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Oil rises, Asian stocks fall following Trump’s primetime address

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Oil rises, Asian stocks fall following Trump’s primetime address

Hong Kong, Apr 02: Oil rose more than 4 per cent and Asian stocks fell after US President Donald Trump said in his first national address since the Iran war began that the US will keep hitting Iran very hard.

Trump also said the United States will “finish the job” in Iran and that military operations could wrap up soon.

Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 was down 1.4 per cent to 53,004.81 in early Asia trading on Thursday. South Korea’s Kospi lost 3.4 per cent to 5,292.36. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 0.8 per cent to 25,082.59.

US futures were down more than 0.7 per cent.

Oil prices were sharply higher following Trump’s remarks. Brent crude, the international standard, jumped 5 per cent to USD 106.22 per barrel. Benchmark US crude rose 4.2 per cent to USD 104.36 a barrel.

Greater Kashmir

Legislators raise several public interest issues

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Legislators raise several public interest issues

Jammu, Apr 1: The Zero Hour in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly today witnessed wide-ranging deliberations, with the Members raising pressing public issues and seeking timely intervention from the government in redress of these concerns.

MLA Reyaz Ahmad Khan urged the government to take immediate steps to facilitate safe return of students from Jammu and Kashmir presently stranded in Iran. He emphasized the need for coordinated efforts to ensure their well-being and early evacuation.

MLA Shabir Ahmad Kullay called for constitution of a committee to examine the discrepancies between officially claimed sports infrastructure and the actual facilities available on the ground. He highlighted concerns over the mismatch between records and reality, stressing the importance of transparency and accountability.

MLA Balwant Singh Mankotia demanded prompt action on the findings of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), particularly regarding unspent and unaccounted funds in various government departments. He underscored the need for financial discipline and adherence to audit observations.

MLA Nizam-ud-din Bhat drew attention to the shortage of specialist medical staff at District Hospital Bandipora, specifically absence of a Surgeon Specialist following a recent retirement. He urged the concerned authorities to address the gap to ensure uninterrupted healthcare services to the public.

The House also witnessed detailed discussion on the issue of legislators’ salaries, allowances, and related privileges.

MLA Dr. Narinder Singh Raina advocated for a structured and periodic revision of legislators’ salaries, aligned with the patterns followed for government employees.

MLA Javid Hassan Baig emphasized that salaries constitute a legitimate entitlement of legislators and called for their rational revision in line with parliamentary practices, while maintaining discretion in public discourse given the diverse socio-economic backgrounds of Members.

Supporting this view, MLA Ranbir Singh Pathania stressed the need for an institutionalized mechanism for revising legislators’ emoluments. Referring to the principle articulated by former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, he noted that such matters should be addressed through an independent and credible framework, safeguarding the dignity and sovereignty of the House.

MLA Sajad Gani Lone described the issue as a test of the authority of the Legislature and called for a review of the factors delaying implementation of the House’s recommendations.

MLA Nizam-ud-din Bhat further linked the matter to broader concerns of legislators’ privileges and protocol, advocating for a comprehensive and merit-based resolution to settle the issue conclusively.

MLA Muzaffer Iqbal Khan observed that the proposed increase in salary was relatively modest, while a larger enhancement had been suggested in allowances to meet the growing expenditure associated with legislative responsibilities.

Reiterating his earlier concerns, MLA Shabir Ahmad Kullay highlighted the need to enhance the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) allocated to legislators. He noted that the current annual allocation of ₹4 crore per constituency is insufficient to meet the developmental expectations of the public.

Greater Kashmir

Salary of COVID warriors to be released: Government

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Salary of COVID warriors to be released: Government

Srinagar, Apr 1: In a major relief to healthcare workers engaged on a contractual basis during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Jammu and Kashmir government has said it is actively processing the release of their pending salaries, nearly three years after their disengagement.

The Health and Medical Education (H&ME) Department said that the move is in compliance with directions of the Supreme Court of India.

In a written reply to Assembly Question No 1437 raised by MLA Dr Narinder Singh Raina, the department stated that it is “actively processing the release of pending salaries for disengaged DRDO employees who worked on a contractual basis during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The department referred to the apex court’s judgment dated November 24, 2025, in SLP No. 31281/2025 titled Vishal Sharma & Ors, which directed the release of salaries to the disengaged staff.

