United News of Bangladesh

A new study has found that domestic cats can distinguish between the scent of their owner and that of a stranger. Conducted by Tokyo University of Agriculture, the research revealed that cats spent noticeably more time sniffing tubes containing the scent of unfamiliar individuals than those with their owner's odour. According to the researchers, this indicates that cats are capable of telling the difference between familiar and unfamiliar humans based on smell. However, it remains uncertain whether they can identify specific individuals. While it is well established that cats use their keen sense of smell to recognise and interact with other cats, this study is among the first to explore whether they can also differentiate between people by scent. Previous research has shown that cats can recognise humans by their voice, follow a person’s gaze to locate food, and adjust their behaviour based on emotions detected through scent. In a new study published on Wednesday, researchers tested 30 cats using plastic tubes containing three types of swabs: one with the owner's scent, one with the scent of a stranger of the same sex as the owner, and one clean swab with no scent. The scented swabs had been rubbed under the armpit, behind the ear, and between the toes of the owner or the unfamiliar person. Astronomers discover strange new celestial object in Milky Way galaxy The findings revealed that cats spent significantly more time sniffing the swabs with the stranger’s scent than those with the owner's scent or the clean swab. This suggests cats can distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar human smells, the researchers said. This behaviour aligns with previous observations that cats, especially weaned kittens, tend to sniff unfamiliar female cats longer than their mothers. However, the researchers emphasized that the results do not confirm whether cats can identify specific individuals like their owners. Study co-author Hidehiko Uchiyama noted that since the experiment only involved familiar and unfamiliar scents, further research is needed. He explained that future behavioural tests using odours from multiple familiar people would be required to determine if cats show unique reactions specifically to their owner's scent. Serenella d'Ingeo, a researcher from the University of Bari who was not involved in the study but has previously researched how cats respond to human scents, said the findings show that cats react differently to familiar and unfamiliar odours. However, she cautioned that the motivations behind their reactions remain unclear. “We don't know how the animal felt during the sniffing... We don't know, for instance, whether the animal was relaxed or tense,” she explained. D’Ingeo also noted that since the odour samples were presented by the cats’ own owners, who naturally contribute their scent to the environment, this might have heightened the cats' interest in the unfamiliar odours. “In that situation, owners present not only their visual presence but also their odour,” she said. “So of course if they present other odours that are different from their personal one, in a way they engage more the cat.” Why Ginger cats are special? genetic secret uncovered The authors of the study concluded that cats use their sense of smell to recognise humans. They observed that after sniffing the tubes, cats often rubbed their faces against them—a typical scent-marking behaviour. This suggests that sniffing might be an exploratory action that comes before marking something with their own scent. However, the researchers stressed that this link needs further exploration, along with the question of whether cats are truly able to recognise a specific individual based solely on their scent.

