Internet would be made the right of the people and two million "poor families" will get free access to the web, Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Issac said while presenting the budget for 2017-18 in the state assembly on Friday

"Internet will now become a right for the people and within 18 months the internet gateway would be set up through the K phone network at a cost of Rs 1,000 crore," He added.

"Two million poor families will get free internet connections, while others will get it a reduced rate," the former economist said.

India and Pakistan are likely to hold talks to resolve the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) issue in Lahore later this month.

The meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission, a bilateral commission will be held later this month before March 31, according to the government sources on Thursday.

The agreement is for the six rivers – the three eastern rivers of Ravi, Beas, Sutlej and their tributaries and the three western rivers of Indus, Jhelum, Chenab and their tributaries.

The dispute is over the Kishenganga (330 megawatts) and Ratle (850 megawatts)  hydroelectric plants building on the Kishanganga and Chenab rivers. According to Pakistan, this move by India violates the treaty.

The last meeting of the commission was held in May 2015.

India and Pakistan are likely to hold talks to resolve the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) issue in Lahore later this month.

The meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission, a bilateral commission will be held later this month before March 31, according to the government sources on Thursday.

The agreement is for the six rivers – the three eastern rivers of Ravi, Beas, Sutlej and their tributaries and the three western rivers of Indus, Jhelum, Chenab and their tributaries.

The dispute is over the Kishenganga (330 megawatts) and Ratle (850 megawatts)  hydroelectric plants building on the Kishanganga and Chenab rivers. According to Pakistan, this move by India violates the treaty.

The last meeting of the commission was held in May 2015.

India could have the largest Muslim population in the world by 2050, according to Pew Research Centre, an American Think Tank. As per the report, while still being a predominantly Hindu-majority country, India will have more than 300 Muslims by 2050.

Further, because Muslims have the youngest median age of 30 years compared to all other religious groups, they are also the fastest growing religious group in the world.  In fact, if the current growth continues, Muslims could exceed the number of Christians (currently the largest group) by the end of the century, says the research. Currently, Islam is the second largest religion after Christians. In 2010, there were approximately 1.6 billion Muslims in the world.

According to the Pew report, there are two main reasons behind the fast growing rate of Muslims. First, Muslims have more children than people belonging to any other religious group and second because of their youngest median age.

Further majority of the Muslims across the world live in the Asia- Pacific region, which includes Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh and India among others.

India could have the largest Muslim population in the world by 2050, according to Pew Research Centre, an American Think Tank. As per the report, while still being a predominantly Hindu-majority country, India will have more than 300 Muslims by 2050.

Further, because Muslims have the youngest median age of 30 years compared to all other religious groups, they are also the fastest growing religious group in the world.  In fact, if the current growth continues, Muslims could exceed the number of Christians (currently the largest group) by the end of the century, says the research. Currently, Islam is the second largest religion after Christians. In 2010, there were approximately 1.6 billion Muslims in the world.

According to the Pew report, there are two main reasons behind the fast growing rate of Muslims. First, Muslims have more children than people belonging to any other religious group and second because of their youngest median age.

Further majority of the Muslims across the world live in the Asia- Pacific region, which includes Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh and India among others.

India could have the largest Muslim population in the world by 2050, according to Pew Research Centre, an American Think Tank. As per the report, while still being a predominantly Hindu-majority country, India will have more than 300 Muslims by 2050.

Further, because Muslims have the youngest median age of 30 years compared to all other religious groups, they are also the fastest growing religious group in the world.  In fact, if the current growth continues, Muslims could exceed the number of Christians (currently the largest group) by the end of the century, says the research. Currently, Islam is the second largest religion after Christians. In 2010, there were approximately 1.6 billion Muslims in the world.

According to the Pew report, there are two main reasons behind the fast growing rate of Muslims. First, Muslims have more children than people belonging to any other religious group and second because of their youngest median age.

