Kolkata: Middle-class families across Kolkata got a cold shock this Sunday, June 7, as domestic liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices increased by Rs 29, taking the price of a 14.2 kg cylinder to Rs 968.The hike comes just five days after a massive Rs 53.50 hike in commercial gas prices, which now stand at Rs 3,255.50. The volatile Middle East conflict has left the city’s housewives struggling to balance already delicate kitchen budgets.For women who manage household kitchens, this news felt like a direct attack on their monthly savings. In North Kolkata’s Bagbazar, Moushumi Ghosh, a housewife who manages a family of five, expressed her frustration while checking her delivery app.“We are already paying more for vegetables and cooking oil. Now, another Rs 29 for gas? It may seem like a small number to the authorities, but for us, it is a cumulative burden,” said Swapna De, a Tollygunge resident. “Whenever the crisis in West Asia escalates, it is our hearths that feel the heat. We cannot stop eating, so we cut back on clothes or small items for the children in the family.”This sentiment echoed throughout the city. In the residential complexes of Garia, Sumitra Banerjee, a retired teacher, said the stability of domestic gas prices has been one of the few silver linings in recent months.Banerjee commented, “Domestic rates were stable, but this sudden hike – coming so soon after the commercial gas hike – is a warning sign.” “When commercial gas rises, our tea and outside snacks become expensive. Now, cooking even simple food at home is becoming a luxury. How many times can a middle class budget be strained?”Industry experts attribute this increase to the volatility of international crude oil and rising procurement costs. Small cylinders were also not spared: a 5 kg cylinder rose to Rs 358.50, while a 10 kg cylinder reached Rs 691.50.Although the prices of commercial LPG, petrol and diesel were increased several times in the domestic market, keeping in mind the common man, the price of domestic LPG was kept unchanged till now. However, due to continued pressure from the international market and supply-chain crisis, oil companies were finally forced to raise the price of domestic gas in early June, leaving ordinary citizens struggling to balance their monthly expenses.

New Delhi: Former Chief Minister of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot Reviving discussions about the 2022 Congress presidential race and internal party turmoil, he said he would not have refused if he was offered the top post. Sonia Gandhi And party leadership.His comments are being seen as reopening of old fault lines within the Congress over the process of leadership change, which ultimately led to Mallikarjun Kharge Will become party chief in October 2022.Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Gehlot questioned the perception that he had rejected the post of party president while choosing to remain the chief minister of Rajasthan.Gehlot said, “I know the importance of the post of Congress President… (Mahatma) Gandhiji has been the President, Pandit Nehru, Motilal Nehru have been the President, who hasn’t been, Sardar Patel has been the party President, if Sonia Gandhi and the Congress were making me the Congress President, would I have refused?”He further alleged that a distorted narrative was created about his role in the leadership contest.He said, “The situation was created in such a way that I think it was a big conspiracy. The observers arrived suddenly and I was defamed.”

‘A wrong impression was made about me’, said Gehlot

Gehlot also said that the public perception about him remaining the Chief Minister while avoiding the top post of the party has been persisting for years.He said, “People think that Ashok Gehlot wanted to remain the chief minister and did not want to become the Congress president, that is why the rebellion took place.”He said, “Even people close to me abroad think that Ashok Gehlot wanted to remain the chief minister, he instigated the rebellion. How can I explain to them, I am explaining to you.”

‘I went and apologised’: Gehlot on internal crisis

Recalling the Rajasthan political crisis of 2022, Gehlot said he had already tried to clarify his position before the party leadership.He said, “I remained silent because I had to tell Soniaji that whether it was a rebellion against the pilot or anything else, I had nothing to do.”He also referred to internal developments involving central observers sent by the party high command, including Ajay Maken and Kharge, who were tasked with resolving factional differences in Rajasthan.He said, “I was the leader of the legislature party, AICC observers had come. The arrival of AICC observers holds significance. It was Kharge Saheb or Ajay Makenji and I could not get the resolution passed.”

