LIVE: Trump claims Iran wants deal, US in talks with ‘respected’ leader in Tehran

Gold prices plunged sharply by Rs 8,089 to Rs 1.36 lakh per 10 grams in futures trade on Monday (March 23), tracking a global selloff amid rising inflation fears and a firm US dollar.

On the Multi Commodity Exchange, the yellow metal for April delivery slumped by Rs 8,089, or 5.6 per cent, to Rs 1,36,403 per 10 grams. Last week, gold had dropped Rs 13,974, or 8.82 per cent, to close at around Rs 1.44 lakh per 10 grams on the commodities bourse.

Analysts said the precious metal opened with a sharp gap down and is likely to extend its losing streak for the fourth consecutive week.

The Directorate General for Civil Aviation, on Monday (March 23), has released the schedule for domestic flights, applicable from March 29th to October 24th.

DGCA has advised the passengers to cross-check the website of the respective airlines and to contact them in case of last-minute flight schedule changes due to "operational exigencies."

On Sunday (March 22), the Ministry of Civil Aviation decided to withdraw the temporary fare caps on domestic airfares starting Monday (March 23). The decision marks the end of a price-control regime that the government initiated several months ago to manage volatility in the aviation market. The Ministry noted that the restrictions on ticket pricing are no longer required under the current operating environment.

The International Energy Agency has warned that the current energy crisis is on par with the combined force of the twin oil shocks of the 1970s and the fallout of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Fatih Birol, the IEA’s executive director, said the growing fallout could be seriously compounded through interruptions to the “vital arteries of the global economy”, including petrochemicals, fertilisers, sulfur and helium.

The depth of the problems in energy markets caused by American and Israeli bombings in Iran, and the closure of the stragetic strait of Hormuz, had not initally been properly understood by world leaders, he added.

As US President Donald Trump's deadline on opening the Strait of Hormuz approaches, Iran on Monday (March 23) threatened to attack West Asia electrical plants powering American military bases.

The statement from Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard marks the latest attempt by Tehran to try and explain its attacks on the Gulf Arab countries.

Iranian state television read out the statement on air on Monday morning.

“What we have done is to announce our decision that if the power plants are attacked, Iran will retaliate by targeting the power plants of the occupying regime and the power plants of regional countries that supply electricity to US bases, as well as the economic, industrial and energy infrastructures in which Americans have shares,” the statement said, referring to Israel as an “occupying regime.”

It added: “Do not doubt that we will do this.” Trump warned early Sunday morning that the US will target Iranian power plants in 48 hours if the Strait remains effectively closed by Iranian fire on shipping

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday (March 23) carried out raids at several locations in Kashmir in connection with a terror-related case, officials said.

The searches were conducted in the Handwara area of Kupwara district and Kulgam district, the officials said.

Further details are awaited.

The TVK has announced its candidates for the upcoming Assembly polls in Puducherry. The party on Sunday (March 22) said it will contest all 30 constituencies on its own.

The list includes two women who have been fielded from Mangalam and Kadirkamam in the Puducherry region. They named A K Sai J Saravanan Kumar as is its nominee in the Thirubhuvanai reserved segment here.

Saravanan Kumar quit the BJP on Saturday (March 21) following the denial of a ticket to him to seek re-election from the Oussudu reserved segment.

Former AIADMK legislators K A U Asana and L Periyasamy are the TVK nominees to contest from Karaikal (South) and Nettapakkam (reserved) segments, respectively.

Former president of the Puducherry unit of the BJP, V Saminathan has been fielded in Lawspet constituency.

Former Deputy Inspector General of Police of Puducherry V J Chandran and former Congress legislator N Dhanavelou are among the party nominees

A mysterious blast occurred in a village in the Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir early Monday (March 23), officials said.

The blast took place near the main gate of the residence of former sarpanch Jai Ram Sharma at Gawala Talab, some 10 km from the International Border in the Ghagwal sector around 2 am, the officials said.

They said the blast uprooted the gate and a portion of the boundary wall but caused no casualties.

A team of forensic experts visited the site and took samples from the scene to ascertain the cause of the explosion, they said.

Police have registered an FIR, the officials said, adding senior officers are on the scene and further investigation is on.