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    Newsmakers of the Week                                                    JULY 03, 2026    |  The Indian Eye 35

            FreeCharge between 2015 and 2018, he                                lenger David Orkin secured a decisive
            spent time learning, investing and ex-                              victory,  buoyed by support from the
            ploring new ideas. Using USD 1 million                              New York City chapter of the Demo-
            of personal capital, he launched CRED                               cratic Socialists of America (DSA).
            with the aim of rewarding people for                                    With more than 94 percent of
            paying their credit card bills on time.                             ballots counted, Orkin captured 58.8
                According to Kunal Shah, be-                                    percent of the vote, while Rajkumar
            tween 2019 and 2025, CRED grew                                      received 40.9 percent. The 38th As-
            from zero to 17 million members                                     sembly District encompasses several
            by aligning incentives with custom-                                 neighborhoods in South and Central
            er behaviour. During the period, the                                Queens, including Glendale, Ozone
            company  launched  several  products,                               Park, Richmond Hill, Ridgewood,
            including during the COVID-19 lock-                                 Woodhaven, and portions of South
            downs, and raised more than USD 900 million from global investors.  Ozone Park and South Richmond Hill.
                He said the company also conducted four employee stock ownership plan   An attorney by profession, Orkin entered the race without a formal en-
            (ESOP) buybacks, secured a full stack of regulatory licences and scaled its annu-  dorsement from NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani. However, his backing from the
            al revenue to around USD 325 million, or approximately Rs 3,200 crore, across   DSA appeared to strengthen his campaign among progressive voters. His victory
            payments, lending, insurance, commerce, wealth and credit card businesses.  marks a notable shift in the district’s political landscape.
                Shah added that CRED recorded its first profitable quarter in 2026. He also   Rajkumar has represented the district since 2021, when she emerged as part
            disclosed that the company raised another USD 900 million from Meta in prima-  of a new generation of Queens Democrats who successfully challenged estab-
            ry and secondary capital and is now announcing its fifth ESOP buyback.  lished incumbents. Among the candidates elected during that wave was Mam-
                                                                                dani, whose growing influence within local progressive politics is widely seen as a
                             PRIYANKA CHOPRA JONAS                              factor in reshaping voter preferences in the district.
                                                                                    The primary result signals changing political dynamics in Queens, where
               ‘Obsession’ shows how Hollywood                                  progressive  organizations  continue  to  play  an  increasingly  influential  role  in

                            barriers are falling                                Democratic contests.  HASINI RANGASWAMY

                  annes (France): Actor Priyan-                                  Edison Student Combines Classical
                  ka Chopra Jonas believes the
            Centertainment industry has                                                Arts and Community Service
            become more accessible than ever
            before, saying that creative ideas now                                    dison, NJ:  For many young
            matter more than traditional gate-                                        artists, a debut performance
            keepers in determining success, ac-                                 Emarks the culmination of years
            cording to Variety.                                                 of training. For Hasini Rangaswamy,
                Speaking at the Cannes Lions
            conference, Chopra Jonas pointed to                                 it is also an opportunity to celebrate
                                                                                cultural heritage and support a mean-
            the success of the low-budget horror                                ingful cause.
            hit “Obsession” as evidence of how                                      On June 27, Hasini, a rising junior
            barriers  to  entry  for  talent  and  film-                        at John P. Stevens High School, will pres-
            makers have fallen.                                                 ent her Bharatanatyam Rangaprave-
                “I feel like  if  you have an idea,
            shoot it, put it on YouTube, and it can                             sha, the traditional solo debut perfor-
                                                                                mance in Indian classical dance, at the
            become ‘Obsession,’ the movie that just came out,” Chopra said. “What a won-  Union County Performing Arts Center
            derful time to be an entertainer, to be in the entertainment business, because   in New Jersey. Alongside the performance, she will host a Chitrakala Pradarsha-
            ideas are your currency.”                                           na, a solo exhibition showcasing her collection of traditional Thanjavur paintings.
                The global star reflected on the challenges she faced while entering the film
                                                                                    A first-generation artist in her family, Hasini began learning Bharatanatyam
            industry, noting that she came from a family with no connections to cinema.  at the age of six and has spent years honing her skills through disciplined training
                “My parents were doctors, so none of us had any idea how to navigate film,”
            she said, as quoted by the outlet.                                  and participation in numerous dance productions. She has also successfully com-
                                                                                pleted the Junior Diploma Dance Examination conducted by the Kalagangotri
                Recalling the early days of her career, the iconic star said the industry was
            once far more exclusive and difficult to enter.                     Foundation in affiliation with Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.
                                                                                    Beyond dance, Hasini has developed expertise in the intricate art of Thanja-
                “It used to be such a niche industry when I first started. If you wanted to get
            into filmmaking, you had to figure out what department you wanted to be in,”   vur painting, a centuries-old South Indian tradition known for its detailed relief
                                                                                work and gold embellishments. She learned the technique during a summer visit
            she said, according to Variety.                                     to India and has since created works that reflect Indian heritage, devotion, and
                Chopra Jonas said her decision to launch a production company was driven
            by a desire to support emerging storytellers.                       classical artistry. What sets Hasini’s artistic journey apart is her commitment to
                                                                                community service. She plans to sell paintings from her exhibition and donate all
                                 JENIFER RAJKUMAR                               proceeds to initiatives supporting children’s mental health.
                                                                                    Outside the arts, Hasini volunteers at RWJBarnabas Health, assisting pa-
            Candidate loses Queens Democratic                                   tients and healthcare staff, and contributes her time to local preschools and com-
                                                                                munity gardens. An honor roll student and active member of her school’s HOSA
                       Primary to David Orkin                                   club, she aspires to pursue a career in healthcare.
                                                                                    Through her dedication to the arts and service, Hasini hopes to inspire oth-
                                                                                ers while making a positive impact in her community.
                   ueens, NY: New York State Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar suffered
                   a significant setback in her bid for a fourth term after losing the Dem-  To read more about Indian diaspora and Global Indians, log on to and follow
            Qocratic primary for the 38th Assembly District on Tuesday night. Chal-               our website www.TheIndianEYE.com

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