United News of Bangladesh

Gouri Kunj, the iconic Mumbai bungalow once owned by legendary singer and actor Kishore Kumar, has entered a new chapter as part of the property now houses Indian cricketer Virat Kohli’s One8 Commune restaurant. Located in the upscale seaside neighbourhood of Juhu, the bungalow has long been associated with Kishore Kumar, one of Hindi cinema’s most celebrated singers and actors. Named after his mother, Gouri Devi, Gouri Kunj was much more than a home for Kishore Kumar. It was a private retreat where he composed music, met friends and colleagues and enjoyed time away from the busy film industry. The property was surrounded by greenery, lawns and courtyards, reflecting Kumar’s love for nature and privacy. A peaceful retreatBuilt during the height of Kishore Kumar’s career in the mid-20th century, the bungalow was designed as a quiet escape rather than a grand display of wealth. Its open spaces, natural light and garden surroundings created a relaxed atmosphere. The setting also reflected Kumar’s preference for a private and informal lifestyle despite his immense fame. The bungalow became closely linked to some of the singer’s well-known eccentricities. In a widely cited 1985 interview, Kumar reportedly said he considered the trees in his garden among his closest companions and had given names to some of them. He was also known for his strong desire for privacy. A sign outside the entrance reportedly carried the words, “Beware of Kishore.” A meeting place for music loversGouri Kunj was also associated with Kumar’s passion for music. Friends from the film industry, composers and other collaborators often visited the residence. The spacious gardens and relaxed surroundings offered a setting where Kumar could spend time with people from the industry without the formal atmosphere often associated with celebrity homes. From heritage bungalow to modern restaurantPart of Gouri Kunj was leased for Virat Kohli’s One8 Commune in 2022, bringing a modern restaurant into a property with a rich connection to Hindi cinema. The restaurant’s design retains elements that echo the bungalow’s original character, including an emphasis on natural light, greenery and open spaces. Warm wooden finishes, brass details and large glass panels are combined with indoor plants and vertical greenery, creating a contemporary setting while maintaining the property's connection with nature. The transformation has given part of Gouri Kunj a new purpose while keeping the historic property connected to Kishore Kumar’s legacy. For visitors, the site now offers a glimpse of how a landmark associated with one of Indian cinema’s most beloved artists has evolved while retaining traces of its past. Source: NDTV

Sydney Towle, a social media creator who openly documented her life with a rare form of cancer while maintaining an optimistic outlook, has died at the age of 26, her family said. Towle was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, a rare and aggressive cancer affecting the bile ducts, in August 2023. Her mother, Elizabeth Morrow, and brother, Austin Towle, announced her death in a video posted to her TikTok account. Her brother said Towle died peacefully after an almost three-year battle with the disease. He said the family was proud of her strength and grateful for the support she received from her followers. Her mother also thanked people for their messages and said her daughter would not be forgotten. The family described Towle as “an endless ray of sunshine” and someone who had been a friend to many. Towle was born in Newburyport, Massachusetts, on Nov. 15, 1999, and grew up in Hobe Sound, Florida, according to The New York Times. She died at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, the newspaper reported. Towle was already active on social media before her diagnosis, sharing videos about her daily life, including her love of the beach and outdoors. She was also an avid surfer and runner. After being diagnosed at 23, she began sharing an honest account of her illness and treatment while continuing to enjoy her hobbies, friendships, travel and personal style. Her TikTok account eventually attracted more than 1 million followers. Shortly after her diagnosis, Towle posted a video saying she was in good spirits and that the experience had made her appreciate life even more. That positive outlook became a central part of her online presence. Her posts showed her running, traveling and spending time with friends alongside updates from hospital rooms and chemotherapy appointments. In February, her mother wrote about the need for greater research funding for the rare cancer and said her daughter had become “a beacon of hope for so many.” She said people regularly told Towle that her openness about her experience had helped them through their own difficulties. Towle graduated from Dartmouth College in 2022 with degrees in government and environmental studies. She later worked as a social media manager at Epic Games. She had also planned to run the 2026 New York City Marathon in November to raise funds for the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation. She had already raised more than $10,000 for the organization, which supports cancer research and provides resources to patients and caregivers. In a LinkedIn post, Towle acknowledged that running a marathon while dealing with cancer might seem unrealistic but said hope had been an important part of her experience. Towle is survived by her mother and brother. Her father, Philip Towle, died in 2016.

