Sindhu Manjesh With Inputs From Agencies

• Karnataka records 65 per cent turnout at end of polling

  Karnataka has recorded 65 per cent voter turnout as polls closed at 6 PM. There are nearly 3000 candidates in the fray for the 225-strong Assembly; 224 MLAs are elected and one is nominated.

• Karnataka Polls: The time to vote is here

  Five years after handing the BJP its first opportunity to rule a southern state, Karnataka's electorate votes today to decide whether the BJP should continue in office or whether the mandate should go to other contenders.

• Narendra Modi: 'Political untouchability an increasing evil'

  Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday made a trip to God's own country and kicked up a political row. Mr Modi's visit to the Sivagiri Sree Narayana Mutt in Kerala to take part in its silver jubilee celebrations evoked strong reactions -- a rousing welcome by BJP workers and protests by Left politicians and activists.

• British woman found dead on houseboat in Srinagar; police suspect murder, arrest Dutch tourist

  A British woman holidaying on a houseboat on Dal Lake in Srinagar has been found dead this morning, allegedly murdered by a Dutch tourist, according to police sources. The suspect was arrested near Banihal tunnel, 100 km from Srinagar, this morning.

• Who is Narendra Modi?

  Will Narendra Modi be the BJP's candidate for Prime Minister in the Lok Sabha elections 2014? The party is still not telling, but it has handed to the Gujarat Chief Minister a bigger role at the national level that has been talked about for many days now.

• Chairperson's mike broken, Rajya Sabha session ends with unruly scenes

  Shouting slogans, squatting on the floor, trooping to the well of the house, and damaging the Chairperson's mike - this was how some of our MPs thought fit to protest against the government today. The DMK and AIADMK MPs were protesting against the government for "not making efforts" for a stronger resolution against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC yesterday...

• Italian marines charged with murder will return to India to face trial

  In a reversal of its earlier stand, Italy is sending back the two Italian marines charged with the murder of Indian fishermen to face trial here. Italy said they would return in accordance with the Supreme Court's deadline, which ends today.

• Italian marines to return: Our tough stand has worked, says government

  As news of Italy's decision to send back the two marines accused of killing Indian fishermen to face trial here came in, Minister of State for Home RPN Singh tweeted "India's tough stand as articulated by the PM and Sonia Gandhi has worked."

• Telengana Rashtra Samiti to move no-trust motion against Andhra govt, uproar in Assembly

  The Budget session of the Andhra Pradesh Assembly got off to a stormy start today amidst sloganeering by Opposition members demanding statehood for the Telangana region of the state.

• Man detained by Kerala Police says he is not rapist Bitti Mohanty

  The man Kerala Police say is Bitti Mohanty, convicted in the rape of a German woman in 2006, has reportedly reversed his earlier 'confession' and now claims that he is not the person wanted by the police, according to sources.

• Hyderabad bomb blasts: Did Maharashtra anti-terror squad fail to share crucial leads?

  Investigators attempting to piece together the plot behind Thursday's Hyderabad blasts have reportedly detained six people and have questioned many more. But they are being circumspect about accusing any terror group just yet, as questions are raised on whether a major intelligence failure allowed the horrific death of 16 people this week.