Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 7 May 2015

1. LABOUR AND TORIES TIED ON POLLING DAY

Opinion polls suggest no party will win an overall majority as the UK goes to the polls today. The final Guardian/ICM poll has Labour and the Tories neck-and-neck with 35% each. Voting began 7am on Thursday at around 50,000 polling stations across the UK, which shut at 10pm. Voters in England are also electing councils.

Jeremy Corbyn is a 'disaster', says Stephen Hawking

2. NETANYAHU SECURES COALITION DEAL

Seven weeks after his surprise election victory, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has secured a coalition deal, just before reaching a deadline to form a government. Netanyahu managed to secure the backing of the right-wing Bayit Yehudi party’s eight MPs. In return, the party has demanded the justice ministry.

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Netanyahu forms a coalition government with the religious right

3. NEPAL QUAKE: FEARS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING

Human rights activists fear camps set up within Nepal for people displaced and made homeless by the devastating earthquake will be targeted by human traffickers claiming to be part of the relief effort. An estimated 15,000 girls are already trafficked from Nepal to Indian brothels, or for forced labour, each year.

4. PLAYER QUOTA CLAIM UNTRUE, SAYS TAYLOR

Former England manager Graham Taylor has denied claims in a new book that two members of the FA approached him to cap the number of black players picked for the national side. An anti-racism campaigner alleged that Taylor had told him the story at a function some 15 years ago – but Taylor denies it all.

5. HATTON GARDEN RAID ‘HAS RUINED LIVES’

A loss adjuster working on the Hatton Garden safety deposit boxes raid, in which a gang spent a bank holiday weekend stealing jewellery worth millions from a concrete vault in central London, says the raid has “ruined lives and livelihoods”. Rick Marchant says the “audacious” theft has hit small businesses.

Hatton Garden heist: hardened dealers sobbing as lives 'ruined'

6. ISLAMIC STATE JOINS TALIBAN IN AFGHANISTAN

Islamic State fighters have joined forces with the Taliban in Afghanistan, where government troops have launched a major offensive near the provincial capital of Kunduz. Taliban insurgents advanced on the north-eastern city last month in what is regarded as the most serious threat to a provincial capital for years.

7. NEW IMAGES REVEAL LUSITANIA ON SEA BED

New sonar images showing the liner Lusitania lying on its starboard side on the seabed off the coast of Cork have been revealed on the 100th anniversary of the ship’s sinking by a German U-boat. A white rose, plaque and list of the dead will be placed on the wreck at 2.15pm today, the exact time of the sinking.

8. FINE WEATHER FOR UK GENERAL ELECTION

The leaders of the main political parties were all pictured casting their votes early today as the UK went to the polls. It is thought fine weather could boost the turnout in the general election, which was 65% in 2010. The weather has been dry and mild across much of the country, with some showers in the north of England.

Election night guide: how the drama will unfold, hour by hour

9. CAPTAIN KIDD'S PIRATE TREASURE 'DISCOVERED'

Pirate treasure belonging to Captain William Kidd is thought to have been discovered off the coast of Madagascar. Underwater archaeologists bought a 50kg silver bar to shore after finding it in the wreck of what they believe is one of his pirate ships. Captain Kidd, whose legend inspired the book Treasure Island, was executed in 1701.

10. BRIEFING: WHO WILL WIN THE ELECTION?

The opinion polls suggest the two main parties are neck and neck, and the bookmakers can barely separate Ed Miliband and David Cameron. The closest election in a generation is upon us, but tonight's vote counts are unlikely to settle it. Here is what might happen once the results start rolling in.

Election results live 2015: David Cameron wins UK general election