United News of Bangladesh

Billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and former TV anchor Lauren Sánchez tied the knot in a lavish ceremony in Venice, Italy, reportedly spending tens of millions of dollars for their extravagant 3-day celebration. The grand affair, which concluded on Saturday, June 28, drew an A-list guest list, including tech mogul Bill Gates, media icon Oprah Winfrey, and other high-profile figures, turning the historic Italian city into the backdrop of one of the most talked-about weddings of the year. The festivities — spread over three lavish days — came with all the trimmings of extreme wealth: luxury yacht arrivals, grand canal parades, and Sánchez reportedly donning multiple designer outfits by Dolce & Gabbana, Schiaparelli, and Bottega Veneta, with her wedding dress alone drawing headlines for its mermaid-style silhouette. While the exact expenditure remains undisclosed, estimates suggest Bezos, the world’s third-richest person, spared no expense for the occasion. Bezos-owned Washington Post cuts more jobs Reuters earlier reported that Venice regional governor Luca Zaia initially pegged the cost between 20 and 30 million euros ($23 million to $34 million). However, the figure reportedly surged to between 40 and 48 million euros ($46.5 million to $55.6 million) after heightened security concerns prompted a last-minute change of venue, according to USA Today. But as the couple reveled in their Dolce Vita-inspired celebration, hundreds of Venetians marched through the city's narrow streets Saturday chanting, “Kisses Yes, Bezos No” and “No Bezos, No War.” Banners decried the spectacle as an affront to Venice's residents, who grapple daily with overtourism, sky-high housing prices, and worsening climate-driven floods. “We are here to disrupt the parties of these rich people, who grow richer by exploiting others, while our city faces decay,” said protester Martina Vergnano. Organizers claimed their protests forced the relocation of Saturday’s final party to the historic Arsenale, a medieval shipyard, away from its initially planned venue. The city’s mayor and officials defended the wedding, calling it part of Venice's centuries-old tradition of welcoming emperors, popes, and now billionaires. In a gesture seen by many as damage control, Bezos donated €1 million ($1.17 million) each to three organizations working to protect Venice’s environment, according to local research association Corila.  

As the conflict in Sudan grinds on, millions are battling severe food shortages, forcing many to survive on wild plants and weeds. With little else available, families boil these in salted water to stave off hunger. One retired schoolteacher, 60, expressed his gratitude through poetry, praising a plant called Khadija Koro as “a balm in times of fear” that kept him and others alive. Speaking under the condition of anonymity due to security concerns, he is one of nearly 25 million Sudanese now suffering from acute food insecurity, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC). The ongoing war, which began in April 2023 between Sudan’s military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has devastated the country. More than 20,000 people have died, nearly 13 million have been displaced, and the conflict has sparked what aid agencies are calling the world’s largest hunger emergency. Once considered a global agricultural hub, Sudan now struggles with surging food prices, diminished farmland, and obstructed aid routes. Regions such as Darfur, Kordofan, and the Nuba Mountains are particularly affected, with access severely restricted for aid organizations like the Norwegian Refugee Council. In areas like North Darfur, some residents have reportedly resorted to chewing on coal to quell hunger pains. On Friday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged Sudanese military leader Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan to agree to a week-long ceasefire in El Fasher to allow humanitarian access. While Burhan consented, it remains unclear if the RSF will reciprocate. The retired teacher said that although occasional aid offers brief relief, it is insufficient. His wife and children, living in Obeid, also face high food costs and limited availability. Due to blocked roads and security risks, he is unable to travel to join them. His irregular income from training jobs barely covers essential needs, allowing him to send only around $35 a week to support his family. In other conflict-affected regions, such as South Kordofan, residents say living conditions are dire. Hassan, a resident of Kadugli, described the area as a “prison for civilians,” citing the collapse of food distribution, health care, and basic services due to the RSF siege. He also spoke on condition of anonymity due to safety concerns. Local and international humanitarian groups have reportedly been banned in some conflict zones. With access to food, water, and medicine cut off, desperate civilians are turning to wild vegetation for survival. World Food Programme spokesperson Leni Kinzli confirmed that parts of Khartoum, Gezeira, and much of Darfur are at risk of famine. The WFP assists over 4 million people monthly, with 1.7 million in areas classified as high risk. Despite government claims that famine is not present, the situation remains bleak. Ongoing fighting between government forces, RSF, and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) has made it nearly impossible for aid to reach many regions. In South Darfur’s Nyala region, civilians are attempting to grow crops, but violence and resource shortages hinder agriculture. Displaced resident Hawaa Hussein said she and her family of eight receive food parcels every two months but often rely on community support to meet their needs. "It’s hard to eat when your neighbor is starving," she said. At El Serif camp, where nearly 49,000 displaced people now live, only about 5% of food needs are being met, according to camp leader Abdalrahman Idris. More than 5,000 new arrivals have come since the war began, many fleeing violence in the capital. Further north, in Zamzam camp near El Fasher, famine and violence have created catastrophic conditions. An aid worker, who fled the camp recently, reported that basic goods are unaffordable — sugar sells for 20,000 Sudanese pounds (roughly $33), and soap for 10,000 pounds (about $17). Several vulnerable residents, including the elderly and pregnant women, have reportedly died due to hunger and the lack of medical care. Describing the camp as “a place where people wait to die,” the aid worker said the humanitarian situation continues to worsen. Still, the retired teacher clings to hope, ending his poem with these lines:“When people clashed and death filled the city squares, you, Koro, were a symbol of life and a title of loyalty.”

