United News of Bangladesh

In Tony Scott’s backyard sits a pumpkin nearly the size of a small car. For months, the upstate New York semiconductor engineer has carefully nurtured it — feeding fertilizer, monitoring its growth with measuring tape, and covering it with a blanket at night to maintain a steady temperature. “I’ve never seen anything grow this fast,” said Scott, whose pumpkin weighed in at 1,931 pounds (876 kilograms) — enough to take third place in this year’s regional competition. Across the United States, growers like Scott push the limits of plant growth each fall, cultivating colossal pumpkins that can exceed 2,000 pounds (900 kilograms). While other gourds such as squashes, cucumbers, and watermelons can also grow to impressive sizes, the pumpkin remains the undisputed giant of the patch — a seasonal star at autumn fairs and Halloween festivals. How to grow a pumpkin that breaks recordsThe quest for a record-breaking pumpkin begins with the seed. Most growers rely on Atlantic Giant seeds, a variety known for producing enormous fruits with the right care and growing conditions. From there, it’s all about balance — water, nutrients, and consistent attention. Giant pumpkins can absorb hundreds of gallons of water each day and, thanks to a highly efficient vascular system, rapidly transport nutrients throughout the plant. As vines spread, growers typically remove smaller pumpkins so that all available energy is directed into a single fruit. “That helps make it extra big in a way that you might not see in the wild,” explained Aleca Borsuk, a plant scientist at the New York Botanical Garden. Foraging revival: Wild food enthusiasts rediscover nature Gravity also plays a role in their unusual shape. Giant pumpkins tend to sprawl outward rather than upward, taking on a wide, flattened form that often looks like a lumpy orange pancake. Scott covers his pumpkin with a tarp to prevent sunlight from hardening its skin too quickly, and waters it using an overhead sprinkler system. Can pumpkins just keep growing?“The answer is no,” said Borsuk. No matter how large they get, pumpkins eventually reach maturity and stop growing. Scott, who has been cultivating giants for eight years, said it still amazes him to see how rapidly they expand — sometimes gaining 40 to 50 pounds (18 to 23 kilograms) a day. He even sets up reflective panels and a fake wolf cutout to scare off deer and other animals tempted by the massive orange fruit. Woodchucks have been known to nibble the vines, but Scott remains undeterred. After the weigh-off season ends, he displays his pumpkin at local events and hauls it around on a trailer — often drawing curious onlookers. “The first question they ask is, ‘Is it real?’” he said with a laugh. “Where would you buy a fake pumpkin this big?” Source: AP 

From rooftops overlooking the Parthenon to neighborhood balconies, urban beekeeping is buzzing in Athens as residents tend hives to support local ecosystems and produce distinctive city-flavored honey. Nikos Chatzilias, 37, has become a professional beekeeper after taking classes in 2020, driven by a desire for high-quality honey. This summer, he managed 30 hives across seven rooftops, with roughly 1.2 million bees producing 500 kilograms of honey, each batch named for its neighborhood. The taste varies depending on local flora, from eucalyptus and acacia to bitter orange and pine. Chatzilias said the practice brings joy and reconnects people with nature. “Even with a chaotic urban environment, nature — or whatever remains of it in the city — still responds and can give life,” he said. Foraging revival: Wild food enthusiasts rediscover nature University graduate Aggelina Chatzistavrou, a new recruit, said rooftop hives could positively impact the environment. Yet challenges remain, including neighbors’ fears of stings and allergies, and the logistical difficulty of moving hives seasonally. Urban beekeeping in Athens continues a decades-old tradition but now emphasizes environmental awareness, reflecting a growing societal interest in sustainability and local food production. Source: AP 

