NEW DELHI, Jun 4: Gold prices climbed Rs 700 to Rs 1.60 lakh per 10 grams in the national capital on Thursday amid firm trend in the global markets.
According to the All India Sarafa Association, the yellow metal of 99.9 per cent purity appreciated Rs 700 to Rs 1,60,300 per 10 grams (inclusive of all taxes) from Wednesday’s closing level of Rs 1,59,600 per 10 grams.
However, silver prices fell sharply by Rs 3,800 to Rs 2,65,700 per kilogram (inclusive of all taxes). The white metal had closed at Rs 2,69,500 per kg in the previous session.
In the international markets, spot gold gained nearly 1 per cent to quote at USD 4,471.79 per ounce, and silver rose 1.14 per cent to USD 73.56 per ounce. (PTI )
Gold climbs Rs 700 to Rs 1.6 lakh/10g in Delhi
Process for 4 lanning of Samba-Mansar–Udhampur NH begins, tenders for consultancy floated
Construction of Highway will ease travel: Dr Jitendra
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, June 4: The process for four lanning of much talked about 50 kms strategic Samba-Mansar-Udhampur has started with National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) issuing bids for hiring a consultancy for the same.
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The Highway with a total length of 50 kilometres will connect Samba, Mansar and Udhampur. The Highway will be a significant boost to infrastructure and regional connectivity both from the view point of ease of public transport and more so in the interest of security and defence.
According to sources, the NHAI is actively advancing the development of the Samba -Mansar –Udhampur corridor into a four /six lane National Highway and the NHAI has floated tenders for the consultancy service to manage DPR preparation and supervision.
The Highway will be an alternative route that allows Kashmir bound tourists and military convoys to completely by pass Jammu city and other major towns. This will also cut travelling time from Pathankot to Udhampur from four hours to two and saving 44 kilometre journey to Valley, sources added.
Sources said that this Highway will also cut the Kashmir travel time. Earlier the Dhar road was constructed in 1971 by BRO for defence purposes and since then it was not upgraded to four lanes despite the constant traffic pressure on this strategic road. This road was only catering to the traffic movement in this Kandi belt from Kathua to Udhampur, sources added.
Sources said since then the pressure of traffic has considerably increased on this road as civilian traffic connected various areas from Kathua to Udhampur are also plying on this road including 55 seater buses, trucks and other heavy vehicles of civilian and defence forces. This has necessitated the need of four-lanning of the Highway, sources added.
They said earlier four years back also a project report was framed by the NHAI in this regard but it did not get the approval from Ministry due to which the project was shelved.
However, the project has been taken up on the persistent pursuance of Union Minister, Dr Jitendra Singh who represents Kathua, Udhampur and Doda constituency after he took up the issue with both Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh and Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari. Dr Jitendra Singh who termed Dhar road a strategic Highway for J&K and stressed on four/ six lannig of entire Dhar road for ease of travel and boosting of infrastructure in the UT.
However the proposed Samba, Mansar and Udhampur Highway will have some major bridges and tunnels as well but the sources said the exact number of the same could be ascertained only after the consultancy starts its job.
Dr Jitendra Singh, while talking to Excelsior, said that the Dhar road was constructed over 60 years back in 1970 and was never revisited since then.
He said earlier Governments never paid attention for widening of the road though traffic pressure on it had increased tremendously over the years. He said the road is not only for civilian purposes but also for armed forces who too have to use this road for their convoys.
Dr Jitendra Singh said it was only after the repeated follow-ups by him and his party legislators that the widening of the road was undertaken. Presently the work on surfacing of Dhar road is also going on in full swing, but the Ministry in principle is in agreement of four lanning of entire Dhar road, he added.
He said with the construction of the Highway it will ease the travel of people especially from districts of Samba, Kathua and Udhampur.
Radhay Sham incharge NHAI for J&K said that earlier DPRs were prepared for the project some time back but it did not get the approval from Ministry so the tendering process was closed. He said now fresh exercise has been started and a consultancy is being hired for the project.
He said the four lanning of Samba, Mansar, Udhampur Highway has a length of about 50 kilometres and it will have tunnels at different places but the exact number of the same could be classified after the hiring of consultancy.
Meanwhile, the work is in full swing for surfacing of the Dhar -Udhampur -Mansar road. BRO Officer Commanding, Akhilesh Verma, said the 15 to 20 kms of the road has been totally damaged and 8 kms from Battal towards Dhar side the surfacing work is going on. The work is on full swing and it will be completed within two to three months.
With the surfacing of the road, the movement of the traffic will become smooth on this road, he said.
