of government policies and programs that affect US trade performance, promotes export expansion and provides a forum for discussing and resolving trade-related problems among the business, industrial, agricultural, labor and government sectors.“From the earliest days of my career, I’ve gravitated toward work that helps create long-lasting and inclusive prosperity for people and economies in the US and around the world,” she was quoted as saying in the statement on Mastercard’s website.
Singh also serves as the Executive Vice President of Sustainability at Mastercard and is a member of the company’s Management Committee.
She has drawn on over 20 years of global experience to develop a unique social impact model that leverages public and private sector assets. In 2018, Mastercard created the Mastercard Impact Fund with an initial USD 500 million investment. Singh was named President and charged with activating those philanthropic dollars to advance inclusive growth and financial inclusion worldwide.“Through that work, and particularly at Mastercard, I’ve learned how the dialogue between the public and private sector can open bigger doors more widely than many other approaches. I’ve seen firsthand the catalytic impact that can result from effective cross-sector partnerships. I look forward to bringing this perspective to the Council, serving the Administration and having an opportunity to advance America’s economic interests across the globe,” she said.
Deeply committed to public service, Singh has held senior positions in the White House and the US House of Representatives. Singh was the Executive Director of the first President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. In 2015, she was appointed by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the US Senate to a six-year term on the board of AmeriCorps. She served as chair for two years.
Singh co-chairs the Ad Council of America’s Advisory Committee on Public Issues and serves on the Advisory Boards of the Aspen Institute Civil Society Fellowship and the New York Department of Financial Services Innovation. Singh has studied at Harvard, Yale, Stanford, and the Indian School of Business. She earned a Bachelor of Science from Old Dominion University and a Master of Public Affairs from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas, Austin. She received the Alumni of Distinction award from both institutions. Singh becomes the latest addition from the Indian-American community to serve in the key positions in the Biden administration. A record 150-plus Indian-Americans serve in the key positions.
(Source: PTI) -
Bengaluru boy bags gold at International Mathematical Olympiad
Six-member Indian team has done the country proud by securing two gold, two silver and two bronze medals and finished 9th out of 112 countries. Along with Atul, Arjun Gupta of Delhi secured gold at the event
BENGALURU (TIP): Atul Shatavart Nadig, student of Shri Ram Global School, Whitefield, bagged the gold medal at the 64th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), held in Chiba, Japan, from July 2 to 13.
Six-member Indian team has done the country proud by securing two gold, two silver and two bronze medals and finished 9th out of 112 countries. Along with Atul, Arjun Gupta of Delhi secured gold at the event.
“In terms of Olympiad Math, I am mostly self-taught. Ever since grade 10, I have been doing Olympiad Math, through the Art of Problem Solving website, classes on the Online Math Club and handouts by Evan Chen, a past Olympiad medalist. I won a gold medal and placed 12th overall in this year’s event,” said Atul.
He got a perfect score of 1600 on the SAT last year and he will be continuing my future studies, doing Mathematics and Computer Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA. “I am also the director of the Sophie Fellowship, an initiative to prepare Indian students for Math Olympiads by showing them its beauty. With this, I also hope to reach out to more students in India, most of who are unaware of the prospects mathematics holds as a career,” he added. This is the fourth time India secured a position in the Top 10. The team was accompanied by Prithwijit De, Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, Mumbai, Sahil Mhaskar, Chennai Mathematical Institute, Chennai, Anant Mudgal, University of California, USA and Pranjal Srivastava, MIT, USA.
(Source: The Hindu) -
Indian-origin Anjali Sud named CEO of Fox-owned Tubi streaming service
Sud, the outgoing CEO of video hosting, sharing, and services platform provider Vimeo, succeeds Massoudi, Tubi’s Founder and CEO
NEW YORK (TIP): Indian-origin businesswoman Anjali Sud will be the new CEO of Tubi –Fox Corporation’s free ad-supported TV streaming service– succeeding its Founder and CEO, Farhad Massoudi.
Sud’s appointment, effective from September 1, was announced on Monday, July 17, by the Fox-owned company, which recently became the most watched free ad-supported TV streaming service in the US.
Sud, the outgoing CEO of video hosting, sharing, and services platform provider Vimeo, succeeds Massoudi, Tubi’s Founder and CEO, a press release by the company said. “Anjali is a highly accomplished executive in the technology and media industry with a passion and track record for strategic disruption and authentic leadership,” said Paul Cheesbrough, CEO of Tubi Media Group.
