Due to the Farakka Barrage in West Bengal, Hilsa fish virtually disappeared from the dining tables of Prayagraj and other Uttar Pradesh cities. But now, there is a possibility that fish connoisseurs could enjoy fresh Hilsa once again.
About 30,000 rare Hilsa fish, collected from the lower portion of the Farakka Barrage, were released by the authorities in the Ganga River upstream.
Shoals of this prized fish have now been spotted in Mirzapur (one of the districts in UP).
Sandeep Behera, an advisor to the Union Jal Shakti ministry’s National Mission for Clean Ganga, told PTI, “The fact that the Hilsa has reached Mirzapur is an indication that the Ganga is gradually getting cleaned.
“Oxygen levels have also risen because the Hilsa moves very fast and it requires a lot of oxygen.”
Sandeep Behera, who was present at a seminar organised by Nehru Gram Bharati (Deemed) University and ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore, remarked that a fish ladder on the Farakka Barrage had previously facilitated the upstream movement of Hilsa fish.
However, the ladder's gate has been non-functional for years. Behera stated that the gate is now being replaced to allow the fish to swim upstream in the Hooghly River which is in West Bengal.
A fish ladder is a structure installed on the wall of a barrage to provide a passage for migrating fish.
Also known as the "queen of fish," Hilsa is a popular delicacy due to its distinctive flavour and aroma.
It can be enjoyed by frying or cooking it in mustard sauce.
Despite being a saltwater fish native to the tropics, Hilsa can survive in rivers and estuaries.
According to Behera, Hilsa is a saltwater fish that lays its eggs in freshwater. However, the construction of the barrage in 1971-72 had obstructed its upstream migration for the fish to lay eggs.
He said that the tender for building the fish ladder has been issued and the process is expected to be completed in six to seven months. It is anticipated that the new ladder will be operational by the end of this year.
Hilsa is a highly sought-after fish in West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, and Odisha, with prices ranging from Rs 1,200 to Rs 3,000 per kilogram.
Hilsa, a highly esteemed delicacy that can be fried, smoked, or cooked in mustard sauce, typically migrates upstream in the Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Irrawaddy rivers from the Bay of Bengal during the monsoon season for spawning.
This fish can also be found in the Arabian Sea, where it swims up rivers in Gujarat and Pakistan's Sindhu, as well as in the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, Vietnam, and China seas.
According to a 2017 report by the Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, the fish's peak upstream migration occurs from July to October or November, coinciding with the arrival of monsoon rains.
After years of playing intense and brooding characters, Prabhas seems to be in his element again with The Raja Saab, a horror comedy directed by Maruthi. The teaser, released on 16 June, gives fans a refreshing look at the actor in a light-hearted, funny role, a rare shift from his recent string of larger-than-life action heroes. With visuals full of humour, horror, and romance, the teaser is already gaining attention not just for the plot but also for its theatrical rollout and unexpected nod to Shah Rukh Khan.
A haunted haveli, SRK-style romance, and spooky laughs
The teaser opens with a quirky love story, as Prabhas’s character openly declares his love for Nidhhi Agerwal in typical Bollywood style, even likening it to Shah Rukh Khan’s legendary on-screen charm. But the story soon shifts to a spooky, ghost-filled haveli, an elaborate set spanning 41,256 sq ft, which the makers claim is India’s largest horror backdrop. The teaser combines eerie folklore visuals, comedy, and a touch of madness, offering glimpses of other lead actors Malavika Mohanan and Riddhi Kumar. Sanjay Dutt’s surprise appearance adds to the intrigue. The haunted house isn’t just a gimmick, the filmmakers say they wanted the space to “feel haunted,” not just look scary.
Director Maruthi, known for youth-centric comedies like Bhale Bhale Magadivoy, calls this film a “genre-defying journey,” bringing together fantasy, romance, and horror. Prabhas appears in dual looks and delivers a hilarious one-liner toward the end: “Amma Durgamma Thalli... Kaapaadammaa,” adding to the film’s desi horror-comedy vibe.
Fan frenzy, leaked teaser, and December release date
The teaser wasn’t just launched online, it was also screened on IMAX screens in Hyderabad, drawing massive crowds. Fans celebrated with dances and even performed a milk bath ritual on a Prabhas cut-out. However, excitement spilled over early when visuals from the teaser leaked online. The makers issued strict warnings on social media, threatening to suspend accounts sharing pirated content and urging fans to respect the film’s release.
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Originally slated for an April release, The Raja Saab is now confirmed to hit theatres on 5 December. With horror, comedy, action, romance, and Prabhas in a never-before-seen avatar, this film could offer a refreshing break from the usual big-budget spectacles.
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US law enforcement officials in Minnesota caught the suspected killer of a Democratic state lawmaker and her husband on Sunday, authorities said, ending a two-day manhunt.
The suspect, 57-year-old Vance Boelter, allegedly disguised himself as a police officer, then shot and killed Democratic state representative Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark at their home early Saturday.