The employees, including doctors, paramedical and allied staff, had been engaged on a contractual basis and were instrumental in operationalising the 500-bedded temporary COVID care hospitals in Srinagar and Jammu.

According to the government, their contractual tenure had officially ended on December 31, 2022. However, many continued to discharge duties till April 15, 2023, “due to public service exigencies.”

The department informed the House that detailed attendance and work-done reports had been obtained from the principals of Government Medical College, Srinagar, and Government Medical College, Jammu.

“These certified reports confirm that the majority of the staff remained on duty during the relevant period. There were, however, some cases involving admissible leave, resignation or unauthorised absence,” the reply said.

It added that the matter is under active consideration and necessary action for release of salaries will be taken after completion of procedural formalities and requisite approvals.

The H&ME Department also clarified that there was no “deliberate delay attributable to any officer,” stating that the process involved collection of attendance records, proposal for ex-post facto extension of contractual engagement, and financial concurrence for release of funds.

The decision is expected to bring relief to hundreds of healthcare workers who had served on the frontlines during the pandemic, playing a crucial role in managing COVID-19 facilities across Jammu and Kashmir.

Greater Kashmir

Border villages India’s first line of defence, residents stand first in priorities of PM Modi: LG Manoj Sinha

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Border villages India’s first line of defence, residents stand first in priorities of PM Modi: LG Manoj Sinha

Jammu, Apr 1: “Border villages are India’s first line of defence, and the residents are the first face of India that any outsider sees. Border residents are not only first in courage, sacrifice, and patience but you also stand first in the priorities of our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji,” the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said this on Wednesday.

The Lieutenant Governor, as per an official statement  observed that the residents of border village are serving the nation every single day. That service must not be honoured only in words, but reflected clearly in the quality of life of every family, he said.

The Lieutenant Governor was speaking at a public event, organised under the Phase-II of Vibrant Villages Programme, at the vibrant border village of Makwal in Jammu.

The Lieutenant Governor directed the officials to ensure that no family is left out and no genuine need go unnoticed.

“Where existing schemes fall short in Makwal and other border villages, solutions must be created on priority, because for me, the development of border villages is a sentiment, a resolve, and a responsibility,” he said.

The Lieutenant Governor said there must be no gap between what the government promises and what people actually receive.

“While planning or executing any scheme, always remember that every family in Makwal and in our other border villages is not just living on the border, but standing guard for India,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

The Lieutenant Governor observed that a border village is not the last but first village of India.

“To live here, to build a prosperous society here with complete dedication in the service of nation-building and national security is an act of extraordinary courage. Every moment of residents of border villages is the most powerful symbol of patriotism.

More than decade ago, border villages were routinely neglected. That time is over. Under the leadership of the Prime Minister, whether it is Jammu Kashmir or the border villages of the North-East, the distance from Delhi has shrunk in a real sense,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

The Lieutenant Governor directed that all government officials must remove obstacles and ensure that Makwal and all other border villages receive every required resource.

“Our effort will be to ensure that more resources reach Makwal and other border villages than even the cities of UT. The number of villages formally notified as Vibrant Villages in Jammu District may be limited, but it is the clear effort of the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the Hon’ble Home Minister Shri Amit Shah that all 541 border villages of Jammu district develop with the same energy and vision,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

He further directed for dedicated Nodal officers for border villages and submission of monthly progress report of the villages under Vibrant Villages programme.

The Lieutenant Governor reiterated his resolve to ensure every border village is connected with better roads, fully functional schools, and abundant opportunities for the youth. With this mindset, we must work together to transform all our border villages into model villages, he said.

“We want every child in Makwal to receive the same standard of education that a child in any major city of India receives. We want every farmer here to have access to better seeds, assured irrigation, and reliable markets,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

Assuring all the necessary support and assistance to the youth, the Lieutenant Governor said that there is no shortage of talent in Makwal and other border villages.