“As Tubi continues to scale and solidify its momentum as the most watched free TV and movie streaming service in the US, she is the perfect candidate to lead Tubi into a new era of creativity, growth and market leadership,” he said. Announcing her appointment on Twitter, Sud said, “Today I am sharing my next adventure, as the incoming CEO of @Tubi!…excited for rabbit holes, changing things up in the media world, and shaping the next gen of entertainment by giving all people access to all the world’s stories.” “I’m excited to be dedicating my next chapter to empowering audiences. We are witnessing a seismic shift in where and how content will be consumed, and I hope to play a role in shaping the future of entertainment by giving all people access to all the world’s stories,” she said in a LinkedIn post.
“To the Tubi team – I can’t wait to go down this rabbit hole with you and shape the next generation of entertainment together!” Sud added. According to the press release, Sud, the outgoing CEO of Vimeo, spent the last decade enabling the world to make and share high-quality content.
“Under Sud’s leadership as CEO of Vimeo, the platform established itself as the home for video creators and professionals worldwide, building a thriving community of over 300 million users and generating scaled revenue growth and significant cash flow,” it said. Before her tenure at Vimeo, Sud held finance, media and e-commerce positions at Time Warner and Amazon. Recently, Tubi reached 64 million monthly active users and surpassed PlutoTV, Peacock and HBO Max in total TV viewing minutes, the press release said, quoting Nielsen, an audience insights, data and analytics firm based in the US.
(Source: PTI)
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Indian-American Congressman Dr Bera receives Champion of Healthcare Innovation Award
Bera served as Chief Medical Officer for Sacramento County in California before being sworn in as a Congressman in 2013
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): Dr Ami Bera, an Indian-American physician-turned politician has received the Champion of Healthcare Innovation Award for his contributions to making high-quality care affordable and accessible in the US. Bera, 58, the longest-serving Indian-American serving in the US Congress, was among those facilitated during the council’s Innovation Expo held here last week.”Honored to receive the Champion of Healthcare Innovation Award from @HealthInFocus. As a doctor, I’m committed to working to ensure that every American has access to high-quality, affordable health care,” Bera, a Democrat, tweeted on Friday, July 14.
Bera served as Chief Medical Officer for Sacramento County in California before being sworn in as a Congressman in 2013 and has represented Sacramento County in the US House of Representatives since then.
He is currently a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, where he serves as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia, and Nonproliferation.
He is also a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic. During his 20-year medical career, Bera worked to improve healthcare availability, quality, and affordability. A first-generation American born and raised in California, Bera earned both his Bachelor of Science (BS) and Doctor of Medicine (MD) from the University of California, according to his website.
(Source: PTI) -
UK court finds five guilty of murdering Indian-origin man
LONDON (TIP): Three men and two women members of a gang have been found guilty of the honeytrap murder of an Indian-origin man in the east of England. Vishal Gohel, 44, was discovered unresponsive inside a flat in Hertfordshire in January and pronounced dead at the scene. The court was told that Gohel had been led to believe he would be having a sexual liaison but the gang had intentions to rob him, resulting in the crime.
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Three Indian-origin men jailed for kidnapping businessman for ransom in UK
LONDON (TIP): Two Indian-origin brothers and an accomplice have been jailed for a total of over 45 years for kidnapping a businessman in Wolverhampton City Centre in the West Midlands region of England.
Baljit Baghral, 33, and his brother David Baghral, 28, along with 22-year-old Shanu Shanu, were found guilty of having ambushed their victim as he walked to his car after work in November last year.
They bundled him into a van and drove him bound and blindfolded to a shop where they threatened him with violence and held a gun against his head. The trio were found guilty after a trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court last month and sentenced this week with the Baghral brothers handed 16-year prison sentences each and their accomplice sentenced to 13 years and four months.
“These men subjected their victim to a terrifying ordeal which lasted for hours and left him fearing for his safety and even his life,” said Detective Constable Dan David from the Major Crime Team of Wolverhampton Crown Court. “They planned this venture with the sole purpose of extracting a large sum of money but instead they now face a significant amount of time in jail,” he said.
The trial heard how the victim was held captive for a number of hours and his ordeal only ended after the men persuaded one of his work colleagues to leave GBP 19,000 in a bag at a bus stop as a ransom. The men then left him in the van, which they later claimed was stolen, where he managed to get out and call the police.
Using CCTV, number plate recognition and mobile phone data, West Midlands Police investigators pieced together what had happened and even discovered a group chat called “Robbers Gang” on Baljit’s phone, which David had created two days before the kidnap. David Baghral was arrested from his home, while his brother Baljit was arrested at Birmingham Airport the same day as he returned from Cyprus.
Shanu Shanu was arrested a few days later at Heathrow Airport as he tried to flee to the US.