Online platforms are giving secondhand fashion a modern twist, with livestream shopping, AI-powered search, and other digital tools making thrifting faster, more fun, and accessible. While buying pre-owned clothing is generally more sustainable than purchasing new items, experts caution that it is not a free pass for overconsumption. Buying more than needed still drives textile waste, and online shopping adds emissions from packaging, delivery, and server energy. Industry insiders and fashion enthusiasts offer tips for shopping secondhand responsibly while curating a wardrobe that is both stylish and long-lasting. The boom of online resale Platforms like eBay, ThredUp, The RealReal, and live-auction apps such as Whatnot have seen record growth this year. eBay reports that secondhand items now account for 40% of its fashion sales, with livestream runway events allowing shoppers to buy designer pieces in real time. But experts warn that secondhand shopping can still fuel waste. “People who buy secondhand often purchase more clothes than others and discard them sooner,” said Meital Peleg Mizrachi, a Yale University researcher. Only about 20% of donated clothing gets resold in charity stores, with the rest downcycled, exported, or discarded. Choosing quality Sustainable shopping starts with selecting durable items. Look for natural fabrics like cotton, silk, or bamboo, lined garments, and strong stitching, experts say. Older items, especially those made before the mid-1990s, may offer better craftsmanship. Being specific in searches helps locate unique and high-quality pieces. Caring for your wardrobe Proper maintenance extends the life of secondhand clothing. Use garment bags, store in muslin bags with lavender to deter moths, spot-clean when possible, air-dry, and repair minor damages such as missing buttons to keep pieces in circulation. Closing the loop Sustainable secondhand shopping also involves responsible resale and donation. Give clothes to small community stores or shelters, and explore brand take-back programs. eBay, for example, partners with Marks & Spencer for in-store returns to resell online. Ultimately, experts say the key to truly sustainable fashion is buying less and resisting fast-fashion trends. “We cannot purchase our way out of the climate crisis,” Mizrachi said. “Making overconsumption unprofitable is the only way to change the fashion industry.” Source: AP

Chunk, a massive 1,200-pound brown bear with a broken jaw, has won Alaska’s popular Fat Bear Week contest after years of near misses, organizers announced Tuesday. The annual online competition, held in Katmai National Park and Preserve, draws global attention as viewers watch 12 bears via live webcams and vote in a bracket-style tournament. Known officially as Bear 32, Chunk triumphed over Bear 856 — an older rival without a nickname — in this year’s final. Despite his jaw injury, believed to have come from a fight, Chunk remains “one of the biggest, baddest bears at Brooks River,” said Mike Fitz, a naturalist with Explore.org. Contest organizers estimated his weight at about 1,200 pounds using laser-based LIDAR scans from earlier years. The 2024 event proved to be the most popular yet, attracting more than 1.5 million votes. The bears feasted on an unprecedented run of salmon, with Katmai officials estimating some 200,000 fish surged up Brooks River — the largest in recent memory. “That abundance decreased conflict in the river since salmon were readily available,” Katmai Conservancy spokesperson Naomi Boak noted. In leaner years, fierce battles often break out at Brooks Falls, where salmon leap upstream in tight channels. But this year, fishing spots were so plentiful that even humans were seen casting lines alongside brown bears. Fat Bear Week, launched in 2014, was designed to educate the public about the lives of brown bears, the coastal cousins of grizzlies. The bears spend summers gorging on salmon to prepare for long, harsh Alaskan winters. While Chunk has long been a fan favorite, his story also carries controversy. Last year, live cameras captured him attacking and fatally injuring a cub of bear 128 Grazer. Fans later voted Grazer to victory over Chunk, underscoring how personality and backstory can sway voters as much as size. This year, however, Chunk finally claimed the crown — cementing his place as the 2024 Fat Bear Week champion. Source:Agency

Models descended an emergency escape staircase to reach the Francesca Liberatore runway at Milan Fashion Week on Sunday, a symbolic gesture urging the world to find a way out of the deepening human suffering across the globe. Known for her artistic approach to fashion, Liberatore said the ongoing turmoil made her reluctant to present a lighthearted Spring-Summer 2026 collection. Instead, she staged her show as a reflection of global uncertainty, accompanied by Italian singer Elisa’s renditions of Tears for Fears’ classics “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” and “Mad World.” Tailoring in turbulent times Liberatore said she wanted to contribute to the global conversation through precise fashion codes and a clear design language. The outcome was youthful, wearable looks marked by refinement and subtle symbolism. “Everyone living in their golden world needs to open their eyes. We need to stop and pay attention to this situation,” she told reporters backstage. The show opened with sharply tailored white jackets in textured fabrics before transitioning into softer silhouettes — protective bodices flowing into long A-line skirts, relaxed tunics over skirts, and wide sundresses edged with brocade. Headphones designed in collaboration with Sony completed the looks, targeting a younger audience. Floral tribute In the finale, models carried black roses and placed them at the foot of the photographers’ podium, leaving the audience to interpret the gesture. Liberatore said it represented both her distress over ongoing wars and the fashion industry’s struggle to engage younger generations. The roses also served as a tribute to the late Giorgio Armani, the designer who placed Milan on the global fashion map. Liberatore and Armani traditionally closed Milan Fashion Week, and on Sunday evening a gala show was set at the Brera Art Gallery to celebrate Armani’s 50-year career, held just weeks after his passing at the age of 91.  

