Apple users spent a record $300 million on purchasing or downloading apps and games from App Store on January 1 – the biggest ever since App Store’s launch in July 2008.

During the week starting on Christmas Eve, customers spent over $890 million in purchases or downloaded apps in that seven-day period, the Cupertino-based iPhone maker said on Friday.

“We are thrilled with the reaction to the new App Store and to see so many customers discovering and enjoying new apps and games,” said Phil Schiller, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing.

“In 2017 alone, iOS developers earned $26.5 billion a” more than a 30 percent increase over 2016,” Schiller added.

Since the App Store’s launch, iOS developers have earned over $86 billion. Pokemon GO went back to the top of the App Store charts on December 21 with the introduction of new Augmented Reality (AR) features, built on Apple’s ARKit framework for more detailed and realistic gameplay.

“Customers are now enjoying close to 2,000 ARKit-enabled apps spanning every category on the App Store,” Apple said.

Among the most popular AR titles are games such as “CSR Racing 2”, “Stack AR” and “Kings of Pool”; shopping apps like Amazon and Wayfair; education apps including “Night Sky” and “Thomas & Friends Minis”; and social media apps including Pitu and Snapchat.

In a bid to make 4G smartphones affordable to consumers, telecom services provider Bharti Airtel and Vodafone on Thursday announced cashback offers worth up to Rs. 1,500 on Samsung’s J series devices.

“Four models from Samsung’s Galaxy J-series including J2 (2017), J5 Prime, J7 Prime and J7 Pro will be available with cashback offers, bringing down their effective prices,” Airtel said in a statement.

Samsung Galaxy J2 (2017) will now be available for Rs. 5,490 (earlier price Rs. 6,990), J5 Prime will cost Rs. 10,490 (earlier price Rs. 11,990), J7 Prime will cost Rs. 12,400 (earlier price Rs. 13,900) while J7 Pro will be available at Rs. 18,400 (earlier price Rs. 19,900).

The cashback amount will be given to users over a period of 24 months.

“Users who make recharges worth Rs. 2,500 over a period of 12 months, will be eligible for the first cashback of Rs. 300,” Airtel added.

These devices will come bundled with Airtel’s recharge pack worth Rs. 199 that offers 1GB data per day and unlimited calling.

Meanwhile, Vodafone also tied up with Samsung and announced a cashback offer worth Rs. 1,500 on Galaxy J2 Pro, Galaxy J7 Nxt and Galaxy J7 Max smartphones.

“Prepaid customers have to simply recharge with Rs. 198 per month for a period of 24 months. Postpaid users can opt for any Vodafone “Red Plan” to become eligible for a cashback of Rs. 600 after first 12 months. After another 12 months, they will get a cashback of Rs. 900 in their Vodafone M-Pesa wallets,” Vodafone said in a statement.

A former US Marine suspected of plotting a Christmas holiday terror attack on a popular San Francisco tourist destination was indicted by a grand jury, the media reported.

Everitt Aaron Jameson, 26, of Modesto, California, was indicted on Thursday on one count each of attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organisation and distribution of information relating to destructive devices, reports CNN.

Jameson said he wanted to use pipe bombs to “funnel people into an area in order to shoot them” at Pier 39, according to the federal indictment. He was arrested on December 22.

Jameson was mentally ill and did not have the means to carry out the attack, said public defender Charles Lee.

According to court documents, Jameson said Christmas Day “was the perfect day to commit the attack”, which would be styled after the October 31, 2017, attack in New York City in which a man killed eight people when he drove a truck down a bike lane.

He expressed loyalty to the Islamic State terror group and its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and offered to donate money and contribute his firearms skills.

Jameson is being held in the Fresno County jail without bail pending his trial.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has set a March 31 deadline for construction of toilets in every home in the state and threatened to sit on a dharna and hunger strike is the target was not achieved.

“I will sit on a silent dharna. I will also observe a day-long fast. At least then you (people) will show some pity (on me) and build toilets,” Naidu said, terming sanitary latrine a fundamental and birthright.

