The “City of Gold” witnessed a vibrant morning on Friday as gold prices in Dubai staged a notable recovery, snapping a downward streak that had dominated the market for over a week. In a classic display of retail resilience, residents and tourists alike flocked to the Dubai Gold Souk and major jewellery outlets to capitalize on the price swings. By 9:42 am on March 27, 2026, the 24-karat variant was retailing at Dh543.73 per gram, marking a significant jump from the previous day’s lower levels and providing a much-needed boost to market sentiment after a volatile month.

Dubai gold price today

This upward movement is largely tied to global spot gold prices, which have remained firm due to persistent concerns over inflation and economic slowdown risks. Currency fluctuations, particularly a softer US dollar, have further supported gold’s upward trajectory, making it more attractive to international buyers.Jewellers across Dubai noted that while footfall remains steady, buyers are becoming more value-conscious, often opting for lighter jewellery or delaying bulk purchases in anticipation of price corrections.

Global inflation cues

The primary catalyst behind this morning’s price hike lies across the Atlantic, where investors are laser-focused on the US Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) inflation data. This metric is the Federal Reserve’s preferred gauge and is expected to dictate the pace of interest rate cuts for the remainder of 2026. Earlier this year, a hawkish shift from the Fed—following the nomination of Kevin Warsh as Chair, sent precious metals into a tailspin, with silver crashing 44% from its January highs. However, the current technical support levels have invited fresh buying interest as traders hedge against potential inflation surprises and a slightly softening US dollar.

UAE gold demand trends

In the UAE, gold demand remains resilient but measured. Retail buyers, especially ahead of festive and wedding seasons, continue to show interest, though rising prices are influencing purchasing patterns.Jewellers report a shift towards:

Tourist demand, a key driver for Dubai’s gold market, remains stable, providing additional support to overall sales despite higher price levels.Earlier dips in gold rates had encouraged buying, particularly among residents and tourists. However, the current upward movement suggests the market remains sensitive to external triggers; any signs of economic stress quickly translate into higher gold prices.Analysts expect this trend to continue in the near term. Gold will likely remain volatile but supported at higher levels unless global economic conditions shift significantly.

Outlook for Dubai gold market

Looking ahead, global economic indicators, Dubai gold price climbs on March 27: 24K at around Dh624 per gram amid global market jitters particularly inflation data and central bank policy decisions, are expected to influence gold prices in Dubai. Any signals of easing monetary policy could further strengthen gold prices.For buyers in the UAE, this means navigating a market where prices may stay elevated in the short term. For investors, gold continues to offer stability and diversification, especially in uncertain economic environments.As markets await clearer direction, gold’s role as a safe-haven asset remains firmly intact, keeping Dubai’s bullion trade active and closely watched.

Gujarat Titans head coach Ashish Nehra grabbed attention with his witty remark while addressing the franchise’s recent trade with Mumbai Indians ahead of IPL 2026. Gujarat traded Caribbean all-rounder Sherfane Rutherford to Mumbai in an all-cash deal, boosting their purse but not bringing in any player in return.

The move once again raised questions about GT’s strategy of trading players for cash, especially when dealing with a powerhouse franchise like Mumbai Indians.

Ashish Nehra’s humorous take on not getting a big player

During a pre-season press conference in Ahmedabad, Nehra was asked why Gujarat Titans often end up trading players to Mumbai Indians without receiving a big-name cricketer in exchange. Responding in his trademark light-hearted style, Nehra said:

“Humare haath me hota toh Jasprit Bumrah le aate. Woh maane nahi.”

(If it were in our hands, we would have brought Jasprit Bumrah. They wouldn’t agree.)

The comment drew laughter and quickly went viral, as Nehra acknowledged the obvious—Mumbai Indians would never part ways with one of their biggest match-winners and India’s premier fast bowler.

Also READ: Gujarat Titans IPL 2026 Full Schedule: Date, Time & Venues of GT matches

All-cash deal boosts GT’s auction purse

The trade involving Sherfane Rutherford was a pure cash deal, meaning Gujarat Titans did not receive any player in return. Instead, the franchise added financial flexibility to its purse, which could be crucial for the upcoming mini-auction or mid-season adjustments.