“What is needed today is the right direction for that talent. We must strengthen youth entrepreneurship and women’s self-help groups so that our youth, mothers and sisters are not only the backbone of their own families but also drivers of social and economic progress across the region

Our aim is to make Makwal and other border villages such model villages that young people can see their future here instead of migrating to the cities. For this, all stakeholders must come together to promote entrepreneurship and provide our youth with training, financial support, and consistent mentoring,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

The Lieutenant Governor highlighted that the Government of India is reaching doorstep of every family in border villages with all the central schemes, and in the last 5–6 years we have tried to ensure that every border village in Jammu Kashmir becomes more prosperous, more vibrant, and truly inspiring.

“Before 2019, around one-third of families in our border blocks were below the poverty line. In the last 5–6 years, a significant proportion of these families has moved out of poverty, and we have sharply expanded road connectivity to nearly every border village. Electricity, which earlier reached only a part of our border hamlets, has now reached almost every home. Telecom connectivity, once limited to a few villages, has now been ensured in all 541 villages, so that no border family remains cut off from the rest of the country,” he said.

The Lieutenant Governor stated that since 2020, we have placed special focus on agriculture, dairy, allied sectors, and tourism, leading to notable growth in farm and dairy output and a visible rise in local incomes through initiatives such as fairs and border tourism events.

“Earlier, a sizeable number of families migrated to cities in search of livelihood; after 2019, with new opportunities in self-employment, self-help groups, agriculture, and allied sectors, migration has reduced and village incomes have risen significantly,” he further said.

Responding to the demands, the Lieutenant Governor assured that appropriate action will be taken to address the issues of the residents of Makwal.

On land ownership rights of POJK Displaced persons, Lieutenant Governor said that the directions in this regard issued in 2024 are under implementation. He entrusted upon the Divisional Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner to ensure their timely implementation.

On the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor initiated various development works through Own Sources of Revenue (OSR). These include: Model Anganwadi Centre, Synthetic Volleyball and Badminton Court, Community Hall with provisions of Library and Computer Lab, Health Sub-Centre at Makwal and Veterinary Dispensary at Sohajana.

The Lieutenant Governor handed over handheld X-Ray Machine to the health department, and also felicitated TB Warrior, progressive farmers and land donor for establishment of Model Anganwadi Centre.

Appointment orders and Sanction letters were also handed over to various youth of the village and beneficiaries under Mission Yuva and other different schemes.

Surinder Kumar, Member of Legislative Assembly from Marh; Atal Dulloo, Chief Secretary; Shaleen Kabra, Additional Chief Secretary, Jal Shakti Department; Ashwani Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary, Power Development Department; Anil Kumar Singh, Additional Chief Secretary, Public Works (R&B) Department; R. Alice Vaz, Commissioner Secretary to Government, Planning and Information; Ramesh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner Jammu; Bhim Sen Tuti; IGP Jammu; Amitava Chatterjee, MD & CEO, J&K Bank; Dr Rakesh Minhas, Deputy Commissioner Jammu; senior officials of army, police and civil administration and people in large number were present.

Greater Kashmir

Centre assures adequate fuel supply, citizen safety

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Centre assures adequate fuel supply, citizen safety

New Delhi, Apr 1: The Centre on Wednesday said it was closely monitoring the evolving situation in West Asia while taking coordinated steps to ensure uninterrupted fuel supply, availability of agricultural inputs, stability in prices, and the safety of Indian nationals in the region.

At a media briefing held at the National Media Centre, senior officials from the Ministries of Petroleum and Natural Gas, External Affairs, Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, and Civil Aviation shared updates on sector-wise preparedness and response measures.

Adequate seeds, fertilisers and agrochemicals available The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare said that there is comfortable availability of seeds for the Kharif 2026 season.

It said that against a requirement of 166.46 lakh quintals, availability stands at 185.74 lakh quintals, leaving a surplus of around 19.29 lakh quintals.

The ministry said that surplus stocks exist across major crops including paddy (80.9 lakh quintals), soybean (35.7 lakh quintals), groundnut (21.1 lakh quintals), maize (11.9 lakh quintals) and pulses.

It said priority allocation of LPG and PNG had been ensured for seed drying, particularly for maize, along with uninterrupted fuel supply through oil marketing companies.

The ministry said that seed inputs for both Kharif and Rabi 2026 are in place.

It said that fertiliser requirement for Kharif 2026 had been assessed at 390.54 LMT, of which 180 LMT (46 percent) was already available as opening stock, higher than the usual pre-season level of around 33 percent.

