United News of Bangladesh

China’s annual Lunar New Year travel season has begun, with authorities expecting a record 9.5 billion trips during the 40-day period surrounding the country’s biggest festival. The mass migration, known as “chunyun,” is considered the largest yearly movement of people in the world. Millions are heading back to their hometowns ahead of the Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 17. Among them is Liu Zhiquan, who works in construction in Beijing and was preparing for a train ride of more than 30 hours to Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, about 2,000 kilometers away. He said economic conditions feel worse than last year. “The economy is bad and it’s getting harder to make money,” Liu said. To cut costs, he chose a slower train. A high-speed train would take about nine hours but costs more than twice as much. Despite the long journey, he said returning home for the holiday is important, as it is often the only time workers across the country can reunite with their families. According to the National Development and Reform Commission, around 540 million trips will be made by train and 95 million by air during the travel period. The majority of journeys will be by road. In China, where many employees work long hours, including weekends, and receive limited annual leave, the Lunar New Year holiday is especially valued. At Beijing railway stations, large crowds filled waiting halls, carrying heavy bags and suitcases. Many passengers ate instant noodles while waiting, taking advantage of free hot water provided at stations. Tian Duofu, who recently began working full-time in Beijing, said she is looking forward to the nine-day holiday starting Feb. 15. She said it has become harder for extended families to gather, and long holidays are rare. “After I started working, I realized such a long break is uncommon, and we meet in person less often, which makes the Spring Festival more meaningful,” she said. Tian Yunxia, originally from Henan province and now running a breakfast stall in Beijing, said she is eager to return home to see her children, grandchildren and husband. “The new year is the most important festival. If we don’t go back home, we cannot truly feel the festive atmosphere,” she said.

Japan’s decision to cancel a cherry blossom festival near Mount Fuji has drawn wide attention, highlighting the deep cultural significance of sakura in the country. Authorities scrapped the event, launched in 2016, citing overtourism and disruptive behaviour by visitors. Announcing the move, Fujiyoshida Mayor Shigeru Horiuchi said the step was necessary to protect residents’ dignity and living environment. The cancellation struck a chord because cherry blossoms are far more than seasonal flowers in Japan. They are woven into the nation’s history, identity and collective memory, making the loss of any sakura celebration feel deeply symbolic. Although cherry blossoms bloom in many parts of the world, Japan’s long-standing traditions of sakura matsuri and hanami set it apart. References to Japan almost inevitably evoke images of cherry blossoms in full bloom.

A previously unknown sketch by Renaissance master Michelangelo, depicting a foot, has been sold at auction for $23 million (£16.9 million), more than ten times its initial estimate. Christie’s auction house said experts have identified the red chalk drawing as a study of the foot of the Libyan Sibyl, a figure later painted by Michelangelo on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. The work is believed to date back to around 1511–1512, when the artist was preparing the second phase of the iconic ceiling fresco. According to Christie’s, the discovery came after the artwork’s unsuspecting owner submitted a photograph of the drawing simply to obtain an auction estimate, only to learn of its extraordinary value. Andrew Fletcher, global head of Christie’s Old Masters Department, called the find “one of the most memorable moments” of his career. The anonymous seller, who lives on the west coast of the United States, told Christie’s that he inherited the drawing from his grandmother. He said the artwork had remained in his family in Europe since the late 18th century. The dark truth behind historic anatomical art Giada Damen, a specialist in Christie’s Old Master Drawings Department, carried out detailed analysis using infrared reflectography. The examination revealed additional sketches on the reverse side of the sheet, also consistent with Michelangelo’s style. Damen then compared the drawing with an authenticated Michelangelo work held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, concluding that the sketch was indeed an original. While multimillion-dollar art sales are not uncommon, the result places the sketch among notable recent auction highlights. In 2017, a 500-year-old painting of Christ attributed to Leonardo da Vinci sold in New York for a record $450 million. In November 2025, a portrait of Elisabeth Lederer by Austrian artist Gustav Klimt fetched $236.4 million, while a surrealist painting by Mexican artist Frida Kahlo sold for $54.7 million, setting a new auction record for an artwork by a woman. #With inputs from BBC

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.