Remembering Rajasthan Political Crisis of 2022

The comments come nearly four years after the Rajasthan Congress was in turmoil in 2022, when factional tensions flared up between Gehlot and then Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot during the party’s leadership change process.According to ANI, the crisis deepened after a consensus could not be reached in the Congress Legislature Party meeting, following which a section of MLAs associated with Gehlot reportedly submitted their resignations to the Speaker.Gehlot loyalists had reportedly refused to hold a face-to-face meeting with the observers, while rival camps had put forward competing proposals on the leadership selection.Ajay Maken had said after the meeting that the situation involved concerns of conflict of interest, noting that resolutions by some MLAs had raised questions about leadership control if Gehlot became Congress president.He had also said, “We waited for more MLAs to come but they did not come. Now Mallikarjun Kharge and I are going to Delhi to submit our report to the Congress President.”The crisis ultimately contributed to preventing an immediate leadership change in Rajasthan, while the party proceeded with organizational elections later that year.Gehlot, in his latest remarks, also reiterated that he had expressed regret to the party leadership following the internal turmoil.He said, “Although I had said in the night that the meeting should be ended now and we will call another meeting tomorrow and talk. That situation did not arise for us… That’s why… That’s why… It didn’t happen… The motion could not be passed. I went and expressed regret in front of madam, the party gave me everything, such a situation arose so I am apologizing…” he said.Sonia Gandhi had served as the interim Congress president before Mallikarjun Kharge defeated Shashi Tharoor in the party presidential election.Gehlot’s latest comments are expected to revive discussions within the Congress on handling the 2022 transition and the continued impact of factional divisions in Rajasthan politics.

India all-rounder Washington Sundar believes that debutant spinner Manav Suthar has all the ingredients to become a major force in Indian Test cricket, after the left-handed batsman had a brilliant performance in his debut appearance against Afghanistan. Sundar said that Suthar’s skill set and work ethic has been evident over the years and predicted that the youngster will win many matches for India.

Suthar was one of the standout performers for India on day two Took three wickets in the only test against Afghanistan in Mullanpur Helping the hosts tighten their grip on the competition. The Rajasthan spinner justified the faith shown in him by the selectors with a confident performance on a surface that provided increasing assistance to the slower bowlers.

India vs AFG, one-off Test Day 2: highlighted | Achievement:

Speaking at the second day’s press conference, Washington praised his spin-bowling teammate and highlighted the qualities that have made Sutthar one of the most highly rated young spinners in the domestic circuit.

“He (Suthar) has been brilliant. As players who have played with him over the years, we know exactly what he can bring, especially in this format,” Sundar enthused.

“The number of skills he has and the way he has worked on them over the last few years is something to watch. For him to bring out his best skill set, especially on the second day, is amazing… As a real spinner he has got great skill sets. How much he can really spin the ball and how many revs he can really get on the ball – that’s always been a strength. Every time he goes into his load-up and releases the ball, he gives all his energy It’s an amazing skill as well as the approach to each ball.”

For most of the last decade, India’s legendary spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja had a complete monopoly on the Test match department. Although the national selectors have rested key stalwarts for this series, Suthar’s seamless integration with Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar proves that the next generation of Indian slow bowlers is fully prepared to take up the international responsibilities.

How was Manav Suthar’s India Test debut?

Manav Suthar’s introduction to Test cricket could not have been written more accurately. Brought into the bowling attack as early as the sixth over of the innings, the Rajasthan spinner tempted Afghanistan opener Abdul Malik for a top-edge sweep with his very first ball in international cricket, which fell safely into Indian hands.

The youngster did not stop there, he continued to take full advantage of the turn provided by the New Chandigarh surface to completely defeat the opposition batsmen. In the 20th over, Suthar took a beautiful drift and a sharp outside edge from the dangerous Rahmanullah Gurbaz, then added Afsar Zazai to his account in the evening and finished the second day on a high with impressive figures of 3/21 from his 15.5 overs.