This is not the first time GT has followed such a strategy. Back in 2024, the franchise had allowed Hardik Pandya to return to Mumbai Indians in a similar all-cash deal, which also strengthened their budget but did not bring in a direct replacement.

Such moves indicate a clear approach, building long-term squad depth through smarter auction investments rather than direct player swaps.

Reality of IPL trades highlighted by Nehra

Nehra’s remark, though humorous, underlines a key reality of IPL trades. Big franchises like Mumbai Indians are unlikely to release their marquee players, especially proven match-winners like Bumrah.

As a result, teams like Gujarat Titans often have to settle for financial gains rather than high-profile player acquisitions in such deals. The comment also reflects the competitive yet respectful dynamic between franchises, where negotiations are driven by team priorities rather than fan expectations.

Also READ: Mumbai Indians IPL 2026 Full Schedule: Date, Time & Venues of MI matches

NEW DELHI: The Gut Microbiota and Probiotic Science Foundation organised the 16th India Probiotic Symposium on “Gut Microbiome and Probiotics: Impact from Cradle to Centenarians” in New Delhi on March 27-28. According to an official press release, delivering the Chief Guest address, Rajiv Gauba, Member, NITI Aayog, underscored the critical role of the gut microbiome in immunity, metabolism and preventive healthcare. Gauba expressed concern over the rapid shift in dietary habits in India, noting that urbanisation, changing lifestyles and the increasing consumption of ultra-processed and refined foods, often driven by social media and quick commerce platforms, are distancing people from traditional, nutritionally rich diets. He cautioned that these trends could have serious long-term consequences for gut health, highlighting that an estimated 56.4 per cent of India’s disease burden is attributable to unhealthy or imbalanced diets. He further warned that if neglected, “micro-organisms could create macro consequences.” Situating gut health within a wider development context, Gauba described healthcare as the most critical sector for both individual well-being and economic growth. He stated that India’s demographic dividend can only be realised with a healthy workforce and timely preparation for active and healthy ageing as the elderly share of the population rises. He emphasised that investment in health is an investment in Viksit Bharat and cited initiatives such as Ayushman Bharat, PM-JAY, PM Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana and Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, which have significantly strengthened primary healthcare and financial protection. He pointed out that out-of-pocket health expenditure has declined from 62.6 per cent to 39.4 per cent between FY15 and FY22, resulting in savings of over Rs 1.25 lakh crore for households. At the same time, Gauba acknowledged persistent challenges related to access, equity, affordability, quality, patient safety and shortages of skilled healthcare professionals. He emphasised that access to healthcare services continues to be influenced by socio-economic factors. Urging healthcare professionals to play a proactive role, he called for increased prescription of affordable generic medicines and greater use of digital health tools, telemedicine, data analytics, and AI to expand specialist care to underserved communities and act as advocates for those lacking access to quality medical services. Addressing the evolving field of probiotics, Gauba noted that microbiome science has progressed from descriptive studies to mechanistic and translational research. He highlighted emerging frontiers such as next-generation microbiome-based therapeutics, synthetic biology and CRISPR-enabled engineering of probiotic strains with targeted anti-inflammatory and metabolic functions for precision medicine. However, he cautioned against the growing spread of misinformation and misleading advertisements in the probiotics and supplements market, urging clinicians and researchers to use their credibility and media reach to disseminate accurate information, promote healthy dietary habits and champion preventive lifestyles that reduce the need for expensive diagnostics and procedures. Highlighting India’s rich heritage of fermented foods and traditional dietary practices, Gauba stated that the country is uniquely positioned to lead the global probiotic movement by combining traditional knowledge with genomic and microbiome research to develop clinically validated probiotics. He underlined the vast public health potential of probiotics to reduce infectious and chronic disease burdens, improve nutrition and strengthen population immunity. He also stressed that robust collaboration between academia, industry and regulators is essential to translate scientific advances into safe, effective and accessible products. Lauding the participation of young researchers and innovators, Gauba encouraged them to adopt multidisciplinary and evidence-based approaches to address complex health challenges. He expressed confidence that the symposium would catalyse new collaborations and reinforce India’s leadership in the field of microbiome and probiotic science.

