United News of Bangladesh

Dozens of birdwatchers gathered before dawn at a reservoir in Pennsylvania to witness a striking natural spectacle as thousands of migrating snow geese suddenly took flight during their annual journey north. About an hour after sunrise, the birds which had been honking and grooming on the water — burst into the air in a dramatic swirl. They circled briefly before heading toward nearby farm fields to feed on leftover grains as they continued their long spring migration toward breeding grounds in the Arctic, passing through New York and Quebec. The reservoir, created about 50 years ago to attract waterfowl, has gradually become a major stopover for migrating birds. Payton Miller, an environmental education specialist with the Pennsylvania Game Commission, described the moment when the flock lifts off the water as a loud “bird tornado.” “It only takes one beautiful morning with a big flight to remind you how incredible it is to see so many of these birds together,” Miller said, adding that the sight never gets old. Among the spectators was Adrian Binns, a safari guide from Paoli, Pennsylvania, who visited the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area to experience something unique. Snow geese have been arriving at the 6,300-acre Middle Creek site in increasing numbers since the late 1990s. Before reaching the area, many spend the winter along the Atlantic coast, from New Jersey to the Carolinas, with large groups staying on the Delmarva Peninsula near the Chesapeake Bay. Although the geese stay at Middle Creek only briefly, the site attracts around 150,000 visitors each year, including about 1,000 hunters. According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, about 100,000 snow geese gathered there on the busiest day last year, though the single-day record remains around 200,000 birds recorded on Feb. 21, 2018. Snow goose populations have grown sharply over the past century. A 2017 study published by Springer Nature found that greater snow geese increased from about 3,000 in the early 1900s to roughly 700,000 by the 1990s. Today, their population is estimated at around one million, while the smaller lesser snow geese may number about 10 million. The number of migrating tundra swans visiting Middle Creek has also risen, from only about a dozen in the mid-1970s to more than 5,000 in recent years. Birdwatchers have identified over 280 bird species at the site, including bald eagles, northern harriers, ospreys and owls. However, the rapid growth of snow goose populations has created environmental concerns. Wildlife officials in the United States and Canada have been adjusting hunting rules while also addressing crop damage, migration changes and habitat destruction in the Arctic caused by the birds’ feeding habits. David M. Bird, a wildlife biology professor at McGill University, said the growing population may be one of the biggest conservation challenges facing wildlife experts in North America. Snow geese often pull plants out by the roots while feeding, damaging fragile habitats used by other wildlife. Meanwhile, the Pennsylvania Game Commission reported that avian influenza, present in the state since 2022, continues to circulate among wild birds. Authorities recently removed around 2,000 bird carcasses mostly snow geese  from a quarry north of Bethlehem during December and January. Bird noted that while nature lovers admire snow geese, farmers often see them as pests, hunters value them as food and animal rights advocates want them protected — making wildlife management a complex task.  

Eight Arab and Islamic countries have condemned Israel’s continued closure of the Al-Aqsa Mosque during the holy month of Ramadan for the 12th consecutive day. The countries include Qatar, Jordan, Indonesia, Turkiye, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates, according to Al Jazeera report. In a statement Wednesday, their foreign ministers called Israel’s restrictions on Palestinian access to Jerusalem’s Old City and its holy sites a “flagrant violation of international law, including humanitarian law, the historical and legal status quo, and the principle of unrestricted access to places of worship.” “The Ministers strongly rejected and condemned this illegal measure and Israel’s provocative actions against worshippers at Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif,” the statement read, emphasizing that Israel has no sovereignty over occupied Jerusalem or its Islamic and Christian holy sites. The ministers reaffirmed that Al-Aqsa Mosque remains “exclusively” for Muslims, under the jurisdiction of the Jerusalem Endowments and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs department affiliated with Jordan’s Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs. They urged Israel to immediately reopen the mosque, lift restrictions on the Old City, and allow Muslim worshippers unrestricted access. Palestinian authorities and Hamas have also condemned the closure, calling it a violation of Palestinian rights and a “dangerous historical precedent” undermining freedom of worship.