He set March 31 as the deadline for all households in the state to have individual sanitary latrines (ISL) so as to make AP completely open defecation-free (ODF).

“My aim is to have a Swachh Andhra Pradesh, a healthy Andhra Pradesh. I have taken up this task as a spirited movement,” the Chief Minister said, addressing a `Janmabhoomi’ meeting at Itchapuram, bordering Odisha, late last evening.

`Janmabhoomi’ is a mass contact programme of the TDP- led government.

“If you don’t build a toilet…if you don’t have self- esteem I will come to your village. I will visit your house. I will spend day and night till you all build toilets and only then return to Amaravati (the state capital),” Naidu said, driving home the need for every household to have a lavatory.

“The state s prestige is being lost and your health is getting affected (due to lack of ISL). Let us all think of a Swachh Andhra Pradesh,” the Chief Minister said.

He exhorted people to undertake “aatmagourava deeksha” (resolve for self-respect) to achieve this.

Naidu said every caste and religion should propagate the need for toilets. “If the need for toilets is propagated in temples, churches and mosques, people’s belief will increase. It will contribute to the success of the programme.”

Of the 13 districts in the state, six had already achieved 100 per cent toilet construction, he said. “The other seven (four in Rayalaseema and three in north coastal Andhra) are yet to accomplish this.”

Referring in particular to Srikakulam district, where he addressed the gathering, the Chief Minister said of the 4,09,204 households only 1,71,624 had toilets now.

“By March 31, I should not hear that there is any village or a house without a toilet. If there is no space for building ISL, community toilets should be built,” the Chief Minister told the district collector.

After thrashing Islanders in the recently concluded Test series, Virat Kohli’s boys are confident about dominating the three-match series against South Africa in their back yard and if India manage to win the series, they will become the first to do so.

On Friday, Indian skipper Virat Kohli and head coach made some interesting changes in the playing 11 for the 1st Test match of the three-match series against South Africa in Cape Town. One of the major changes in Indian side was dropping vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane.

However, Indian fans are not happy with Ajinkya Rahane’s exclusion and took it to micro-blogging sit Twitter to express their anger.

Is there anyone who can tell me why Rahane is dropped while he have highest Overseas Avgr in Current INDIAN Team#IndvsSA #SAvIND

— Being Msdian (@BeingMsdian25) January 5, 2018

Dropping Ajinkya Rahane has to one of the most stupidest decisions. You don’t want to drop a player because he had one bad series, that crushes his confidence completely. Plus dropping a vice captain doesn’t seem right. #SAvIND #INDvSA @ESPNcricinfo

— Rahil Shaikh (@rahil4798) January 5, 2018

worst decision by Vurat kohli n team management. .Tjis is called dirty poltics in cricket match..

— mohitsingh (@mohitsi73250544) January 5, 2018

Rohit in playing 11 !!! Worst decisions !!

— Bala Murugan [Sibi] (@sibimurugan) January 5, 2018

I love Rohit more than anyone. But he shouldn’t play ahead of Rahane.

— RI (@Kahaanify) January 5, 2018

Choosing flat track bully of limited over’s cricket over a test specialist like Rahane who have scored runs in alien conditions. Only possible in India 😹😹 #SAvIND

— Sayan Basu (@SayanBasuTweets) January 5, 2018

This is so disappointing. How can you select Rohit Sharma over Ajinkya Rahane and that too in South Africa? @Pilluster #SAvIND
Even Pandya is playing. WTF?

— Piyush Gambhir (@nolovekumbkaran) January 5, 2018

Dropping Rahane in an overseas Test is as foolish as dropping Rohit in a home ODI. #SAvIND

— Rupin Kale (@Vegansportlover) January 5, 2018

South Africa: Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, Faf du Plessis, Quinton de Kock, Vernon Philander, Keshav Maharaj, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Kagiso Rabada.

