The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), which represents 70 million traders, has filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the updated privacy policy of Facebook-owned messaging giant WhatsApp.

The petition comes with the prayer to direct WhatsApp to withdraw its new (updated) privacy policy which is encroaching upon various fundamental rights of the citizens granted by Constitution of India.

CAIT has also prayed that Union of India must frame guidelines to govern big technology companies like WhatsApp and frame policies which would protect the privacy of citizens and businesses.

“WhatsApp has adopted the approach of ‘my way or the highway’ which is arbitrary, unjustified, unconstitutional and cannot be accepted in a democratic country like India. WhatsApp has been fraudulently collecting personal user data,” CAIT National President B C Bhartia and Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal alleged in a statement.

The traders’ body said the petition highlights the difference of approach in EU (European Union) and India with respect to the privacy policy of WhatsApp and how the data of Indian users can be misused by big tech companies. The petition has been drafted by Advocate Abir Roy and settled and filed in Supreme Court by Advocate on Record Vivek Narayan Sharma.

Budget News:  unionbudget2021-2022

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Apple Inc. has begun early work on an iPhone with a foldable screen, a potential rival to similar devices from Samsung Electronics Co. and others, though it’s planning only minor changes for this year’s iPhone line.

The Cupertino, California-based company has developed prototype foldable screens for internal testing, but hasn’t solidified plans to actually launch a foldable iPhone. The development work hasn’t expanded beyond a display, meaning Apple doesn’t yet have full handset prototypes in its labs, according to a person familiar with the work, who asked not to be identified discussing private matters.

Like Samsung’s Galaxy Fold, the Motorola Razr reboot and other offerings from Chinese companies including Huawei Technologies Co., a foldable iPhone would let Apple make a device with a larger screen in a more pocketable package. Apple has internally discussed a number of foldable screen sizes, including one that unfolds to a similar size as the 6.7-inch display on the iPhone 12 Pro Max. Current foldable phones have screens that are from 6 and 8 inches unfolded.

The foldable Apple screens in testing, like those from Samsung, have a mostly invisible hinge with the electronics stationed behind the display, the person said. Other companies, including Microsoft Corp., have recently launched devices with visible hinges separating two distinct panels. An Apple spokeswoman declined to comment.

This would be a radical departure for Apple. Its pioneering touchable, all-screen smartphone is arguably the most successful consumer technology product in history, helping make Apple the world’s most valuable company. However, a foldable iPhone is likely years away or ultimately may never be introduced. The company is currently focused on launching its next-generation flagship iPhones and iPads later this year.

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Apple has yet again extended the free trial membership for the Apple TV+ service to customers till July 2021.

With the latest announcement, anybody with an Apple TV+ subscription that was set to expire from now until June will instead expire in July 2021, according to a report in 9to5mac.

“This means customers who took advantage of the ‘year free’ deal back when the service first launched will now be getting an additional 9 months of free access to Apple original shows and movies,” the report mentioned on Friday.

The first TV+ extension was announced in October and pushed the first wave of free trial renewals out to February.

The new extension means that anyone who didn’t already cancel their subscription will now be able to use it for free for six additional months, the report said.

Any current customers with free trials set to end in the February to June period will now see those subscription renewals pushed out to July. Similarly, customers with an annual subscription that expires between February and June will also get the same additional months of service at no additional charge, it added.

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The OPPO Reno 5 Pro 5G is set to launch in India on Monday. Chinese smartphone maker OPPO is hosting a virtual event at 12:30 pm that will livestream on its social media handles and YouTube channel. Successor to the Reno 4 Pro (review), the OPPO Reno 5 Pro 5G is touted to be a camera-centric smartphone with industry-first AI highlight video feature for enhanced video recording capability even in dim lit environments. Besides, the smartphone will India’s first powered by MediaTek Dimensity 1000+ system-on-chip.OPPO Reno 5 Pro 5G: Livestream details

The OPPO Reno 5 Pro 5G is set to launch in India on January 18 at 12:30 pm. OPPO is hosting a virtual event where the Chinese smartphone maker will launch the Reno 5 Pro 5G and Enco X wireless earbuds. The virtual event will livestream on OPPO’s social media handle and YouTube channel. You can also watch the livestream through the video embedded below.OPPO Reno 5 Pro 5G: Expected specifications

The Reno 5 Pro 5G will be powered by MediaTek Dimensity 1000+ system-on-chip. It will boot Android 11 operating system based ColorOS 11.1 user interface.

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Google has completed its USD 2.1 billion acquisition of fitness-gadget maker Fitbit, a deal that could help the internet company grow even stronger while US government regulators pursue an antitrust case aimed at undermining its power.

Thursday’s completion of the acquisition comes 14 months after Google announced a deal that immediately raised alarms.

Google makes most of its money by selling ads based on information it collects about its billions of users’ interests and whereabouts. Privacy watchdogs feared it might exploit Fitbit to peer even deeper into people’s lives.

But Google wound up entering a series of commitments in Europe and other parts of the world pledging it won’t use the health and fitness data from Fitbit’s 29 million users to sell more ads. It insists it is more interested in adding Fitbit to its expanding arsenal of internet-connected products, which include smartphones, laptops, speakers, cameras and thermostats.

