&imwidth=800&imheight=600&format=webp&quality=medium "Latest News India and World LIVE Updates: PM Modi to meet Belgium PM, Doval-Putin talks, US-Iran conflict and more")
Latest News Today Live Updates: Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever has arrived in India on his first official visit and is set to hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with bilateral ties, trade and cooperation expected to be on the agenda. Meanwhile, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval has briefed Russian President Vladimir Putin on Modi’s recent meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, amid renewed efforts to push for peace talks in the Ukraine conflict.
In India, masked men allegedly ransacked and looted Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee’s office in Kolkata. The Ram Temple trust has also appointed its first CEO, with a woman trustee taking on the key role.
Meanwhile, the US-Iran conflict continues to escalate, with Tehran accusing Washington of killing four people at a wedding in a strike it called a “war crime”, while the US has denied targeting civilians.
Stay with us for more latest news, breaking updates and developments as they unfold.
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which went viral with its political satire movement that led to the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan from the role of Union Education Minister, is now facing a challenge from a new party, ‘Cockroach Janta Party - Democratic’. The new faction has been founded by activist Manish Brahmbhatt, who has accused the original CJP of being “sold out and politicised” following the success of its Jantar Mantar protest. Brahmbhatt has claimed that the CJP has now become ‘Team Kejriwal’, referring to Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal.
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever arrived in India with a unique diplomatic gift in mind for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, the chocolate replica of Delhi’s iconic India Gate failed to make it through the journey. Speaking at a joint press conference on Thursday, De Wever revealed that he had planned to present Modi with a sculpture of India Gate made entirely from Belgian chocolate. The replica, however, did not survive the trip to India.
In a significant peace initiative, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said in Kyiv on Thursday that India is ready to contribute in any way possible to efforts to end the war in Ukraine. Jaishankar made the remark after his counterpart from Kyiv said that Ukraine expects a “new dynamic” in diplomatic efforts to end Russia’s war as international engagement resumes.
Central government offices located in Delhi will remain closed on September 11 as the national capital gears up to host the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit. According to an official memorandum issued on Thursday (Sep 3) by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, all Central government offices in the vicinity of Delhi and New Delhi will remain shut given the scale and arrangement requirements for the high-level summit.
India will announce the final details of its Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) with the United States only after Washington agrees to offer preferential tariff terms over India's competitors, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Thursday.
"As soon as the US is able to give us the preferential rate in comparison to our competition, we will finalise the BTA and announce the final details," Goyal said, addressing a national workshop on the Leveraging FTAs Outreach program.
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy on Thursday has removed Minister Konda Surekha from the Council of Ministers with immediate effect. The move comes after remarks made by her daughter, Konda Sushmitha Patel, targeting Revanth Reddy and Parkal MLA Revuri Prakash Reddy.
Belgium has assured India it will not pursue defence engagement with Pakistan, Indian officials said, after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh raised the issue with his Belgian counterpart, Theo Francken, in New Delhi on Thursday. The assurance came as Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever paid the first visit by a Belgian head of government to India in two decades, accompanied by Francken and a large industrial delegation. Ten agreements between Belgian and Indian defence firms were due to be signed, covering ammunition plants, naval mine-hunting systems, rockets, electro-optical sights and other equipment.
A Delhi court has granted bail to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain on Thursday in an alleged multi-crore sewage treatment plant (STP) tender scam being investigated by the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB). The court’s detailed order is awaited.
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s expected visit to India for the BRICS Summit 2026 is about much more than a multilateral meeting in New Delhi. If Xi does arrive, his presence at the September 12–13 summit would mark his first visit to India in seven years and provide the clearest public signal yet that Beijing and New Delhi are trying to stabilise a relationship damaged by the 2020 border clashes. Reuters has reported that Chinese officials are preparing for the trip, including security and hotel arrangements, although Beijing has not formally confirmed Xi’s attendance.
The 18th BRICS Summit will be held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi under India’s 2026 chairmanship from 12–13 September. So, as India gears up to host the BRICS Summit, we take a look at how the group was formed and the purpose of the block.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday (September 3) that Moscow maintained contacts with the U.S. administration and remained in favour of restoring its relationship with Washington.