The ministry said that efforts were underway to further augment availability, with officials asserting that there will be no shortage of agricultural inputs or chemicals at any stage.

It said that states had.been directed to prevent hoarding, black marketing, cross-border smuggling and diversion of fertilisers for non-agricultural use.

The ministry said that monitoring mechanisms including local committees under the Dharti Mata Bachao Andolan were being activated.

On agrochemicals, it said India had sufficient availability.

The ministry said that against a total estimated demand of 74,266 MT, production during 2025-26 (up to February) stands at 2,61,099 MT.

It said that weekly monitoring, crackdown on spurious pesticides, and promotion of sustainable practices including integrated pest management were underway.

The ministry said that prices of agro commodities were reported to be largely stable, with tomato, onion and potato prices within range and showing slight improvement.

Officials from the petroleum ministry said all refineries were operating at high capacity with adequate crude inventories, and sufficient stocks of petrol and diesel were being maintained.

They said that the domestic LPG production had been increased to support consumption.

Officials said that retail outlets across the country were functioning normally, and there had been no change in the retail prices of petrol and diesel.

They said that to cushion the impact of rising global crude prices, the government had reduced excise duties by Rs 10 per litre on petrol and diesel.

Officials said that the government had also imposed export levies of Rs 21.5 per litre on diesel and Rs 29.5 per litre on aviation turbine fuel (ATF) to ensure domestic availability.

The authorities acknowledged instances of panic buying in some areas due to rumours but reiterated that adequate fuel stocks are available nationwide.

They said that states had been advised to counter misinformation and issue regular public briefings.

The authorities said that domestic PNG and CNG transport sectors were receiving 100 percent supply, while industrial and commercial consumers were receiving about 80 percent of their average consumption. They said that urea plants were receiving 70 to 75 percent supply, with additional LNG and RLNG being sourced.

The authorities said that City Gas Distribution (CGD) companies had been directed to prioritise PNG connections for institutions like schools, hostels, and community kitchens.

They said that expansion of CGD networks was being fast-tracked, supported by policy measures including the Natural Gas and Petroleum Products Distribution Order, 2026, and accelerated approvals.

The officials said that during March, over 3.25 lakh connections were gasified, 2.85 lakh new connections installed, and 3.5 lakh new consumers registered.

The government said LPG supply continues to be affected by the geopolitical situation but remains stable.

It said that there had been no increase in prices for domestic LPG consumers, and no dry-outs had been reported at distributorships.

The government said that more than 60 lakh domestic LPG cylinders were delivered on Tuesday alone.

It said that online bookings had risen to 92 percent, and Delivery Authentication Code-based deliveries had increased to 81 percent.

The government said that since March 23, more than 3.9 lakh 5 kg free trade LPG cylinders had been sold, including over 65,000 on Tuesday.

It said that commercial LPG supply had reached 70 percent of pre-crisis levels, with priority given to essential sectors.

The government said that an additional 48,000 kilo litres of kerosene had been allocated to states and UTs, with distribution enabled through PSU outlets in PDS SKO-free regions.

It said that states had been empowered under the Essential Commodities Act and LPG Control Order to act against hoarding and black marketing.

The government said that over 2800 raids had been conducted, with around 500 cylinders seized.

It said that oil marketing companies had carried out over 1100 surprise inspections and issued more than 560 show-cause notices.

The government urged people to avoid panic purchases of petrol, diesel, and LPG, and to rely only on official information.

It said that people had been encouraged to use digital booking modes for LPG and adopt alternate fuels such as PNG and electric cooking.

The people have also been advised to conserve energy in daily usage.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation said a calibrated 25 percent increase in ATF prices for domestic carriers had been implemented to shield the sector from global volatility.

It said that the move aims to prevent disruption, as fuel accounts for nearly 40 percent of airline operating costs.

Officials said the measure would help maintain affordable airfares and avoid additional surcharges, benefiting over 4.5 lakh daily domestic passengers while ensuring operational stability and cargo movement.

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said all Indian seafarers in the Persian Gulf region were safe, with no incidents reported in the past 24 hours.

It said that 18 Indian-flagged vessels with 485 Indian crew members remain in the region.

