United News of Bangladesh

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.

Balancing on a single leg may seem simple, but it can be surprisingly difficult as we age. Practicing this exercise, however, can improve strength, enhance memory, and support brain health. While flamingos might do it naturally, most people spend little time poised on one leg. Balance is usually effortless in childhood, with abilities maturing around ages nine to 10, peaking in the late 30s, and gradually declining after that. For those over 50, being able to balance on one leg for more than a few seconds can reveal much about overall health and aging. There are several reasons to practice standing on one leg. It can reduce fall risk, build leg and hip strength, and improve memory. "If you find that it's not easy, it's time to start training your balance," says Tracy Espiritu McKay, a rehabilitation medicine specialist for the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Read More: 5 simple lifestyle changes that may help slow biological ageing: Experts Why balance matters Doctors often use single-leg balance tests as indicators of health because they are linked to age-related muscle loss, or sarcopenia. Muscle mass declines by up to 8% per decade after age 30, and research suggests that by their 80s, up to half of older adults may experience clinical sarcopenia. This affects blood sugar control, immunity, and muscle strength, all of which are reflected in balance ability. Regular one-legged exercises help maintain leg and hip muscles, reducing vulnerability to sarcopenia later in life. "The ability to stand on one leg diminishes [with age]," says Kenton Kaufman, director of the motion analysis laboratory at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. "People are over 50 or 60 when they start to experience it and then it increases quite a bit with each decade of life after that." Balance is not only a physical measure but also a sign of brain health. Standing on one leg requires the brain to integrate information from the eyes, the vestibular system in the inner ear, and the somatosensory system, which senses body position and ground contact. "All of these systems degrade with age at different rates," says Kaufman. Read More: 80% of strokes preventable through lifestyle modification: Experts Espiritu McKay adds that balance ability can reveal the state of key brain regions, including those involved in reaction speed, daily task performance, and sensory integration. Brain atrophy occurs naturally with age, but rapid decline can limit independence and increase fall risk. CDC data shows that unintentional falls are the leading cause of injury among Americans over 65. Practicing single-leg exercises can reduce this risk. "These single leg training exercises really improve the balance control and actually change how the brain is structured," says Espiritu McKay. According to Kaufman, falls often result from slower reaction times rather than a lack of strength. "Imagine you're walking along, and you trip over a crack in the sidewalk. Most often, whether you fall or not isn't a strength issue, but it's whether you can move your leg fast enough, and get it to where it needs to be, to arrest your fall." Single-leg balance can even reflect short-term mortality risk. A 2022 study found people unable to maintain a single-leg stance for 10 seconds in mid-later life were 84% more likely to die within seven years. Another study of 2,760 adults in their 50s showed that the single-leg stance test was the most informative predictor of disease risk: participants who could balance for two seconds or less were three times more likely to die over 13 years than those who could maintain 10 seconds or more. "In Alzheimer's patients, researchers are actually finding that if they're unable to stand on one leg for five seconds, it usually predicts a faster cognitive decline," says Espiritu McKay. Training your balance Read More: Homeowners embrace no-mow lifestyle year-round Fortunately, research shows age-related decline can be slowed by practising single-leg exercises. These workouts strengthen the core, hips, and legs, while also benefiting brain health. "Our brains aren't fixed," says Espiritu McKay. "They're pretty malleable. These single leg training exercises really improve the balance control and actually change how the brain is structured, especially in regions that are involved in sensory motor integration and your spatial awareness." Balancing on one leg also activates the prefrontal cortex, improving cognitive performance during tasks and boosting working memory in healthy adults. Espiritu McKay recommends people over 65 practise single-leg exercises at least three times a week to enhance mobility and reduce fall risk, ideally incorporating them into daily routines. Starting earlier may offer greater benefits. Claudio Gil Araújo, an exercise medicine researcher at Clinimex in Rio de Janeiro, suggests those over 50 self-assess by standing on one leg for 10 seconds. "This can be easily incorporated into your daily activities," he says, suggesting exercises barefoot and with shoes. Daily activities like brushing teeth or standing at the sink can be used to train balance for just 10 minutes a day. Smooth hip strengthening exercises with gentle resistance, known as isokinetic exercise, can also improve one-legged stability. Source: BBC