Prime Minister of Belgium, Bart De Wever, says, "The exchange of the Letter of Intent we have just witnessed gives that cooperation a new framework — from government-to-government contacts and military exchanges to research, innovation, co-development, and hopefully co-production. And alongside it, a series of additional defence-related MOUs are being concluded during Minister Francken's mission, bringing companies and institutions from both countries closer together. Because security, too, is something we strengthen by working with partners we can trust. And the same is true for our economies. Prime Minister Modi and I had a very good discussion about trade and investment, and about the broader changes taking place in the world today and the economy of today. My country believes strongly in free and fair trade. For us, open markets are not just an abstract principle; they are part of our economic DNA and the basis of our prosperity..."
Prime Minister of Belgium, Bart De Wever, says, "Recent years have shown us how quickly supply chains can be disrupted and weaponised, how geopolitical instability can affect our energy and our economies, and how excessive dependencies can become vulnerabilities. Our course rejects two false choices. Firstly, we do not choose protectionism. But neither do we accept naive dependencies. We have done so for far too long. And secondly, we certainly do not believe that the answer is to retreat economically behind our own walls and our own borders. Our answer is strategic openness. Diversification is not decoupling. It means more reliable suppliers, access to more markets, stronger connections, and more trusted partnerships. He adds, "The successful conclusion of the EU-India Free Trade Agreement is a major milestone. It would be a happy ending of the year 2026 to see the signature in Belgium, and we would have the honour of receiving Prime Minister Modi in my country. We want to go all in as Belgium to ensure that this agreement is translated into concrete action and tangible results for our citizens... We already have 235 Belgian companies investing in India. Around 95 Indian companies are already present in Belgium. Our bilateral trade in goods stands at 9.4 billion euros, and I think there is a margin for a lot of growth."
The Iranian Red Crescent Society sought the International Criminal Court (ICC) to probe a missile attack launched by the United States that hit a wedding party in the southern town of Kuhestak, claiming the lives of at least four people and wounding dozens. In a letter to the court on Wednesday, the humanitarian group stated that the attack warrants “an independent, impartial, thorough, and effective investigation” given the “civilian character of the location”. Those killed were two women and two children, aged four and 16. An Iranian official said most of the wounded were also women and children.
Israeli forces have moved into Halta village, located in Lebanon's southeastern Hasbaiyya district near the border with the occupied Golan Heights, and encircled several homes in the area. The incursion came after Israeli forces contacted a local municipal council member and the village's mayor, adding that several residents were prevented from leaving their houses.
Egypt and China have stated that establishing Palestine as a sovereign nation, independent of Israel, continues to be "the central issue in the Middle East." During a joint statement issued as part of Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Cairo, both nations reaffirmed their "categorical rejection" of any efforts aimed at displacing Palestinians from their homeland, "under any pretext or designations."
They also called for the implementation of the ceasefire in the besieged Gaza Strip, ensuring unhindered access to humanitarian aid, and enabling the Palestinian Authority to resume governance “as soon as possible.”
The Union government has cleared a Rs 2,077.18 crore project to four-lane a 31.02-km stretch of National Highway 327 in West Bengal's Darjeeling district, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari announced on X. The approved stretch runs from Bagdogra through Panitanki and Kharibari to Galgalia, cutting through the Siliguri Corridor, the narrow strip of land often called India's "Chicken's Neck" that links the country's mainland to its entire Northeast region.
Its midterm election season in the US, and President Donald Trump has not much to show for victory in Iran war. Reports including in Wall Street Journal suggest that he is weighing whether to declare the Iran war over. Trump administration has officially asked for ending the usage of the term ‘Operation Epic Fury’, which started it all on February 28. Meanwhile, Trump's so-called Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is planning US troops extension in the Middle East into 2027, and the Pentagon appears to be readying for a prolonged US military presence in the Gulf. Is there a gap between the thinking of the president and Hegseth on the course of the war?