Long before Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the moon, he was a teenager building model airplanes in his family home in Ohio. That house, where Armstrong developed his early interest in aviation, is now up for sale for the first time in nearly 40 years. The two-story home at 601 W. Benton St. in Wapakoneta has remained largely unchanged over the years. Its future is uncertain, but its current owner hopes whoever buys it will preserve its connection to one of the most important moments in space history. Inside the house, Armstrong’s childhood bedroom sits at the top of a creaky staircase. As a boy, he used to launch model airplanes from the rear window to see how far they could fly. The room now displays photographs signed by astronauts who have visited the house to see where Armstrong’s journey to the moon began. Armstrong’s family moved into the house when he was a young teenager. He built model planes using balsa wood and glue in the dining room and set up a wind tunnel in the basement to test them. He also rode his bicycle from the house to a nearby airstrip for flying lessons. At 16, Armstrong made his first solo flight and earned his pilot’s license. Two decades later, he went into space for the first time. In 1969, he became the first person to walk on the moon during NASA’s Apollo 11 mission. After the historic moon landing, Armstrong taught at the University of Cincinnati. Astronauts have visited the houseThe house is sometimes visited by people coming to Wapakoneta’s Armstrong Air and Space Museum, although it is not open for regular tours. Karen Mikesell bought the property in 1988. At the time, she did not know that Armstrong had once lived there until another teacher told her. Mikesell, a former history teacher and school principal, decided to preserve the house as closely as possible to how the Armstrong family had kept it. Over the years, she has welcomed nine astronauts, including Buzz Aldrin, who traveled to the moon with Armstrong and Michael Collins in 1969. Mikesell recalled Aldrin visiting Armstrong’s old bedroom several years after Armstrong died in 2012. She has also received a moon rock and a piece of gold foil that once covered the Apollo 11 command module. Several astronauts have signed photographs for her with personal messages thanking her for caring for Armstrong’s childhood home. “You can read books, but you can never have those kinds of experiences that I was able to have because I lived here,” Mikesell said. A house filled with Armstrong memoriesArmstrong’s family bought the house in 1944 after his father’s government job had forced the family to move many times. Armstrong, the oldest of three children, was born at a farmhouse near Wapakoneta, a city now home to fewer than 10,000 people. The Benton Street house still looks much as it did from the outside, with its large front porch. The interior layout has also remained largely the same, although some updates have been made. A garage built by Armstrong and his father using scrap wood still stands in the backyard. A nearby chicken coop, where Armstrong and his friends once held Boy Scout meetings, is no longer there. His old bedroom is now filled with photographs and paintings related to the moon landing. A model of the Wright brothers’ first production airplane hangs from the ceiling. The aviation pioneers, who were from nearby Dayton, inspired Armstrong. Mikesell never met Armstrong, who was known for keeping his private life out of the public eye. But she spoke with his parents, siblings and children about the house and its role in his upbringing. A piece of history on the marketMikesell, 82, hopes the house can eventually be preserved as part of Armstrong’s legacy. She would like to see someone buy the property and donate it to the Armstrong Air and Space Museum. However, museum spokesperson Logan Rex said the museum does not have enough money to purchase the house. The property, listed at $430,000, is not legally protected from changes by future owners. Mikesell hopes, however, that the next owner will recognize its historical value, whether the house remains a private residence or is turned into a place where visitors can stay. “It’s time to let someone else have the opportunity to be as blessed as I’ve been,” she said, while expressing hope that the new owner will care for the house and preserve it as part of history.