Sustainable weight loss does not come from quick fixes or short-term diets, but from consistent lifestyle changes — a lesson fitness influencer Christina Lewis has embodied through her three-and-a-half-year journey to shed 38 kilograms. Christina, who recently shared her story on Instagram to inspire others ahead of 2026, emphasized that transformation happens through discipline, consistency, and effort, even on days when motivation runs low. Her approach was not about crash diets or extreme routines, but about building simple, repeatable habits that improved both physical fitness and mental well-being. She outlined 10 lifestyle changes that played a crucial role in her journey: ·         Start the day with a 6 am walk. ·         Drink a glass of water before anything else. ·         Opt for a protein-rich breakfast to stay full longer. ·         Avoid caffeine after 2 pm to improve sleep quality. ·         Get groceries delivered to reduce junk food temptation. ·         Track every calorie, including sauces and dressings. ·         Take weekly progress photos for motivation. ·         Set non-scale fitness goals, such as stamina or strength. ·         Reassess and optimize daily routines to align with goals. ·         Practice gratitude by writing down three positive things each day. Her message is straightforward: there is no “perfect time” to begin. Start small, stay consistent, and focus on building habits for lasting results. Source: Agency

Ekushey Padak-winning eminent Bangladeshi photographer and Drik Managing Director Shahidul Alam left Dhaka for Italy on Sunday to join the Freedom Flotilla Coalition’s Global Media Flotilla en route to Gaza. The media flotilla, part of the international coalition’s effort to break the information and media blackout on Gaza, aims to show solidarity with the besieged Palestinian people. Alam is participating as the first Bangladeshi to join the coalition. Speaking at a press conference at DrikPath Bhaban in Panthapath on Saturday, Shahidul Alam said, “If we are defeated, humanity will be defeated. I may be going as the first person from Bangladesh, but I am carrying the love of all Bangladeshi people with me.” Drik directors and staff who attended the briefing included anthropologist and writer Rehnuma Ahmed, Drik General Manager and Curator ASM Rezaur Rahman, Deputy General Manager Md Kamal Hossain, and journalist-researcher and Drik Director Saeideya Gulrukh. Gaza Health Ministry: More than 66,000 Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks since 2023 Saeideya Gulrukh said the flotilla’s mission sought to break the long-standing blockade of Gaza and to respond to the ongoing humanitarian crisis. At the press event, the organisers said the Global Sumud/Freedom Flotilla, which departed in late August with hundreds of citizens from across the world carrying relief supplies, has already come under attack twice while navigating high-risk waters. The Global Media Flotilla — a principal vessel accompanied by about 10 smaller boats — includes participants from more than 40 countries, with organisers reporting nearly 500 people have taken part in earlier stages of the convoy. Rehnuma Ahmed described the flotilla as a symbol of global civil-society protest against mass violence in Gaza and said Bangladesh’s participation was a matter of pride. Drik officials said Alam and other media activists will attempt to document conditions and ensure independent reporting reaches international audiences as the flotilla continues its journey toward Gaza.

