News India Times

www.newsindiatimes.com – that’s all you need to know News India Times (December 27, 2025 - January 2, 2026) January 2, 2026 7 Kerrville, TX, Honors Sewa International, Partner Organizations For Flood Relief And Recovery Efforts K errville, Texas (December 16, 2025): The City of Kerrville, Texas, along with the Kerr Economic Development Corporation and the Kerr Together Long-Term Recovery Group, honored Sewa International and other Indian American organi- zations on December 9 for their outstanding service and leadership during the July 4 flash floods that affected the city this year. Reflecting on the experience, Mayor Joe Herrington remarked, “This wasn’t just emergency response—it was a ministry. Helping others is how we serve God, and Sewa International embodied that spirit every single day. Their volunteers brought hope, structure, and human- ity when our community needed it most.” In addition, the Indo-American Charity Foundation (IACF), Sewa’s partner organization, made a significant contribution of $50,000 toward flood recovery efforts. Representatives from the Indo-American Charity Foundation Houston (IACF) shared their guiding principle: “We live here, we give here.” “It was impossible to miss the sea of yellow T-shirts,” a city representative recalled, Sewa International vol- unteers who managed traffic, coordinated logistics, and organized hundreds of community volunteers at the Tivy Antler Stadium emergency site. “At a moment when we were overwhelmed and unsure how to manage the sheer scale of operations, Sewa stepped in and brought order, compassion, and unwavering commitment. That made all the difference,” the representative said. Key city officials, including Economic Development Manager Kelly Hagemeyer, Kerr EDC Deputy Director Theresa Metcalf, Todd Bock, Executive Director, Kerr Eco- nomic Development Corporation, and City Manager Dal- ton Rice, expressed gratitude for the early and sustained support provided by Sewa International, which played a central role in uniting Indian American organizations across Texas to support Kerrville’s recovery. Drawing from years of experience handling hurricanes in Houston, Sewa volunteers immediately organized and prepared to help emergency teams deal with the Kerrville situation and joined the relief efforts. Under the guidance of Mr. Prashant Sona of the Houston Indian Consulate, and the leadership of Ramesh Cherivirala and Pankaj Rana of IACF, multiple organi- zations rallied together, including Arya Samaj, Indian Muslims Association of Greater Houston, Indian Doctors’ Association, Indo American Conservatives of Texas, and Indian Doctors’ Charitable Clinic. Emphasizing the collaborative effort, IACF President Pankaj Rana said, “The strength of our response came from unity. Partnering with Sewa International allowed us to break silos, combine resources, and make a meaning- ful impact quickly.” City leaders also expressed deep appreciation for Sewa volunteers, many of whom traveled from Houston and San Antonio and arrived within hours of the disaster to support the affected community. Several individuals—Nikhil Jain, Vinayak Astekar, Sunil Kolluru, Trinabh Shukla, Jitendra Chaudhary, Swapnil Padate, and others—were also recognized for their direct contributions, both financially and on the ground. Overall, city leaders credited Sewa International USA for being among the first organizations to arrive and among the last to leave. As one official said, “Sewa’s dedication didn’t end with the initial emergency. They have continued to support long-term recovery and have remained a pillar of strength for families rebuilding their lives.” About Sewa International Sewa International (www.sewausa.org) is a 501 (c) (3) Hindu faith-based charitable nonprofit that works in the areas of disaster recovery, education, and development. Sewa has 43 Chapters across the USA and serves regard- less of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin. Press Release Community GOPIO Hosts Webinar On ‘Coping With Technological Changes & Challenges’ T he Global Organization of Peo- ple of Indian Origin (GOPIO) hosted its December 2025 webi- nar, “Coping with Technological Changes and Challenges,” on December 13, 2025. It brought together distinguished speakers from diplomacy, academia, industry, and technology, orga- nizers said in a press release. Participants offered perspectives on emerging tech- nologies and their far-reaching implica- tions for society, development planning, and the global workforce. Former Indian Ambassador T. P. Sreenivasan delivered the keynote ad- dress. The panel featured Professor D. Yogi Goswami, Piyush Malik, Dr. Latha Christie, and Phillip Thomas. Discus- sions covered artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, clean energy tech- nologies, and their societal, ethical, and geopolitical impacts. Speakers explored critical issues such as the affordability of new technolo- gies for disadvantaged populations, the geopolitical risks associated with techno- logical dominance, and the urgent need for ethical guardrails in AI development. Throughout the session, panelists empha- sized balancing innovation with human values and adopting policies that ensure technological benefits reach all segments of society. The discussion was moder- ated by GOPIO Associate Secretary Sunil Roberts Vuppula. Ambassador Sreenivasan, currently Ad- junct Professor of Eminence at Somaiya Vidyavihar University, Mumbai, noted that technological change is reshaping every vocation, including diplomacy, and that no profession can remain indiffer- ent to these “tectonic tremors.” Quoting historian and philosopher Yuval Noah Harari, Ambassador Sreenivasan em- phasized that the unprecedented speed of technological change poses a greater challenge than the evolutionary pace of humankind. He also referred to concerns raised at the United Nations Security Council re- garding AI-related risks to global stability and conflict prevention, highlighting the principle that: “Humans must retain full control over life-and-death decisions.” Dr. Thomas Abraham, chairman of GOPIO briefly outlined the history of the organization since its founding in 1989 in NewYork. He also addressed the “un- precedented acceleration” of technology which offered immense opportunities for innovation, productivity, and improved quality of life. The webinar concluded with an inter- active panel discussion. By A StaffWriter PHOTOS: Courtesy GOPIO Chief Guest, Moderator and Speakers at the GOPIO Webinar on Coping with New Technological Changes are Challenges, Top row, Philip Thomas, Sunil Vuppala, Dr. Latha Christies; Bottom row: Piyush Malik, Prof. D. Yogi Goswami, and Amb. T.P. Sreenivasan