The Siwa Salt Lakes in Egypt’s Siwa Oasis are known for their striking turquoise water and for a rare experience: in many of the pools, it is extremely difficult to sink. Unlike some viral travel locations that disappoint in real life, these desert pools often look much like the photos shared online. Located near Egypt’s border with Libya, the pools are shaped by the area’s geology and by salt extraction. As minerals are excavated from dried salt lakes, some basins later fill naturally with water from underground springs. In the intense desert climate, water evaporates quickly, leaving behind very high concentrations of mineral salts. That salinity makes the water denser, creating strong buoyancy, so swimmers tend to float on the surface soon after entering. Some accounts say salt levels in certain pools can rise to extremely high concentrations — far higher than seawater — which further increases buoyancy and makes sinking unlikely. Beyond their appearance, the Siwa lakes are also linked to the oasis’s long history. Reports note archaeological finds in the region dating back thousands of years. Locally, salt and salt-rich materials have traditionally been used in construction, including in structures such as the historic Shali Fortress. Bali named world’s top travel destination for 2026 by TripAdvisor Today, salt taken from the lakes and ponds is used in a range of products and in wellness practices. Many visitors and locals believe the mineral-rich water can help with skin and sinus problems, though these claims are largely based on tradition and personal experience. Visitors are commonly advised to be cautious: avoid getting the water into your eyes and avoid shaving right before swimming to reduce irritation. Why Mount Damavand, Asia’s tallest volcano, is so famous To reach the lakes, travelers typically book day tours from Cairo or Alexandria or use local transport such as tuk-tuks for shorter trips. Alongside floating in the salt pools, tourists often visit Cleopatra’s Pool, the Oracle Temple, the Shali Fortress area and the Mountain of the Dead tombs. Siwa became more accessible after a highway opened in the 1980s, bringing the once-isolated oasis onto Egypt’s travel map.   #With inputs from  NDTV

Legendary Italian fashion designer Valentino Garavani devoted his life to creating outfits that celebrated women’s beauty and dignity, his longtime partner Giancarlo Giammetti said on Tuesday, following the designer’s death at the age of 93. Speaking to journalists outside Valentino’s headquarters in Rome, Giammetti said the designer always believed fashion should enhance women rather than overshadow them. “He often said, ‘It’s not my fault, I just love beauty,’” Giammetti said. “From a creative point of view, he taught us to respect women.” Valentino, who founded his fashion house in 1960, dressed some of the world’s most famous women, including Elizabeth Taylor, Nancy Reagan, Sharon Stone and Julia Roberts. He was known for creating iconic red-carpet looks and for his signature shade, widely known as “Valentino red”. Giammetti said Valentino’s lasting legacy was the belief that fashion exists to embellish, not to ridicule. His business partner’s vision and craftsmanship helped turn the Valentino label into one of the world’s most recognisable luxury brands. Valentino’s body will lie in state from Wednesday at the Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti Foundation, next to the designer’s historic atelier in central Rome. On Tuesday, admirers gathered outside the foundation, laying red roses in tribute. Among them was 21-year-old fashion student Luca Bonilli, who said Valentino had been a source of inspiration. “It is a great loss. Even for those who are not deeply interested in fashion, he was an important figure,” Bonilli said. Valentino’s funeral will be held on Friday at the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels and of the Martyrs in the Italian capital.   With inputs from NDTV

