United News of Bangladesh

A new exhibition at the Thackray Museum of Medicine in Leeds exposes the grim history behind centuries of anatomical art and illustrations. Beneath the Sheets: Anatomy, Art and Power explores how executed criminals, the poor, women, and other marginalized people were dissected without consent and became subjects for medical textbooks and artworks. Rembrandt’s 1632 painting The Anatomy Lesson of Dr Nicolaes Tulp, which depicts the dissection of a man executed for theft, exemplifies the practice. Across Europe, anatomists relied on bodies from prisons, workhouses, or even stolen graves. In notorious cases like Burke and Hare in Scotland, murder was committed specifically to supply anatomy schools. The exhibition also shows how many illustrations idealized the human form, reflecting the cultural, gender, and racial biases of their time. Some works blurred the line between science and erotica, revealing how societal tastes influenced supposedly objective studies. Curators emphasize that while anatomical knowledge has advanced, ethical questions remain. As Jamie Taylor, museum director of collections, says, the exhibition challenges visitors to consider “whose bodies feature in anatomical textbooks, who was drawing them, and why.” The display spans five centuries of anatomical illustration, tracing the complex relationship between art, power, and medical science. Source: BBC

Italy is finding new and creative ways to make its rich art and history accessible to blind and visually impaired people, allowing them to experience famous landmarks and artworks through touch, sound and imagination rather than sight. On a recent evening, after tourists had left Rome’s Colosseum, a small group gathered outside the ancient structure for a special tour designed for people with little or no vision. Instead of looking, they listened carefully and used their hands to understand the monument’s shape and history. Among them was 54-year-old Michela Marcato, who has been blind since birth. As the guide spoke, she explored a small model of the Colosseum with her fingers. Feeling its arches and curves helped her realize something she had never known before — the building’s oval shape. “Walking around it, I would never have understood that,” she said. “But holding the model makes it clear.” Italy’s popular tourist sites have long posed challenges for people with disabilities, from narrow entrances to uneven paths. But since 2021, the country has stepped up efforts to improve access, using European Union recovery funds to remove physical barriers and introduce inclusive visitor experiences. AI-powered apps reshape self-perception for blind users At Pompeii, new braille signs, audio guides, tactile models and raised replicas of artifacts now help blind visitors explore the vast ruins. Florence has also published detailed guides explaining which routes and museums are accessible and what assistance may be needed. Experts say inclusive tourism is not only about rights but also about economic sense. According to the World Tourism Organization, many older travelers have disabilities, and they often travel with companions. Tour guide Giorgio Guardi, who leads accessible tours in Rome, said the goal is to create meaningful experiences for everyone. His group often holds nighttime tours to reduce noise and crowds. When touching monuments isn’t possible, guides use creative methods such as asking visitors to physically recreate the pose of a famous statue to understand its form and emotion. Italy is also home to the Museo Omero in Ancona, the country’s only publicly funded tactile museum, where visitors are encouraged to touch the artworks. Founded by two blind art lovers, the museum features replicas of famous sculptures and modern works by blind artists. For Marcato, art is about memory and sensation. Though she cannot see a large painting of the sea in her home, it reminds her of ocean sounds, smells and walks along the shore. “It’s a way of feeling art,” she said, “that has nothing to do with seeing.”

Iraqi calligrapher Ali Zaman has completed an extraordinary handwritten copy of the Holy Quran after six years of tireless work, marking the end of a deeply personal artistic journey. Standing beside his creation at a mosque in Istanbul, the 54-year-old artist said finishing the manuscript filled him with pride and gratitude. “Whenever I think about this Quran, I feel very happy. God gave me the life and strength to complete it, and that makes me proud,” he told The Associated Press. The manuscript is monumental in size and scope. It is made up of 302 double-sided scrolls, each about four metres (13 feet) long and 1.5 metres wide. The sheets, similar to thick parchment, were specially produced using traditional materials such as eggs, corn starch and alum. Islamic calligraphy is one of the most respected art forms in the Muslim world. For centuries, it has been used not only to preserve the Quran but also to decorate mosques, palaces and manuscripts. In Turkey, the art flourished during the Ottoman period with strong state support, leading to the development of unique styles. Today, Istanbul remains a major centre for calligraphy, known locally as hat. Art expert Umit Coskunsu said calligraphy became especially important in Islamic culture because of restrictions on depicting human figures. He described hat as more than just art. “It is seen as a form of worship, a way of getting closer to God,” he said. Zaman was born in Ranya, in Iraq’s northern Kurdish region, and developed an interest in calligraphy at the age of 12. “I was drawn to it immediately. I felt I could find my soul in this art,” he recalled. In 2017, he moved with his family to Istanbul to focus on the Quran project and improve his skills, saying calligraphy is more appreciated in Turkey than in his home country. For six years, he worked from dawn until dusk in a small room at the Mihrimah Sultan Mosque, carefully handwriting every sheet. Although the manuscript is being described as the world’s largest handwritten Quran, it has not been officially recognised. Guinness World Records lists the largest printed Quran, produced in Mecca in 2025. Zaman’s son, Rekar, remembers how rarely he saw his father during those years. “We mostly saw him when we brought food or when he came home to sleep,” he said. “Now, thankfully, we see him more.” Read More: Three-flippered sea turtle Pyari released in Florida, now tracked by satellite The scrolls are now safely stored and covered at the mosque. Zaman hopes the Quran will one day be displayed publicly in a museum or special cultural space where people can truly appreciate it.

