LIVE news updates: BJP’s BS Yediyurappa takes oath as Chief Minister of Karnataka at Raj Bhavan in Bengaluru

Iran has freed nine of the 12 Indian crew members on board a Panama-flagged tanker seized on July 13 in the Strait of Hormuz, even as efforts are on for the release of 45 Indians on board this and two other vessels.

The tanker MT Riah was detained along with 12 Indian crew members by the Iranian Coast Guard on July 13. Nine crew members have been released and "they will be on their way to India soon", Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said.

"Our mission in Iran has requested the concerned Iranian authorities for the release of remaining crew members," he said.

IMA Ponzi scheme case: Three including Bengaluru Deputy Commissioner Vijay Shankar & Assistant Commissioner, Nagaraj granted bail in the case. Bail plea of cleric Haneef Afsar rejected.

Pakistan Cricket Board announced fast bowler Mohammad Amir’s retirement from Test Cricket on Friday

National Conference leader and former Jammu Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah says there’s danger in boycotting polls

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday paid tributes to the soldiers who fought in the 1999 Kargil war, as the nation observed 20th anniversary of the conflict.

July 26 is observed as Kargil Vijay Diwas every year to mark India's triumph over Pakistan in 'Operation Vijay'.

"Those who hold up our flag through sacrifice and hardship, those who fight for freedom, for our sovereignty and all that India stands for, can never be forgotten. Our gratitude to all those who fought in Kargil and sacrificed their lives for ours," Priyanka Gandhi tweeted.

Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala also paid tribute to the fallen soldiers.

LS likely to pass resolution authorising Speaker to take "exemplary" action against Azam Khan for remarks against a BJP woman MP: Sources

1 dead and at least 10 injured in an explosion at a factory in Ludhiana, Punjab

This is a developing story

A Massive fire breaks out in Ganesh Genesis building in Gota in Ahmedabad, 15 people have been rescued. However, 2 were in serious condition, their status will be updated by the hospital

10 fire tenders present on the spot

Outgoing Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Friday met members of former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, who passed away on July 20 at age 81.

Rahul Gandhi, who was abroad, arrived in India on Thursday.

On Friday morning, he reached Dikshit's residence in Nizamuddin area and met Sandeep Dikshit, a former MP and the son of the three-time Delhi Chief Minister.

Delhi HC dismisses with cost of Rs 25000 plea challenging auctioning and selling of cricket players as part of IPL

Political parties in Tamil Nadu are in favour of reserving a percentage of jobs in organised private sector for the residents of the state.

The state already has 69 per cent reservation in government jobs and educational institutions, including 26.5 per cent for Backward category, 3.5 for Backward caste Muslims, 20 per cent for Most Backward Castes and 15 per cent Scheduled Castes.

The extent of quota in the state is more than the 50 per cent cap prescribed by the Supreme Court.

Bills for consideration and passing in Lok Sabha

*The Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2019

*The National Medical Commission Bill, 2019 *The DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill, 2019

Private Members' Bills in RAJYA SABHA

Private Members' Bills

A man was charred to death after his Mahindra XUV 500 car caught fire near Madhuban Chowk in West Delhi's Pitampura, police said on Friday.

According to fire officials, they received information about the accident around 10.40 p.m. on Thursday night.

"Two fire tenders were rushed to the spot but the vehicle had been completely burnt and the fire put out by the time they reached there," a senior fire officer said. A fully charred body was recovered from inside the vehicle, they added.

BJP leader B.S.Yeddyurappa will take oath as Karnataka chief minister on Friday evening after he staked claim to form the new government with Governor Vajubhai Vala at Raj Bhavan in Bengaluru.

"As the Governor has given permitted our party (BJP) to form the government, I will be taking oath around 6-6.15 p.m. today (Friday) evening at Raj Bhavan," a beaming Yeddyurappa told reporters after meeting Vala.

Yeddyurappa met the Governor after the party's national President Amit Shah asked him to stake claim to power and swear in as chief minister by today itself, a party spokesman told IANS here.

As annual the pilgrimage of Shiva devotees -- Kanwar Yatra -- hits its peak celebrations in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the all important national Highway connecting Delhi and Dehradun has been closed from early on Friday.

According to the Additional Director General (ADG) of police, (west UP), Prashant Kumar, the highway will remain close till late midnight July 30.

"Heavy deployment of police force is regulating the traffic on one of the busiest highways of North India. We are diverting the vehicular traffic at key points," said Kumar on phone to IANS, before charting a government helicopter from the helipad in Meerut, for aerial survey of the route, early Friday morning.

Amid terror threats, unprecedented security measures have been taken by the police of several northern Indian states to ensure a peaceful Kanwar Yatra, this season." Drones are being used extensively to monitor the sea of devotees, (expected to cross four crore) to monitor the pilgrimage.

Supreme Court refuses to entertain PILs relating to treatment of children suffering from Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) in Muzaffarpur district of Bihar