Tears have no colour, they say. Yet in Bangladesh, countless tears fall quietly, behind closed doors, where no one notices. A mother wakes before dawn, her chest tight with panic because sleep has once again betrayed her. A factory worker forces his trembling hands through another endless shift. A teenage girl laughs with her siblings while a storm of fear rages inside her. These are not isolated tales of sadness. They are glimpses into the daily battles of people living with mental illness. Some carry a diagnosis. Many do not. Yet all of them shoulder conditions too often brushed aside - as weakness, as silence, as shame. They are everywhere. But for each of them, there is almost no hand to hold, no ear to listen, no system ready to help. The quiet siege of daily life Numbers alone cannot tell the whole story, but they paint a grim picture. Between 2022 and 2025, researchers surveyed more than 7,500 women in hospitals across Bangladesh. What they found was staggering: three out of four pregnant and new mothers battled depression or anxiety, and more than half suffered from both at once. For many, what should have been a time of joy turned into ‘nights of exhaustion, despair and haunting thoughts’. (Source: Dhaka Tribune) Children and teenagers are no less burdened. An education system built on fear and finality too often crushes them. In May 2024, at least eight students died by suicide on the day their SSC exam results were released - proof that, for some, a single ‘piece of paper’ can feel like the end of life itself. (Source: Daily Observer) Adults carry their own silent weights. Nearly one in five struggles with depression or anxiety. Yet the vast majority never receive treatment - not because they do not want it, but because it is too costly, too far away, or ‘too shameful to seek’. In a country of more than 170 million people, there are only 260 psychiatrists and 565 psychologists - most based in cities. Rural Bangladesh, where most people live, remains abandoned in the dark. Why the silence deepens The last nationwide mental health survey was carried out in 2018. Since then, the country has endured the pandemic, spiralling prices, political turmoils and repeated climate disasters - each a heavy blow to already fragile minds. But no new data tells us how deep the wounds now run. Even for those who try to seek help, barriers stand tall. Counselling often means long travel, unbearable expense and stigma that can break a person before the illness does. Women face an added wall of silence, trapped by patriarchy and shame. Speaking about despair can invite ridicule or even abuse. For youth, failure feels final. For the poor, survival leaves no space for healing. On paper, Bangladesh has taken steps. It has joined the WHO’s Special Initiative for Mental Health. Plans are in motion for a new Directorate of Mental Health, with promises of expanding primary care and telemedicine. But promises are not practice. Most districts have yet to see any meaningful services. Budgets remain thin, facilities few and public awareness campaigns rare. The gap between ambition and lived reality continues to swallow lives. What must change Mental health is not a private weakness - it is a public issue, and ignoring it is a national failure. Experts urge: 1. Conduct national mental health surveys every 2–3 years. 2. Bring services closer - community centres, mobile clinics, school and workplace counselling, and promote tele-counselling.                3. Train and deploy more psychiatrists, psychologists, and counsellors - especially women professionals. 4. Embed mental health education into schools and workplaces. 5. Fight stigma through campaigns led by media, faith leaders, and communities. Each unheard cry is not just an individual tragedy - it is a collective loss. Bangladesh can choose to remain silent, becoming a country of unheard voices. Or it can choose to act — to open a clinic, to offer a listening ear, to save even one life. Because if even one life is pulled back from despair, the story changes. And that change begins the moment silence finally breaks.

Nepal's mountaineering community celebrated the conquest of the world's highest mountain with a rally of climbers, guides and others who gathered for International Everest Day. The event Thursday marked the 72nd anniversary of the first summit climb of Mount Everest on May 29, 1953, by New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Sherpa guide Tenzing Norgay, reports AP. Nepal's minister for culture and tourism led the celebration in the capital, Kathmandu,that included a walk around the city and a gathering at the old palace. “We are celebrating May 29 as the international Sagarmatha (Everest) day because the world needs to continue to recognize the achievement and contribution of Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay,” said Ang Tshering, who runs Kathmandu-based Asian Trekking.  Nepal hosts environment conference as Himalayan glaciers melt The event was not just a celebration for the mountaineering community but also a festival for Nepal and the world, said Tshering, who has helped hundreds of clients scale the Himalayan peaks. Nepal contains eight of the highest peaks in the world and every year hundreds of foreign climbers fly to the country in South Asia to tackle the mountains. The climbers hire thousands of people in Nepal to assist their climbs by carrying gear, cooking food and generally taking care of them as they spend weeks in the mountains. Nepal's government collects money from the climbers through permit fees. The end of May also marks the end of the popular spring mountaineering season, when climbers finish their adventures and retreat from the peaks before the monsoon season brings foul weather. "This day is celebrated also to mark the end of the climbing season where we gather climbers and the community," Jiban Ghimire of Shangri-La Nepal Trek said. According to Nepal’s Department of Mountaineering, 468 foreign climbers from 57 countries received permits to climb Everest by the end of May, along with a roughly equal number of Nepalese mountain guides. Many were able to scale the peak, but officials were still working to verify how many reached the 8,849-meter (29,032-foot) summit. Climbers must report to the department with proof they reached the summit and cleared their garbage before they are issued the official certificate. Nepal seeks partnerships with Bangladesh in key areas Famed Sherpa guide Kami Rita reached the Everest summit for the 31st time Tuesday, breaking his own record for the most climbs to the top of the famed mountain.