A crumbling 19th-century house on one of Belgrade’s busiest streets is defying time and urban development by thriving as a small, intimate theatre. Built in 1894 by a prominent family, the mansion at 17 Takovska Street is a protected heritage site that now hosts Takovska17, a theatre staging early 20th-century plays for audiences of just a few dozen people. Though traffic roars past outside, stepping inside feels like entering another era, with period furniture, faded walls and wooden floors worn by more than a century of use. Several local theatre troupes perform in the space, embracing its historic atmosphere. Actress Isidora Ristic said the house itself has become part of the performances, calling it “a character in our plays.” Architect and performer Tamara Masic said the artists feel honored to breathe new life into the old building, describing it as “like a museum.” The unique setting has drawn strong interest, with frequent waiting lists for tickets. As many similar houses in Belgrade have been demolished to make way for modern buildings, Takovska17 stands out as a rare survivor, preserving the city’s past while creating new stories on stage.  

Archaeologists in Xi’an, the capital of northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, have uncovered a well-planned suburban settlement dating back to the Western Han Dynasty, offering new insights into life on the outskirts of the ancient capital Chang’an. The discovery was made during excavations at the Sanjiu relic site, according to the Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology. The settlement dates from the middle of the Western Han period to the Xin Dynasty, which ruled between 202 BC and 25 AD. Also Read: Why a lone nihilist penguin from a 2007 documentary goes viral The Sanjiu site is located in Xi’an’s Weiyang District, about 0.6 kilometres east of the eastern wall of ancient Chang’an City. Archaeological work carried out in 2025 also revealed remains from later periods, including a Northern Wei cemetery, tombs from the Song Dynasty, and pottery kilns dating to the Qing Dynasty. Researchers found that the Western Han settlement was divided by a north to south ditch. On the eastern side, eight large courtyard-style residential complexes were arranged along a cross-shaped road system, forming what archaeologists believe was a central area for food processing activities. On the western side of the ditch, excavators identified workshops for bone processing and metal smelting alongside residential areas. The team recovered about 78 kilograms of bone and shell materials, as well as iron tools and decorative items such as bone earrings and shell beads, suggesting the presence of a jewellery production workshop. Also Read: Bird murals bring Hong Kong’s migratory stories to life in Lantau’s forgotten village Project leader Zhang Yanglizheng said the findings reveal previously unknown details about how suburban areas near Chang’an City were organised, highlighting the site’s importance for understanding social and economic structures during the Western Han period.

Painted birds have begun appearing across the worn walls of Wang Tong Village, a quiet corner of Lantau Island in Hong Kong, turning abandoned homes into a trail of murals that spotlight both neglected places and the remarkable journeys of migratory species. The project was conceived by Dominic Johnson-Hill after an ornithologist neighbor told him about the Amur falcon, which travels from Manchuria and stops in Lantau before continuing across Myanmar, India and Madagascar to South Africa. Johnson-Hill said the story changed how he saw the birds around him, not as permanent residents but as passing visitors. Inspired, he looked at an empty house beside his own and imagined a red-billed blue magpie stretching across its wall, an idea that grew into what is now known as the Flock Project. To translate the concept into art, Johnson-Hill brought in British muralist Rob Aspire, widely known as “The Birdman,” who is recognized for detailed and expressive bird paintings. The first mural was followed by more. A year later, Aspire returned to paint seven additional works. Egypt’s Siwa Salt Lakes: why you float instead of sinking Each bird was selected to match the surroundings through ecology, appearance or symbolism. A kingfisher appears near a stream where fishing has been banned, while a Swinhoe’s white-eye blends into walls close to trees where its call can still be heard. Most of the paintings sit on abandoned houses, with one exception on Sunset Peak. There, at 868 meters above sea level, a long-tailed shrike is painted onto the rooftop of a 90-year-old stone home overlooking the mountains. The project aims to gradually place more of Hong Kong’s native and migratory birds into view, integrating them into overlooked corners of the island as though they have always been part of the landscape. The murals have started drawing hundreds of visitors, many from the city’s dense urban centre, who walk village trails in search of the painted birds. On weekends, some leave chalk arrows to guide others, turning the paths into a kind of informal treasure hunt. Organisers say building attention and appreciation can be a first step toward conservation. Bali named world’s top travel destination for 2026 by TripAdvisor Johnson-Hill has also created an online map for visitors and is considering the next phase, which will depend on whether new sites become available and whether conditions allow additional birds to be painted. As the story suggests, birds come and go, and so do people. Villages may empty out, but their walls remain, now carrying painted birds and the memories they leave behind. 