The costume designers of the upcoming film Ramayana have responded to criticism and online trolling over the looks of Sai Pallavi as Sita and Lara Dutta as Kaikeyi. Since the trailer was released, the film’s costumes have become a major topic of discussion on social media. While some viewers questioned the modern styling of certain characters, others posted memes comparing Lara Dutta’s Kaikeyi with characters from popular television serials. Costume designers Rimple and Harpreet Narula said they had expected different reactions to their work, given the cultural importance of the Ramayana. “We knew conversations and comparisons were inevitable. An epic like the Ramayana has lived in our collective consciousness for generations,” Rimple said. She said viewers would naturally have different opinions about the casting, costumes and visual effects. “What has kept us grounded is our honesty towards our craft,” she said. Why Sita’s costume was designed that wayRimple also explained the thinking behind Sita’s blouse, which has drawn criticism online. She said the design was a deliberate choice based on her personal understanding of Sita rather than an attempt to recreate historical or archaeological clothing. “When I close my eyes and think of Goddess Sita, I don't think about archaeological authenticity. I wanted my Goddess, the one sitting in my mandir, to look like the image that has lived in my consciousness,” she said. Symbolism behind Kaikeyi’s lookHarpreet, meanwhile, explained the thought behind Kaikeyi’s costume, which has also faced criticism online. He said the colours were chosen to represent different aspects of the character. “The green in her costume represents motherhood, while the deep maroon reflects the emotional strength and darkness of the decision she has to make,” he said. He added that Kaikeyi is caught between her own son and Rama, and every colour in her costume was selected for a reason. “Sometimes people react too quickly before understanding the thought behind it,” he said. Harpreet urged viewers to watch the film before reaching a final judgment about its visual choices. “This is our attempt to make an ancient epic speak visually to a new generation. There's thought behind every thread,” he said. “We want to appeal to viewers: don't decide before you see it. Watch it, experience it and then form your opinion.” The Ramayana trailer was released on July 30. The film stars Ranbir Kapoor as Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Ravi Dubey as Lakshman and Yash as Ravana. Arun Govil plays King Dasharatha, Lara Dutta plays Kaikeyi, Rakul Preet Singh plays Shurpanakha, Shobana plays Kaikesi and Vivek Oberoi plays Vidyutjihva. Jatayu also appears in the trailer. However, Sunny Deol’s Hanuman, along with characters such as Bharat, Shatrughan and Kausalya, does not appear in the trailer. Source: NDTV

Actor Sai Pallavi has said she turned down a reported Rs 2 crore endorsement deal for a fairness cream because she did not want to promote products that could make people feel insecure about their skin colour. The actor, who will play Sita in Ramayana: Part 1, said she believes people should feel confident about their natural appearance rather than try to meet society's beauty standards. Speaking in an earlier interview with Bollywood Hungama, Sai Pallavi said she has never endorsed beauty products because she rarely uses makeup and prefers to appear naturally on screen. "You need to be confident about who you are and your skin colour," she said. The actor explained that her decision was also influenced by her younger sister's experiences. She recalled that her sister was often encouraged to eat certain foods with the belief that they would make her fairer, which deeply upset her. "I felt I needed to stand up for that, at least for my sister's sake. Otherwise, what would I do with all that money?" Sai Pallavi said. She also shared that she had struggled with acne before entering the film industry and had tried many skincare products because she felt self-conscious about her appearance. "I didn't want to leave home because I thought people would only notice my pimples," she said. However, after making her acting debut in the 2015 Malayalam film Premam, she realised audiences accepted her despite her acne, which gave her greater confidence. Sai Pallavi said many young people later told her they felt encouraged after seeing someone succeed without hiding such skin conditions. She added that this inspired her to avoid promoting products that might make people question their appearance or feel less confident about themselves. While explaining her decision, the actor said she respects those who choose to endorse such brands but wanted to remain true to her own beliefs. Source: NDTV

A treadmill can be a simple way to stay active and support overall fitness. It is easy to use and widely available in gyms. Regular treadmill exercise can help improve cardiovascular fitness, support heart health, lift mood and keep the body active. A fitness coach has shared a 30-minute treadmill routine that gradually increases and decreases the incline. According to Usamaa, who uses the name usamaa.fitness on Instagram, following a structured routine can make treadmill workouts easier to maintain. The workout begins with five minutes at incline 5 as a warm-up. The incline is then increased to 8 for another five minutes, followed by incline 10 for five minutes and incline 12 for the next five minutes. After reaching the highest incline, the routine gradually becomes easier. The incline is lowered to 8 for five minutes before finishing with another five minutes at incline 5. The full workout takes 30 minutes. “It burns calories without wrecking your recovery. You’ll feel it, but you won’t dread coming back tomorrow, and you can actually stay consistent with it,” the trainer said. The coach recommends maintaining consistency while also allowing enough time for rest and recovery. For a balanced fitness routine, treadmill workouts can be combined with age-appropriate strength and other physical activities. Eating regular, nutritious meals and getting enough protein and other essential nutrients are also important for supporting an active lifestyle. Anyone starting a new exercise routine should choose an intensity that feels comfortable and gradually build up as their fitness improves. Source: NDTV

