Indian-origin lawyer Mathura Sridharan has been appointed as Ohio's 12th solicitor general by Attorney General Dave Yost. A graduate of MIT and NYU School of Law, Sridharan previously served as deputy solicitor general and led the Tenth Amendment Center. Despite her accomplishments, Sridharan faced racist trolling online for her Indian heritage and wearing a bindi. Critics questioned her “Americanness,” prompting Yost to defend her, stating she is a U.S. citizen and fully qualified. “If her complexion or name bother you, the problem is not with her,” Yost wrote. Sridharan successfully argued at SCOTUS last year. (PC: HT)

Four senior Indian-origin relatives were discovered dead on Saturday, August 2, 2025, during a tragic car accident in Marshall County, West Virginia . Identified as Dr. Kishore Divan (89), Asha Divan (85), Shailesh Divan (86), and Gita Divan (84), they vanished after being last seen in Erie, Pennsylvania at a Burger King on July 29, where their final known credit‑card transaction and surveillance footage were traced . Authorities located their light‑green Toyota Camry off a steep embankment along Big Wheeling Creek Road around 9:30 pm. First responders took over five hours to reach the remote crash site. The cause remains under investigation, and condolences have been extended by Sheriff Mike Dougherty to the grieving family. (PC: India Today)

John Khammuanlal Gwite, a 37-year-old ultra-endurance cyclist from Manipur, has become the fastest Indian to complete the Race Around Poland, finishing the 3,600 km solo, unsupported ride in 237 hours (9 days, 21 hours). The race, part of the World Ultra Cycling Championships, featured over 60 elite international riders and included a brutal 31,000m elevation gain. Gwite overcame freezing night temperatures using improvised gear made from polythene bags. He broke the previous Indian record of 274 hours, joining global legends like Christoph Strasser and Marko Baloh. With 19 Super Randonneur titles and past feats like Paris–Brest–Paris, Gwite now sets his sights on the prestigious Race Across America. (PC: NDTV & Amar Ujala)

Four Indian-origin senior citizens Dr Kishore Divan (89), Asha Divan (85), Shailesh Divan (86), and Gita Divan (84) tragically died in a car crash en route to Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold in West Virginia. Their lime green Toyota Camry was found on August 2 at 9:30 PM, plunged down a steep embankment along Big Wheeling Creek Road in Marshall County. The family was last seen on July 29 at a Burger King in Erie, Pennsylvania, with CCTV and credit card records marking their final movements. Despite multi-agency search efforts and cellphone data, they were missing for days. Authorities have not yet confirmed the cause of the crash. Investigations remain ongoing. (PC: Hindustan Times)

Indian entrepreneur Ayush Panchmiya, co-founder of Blockwee, faced a harrowing ordeal in Spain after his passport, US visa, and cash were stolen from a Starbucks in Barcelona. The theft occurred on a Saturday, leaving him stranded as the Indian Embassy was closed over the weekend. Local police delayed access to CCTV footage, citing a 15–20 day review period. Panchmiya finally received an emergency certificate from the embassy on Monday, allowing him to fly back to India that evening. He shared his experience on X and LinkedIn, calling it the “worst 48 hours” of his travel life, and urged frequent travelers to be aware of emergency protocols abroad. (PC: Instagram)

Four Indian-origin senior citizens Asha Divan (85), Kishore Divan (89), Shailesh Divan (86), and Gita Divan (84) have gone missing during a road trip from Buffalo, New York, to Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold in West Virginia. Their last confirmed sighting was at a Burger King in Erie, Pennsylvania, on July 29, captured via CCTV and credit card records. They were traveling in a lime green 2009 Toyota Camry (NY plate EKW2611), later spotted on I-79. Authorities in Marshall and Ohio counties have launched a search operation, including helicopters and cell signal tracking. A missing persons report has been filed, and family members are urging the public to share any leads. (PC: NDTV & ABC)

A 25‑year‑old Bangladeshi man, Mohammad Ashraful of Narayanganj, was detained on August 1, 2025 at Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport after attempting to break the glass partition enclosing the International Transit Terminal, to exit without an Indian visa . Ashraful, en route from Singapore to Dhaka, suddenly tried to breach the transit zone’s glass wall. CISF personnel intervened swiftly, restraining and handing him over to airport police. During interrogation, his responses were incoherent, raising concerns about his mental state . He was formally arrested by Bidhannagar Police later that evening. Further investigation into his motive is ongoing. (PC: India Today)

As of August 2, 2025, Indian officials confirmed that oil procurement from Russia remains unchanged, despite U.S. President Donald Trump warning of a 25% tariff and unspecified penalties if India continues buying Russian energy . Authorities emphasized that long-term contracts and market-based factors—such as price, grade, logistics, and inflation control—guide their choices, not political pressure . State refiners paused purchases recently due to narrowing discounts, but private players like Reliance and Nayara continue importing. Russian crude still makes up approximately 35% of India's oil imports, underscoring New Delhi’s stance on independent energy policy and economic pragmatism. (PC: The Guardian)

NDTV investigated former U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that the “Indian economy is dead” by asking five major American AI platforms—ChatGPT, Grok, Gemini, Meta AI, and Copilot—“Is the Indian economy dead?” Each responded emphatically that India’s economy is robust and fast‑growing . Trump’s assertion came alongside his announcement of a sweeping 25% tariff on Indian imports and hinted penalties over India’s continued purchase of Russian oil . Union Minister Piyush Goyal reaffirmed that India remains the fastest-growing major economy, while Congress leader Rahul Gandhi sparked controversy by endorsing Trump’s claim, drawing swift criticism from other leaders. (PC: NDTV)

Abhay Devadas Nayak, a 41-year-old man of Bengaluru origin, was arrested in Glasgow for causing a mid-air scare aboard an easyJet flight from London to Glasgow. Nayak shouted slogans including “Death to America,” “Death to Trump,” and “Allahu Akbar,” prompting passengers to restrain him and the pilot to initiate emergency procedures. No explosives were found, and authorities ruled out terrorism charges, instead charging him under the UK’s Air Navigation Order for endangering aircraft safety. Nayak’s family in Bengaluru confirmed he suffers from schizophrenia. He was remanded in custody and is expected to appear in court again next week. The incident has sparked debate over mental health and aviation safety protocols.