India has an edge over Afghanistan

By the end of the second day’s play, the host nation had put themselves in an almost unbeatable position to secure a decisive victory. Electing to bat after winning the toss, India posted a massive score of 564/8 in the first innings before declaring with the help of brilliant centuries from captain Shubman Gill (126) and vice-captain KL Rahul (100) and brilliant half-centuries from Sai Sudarshan (81), Rishabh Pant (81) and Washington Sundar (52*).

In response, Afghanistan’s batting lineup collapsed under intense pressure from India’s multi-pronged spin attack on a rapidly deteriorating surface. The visitors ended the second day’s play at 113/5 after 39.5 overs and still trail by 451 runs. While Rahmat Shah (43*) has held the fort for the visitors, Suthar and the rest of the Indian bowling unit will look to finish fast on day three.

– ends

New Delhi: 13 shops were gutted in a massive fire in Poonch district. Jammu and Kashmir Early Sunday, officials said.According to PTI report, the fire broke out around 5 am in the Bufliaz Central Market along Mughal Road and quickly spread to the mostly wooden and tin-roofed shops.Before teams from the Fire and Emergency Services Department reached the spot, local residents began efforts to douse the fire with the assistance of Army and CRPF personnel. Videos circulated on social media showed massive flames in the market, which reportedly damaged property worth crores.A Fire and Emergency Services Department official said the fire was brought under control within 30 minutes of the firefighting operation, preventing further damage. There is no information about any casualty.The official said preliminary investigation suggests that the fire broke out due to a short circuit in a shop and then spread to nearby buildings.The incident has sparked anger among local residents and traders, who have accused the civic administration of failing to respond promptly.A fire victim told PTI, “The absence of a fire station in the area turned it into a major tragedy. A fire engine from Surankot reached the spot more than an hour after the fire broke out. We are grateful to the Army and CRPF personnel for their prompt response, which helped save at least four shops from the blaze. Sadly, no representative of the civil administration was at the spot to assess the damage or offer assistance. Gone.”Affected traders and residents alleged that the delay in fire-fighting efforts led to the flames spreading rapidly, causing extensive damage to shops and property.He demanded setting up a permanent fire station in the area, saying lack of emergency infrastructure resulted in frequent threats to life and property. Locals also urged the administration to conduct a detailed assessment of the damage and provide financial assistance to the affected families and shopkeepers to help them rebuild their livelihoods.

Construction work on a section of the Dhungeshwari Ropeway Project is nearing completion and its testing is expected soon

Went: Tourists and devotees visiting bodhgaya During the upcoming tourist season 2026-27, there is a possibility of ropeway facility to reach at least the middle of Dhungeshwari hills, where the ancient Mahakal cave temple with the idol of Buddha is located.Construction work on a section of the ropeway project is nearing completion and it is expected to be tested before the start of the upcoming tourist season in Bodhgaya. Once completed, it will be only the second ropeway to be operational at a site on the Buddhist circuit in the south after Rajgir. Bihar. Work is also going on on two more ropeways including Pretshila and Brahmayoni hills in Gaya district.Earlier, visitors had to climb steep stairs to reach the cave temple of Dhungeshwari. A recently constructed motorable road close to the cave temple has already made access easy for visitors. The ropeway is expected to further enhance connectivity and provide a more convenient journey to the cave temple. The project, being developed at an estimated cost of around Rs 16 crore, aims to improve accessibility to the cave temple, a major Buddhist pilgrimage site near Bodhgaya.Shashi Bhushan Kumar, junior engineer, Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation (BSTDC), who is overseeing the ropeway project, said, “One section of the ropeway, which is nearing completion, is 309 meters long. Once the testing is successful and the ropeway is fully operational for tourists, it will have the facility to go up and down for 12 persons at a time. Two trolleys with a capacity of six persons each will be made operational in the first section.However, before opening the first section for normal operations, about a month of testing will be carried out to ensure proper safety norms. The second section from the cave temple to the top of the hill is about 200 metres. Survey of the second section has also been done. After the commissioning of the first section, work on the second section will be expedited.Rakesh Kumar, president of the Tourist Guide Association of Bihar, said, “The Dhungeshwari Hills, also known as the Pragabodhi Hills, have two ancient caves, also known as the Mahakala Caves, where the Buddha is believed to have practiced meditation for about six years before attaining enlightenment under the Bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya. A golden statue of the Buddha has been installed in the cave, where Buddhist devotees offer prayers. The caves lie between the bottom and top of the hill. There are some ancient brick stupas on the top”.