This deal has always been about devices, not data, and we’ve been clear since the beginning that we will protect Fitbit users’ privacy,” Rick Osterloh, Google’s senior vice president of devices and services, wrote in a Thursday blog post.

Google is scooping up Fitbit a company that has sold about 120 million devices in 100 countries since its 2009 founding while it fights a series of lawsuits filed by the US Department of Justice and state attorneys general. The lawsuits allege Google abuses the power that it has amassed as the owner of the world’s most dominant search engine. The Justice Department’s lawsuit isn’t scheduled to go to trail until September 2023.

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The US government has blacklisted Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi Corp. and China’s third-largest national oil company for alleged military links, heaping pressure on Beijing in President Donald Trumps last week in office.

The Department of Defense added nine companies to its list of Chinese companies with military links, including Xiaomi and state-owned plane manufacturer Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China (Comac).

US investors will have to divest their stakes in Chinese companies on the military list by November this year, according to an executive order signed by Trump in November.

Xiaomi did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Xiaomi Corp. overtook Apple Inc. as the worlds No. 3 smartphone maker by sales in the third quarter of 2020, according to data by Gartner. Xiaomis market share has grown as Huaweis sales have suffered after it was blacklisted by the U.S. and its smartphones were cut off from essential services from Google.

Separately, the Commerce Department put China National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC) on the entity list, an economic blacklist that forbids U.S. firms from exporting or transferring technology with the companies named unless permission has been obtained from the U.S. government. The move comes after about 60 Chinese companies were added to the list in December, including drone maker DJI and semiconductor firm SMIC.

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Samsung is taking pre-orders for its flagship Galaxy S21 series smartphones in India. Consumers can pre-book the smartphones in the Galaxy S21 series on offline stores, including the Samsung’s exclusive stores, and online on Samsung India online store and e-commerce platforms. As part of the pre-booking offers, Samsung is bundling the Galaxy SmartTag free and Samsung E-Shop voucher of up to Rs 10,000 on all pre-orders. Additionally, as a special offer, Samsung is offering the Galaxy Watch Active 2 or a combo of Galaxy Buds+ and Travel Adapter on all pre-orders.

Besides, the company is offering p to Rs 10,000 cashback offer in partnership with HDFC Bank, and an additional upgrade bonus of up to Rs 5,000 if you trade-in your existing Samsung smartphone for any model in the Galaxy S21 series. Pre-booked orders will start to delivery from January 25, and the Galaxy S21 Series will go on sale in India on January 29.

Galaxy S21 Series: India pricing and colour options

Galaxy S21

8GB + 128GB: Rs 69,999 (Phantom Violet, White, Pink, Grey)

8GB + 256GB: Rs 73,999 (Phantom Violet, White, Grey)

Galaxy S21 Plus

8GB + 128GB: Rs 81,999 (Phantom Violet, Sliver, Black)

8GB + 256GB: Rs 85,999 (Phantom Violet, Sliver, Black)

Budget News:  unionbudget2021-2022

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The Budget session of Parliament will commence from January 29, with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman set to present the Union Budget on February 1.

The session will be held in two parts — from January 29 to February 15 and March 8 to April 8.

The 5th session of the 17th Lok Sabha will have 35 sittings — 11 in the first part and 24 in the second part.

President Ram Nath Kovind will address both Houses of Parliament — the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha — at 11 am on January 29.

Sitharaman will present the Union Budget at 11 am on February 1.

Parliament will adjourn on February 15 to enable various Standing Committees to consider the Demands for Grants of Ministries/Departments and prepare their reports, and reconvene on March 8. unionbudget2021-2022

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Social media platform Parler, which has gone dark after being cut off by major service providers that accused the app of failing to police violent content, may never get back online, said its CEO John Matze.

As a procession of business vendors severed ties with the two-year-old site following the storming of the US Capitol last week, Matze said in an interview with Reuters on Wednesday that he does not know when or if it will return.

“It could be never,” he said. “We don’t know yet.” The app said in a legal filing it has over 12 million users.

Matze said that Parler was talking to more than one cloud computing service but refused to disclose names, citing the likelihood of harassment for the companies involved. He said the best thing would be if Parler could get back on Amazon.

Parler on Monday filed a lawsuit against the company, which Amazon.com Inc said has no merit. Matze said the company was considering suing other vendors but declined to say more.

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The gem and jewellery industry has sought reduction in customs duty on gold to four per cent, withdrawal of tax collected at source (TCS), cut in import duty on polished precious and semi-precious gemstones, in the upcoming Union Budget 2021-22.

All India Gem and Jewellery Domestic Council (GJC) Chairman Ashish Pethe told PTI, “We urge the government to reduce the customs duty to 4 per cent from the current 12.5 per cent. If the tax rate is not kept at this level, it will encourage smuggling and encourage people to do unorganised business.”

He further urged the government to keep goods falling under HSN-71 (Harmonised System Nomenclature) out of the purview of TCS provisions as the amount of funds blocked in TCS is 6.67 times more than the ability to pay income tax, resulting in blockage of funds.

Pethe also said the facility of equated-montly instalment (EMI) should be extended to the gems and jewellery industry and to increase the cash purchase limit to Rs 1 lakh from the current Rs 10,000.

Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC)Chairman Colin Shah urged the government to reduce import duty on cut and polished precious and semi-precious gemstones to 2.5 per cent, from the current 7.5 per cent.

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