Donald Trump is reportedly considering sending US troops to seize Kharg Island, a vital oil export hub of Iran, as tensions escalate in the Middle East. The island handles nearly 90% of Iran’s crude exports, making it a strategic economic target. According to US officials cited by Axios, capturing the island could deliver an “economic knockout” to Tehran by cutting off a major source of revenue. However, such a move could trigger retaliatory attacks on energy infrastructure across Gulf nations, including Saudi Arabia. The development comes amid rising oil prices and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global shipping route. (PC: NDTV)

India has rejected a recommendation by a US government commission that called for sanctions on the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) urged the US government to label India a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged religious freedom violations. Responding to the report, the Ministry of External Affairs said the claims were biased. Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India “categorically reject[s] its motivated and biased characterisation”. He added the commission presents a “distorted and selective picture of India”. The report also suggested targeted sanctions and asked the US to link security cooperation and trade policy with religious freedom conditions in India. (PC: NDTV)

The Indian Navy has deployed three warships, including INS Surat, to escort India-bound merchant vessels amid rising tensions and disruption in the Strait of Hormuz. Two ships were already stationed in the region under mission-based deployment, while a third was assigned specifically for escort operations in the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea. The move comes after several attacks on commercial shipping linked to the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel. Recently, two India-flagged LPG carriers Shivalik LPG carrier and Nanda Devi LPG carrier safely crossed the strategic waterway after diplomatic engagement. (PC: PTI)

A new video of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu walking outdoors has appeared on social media as rumours about his death continue online. The footage was posted on Netanyahu’s official X account. It appears aimed at countering claims that he had been killed or seriously injured. In the video, Netanyahu is seen strolling through a green outdoor area. Hills and trees are visible in the background. He wears a black coat and walks along a path. At one point, he stops and smiles while posing for photographs. Security personnel are seen nearby. Earlier, another clip of him sitting at a café sparked debate after some users claimed it looked like a “deepfake”. (PC: HT)

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Britain will not be drawn into a wider war over Iran. He said the UK is working with allies on a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz after Iran effectively shut the key oil route. Starmer said the recent US operation had “massively weakened” the military capability of the Iranian government. But he added that diplomacy will still be needed after the conflict. “There will need to be some sort of negotiated agreement,” he said, aimed at limiting Iran’s nuclear programme and securing international shipping. Starmer said reopening the strait is important to “ensure stability in the markets”. He said Britain and its partners are preparing a “viable plan” to restore safe navigation in the region. (PC: BBC)

Saudi Arabia is offering some oil buyers an alternative export route as tensions affect shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The kingdom has given long-term customers the option to receive April oil supplies from the Red Sea port of Yanbu instead of its usual Persian Gulf terminals. The move comes as the Strait of Hormuz faces disruption due to the ongoing conflict in the region. The strait handles a large share of global oil trade. By offering the Yanbu route, Saudi Arabia aims to keep supplies moving and reduce risks linked to the shipping crisis. (PC: India Today)

Thousands of people joined a shutdown and street protests in Ladakh on Monday. Markets remained closed in Leh and Kargil as people marched with banners. The protest was called by the Apex Body Leh and the Kargil Democratic Alliance. Protesters demanded statehood for Ladakh and protection under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. ABL co-chairman Cherring Dorjay Lakrook said the protest remained peaceful. “We will not stop demanding what is rightfully ours,” he said. This was the first major protest since demonstrations in September last year linked to activist Sonam Wangchuk. (PC: The Indian Express)

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday criticised the Election Commission of India after several senior officials in the state were removed ahead of the assembly elections. “Anti-Women, Anti-Bengali”: Mamata Banerjee Attacks Election Commission Over Removal of Top Bengal Officers The reshuffle included Chief Secretary Nandini Chakravorty. The poll body appointed IAS officer Dushyant Nariala as her replacement. Banerjee alleged the move was done at the request of the Bharatiya Janata Party. “A Bengali woman, Nandini Chakraborty, was serving as the chief secretary. You are not merely anti-Bengali; you are also anti-women,” Banerjee said at a rally in Kolkata. She also criticised the removal of the state police chief and other officials before the polls. (PC: NDTV)

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday criticised the Election Commission of India after several senior officials in the state were removed ahead of the assembly elections. The reshuffle included Chief Secretary Nandini Chakravorty. The poll body appointed IAS officer Dushyant Nariala as her replacement. Banerjee alleged the move was done at the request of the Bharatiya Janata Party. “A Bengali woman, Nandini Chakraborty, was serving as the chief secretary. You are not merely anti-Bengali; you are also anti-women,” Banerjee said at a rally in Kolkata. She also criticised the removal of the state police chief and other officials before the polls.

US fighter jets have reportedly struck military facilities on a mountain near the Chabahar trade zone in Chabahar, according to Al Jazeera citing Voice of America. Loud explosions were heard behind the trade zone, the report said. More details about the strike are still awaited. Some unverified videos circulating online claimed to show a US jet flying over the area. The development comes as the conflict between the United States and Iran continues to escalate. The strike was reported near the Chabahar Free Trade Zone, a key regional transit hub. The port is also important for India’s trade route to Afghanistan and Central Asia. (PC: HT)