Olga Michael, a Yup’ik woman from a remote Alaska Native village, has been declared the first female Orthodox saint from North America, honoured for her compassion, humility, and lifelong service to others. Known as a midwife, mother of 13, and spiritual guide to many, Olga lived her entire life in Kwethluk, a small village of around 800 people in southwestern Alaska. As the wife of an Orthodox priest, she was also regarded as a "matushka," or spiritual mother within her community. Following her death from cancer in 1979 at age 63, stories of her kindness and devotion spread across Alaska and beyond, with many reporting visions and dreams of her, even among those who never met her. She has now been officially canonised as "St. Olga of Kwethluk, Matushka of All Alaska" after a grand ceremony in her home village. "She was just my mom," said her daughter, Helen Larson, reflecting on the outpouring of reverence for her late mother. "But now, she belongs to everyone — she’s everybody's helper." A significant moment for the Church The sainthood of St. Olga holds special meaning for both women and Indigenous communities, particularly in an Orthodox tradition historically led by men. 18th century wooden boat discovered off an old Croatian port Metropolitan Tikhon, head of the Orthodox Church in America, called her canonisation a reminder that "the path to holiness is open to everyone — male or female, rich or poor, young or old." Carrie Frederick Frost, a scholar on women in Orthodoxy, noted that St. Olga's sainthood is especially meaningful because she was a layperson, mother, and grandmother — not a martyr or a nun like many other female saints. Her reputation as a source of comfort for women experiencing abuse, miscarriage, or loss reflects her deep empathy, shaped by her own hardships, including losing five of her children during their early years. A historic canonisation ceremony Hundreds gathered for St. Olga's glorification ceremony, with visitors travelling from across Alaska and beyond. Some arrived by motorboat from nearby communities, while others flew in from distant states and countries, journeying along the Kuskokwim River, vital to the Yup’ik people's subsistence traditions. Metropolitan Tikhon led the ceremonies, greeted by villagers as chants and incense filled the air under Alaska's solstice sun. Inside the small Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church, hymns in the Yup’ik language celebrated her life, with many worshippers crowding inside, while others stood outside to listen. Prayers hailed her as a healer of the wounded, a protector of mothers, and a comforter to those suffering heartbreak. Afterward, many approached her open casket to pay their respects. A family's reflections For relatives like Wiz Ruppert, who returned to Kwethluk for the occasion, St. Olga’s sainthood felt both surreal and fitting. "She was always so kind and generous," Ruppert recalled. Larson, her daughter, remembered how people would visit their home seeking advice or comfort. “I’d watch them arrive, heavy with sorrow, and leave lighter after tea and conversation,” she said. Alaska’s unique place in Orthodoxy Alaska holds deep roots in Orthodox Christianity, dating back to Russian missionaries in the 18th and 19th centuries. Today, many Orthodox priests in Alaska, including more than a dozen from Kwethluk, are of Native heritage. Health tips: eat these four foods regularly to keep blood pressure under control St. Olga is the third Alaska Native saint, a reflection of the church's integration with Indigenous communities. A debate over her resting place Her remains were exhumed in late 2024 and now rest in Kwethluk’s church, where pilgrims can visit. Though there were initial discussions about relocating her relics to Anchorage, village residents opposed the move, wishing to keep their spiritual mother close. Kwethluk, only accessible by river or air, is expected to become a significant pilgrimage destination. Plans are underway to build a new church and cultural centre in her honour. Celebrating faith in their own language During the glorification, visitors were hosted by local families and shared meals featuring traditional Alaska Native foods like walrus meat and smoked fish. For many, the ceremony marked a spiritual milestone. "Today, we sang hymns for a Yup’ik woman, in our language, about a life we understand," said Nicholai Joekay of Bethel, who knew St. Olga's family. "Today, God felt closer to all of us," he added. Source: With inputs from agency     

