BHUBANESWAR l thursday l October 23, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l JEYPORE EDITION Gold records worst single-day plunge since 2013, falls over 6% After record rally of more than 70% so far this year, the yellow metal fell 6.3% on Tuesday, its biggest single-day fall in more than 12 years Profit booking, trade talks behind slump ANALYSTS WARN OF SHORT-TERM VOLATILITY The sharp fall in prices is attributed primarily to profit booking and a slew of positive news flows which have shaved the sheen off the safe-haven metal. A key factor is the upcoming meeting of US president Donald Trump and China’s Xi Jinping to iron out their trade differences. Other factors are a strong dollar and the likelihood of US shutdown ending | p10 ■ ■ Silver too registered a sharp fall of 7.8%—its worst since 2011—on Tuesday as the historic squeeze in the London market began to ease Analysts warn of more volatility in the short term as the market is likely to correct further. On whether the price of gold will fall below `1 lakh per 10 grams soon, one analyst said, it is difficult to predict `1,32,294 per 10 grams—the record price peak gold touched last Friday CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI Trump nuances stance on India’s Russian oil buy US prez says Modi isn’t going to buy much J aya n t h J a c o b @ New Delhi have no war with Pakistan and India. That was a very, very US President Donald Trump good thing,” Trump said. has softened his earlier asserThe Diwali call, initiated by tion that India would complete- Trump, was their third publicly ly stop buying Russian crude known conversation since midoil, saying after a Diwali phone September and comes amid oncall with Prime Minister Naren- going tensions in US–India reladra Modi that India tions, particularly “is not going to buy over Washington’s much oil from Rusdecision to impose sia”. It reflects a nusteep tariffs on key anced shift from his Indian exports. This previous claim that includes a 25% levy Modi had promised a linked to India’s confull halt to Russian tinued purchase of Modi unlikely imports, which Russian crude as to travel to was not corroborated Trump seeks to presMalaysia by the Indian sure Moscow amid Prime Minister Modi is the ongoing conflict government. unlikely to participate in Ukraine. Speaking to reportin the ASEAN Summit ers after the call, In his Oval Office in Malaysia scheduled remarks, Trump diTrump added that he for Oct 26–28, which is also spoke about expected to be attended aled back his earlier “let’s not have no by US President Donald stance: “He’s not gowars with Pakistan,” ing to buy much oil Trump, according to a claim refuted sourc- sources. While an official from Russia. He es here in Delhi. wants to see that war word on the level of Sources said “Pakiend as much as I do. India’s participation stan was not disSo they’ve cut it way is awaited, the prime cussed during the minister may address the back, and they’re phone conversation” summit virtually. India is continuing to cut it between the two lead- typically represented at way back.” ers. “I just spoke to the India-ASEAN Summit Modi, in a post on by the prime minister, X responded warmly your prime minister . but there have been today. Had a great “Thank you, Presiexceptions conversation. We dent Trump, for your talked about trade... phone call and warm He’s very interested Diwali greetings. On in that. Although we did talk a this festival of lights, may our little while ago about let’s have two great democracies continue no wars with Pakistan. The fact to illuminate the world with that trade was involved, I was hope and stand united against able to talk about that. And we terrorism in all its forms.” CBI to probe SI recruitment scam E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Bhubaneswar Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday decided to hand over the investigation of the sub-inspector (SI) of police recruitment scam to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) given the inter-state links of the case. Currently, the case is being probed by the Crime Branch (CB). The ongoing investigation suggested that roots of the corruption may extend beyond Odisha to states like Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal, with possible involvement of an inter-state organised criminal gang. “Considering the complexity and interstate ramifications of the corruption, the chief minister has decided to hand over the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation to ensure a thorough probe and exemplary punishment for those involved,” said the chief minister’s of fice (CMO). The state government is also actively considering to set up a permanent commission for the recruitment of personnel in police and oth- Considering the complexity and er uniformed services to en- inter-state sure transparency and fair- ramifications of ness in the process, said the the corruption, CMO. the chief So far, the CB has arrested minister has 121 people, including aspira- decided to hand ing candidates, in connec- over the tion with the case. The ex- investigation to amination, conducted by the the CBI to ensure a thorough probe Odisha Police Recruitment and exemplary Board, was awarded to ITI punishment for Limited, a central PSU based those involved out of Kolkata. The publicsector undertaking sub-con- CMO