Further majority of the Muslims across the world live in the Asia- Pacific region, which includes Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh and India among others.

Legendary Sachin Tendulkar has revealed that the first thoughts of retiring from international cricket came to his mind in October 2013 during a Champions League T20 match here, just a month before he decided to call it quits.

Tendulkar has recently joined professional networking site 'LinkedIn' as an 'Influencer', and in a write-up titled 'My Second Innings' posted on Thursday, he shared his life after cricket, detailing his transition from the game to other projects.

"It was October 2013 during one of the Champions League games in Delhi. My mornings would start with a gym workout, a routine I had been following for 24 years. But that morning in October, something had changed," he wrote.

"I realised that I had to force myself to wake up and go about my day. I knew that the gym training was a critical part of my cricket — something that had been my life for 24 years.

Yet, there was reluctance. Why?

"Were these signs…signs that I should stop? Signs that the game that has been so dear to me, would no longer be a part of my daily routine?" the legendary cricketer, who is also a Rajya Sabha MP, said.

Tendulkar was part of the 2013 CLT20-winning Mumbai Indians side and played in three matches in Delhi — on October 2, October 5 and October 6 (against Rajathan Royals in the final).

After that he played in his last two Test matches in Kolkata and Mumbai in November against the West Indies in a hurriedly arranged series before walking into the sunset.

Writing about the process of making the retirement decision, he wrote, "Sunil Gavaskar, one of my heroes and a former cricketer, once said that he made up his mind to quit the game when he found himself checking the clock, to see how much time there was left for the lunch and tea intervals.

Suddenly I knew exactly what he meant. My mind and my body were telling me the same thing. Maybe, it's time to hang up my boots.

"I also remembered the words of Billy Jean King, at Wimbledon a few years ago – you will know for sure when to go, it will come from inside you, don't let the world decide when you have to retire.

"But what will a sportsman do if he's not a sportsman anymore? How do you prepare for a day when something that consumed each day of the 24 years of your life, isn't the focus anymore?

"The energising chant of 'Sachin, Sachin' that the crowds cheered each time I walked onto the field, was an indescribable feeling and rush. This probably won't be heard anymore. Was I ready for that? These thoughts and a discussion with my family and closest friends helped make up my mind. My innings was indeed coming to an end," he wrote.

"The years flashed before my eyes. The victories, the losses, the celebrations, the challenges and the silences …

the journey. India's win at the World Cup in 2011 was a dream come true as was the team's generous gesture of dedicating the cup to me. But, that chapter of my life was ending. What now, I wondered."

He said his "first innings was about chasing my dreams, the second one is about satisfaction".

Myanmar has formed a high-level committee and task force to restart the Dawei Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Tanintharyi region which was once suspended for years, the media reported on Friday.

The SEZ committee for implementation of the Myanmar-Thai joint project to link the Andaman Sea to Bangkok and the Gulf of Thailand is chaired by Vice President U Henry Van Thio, Xinhua news agency reported.

Over the last few months, the SEZ committee has had more interactions with the Italian-Thai Development (ITD), one of the firms forming a consortium of private developers that signed a concession agreement with the government in 2015.

The consortium consists of ITD, a Japanese-Thai joint venture Rojana Industrial Park Plc and LNG Plus International Co, also from Thailand.

Myanmar and Thailand first signed a memorandum of understanding to develop the area in 2008 and two years later the country granted a 60-year concession to ITD to develop a deep-sea port, industrial estate, road and rail links to Thailand's Kanchanaburi.

Due to financial difficulties, ITD then withdrew from the agreement in 2013 before resigning the concession agreement in 2015.

The highway which is part of the project would link Dawei with Bangkok and the Greater Mekong Subregion, while the deep-sea port would link Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam with India, the Middle east, Europe and Africa.

It will significantly shorten the time of transportation and eliminate the need to ship around Singapore through the Malacca Strait.