A flood-like situation in at least 31 districts of Uttar Pradesh has surfaced, with 22 districts battling inundation. Authorities have continued rescue and relief efforts, evacuating 1,528 people to safer locations. The affected districts are: Ayodhya, Badaun, Chandauli, Chitrakoot, Farrukhabad, Azamgarh, Ballia, Barabanki, Ghazipur, Gorakhpur, Hapur, Hardoi, Kasganj, Lakhimpur Kheri, Mirzapur, Moradabad, Prayagraj, Sant Kabir Nagar, Shahjahanpur, Sitapur, Unnao and Varanasi, among others.
Delhi recorded 90 dengue cases in August, marking the highest monthly count of the year, according to the latest Municipal Corporation of Delhi report. The report also indicated an increase in malaria and chikungunya cases this month. As per data till August 29 this year, the capital recorded 311 dengue cases, 119 malaria cases and 22 chikungunya cases. However, no death has been reported so far due to any of the three diseases. Last week alone, 39 dengue cases have been recorded in Delhi.
A shootout in Kyiv between the intelligence and security services in which three officers were reportedly injured has left the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky fuming. Blasting both the departments (SBU and GUR), Zelensky called the situation “absolutely shameful”. The State Security Service (SBU) is Ukraine’s internal security service, while the GUR or HUR is its armed forces counterpart and also carries out military activities and special operations.
Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), a former member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, is urging President Trump to remove Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, sharply criticising his leadership of the Pentagon. Tillis intensified his criticism following Army Secretary Dan Driscoll’s resignation, which came after repeated disagreements with Hegseth over the removal of senior military officials, including Gen. Randy George, the former Army chief of staff.
US President Donald Trump has said he is “happy” that Prince Harry and Meghan have left the United States and returned to Britain, renewing his criticism of the couple and their relationship with the British royal family. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday, Trump said he had never been a fan of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and accused them of treating the royal family with “great disrespect.” “I was not a fan,” Trump said, adding that he had a “good relationship” with the late Queen Elizabeth and King Charles. Trump also singled out Meghan for criticism, saying he did not like the way she had acted and describing her as “terribly disrespectful”.
Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman, who was awarded Vir Chakra for shooting down a Pakistani F-16 during a dogfight over the Line of Control (LoC) on February 27, 2019, has quit the Indian Air Force and joined a private airline, officials aware of the matter said on Wednesday. He left the IAF on March 31 and later joined Fly91, a regional carrier, the officials said asking not to be named.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Raghav Chadha on Thursday accused Punjab's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of a "political vendetta" after his name was marked under the "shifted" category in the state's draft electoral roll. Chadha, a Rajya Sabha member from Punjab who was among seven of the 10 AAP members of the upper House to defect to the BJP in April, has been a voter in Mohali.
US state secretary Marco Rubio does not believe India and Iran are currently negotiating a trade deal. He made the assertion when asked about Prime Minister Narendra Modi meeting Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Kyrgyzstan's Bishkek.
Rajasthan High Court acting chief justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma has denied all allegations levelled against him by Supreme Court judge Justice Sandeep Mehta, calling them “baseless” and saying they were made out of “animosity”.
The military conflict between the United States and Iran has experienced a severe escalation following a U.S. missile strike that hit near a residential home hosting a wedding ceremony in Kuhestak, Sirik County
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has appointed retired Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra as its first chief executive officer, bringing a former senior Indian Air Force commander into the top executive role as the body overseeing the Ayodhya Ram temple restructures its administration
A group of armed masked men ransacked and looted Trinamool Congress (TMC) lawmaker Abhishek Banerjee’s office on Kolkata’s Camac Street in the early hours of Thursday. Banerjee called the attack outrageous, unacceptable, and a disgraceful assault on the rule of law. He alleged that police did not respond to calls and emails for at least two hours and blamed the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the attack.
National Security Adviser Ajit Doval met Russian President Vladimir Putin in September 2024 to share direct details about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Ukraine.
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever arrived in New Delhi on 2 September 2026 for a three-day official visit. He is holding high-level bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi today, 3 September 2026, to expand economic, defensive, and strategic cooperation. This marks De Wever’s first official visit to India since taking office in February 2025