Japan on Wednesday marked the 15th anniversary of the devastating earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster that struck its northeastern coast, as the government pushes for increased use of atomic energy. The magnitude 9.0 quake and resulting tsunami on March 11, 2011, killed more than 22,000 people and forced nearly 500,000 to flee their homes, mostly due to flooding. In Fukushima, around 160,000 residents evacuated after radiation leaked from the tsunami-hit Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, with about 26,000 still living elsewhere due to lingering radiation fears or restrictions in their hometowns. At 2:46 p.m., the country observed a moment of silence, marking the exact time the quake struck. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, speaking at a ceremony in Fukushima, vowed to accelerate the region’s recovery over the next five years and to continue sharing “the valuable lessons learned from the disaster.” She has also pushed for faster restarts of nuclear reactors, supporting nuclear power as a stable energy source following a policy reversal in 2022 that ended a decade-long phase-out. Early Wednesday, some residents of the tsunami-hit areas visited the coast to pray for missing loved ones. Over one million homes, schools, and offices in Iwate, Miyagi, Fukushima, and other coastal regions were destroyed or damaged. While infrastructure has largely been rebuilt, community and economic recovery has been slow, with many residents relocating permanently. At Fukushima Daiichi, meltdowns occurred in three of six reactors, with at least 880 tons of melted fuel still inside. Radiation levels prevent full inspection, and large-scale removal is not expected until 2037 or later. Decontamination efforts produced massive amounts of slightly radioactive soil—enough to fill 11 baseball stadiums which the government plans to move, including for public works, but faces local resistance.  

Italy has purchased a rare painting by 16th-17th century Baroque master Caravaggio for €30 million (£25.9 million), marking one of the highest amounts the state has ever spent on an artwork. Italy’s culture minister said the painting, a portrait of cleric Monsignor Maffeo Barberini who later became Pope Urban VIII, holds exceptional historical and artistic value. The acquisition is part of a broader effort to ensure significant artworks remain accessible to the public instead of being sold to private collectors. The portrait had been part of a private collection in Florence and was first displayed publicly in Rome in 2024. Caravaggio, known for his dramatic use of lighting that made subjects appear vividly lifelike, has around 65 surviving works worldwide. Only three of them are known to be portraits. The newly acquired painting has been added to the permanent collection of the Palazzo Barberini in Rome, the historic residence of the Barberini family. It will now be displayed alongside other works by the renowned artist. Created around 1598, the portrait depicts Barberini as a bearded cleric extending his right hand as if giving instructions. How people woke up before alarm clocks Barberini was elected pope in 1623 and led the Catholic Church until his death in 1644. He was widely recognized as an influential patron of the arts. Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli said the purchase forms part of a wider initiative by the Ministry of Culture to strengthen Italy’s national heritage and ensure that important masterpieces remain available to scholars and the public rather than entering the private art market. Caravaggio, whose real name was Michelangelo Merisi, died in 1610 at the age of 38. He was famous for his use of chiaroscuro, a technique that employs strong contrasts of light and shadow to create dramatic and psychologically powerful scenes. #From BBC

Long before alarm clocks became common household items, people across the world relied on a wide range of creative methods — from candle clocks and water timers to human “alarm callers” — to wake up on time. Historians say the need for reliable wake-up systems grew significantly during the Industrial Revolution in Britain, when factory work demanded strict schedules. Even a few minutes’ delay by workers could disrupt production lines, yet early alarm clocks were expensive and beyond the reach of most labourers. As a result, a unique profession emerged in many industrial towns: the “knocker upper.” These individuals would walk through streets early in the morning, tapping on windows with long sticks or shooting dried peas through pipes to wake their clients. Historian Arunima Datta said these human alarm clocks would remain outside until they received confirmation that the person inside had woken up. Similar practices existed in other parts of the world as well. In some Muslim communities during Ramadan, people traditionally woke others before dawn so they could pray and eat the pre-fast meal. Before such organised wake-up services, people often relied on natural signals to start their day. According to sleep researcher Fatima Yaqoot, daylight was one of the strongest cues guiding sleep and waking patterns in many pre-industrial societies. Animals also played a role. The crowing of roosters at dawn served as a natural alarm for many communities, while the morning “dawn chorus” of birds signalled the start of the day. Timekeeping devices were also used centuries before modern alarm clocks. Historian Sasha Handley notes that people used various technologies to help regulate their daily schedules, especially for work or religious practices. In medieval Europe, church bells rang regularly to mark the hours and guide daily activities. In households, servants were often responsible for waking their employers at the appropriate time. Elsewhere, people developed ingenious mechanical solutions. In ancient China, candle clocks marked time with metal pins embedded in the wax. As the candle burned down, the pins dropped into a tray, creating a sound that could wake a sleeping person. Incense clocks used a similar principle, sometimes releasing small metal balls that struck a tray when burning threads snapped. Meanwhile, water clocks — known as clepsydras in ancient Greece — could trigger sounds when rising water pressure forced air through a tube. The philosopher Plato is often credited with adapting a water clock into an early alarm system in the 5th century BC. Mechanical clocks later improved timekeeping from the late 13th century onward, eventually leading to the development of domestic clocks with alarms. However, these devices remained costly and uncommon for ordinary people for centuries. During the 19th century, the knocker-upper profession flourished in industrial cities such as Leeds, Manchester and London. These workers often began their rounds as early as 3am, ensuring factory workers woke in time for their shifts. The profession gradually disappeared by the 1920s as alarm clocks became cheaper and more reliable. Researchers say studying historical sleep habits offers useful lessons even today. Exposure to morning daylight and maintaining regular sleep schedules — practices common in earlier societies — are still considered important for healthy sleep patterns.   With inputs from BBC

