Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Barack Obama today decided to "further refine" the Indo-US strategic partnership while pushing ahead with cooperation in the areas of security, counter-terrorism, defence, economy and climate change.

Last week, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had said that the former law minister  was becoming an embarrassment for the party and his family, and therefore should surrender.

JUST IN: Aam Aadmi Party Member of Legislative Assembly Somnath Bharti has surrendered before a Delhi court. He has been on the run for a week. Media reports showed him flashing a copy of the Constitution before cameras. 

Contracts for purchase of 15 Chinook and 22 Apache Helicopters worth $ 3 illion have been signed between India and US.

President Barack Obama addresses the 70th United Nations General Assembly.

Asha Bhosle's son Hemant Bhosle, who was battling with cancer, has passed away. 

Just in: Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets his British counterpart David Cameron in New York. The two are meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.  

PM will visit the United Kingdom in November this year.

Photograph: @ANI/Twitter

German prosecutors have begun an investigation against former Volkswagen chief executive Martin Winterkorn.

The probe will look at "allegations of fraud in the sale of cars with manipulated emissions data", the prosecutor's office said.

Winterkorn quit last week after almost nine years at the helm of VW, saying he had no knowledge of the manipulation of emissions results. Regulators in the US had found "cheat" software in some diesel engines.

Volkswagen AG's upmarket Audi brand says 2.1 million of its vehicles are among those with engines affected by the emissions-rigging scandal.

The Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party continued to take pot shots at each other over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's US visit.

Referring to Modi breaking down as he spoke about his mother at the Facebook headquarters yesterday, Congress leader Anand Sharma said, "True to his characteristic style, the prime minister once again engaged in theatrics, emotion and drama, making boastful claims".

BJP spokesman MJ Akbar hit back saying it's shameful on the part of Congress to criticise a pure relationship of a mother and a son. "It is shameful that the Congress is commenting on a pure relationship of PM and his mother. Modiji's mother doesn't live in 20 palaces, unlike others who require it. There is mother who went so deep in loving her son that she ruined the party and is trying to destroy the country now," he said in an attack directed at Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.

Update on the Assam boat mishap: At least 50 people are feared missing after a boat capsizes in Assam's Kamrup district. The motor boat was ferrying 200 people. It capsized after hitting a bridge on Kalahi River.  

Just In: German prosecutors open investigation into former Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn.

BREAKING: The West Bengal government has declassified state cabinet papers from 1938 to 1947. 

Google is all set to collaborate with the Indian Railways to provide Wi-Fi services at 500 stations by next year. The map posted on the official Google blog shows that the major metropolitan cities are covered.

Hundreds of Taliban fighters have carried out an early-morning raid on the city of Kunduz in Afghanistan, entering the northern city from three different directions. Kunduz city was in lockdown today as security forces attempted to fight back. He said roads to the city had been blocked and some police stations within the city were surrounded by Taliban fighters. There have been reports that the provincial council building has been seized. The armed fighters have also reportedly taken control of a 200-bed hospital in the city following the raid, a Taliban spokesman and a police source said. 

Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar has lent his voice to Swachh Bharat anthem, created under a government initiative to make the "Clean India" campaign a public movement. The anthem, composed by musical trio Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and sung by Shankar Mahadevan and others, will be released on October 2, marking one year of the launch of Swachh Bharat campaign on Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the ISRO team for the successful launch of Astrosat, India's first space observatory. Taking to Twitter, the PM wrote, "Well done @isro. This is one more grand accomplishment for Indian science & our scientists."

Author and self-proclaimed ethical hacker, Ankit Fadia, has reportedly been appointed as one of the brand ambassadors for the Digital India. Fadia, 30, made the announcement on his  Facebook page, where he also posted a few pictures, including a certificate issued to him by the Department of Electronics and IT confirming his appointment as a brand ambassador for one year to "propagate the products and applications being launched under the programme." 