The ministry said that DG Shipping control room has handled 4769 calls and 9599 emails since activation, and facilitated the repatriation of over 964 seafarers.

It said that the port operations across India remain normal with no congestion.

The Ministry of External Affairs said it was closely monitoring the situation and prioritising the safety of Indian nationals.

It said that 1171 Indians, including 818 students, had been assisted to exit Iran via Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The ministry said that since February 28, around 5.98 lakh passengers had returned to India from the region.

It said that additional flights were being operated from Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Qatar, while alternate routes were being used due to airspace restrictions in Kuwait and Bahrain.

The ministry said that the Indian missions were operating round-the-clock helplines and providing assistance including visa facilitation, transit support and consular services.

It said that special attention was being given to Indian students to ensure their academic year is not disrupted, with coordination underway for CBSE, ICSE, Kerala Board, JEE and NEET examinations.

The ministry said that three Indian nationals sustained minor injuries in Dubai and were receiving treatment.

It said that two fatalities involving Indian nationals in separate incidents in Iraq and Kuwait were reported, with mortal remains repatriated and assistance extended to families.

The government reiterated that it remains committed to ensuring the safety, welfare and well-being of Indian citizens, while maintaining stability in essential sectors amid the ongoing crisis.

Greater Kashmir

DYSS workshop begins in Jammu to boost sports performance, infrastructure

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DYSS workshop begins in Jammu to boost sports performance, infrastructure

Jammu, Apr 1: The two-day Orientation Course cum Workshop for officers and officials of the Directorate of Youth Services and Sports (DYSS) J&K was inaugurated Wednesday by Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary at the Convention Centre here, marking a pivotal step toward building a road map for augmentation of sports infrastructure and talent development across the Union Territory.

Commissioner Secretary Youth Services and Sports J&K, Dr Shahid Iqbal as per a DYSS statement, graced the inaugural ceremony as Chief Guest  and interacted with the officers and officials of the Youth services and sports dept. Director General Youth Services and Sports, Anuradha Gupta and senior officers of the Department were also present.

The workshop drew robust participation from District Youth Services and Sports Officers across J&K, alongside officers and officials from  various wings, as well as expert Physical Education Masters and Teachers across the Union Territory.

The Commissioner Secretary appreciated the conduct of such a wonderful Workshop on the first day of the financial year  and advised the participants to take the benefit of the orientation course cum workshop which will help them in efficient implementation of programs, flawless execution of sports activities at every level and unwavering accountability to deliver measurable outcomes.

The chief guest underscored the critical need for sustained  support to propel sports development forward, while placing strong emphasis on robust youth engagement programs as the cornerstone for nurturing future talent and fostering a vibrant sporting culture.

The workshop commenced on an inspiring note with the screening of a documentary that vividly showcased the Department’s dynamic activities and remarkable achievements. The presentation not only traced the journey of excellence in sports development—from grassroots initiatives to state-level triumphs—but also underscored the transformative role of the Department in nurturing talent and elevating regional sports to new heights.

In-depth deliberations centered on streamlining sports activities at school, zonal, district, divisional, and UT levels, culminating in seamless preparation for the National School Games under the aegis of the School Games Federation of India (SGFI).

“This initiative reaffirms DYSS J&K’s commitment to building a robust sports ecosystem, empowering youth, and positioning the region as a powerhouse in Indian sports,” asserted Dr Shahid Iqbal.

Earlier, In her  welcome address, Director General of Youth Services and Sports, Anuradha Gupta apprised the chief guest about the ambitious targets set for nurturing young talent and elevating Jammu and Kashmir’s sports ecosystem to national prominence. She apprised the Commissioner Secretary that the workshop aims at preparing  a comprehensive roadmap, blending strategic infrastructure upgrades, grassroots training programs, and high-performance coaching initiatives to transform aspirations into tangible triumphs on the field.

Greater Kashmir

CII team meets Deputy CM, discusses industry–academia linkages

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CII team meets Deputy CM, discusses industry–academia linkages

Srinagar, Apr 1: A delegation of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) J&K UT Council on Wednesday met Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary to discuss issues related to industrial growth, skill development and workforce readiness in the Union Territory.