Workers at one of Europe’s last remaining bell foundries are using modern technology alongside centuries-old techniques to keep the traditional craft alive. Wearing protective gear against the intense heat of molten bronze, workers at the Grassmayr Bell Foundry in Innsbruck carefully pour the metal into specially shaped molds to cast bells weighing several tons. The foundry is currently producing 12 bells for churches in Italy, Germany and Romania. Founded in 1599, the family-run foundry has survived wars, famines, epidemics and economic difficulties. Today, brothers Johannes and Peter Grassmayr run the business. Hundreds of bell makers operated across Europe during the Renaissance, but only a few remain today. The Grassmayrs say their survival has depended on persistence and innovation, including the use of 3D printing, scanning, lasers and computer simulation applications. “Certain things are just like they were 400 years ago. But we innovated a lot. Especially within the last 20 years, we've changed a lot,” Johannes Grassmayr told The Associated Press. Producing a bell takes three to four months. In the past, cleaning and polishing a newly cast bell accounted for about 30% of the production time. Modern equipment has reduced that process to roughly one-tenth of the time. The company keeps some of its production methods secret, including a special chamber where bells are cleaned using high-pressure sandblasting. It also uses specially developed applications to calculate the sound of individual bells. Despite the technological advances, designing and preparing molds for large bells can still take up to six months. “The important thing is that you have calculate, form and then cast the bell as a musical instrument,” Johannes said. One of the biggest challenges is ensuring the mold can withstand the pressure created by molten metal. When a bell weighing several tons is cast, liquid bronze can exert up to 125 metric tons (137 tons) of pressure inside the mold. To protect the molds, the foundry uses only high-quality clay, which is reinforced with steel sleeves capable of handling the extreme pressure. However, production challenges are not the only concern for the business. The traditional bell-making industry is under pressure as fewer churches are being built, changing demand for new bells. Higher energy costs linked to the war in Ukraine have added to the difficulties, while labor costs have risen by about 30% since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020. Still, materials remain the biggest expense. High-quality bells are made from bronze containing 80% copper and 20% tin. Johannes said bronze cost about 8 euros ($9.23) per kilogram a few years ago but now costs around 23 euros ($26.17). “That’s why I can’t even say how much a bell is going to cost in a year. I just hope the metal price is going to come down again,” he said. To sustain the business, the family has increasingly focused on restoring old bells, often using modern technology. According to the company, hundreds of damaged bells from 12 European countries have been restored at the Grassmayr foundry. Grassmayr bells are installed in more than 100 countries, from Japan to the United States. One of the largest bells produced by the brothers was made for Romania’s National Cathedral in Bucharest. Cast in 2016, it stands 3.3 meters (10.8 feet) tall and weighs more than 25 metric tons (27.5 tons). Another bell weighing 15 metric tons (16.5 tons) hangs at a church on Mount Tabor in Israel. Johannes recently showed AP several newly cast bells that were being left to cool for a week before being removed from their molds. The detailed imprint of the mold could still be seen in the clay. “This bell is for the church in Zethau, in Germany,” he said. “I’m very happy with the casting. I’m especially happy that the innovations of the past decades helped a lot to make the bells ever more beautiful and better.”

Immo Feldmer carefully tipped smoldering charcoal into a tall mound of earth, continuing an ancient tradition of charcoal making that has survived for centuries in Germany’s Harz Mountains. Inside the mound, beech wood is tightly stacked and left to smolder for weeks until it is transformed into charcoal — a craft that has been practiced in the Harz region of eastern Germany for hundreds of years. “We are making charcoal in traditional earthen kilns, just as it was done here in the Harz Mountains over 1,000 years ago,” Feldmer told The Associated Press in a recent interview as he stood among the mounds in the Harz forest near the small town of Hasselfelde. Feldmer and his brother Sascha took over the Harzköhlerei Stemberghaus charcoal-making business from their father. They also employ a small number of workers because the smoldering wood inside the mounds must be monitored and carefully tended day and night to prevent it from catching fire and turning into useless ash. Once covered with earth, the beech wood burns from top to bottom through carefully placed air holes. Beech is particularly suitable because of its high density and the intense heat it produces when converted into charcoal. After the process is complete, the charcoal is cleared of soil and allowed to cool before being packed into 10-kilogram (22-pound) bags for sale. Charcoal production was once essential to mining in the Harz Mountains. Valuable metals such as silver, lead, copper and zinc were extracted from hard rock by crushing the ore and smelting it in furnaces at extremely high temperatures — heat that could only be achieved with charcoal. Over the centuries, hundreds of families in the Harz region made their living as charcoal burners. Mining has since ended in the area, however, and only a small number of charcoal burners remain in Germany. The Feldmer brothers now mainly sell their charcoal to people who use it for barbecues at home. “Our charcoal is, first and foremost, made from pure beech wood,” Feldmer said, noting that much of the charcoal sold in German hardware stores is imported and made from “mixed woods, scrap wood, and waste wood” to keep production costs low. The brothers produce around 40 tons of charcoal a year, but the business alone is not enough to support them. They have therefore expanded the operation to include a museum showcasing the history of charcoal burning, a small shop and a restaurant serving local specialities, including steaks grilled over their own charcoal made from birch wood. Although charcoal burning has largely disappeared as a traditional craft in Germany, Feldmer hopes his family can keep the practice alive for future generations. “Of course, we hope ... that our business here will be taken over by our children, that it will continue to operate, and that the traditional craft of charcoal burning will be preserved here,” he said.