R S Pathania, MLA Udhampur East said that the Dhar Road as well as the Battal–Mansar Road is of immense strategic, public and tourism importance. He informed that the project shall be executed in multiple stretches, Paldhai to Kishenpur including the Challan–Ramkot stretch, and that a fresh surface and upgradation work is being undertaken at an estimated cost of around Rs 42 crore.
He further informed that the proposed corridor being constructed by NHAI is expected to include nearly six underground tunnels and will significantly reduce travel time while boosting tourism and economic activity in the region. The Project shall particularly benefit connectivity to the holy shrine of Mansar and several emerging tourist destinations along the corridor.
However MLA Billawar , Satish Sharma said the Government should take work of four lanning of entire Dhar road up to Udhampur for ease of travel which will also serve an alternative Highway National Highway.
Properties worth crores demolished, multiple arrests made across Kashmir
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 4: Police today intensified its anti-drug campaign across Kashmir, carrying out demolitions and attachment of properties linked to drug traffickers, arresting drug peddlers, destroying narcotic crops and conducting awareness programmes.
A police spokesperson said police in Srinagar, along with the Revenue Department, demolished a three-storeyed residential structure worth around Rs. 2 crore belonging to a drug peddler Sheikh Tasaduq of Rainawari. The property was found to have been constructed on encroached state land and allegedly from proceeds of drug trafficking, the spokesperson said.
In Awantipora, police and the civil administration demolished two shops and a cowshed belonging to alleged drug peddler Nisar Ahmad Khanday of Chersoo, who is involved in multiple NDPS cases, the spokesperson said.
In Anantnag, police attached a residential house belonging to Mohd Yousuf Hajam of Panchalthan Chatergul under Section 68(F) of the NDPS Act after it was identified as property acquired through proceeds of narcotics trafficking, the spokesperson said.
Police in Sopore attached immovable property worth Rs. 22.49 lakh belonging to a drug peddler Suhail Ahmad Zargar alias Lala of Behrampora, Rafiabad, after investigations established that it had been acquired through drug trafficking proceeds, the spokesperson said. Click here to watch video
The spokesperson said police in Anantnag registered six NDPS cases in a single day and arrested four accused persons. During separate operations, police recovered 1.134 kilograms of charas powder, 88 grams of charas sticks, 205 grams of charas powder-like substance and 54 grams of charas-like substance from the accused, the spokesperson said.
Police also destroyed illegally cultivated opium poppy crops at Achabal and Kokernag and registered cases under the NDPS Act, the spokesperson said.
In Sopore, police arrested four drug peddlers and recovered 150 bottles of codeine-based syrup and Spasmo-Proxyvon Plus capsules during separate operations, the spokesperson said.
In Baramulla, police apprehended a drug consumer in Tangmarg who tested positive for cannabis consumption, the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said police in Baramulla conducted drives to destroy wild cannabis growth at several locations, including Goshbugh, Singhpora and Matipora.
In Anantnag, police recovered 16 vape devices from a shop in Lal Chowk and seven packets of foreign-origin cigarettes from a shop in Pahalgam during separate inspections, the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson further said police organised 31 Thana Diwas and Police Community Partnership Group meetings across Baramulla district to raise awareness about drug abuse, cybercrime and public safety.
Police, in collaboration with civil society and sports organisations, also organised a drug-free awareness rally at Pattan and conducted a drug awareness programme at Government High School Chakloo in Baramulla to educate youth about the harmful effects of substance abuse, the spokesperson added.
CS reviews impediments, steers measures to accelerate solarisation across J&K
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 4: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, today chaired a high-level meeting of all the concerned Government stakeholders to review the progress of large-scale solarization initiatives being undertaken in Jammu and Kashmir and to resolve the bottlenecks identified by the Science & Technology Department in advancing these efforts across the Union Territory.
The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary, Power Development Department; Additional Chief Secretary, Finance; Commissioner Secretary, Forest, Ecology & Environment Department; Divisional Commissioner, Jammu/Kashmir; Commissioner Secretary, Science & Technology Department; Managing Director, JPDCL/KPDCL, besides representatives of several other concerned departments.
During the meeting, the Chief Secretary stressed the need for sustained and result-oriented follow-up by the Science & Technology Department on the issues deliberated upon, observing that a clear roadmap for addressing the challenges had emerged through collective consultations with all stakeholders.
He underscored that the department should fully leverage the support being extended by the Finance Department and other agencies to achieve the solarization targets within defined timelines.
