PM Modi's Africa tour: Key agendas on the table

PM Modi's Africa tour: Key agendas on the table

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in South Africa on Friday as part of his five-day, four-nation Africa tour aimed at enhancing ties with those countries, particularly in the economic sphere.

The prime minister has already concluded the first leg of his tour in Mozambique. After South Africa, he will go to Tanzania and Kenya.

During his South Africa visit, Modi will meet President Jacob Zuma and also Cyril Ramaphosa, the deputy President.

"My Africa tour, aimed at enhancing ties between India & Africa will begin from Mozambique in a brief but key visit,"Modi tweeted ahead of his departure.

"My programmes in South Africa will span across Pretoria, Johannesburg, Durban & Pietermaritzburg," he added.

Here are the priorities of the PM's tour:

Ways to use 4G data while paying 3G rates

Ways to use 4G data while paying 3G rates

With mobile companies offering faster 4G data service at 3G rates, many customers are shifting to the newer technology. After all, who does not want more speed at the same price? But here’s a catch — faster speed means quicker usage of data packs.

However, just because 4G consumes more data, one does not have to stick with 3G to save on data consumption. Checking emails, sending and receiving messages over WhatsApp, checking Facebook and Twitter doesn’t eat much of your data. Usually, streaming media services like videos and games dries up a large chunk of data.

If you can change settings of your apps and proactively manage their data consumption, you can reduce your 4G bill. For example, if you go to YouTube app’s settings, you can choose to stream HD videos only when the phone is connected to Wi-Fi. Similarly, in video conference apps such as Skype, you can opt for lower quality video.Read more.

Dhaka attack: IS or JmB? Experts weigh in

Dhaka attack: IS or JmB? Experts weigh in

By the time the dust settled in Dhaka’s diplomatic quarter on Saturday, the Islamic State (IS) had already claimed responsibility for the gruesome attack on the Holey Artisan Bakery — an establishment which was reportedly popular with the city’s expat community.

In the wake of the carnage, the Bangladesh government was quick to deny the IS’ claimed involvement in the attack, which left 20 hostages and six terrorists dead.

Instead, the country’s home minister, Asaduzzaman Khan, categorically denied any presence of the IS or Al-Qaeda on Bangladeshi soil and held “home-grown terrorists” responsible for the attack.

In particular, the minister blamed the Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JmB) for the attack.

Bangladesh Prime Minister’s adviser on international affairs Gowher Rizvi also spoke along similar lines, laying the blame squarely at the feet of the JmB.

Despite these statements, chilling photographs of five of the seven attackers emerged, showing the smiling young men holding assault rifles, with the IS flag in the background. Read more.

Coca-Cola India gets 'results-oriented' CA as its first woman CFO

Coca-Cola India gets 'results-oriented' CA as its first woman CFO

Sarvita Sethi, a chartered accountant with more than 15 years of experience in corporate finance, is set to become the first woman chief financial officer of the country’s largest beverage maker — Coca-Cola India. Sethi, in her forties, is currently based out of Athens, Greece and is expected to take over from Sanjeev Kumar any time soon. Kumar is currently heading the financial operations for India and South West Asia for the beverages maker.

Sethi, who had worked for Sainsbury's and Viacom in London prior to joining Coca-Cola in 2008, is known for her “results-oriented” mindset and her expertise in financial operations of the fast moving consumer goods firms. In fact, her journey in the professional world began as an audit manager for the global audit and consultancy firm PricewaterhouseCooper (PwC) in London, the UK, in 1996, which has given her an eye for accuracy and financial scrutiny, it is learned. Prior to joining the professional world, Sethi went to City University London to successfully finish her Bachelor in Science degree in Economics and Accountancy in 1995.

Her role as a commercial financial officer at the global QSR (Quick Service Restaurants) chain Yum! Restaurants International helped her learn crucial insights about the food industry. She worked for a little more than two years for Yum! In Surrey in the United Kingdom, immediately before joining The Coca-Cola Company as Commercial Finance Director for Great Britain and Ireland regions. Read more.

Employees grievances on 7th CPC to be referred to high-level panel

Employees grievances on 7th CPC to be referred to high-level panel

The government on Wednesday said the concerns raised by central government employees’ unions on the recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission would be examined by a high-level committee of secretaries.

Representatives from various unions met Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Rail Minister Suresh Prabhu on June 30. “They had requested that certain issues related to the pay scales and other recommendations of the Pay Commission to be raised before a committee of secretaries looking into grievances of employees,” a statement said.

“The ministers assured the union leaders that the issues raised by them would be considered by a high level committee,” it said. Read more.

PMO stamp in Cabinet rejig

PMO stamp in Cabinet rejig

Among many political, administrative and ideological messages in the changes in the council of ministers that Prime Minister Narendra Modi carried out, the most important was the unambiguous stamp of his office.

The sweep of influence of the Prime Minister’s Office in Tuesday’s rejig was rarely witnessed in the past three decades.

In expanding this influence of the central government, the PM was assisted by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Amit Shah.

The changes in the Cabinet worked at several levels.

They were definitely done with an eye on electoral compulsions — Dalits and Other Backward Classes found increased representation. New ministers were inducted from states that are either electorally crucial for the BJP (Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Gujarat) or are going to polls in the near future (Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh).

Also, alliance building was kept in mind. Allies like Republican Party of India (A)’s Ramdas Athawale and Apna Dal’s Anupriya Patel were made ministers.

There was an effort for more efficient political management, not only to reach out to Opposition parties but other stakeholders, like the media, as well as assuage different camps within the BJP.

A straight-talking M Venkaiah Naidu was made in charge of the information and broadcasting ministry, while Arun Jaitley, seen as a liberal voice in the Sangh Parivar and the party, was divested of that portfolio. Read more.

SC admits plea challenging Salman Khan's acquittal in hit and run case

SC admits plea challenging Salman Khan's acquittal in hit and run case

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan wanted the Supreme Court to hear the 2002 hit-and-run case against him on merit, his lawyer said on Tuesday.

"The honourable Supreme Court had on the last date asked us whether Salman would consent to the Supreme Court hearing the case on merits. On Tuesday, we informed the honourable Supreme Court that we had taken instructions from our client Salman Khan and the matter should be heard on merits."

"Accordingly, leave is granted and the final hearing will take place in due course," Salman's lawyer Anand Desai, from DSK Legal, said in a statement to IANS.(more)