Indian professionals seeking U.S. employment-based Green Cards face extraordinarily long delays, with some EB-2 applicants potentially waiting up to 179 years, according to an analysis by the National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP). Nearly one million Indians are estimated to be in the employment-based backlog, representing about 79% of the total 1.26 million cases. The backlog is driven by annual visa limits and the U.S. 7% per-country cap, despite much higher demand from India. NFAP estimates potential waits of 179 years for EB-2, 38 years for EB-3 and about 4–5 years for EB-1 applicants filing in 2026. 

The Argentine Football Association (AFA) will honor Lionel Messi following his retirement from international football by pausing matches across the country this weekend. Every game, including men’s, women’s, futsal and beach football, will stop in the 10th minute for a 60-second round of applause, reflecting Messi’s iconic No. 10 shirt. Stadiums with video screens will also show a commemorative tribute before matches. Messi, 39, ended his Argentina career after 21 years, becoming the national team’s record appearance holder and top scorer with 125 goals in 207 games. He also led Argentina to the 2022 World Cup and two Copa América titles. (PC: Reuters)

Russia says financial settlement problems with India have largely been resolved, with the two countries now using a functioning payment system based on the rupee and rouble. The mechanism handles about 96% of bilateral trade, according to Ivan Nosov, head of Sberbank’s Indian operations. Around 22 Russian and 17 Indian banks currently facilitate transactions. Nosov said 90% of payments are completed within 10 minutes, while more than half take less than a minute. The development is particularly important for energy trade, as India remains a major buyer of Russian oil despite Western sanctions. Bilateral trade reached a record $70 billion in 2024. (PC: Reuters)

Gloria Steinem, the influential American journalist, author and feminist activist, has died at 92 at her home in New York City, according to her foundation. She passed away peacefully on September 2, surrounded by loved ones; no cause of death was disclosed. Steinem became a leading voice of the U.S. women’s liberation movement from the 1960s onward. Her 1963 investigation into working conditions at Playboy Clubs helped establish her as a prominent journalist. She later co-founded Ms. magazine and several organizations supporting women’s political participation and equality. A recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Steinem continued advocating for gender equality and reproductive rights for decades. (PC: X)

Aditi Paudel, a 17-year-old high school student in Tokyo, has been appointed Japan’s first literacy ambassador by the World Literacy Foundation. Born in Japan and raised partly in Nepal, Paudel developed a passion for reading from childhood, inspired by her grandfather and books. She joins a global Youth Ambassador Programme involving around 900 young people aged 16–25 from 101 countries. Paudel aims to promote reading, education and equal opportunities for young people, while also supporting book donations to countries with lower literacy rates. Her bilingual background and personal experiences have strengthened her commitment to making literacy accessible and empowering. (PC: NDTV)

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on September 3, 2026, during his official visit to Ukraine. Their discussions focused on approaches to ending the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and strengthening bilateral cooperation. Jaishankar also briefed Zelenskyy on his earlier talks with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha concerning cooperation in areas including education, health, agriculture, digital technology and development. India reiterated its willingness to support efforts aimed at ending the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy. The meeting highlights New Delhi’s continued engagement with both Russia and Ukraine while maintaining its independent diplomatic position. (PC: X)

The Nagaland Chief Minister’s Team, representing India, finished sixth in the Classic Tug of War World Championship at the 6th World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan. The 10-member team, led by captain Vechita Khesoh, defeated Brazil, South Korea, Great Britain and Turkey before losing to hosts Kyrgyzstan. India’s participation marked its first appearance in tug of war at the World Nomad Games. The competition is being held from August 31 to September 6 across Bishkek and Cholpon-Ata, featuring around 3,000 athletes from more than 100 countries across 43 traditional sporting disciplines. The Nagaland Tug of War Association praised the team’s performance.

Jailed separatist leader Yasin Malik has reportedly decided to divorce his wife, Pakistani national Mushaal Hussein Mullick, amid ongoing legal proceedings. Malik has denied involvement in the 1990 killing of Kashmiri Pandit nurse Sarla Bhat, a case associated with the violence against Kashmiri Pandits in Jammu and Kashmir. According to the report, Malik has stated that he would accept the death penalty if convicted in the murder case. He is currently serving a life sentence in a terror-funding case. His latest statements have brought renewed attention to the decades-old Sarla Bhat murder case and Malik’s wider legal battles. (PC: ANI)

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has told the Bombay High Court that Old Monk cannot be marketed as rum because certain variants are made using neutral spirit and rum flavouring. The regulator said the product could instead be labelled a “rum-flavoured spirit.” The company has submitted revised labels, removing the phrase “7 years old blended,” after concerns that consumers could be misled about the product’s ageing. FSSAI is reviewing the new labels, while the court has scheduled the next hearing for September 11. The company claims losses of around ₹1 crore daily during the ban. (PC: X)

Former Indian Air Force Group Captain and Vir Chakra awardee Abhinandan Varthaman has joined Goa-based regional airline FLY91 as a commercial pilot after retiring from the IAF. He served for nearly 22 years and became widely known after the February 2019 India-Pakistan aerial engagement following the Balakot strikes. Flying a MiG-21 Bison, Varthaman was involved in the downing of a Pakistani F-16 before his aircraft was hit and he was captured after ejecting over Pakistan. He was released three days later. Varthaman is now undergoing training to fly ATR aircraft for FLY91. (PC: PTI)