Investment 101: Understanding the Basics of Finance

An ex-serviceman from Kerala was tragically killed in Khartoum on Saturday when he was struck by stray bullets during the conflict between the country’s army and paramilitary forces in Sudan’s capital city. The victim, identified as Albert Augustine, 48, hails from Nellippara village in Kannur district. He worked as a security manager with a company in Sudan. A fellow Keralite living in Albert’s neighborhood in Sudan informed his family in Kannur about the incident.

External Affairs Minister Jaishankar expressed deep sorrow over the loss of the Indian national in Sudan. According to K M Joseph, the president of Alakode village panchayat, Albert was hit by a bullet while opening a window at his home. Joseph mentioned that Albert retired from the Indian Army six years ago and moved to Sudan last year to work as a security chief. His wife and daughter had recently joined him for a short vacation.

Joseph added that due to heavy gunfire, locals were unable to reach the place where Albert was shot. Albert was trying to call his son in the UK when he was hit by the bullet. Reports confirmed that Mr. Albert Augustine, an Indian national working for a company in Sudan, succumbed to his injuries after being hit by a stray bullet.

The Indian embassy is coordinating with the family and medical authorities for further arrangements. Sybella, Albert’s wife, sent an audio clip to her family in Kannur, pleading for help as they were stranded without assistance. NORKA ROOTS officials stated that they have not received any official communication regarding the incident.

The Indian embassy in Khartoum confirmed that Albert Augustine was employed by a company in Sudan. External Affairs Minister Jaishankar expressed condolences over the situation in Khartoum, emphasizing that India will closely monitor the developments in the country.

Sudan’s military seized power in a coup in October 2021 and has been governing through a sovereign council since. Tensions have arisen between the Army and paramilitary forces regarding the transition to a civilian government.

India’s Uma Sekhar has been elected to the governing council of the Rome-based International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) in a competitive election that featured 32 candidates from countries such as the US, China, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and France. The UNIDROIT is an independent intergovernmental organization that focuses on various legal issues, including the modernization of commercial and private laws. Uma Sekhar’s victory was described as historic, as she received an impressive 45 out of 59 votes in the first round of elections held in Rome. To be elected to the Governing Council, candidates needed at least 21 votes. India will now hold a position on the council from 2024 to 2028. The council consists of 25 positions held by legal experts. In the recent election, there were 32 candidates from various countries, with candidates from Russia, the US, and China failing to secure positions. The main objective of UNIDROIT is to study the needs and methods for modernizing, harmonizing, and coordinating private and commercial laws among states and groups of states, as well as formulating uniform laws to achieve these goals.

The Indian Embassy did not contact stranded Indian students in Kharkiv, Ukraine, as claimed by the father of a Karnataka native studying medicine there. Naveen Shekarappa Gyanagoudar from the district was killed while trying to get food, according to his uncle Ujjanagouda.

The news of Naveen’s death in Kharkiv spread sorrow in Chalageri, with many people coming to console the grieving family. Naveen was a fourth-year student at Kharkiv medical college.

Ujjanagouda mentioned that Naveen and other students from Karnataka were stuck in a bunker in Kharkiv. He went out in the morning to exchange currency and get food when he was killed by shelling.

When Naveen called his father on Tuesday, he mentioned the lack of food and water in the bunker. Chief Minister reached out to Gyanagoudar to express his condolences and promised to assist in repatriating Naveen’s body to India.

Gyanagoudar informed the Chief Minister that Naveen used to call him multiple times a day. Bommai assured him of his efforts to bring back Naveen’s body and his coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs officials.

The Varanasi District and Sessions Court will announce its decision on Monday regarding the validity of civil lawsuits disputing the ownership of the Gyanvapi mosque and its surrounding land. Five Hindu women have filed petitions to worship Maa Shringar Gauri on the outer wall of the mosque complex near the Kashi Vishwanath temple. The Supreme Court, acknowledging the complexity of the issues in the case, transferred the dispute from the Civil Judge to the District Judge in Varanasi on May 20. The Hindu side claims the mosque was built on a temple site, while the Muslim side argues it was built on Wakf land protected by the Places of Worship Act. District Judge AK Vishvesha began hearing the case in June, with no media allowed to witness the proceedings. In July, the Supreme Court decided to wait for the Varanasi district court’s ruling on the mosque committee’s objections before intervening, setting a new hearing date for October 20. The bench, consisting of Justices D Y Chandrachud, Surya Kant, and PS Narasimha, stated that all arguments must first be presented before the district court, as the Anjuman Intezamia contested the survey of the Gyanvapi complex in Varanasi.