Every January, the northeastern Chinese city of Harbin hosts a remarkable winter tradition. Despite the city - capital of Heilongjiang province—already being blanketed in ice, artists flock here from near and far to create even more, competing to craft the year’s finest ice sculpture. The result is enchanting. Illuminated from within, the sculptures transform parts of the city into a magical, almost cinematic landscape, reminiscent of a festive holiday show. Visitors, often traveling long distances, bundle up to experience the spectacle. 5 simple lifestyle changes that may help slow biological ageing: Experts In images captured by Associated Press photographer Ng Han Guan on Saturday, an ice sculptor readies his piece for the festival’s competition, while spectators approach the glowing icy steps of a towering obelisk adorned in yellow and purple lights. The festival continues through mid-February, and for the adventurous, it even offers the chance to swim among the ice.

As people in much of the US. pack away holiday decorations and settle back into normal routines after New Year’s, Louisiana is doing the opposite  gearing up for its most anticipated season of the year. Across the state, preparations are underway for Carnival, a festive, weeks-long celebration held before Lent. The season is marked by rich food, lavish balls and an ongoing lineup of large parades that take over city streets. Carnival is known for excess and spectacle: elaborate costumes, nonstop celebrations and countless strings of colorful plastic beads draped around revelers’ necks. It’s a time devoted to enjoyment before the more reflective period of Lent begins. Origins of CarnivalCarnival has deep roots in Christian, particularly Roman Catholic, traditions. It represents a time of eating, drinking and celebration leading up to Ash Wednesday, which signals the start of Lent  a season of fasting and spiritual preparation for Easter. Every year, more than a million visitors join Louisiana locals in New Orleans for the world-famous festivities. But Carnival isn’t confined to the city. Celebrations take place throughout Louisiana and across the Gulf Coast, including in Mobile, Alabama, home to what is considered the oldest Mardi Gras celebration in the U.S. Similar events are also held internationally, especially in parts of Europe and Brazil. Carnival vs. Mardi GrasWhile the terms are often used interchangeably, Carnival and Mardi Gras are not the same. Carnival refers to the entire season leading up to Lent. Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday is a single day that marks the final celebration before Lent begins. Mardi Gras always falls on the day before Ash Wednesday and serves as the grand finale of Carnival, offering one last chance for indulgence. Length of the SeasonCarnival officially begins on Jan. 6, known as Epiphany or Twelfth Night in the Catholic calendar. The season concludes on Mardi Gras, but the date changes each year because it depends on when Easter occurs. Mardi Gras can fall anytime between early February and early March. This year, Fat Tuesday lands on Feb. 17, making the Carnival season last 43 days. King Cake TraditionThe start of Carnival also signals the return of king cake, a beloved seasonal dessert. Bakeries known for their king cakes often draw long lines as people eagerly await the treat. The cake, typically made from sweet, brioche-style dough, is shaped like a ring and flavored with cinnamon. It’s decorated with purple, green and gold icing — the traditional Mardi Gras colors — and may be filled with fruit, nuts or cream cheese. Hidden inside is a small plastic baby figurine. Tradition holds that whoever finds it in their slice is responsible for buying the next cake or hosting the next party, keeping the celebrations going. Over time, king cake has evolved beyond tradition. Creative versions now include unconventional fillings such as boudin sausage or even sushi-inspired designs. Parades and “Throws”Carnival is perhaps best known for its spectacular parades. More than 80 parades are scheduled in and around New Orleans this season, many lasting several hours. These parades feature lively marching bands, dancers in costume and towering floats adorned with imaginative, handcrafted designs. Each parade has its own theme and personality — from all-women krewes and political satire to sci-fi themes featuring costumed characters. Some parades boast thousands of riders and dozens of floats, while others are charmingly small, with floats built from shoeboxes. Members of krewes the social organizations that organize parades — invest significant time and money preparing for the season. Their efforts are rewarded as crowds line the streets, often dressed in costumes themselves. Spectators eagerly reach for “throws,” the trinkets tossed from floats. These include beads, candy, cups and toys, along with prized items like decorated coconuts, hand-painted shoes and even glitter-covered plungers. One of the largest krewes, Endymion, estimates it distributes more than 15 million throws each year, living by its motto: “Throw ’til it Hurts.” Other Carnival TraditionsWhile parades and formal balls dominate popular images of Carnival, many communities observe unique traditions. In rural central Louisiana, people participate in the Courir de Mardi Gras, a Cajun French custom where masked revelers travel through the countryside singing, performing and asking for ingredients. They may even chase live chickens, all to gather supplies for a communal gumbo at the day’s end. Chinese Embassy holds ‘Happy Chinese New Year Festival’ Temple Fair at Gulshan Society Lake Park In New Orleans, another powerful tradition is practiced by Mardi Gras Indians — African Americans who create intricate suits adorned with beads and feathers. They parade through neighborhoods singing, dancing and drumming. This tradition dates back to at least the late 19th century and honors Native Americans who aided Black communities and escaped slaves. It also emerged during an era when segregation excluded Black residents from white-only parades.  