Amidst sustained popularity, Bollywood movies keep engaging in fierce competition to secure their spot in the coveted 100-crore club. On a parallel track, the impact of pan-Indian movies is not limited to the box office. Especially, the influence of South Indian movies transcends boundaries, taking a leading position in mainstream Indian cinema. Let's delve into the top-grossing Indian movies of 2023, discovering a captivating blend of diverse regional narratives. Top 10 Highest-earning Indian Films Dominating Box-office in 2023 Jawan | Hindi | Rs. 1,148.32 Crore Directed and co-written by debutant filmmaker Atlee, the action thriller "Jawan" had a production budget of Rs. 300 crores, which is more than BDT 397 crores at a rate of Rs. 1 = BDT 1.32. Starring Shah Rukh Khan, the film hit theaters on September 7, 2023, grossing an impressive Rs. 1,148.32 crore (exceeding BDT 1520 crore). Produced by Gauri Khan and Gaurav Verma under Red Chillies Entertainment, it emerged as the highest-grossing Indian film of 2023. As of November 10, 2023, "Jawan" has earned over Rs. 761.98 crore (BDT 1008.79 crore) in local markets and Rs. 386.34 crore (BDT 511.48 crore) overseas, securing its place as the second-highest-grossing Hindi film in history, trailing only “Dangal” (2016). Read more: Is Shah Rukh Khan Starring in Dhoom 4? Pathaan | Hindi | Rs. 1,050.30 Crore Co-written and directed by Siddharth Anand, this Yash Raj Films production had an estimated production expenditure plan of Rs. 240 crore (BDT 317.74 crore). The action thriller, featuring Shah Rukh Khan in the title role, was released in India on January 25, 2023. "Pathaan" grossed Rs. 1,050.30 crores (above BDT 1390.50 crore) worldwide, initially claiming the title of the second-highest-grossing Indian film of 2023 (before being surpassed by "Jawan") and securing the position of third-highest-grossing Hindi film of all time. To date April 6, 2023, the film has grossed Rs. 654.28 crore (BDT 866.21 crore) in India and Rs. 396.02 crore (more than BDT 524.29 crore) overseas. Read more: The year in films: A ‘cinematic’ 2023 for the industry Animal | Hindi | Rs. 888.17 Crore Directed, edited, and co-written by Sandeep Reddy Vanga, the theatrical release of "Animal" took place on December 1, 2023. With a budget of Rs. 100 crores (surpassing BDT 132.39 crore), the film, produced by Bhushan Kumar, Pranay Reddy Vanga, Krishan Kumar, and Murad Khetani, starred Ranbir Kapoor. Surpassing the lifetime worldwide collection of "Sanju" (2018), "Animal" grossed Rs. 888 crore (exceeding BDT 1175.63 crore) globally, establishing itself as the highest-grossing film of Ranbir Kapoor's career. As of December 28, 2023, the film raked in over Rs. 646.83 crore (BDT 856.35 crore) in India and Rs. 241.34 crore (above BDT 319.51 crore) in overseas markets. It holds the third spot among the highest-grossing Indian films of 2023 and stands as the highest-grossing A-rated Indian film of all time. Read more: January 2024's Top 10 Hollywood Films: A Cinematic Feast for Movie Lovers Gadar 2 | Hindi | Rs. 691.08 Crore Helmed and produced by Anil Sharma, this period action drama stormed into success, earning a whopping Rs. 691.08 crore (BDT 914.93 crore) worldwide. Released on August 11, 2023, as a sequel to Gadar: Ek Prem Katha (2001), the film features Sunny Deol, Ameesha Patel, and Utkarsh Sharma reprising their roles. With a production cost of Rs. 60 Crore (more than BDT 79.43 crore), Gadar 2 emerged as a commercial triumph, grossing Rs. 625.54 Crore (BDT 828.16 crore) domestically and an additional Rs. 65.54 crore (BDT 86.77 crore) overseas as of September 14, 2023. Leo | Tamil | Rs. 620 Crore Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj and produced by Seven Screen Studio, "Leo" features Vijay in the titular role. With an expenditure plan of Rs. 275 crore (BDT 364.08 crore), the Tamil action film was released on October 19, 2023. Read more: January 2024 Amazon Prime Video Line-up: Must-See Shows and Movies Earning a global total of Rs. 620 crore (BDT 820.83 crore), "Leo" became the highest-grossing Tamil film of 2023, both domestically and overseas. Of its total earnings, Rs. 230 crore (BDT 304.5 crore) came from Tamil Nadu, solidifying its position as the highest-grossing film in the Lokesh Cinematic Universe.

Jaya Ahsan, popular on both big and small screens, is going to be recognized for her love of animals. Her social media fans are already aware of her love for pets. The caring attitude of the actress towards the anchored animals has been coming to light in recent years. For these kinds of benevolent activities outside of her acting, she is going to win the ‘Pranobik Bondhu’ Award. Let's get to know about actress Jaya Ahsan and her endless love for animals. Journey of Jaya Ahsan in the film industry Joya Ahsan has become a sensational star of two Bengals, which is certainly a huge achievement in her long acting career. She made her big-screen debut in 2004 with ‘Bachelor’ of Mostafa Sarwar Farooqi. Later, she became very popular in the film industry through ‘Guerrilla’ and ‘Chorabali’ movies. She started her career in mainstream cinema by starring in the commercially successful film ‘Purno Doirgho Prem Kahini’-1 and 2. Read James Bond Movie 'No Time to Die' is Finally Going to Be Released After starting with the film ‘Aborto’ in 2013, Jaya continued to be a regular performer in Indian movies. The movie ‘Debi’ based on the story of the late Humayun Ahmed, the greatest filmmaker in Bangladesh, was released in 2018 from ‘C te Cinema’, her own production house. Not to mention, continuous success in different films has made the actress busier than ever before. Still, Joya gets out of time from her busy schedule to shower kindness to animals. Jaya Ahsan as an animal lover Jaya went on a four-day Sylhet tour with her mother and sister in 2018. This tour was originally courtesy of Cleopatra; Jaya's pet dog, who she calls Patra. She had to leave Patra for a month to stay in Kolkata for a movie shoot. That’s why she had this trip to spend some quality time with Patra. Read Munshigiri: Another Epic Creation of Amitabh Reza Featuring Chanchal Chowdhury Moreover, Jaya regularly fed almost 30 street dogs in the Magbazar and Eskaton Garden areas. During the CoronaVirus epidemic, the actress joined the animal rights movement. This movement began with the Dhaka South City Corporation to protest the moving of 30,000 stray dogs out of the city.