Emphasizing the immense potential of renewable energy in Jammu and Kashmir, the Chief Secretary advised the department to undertake a comprehensive review of the land parcels identified on the PM Gati Shakti Portal and assess their suitability for establishment of mega solar parks under Government of India-supported programmes.
He called for a focused and mission-mode approach, directing the department to set measurable targets for the next six months, one year and two years, and ensure visible progress on the ground at each stage.
The meeting held detailed deliberations on a range of issues critical to the successful implementation of solar projects, including land acquisition and transfer, obtaining statutory clearances from various departments, execution of Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with distribution companies for evacuation of power generated from solarized buildings, and measures required to maintain grid stability for optimal utilization of solar energy assets.
Discussions also centred on the installation of Virtual Net Metering systems in Government buildings, adoption of a Unified Billing System for departments in place of separate billing for individual buildings, and provision of fresh power connections wherever required to facilitate seamless implementation of solar projects.
The stakeholders further deliberated upon the need for rationalization and levelization of rates for projects being implemented under the Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) model to ensure greater efficiency of solar energy solutions across departments.
The meeting also reviewed the long-term roadmap for development of mega-scale solar power infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir.
Hezbollah rejects latest ceasefire agreement as Israeli strikes kill 4 in Lebanon
BEIRUT, Jun 4 : Hezbollah on Thursday rejected the latest ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and the Lebanese government, demanding a complete Israeli withdrawal. The announcement came as Israeli strikes killed at least four people, according to local authorities, and a UN peacekeeper was killed in the crossfire.
Hezbollah leader Naim Kassem, in a written statement read on TV, said the agreement’s demand that Hezbollah fighters leave southern Lebanon under fire would mean “surrender, defeat and achieving the enemy’s goals.”
“What we are concerned about is an end to the aggression, ceasefire and Israel’s withdrawal,” he said. “We did not make any commitment to any party to stop resisting as long as there is occupation,” he added.
The ongoing fighting in Lebanon, where Israeli forces have seized large swaths of the south, threatens efforts to end the Iran war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key transit point for oil and gas whose closure has jolted the world economy.
Iran has demanded that any lasting truce extend to Lebanon. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces elections later this year, wants to press ahead with Israel’s offensive until Hezbollah no longer poses a threat. Israeli troops have seized around a fifth of Lebanon since Hezbollah began launching rocket and drone attacks in solidarity with Iran days into the wider war.
US President Donald Trump, who faced a rare rebuke from Congress on Wednesday, has sought to downplay the diplomatic deadlock and the failure of declared ceasefires to end the fighting, telling reporters that in the Middle East, “a ceasefire is when you’re shooting in a more moderate manner.”
Peacekeeper killed in crossfire
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A Serbian peacekeeper was killed, and two other peacekeepers were wounded, when a mortar struck their location near Marjayoun, a Christian-majority town that has seen intense fighting, according to the UN mission, known as UNIFIL, and Serbia’s Defence Ministry.
Neither said whether the mortar fire came from Israel or Hezbollah.
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said a drone strike killed a motorcyclist and wounded four people in the village of Maaroub. It said airstrikes on the village of Sohmor in the Bekaa Valley, in eastern Lebanon, killed three people and wounded others. It also reported airstrikes in other areas of the south.
There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military, which has warned people not to go into parts of southern Lebanon where it says it is striking Hezbollah facilities.
Fighting has raged despite declared ceasefires
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Hezbollah resumed its rocket fire days after Israel and the United States launched their surprise attack on Iran on February 28. Before then, Israel had regularly carried out strikes in Lebanon against what it said were militant targets, often killing civilians, despite an earlier truce reached in 2024.
In the southern city of Sidon, many residents reacted to the ceasefire announcement with scepticism, saying previous agreements had failed to stop the violence.
“Every few days a ceasefire is announced, but people keep getting killed,” said Mayada Hijazi.
“It’s all talk and no action,” said Salah Nassab. “We keep going back to our homes and then we get displaced again, back and forth. We’re very tired.”
In the latest fighting, Israeli troops have pushed further into southern Lebanon than at any time since the end of Israel’s 1982-2000 occupation. It now occupies around a fifth of the country.
More than 3,500 people have been killed in Lebanon and over 1.2 million have been displaced. The fighting has killed 27 Israeli soldiers and three civilians.
The ceasefire came from ongoing Israeli-Lebanese talks
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The latest declared ceasefire came about through US brokered talks held between Israel and Lebanon’s government, which accuses Hezbollah of dragging the country into war and had made efforts to disarm it before the latest hostilities.
The ceasefire does not officially include Hezbollah and calls for Lebanon’s armed forces to take control of security zones in Lebanon from which the militants would be banned.
