Syria is facing a fresh wave of public anger after the government announced steep increases in fuel prices, with diesel prices rising by 40&#37 and gasoline by nearly 30&#37. The sharp hike has triggered protests across parts of the country, with demonstrators taking to the streets and key highways being blocked. Transport workers and drivers have joined the growing backlash as higher diesel prices threaten to push up transportation and operating costs, adding further pressure to households already struggling with rising living expenses. Syrian authorities have pointed to soaring global oil prices and the impact of the wider US-Iran conflict as factors behind the latest fuel price increases. The country's dependence on imported fuel, refinery disruptions and higher international energy prices have combined to create another major challenge for the Syrian economy. WATCH

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.