United States and Iran are rising again as President Donald Trump warns Tehran that military action could return if nuclear negotiations fail. Calling the talks “right on the borderline,” Trump claimed the US is fully prepared for rapid escalation if Iran refuses to give “100&#37 good answers.” Despite an ongoing ceasefire, Washington’s latest statements have triggered fears of renewed conflict in the Middle East. Trump also raised alarms over the Strait of Hormuz, saying thousands of oil shipments are waiting to move through the critical global energy route.

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.