Hezbollah has previously said it will only adhere to a ceasefire if Israel halts its attacks and begins withdrawing from the country.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Thursday called the new agreement “the last chance to enter a final and comprehensive ceasefire.” He said Lebanon was ready to implement Wednesday’s deal once he receives responses from relevant factions in Lebanon, including Hezbollah. The United States – and Trump himself – would determine how and when the deal is implemented, he told journalists on Thursday.
The agreement states that Hezbollah “is not just an enemy of Israel and an enemy of America, but that it is an enemy of Lebanon” and calls for dismantling it. The government has promised to do so in the past but does not have the capabilities to disarm Hezbollah by force.
The latest agreement did not say when Israel would withdraw from southern Lebanon but said the US would support the Lebanese army as it works to assert control in areas where Hezbollah has long wielded power.
Iran has demanded a durable Lebanon ceasefire
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A top Iranian general on Thursday reiterated Tehran’s demand for a full ceasefire in Lebanon and called for Israel to pull troops back to where they were when the wider war began. At that time, Israel held five strategic points along the border.
“Supporting the resistance in Lebanon is the duty of all of us, and eliminating Israel from the region is an achievable goal for Muslims,” Esmail Qaani, the head of the Revolutionary Guard’s elite Quds Force, was quoted as saying by the semiofficial Fars and Tasnim news agencies.
As diplomatic efforts have repeatedly faltered, Iran and the US have traded fire in and around the Strait of Hormuz, which remains effectively closed. Before the war, around a fifth of the world’s oil and gas, as well as large shipments of fertiliser and other goods, passed through the narrow waterway.
The US has targeted what it says are Iranian threats to commercial shipping and its own forces, while Iran has launched missile and drone attacks on Gulf states hosting US troops.
A strike Wednesday on a commercial airport in Kuwait that is also used by American forces for logistics and refuelling killed an Indian national and wounded more than 60 people, including passengers and workers. Iran denied carrying out the strike. (AP)
Summer vacation in HC from June 8
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 4: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has notified its summer vacation schedule for 2026, announcing that the court will remain on vacation from June 8 to June 27, with a designated roster of Vacation Judges to hear urgent matters during the break.
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According to an order issued by Registrar General M K Sharma, the period from June 8 to June 13 has been declared a “no work period” for the High Court.
However, urgent cases will continue to be taken up during the vacation by judges specially nominated by the Chief Justice under Rule 12 of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court Rules, 1999.
For the Jammu Wing, Justice Rajesh Sekhri has been designated as Vacation Judge from June 15 to June 20, while Justice Sanjay Parihar will hear urgent matters from June 22 to June 27.
Similarly, for the Srinagar Wing, Justice Shahzad Azeem has been assigned vacation duty from June 15 to June 20, while Justice Mohammad Yousuf Wani will function as Vacation Judge from June 22 to June 27.
Farooq calls for unity, justice, equality among Muslims
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 4: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah today emphasized the need for greater unity, justice and equality among Muslims saying that collective solidarity and adherence to these fundamental principles are essential to effectively address the challenges confronting Muslims across the world, particularly in West Asia.
Addressing a gathering at Eidgah, Srinagar, Dr Farooq said that the Muslim world is passing through a critical phase marked by political instability, humanitarian crises and growing uncertainty in several regions. He stressed that the strength of Muslims lies in unity and its unwavering commitment to the values of justice, equality, compassion and mutual respect.
“Discord and divisions only weaken societies and make them vulnerable to external and internal challenges. It is imperative for Muslims across the globe to stand together, uphold the principles of justice and work collectively for peace, dignity and progress,” he said.
Expressing concern over the prevailing situation in West Asia, Dr Farooq said that the continued conflicts and loss of innocent lives are a matter of grave concern for the entire Muslim world. He urged the world community to prioritize dialogue, reconciliation and humanitarian values in order to foster lasting peace and stability in the region.
Dr Farooq also highlighted the importance of social harmony, brotherhood, and inclusiveness, asserting that these values form the bedrock of a strong and resilient society. He called upon people to rise above differences and work towards the collective welfare and prosperity of humanity.
Earlier, Dr Farooq visited the residence of Faisal Ahmad Shah at Dangerpora to offer his condolences on the demise of his wife. A large number of people attended the gathering and interacted with Dr Farooq on various issues concerning society and the community.
Meanwhile, NC MPs Chowdry Muhammad Ramzan, Sajjad Kichloo and MLA Surankote Choudhary Muhammad Akram called on Dr Farooq at the party headquarters Nawa-e-Subha, Srinagar. They apprised the party president about the ongoing party activities and other issues of public importance in the areas and Jammu and Kashmir in general.