Holly has long been a symbol of the season, appearing in wreaths, boughs, holiday cards, and catalog covers. But have you considered adding it to your garden? With hundreds of species and hybrids from around the world — and over a dozen native to the continental U.S. — holly offers year-round appeal and winter interest. Historically, ancient pagans used holly branches as crowns and believed the evergreens could repel evil spirits and hasten spring. Later, early Christians adopted holly as a symbol of eternal life. Its bright red berries and deep-green leaves complement traditional holiday colors, while providing an important food source for birds and wildlife (though most berries are toxic to humans). Plant holly in early spring, after the last hard freeze but before summer heat sets in, and water regularly during the first year. Most hollies are dioecious, meaning male and female plants are needed for berry production. One male can pollinate up to ten females within 50 feet. Plant tags may not indicate sex, but variety names often help — for example, “China Girl” (female) requires “China Boy” (male) to bear fruit. Here are a few top choices: Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria): Native to the southern U.S., adaptable to sun or shade, and suitable for hedges or trees. Hardy in zones 7-9.American Holly (Ilex opaca): Slow-growing, pyramid-shaped, reaching 25-60 feet, thriving in acidic soil, zones 5-9.Blue Holly (Ilex x meserveae): European hybrid with blue-green spiny leaves, 2-8 feet tall, zones 5-7.Winterberry Holly (Ilex verticillata): Deciduous, berries on bare branches offer winter interest, zones 3-9.Caution: English or common holly (Ilex aquifolium), native to Europe and North Africa, can be invasive in parts of the U.S., particularly the Pacific Northwest and California. Avoid planting it in regions where it threatens native vegetation. With the right choices, holly can add beauty, history, and wildlife value to your garden all year long.

After two years of shuttered shops and empty streets, Christmas celebrations have begun returning to Bethlehem, offering a fragile sense of hope to a city devastated by the war in Gaza and an economic crisis across the West Bank. On Saturday evening, John Juka’s family restaurant — closed for most of the past two Christmases — was once again filled with families and glowing red lights. “It’s not like before the war,” said the 30-year-old. “But life is coming back again.” Bethlehem, the traditional birthplace of Jesus, relies heavily on tourism. Nearly 80% of its Muslim-majority population depends on the industry, which collapsed after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel and the subsequent Israeli offensive in Gaza, which Palestinian health officials say has killed more than 70,000 people. Israeli military operations in the West Bank, including near Bethlehem, further worsened the crisis. Unemployment surged to 65%, and thousands left the city searching for work. Mayor Maher Nicola Canawati said reviving Christmas celebrations was meant to restore hope. “When Bethlehem thrives, the entire West Bank feels it,” he said. On Saturday, Manger Square filled with crowds, children atop their fathers’ shoulders, and a towering Christmas tree lit up the night. Some tourists have begun to return, and hotels expect nearly 70% occupancy during Christmas — the highest since the war began. But tensions remain high. Violence, raids, and settler attacks continue across the West Bank. On Saturday, Israeli forces shot dead two Palestinians near Hebron, saying they attempted to ram soldiers. Checkpoints have made everyday travel difficult; one resident said he spent six hours traveling less than 20 miles. Still, many in Bethlehem cling to cautious optimism. “This celebration is for everyone — Christian, Jewish, Muslim,” said Issa Montas, a 29-year-old resident. “This Christmas is for all of us.”