United News of Bangladesh

A new wave of allergy treatments is giving hope to millions suffering from hay fever, with immunotherapy showing promise not just in relieving symptoms but in potentially “training” the body to resist seasonal allergies. Allergic rhinitis, commonly known as hay fever, affects over 400 million people worldwide and can lead to chronic respiratory issues, ear infections, and even asthma. Experts say the condition is often underestimated, with many patients only receiving temporary symptom relief rather than preventative care. Allergen immunotherapy (AIT), delivered through sublingual tablets or injections, gradually desensitises the immune system to specific allergens such as grass, ragweed, or dust mites. Daily sublingual tablets started 8–16 weeks before allergy season and continued for three years can significantly reduce symptoms and may prevent the development of asthma in children. Clinical trials show long-term benefits lasting years after treatment ends. For patients who cannot undergo immunotherapy or have severe asthma, biologics offer an alternative, targeting the immune system to reduce inflammation, though they are costly and do not provide lasting remission. Other strategies to manage hay fever include using nasal sprays with both antihistamine and corticosteroid, taking second-generation oral antihistamines, and reducing exposure to pollen through measures such as keeping windows closed, using air purifiers, wearing masks outdoors, and showering before sleep. Experts emphasise that hay fever should not be trivialised. Effective, safe, and increasingly accessible treatments are available, and early intervention can greatly improve patients’ quality of life.   With inputs from BBC

A sleep method known as cognitive shuffling is gaining attention for helping people, especially anxious over-thinkers, fall asleep by occupying the mind with random, neutral imagery. The technique, developed over 15 years ago by Luc P Beaudoin, an adjunct professor at Simon Fraser University in Canada, involves visualising objects starting with the letters of a random word, such as “cake.” Users move through each letter, imagining items like “car,” “carrot,” or “cottage,” effectively distracting the mind from intrusive thoughts. Beaudoin’s method, also called serial diverse imagining, is designed to mimic the natural mental patterns that occur at the boundary between wakefulness and sleep, known as hypnagogic mentation. Researchers say the approach can reduce the impact of anxiety-inducing thoughts and help the brain feel “safe” enough to sleep. A 2016 study involving 154 university students showed that using an app to guide cognitive shuffling improved sleep quality as effectively as traditional journaling methods, while allowing participants to practice it while lying in bed. Sleep experts have described cognitive shuffling as “super somnolent,” combining a push-and-pull effect on the brain that encourages sleep while quieting worries. Experts advise users to stick to emotionally neutral words and avoid topics like politics or work, which could stimulate the mind. Although the technique is not a universal solution, it has become popular on social media, with hundreds of videos demonstrating the method. Researchers hope further studies will clarify its effectiveness for occasional sleepers and those with clinical insomnia. Sleep specialists emphasize that while cognitive shuffling can be a helpful tool, chronic sleep problems may require medical consultation and a combination of strategies, including mindfulness and cognitive refocusing.   With inputs from BBC

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have accused royal author Tom Bower of promoting “deranged conspiracy and melodrama” in his new biography. In excerpts published by ‘The Times’ on Friday, Bower claims Queen Camilla told a friend that Meghan had “brainwashed” Prince Harry. The author also described Meghan as a “divisive agent” and suggested that Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, viewed her as a threat. Responding on Saturday, a spokesperson for Harry and Meghan said Bower had “long crossed the line from criticism into fixation” and accused him of building “elaborate theories about people he does not know and has never met.” The statement added: “Those interested in facts will look elsewhere; those seeking deranged conspiracy and melodrama know exactly where to find him.” The book, titled ‘Betrayal: Power, Deceit And The Fight For The Future Of The Royal Family’, explores tensions between the Sussexes and the Prince and Princess of Wales, as well as Harry and Meghan’s business and charitable activities since stepping down as senior royals in 2020, including deals with Netflix and Spotify. Bower claims friction between the siblings escalated before Harry and Meghan left the UK. He suggests William and Catherine were “alarmed” by Meghan and worried she resented Harry’s limited chances of becoming king, just as she regretted not being queen. He also writes that Harry fears losing royal titles and being effectively exiled from Britain. A section on the Invictus Games refers to media coverage of Harry and Meghan at the veteran-focused sporting event as the “Meghan Games.” Bower previously authored ‘Revenge: Meghan, Harry, And the War Between the Windsors’, published in 2022. With inputs from BBC

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.