Filing the chargesheet in the Louis Berger bribery case, the Central Bureau of Investigation has named former Goa PWD minister Churchill Alemao as an accused. Former CM Digambar Kamat has also been named but only as an suspect. The chargesheet also names former JICA Goa project head Anand Wachasunder as an accused.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Monday announced Amma mobile phone scheme for women self-help groups in her state.Jayalalithaa's government plans to spend Rs 15 crore to buy 20,000 Amma mobile phones with special software in Tamil for trainers of the women self-help groups. 

Immediately after the jihadist assault on Charlie Hebdo, the satirical magazine's future seemed secure despite the murder of some of its leading figures. An outpouring of support was matched by an outpouring of cash from around the world. But now, all is not well. Two of its famous names are leaving amid claims of a "deep malaise' over the notoriety and unaccustomed wealth brought by the attack on the publication's Paris office in January.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has broken his own rules ... by signing up for Facebook. His verified Facebook page, 'Xi's US Visit,' has been full of status updates, photos and videos during his first official state visit. Since its first post to drum up interest about the trip in mid-September, the page has picked up about a million 'likes,' and is even pushing #XiUSAVisit as a trending social topic.

The  Supreme Court has rejected Somnath Bharti's bail plea and asked him to surrender today. The apex court added that the matter would be heard again on October 1 after he surrendered. The court rapped Somnath for 'behaving like a criminal and said that the AAP MLA had been running away from the law. Bharti is isseeking protection from arrest in a domestic violence and attempt to murder case in which the Delhi high court rejected his petition for anticipatory bail.

It seems that Dr Manmohan Singh's 84th birthday was a quiet affair, as it has been learnt that none of the senior Congress leaders visited him. It has been report that President Pranab Mukherjee and the vice-president sent him greeting with a bouquet of flowers. However, neither did Congress president Sonia nor vice-president Rahul visited the former PM on his birthday, which upsetted Singh's daughter.

Showing support for Digital India, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg changed his Facebook profile picture to the Indian Tricolour. 

For a country many look to as the next big emerging growth engine, just when the current one is sputtering after a virtually uninterrupted 35-year run, it matters a great deal to be seen and heard on the world stage. This is what Prime Minister Narendra Modi has apparently attempted in his various foreign trips and interactions with world leaders, even if there are cynics who might view these more as acts of self-projection. 

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif met UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon in New York, where he urged for a plebiscite in Kashmir, stressing on the need for implementation of the United Nation's Security Council resolution in this regard. The premier also raised the issue of tensions between Pakistan and India, including ceasefire violations on the Line of Control and the Working Boundary. Nawaz Sharif urged the UN chief to play a role in putting to halt ceasefire violations along the LoC.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today moved a court seeking directions to the CBI to supply a copy of FIR lodged against him and others in an alleged disproportionate assets case, two days after the agency conducted searches at his Delhi and Shimla residence. His counsel Vijay Aggarwal filed an application in this regard before Special CBI Judge S C Rajan. In the application, Singh has also sought the court's permission to inspect the judicial record of the case lodged against him.

Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom and First Lady Fathimath Ibrahim had a lucky escape today as an "explosion" occurred aboard the speedboat that they were travelling in after concluding their visit to Saudi Arabia to perform the annual Hajj pilgrimage. Maldivian authorities said that the president escaped unhurt while his wife suffered "not serious" injuries. While the reason of the blast is yet to be ascertained, it is most likely to have taken place in the engine compartment.

The mystery surrounding Rahul Gandhi's disappearance was solved today when the Congress vice-president tweeted an image of himself at an Aspen conference, captioning it, "Very interesting discussions on the global economy and the disruptive power of technology  at the conference in Aspen. 

The ban on mobile and internet services in Jammu-Kashmir has been lifted after three days. Services had been  discontinued in view of apprehensions of misuse of the services by miscreants to create communal tension. The directive by police to all service providers, on the eve of Eid, came amidst the controversy over beef ban. 

India's first dedicated satellite for astronomical research, Astrosat, has been launched from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. 