Nihal Sarin and Anish Giri (Photos by Michal Walusza, Lennart Ootes and FIDE)

NEW DELHI: As the chess world descends upon Cyprus for the 2026 Candidates, the name Anish Giri continues to be synonymous with a singular, frustrating memory from the past. 14 draws in 14 games. That legendary run in the 2016 Candidates birthed the “King of Draws” moniker for the current Dutch No. 1.But as the 31-year-old eyes the Candidates crown 10 years later, and with it the right to challenge Dommaraju Gukesh, Indian Grandmaster Nihal Sarin points out that “Drwaish Giri” is a tired stereotype that ignores the realities of elite chess.“I very, very strongly believe that people saying Anish is a drawish player is complete nonsense, honestly,” Nihal told TimesofIndia.com in an exclusive interview on the eve of the tournament. “I believe he’s a huge fighter, actually. The draw thing is definitely a bit of a myth.”

The “myth” of the Draw KingGiri himself is well aware of the narrative. Speaking about his preparation to TimesofIndia.com, the Dutch No. 1 revealed the unique hurdles of a Candidates cycle, noting that he had to wait to hire seconds (coaching assistants) because his top choices were so good they ended up qualifying for the tournament themselves.“I understand really well what makes a good second because that second was so good he became my opponent,” Giri joked.

Nihal points to Giri’s triumph at the 2025 FIDE Grand Swiss, where he finished unbeaten (with five wins and six draws) to qualify for this very event, as proof of his winning intent.“To win the tournament by half a point, he clearly did win a fair few games as well,” Nihal noted. “A lot of draws happen when top players are clashing because that is what chess is. If both play to their absolute potential, it will be a draw. Chess is like that only”Nihal’s Candidates 2026 predictionWhile many experts are hyper-focused on Fabiano Caruana or Hikaru Nakamura, Nihal Sarin’s evaluation of the 2026 field suggests a much more volatile “open” race.While he respects the established American giants, he threw a spotlight on Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov.“If I had to make a guess, maybe Fabi or Sindu [Sindarov],” Nihal told this website. “Sindarov is having a great year so far and playing some amazing chess. And of course, if Pragg has a good event, then absolutely. You can also never count Hikaru out.”Nihal also cautioned against sidelining the two-time European Champion, Matthias Bluebaum. While some call Bluebaum’s style pragmatic, Nihal sees a dangerous trap.“He’s insanely good at being kind of safe. Not drawish, but safe. He is extremely good at punishing if opponents try to go berserk against him. That is a very smart way of winning games,” Nihal remarked.A closely packed women’s fieldTurning his attention to the Women’s Candidates, Nihal believes the tournament is even more unpredictable than the Open section.“I really wouldn’t be surprised at all whoever wins. I think everyone can beat everyone there,” he said.However, he leaned toward experience as the deciding factor.“I would guess probably Aleksandra Goryachkina or Tan Zhongyi is likely to win because they have done it before. I believe it’s a bit easier having that belief, that because you have done it before, you can do it again.”As the marathon begins on Saturday, reputations like “Drawish Giri” or “underdog Bluebaum” mean very little. In Nihal’s words, “Absolutely everybody can win.”

Actor Saba Azad has been hospitalised after being diagnosed with the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis. Taking to Instagram on Friday, she shared a photo of herself lying in a large hospital bed, looking visibly frail, and described the ordeal as the “worst 14 days” of her life. She also mentioned that Hrithik Roshan has been a constant source of support during this time.Posting the picture, Saba wrote, “Worst 14 days of my life. Cyclospora cayetanensis you nasty piece of work!! For somone who only ever eats home food, carries her water bottle everywhere, this bug came outa nowhere, that too at the busiest time of the year for me. Iv lost 4 kgs that I didn’t have spare in two weeks and I can barely walk.”She further shared how the illness drastically affected her physical strength. “One day im training twice a day, doing pull-ups, lifting heavy and the next im half my size, without strength to lift a goddamn toothpick leave alone weights. So pls for the love of your gut wash your salad leaves and veg like your life depends on it – cause sometimes it really does!! Our new method is Baking soda + veggie wash (Herbal Strategi has a good one),” wrote Saba.Concluding her note, she credited Hrithik for lifting her spirits, “(camera emoji) by @hrithikroshan who’s kept my very grumpy sprits up and always manages to find humour in the darnest situations. PS – I haven’t shrunk quite as much as it may seem here, the bed is supersized and the angle is wide.”