Italian-Haitian designer Stella Jean made a striking return to the Milan runway on Saturday after a three-year hiatus, showcasing a collection crafted with Bhutanese artisans and appealing for stronger political support to preserve the world’s dwindling artisan class. “I said I would come back when I had something to say,” Jean told reporters backstage. Appeal for artisans Jean, known for blending Italian tailoring with textiles and artistry from global artisans, stressed that Italian craftsmanship is at risk as fewer young people are entering the trade. She urged lawmakers to extend the same fiscal benefits recently granted to artworks to fine craftsmanship. Such support, Jean said, would allow consumers to pay less value-added tax on pieces that can take up to a year to complete—like Bhutan’s traditional ankle-length kira dress, which she wore on the runway—while ensuring artisans receive fair pay. “We cannot pay them less because artisans are already underpaid,” Jean said backstage. “Otherwise, this craftsmanship will survive only in museums. If we don’t wear it, it becomes meaningless.” South Korea set to legalize tattoo artistry with landmark bill Bhutanese craftsmanship on display The collection included handwoven tego jackets over silk printed dresses, skirts embroidered from nettle fiber, embroidered skirts paired with rugby shirts, and silk dresses with beaded panels depicting village scenes. Bhutanese artisans who collaborated with Jean were present in the front row, dressed in traditional attire. Tribute to Armani Jean, who debuted in Milan at the Armani Theater in 2013 as a guest of Giorgio Armani, paid tribute to the late designer by unfurling a T-shirt from her premiere that read: “Grazie, Mr. Armani,” signed “Stella.” “We cannot be here without paying tribute to someone to whom Italian fashion owes so much,” she said. “Italian fashion became the most important in the world, thanks to this gentleman.” Source: Agency 

The book 'Bangladesh Student Revolution: From No VAT on Education to Anti-Discrimination Student Movement' has been published on 6 national movements of Bangladeshi students and teachers from 2015 to 2024. The 712 page book has been published by Bright Future Publication 38/2 Bangla Bazar. A The book written and edited by Professor Robaet Ferdous of the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism of Dhaka University and Spokesperson (Chief Coordinator) of No VAT on Education, Faruque Ahmad Arif, features six national movements that have upheld the country's history. The movements include the 'No VAT on Education' in 2015 to protest the imposition of VAT on tuition fees for students of private universities, medical and engineering colleges, the 'Bangladesh General Student Rights Protection Council'-led quota reform movement demanding quota reform in government jobs in 2018, the 'Safe Roads Movement' in response to the deaths of two students in a road accident in August 2018, and the 'Anti-Discrimination Students' Movement' demanding the abolition of quotas in 2024. Apart from this, there are two movements by teachers demanding an independent pay scale in 2015 and the abolition of the Universal Pension Guarantee Scheme in 2024. These six movements are among the most successful movements in the country's history recently. These movements received a huge response at the national and international levels. It also highlighted the country's educational, political, social, cultural and economic diversity. The book includes various aspects of these movements, including media news, columns, interviews, memoirs of various people including those who led the movement, interviews with then ministers and current advisors. The book presents a vast picture of the participation of the general public in the country along with the student and teacher movements. In this regard, the book's editor-in-chief, Professor Robayet Ferdous, said there have been various movements in the country, starting from the anti-British movement to the partition of 1947, the language movement of 1952, the mass uprising of 1969, the great liberation war of 1971, and the mass uprising of 1990. Much of the history of these has been lost due to not writing at the right time. Keeping that in mind, the book has been written and edited on 6 student and teacher movements. We hope that the book will help everyone get accurate information. Co-author of the book, Faruque Ahmad Arif, said, the book contains news, photos, columns, and interviews from national and international media on 6 movements, including the Student Revolution of Bangladesh: No VAT on Education to the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. The participation of political, social, and cultural organizations in these student and teacher movements and the overall cooperation of people from all walks of life in the country have emerged. The book contains vivid examples of the involvement of people from all levels of the country. Therefore, we hope that every individual and family will benefit from the book.

Merriam-Webster is rolling out a fresh edition of its best-selling Collegiate Dictionary, adding more than 5,000 words such as “petrichor,” “teraflop,” “dumbphone” and “ghost kitchen.” The 12th edition — the first full overhaul in 22 years — will be released Nov. 18, with preorders now available. The update eliminates older sections on geography and biography to make space for new terms and examples. Other additions include “cold brew,” “farm-to-table,” “dad bod,” “rizz,” “cancel culture,” “beast mode,” “WFH” and “doomscroll.” More than 20,000 new usage examples were also added. Cambridge Dictionary adds ‘skibidi,’ ‘tradwife,’ and thousands of new words Merriam-Webster President Greg Barlow said the redesign aims to make the dictionary “more useful, more fun to browse, and more practical for research.” He acknowledged declining print dictionary sales but said the format remains central to the company’s identity. Despite digital dominance, print dictionaries still hold nostalgic and cultural value, particularly in schools with phone bans and among book lovers. Merriam-Webster’s website, apps and games draw nearly a billion visits annually, driving revenue growth of nearly 500% over the last decade. Source: Agency