While David and Baljit Baghral both denied conspiracy to kidnap, conspiracy to blackmail and possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, Shanu Shanu had pleaded guilty to the charges.
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Bike-borne assailants kill Canadian NRI in Ludhiana
LUDHIANA, INDIA (TIP): A 42-year-old NRI Barinder Singh was killed by motorcycle-borne assailants at Thakur Colony on Pakhowal Road on Monday, July 17 night.
Barinder was heading back to his home from his farmhouse when he was waylaid. He had arrived from Canada four months ago. ADCP Suhail Qassim Mir said it’s a case of personal enmity as the assailants didn’t take away Barinder’s cellphone or cash from the spot. He said they had obtained a CCTV footage of four suspects and would check call details of the deceased. Mir said several cases were registered against Barinder for usurping property. “We are working on various angles. The case will be cracked soon,” he said.
Sources said Barinder had a dispute with some people over ownership of a bungalow. However, Barinder’s friend Jaspreet Singh said the former had documents related to the disputed bungalow in his possession.
Barinder had reportedly purchased a disputed 250 sq yd house at Satjot Nagar for just Rs 10 lakh and took possession of the property in a forceful manner. A case has been registered.
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Singapore Minister Iswaran, tycoon Ong arrested, released on bail: CPIB
SINGAPORE (TIP): Singapore’s Indian-origin Transport Minister S Iswaran was arrested on Tuesday and released on bail while his passport was impounded, the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) has said.
A CPIB spokesperson on Friday said Iswaran was arrested on the same day as Ong Beng Seng, founder and managing director of Hotel Properties Limited, reported The Straits Times. Ong was also released on bail.
“As part of bail conditions, subjects’ passports are impounded. Subjects on bail can, however, make requests to travel overseas. CPIB will assess such requests on a case-by-case basis,” the Singapore daily quoted the CPIB spokesperson as saying. “CPIB assessed and acceded to Ong’s request to travel overseas. Ong’s bail quantum was also increased to SGD100,000. Upon his return, Ong is required to report to CPIB and surrender his passport to the bureau.” The spokesperson declined to provide further details, citing ongoing investigations.
Iswaran (61), is a senior member of the ruling People’s Action Party and has been on a leave of absence from his official duties, was assisting the CPIB with an investigation into a case it had uncovered.
Iswaran’s political career spans more than 26 years since he was first elected in 1997 as a Member of Parliament for West Coast GRC. Before he was appointed to the Cabinet in 2006, he was on several government parliamentary committees and was the deputy speaker of Parliament from September 2004 to June 2006.
He has been Minister for Transport since May 2021 and has been concurrently minister-in-charge of trade relations at the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) since May 2018.
Before his career in politics, Iswaran worked in both the public and private sectors, including at MTI as well as Temasek Holdings. “No charges have been filed against Ong. He will be traveling from July 14 and will be surrendering his passport to CPIB upon his return to Singapore,” Hotel Properties Ltd (HPL) said on Friday.
Ong (77) is a Malaysian based in Singapore and owns the rights to the Singapore Grand Prix and is chairman of race promoter Singapore GP.
Iswaran has been actively involved in the government’s engagements with F1, including making appearances at press conferences where announcements about the event’s future have been made.
“As this is an ongoing matter, he is unable to provide further details at this point. He has undertaken to provide updates to the board if there are subsequent material developments,” Channel News Asia had HPL as saying of Ong’s current position in the high-profile case related to a possibility of corruption.
The contract for Singapore to host the Formula 1 Grand Prix for another seven years was signed last year – the fourth renewal and longest extension – bringing the event back to Marina Bay in the central business district after a two-year absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Formula 1 (F1) Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix 2023 is scheduled for September 15-17.
(Source: PTI) -
5 Indian students make it to Global Student Prize 2023 shortlist
The top 10 finalists of this year’s Global Student Prize are expected to be announced by next month
LONDON (TIP): Five students studying in India have made it to the top 50 shortlist for the USD 100,000 Chegg.org Global Student Prize 2023, selected from 3,851 applications from across 122 countries.