Feeling stressed, unwell, or burnt out at work? A Swiss town is offering a unique approach to healing: art therapy through museum visits, prescribed by doctors. In Neuchâtel, Switzerland, a two-year pilot project has been launched where doctors can prescribe free visits to any of the town's four museums for patients they believe could benefit from exposure to art. Mangal Shobhajatra may get a new name: Farooki Local authorities are covering the costs of these "museum prescriptions," based on a 2019 World Health Organization report which highlighted the positive effects of the arts on mental health, trauma recovery, cognitive decline, frailty, and premature mortality. Art can serve as preventive medicine, helping to relax the mind. Additionally, museum visits encourage physical activity through walking and standing for extended periods. Julie Courcier Delafontaine, a council member in Neuchâtel, noted that the COVID-19 crisis also contributed to the program's creation. "During the lockdowns, people realized just how much we need cultural sites to feel better," she said. So far, around 500 museum prescriptions have been distributed, with a budget of 10,000 Swiss francs (around $11,300). If successful, the program could be expanded to include other forms of artistic expression, such as theatre or dance. Although the Swiss national healthcare system doesn't yet recognize culture as therapy, Courcier Delafontaine hopes the program’s success will change that. Marianne de Reynier Nevsky, the town’s cultural mediation manager, who helped create the program, mentioned a similar initiative in Montreal, Canada, in 2019. She believes it could benefit a wide range of patients, such as those suffering from depression, chronic illness, or mobility issues. The goal is also to encourage patients who are reluctant to leave their homes to get moving. Dr. Marc-Olivier Sauvain, head of surgery at Neuchâtel Hospital, has already prescribed museum visits to patients to help them prepare physically for surgery. He expects a wider rollout after a control group is established. "It's wishful thinking to tell patients to walk or stroll to improve fitness before surgery," Sauvain explained. "Museum prescriptions offer both physical and intellectual exercise." For patients, this approach is often more appealing than traditional treatments. "It's really nice to prescribe museum visits rather than medications or tests that patients don’t enjoy," Sauvain said. World Mime Day 2025 celebrated in Dhaka Some visitors to the museums, like poet and retired teacher Carla Fragniere Filliger, have expressed their support for the initiative. "I think it’s a great idea," she said during her visit. "There should be prescriptions for all the museums in the world!"

Just days after an unexploded World War II bomb near Paris’ Gare du Nord made headlines, a different kind of spectacle unfolded across the street: Louis Vuitton’s fashion show extravaganza on Monday evening. The only bursts of excitement at Paris Fashion Week came from fabric, form, and a whirlwind imagination. When designer Nicolas Ghesquière took his bow, the audience’s admiration reached a fever pitch, with French first lady Brigitte Macron, in a rare display of enthusiasm, leaping to her feet to kiss him. When should you eat? Before, after — or even while — exercising? A station full of mystery The show took place at "L’Étoile du Nord," described by Louis Vuitton as "a hidden station where past and future travelers converge, evoking the golden age of railway adventure." The event was held in the historic 1845 building, originally designed for the Compagnie du Nord railway company. Its atrium was meticulously transformed into a grand train station waiting room for the ready-to-wear show, reinforcing the themes of travel, anticipation, and adventure — central to Vuitton’s identity. From their front-row seats, Emma Stone, Jennifer Connelly, Ana de Armas, Chloë Grace Moretz, Lisa, Jaden Smith, Ava DuVernay, and Sophie Turner watched attentively as projected shadowy figures drifted across the upper windows, like ghostly travelers from another time. This evoked Vuitton’s origins at the dawn of the Orient Express and haute couture, when wealthy women needed to bring numerous cases to store their extensive traveling wardrobes. On the runway below, Ghesquière wove a story of train stations, both real and imagined, styling passengers for unknown journeys. There were detectives in trench coats, campers in chunky New Wave sweaters, and party girls rushing to catch the last train in ruched velvet. Ghesquière is renowned for his cinematic styling, drawing from a vast range of film influences—whodunnits, fantasies, and comedies. Aarong unveils world's largest craft store in Dhanmondi In other instances, a voluminous layered tulle skirt in deep fuchsia captured Ghesquière’s knack for blending different centuries, paired with a contemporary architectural knit top and sleek, futuristic hair. When the tracks got bumpy However, while the narrative was rich, some of the styling occasionally veered off course. One look, in particular, featured a hybrid fisherman’s hat so oversized it nearly obscured the model’s vision, paired with an enveloping scarf, shapeless dress, and a horizontally placed belt buckle above the bust, which made even seasoned fashion insiders raise an eyebrow. While some outfits were exciting, others felt like mismatched passengers on the wrong train. While fluid, translucent trenches and cleverly constructed jumpsuits stood out, some pieces seemed overcomplicated, leaning more toward hurried layering than artful disarray. Fashion on a synthesized beat A notable collaboration with electronic music pioneers Kraftwerk merged Vuitton’s travel legacy with the band’s vision of movement and modernity. 'Trans-Europe Express' was emblazoned on pinstriped jumpsuits and accessories, reinforcing the rhythm of the journey. Additionally, Vuitton revived its 1988 ceramic-bezel watch, nodding to precision in both travel and design. As the last model exited the train station set, a question lingered: Has Ghesquière lost his spark after 11 years at the helm? Perhaps not yet, but this season’s journey, while evocative, didn’t always have a clear final destination.