A diplomatic dispute arose between India and Canada on Tuesday when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggested a potential connection between the Indian government and the killing of a Canadian citizen in Canada earlier this year. This led to the expulsion of a senior Indian diplomat from Canada. In response, India expelled a senior Canadian diplomat from Delhi, rejecting the allegations as “absurd” and “motivated”.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar, 46, the head of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara Sahib in Surrey, Canada, was shot by two unidentified men outside the gurdwara in June. Nijjar was the chief of the separatist organization Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF). The NIA had announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for information leading to his arrest.

“Canadian security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the Government of India and the killing of a Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar,” Trudeau said in a speech in the House of Commons on Monday. He also raised the issue with other world leaders at the G20 summit.

Canada expressed its concerns about Nijjar’s death to high-level security and intelligence agencies in India and also to the US President and UK Prime Minister. Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly ordered the expulsion of a senior Indian diplomat, and in retaliation, India summoned the Canadian High Commissioner to India and informed him of the decision to expel a senior Canadian diplomat.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the decision reflects the Centre’s growing concern over the interference of Canadian diplomats in India’s internal matters and their involvement in anti-India activities. It also rejected Trudeau’s remarks and urged the Canadian government to take prompt and effective legal action against all anti-India elements operating from their soil.

Trudeau later said he was not looking to provoke India or escalate tensions, but urged New Delhi to take Nijjar’s killing with the utmost seriousness. The strained India-Canada ties have led to a pause in negotiations on a bilateral free trade agreement.

The MEA had expressed strong concerns about continuing anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada following a meeting between Modi and Trudeau on the sidelines of the G20 Summit. Trudeau had responded by defending freedom of expression and peaceful protest, while emphasizing the actions of a few do not represent the entire community or Canada.

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To accommodate the extra influx of passengers, Eastern Railway has decided to extend the operation of the Guwahati-Kolkata special train. The special train, numbered 02518, will continue its bi-weekly service between Guwahati and Kolkata until January 28, 2023, as per an official announcement.

The train will depart from Guwahati at 9 pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays, arriving in Kolkata at 3 pm on Thursdays and Sundays. Similarly, it will leave Kolkata at 9:40 pm on Thursdays and Sundays, reaching Guwahati at 3:55 pm on Fridays and Mondays.

Passengers can book tickets online or offline, but tatkal (emergency) bookings are not allowed and an additional charge will be applied.

The Gyanvapi mosque committee filed a petition in the Allahabad High Court on Thursday, challenging the Varanasi district court’s order. The district court had directed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to conduct a scientific survey of the mosque to determine whether the current structure was built over a pre-existing Hindu temple.

Chief Justice Pritinker Diwaker, who presided over the case, announced that the survey would not proceed until the High Court issues its ruling on August 3.

Senior Advocate SFA Naqvi, representing the Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee, caretakers of the Gyanvapi mosque, stated that the survey of the mosque complex would be suspended until the High Court’s decision is made on August 3.

The mosque committee argued in the High Court that the survey should be conducted later in the case after both parties present evidence, as excavation work could harm the structural integrity of the Gyanvapi mosque.

Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, representing four women seeking the survey, argued that the mosque’s western wall actually belonged to a Hindu temple. He cited last year’s survey findings and defended the district court’s decision to conduct a survey.

The Varanasi court had ordered the ASI to conduct a scientific investigation of the mosque premises to determine if it was built on a Hindu temple’s structure. The ASI was also directed to use Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) below the domes of the building.

The Supreme Court temporarily halted the Varanasi court’s order until July 26, allowing the mosque committee to challenge it in the High Court.

(Note: The text has been edited for spelling, grammar, clarity, conciseness, and readability while retaining the original meaning.)

India and the US are working together to establish a strong, peaceful, and harmonious global community, stated Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

“When we celebrate diversity and inclusiveness, we share many positive thoughts,” the finance minister remarked.

The minister addressed Indian Americans at an event organized by the Indian Embassy to celebrate the country’s diversity.

“We are building a foundation for a strong, peaceful, and harmonious global community together. The contribution of the Indian diaspora to the US is crucial,” she emphasized.

Sitharaman noted that differences exist in India between regions, people, and languages.

The minister highlighted that India’s digital achievements are due to platforms available in various languages, including those recognized by the Constitution.

Sitharaman explained that every diversity-related issue has been turned into an advantage in building modern India.

“I hope the relationship between the US and India continues to grow stronger,” the finance minister said at the event, which was also attended by US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and other officials.