The services sector rebounded in February — for the first time since October — as businesses recovered from the demonetisation-led disruptions seen in the previous three months, a monthly survey showed on Friday.

The Nikkei India Services Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), which tracks services sector firms on a monthly basis, stood at 50.3 in February, up from 48.7 registered in January.

After slipping to a near three-year low last November, signalling the first monthly drop in output since June 2015, the headline index edged above the 50.0 mark, that separates expansion from contraction.

"The upturn in services activity follows news from the sister PMI survey showing factory production growing for the second straight month in February," Pollyanna De Lima, economist at IHS Markit, and also the author of the report, said.

However, the year-ahead outlook for the services sector remained subdued. The survey participants were less optimistic about the 12-month outlook as firms were concerned about market competition and this muted sentiments reflected in the payroll numbers as well as services companies continued to reduce staff numbers.

"It is still too early to state that expansion rates will climb to their trend levels in the near term. Companies remain reluctant to take on additional staff and confidence towards the 12-month outlook for output dipped to its second-lowest mark in over one year," Lima said adding that these factors indicate that, so far, firms are doubtful about the sustainability of the economic recovery.

Meanwhile, the Nikkei India Composite PMI Output Index — that maps both the manufacturing as well as services sector — rose from 49.4 in January to 50.7, pointing to the first increase in private sector activity across India since last October.

"With demand conditions strengthening in India, new business inflows rose in both sectors, leading to the first increases in private sector new work orders and output since October 2016. Nevertheless, growth rates were mild at best and far from their historical averages," Lima added.

On the prices front, input cost inflation accelerated and service providers also raised their charges so much so that "the increase in output charges was the first in five months and the most pronounced since mid-2016", the survey said.

The increase in prices may spoil the case for any immediate interest rate cut by the Reserve Bank.

The Reserve Bank in its policy review meet on February 8 kept key interest rate unchanged at 6.25 per cent and said it is awaiting more clarity on the inflation trend and impact of demonetisation on growth.

The next meeting of the MPC is scheduled for April 5-6, 2017.

The Railways will soon move towards Aadhaar-based online ticketing system to prevent touts from blocking a bulk of tickets, end fraudulent bookings and curb cases of impersonation.

Aadhaar number has been made mandatory for senior citizens to avail concessions in train tickets from April 1. A three-month trial run for this is going on.

As per the new business plan 2017-18, unveiled by Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on day, besides the Aadhaar-based ticketing system, the Railways will move towards cashless ticketing system by installing 6,000 point-of-sale machines and 1,000 automatic ticket vending machines across the country.

An integrated ticketing app will also be launched by May to promote cashless transaction.

"Aadhaar number will be required for one-time registration at the IRCTC ticketing site. The step is aimed at eliminating touts from registering with fake identities," a senior Railway Ministry official said, adding the Railways is preparing a software for the purpose.

Despite taking several steps, touts corner a bulk of tickets and sell those at much higher prices and this is becoming a serious problem for the Railways.

The new business plan also envisages launching of new tourist trains connecting hill stations and enhancing passenger comfort and providing pleasurable journey experience through improving amenities and catering service.

 Pop singer Demi Lovato will be honoured for raising awareness about mental health issues.

The 24-year-old songstress will be felicitated with Artistic Award of Courage by The Jane and Terry Semel Institute at their biannual Open Minds Gala, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Lovato has been vocal about dealing with bipolar disorder and released the book "Staying Strong: 365 Days a Year", featuring inspirational quotes and life reflections, which went on to become a New York Times best-seller.

The event will be hosted by "Friends" star Lisa Kudrow on March 22.

Under the captaincy of Virat Kohli, Team India will be eyeing to make up for the humiliating loss they faced in Pune when they lock horns against Australia in the second Test at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore starting Saturday.

The visitors outshone India by 333 runs inside three days of the first Test to lead the four-match Test series by 1-0.