India: Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha, Hardik Pandya, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday shook hands with former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh soon after the Rajya Sabha was adjourned sine die.

The cordial “handshake” came barely weeks after the duo had been locked in a bitter war of words over Gujarat elections.

As soon as Chairman M Venkiah Naidu adjourned the House sine die and ‘Vande Mataram’ was rendered, PM Modi was seen moving towards the opposition benches shaking hands with some members, including his predecessor.

PM Modi reached the seat of the former premier, shook hands with him for quite some time and spoke to him.

Among others with whom the Prime Minister was seen shaking hands were Deputy Chairman P J Kurien and veteran Congress leader Karan Singh, who was bid farewell by the Upper House on Friday as his tenure ends on January 27.

The show of cordiality between the incumbent and the former premier follows a rare row that broke out last month after PM Modi insinuated that Manmohan Singh had colluded with Pakistan in the Gujarat polls and latter hitting back saying a “dangerous precedent” was being set by such accusations and seeking apology.

Both the Houses had witnessed stormy protests over the issue with an adamant opposition seeking apology from Modi for his statement during Gujarat poll campaign and the BJP sticking to its point that PM would not apologise.

If you keep yourself updated with all things in Bollywood, you must be aware that tinsel celebs never disappoint us by their airport looks.

The style our celebs carry on airport is causal and simple, which is way far different from the attires we usually see them clicked.

Here is a roundup of the airport looks we spotted there!

Alia Bhatt

Alia Bhatt knows how to carry herself. She was seen in a white tank top which she paired with distressed blue skinny denims. The long powder-blue coat was paired with rugged boots . Also her red backpack was the style statement with the outfit.  Her airport style is always easy and comfy.

She accessorises it with her travel essentials like blue sunglasses, a backpack or sling and classic sneakers.

Alia’s dressing game is always on point as she can pull off even the most causal outfits in her own unique way.

Deepika Padukone

The gorgeous diva, Deepika Padukone, has managed to work out for her, and winning her airport look. The amazing thing about this actress is she knows how to make her each outfit underlying quality.

She layered a ripped Zara denim jacket over a basic white T-shirt by Purple Paisley and basic black leggings. Her outfit was a mix of cosy and chic, making it perfect for the unpredictable cabin temperatures.

The cocktail dive, finished off the look with studded black boots, a black Givenchy bag and tinted blue sunglasses.

Ranbir Kapoor

The Heartthrob and one of the most charming well-dressed celebrities pull off about any causal look in a stylish and comfy way.

Ranbir is mostly spotted in casual t-shirts and jeans. His easy and comfy look in blackish-blue sweatshirt paired with blue denims and beige color boots.

And of course his trendy black backpack can’t be missed.

He is mostly sported in ripped denims, denim jackets, printed shoes and more, the men of Bollywood were not to be outdone by any fellow travelers.

Ranveer Singh

Ranveer Singh, the trendsetter of Bollywood, makes the quirkiest of fashion choices. He has always impressed us with his bold fashion movies for the airport looks. He layers his outfit in a comfy way as a gentleman.

He recently opted a silver bomber jacket which he paired with a white hoddie and pants. The actor looked classy with white boots and rectangle glasses rounded off the look.

Sonam Kapoor

Sonam Kapoor the Fashionista never disappoints in her travel style. The look that played well was her dress paired with blue denim jacket.  She kept it simple with black high-heeled shoes, minimal make up, red lipstick and pair of sunglasses.

She knows how to carry herself. The Sling bags from Gucci, Balenciaga, Dolce & Gabanna, and most recently, Rheson are her trusty travel companions.

Kareena Kapoor Khan 

Kareena Kapoor Khan has hardly ever failed to impress us with her airport looks and this time too it’s no different.After getting back in shape post Taimur’s delivery, actress Kareena Kapoor Khan has been on a slaying her looks.

