Breaking news, updates on September 20 Updates

Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarks on a week-long tour to the USA. He will first reach Houston for the 'Howdy Modi' event and will address the UNGA on September 27 in New York.

GST Council recommends lower 12% cess on 1,500 cc diesel and 1,200 cc petrol vehicles with the capacity to carry up to 13 says FM Nirmala Sitharaman after GST Council meeting concludes.

Thousands of protesters gathered Friday in Melbourne, Australia at the start of a day of worldwide demonstrations calling for action on climate change ahead of a United Nations summit in New York.

Some of the first rallies, in what is being billed as a "global climate strike," kicked off in Australia.

Australian demonstrators called for their nation, which is the world's largest exporter of coal and liquid natural gas, to take more drastic action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The Global Strike 4 Climate said protests were staged in 110 towns and cities across Australia on Friday, with organizers demanding government and business commit to a target of net zero carbon emissions by 2030. 

(AP)

Saudi Arabia has taken journalists to an oil field that was hit in a missile-and-drone attack six days ago.

Journalists arrived Friday at the Khurais oil field in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province, struck by several missiles in the attack. 
Media toured a damaged stabilisation tower.

A major processing plant was also targeted, in an incident that halved Saudi Arabia's oil production and disrupted global energy supplies.

The U.S. alleges Iran carried out the attack. Saudi Arabia says the assault was "unquestionably sponsored by Iran".

Iran has denied any involvement. 

Yemen's Iranian-allied Houthi rebels claimed the assault, but analysts say the missiles used wouldn't have enough range to reach the site from Yemen.

IAF received its first ‘acceptance’ Rafale combat aircraft from Dassault Aviation in France, yesterday. Deputy Air Force Chief Air Marshal VR Chaudhary also flew in the aircraft for around one hour.

The atmosphere at Jadavpur University is still tense after a scuffle between BJP MP Babul Supriyo and students. Youngsters were seen on Friday marching with banners with words 'Stop Fascism' written on them.

A Delhi court extends judicial custody of businessman Ratul Puri till October 3, in Moser Baer case.

Naveen Arora, Special Investigation Team Chief said, " Swami Chinmayanand has admitted to almost every allegation levelled against him,including sexual conversations and body massage. Circumstantial evidences also being examined.He said he doesn’t want to say more as he's ashamed of his acts."

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray said, "we have held systematic talks with BJP leaders. I hope that in a day or two we will come to a decision."

Delhi Court allows CBI to further interrogate alleged middleman Christian Michel in Tihar Jail.

PM Modi tweets, "The announcements in the last few weeks clearly demonstrate that our government is leaving no stone unturned to make India a better place to do business, improve opportunities for all sections of society & increase prosperity to make India a $5 Trillion economy."

Amid Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's mega announcements, the Sensex crosses the 2000 mark and it is currently at 38,100.62 

Chinmayanand  is accused of rape by a law student.

Shahjahanpur: In the above photo - former Union minister Swami Chinmayanand, accused of rape by a law student, is seen outside a government hospital after a medical examination following his arrest by a special team of Uttar Pradesh police, in Shahjahanpur, Friday, Sept. 20, 2019.

• Swami Chinmayanand, accused of rape by a law student, was arrested on Friday and sent to 14 days judicial custody by a court in Uttar Pradesh's Shahjahanpur.
• Chinmayanand who is charged with stalking, wrongful confinement and intimidation, was arrested by the special investigation team (SIT) of Uttar Pradesh police from his residence 'Divya Dham' in Shahjahanpur around 8.50 am amid heavy security deployment.
• Chinmayanand was taken for medical examination to a government hospital, following which he was taken to the the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate.

Former Jammu and Kashmir CM and Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad to visit Srinagar today. He will visit Baramulla and other districts in the next two days. Supreme Court on September 16 allowed him to visit Srinagar, Baramulla, Anantnag and Jammu.

Afghan passengers, aged 18, 19, 20, 20 and 29 years respectively, arrived at T3, IGI Airport, New Delhi, by flight No. FG 311 (Kandahar-Kabul-Delhi) at 18:00 hrs on 14th September 2019. 

On the basis of specific intelligence indicating that these five passengers had ingested capsules containing a narcotic substance, they were intercepted in a joint operation by officers of the Air Intelligence Unit & Preventive Branch, IGIA Customs and Special Cell, Delhi Police. Thereafter, all five were taken into custody by IGIA Customs, produced before the duty magistrate and admitted to Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, PIB release stated. 