Kohli, who has led his Indian Premier League (IPL) team Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to wonders at their home ground, is expected to put a stellar performance again to make his team rise from the dark.

Although Kohli’s batting hasn’t been up to the mark while playing for the national side here, the captain inside his aggressive mind knows how to utilise the flat and slow turner wicket of the Chinnaswamy to the fullest.

Having played just two Tests here earlier, Kohli scored 154 runs with a highest knock of 103 runs against New Zealand in 2012.

In the first Test at MCA Stadium, Pune, it was Steve O’Keefe whose heroics led Australia to the winning ways. O’Keefe claimed identical spell of 6 for 35 in both innings to wrap India for 105 and 107 in two innings respectively.

The Chinnaswamy wicket seems in perfect shape with a tinge of grass, a slow turner and flat pitch to assist batsmen to the fullest. However, the pitch is expected to break up in last two days.

Toss would play an important role here as whosoever bats first would look to exploit the early advantage.

So this time, batsmen will have an edge in first three days and later on the nature of the pitch would change. However, the main question remains which side would gain the maximum as it won’t end for a draw, most probably!

India’s head coach Anil Kumble, who has claimed 41 wickets here at his home ground including his 300th and 400th wickets, also agreed the Chinnaswamy wicket seems result-oriented.

“I’ve grown up playing on this ground. It’s generally been a good batting surface and yeah I am sure it will be a result wicket. That’s exactly what we want in a Test match… you want results. It’s always a good batting wicket,” Kumble said during the pre-match press conference on Thursday.

India’s batting line-up seems strong enough on paper to mark an impression. Despite having witnessed a batting collapse in the first Test, Kohli will probably go with an unchanged batting line-up.

However, in the bowling attack, Hardik Pandya may make his cut due to his all-round skills. On a batting surface like Chinnaswamy, a pinch-hitter like Pandya may contribute to impose pressure on the opposition.

Arguably Karun Nair, who scored a triple century on his second Test appearance, would miss the second Test, hinted the Indian coach. “He (Ajinkya Rahane) has been successful over the last couple of years. There’s no question about dropping him. It’s unfortunate that Karun Nair missed out after he scored that triple hundred, but it’s all for the team composition,” he said.

Steve Smith-led Australia would probably go with an unchanged squad, though with a unique plan to keep the winning momentum intact.

India Probable XI: Virat Kohli (C), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, KL Rahul, Wriddhiman Saha (WK), Ishant Sharma, Murali Vijay, Jayant Yadav/Hardik Pandya, Umesh Yadav

Australia Probable XI: Matt Renshaw, David Warner, Steve Smith (C), Shaun Marsh, Peter Handscomb, Mitchell Marsh, Matthew Wade (WK), Mitchell Starc, Steve O'Keefe, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.

Unsettled property disputes with erstwhile royal families continue to haunt the government of Rajasthan, seven decades after the former princely states were absorbed in the Indian republic. A question on such disputed properties raised by Independent MLA Hanuman Beniwal recently created chaos in the assembly. The answer to his question, was however, denied on technical grounds.

"Many of these cases are under legal consideration and as per assembly rules such cases cannot be discussed at the assembly," said parliamentary affairs minister Rajendra Rathore. However, this did not satisfy members seeking information. They questioned the government on the Jaipur Development Authority’s attempt to attach a luxury hotel under possession of a former Jaipur royal family. "The government might not discuss the case but can brief the house on actions taken by the government" said an MLA from Sanganer.

Meanwhile, outside the assembly, Beniwal was more blatant in his attack, "The present government extends undue benefit and unfair settlement of such properties. A Khanna committee was constituted to resolve the issue, however the government wants to trade on it instead. They must provide us with details," he said.

There are seven cases of property disputes under consideration of Rajasthan High Court and 18 cases have been pending in other courts. These properties are not only worth several hundred crores but also are of immense heritage value. The erstwhile Jaipur royal family and loyalist had protested against the state government when JDA attempted to take over one of the properties. They have also alleged that such actions were taken on the instructions of the government to put pressure on the royal family.