Kareena impressed us with her lovely fashion selection as she turned up in a printed shirt tucked in tailored black trousers. The diva teamed the outfit with a black neck warmer, oversized heavy-duty sunglasses and her favourite handbag.

Her minimal makeup with Bold red lips and a low bun rounded off took the hearts of my fans.

Time to update our airport looks when travelling next!

The Lok Sabha was on Friday adjourned sine die, bringing to an end the short Winter Session during which the House passed 12 bills, including the ‘triple talaq’ legislation that seeks to criminalise instant divorce in the Muslim community.

Announcing the adjournment, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said the session, which commenced on December 15, had 13 sittings spread over 61 hours and 48 minutes. The House lost about 15 hours due to disruptions and adjournments.

Important bills passed during the session included the central road fund (amendment) bill, the requisitioning and acquisition of immovable property bill, the national capital territory of Delhi laws (special provisions) second (amendment) bill and the goods and services tax (compensation to states) amendment bill.

A bill to hike the salary of high court and Supreme Court judges was also passed.

The Speaker said 16 bills were introduced by the government in the session.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was present in the House as she announced its adjournment after briefing members on the proceedings during the winter session.

The discussion on supplementary demands for grants, second and third batch for 2017-18, lasted for more than six hours before the demands were voted and the related appropriation bills passed, she said.

“In this session, while we lost over 14 hours and 51 minutes of time due to interruptions followed by forced adjournments, the House also sat late for 8 hours and 10 minutes to discuss various important issues,” she said.

During the session, 280 starred questions were listed, of which 45 questions were answered orally. Written replies to the remaining starred questions along with 3220 unstarred questions were tabled, she said.

About 198 matters of urgent public importance were raised by the members and by sitting late in the evening, while the members also raised 226 matters under rule 377, she said.

Standing committees presented 41 Reports to the House.

The Lok Sabha held a short duration discussion under rule 193 regarding natural calamities in various part of the country, with special reference to cyclone Ockhi in South India. The discussion was concluded with the reply by Home Minister, she said.

During the session, as many as 2255 papers were tabled by the ministers concerned, she said, adding that 98 Private Members’ bills on different subjects were also introduced.

The hit sitcom Game of Thrones will now return in 2019 after a year’s gap, say officials.

After long speculation about the air date of the eighth and final season, the HBO show is taking a year off and will return with the new season. It is still unclear at what point in 2019 the final season of Game of Thrones will air, reports variety.com.

Filming on the upcoming season began in October last year and will continue until mid-2018.

In October last year, actor Liam Cunningham, who plays Ser Davos Seaworth, revealed: “We’re filming right up until the summer.”

“When you think about it, up until last season we would have six months to do 10 episodes, so we are doing way more than that for six episodes. So that obviously will translate into longer episodes,” Cunningham said.

The budget for the final episodes of the hit series is much bigger than the standard for expensive TV episodes, with each episode costing $15 million apiece.

As the final season is expected to feature a lot of battle scenes, the show may require more special effects.

In a strongly worded report a Parliamentary Standing Committee has condemned the recent incident when a passenger was manhandled by Indigo staff, adding that airlines need to become passenger friendly and its staff should learn to say “please” and “Thank you”.

“The Committee noted that recently there were many incidents of manhandling, discourteous and rude behavior by airlines staff, both ground staff and cabin crew. Some of them were reported in the media and a large number of them went unreported. While narrating some of the incidents of misbehavior in airlines, especially in Indigo, majority of the Members opined that the attitude of airlines staff is very condescending, often unco-operative and on many occasions, downright rude.”

The 26-page report “Issues related to improving consumers’ satisfaction of airlines” was done after consulting with Civil Aviation officials and various industry stakeholders.

The Committee said that merely taking strictest action against the employees does not absolve the airline of its guilt of the incident.

“The Committee observes that the problems affecting the airlines are not personal; it is institutional. An institution like Indigo has to develop a consumer friendly approach in dealing with their passengers. The Committee believes that being a leader in market share, Indigo needs to look inward and find out the reasons for the discourteous attitude and rude and indifferent behavior of their employees, whether it is their cabin crew or the ground staff. The Committee emphasizes that the arrogant behavior of employees should stop.”

