India’s top court has ordered a state government to explain the arrest of two women for a comment one of them posted on Facebook.

At least 33 people were killed when heavy rains and winds unleashed by a cyclone over India's south-eastern coast damaged hundreds of homes and uprooted trees, officials and news reports said today.

Clashes marred the final phase of India's parliamentary elections today, which left two people dead.

Voting for the fifth and final phase of parliamentary elections in India began today.