The delegation was led by Iqram Ali Shafiee, Chairman, CII J&K UT Council, and included Siddhant Choudhary, Vice Chairman; Khurshid Dar, Director, CII J&K; along with members Sandeep Mengi, Sajad Lone and Sanan Gojwari.

During the meeting, the Deputy Chief Minister unveiled the CII J&K UT Council Annual Report 2025–26 and appreciated the role played by CII in promoting industrial development in the region.

“CII has been contributing to strengthening the industrial ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir and facilitating engagement between the government and industry,” the Deputy Chief Minister said.

Discussions during the meeting focused on strengthening skill development initiatives, enhancing industry–academia collaboration, and improving industry–skill linkages to better align workforce capabilities with emerging industry requirements.

Members of the delegation emphasised the need for closer coordination between stakeholders to improve employability among youth and support sustainable economic growth in the Union Territory.

 

Greater Kashmir

Silver surges Rs 9,000, gold advances Rs 3,500 amid strong global trends

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Silver surges Rs 9,000, gold advances Rs 3,500 amid strong global trends

New Delhi, Apr 1: Silver prices surged by Rs 9,000 to Rs 2.46 lakh per kg, while gold jumped by Rs 3,500 to Rs 1.55 lakh per 10 grams on Wednesday, following firm global trends.

According to the All India Sarafa Association, the white metal appreciated by Rs 9,000, or 3.8 per cent, to Rs 2,46,000 per kg (inclusive of all taxes) from Monday’s closing level of Rs 2,37,000 per kg.

Gold of 99.9 per cent purity also increased by Rs 3,500, or 2.3 per cent, to Rs 1,55,000 per 10 grams (inclusive of all taxes). The yellow metal had settled at Rs 1,51,500 per 10 grams in the previous market session.

Bullion markets were closed on Tuesday on account of Shri Mahavir Jayanti.

Gold continued to rise on Wednesday amid a rally that was fuelled by signs of easing tensions in West Asia, which are expected to lower the risk of further escalation and damage to energy infrastructure, Saumil Gandhi, Senior Analyst of Commodities at HDFC Securities, said.

He added that this development supports expectations of softer oil prices, alleviates long-term inflation concerns, and decreases the likelihood of additional rate hikes by central banks.

In the last fiscal year 2025-26, gold prices soared by Rs 57,350, or around 61 per cent, from Rs 94,150 per 10 grams, recorded on April 1, 2025. Silver also zoomed by Rs 1,34,500, delivering more than 131 per cent returns to investors in the domestic markets.

In the international market, spot gold gained USD 76.51, or nearly 2 per cent, to USD 4,743.89 per ounce while silver was trading marginally lower at USD 75.04 per ounce.

“Gold extended gains on Wednesday, with the yellow metal near a two-week high of USD 4,750 per ounce and silver edging toward USD 76, as traders weigh longer-term economic risks and anticipate President Donald Trump’s prime-time address on the Iran conflict on Thursday,” Kaynat Chainwala, AVP-Commodity Research, Kotak Securities, said.

She added that the rebound in precious metals followed signals from Iran suggesting a potential end to the conflict and reports that the US may also scale back military operations. Despite these gains, Chainwala said both metals ended March lower, with gold down 11 per cent and silver 20 per cent in the overseas trade.

Looking ahead, bullion prices are expected to remain sensitive to Trump’s address and key week’s US macroeconomic releases, including jobs, retail sales, and manufacturing PMI, which may shape expectations for growth, inflation, and Federal Reserve’s monetary policy, she added.

 

Greater Kashmir

EPG, SKAL Kashmir lead mega plantation drive in Beerwah

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EPG, SKAL Kashmir lead mega plantation drive in Beerwah

Srinagar, Apr 1: The Environmental Policy Group (EPG), in association with SKAL International Kashmir and Government Boys Higher Secondary School (GHSS), Beerwah, organised a mega plantation drive titled “Planting Today, Sustaining Tomorrow” atop a partly barren hill in Rathsun area in Budgam district.

The drive was led by EPG Convenor Faiz Bakshi and witnessed active participation from Zahoor Qari, President of SKAL International Kashmir, and Sarwar Bukhari, Principal of GHSS Beerwah.