Boelter was captured in Sibley County, a rural area where the murders had occurred about an hour southwest of Minneapolis, police and state officials said.
"After (a) two-day manhunt, two sleepless nights, law enforcement have apprehended Vance Boelter," Minnesota Governor Tim Walz told a late-night news conference.
Police described the search as the "largest manhunt in (the state's) history", with 20 SWAT teams and several agencies working to find him.
Jeremy Geiger, assistant chief of the Minnesota State Patrol, told reporters that Boelter had been "taken into custody without the use of force."
Before the murders, Boelter also allegedly attacked two others nearby -- Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette, who survived and were treated for serious injuries, authorities said.
"The latest news is Senator Hoffman came out of his final surgery and is moving toward recovery," Walz told reporters.
Hoffman was shot nine times and Yvette eight times, according to US Senator Amy Klobuchar.
Political motive suspected in targeted killings
A notebook containing the names of other lawmakers and potential targets was found inside a car left by Boelter at the Hortmans' home, which Drew Evans, head of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said earlier Sunday was not a "traditional manifesto."
"I am concerned about all our political leaders, political organizations," Klobuchar said Sunday.
"It was politically motivated, and there clearly was some throughline with abortion because of the groups that were on the list, and other things that I've heard were in this manifesto. So that was one of his motivations."
As speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2019 to January 2025, Hortman was committed to legislation that protected reproductive rights in the state, local media reported.
Leaders warn violence must not become the norm
The United States is bitterly divided politically as President Donald Trump embarks on his second term, implementing hardline policies and routinely insulting his opponents. Political violence has become more common.
Trump himself survived an assassination attempt last year, with a second attempt foiled by law enforcement.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro's home was set on fire this year.
An assailant with a hammer attacked the husband of then-US House speaker Nancy Pelosi in 2022.
"(This is) a moment in this country where we watch violence erupt," Walz said after the arrest.
"This cannot be the norm. It cannot be the way that we deal with our political differences."
US Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, who was attacked by a neighbor in 2017, told NBC that "nothing brings us together more than... mourning for somebody else who's in political life, Republican or Democrats."
The shootings came on the day a dramatic split screen showed a country divided: hundreds of thousands of protesters across the United States took to the streets to rally against Trump as the president presided over a military parade in Washington -- a rare spectacle criticized as seeking to glorify him.
Trump has condemned the attacks in Minnesota on the lawmakers and their spouses.
The president was asked in a Sunday interview with ABC News if he planned to call Walz, who was Kamala Harris's running mate in the election Trump won last year.
"Well, it's a terrible thing. I think he's a terrible governor. I think he's a grossly incompetent person," Trump said.
"But I may, I may call him, I may call other people too."
Leena Nair, the India-born CEO of Chanel, was honoured with a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) by Prince William at a ceremony held at Windsor Castle. The recognition, part of the 2025 King’s New Year Honours list, acknowledges her outstanding work in the global retail and consumer industry, particularly her strong leadership in steering one of the world’s most iconic fashion houses into a new era.
Nair’s rise to the top has been anything but conventional. When she was appointed as Chanel’s global CEO in 2022, she became the first non-white person to lead the 112-year-old French luxury brand. What made her journey even more unusual was her background, not in fashion, but in human resources. Before joining Chanel, she spent nearly 30 years at Unilever, eventually becoming its youngest-ever and first female Chief Human Resources Officer.
Chanel CEO Leena Nair smiles after receiving the prestigious UK honourGetty Images
Driving growth and redefining Chanel’s future
Under her leadership, Chanel has posted impressive growth despite wider industry challenges. In 2023, the brand reported a 16% rise in revenue and nearly 11% increase in operating profit, expanding its footprint and hiring more than 36,000 people worldwide. She has also brought in new creative leadership, appointing designer Matthieu Blazy to shape Chanel’s next chapter.
Nair’s focus hasn’t just been on sales. She has championed sustainability through the company’s Mission 1.5° climate goals and increased the Fondation Chanel’s annual philanthropic budget to £80 million (₹8.5 billion).
British Asian trailblazer Leena Nair recognised for global leadershipGetty Images
From Kolhapur to Chanel: a story of grit and vision
Born in the small town of Kolhapur in Maharashtra, Nair was raised in a middle-class Indian household. She studied engineering before discovering her passion for human resources at XLRI Jamshedpur. At Unilever, she broke multiple barriers and led major inclusion efforts before taking the leap into fashion.
Leena Nair’s CBE adds to her growing influence in global luxury fashionGetty Images
Receiving the CBE places her alongside prominent British Asians like London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who was also recognised recently. As Chanel prepares to move into its new London headquarters in 2026, Nair’s leadership is already being seen as a model for the next generation, proof that it’s possible to honour tradition while building a more inclusive future.
The UK government has appointed Blaise Metreweli as the first-ever woman to head its MI6 spy service as the country faces "threats on an unprecedented scale", Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Sunday.