WHO chief urges countries to lift travel restrictions imposed amid Ebola outbreak
MOSCOW, June 4 : World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged countries to lift travel restrictions imposed due to the Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), as they are hindering aid delivery.
On May 27, the Ugandan Health Ministry said that the government had decided to close the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo amid the unfavourable epidemiological situation there.
The New York Times newspaper reported on the same day that the United States intends to send Americans infected with Ebola to Kenya for treatment. However, on May 29, the Kenyan High Court temporarily banned entry into the country for people infected with the virus.
“Blanket travel restrictions imposed by some countries are disrupting supply chains and hindering the response. WHO recommends exit screening at airports, ports and border crossings to prevent the exportation of cases and contacts. We ask countries that have imposed blanket travel restrictions to lift them,” Ghebreyesus said at a press conference in Geneva on Wednesday.
On May 15, the WHO declared the Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern.
Ebola is an often fatal disease transmitted from wild animals such as bats and primates to humans. People can get infected from another person by direct contact with the blood and other bodily fluids or with contaminated objects. The UN assesses the disease’s average fatality rate to be at 50%, but it has reached up to 90% in previous outbreaks.
(UNI)
Rajnath increases financial powers of Field Comdrs
NEW DELHI, June 4:
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday approved a two-fold increase in financial powers for field commanders to strengthen operational efficiency and ensure faster conclusion of contracts as well as execution of projects.
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Special financial powers delegated to the commanders of Indian Army, Air Force and Indian Navy have been increased significantly along with a 100 per cent increase in the total ceiling provided to meet urgent operational requirements, the Defence Ministry said.
In addition to the enhancement in financial powers, new provisions have been included to promote joint service procurement by the lead service with higher delegation than the normal procurement, it said.
“Many new Competent Financial Authorities have been introduced to decentralise the procurement of goods and services,” it said.
Defence Minister Singh released a revised manual for ‘Delegation of Financial Powers for the Defence Services’ at an event in New Delhi.
“The enhancement in the financial powers has been made up to 100 per cent, and even more than double in some cases. This would further strengthen the operational efficiency of field commanders, and lead to faster conclusion of contracts and execution of projects,” the Ministry said.
It said the financial powers delegated for indigenisation and research and development within the military ecosystem have been doubled to boost ‘Aatmanirbharta’ (self-reliance) in defence by minimising the dependency on foreign original equipment manufacturers.
The revised delegation of financial powers will facilitate procurement of more than Rs 1.25 lakh crore through the revenue route, as per current year budgetary allocations, the Ministry said.
Financial powers were last notified in 2021. The revision was necessitated due to the expansion in force level and to cater to the increased expenditure on operations and sustenance vis-a-vis the increase in budgetary allocation, the Ministry said.
This revised delegation in financial powers, along with the revised Defence Procurement Manual, will give a fillip to defence procurement with expeditious decision making, it noted.
This will lead to timely availability of resources as per the needs of the defence forces, the ministry said in a statement.
Chief of Defence Staff Gen N S Raja Subramani, Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi, Navy Chief Admiral Krishna Swaminathan and Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh were present at the event. (PTI)
Hyundai Motor India to roll out its first mass-market EV from Chennai facility this year
CHENNAI, Jun 4 : Hyundai Motor India Ltd on Thursday said it will roll out two new models from the Chennai manufacturing facility, including its first mass-market EV, within this year, and said it is committed to making Tamil Nadu its ‘Flagship EV Hub for India’.
The company said it is well-positioned to further expand coverage across all major cities and highways over the next 2-3 years backed by a strategically distributed network of high-capacity chargers across key urban and transit corridors, in line with its plans to broaden affordable EV offerings in India.
The Tamil Nadu government and Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) also jointly announced a skill development collaboration to enhance the global employability of the state’s youth. The initiative will kick off operations in December 2027.
Tarun Garg, MD & CEO, Hyundai Motor India Ltd, said, “We will roll out two new models from the Chennai facility, including our first mass-market dedicated EV within this year, marking a significant step towards accelerating EV adoption and building a strong EV ecosystem.
“Alongside advancing EV localisation, we are equally focused on developing a future-ready skilled workforce, enabling talent to support future automotive technologies”.
HMIL has so far exported over 3.9 million vehicles made in Tamil Nadu to more than 150 countries.
The company has established Tamil Nadu’s first battery sub-assembly plant for EV powertrains and is localising power electronics and other key components.( PTI)