The Supreme Court on Friday refused to urgently hear a Public-Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking independent probe into alleged suicide of former Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Kalikho Pul.

“SC refused urgent hearing of a PIL seeking independent probe into the alleged suicide of former Arunachal CM Kalikho Pul,” reports stated.

Kalikho Pul was found hanging from a ceiling fan. The 47-year-old leader allegedly committed suicide on August 9, 2016 at his official residence.

A 60-page suicide note, written by Pul, was also recovered by the Arunachal Police.

Bringing down the Congress government led by Chief Minister Nabam Tuki, Pul had become Arunachal Pradesh chief minister on February 19, 2016. He along with 29 MLAs had defected to the People's Party of Arunachal Pradesh (PPA) to form a new government.

However, the Supreme Court on July 13, 2016, reinstated the Tuki government, following which Pul and his supporters returned to the Congress and supported Pema Khandu as the chief minister.

Vice President Mike Pence used a private email account to conduct public business as Indiana's governor, according to public records obtained by the Indianapolis Star.

The newspaper reported on Thursday that emails provided through a public records request show that Pence communicated with advisers through his personal AOL account on homeland security matters and security at the governor's residence during his four years as governor.

The governor also faced email security issues. Pence's AOL account was subjected to a phishing scheme last spring, before he was chosen by Donald Trump to join the GOP presidential ticket. Pence's contacts were sent an email falsely claiming that the governor and his wife were stranded in the Philippines and needed money.

The governor moved to a different AOL account with additional security measures, Pence spokesman Marc Lotter said, but has since stopped using the new personal account since he was sworn-in as vice president.

Lotter said Pence "maintained a state email account and a personal email account" like previous governors in the state.

At the end of his term Pence directed outside counsel to review all of his communications to ensure that state-related emails were transferred and properly archived by the state, the spokesman said.

As Trump's running mate, Pence frequently criticized rival Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server as President Barack Obama's secretary of state, accusing her of purposely keeping her emails out of public reach and shielding her from scrutiny.

Lotter said "the comparison is absurd" because Clinton had set up a private server in her home at the start of her tenure at the State Department and, unlike Clinton, Pence did not handle any classified material as Indiana's governor.

The newspaper reported that the office of Pence's successor, Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb, released more than 30 pages from Pence's AOL account, but declined to release an unspecified number of emails because they were considered confidential.

Public officials are not barred from using personal email accounts under Indiana law, but the law is interpreted to mean that any official business conducted on private email must be retained to comply with public record laws.

The state requires all records pertaining to state business to be retained and available for public information requests. Emails involving state email accounts are captured on the state's servers, but any emails that Pence may have sent from his AOL account to another private account would need to be retained.

At the end of his term, Pence hired the Indianapolis law firm of Barnes & Thornburg to conduct a review of all of his communications and that review is still ongoing, Lotter said.

Any correspondence between Pence's AOL account and any aides using a state email account would have been automatically archived, he said.

Hollywood legend Jane Fonda has revealed that she was raped and sexually abused when she was a child.

The 79-year-old star, in an interview with actress Brie Larson for Net-a-Porter's The Edit, explained that she often felt "diminished" with the men in her life, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

"I've been raped, I've been sexually abused as a child and I've been fired because I wouldn't sleep with my boss and I always thought it was my fault; that I didn't do or say the right thing," Fonda told Larson, who has been a vocal advocate for abuse.

The Oscar-winning actress touched upon the power of the word 'No' by saying, "Unlike you, Brie, it took me 60 years to learn how to say no… If anyone offered me anything I would say yes. I took parts I wasn't right for and I was taken advantage of." 

Earlier at an event in 2014, Fonda revealed her mother, Frances Ford Seymour was sexually abused as a child before committing suicide when the actress was just 12.