By 23, Emma MacTaggart noticed her free time was rare and mostly spent on screens. Working long hours in investment banking, she often turned to her phone after logging off. Seeking a break, she and her roommates took up needlepoint, a childhood craft she hadn’t practiced in years. “It was a therapeutic way to distract yourself from work or stress while doing something with your hands instead of doomscrolling,” she said. MacTaggart is among many young people embracing analog hobbies to escape technology and reconnect with creativity. Knitting, gardening, and needlepoint-sometimes called “grandma hobbies” have gained popularity among Gen-Z and millennials. Other crafts, including pottery, origami, and blacksmithing, are also seeing renewed interest. Six morning habits can improve mental health, says US psychiatrist Now 26, MacTaggart has turned her passion into a business, What’s the Stitch, selling needlepoint canvases, accessories, and digital designs online, often adding humor and occasional profanity. Experts highlight the mental health benefits. Jaime Kurtz, psychology professor at James Madison University, said hobbies reduce stress and offer accomplishment. Clara Sherman, co-founder of So Bam Fun, said playing mahjong creates a “zen state” with friends. Some use technology to enhance their hobbies. Isaiah Scott, 22, compares birdwatching to “a video game, but in real life,” using eBird to log sightings and support conservation. He founded the nonprofit Rookery and Roots Conservancy and bought land in Georgia to protect habitats. Other hobbyists, like blacksmith Anna Weare and poet Kristie Landing, have leveraged social media to reach global audiences and create communities. Many say these crafts are not a trend but a deliberate embrace of analog life. MacTaggart, for instance, welcomed the “grandma hobbies” label. “I’ve been a grandma my whole life, so it’s fitting this is now my career,” she said.

Most Americans will "spring forward" for daylight saving time this Sunday, losing an hour of sleep a change that can leave people tired, irritable, and even impact their health. The shift in daylight darker mornings and longer evenings can disrupt the body’s internal clock, potentially causing sleep problems for days or weeks. Research shows a slight increase in heart attacks and strokes immediately after the March time change. Daylight saving time begins at 2 a.m. Sunday, and clocks will “fall back” on Nov. 1. Hawaii, most of Arizona, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands do not observe the spring switch. Globally, many countries also follow daylight saving time, though start and end dates vary. Experts recommend getting morning sunlight to help reset the circadian rhythm, which regulates sleep and alertness. The extra evening light from daylight saving time delays melatonin release, making it harder to fall asleep. Sleep deprivation can affect heart health, metabolism, stress levels, and cognitive functions. The change also temporarily increases risks on the road, with more fatal crashes reported in the days after the shift, particularly in the morning. Heart attacks and strokes also see a small rise, possibly due to disrupted circadian rhythms combined with existing risk factors. To adjust, sleep specialists suggest morning sunlight, shifting daily routines like meals and exercise earlier, avoiding late naps and caffeine, and reducing evening exposure to screens. Although there have been repeated calls to end the time change including former President Donald Trump’s promise  health experts recommend sticking with standard time year-round, which better matches human biology and supports more consistent sleep.

A structured morning routine can play a significant role in improving mental health, focus and overall well-being, according to US psychiatrist Daniel Gregory Amen. Experts say the first few minutes of the day often influence energy levels, mood and productivity, making simple morning habits an important factor in maintaining emotional balance. In a recent Instagram post shared on Feb 22, Dr Amen outlined several morning practices that he believes can help strengthen mental clarity and boost mood. The psychiatrist first emphasised the importance of starting the day with a positive mindset. He suggested people begin their mornings by reminding themselves that the day ahead can be productive and meaningful, noting that mental preparation works best when combined with simple physical routines. Dr Amen also recommended stepping outside early in the morning to get natural sunlight and taking a short walk. According to him, exposure to sunlight and light physical movement can help stimulate metabolism and activate the brain. Hydration is another key part of his routine. He advised drinking a large glass of water in the morning, preferably with half a lemon added, saying it can help refresh the body. Diet also plays an important role in maintaining steady energy levels throughout the day. Dr Amen said he usually starts his morning with foods rich in protein and healthy fats. As part of his own routine, he often eats eggs and later has a protein shake. He also supports intermittent fasting, suggesting that leaving a gap of 12 to 16 hours between meals can be beneficial, meaning a later breakfast may work well for some people. Another habit he recommends is making mindful choices during the day by regularly asking whether a particular action or food is beneficial for brain health. According to Dr Amen, adopting small and consistent habits such as sunlight exposure, hydration, balanced nutrition and intentional decision-making can help people begin their day with greater mental clarity and stability.