As part of the initiative, around 1,100 conifer saplings—including pine, fir, and other species suitable for hilly terrain—were planted to restore the ecological balance of the area. The plantation site, spread over more than 1,800 kanals, has previously seen similar efforts. Notably, senior journalist Rifat Abdullah had planted a significant number of conifers in the region a few years ago, many of which have now grown and contributed to greening parts of the landscape.

Speaking on the occasion, Faiz Bakshi emphasised the urgent need for large-scale plantation drives across Jammu & Kashmir to counter the adverse impacts of climate change and global warming. He warned that environmental degradation is increasingly posing serious risks to ecosystems and living beings across the region.

In addition to the plantation activity, EPG, SKAL, and GHSS Beerwa also conducted a cleanliness drive, during which a substantial quantity of garbage scattered across the hill was collected. Participants also engaged with local residents, urging them to maintain cleanliness and protect the environment.

The event saw participation from several members of EPG, including GCC member Mushtaq Ahmad Wani, along with faculty and students of GHSS Beerwa and SKAL members such as Ather Yamin, Faisal Shahjee, Anjum Dawood, Burhan Misger, Rahil Bashir, Abrar Qadir, Irfan, Mir Azhar, and Muzamil.

The organisers reiterated their commitment to continue such initiatives, with Faiz Bakshi announcing that the Environmental Policy Group will undertake more plantation drives across the region in the coming days in collaboration with partner organizations.

 

Greater Kashmir

Higher Vitamin B12 intake by pregnant women can aid early brain development in babies: Study

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Higher Vitamin B12 intake by pregnant women can aid early brain development in babies: Study

New Delhi, Apr 01: Improving Vitamin B12 supplementation during pregnancy in vegetarian women can benefit early brain development in babies, a new study has found.

The study, published in the journal BMJ Paediatrics Open, was conducted in two centres located in India and Nepal by a joint team of researchers from both these countries and the UK.

According to Dr Jitender Nagpal, Deputy Medical Director of Sitaram Bhartia Institute of Science and Research in Delhi, who led the study in India, the findings provide strong evidence that improving Vitamin B12 intake during pregnancy in vegetarian mothers can benefit early brain development in babies while substantially reducing maternal Vitamin B12 deficiency.

Vitamin B12 deficiency is common in populations with limited animal source foods and has been linked to delayed infant neurodevelopment and adverse pregnancy outcomes, the study said.

Evidence on the benefits of maternal Vitamin B12 supplementation for improving infant neurodevelopment remains mixed, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where deficiency is prevalent, the study said.

The Vitamin B12 deficiency affects a large proportion of women in South Asia, particularly in populations with low consumption of animal source foods and predominantly vegetarian communities, Dr Nagpal said.

“Despite this high burden, Vitamin B12 remains poorly addressed in routine antenatal care, which continues to focus largely on iron and folic acid. Routine Vitamin B12 supplementation is not currently included in government antenatal guidelines or expert body recommendations in India. As a result, many women enter pregnancy with unrecognised and untreated B12 deficiency, at a time when early brain development is highly sensitive to maternal nutrition,” he said.

In a multicentre, double-blind, randomised controlled trial, vegetarian women in their first trimester of pregnancy were enrolled. They received either a higher daily dose of Vitamin B12 (250 micrograms) or a lower dose (50 micrograms) from early pregnancy until six months after delivery.

Among 531 mother-infant pairs followed up, women in the higher dose group showed markedly greater improvement in Vitamin B12 status, with a relative reduction in biochemical Vitamin B12 deficiency exceeding 30 per cent compared to the lower dose group, Dr Nagpal said.

Crucially, these maternal improvements were accompanied by developmental benefits in infants.

“Babies born to mothers receiving the higher dose scored significantly higher on early mental development assessments at 9-12 months of age, while motor development was similar between groups,” Dr Nagpal stated.

Although the individual effect size was modest, even small gains in early cognitive development can translate into substantial population-level benefits in learning potential, educational attainment, and long-term human capital, he emphasised.

Together, these findings suggest that optimising Vitamin B12 intake during pregnancy could represent a simple, safe and low-cost refinement of antenatal nutrition strategies to reduce deficiency, and translate into important population-level gains in learning potential and long-term human capital, Dr Nagpal said.

Greater Kashmir

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