SIAM President, Mr Rajan Wadhera, welcomed the bold announcements made by Hon’ble Finance Minister today, including the reduction of the corporate tax rate to 22% and No Minimum Alternate Tax for companies not availing incentives under Income Tax Act. 

Additionally, the reduction of corporate tax to 15% for new companies making fresh investments from 1st October 2019, will support investment and also FDI in the auto sector. This is expected to give a big boost to Make in India for the automobile industry.
 
Expansion of scope of CSR expenditure to include incubation centres and R&D activities will also help with R&D expenditures in the automobile sector. 

These are indeed landmark announcements and would certainly help in reviving growth in the Indian Economy. - SIAM President

Chinmayanand who was arrested in connection with the alleged sexual harassment of a UP law student, sent to 14-day judicial custody by a local court

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President of Mongolia, Khaltmaagiin Battulga jointly unveil Lord Buddha statue at Gandan Monastery in Mongolia via video-conferencing.

Goods and Services Tax Council meeting begins in Panaji. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will be also present.

Amid Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's mega announcements, the Sensex is up by 1837.52 points and it is currently at 38,019.66 

Mumbai: A portion of a four-storeyed building at Lokmanya Tilak Road has collapsed. 

7 Mumbai fire brigade vehicles including ambulance and rescue vehicle were rushed to the spot

(More details awaited)

Sensex up 920.65 points, Nifty nears 11,000, up by 260 points after Nirmala Sitharaman announced tax cut reforms.

1. Nirmala Sitharaman announces effective tax for new companies slashed to 17.01% (cess included)
2. Effective corporate tax rate after surcharge is 25.17 per cent
3. Local Companies incorporated post-October to pay 15 per cent tax
4. Minimum alternate tax (MAT) down to 15 per cent 
5. Sitharaman: Want to have investments in Make in India
6. Nirmala Sitharaman: Govt has decided to expand the scope of 2% spending on CSR
7. This can now be spent on incubators funded by central/state governments, or any agency or PSU of central/state govt, and making a contribution to publicly funded universities.

Finance Minister Niramala Sitharaman in a press conference has said that Corporate tax rate will now be 22 per cent. 

There can be no compromise with the dignity of a woman. We have formed a probe committee and the person has been removed from district president post, says Delhi BJP Chief Manoj Tiwari on state BJP district president Azad Singh seen slapping wife in viral video

Heavy rains in Mumbai disrupted the local train services in Mumbai on Friday.

Meanwhile, waterlogging on several streets also led to traffic jams. 

1. Gandhi Market - buses going towards Sion diverted via Bhaudai Road from Maheshwari UDyan to Sion Hospital
2. Sion Road No 24- Buses diverted via Sion road no 3 towards Sion station

Many parts of Mumbai are receiving heavy showers since early Friday. The IMD has forecast heavy showers in the city, high tide at 3 PM today.

PM Modi will embark on his week-long US trip today. In the first leg of his visit he will address various events in Houston, Texas, while in the second half he will be addressing the UNGA on the September 27 amongst bilateral meetings with other world leaders. 

'Multiple' people shot on streets of Washington, DC, reports Reuters quoting local media.

A Delhi Police constable has been arrested under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for allegedly raping a minor girl.

Police said that the incident happened on Thursday following which the victim's family approached the New Usmanpur Police Station here.

The girl's family members, along with the local residents had gathered outside the police station and surrounded it to press for the accused constable's arrest.

Senior police officers have taken steps to dismiss the constable from service.

The police, however, did not provide any additional information related to the case.

Two, including a doctor dead, while four injured after an ambulance collides with a truck near DND toll plaza. The injured have been shifted to hospital.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has accused the previous governments of neglecting Bundelkhand, saying they had no interest in the development of the region.

Adityanath said the successive SP BSP and Congress governments showed no interest in the development of the Bundelkhand region, which has been facing utter neglect since the Independence.

"On the contrary, they cheated the residents. But with the BJP at the helm all the problems will now vanish," he said.

Delhi: BJP removes its Mehrauli district president, Azad Singh for allegedly slapping his wife Sarita Chaudhary, former South Delhi mayor at party's Delhi office.