Fuel prices are back in the political spotlight as the Congress party launches a sharp attack on the Modi government over the latest petrol and diesel price hike. Calling PM Narendra Modi “Mehngai Man”, Congress leaders including Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and K C Venugopal accused the Centre of pushing the burden of economic pressure onto ordinary citizens right after elections. The opposition has alleged that while global crude oil prices saw periods of decline, the government failed to provide relief to the public and instead increased fuel costs once polling concluded. Kharge described the situation as a “Modi-made crisis”, linking rising inflation, expensive fuel and growing pressure on middle-class and poor families to the Centre’s economic policies.

US President Donald Trump has delivered one of his strongest warnings yet to Iran, saying Tehran must urgently move toward a nuclear agreement with the United States as tensions continue to spiral across the West Asia. Speaking during a high-profile interview, Trump signalled that Washington’s patience with Iran is rapidly fading while concerns over Tehran’s near weapons-grade uranium stockpile continue to grow. The latest developments come as nuclear negotiations remain deadlocked, with fears mounting over the future of Iran’s atomic programme and the possibility of a wider regional conflict. Trump also hinted that Iran’s enriched uranium could eventually be secured under a future agreement, even as pressure intensifies on Tehran from multiple fronts. Meanwhile, shipping disruption in the Strait of Hormuz has added another dangerous layer to the crisis. WATCH