India will finalise its proposed Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) with the United States only after securing preferential tariff treatment for Indian exporters, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on September 3. New Delhi wants Indian goods to receive a competitive tariff advantage over products from rival economies in the US market. Goyal said India has secured favourable terms in sensitive sectors and will announce the agreement’s final details once Washington provides the required tariff advantage. The negotiations reflect India’s focus on protecting export competitiveness while expanding global trade partnerships. Goyal also highlighted continued growth in India’s merchandise exports and urged industry to set ambitious targets. (PC: ANI)

Former Indian cricketer VVS Laxman will coach India’s men’s cricket team at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. He returns to the role after guiding India to a gold medal at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou. Laxman, currently associated with the BCCI Centre of Excellence, will be supported by former spinner Sunil Joshi, Hrishikesh Kanitkar and Subhadeep Ghosh. The appointment comes as head coach Gautam Gambhir will be unavailable because of India’s international commitments during the tournament. India will aim to defend its Asian Games cricket title, with the men’s competition scheduled for later this month. 

Brazilian football legend and 2002 FIFA World Cup-winning captain Cafu is set to visit Darjeeling on September 6, bringing international football attention to the hills. Cafu will launch two new futsal teams, Darjeeling Warriors FC and North Bengal Fighters FC, and virtually lay the foundation stone for the proposed Sidra Hills Sports & Wellness Resort at Arya Tea Estate, around 10 km from Darjeeling town. The ceremony will take place at Gorkha Stadium in Lebong. The project aims to combine sports, wellness and tourism, while Cafu’s presence is expected to inspire local football enthusiasts and promote Darjeeling as a sporting destination. (PC: Reuters)

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.