The Committee had detailed interaction with the CEOs of various airlines on various trainings imparted to different categories of officials and employees.

The Members of the Committee unanimously emphasized upon the need for providing proper training to the airlines staff especially on soft skills and passenger handling

“The crew should be trained to be more polite than saying ‘please’ or ‘thank you’. The passengers expect a civilized behavior from the cabin crew and the ground staff as the salaries to the cabin crew and ground staff are paid from the income earned from the passengers,” the report added.

Gujarat Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani on Friday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to speak up on violence against Dalits and called the Maharashtra government’s move to file a case against him on charges of making a provocative speech “childish”.

Addressing the media here, the MLA said he had neither visited the Koregaon-Bhima event site, where violence on January 1 left one person dead, nor made any inflammatory or provocative speech.

“If Dalits want to fight against exploitation, they will have to take to the streets. (But) how can the common man dare to speak up if an MLA from Dalit society is targeted?

“In cases of violence against Dalits, there has been no action. Modiji should clear his stand. Why is he maintaining silence?”

Police on Thursday filed an FIR against Mevani on charges of making provocative speeches that allegedly triggered caste tension between Dalits and Marathas.

He said the Maharashtra government’s decision to file cases against him may anger Dalits, leading to more violence. He made an appeal to the Dalits to maintain peace.

Mevani said he would hold a rally in Delhi on January 9.

Two Hindu grain traders were shot dead by robbers in Sindh province of Pakistan on Friday.

The victims were brothers and identified as Dileep Kumar and Chandra Maheshwari. The incident took place when they opened their shop in the grain market in Tharparkar district, the Express Tribune reported.

According to the police, the robbers came on a bike and tried to snatch the money from the brothers. When they resisted, the robbers shot them dead.

“Thar is the only peaceful place in Pakistan where no theft and dacoit incident take place. This is first such incident,” the daily quoted a resident as saying.

Traders shut their business in the Hindu-dominated areas in the district in protest. People blocked all main roads and staged sit-ins, the daily said.

A young couple who had secretly married but feared their families won’t accept the relationship committed suicide here on Friday, police said.

The body of Ojas Tiwari, 22, was found on the terrace of Surajdeep complex while Kajal Pandey, 20, was found in a pool of blood in the ground floor parking lot after jumping from a five-storey building.

Senior Superintendent of Police Deepak Kumar said Pandey’s uncle had lodged a complaint with police on Thursday midnight accusing Tiwari of eloping with Kajal.

Both were students and lived in the same locality in the old city area of Maqboolganj.

Police believe they had married secretly at a city court some time back but feared that their families would not accept the relationship.

A police officer told IANS that prima facie it appeared that the couple was in a death pact and there were no sign of any struggle or resistance.

A mobile phone without a SIM card was recovered from the crime scene

The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh is in the eye of the storm, yet again, after walls of the Haj House in state capital Lucknow were painted saffron.

Used as a transit place by Muslims on their way to pilgrimage in Mecca, the green-and-white exterior wall of the Haj House have been coated saffron as opposition parties and Muslim clerics slam the Yogi government, accusing it of hurting religious sentiments

However, Mohsin Raza, the minority affairs minister played down the controversy.

“There is no need for controversy in such things, saffron is an energetic and bright looking colour, the building looks beautiful,” Raza said.

“Opposition has no big issues against us so they raise inconsequential things,” he added.

After assuming office, Yogi Adityanath had got the chief minister’s office — Lal Bahadur Shastri Bhawan – in Lucknow painted saffron.

The painting of the Haj House comes in the wake of CM Yogi directing the madarsas in the state to cut down on the number of holidays on Muslim festivals and remain shut on Hindu festivals too.

Reigning King’s Cup holders FC Barcelona took a small step towards the defence of their title when they drew 1-1 away to Celta Vigo in the first leg of their last 16 round tie.