The annual award goes to one exceptional student who has made a real impact on learning, the lives of their peers and on society beyond. In the running from India this year will be: Namya Joshi, a 16-year-old student at Sat Paul Mittal School, Ludhiana, Punjab; Vinisha Umashankar, a 16-year-old student at SKP Vanitha International School, Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu; Gladson Vaghela, a 25-year-old medical student at Gujarat Medical Education and Research Society Medical College, Gandhinagar, Gujarat; Padmaksh Khandelwal, a 17-year-old computer science student at Sir Padampat Singhania School, Kota, Rajasthan; and Ravinder Bishnoi, a 20-year-old information technology student at Chandigarh Engineering College, Landran, Mohali, Punjab.“Chegg not only celebrates your achievements but also the endless possibilities that exist when young minds are driven by a passion for change,” said Heather Hatlo Porter, Head of Chegg.org and Chief Communications Officer of Chegg. “The top 50 Global Student Prize finalists deserve the opportunity to have their stories told and have their voices heard. Their dreams, wisdom, and inventive spirit will illuminate a more hopeful future for everyone,” she said. Joshi, acclaimed as the “Top Tech Savvy Student in India” and a global teacher at the age of 16, got hooked on Minecraft, realizing that it can also be used as an education tool. She went on to create a virtual library of lessons in Minecraft, now numbering around 500 which are available on her YouTube channel and website.
Umashankar is an artist, TEDx speaker, innovator, and environmentalist whose favorite subjects in school are math and science. Her innovation journey of inventing the award-winning “Solar Ironing Cart” and a power-saving “Smart Ceiling Fan” began when she was 12 years old, and she has since participated in many science and innovation competitions, winning international, national, and state awards.
Vaghela is a medical student advocate for healthcare equity and accessibility for all, participating in healthcare outreach programs in underserved communities. He has helped produce a global mental healthcare service providers’ database for more than 150 countries worldwide and has also been serving as a Youth Advisor to YuWaah (Generation Unlimited) at UNICEF India.
Khandelwal works on student suicide prevention and also as an anti-poaching activist who launched the current homeschooling model of the Mogya Education Program for children through the support of NGO Tiger Watch.
Bishnoi used his cyber cafe visits to learn about robotics, electronics, design, and other engineering areas and over the past decade has created many devices, developed robots, exoskeletons, portable water and air filters to help needy people. The Varkey Foundation partnered with Chegg.org to launch the annual Global Student Prize in 2021 as a sister award to its annual USD 1 million Global Teacher Prize.
The intention was to create a new platform that shines a light on the efforts of extraordinary students everywhere. The prize is open to all students who are at least 16 years old and enrolled in an academic institution or training and skills program. Part-time students as well as students enrolled in online courses are also eligible for the prize.
“As time runs out to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it is more important than ever to prioritize education so we can face the future with confidence,” said Sunny Varkey, the Kerala-born founder of the Varkey Foundation. The top 10 finalists of this year’s Global Student Prize are expected to be announced by next month. The winner, who will be announced later in the year, will be chosen from the top 10 finalists by the Global Student Prize Academy, made up of prominent individuals.
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Vimeo’s Indian American CEO Anjali Sud leaving video sharing platform
NEW YORK (TIP): Video-hosting platform Vimeo’s Indian American CEO Anjali Sud will leave the company next month to pursue a new opportunities.
Sud, 39, a former Amazon executive, who joined the company nine years ago as director of marketing, was at the helm of Vimeo for the past six years. She will remain CEO through August 31, 2023, the company announced Wednesday. Board member Adam Gross, a former Salesforce and Dropbox executive, will take over as interim CEO, effective Sep 1, while the company looks for a permanent replacement.
“We are grateful for Anjali’s impact over nine years at the company and a pivotal era of transformation at Vimeo, and I have no doubt she’ll continue to do big things,” said Glenn H. Schiffman, Vimeo’s chairman of the board.
“I believe deeply in the company’s strategy, team, and future success, and will continue to be an enthusiastic supporter for every moment of what comes next,” said Anjali Sud. “I am excited for Adam and for Vimeo to benefit from his experience and leadership.”
Sud, who was appointed to the position in 2017, said Vimeo had “a challenging road on the growth side.” The path forward, according to Sud, lies in continuing the company’s pivot from serving consumers to serving businesses in order to make video a strategic tool for companies. “The need for video is global,” Sud said in an interview with media, “and we want to be the platform of choice for the largest companies.” Sud is a designated Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum and was listed as one of Fortune’s 40 Under 40 rising business leaders in 2018. She was also included on Adweek’s Power List in 2018.
Sud was honored with a Muse Award by the New York Women in Film & Television, along with Gloria Estefan and Ann Dowd in 2019. She was named by Business Today as one of the most powerful women in business in 2021 and was named by Fortune as one of India’s most powerful businesswomen next year. In March 2023, Sud was named a Henry Crown Fellow at The Aspen Institute.
Born in Detroit, Michigan, the daughter of Punjabi immigrants from India, Sud grew up in Flint, Michigan. In 1997, at age 14, Sud left Flint to study at Phillips Andover Academy, a private school in Andover, Massachusetts.
Sud graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 2005, with a BSc in Finance and Management. In 2011, she received her MBA from Harvard Business School.