Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, Iran is reportedly considering allowing a limited number of oil tankers to pass through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, but only if the oil transactions are conducted in Chinese yuan instead of U.S. dollars. According to reports citing a senior Iranian official, the move would be part of a controlled reopening of the waterway after disruptions caused by ongoing conflict and attacks on ships. The condition aims to reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar and strengthen economic ties with China. Analysts say such a policy could challenge the dominance of the petrodollar system and reshape global oil trade dynamics. (PC: X)

A senior Iranian security official has claimed that members of Jeffrey Epstein’s network are planning a major attack and may try to blame Iran for it. Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, made the allegation in a post on X. “I’ve heard that the remaining members of Epstein’s network have devised a conspiracy to create an incident similar to 9/11 and blame Iran for it,” Larijani wrote. He did not provide evidence to support the claim. Larijani also said Iran opposes terrorism and does not see the American public as its enemy. The statement comes as tensions remain high during the ongoing Middle East conflict. (PC: India Today)

Iran has vowed to “pursue and kill” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the war between Iran, Israel and the United States entered its 16th day. In a statement, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said, “If this child-killing criminal is alive, we will continue to pursue and kill him with full force.” The remarks came as social media posts questioned Netanyahu’s whereabouts. Some users claimed a recent video of him appeared edited using artificial intelligence. Netanyahu’s office denied rumours of his death. “These are fake news; the Prime Minister is fine,” his office said. The conflict began after US and Israeli strikes on Iran last month triggered a wider regional war. (PC: NDTV)

Israeli forces shot dead a Palestinian couple and two of their children in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian officials said. The family was travelling in a car in the town of Tammoun when troops opened fire. The victims were identified as parents Ali and Waad Bani Odeh and their sons Mohammed, five, and Othman, seven. The Palestinian health ministry said they arrived at hospital with gunshot wounds to the head and face. Two other children in the car, aged eight and 11, survived with minor shrapnel injuries. Israeli authorities said troops fired after the vehicle “accelerated towards Israeli forces”. The military said the incident is under investigation. (PC: India Today)

The Indian Embassy in the UAE has issued a travel advisory as airlines revise and reduce flight schedules after instructions from the UAE Civil Aviation Authorities. The embassy said limited flights will operate between airports in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah and Fujairah and several destinations in India. It asked travellers to check details directly with their airlines before planning journeys. The advisory comes amid disruptions in aviation activity across the UAE due to the regional security situation. Airlines have already scaled back operations and some flights remain suspended. Authorities and airlines are adjusting schedules as conditions evolve and airspace restrictions continue. (PC: HT)

Indian Railways is preparing to launch a new ticket reservation system that will replace its 40-year-old Passenger Reservation System.   Officials say the upgraded platform will be faster and more secure. It will handle up to 125,000 ticket bookings per minute, compared with about 25,000 now.   The system is being developed by the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS). A senior official said the project is in the testing stage. “It is in an advanced stage… We are currently testing it,” the official said. The rollout is expected between April and June.   The new system will also aim to reduce booking failures and bot activity. Indian Railways carries about 23 million passengers daily. (PC: India Today)

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran would welcome any initiative that leads to a “complete end to the war”. “Tehran welcomes any initiative that leads to a complete end to the war,” Araghchi said, according to Iranian state media. His remarks came as the conflict in West Asia entered its third week. Iran has also warned it could intensify its response against the United States and Israel. Earlier, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards threatened Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The group said it would “pursue and kill him with full force”. Tensions have risen across the Gulf region. Several countries reported missile and drone interceptions. Iran has also accused the United States of launching attacks from the United Arab Emirates. (PC: News18)

Israel has launched “wide-scale” strikes on targets in western Iran, the Israeli military said.   The attacks came as Iran and Israel exchanged strikes overnight. Several Gulf states also reported missile and drone interceptions.   US President Donald Trump said Iran wants to make a deal to end the war. However, he said Washington is not ready to accept it. “They want to make a deal, but the terms are not good enough,” Trump told NBC.   Trump also claimed US forces had “totally demolished” Iran’s Kharg Island, a key oil export hub. He added the US “may hit it a few more times just for fun”.   The UK said it is discussing options to help secure the Strait of Hormuz. (PC: BBC)

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has vowed to “pursue and kill” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The group described him as a “child-killing criminal”. In a statement reported by Iranian state media, the Guards said, “If this child-killing criminal is alive, we will continue to pursue and kill him with full force.” The warning came after rumours on social media claimed Netanyahu had been assassinated. His office quickly rejected the claims and said the Israeli prime minister was “fine”. Speculation started after a video on Netanyahu’s X account appeared unusual to some users. X’s chatbot Grok later said the video was not manipulated and the claims were false. (PC: HT)

Software demonstrations by US defence contractor Palantir suggest the US military could use AI chatbots to help plan battlefield operations. The system uses Palantir’s Artificial Intelligence Platform to connect large language models, including Anthropic’s Claude, with defence data systems. In one demo, the AI flagged unusual enemy activity from radar and satellite images. When an analyst asked what unit might be present, the chatbot suggested it could be an armoured battalion based on equipment patterns. The analyst could then ask the system to create possible “courses of action”, such as an airstrike or artillery strike. Commanders would review the options before approval. Anthropic earlier said its Claude models should not be used for mass surveillance or fully autonomous weapons. (PC: NDTV)