Barca coach Ernesto Valverde will have been pleased by the performance of B-team striker Jose Arnaiz, who scored the team’s goal in the 15th minute of the game on Thursday, reports Xinhua.

Pione Sisto equalised for Celta before half-time, but Barca could have won the game had Sergio Busquets’ long range shot not rebounded off the Celta crossbar.

Valverde, who rested Leo Messi, Luis Suarez and Andres Iniesta, will nevertheless be content with the return of Ousmane Dembele who sustained a calf injury three months ago, but came on as a 72nd minute substitute.

Gareth Bale scored a penalty as Real Madrid won 3-0 away to second division side Numancia, who ended the game with 10 men after defender Pape Diamanka was sent off for a bad challenge on Nacho Fernandez with half an hour remaining in the game.

Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane gave time to players such as Marcos Llorente, Theo Hernandez and Dani Ceballos, but it wasn’t until Isco scored a second penalty in the last minute of the game that the result was secure and Borja Mayoral’s injury-time header assured the return leg will be little more than a formality.

A coach has been booked on charges of rape and also under the POSCO Act for allegedly attempting to rape two minor women athletes.

Superintendent of Police (city) Rohit Sajwan on Friday said, a case under the POCSO Act and for committing rape has been registered against the absconding coach Sahibe Alam.

According to police, a woman athlete alleged that Alam had molested her and attempted to rape her during a tournament in Meeraganj. When the athlete resisted, the coach started harassing her.

Another woman athlete also complained that during the monsoon marathon held in Nainital last month, Alam first showed porn films and then tried to rape her.

After returning from Nainital, the athlete narrated her plight to family members.

After this family members of both athletes lodged a complaint against the coach, and on the orders of SSP Bareilly Jogendra Kumar, a case under the POCSO Act and for committing rape was registered against the coach, police said.

The Indian Premier League player retention event 2018 was full of surprises. Virat Kohli became the most expansive player of the franchise and former Indian skipper MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina reunited with the yellow jersey. Amid all the surprising and shocking retentions, Mumbai Indians (MI) was seen as the team with most balanced retention players.

MI retained its skipper Rohit Sharma along with Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah. Earlier there were speculation doing round on the internet that MI might retain Krunal Pandya, but at the end, it decided to retain Jasprit instead of Krunal.

Meanwhile, just after the announcement, ‘Hit Man of Indian cricket’ Rohit Sharma took it to micro-blogging site Twitter to share his excitement and wrote, “Excited to be part of this wonderful franchise again. This team is what it is today because of its wonderful fans, people who work hard behind the scenes and its passionate owners. Along with @Jaspritbumrah93 and @hardikpandya7 I look forward to the season ahead @mipaltan.”

Excited to be part of this wonderful franchise again. This team is what it is today because of its wonderful fans, people who work hard behind the scenes and it’s passionate owners. Along with @Jaspritbumrah93 and @hardikpandya7 I look forward to the season ahead @mipaltan 😊

— Rohit Sharma (@ImRo45) January 4, 2018

Hardik Pandya, who rose to fame after his inning in the Champions Trophy finale against Pakistani in 2017, also shared his thought on Twitter and wrote, “Mumbai Indians is where I began my successful journey in cricket. I am privileged to continue being a part of the MI family. #CricketMeriJaan @mipaltan,” the 24-year-old tweeted.

Mumbai Indians is where I began my successful journey in cricket. I am privileged to continue being a part of the MI family. #CricketMeriJaan @mipaltan pic.x.com/hYlmnC9u2w

— hardik pandya (@hardikpandya7) January 4, 2018

The best is yet to come. Looking forward to represent this colour once again with utmost happiness! #ForeverBlue #CricketMeriJaan #MumbaiIndians. @mipaltan pic.x.com/Lv8ddPxQ5v

— Jasprit bumrah (@Jaspritbumrah93) January 4, 2018