With summer around the corner, many are looking to shed extra fat and get in shape. Fitness coach Dan Go, drawing on over 20 years of experience, has shared a 16-point plan that he says could help people lose up to 14 kg (around 30 pounds) in three months through simple diet and lifestyle changes. Key recommendations include stopping food intake three to five hours before bed to improve sleep and control hunger, and setting a fixed daily calorie intake by multiplying body weight by 12. Protein intake is also important, with a daily requirement calculated as body weight multiplied by seven. Dan Go suggests including foods such as Greek yoghurt, lean meats, fatty fish, eggs, leafy greens, potatoes, beans, berries, and other high-fibre fruits and vegetables. Meal frequency should be limited to two to three times a day, with a structured schedule: the first meal 1–2 hours after waking, the second meal in between, and the last meal several hours before bedtime. Hydration, strength training three times a week, walking 8,000–10,000 steps daily, and prioritising quality sleep are also highlighted. He advises following a consistent sleep routine, tracking progress through weight, waistline, workouts, and nutrition, keeping a transformation journal, and avoiding alcohol during this period. “Losing 30 pounds by summer is achievable, but the real win is feeling energetic, confident, and healthy,” Dan Go said. He stressed that this plan offers general guidance and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. With inputs from NDTV    

Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest tower, has become a global icon since its inauguration in 2010, symbolising the United Arab Emirates’ ambition, growth, and architectural prowess. Soaring 828 metres into the sky, the building has redefined luxury and remains a magnet for both tourists and locals, with observation decks on levels 124, 125, and 148 offering panoramic views of Dubai. Purpose behind Burj KhalifaThe primary goal of constructing Burj Khalifa was to create a landmark for Downtown Dubai that would attract tourists and investors while serving as a hub for economic activity. The vision was to design a vertical city encompassing residences, luxury hotels, tourist attractions, and corporate offices. By doing so, Dubai aimed to diversify its economy beyond oil, drawing global investment into real estate, business, and tourism. Backed by the UAE government, the project was intended as both an architectural and economic statement. Construction journeyConstruction began in 2004, led by architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), with Adrian Smith as the chief architect and Bill Baker as the structural engineer. The design process involved rigorous studies on wind resistance, material strength, and temperature variations along the building’s height, pushing engineering boundaries. The tower was completed in October 2009, just over five years after construction began. Among its remarkable features are the 26,000 exterior glass panels, each weighing 362 kg, installed by more than 300 Chinese cladding specialists — a world record for aluminium and glass façade installation at 512 metres. The telescopic spire, the building’s crowning feature, contains 4,000 tonnes of structural steel and houses communication equipment, with xenon lights flashing 40 times per minute to prevent collisions. How Dubai’s Burj Al Arab became the world’s ‘only 7-Star Hotel’ amid Iran strikes Burj Khalifa’s infrastructure is equally impressive, with 57 elevators, eight escalators, the world’s tallest service elevator capable of carrying 5,000 kg, stairways reinforced with fireproof concrete, and a water system supplying an average of 946,000 litres daily. Economic impactThe project cost $1.4 billion and was officially opened in January 2010. Named in honour of former UAE president Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan as a gesture of gratitude for financing, Burj Khalifa has since become a major economic driver. Entry ticket sales alone generate $621 million annually, and the residential units have earned $2.18 billion since 2010, with over 76% priced above $1 million. The tower draws millions of visitors and investors, significantly boosting Dubai’s economy. What’s inside Burj KhalifaBurj Khalifa combines luxury, business, and lifestyle under one roof. It houses the Armani Hotel on floors 1 to 8 and over 900 private Armani residences from levels 9 to 108, designed by Giorgio Armani. Corporate suites, observation decks, spas, gyms, and swimming pools extend up to level 154. For dining, Atmosphere on level 122 is the world’s highest restaurant from ground level, offering spectacular views alongside fine cuisine. Beyond its height, the tower features the most floors, the highest elevators, the tallest habitable floor, and the highest residential apartments in any building worldwide — truly embodying the concept of a vertical city. Burj Khalifa remains a landmark of ambition, luxury, and innovation, cementing Dubai’s place on the global stage.