BHUBANESWAR l thursday l October 23, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l late CITY 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 war with Pakistan and India. That was a very, very good US President Donald Trump 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 oil imtinued purchase of Modi unlikely ports from Russia, Russian crude as to travel to which was not corTrump seeks to presMalaysia roborated by the Insure Moscow amid Prime Minister Modi is the ongoing conflict dian 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 wars by US President Donald stance: “He’s not gowith Pakistan,” a ing to buy much oil Trump, according to claim sources refuted sources. While an official from Russia. He here in Delhi. Sourcwants to see that war word on the level of es said “Pakistan was end as much as I do. India’s participation not discussed during So they’ve cut it way is awaited, the prime the phone conversa- minister may address the back, and they’re tion” between the summit virtually. India is continuing to cut it two leaders. “I just typically represented at way back.” spoke to your prime the India-ASEAN Summit Modi, in a post on by the prime minister, X responded warmly minister today Had a . . but there have been great conversation. “Thank you, Presiexceptions We talked about dent Trump, for your trade... He’s very inphone call and warm terested in that. AlDiwali greetings. On though we did talk a little while this festival of lights, may our ago about let’s have no wars two great democracies continue with Pakistan. The fact that to illuminate the world with trade was involved, I was able to hope and stand united against talk about that. And we have no terrorism in all its forms.” CBI to probe SI Former BJD MLA, ex-mayor among recruitment scam 12 held for Pitabasa Panda murder 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 sub-inspector (SI) of police recruitment scam probe 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 office (CMO). The state government is also actively considering to set up a permanent commission for the recruitment of personnel in police and other uniformed services to ensure transparency and fair- Considering the complexity and ness in the process, said the inter-state CMO. ramifications of So far, the CB has arrested the corruption, 121 people, including aspira- the chief ing candidates, in connec- minister has tion with the case. The ex- decided to hand amination, conducted by the over the Odisha Police Recruitment investigation to Board, was awarded to ITI the CBI to ensure a thorough probe Limited, a central PSU based and exemplary out of Kolkata. The public- punishment for sector undertaking sub-con- those involved tracted the work to Bhubaneswar-based Silicon CMO Techlab and key tasks were given to Panchsoft Technologies headed by Sankar Prusty Sources said the CB recently . 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 . 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 Bikram 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.