If you listen to some self-proclaimed exercise experts on social media, they swear that working out on an empty stomach burns more fat. But it’s a common misconception that exercising in a fasted state improves performance or burns more calories, said Abby Langer, a dietitian in Toronto. “The research shows that in terms of gains, it doesn’t really make much of a difference,” she said. Does that mean you should load up on protein and carbs right before a workout? No, that’s not true either. Here’s a look at when — and how — you should eat, before, after or even during a workout. (And remember, experts say what you eat is more important than when you eat.) What’s the case for eating before exercising? The calories in food literally are energy, so you need them to fuel your body for a proper workout. Eating too much too soon beforehand, though, can be problematic. Exercising diverts blood from organs including the stomach to the muscles, said Langer, author of “Good Food, Bad Diet.” So exercising on a full stomach affects the digestive process, which could cause cramping or even make you feel sick. That’s particularly the case with meals high in fat, protein or fiber, which take longer to digest than carbohydrates. Langer recommends eating a high ratio of carbs beforehand and waiting two to three hours before intense exercise. Surprising health benefits of walking barefoot at home “You don’t want to eat a big steak an hour before you play hockey,” she said. If you exercise first thing in the morning or before dinner, it’s OK to have a carb-rich snack like a banana with peanut butter or yogurt with fruit beforehand. It will give you the energy to perform well, and you can fuel up afterward with a full meal. When — and what — should you eat after exercise? That steak may serve you better afterward because that’s when a higher ratio of protein is easier to digest, said Krista Austin, a physiologist in Colorado Springs. Austin said if it will be an hour or longer before you can have a full meal, it’s better to have a high-protein snack in the meantime to help curb your appetite. The reason has little to do with muscle recovery or nutrient absorption: Rather, people who are too hungry make poor dietary choices. “A lot of people get very hungry about an hour after exercise, and you don’t want to do that,” said Austin, author of “Performance Nutrition: Applying the Science of Nutrient Timing.” “You want to catch it early, or you go and overeat.” But it’s another myth that you need to grab a protein shake within minutes of finishing to build the biggest muscles, Langer said. Many exercise enthusiasts point to what’s known as an “anabolic window” of about an hour within exercising that the body is primed to repair muscle. For the average person, you have a much longer window, and nutrient timing is less important than making sure you consume some protein at every meal, Langer said. The body needs a continuous supply of amino acids like protein for muscle repair and maintenance, she said, which means about 25 to 30 grams at every meal, depending on various factors. Ramadan 2025: Five tips for mental and emotional well-being while fasting “Prioritizing that will help with goals, either muscle building, satiety, weight loss, all of that,” Langer said. How about eating during exercise? Most people who are eating enough throughout the day don’t need anything during a workout. Langer and Austin said the threshold is about an hour of intense exercise. Longer than that — say you're training for a marathon — and you can benefit from a carb-rich snack in the middle. Instead of focusing on when to eat, Austin said to focus on what and how much. She cautioned against overcomplicating the topic and recommended following the USDA’s My Plate recommendations for a balanced diet. “The biggest thing we need to teach people is that nutrition is simple,” she said. “Maybe you need to stop focusing on the concept of nutrient timing and just make sure that you’re consistently eating throughout the day and focus on health.”