tracted the work to Bhubaneswar-based Silicon Techlab and key tasks were given to Panchsoft Technologies headed by Sankar Prusty Sources said the CB recent. ly submitted a report to the state government mentioning that Sankar was the mastermind of SI recruitment scam. The agency’s officers have also initiated the process to issue a lookout circular against him through the CBI to ensure he is not able to flee the country . Talks with govt constructive, says Leh team after meeting m u k e s h r a n j a n @ New Delhi express read Jt secy, DGP can order removal of SM content New Delhi: Starting November 1, only senior officials of the rank of joint secretaries or directors general of police can issue orders to social media platforms to remove unlawful content. Besides, every such takedown order will be subject to a monthly review | P5 6L Amazon jobs on the line as robots step in Chennai : Amazon.com plans to replace more than 6,00,000 employees with robots over the next decade in the US, The New York Times reported on Tuesday, citing internal documents. The company is one of the largest employers in the US, with nearly 1.2 million hires | P5 IN the first sign of a thaw, leaders of Ladakh, where four people died in police firing during the recent pro-statehood protests, met with officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Wednesday for sub-committee level talks. A nine‑member Ladakh delegation comprising three members each from the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), along with Ladakh MP Mohd Haneefa Jan, met MHA officials for over two hours. Jan said discussions primarily revolved around four major issues—statehood, Sixth Schedule inclusion, reservation, and the revocation of the National Security Act (NSA) invoked against climate activist Sonam Wangchuk. The activist is currently lodged in Jodhpur jail. The NSA empowers the Centre and states to detain individuals to prevent them from acting in a manner “prejudicial to the defence of India”. The maximum detention period under the stringent law is 12 months, though it can be revoked earlier. Jan described the atmosphere as “positive and constructive,” with both sides agreeing to sustain engagement to secure Ladakh’s identity and equitable representation. The delegation reiterated that statehood and Sixth Schedule safeguards were vital to protect the region’s land, jobs, and cultural rights. On the reservation front, File photo ‘issue can’t be resolved in one or two meetings’ KDA member Sajjad Hussain Kargili said their demand for the past six years has been democracy in Ladakh. “This issue cannot be resolved in one or two meetings. We discussed the implementation of a reservation policy in Ladakh. among other things” both sides decided to hold further deliberations to evolve a fair framework for all communities. KDA member Sajjad Hussain Kargili said another round of meetings would be held within two weeks. “Our demand for democracy in Ladakh continues. Statehood is the ultimate solution,” he said. Talks between the Centre, LAB and KDA had broken down after four protesters were killed and several injured in widespread violence in Leh on September 24. The invitation for the talks were made by the Centre on September 20. The last round of talks between the two sides was held in May . Former BJD MLA, ex-mayor among 12 held for Pitabasa Panda murder S i s i r Pa n i g r a h y/A s i s h M e h ta @ Berhampur/Bhubaneswar Seventeen days after senior advocate and BJP leader Pitabasa Panda was shot dead, police on Wednesday charged two prominent BJD leaders - former MLA of Berhampur Bikram Panda and ex-mayor Siba Shankar Dash - with murder, claiming it to be a killing over years of simmering political, financial and personal conflicts. A total of 12 persons were arrested for the sensational October 6 murder in Berhampur, close to the BJP leader’s house. All the accused were produced before a local court which remanded them to judicial custody for 14 days. As police made the revelations, security was beefed up across Berhampur. Currently, Bikram serves as Bikarm and Pitabasa had a rift when the former MLA switched from Congress to BJD in 2018 but the BJP leader did not follow him. Since then, Bikram felt Pitabasa targeted him time and again Saravana Vivek M, Berhampur SP BJD’s Ganjam district president. Another accused, Malaya Kumar Bisoyi is a sitting BJD corporator of Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BeMC). Addressing mediapersons, Berhampur SP Saravana Vivek M said that both Bikram and Siba Shankar conspired together to eliminate Pitabasa over years of hostility. Interestingly, Pitabasa and Bikram happened to be close friends since college days. The other accused in the case included Madan Mohan Dalei, Jogendra Raut, Kalucharan Bhuyan, Simanchala Naik, Rajendra Kumar Sahu, Bipin Swain, Chintu Pradhan along with Sishupal Kumar Paswan and Kundan Kumar. The SP said Malaya and Madan are old associates of Bikram and helped him with the murder plan. Chintu and Kurupatti Bhuyan who gunned down Pitabasa were promised `50 lakh for the contract. Kurupatti continues to be at large. Sarvana claimed that Bikarm and Pitabasa had a rift when the former MLA switched from Congress to BJD in 2018 but the BJP leader did not follow him. Since then, Bikram felt Pitabasa targeted him time and again, he Continued on P5 added.