The MI6 Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) achieved global fame through Ian Fleming's fictional agent James Bond.
Metreweli will be the 18th head of the service, Starmer's Downing Street office said in a statement.
"The historic appointment of Blaise Metreweli comes at a time when the work of our intelligence services has never been more vital," Starmer said.
"The United Kingdom is facing threats on an unprecedented scale -- be it aggressors who send their spy ships to our waters or hackers whose sophisticated cyber plots seek to disrupt our public services," he added.
The MI6 chief is the only publicly named member of the organisation and reports directly to the foreign minister.
The person in the post is referred to as "C" -- not "M" as in the James Bond franchise, which already had a woman, played by Judi Dench, in the role.
Metreweli will take over from outgoing MI6 head Richard Moore in the autumn.
Currently, she is MI6's director general -- known as "Q" -- with responsiblity for technology and innovation at the service, the statement said.
She is described as a career intelligence officer who joined the service in 1999 having studied anthropology at Cambridge University.
Metreweli held senior roles at both MI6 and the MI5 domestic intelligence service and spent most of her career in "operational roles in the Middle East and Europe", the statement added, without giving further biographical details.
The appointment comes over three decades after MI5 appointed its first female chief.
Stella Rimington held the position from 1992-1996, followed by Eliza Manningham-Buller from 2002-2007.
The UK intelligence and security organisation GCHQ appointed its first woman chief, Anne Keast-Butler, in 2023.
Soldiers carry the coffin of Vijay Rupani, former chief minister of India's Gujarat, who was killed in the Air India flight 171 crash, during his funeral ceremony in Ahmedabad on June 16, 2025. (Photo: Getty Images)
INDIAN health officials have begun returning bodies to families after the Air India crash in Ahmedabad that killed 270 people, but most relatives were still waiting for confirmation through DNA testing as of Monday.
Of the 279 total deaths, including casualties on the ground, 87 DNA samples have been matched and 47 bodies handed over, according to officials. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner had 242 people on board when it crashed on June 12 shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad for London, killing 241 of them. Another 29 people died on the ground, including five medical students.
“They said it would take 48 hours. But it's been four days and we haven't received any response,” Rinal Christian, 23, whose elder brother was a passenger on the jetliner, told AFP. “My brother was the sole breadwinner of the family. So what happens next?”
Authorities said victims were from different districts of Gujarat including Bharuch, Anand, Junagadh, Bhavnagar, Vadodara, Kheda, Mehsana, Arvalli and Ahmedabad.
Several families have begun holding funerals. In Anand district, crowds gathered for the procession of 24-year-old passenger Kinal Mistry. Her father Suresh Mistry said she had delayed her travel, adding, “She would have been alive” if she had taken her original flight.
In Ahmedabad, the funeral of former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani was held with full state honours. His body was identified through DNA testing, and a day of state mourning was declared in Gujarat on Monday. His remains were taken to his hometown Rajkot, where chief minister Bhupendra Patel met the family.
“The DNA sample of former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani matched at 11.10 am,” said India's minister of state for home Harsh Sanghvi.
Among the British nationals, 42-year-old Elcina Alpesh Makwana became the first to be identified and her remains returned. Her funeral was held in Vadodara. Her husband and two children, aged seven and 11, attended a Roman Catholic service.
Air India said the passengers included 169 Indians, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese and one Canadian. There were 12 crew members on board.
Investigators are working to determine the cause of the crash. The aircraft went down shortly after takeoff, crashing into a medical college complex and bursting into flames. At least 38 people were killed on the ground.
Witnesses reported seeing badly burnt bodies and scattered remains. An AFP photographer saw dozens of workers in yellow hard hats clearing debris from the site.
“This is a meticulous and slow process, so it has to be done meticulously only,” said Dr Rajnish Patel of Ahmedabad’s civil hospital.
One survivor, British citizen Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, was pulled from the wreckage. His brother was also on the flight.
Another person, Bhoomi Chauhan, said she survived after missing the flight. “The airline staff had already closed the check-in,” she told PTI. “If only we had left a little earlier, we wouldn’t have missed our flight.”
Black box recovery and aircraft inspections
Authorities announced on Sunday that the cockpit voice recorder — the second black box — had been recovered, offering potential insight into the crash. India's aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said Saturday that decoding the flight data recorder should “give an in-depth insight” into the circumstances.
Indian authorities have not yet identified the cause and have ordered inspections of other Dreamliner aircraft in Air India's fleet.
One of Air India’s Dreamliners returned to Hong Kong airport on Monday after the crew “requested local standby” shortly after takeoff, the Airport Authority Hong Kong told AFP.
Imtiyaz Ali, who is still waiting for a DNA match for his brother, said the airline had not acted quickly enough.
“I’m disappointed in them. It is their duty,” he said. “Next step is to find out the reason for this accident. We need to know.”