Marvel Studios announced major casting updates at Comic-Con International on Saturday, naming David Jonsson as the new Black Panther and revealing Ryan Gosling will play Ghost Rider in upcoming films set for release in 2028. Jonsson will portray the son of Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa in Black Panther III, which is scheduled to release on December 15, 2028. The 32-year-old actor, known for Industry, The Long Walk and Alien: Romulus, appeared on stage with director Ryan Coogler, Letitia Wright and Winston Duke. Marvel also confirmed that Gosling will star as Ghost Rider, reuniting with director Shawn Levy. Gosling said he had wanted to play the character for a long time. The studio further announced a theatrical re-release of Avengers: Endgame on September 25 with new footage connected to Avengers: Doomsday, which will arrive on December 18. A trailer shown at the event revealed more about Robert Downey Jr.’s Victor Von Doom and his connection with Fantastic Four characters Reed Richards and Sue Storm. Ryan Reynolds surprised fans by appearing at the panel in a new grey Deadpool costume, adding to the excitement of Marvel’s presentation. The announcements come as Marvel looks to boost interest in its superhero franchise following mixed reactions to some recent releases.

Punch, the orphaned monkey at a Japanese zoo who won hearts around the world by cuddling an orangutan plush toy, is celebrating his first birthday on Sunday with thousands of birthday messages from admirers. Although Punch no longer carries the toy and now happily plays with other monkeys, he remains one of the biggest attractions at the Ichikawa City Zoological and Botanical Garden. Punch was abandoned by his mother shortly after birth a year ago, likely because she was exhausted. Zoo keepers hand-raised him and gave him a stuffed orangutan to help him develop the gripping skills newborn macaques need to survive. Now fully grown into an active young monkey, Punch blends in with about 50 other monkeys in the enclosure. Still, visitors continue to flock to see him. According to zoo director Takashi Yasunaga, Punch has received around 2,500 birthday cards and messages from supporters in Japan and abroad. Many of them are displayed at a special birthday exhibition inside the zoo, where visitors can also watch videos showing Punch's journey from his first days. Yasunaga said the past year had been unforgettable for the zoo staff, recalling how two keepers devoted themselves to caring for Punch during the hot summer when he was born. After six months of special care, Punch joined the monkey enclosure in January. Adjusting to life with the other monkeys was not easy, but it was during this period that he became an internet sensation. In February, photos of Punch hugging his plush toy after being pushed away by other monkeys went viral on social media, attracting tens of thousands of visitors to the zoo, about half of them from overseas. Supporters rallied behind him using the hashtag #HangInTherePunch, inspired not only by his adorable appearance but also by his determination to earn acceptance from the other monkeys. Among those visiting the birthday exhibition was Kumi Ishizawa from Kobe, who said she first discovered Punch on social media while recovering from an illness. "He inspired me," she said. "I kept telling myself I would get better and come to see Punch. Now I've finally made it, and I'm so happy." Another fan, Yeye Lights, who has lived in Ichikawa for years, said she had never visited the zoo until her daughter in the Philippines introduced her to Punch online. She has since become a regular visitor and even bought an annual pass. "I have a cake for Punch-kun and I'm celebrating with my friends," she said, while thanking the two keepers who raised the young monkey.