Manav Suthar (BCCI photo)

New Delhi: It was nothing short of a dream debut for Manav Suthar as the young left-arm spinner made an immediate impact for India on the second day of the one-off Test against Afghanistan at the Maharaja Yadvendra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh.captain Shubman Gill Just before tea on the second day, he bowled a red cherry to Suthar and gave the debutant his first spell in Test cricket. It didn’t take long for the 23-year-old to make his mark.Suthar hit a four on the fourth ball of his Test career. Abdul Malik attempted to sweep but could only get a top edge, with Mohammed Siraj diving beyond backward square leg to complete a sharp catch.As soon as Suthar got his first Test wicket, the wicket started celebrating. Teammates rushed in with hugs and high-fives, while the spinner soaked in the moment he’ll always remember.This success was not only memorable – it was historic.By striking in the very first over of his Test career, Suthar became the eighth Indian cricketer to take a wicket in the very first over of his first Test match. Remarkably, he joins a list that is almost eight decades old and includes just seven other names in Indian cricket history.The elite club includes Montu Banerjee (vs West Indies, 1948), Manohar Hardikar (vs West Indies, 1958), Waman Kumar (vs Pakistan, 1961), Chetan Sharma (vs Pakistan, 1984), WV Raman (vs West Indies, 1988), Nilesh Kulkarni (vs Sri Lanka, 1997) and Tinu Yohannan (vs England, 2001) are included.What makes Suthar’s achievement even more special is that no Indian had achieved this feat for 25 years since Yohannan dismissed Marcus Trescothick in his very first over against England in 2001.Selected ahead of fellow spin-bowling all-rounder Harsh Dubey, Suthar almost immediately justified the team management’s faith in him. Before the match, he received Test cap number 319 from senior spinner Kuldeep Yadav, becoming India’s first specialist spin-bowling Test debutant since Axar Patel’s debut in 2021.

Indians have to take a wicket in their first over in the men’s Test

David Lammy (left) and JD Vance (right)

Britain’s Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy says he phoned US Vice President JD Vance to tell him he was “wrong” to link the murder of British teenager Henry Novak by Sikh man Vikram Digva to “mass migration”, saying the case has “nothing to do” with immigration.UK deputy PM tells Vance he is ‘wrong’ over murder of Henry Novak by Sikh man Vikram DigvaSpeaking to British broadcasters on Sunday, Lammy said he had an “agreed but strong” conversation with Vance after the US vice president suggested Novak’s killing reflected the consequences of a “mass invasion of migrants” into Western countries.According to Sky News, Lammy said he told Vance: “Look, Mr. Vice President, you are wrong about this,” stressing that the matter “has nothing to do with mass migration.”The intervention came after Vance posted on Twitter that the death of 18-year-old Novak was symbolic of broader civilizational decline, arguing that European leaders had failed to stand up against mass migration and “the politics of self-hatred.”Lammy disputed that characterization, saying that Britain’s democratic and legal institutions were functioning well. He said the perpetrator, Vikram Digva, was convicted while multiple reviews into police conduct, sentencing and policing guidance were ongoing.“This young man was British. Let’s be clear about that,” Lammy said, referring to UK-born Degua.Degawa, 23, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years after being found guilty of murdering Novak in Southampton last December. During the incident, Digva falsely claimed that he was racially abused and that he acted in self-defense.Public anger grew when bodycam footage showed Novak lying on the ground and telling officers he had been stabbed and was struggling to breathe. While one officer asked, “You’ve been stabbed? Where?”, another responded: “Don’t think you’ve been stabbed, buddy.”Lammy said he also reminded Vance of the wishes of Novak’s family, who have repeatedly urged people not to use this tragedy to stoke social division.“I urged him that tweeting like this is not helpful,” Lammy said, adding that he reminded the vice president of his appeal for peace for the family and his desire to avoid turning the matter into an issue of “division and hatred.”According to Lammy, Vance defended his position by arguing that what he saw as traditional Western values ​​was under attack. However, the British minister said he disagreed with what Vance described as a “caricature” of Western civilization and its decline.Despite the disagreement, Lammy insisted that the two would remain on good terms. The pair have developed an unlikely friendship in recent years and maintain regular contact despite their political differences.Henry Novak’s father, Mark Novak, has repeatedly appealed for his son’s death not to be politicized, saying after the sentencing that the family did not want the tragedy to be used to create “further division, hatred or tension.”