After giving a rousing speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi departs from California and is heading back to New York where he would be sitting for his third bilateral meet with US President Barack Obama. Matters related to trade and investment is expected to dominate the agenda for the meeting. The visa row between India and US is on the top of Modi's agenda. It has been learnt that India would be making a strong case in front of the US to bring down the cost of H-1B professional visa fees, of which the Indian IT industry is the biggest beneficiary.

Oops! Modi returns to the stage. The PM says, "I forgot to share some good news. From December 2, 2015, there will be a direct flight from Delhi to California thrice a week."

After a stirring speech outlining his government's efforts and programmes, Prime Minister Narendra Modi ended his address with 'Bharat Mata' chants. Modi also thanked the organisers of the event and the dignitaries that attended the event. 

"Terror and global warming are two pressing issues the world faces. We need to mitigate these two menaces," says PM Modi at the SAP centre. Addressing the crowd, Modi says, "UN still hasn't been able to define terrorism, if it will take so much time to define, how will we tackle it?" He reiterates the need to stop talking about 'good terrorism' and 'bad terrorism'. He says, "We cannot protect humanity by saying 'good terrorism, bad terrorism'."

The PM also speaks of giving up LPG subsidy. He says, "Once I requested people of nation to give up their LPG subsidy for poor. I now feel proud in saying 30 lakh people surrendered their subsidy."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi presents his "JAM" theory to the audience in California's SAP Centre. He speaks of his Jan Dhan Yojana in which he all of India, including the poor, opened bank accounts. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlights how India has begun progressing and that the country is now being looked as a strong contender amongst the superpowers. He says, "For the last few years there was much discussion on India not living up to expectations in BRICS. However, today, India is the strongest in BRICS."

Oh no, he didn't! Did Modi just take a dig at the Congress and the Gandhi family. Addressing Indians at the SAP Centre, Modi says, "Son made Rs 250 crore, daughter made Rs 500 crore and the son-in-law made Rs 1,000 crore. Aren't you fed up of hearing such news? Today I stand in front of you, do I have any allegations of corruption against me?"

Speaking to a 20,000-strong audience, Modi says, "The world finally believes that the 21st century is India's time." He adds that the change is not because of himself but because of the commitment shown by Indians. "The change in the world is because of the commitment shown by 1.25 billion Indians." He also added, "Today the world looks at India with hope & confidence."

Here we go! As Prime Minister Narendra Modi begins his address to the Indian Diaspora with tributes to Shahid Bhagat Singh. Chants of 'Vir Bhagat Singh,' rang out at the SAP centre as Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his speech to the 20,000-plus audience. 

It's not just desi Americans present at the show. There's a strong line up of US Congressmen who have turned up for the event, including Nancy Pelosi, Jim McDermott, Ed Royce, Ami Behara, Tusli Gabbard.

The NRI community in California await with bated breath for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address at the San Jose stadium. The event is reminiscent of Modi's Madison Square Garden event, which was held last year in New York. However, organisers of the California event say, this show will surpass the NY event in terms of the audience strength and the grand gala that have put up for their 'idol.'

Singer Kailash Kher, a big admirer of PM Modi, takes the stage at the San Jose stadium and enthralls audiences with his music and melody. 

Indians in California have not left a stone unturned for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. At the San Jose Stadium where the PM is to address at least 18,000 Indians, a colourful cultural show is underway before Modi, himself takes the stage. The show faced a technical glitch in the initial stages, but as they say the show goes on... 

Pope Francis has met and prayed with a small group of victims of child sexual abuse in the US, saying "God weeps" for their suffering.

Welcoming the Silicon Valley visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a group of over a dozen Gujarati organisations and 20 eminent Gujaratis today appealed to the members of the agitating Patel community not to use the occasion to hold protests over the developments back home.

The future of Syria cannot be with Bashar al-Assad, says French President Francois Hollande.Six French jet fighters targeted and destroyed an Islamic State training camp in eastern Syria, President Francois Hollande said on Sunday, making good on a promise to go after the group that the President has said is planning attacks against several countries, including France.