For years, the existence of underground rooms beneath a secondary school in central Rome was treated more as a local story than documented history. A short distance from the Colosseum, beneath the gymnasium of the Liceo Scientifico Cavour, lay a network of burial places largely out of view, known to a handful of curious visitors but never fully investigated.This changed after reports from within the school attracted the attention of heritage authorities. What has been uncovered is evidence of a substantial Roman habitation dating from the mid-2nd century AD. according to Official information released through the Cantiri Naranti Heritage Project, The remains are of a large domus preserved beneath the modern building, whose decorative elements have survived in remarkably good condition despite centuries of change above ground.

who was its owner ancient roman house under the school gym

The site is located in a historically important part of the city between the Carina district and the Esquiline Hill. Ancient literary sources connect the wider region with some of the most famous political figures of the late Roman Republic and early Empire. Yet modern development has left archaeologists only fragmented opportunities to examine what once stood there.According to the Cantieri Narenti project description, earlier construction work in 1895 had opened up a part of the same residential complex during the inauguration of Via degli Annibaldi. Records of those investigations from the nineteenth century documented a water pipe bearing the name of a member of the Umbreus family, providing some clues about the possible owners of the property. The newly examined rooms show that the residence was part of a large and prosperous urban family, rather than a modest residence. Most of the structure is hidden beneath the school grounds, meaning the full extent of the complex is still unknown.

Ancient Roman painted walls and plastered ceilings found remarkably intact

The most important aspect of the discovery is the existence of interior decoration. According to Cantieri Naranti, many of the rooms have painted surfaces and stucco ornamentation extending to the vaulted ceilings. Such details are often one of the first features to be lost when buildings are demolished, rebuilt or buried for long periods of time.The underground space was gradually filled with subsequent debris and accumulated material. Work carried out in early 2026 focused on clearing these deposits and preparing the area for archaeological investigation. The preserved decorative program is expected to provide valuable evidence about domestic architecture and artistic taste in imperial Rome. Researchers are also conducting surveys, diagnostic studies, and conservation work designed to stabilize both the structures and their decorative surfaces. These efforts are part of a broader program aimed at preserving the remains before wider public access becomes possible.

Multimillion-euro plan to restore and open up Rome’s buried Roman Domus

The intervention is being funded through the Caput Mundi program under Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan. According to Cantieri Narenti, the project involves archaeological investigation, restoration, structural consolidation, infrastructure upgrades and public participation initiatives.Work officially began in September 2025 and continues until 2026. The program was conceived not only as a conservation effort, but also as a way to bring an otherwise inaccessible archaeological site into public view. Unlike many excavations hidden behind barriers, this project places great emphasis on communication. Printed materials, digital content and educational activities are planned as part of the long-term presentation of the site.

How Rome’s high school students are being taught inside an 1,800-year-old Roman home

The relationship between the Roman house and the school above it is expected to remain central to the future of the site. According to the official information published by Liceo Cavour High School, The archaeological remains are being developed through a collaborative approach involving heritage officials, teachers and students.Plans are made to make the Domus accessible once conservation work has progressed sufficiently. The intention is not just to display the remains but to integrate them into school-related educational activities. At present, most of the ancient residence is hidden beneath the modern complex. Yet each phase of excavation is adding detail to a chapter of Rome’s urban history that had largely disappeared from view. What’s left beneath the gym floor is little more than a disparate collection of rooms; It is part of a residential landscape that was once the center of imperial Rome and is now beginning to reemerge.