A sunken 18th-century boat has been discovered by chance near the majestic stone walls of Croatia's medieval city of Dubrovnik. Ivan Bukelic was working on a water pipeline in Dubrovnik's old port back in April when he found a wooden structure buried in the seabed. “I can now say I discovered a boat at the Old Town Dubrovnik,” Bukelic, who is a diver and undersea builder from Dubrovnik, said, reports AP. He added the vessel was some 60-80 centimetres (23-31 inches) under the sea bottom. A key trade port in the Adriatic Sea in medieval times, Dubrovnik has been declared a UNESCO protected heritage site. It attracts huge crowds of tourists, especially during the summer, and is also known as a filming site for HBO’s Game of Thrones series. South Korea's last circus ‘Dongchoon’ holds up as it marks centennial The remains of the boat in Dubrovnik's old port have been protected for further examination. “We still cannot speak of the type of vessel or its dimensions but we can say for certain, based on the results of radiocarbon analysis that it was from late 18th century,” marine archaeologist Irena Radić Rossi said. Radić Rossi said the aim is to continue with the research in cooperation with Croatia's Ministry of Culture: “We must protect it for the future.”

With recent layoffs across tech firms, media outlets, and even government agencies, concerns over job security are understandably on the rise. Losing a job can be overwhelming, with effects that ripple through your personal, emotional, and financial life. But experts say there are practical steps you can take to reduce stress and stay focused on your next move. “A layoff can feel deeply personal, but it’s not a reflection of your worth or contributions. In the U.S., our work is so closely tied to our identity,” said financial therapist Lindsay Bryan-Podvin. Here’s what experts suggest to help you manage both your finances and emotional wellbeing after losing a job: Pause to process your emotions Job loss often triggers a mix of emotions — from anger and sadness to shock or even relief. Experts say it’s important to acknowledge these feelings before jumping into your next steps. “Acknowledge and normalize that they're going to feel a range of emotions, whether it's anger or sadness,” Bryan-Podvin explained. Giving yourself time to sit with those emotions can help you approach your next steps with more clarity. Assess your financial position The first practical step is reviewing your finances, said career coach Marlo Lyons. Revisit your budget to identify areas where you can cut expenses, at least temporarily. If your employer offered a severance package, understand how long that money will support you. It’s also important to apply for unemployment benefits as soon as possible, Lyons advised. The payout may not match your previous salary, but it can help cover essential expenses during your job search. The U.S. Labor Department offers resources on how to apply. Your job doesn’t define you Being laid off can damage self-esteem, but Bryan-Podvin encourages people to list the qualities that contribute to their value beyond work — what she calls a “non-financial asset list.” “If I were doing a non-financial asset list on myself, I might say I’m a pretty good partner and a fun aunt,” she shared. How to stay safe during heat waves – and heat stroke warning signs to watch for This simple exercise, she said, reminds people that their self-worth extends far beyond their paychecks. Rework your spending habits According to Jesse Mecham, founder of the budgeting app YNAB, job loss requires a more intentional approach to every dollar you spend. “In a layoff, it becomes even more imperative that you treat every dollar with more attention than you have in the past,” Mecham said. His advice: Assign every dollar a specific job — whether it’s rent, groceries, or building savings. Bryan-Podvin added that adjusting your lifestyle should come with some self-compassion. Budgeting cuts can affect enjoyable activities, but remind yourself this is temporary. Be cautious with credit cards Relying too heavily on credit to get by during unemployment can backfire, experts warn. “If getting a new job takes them a little longer than they thought, that credit card has just become an anchor for them,” Mecham said. Instead of using credit to maintain your usual spending habits, focus on cutting costs wherever possible. Use community resources Look for community aid programs that can provide relief during tough times. Food banks, utility assistance, and temporary hardship programs can help bridge the gap, Bryan-Podvin noted. The government’s USA.Gov website includes a benefits finder to help identify programs you may qualify for. Indians mark International Yoga Day with mass sessions Job hunt with intention When you’re ready to job search, Lyons suggests taking a moment to reassess your professional goals. If you plan to stay in the same field, make sure your resume highlights what you can bring to future employers, not just what you’ve done in the past. “You want to show the employer what you can do, what unique value you can bring to that particular job that no other candidate can bring because of your previous experience,” Lyons explained. Networking is also key. Reach out to past colleagues via LinkedIn, attend industry events, or earn new certifications to enhance your profile, she added. Stick to a daily routine Creating structure in your day can ease anxiety and help you stay motivated, Bryan-Podvin said. She recommends setting aside specific times for meals, exercise, and job searching. Without a routine, unemployment can feel disorienting, especially if the layoff was unexpected, she added. Bryan-Podvin also emphasized the importance of avoiding isolation and leaning on friends, family, or support groups for encouragement during this period.

Every spring for about two weeks, the strong, sweet aroma from my two lilac bushes by the front gate draws compliments from mail carriers, delivery folks, and anyone passing by. On breezy days, the scent drifts to the front door or even inside if the windows are open. Few flowers can match that level of fragrance. Some never had it, and others have lost it over time due to breeding efforts focused on size, appearance, resilience, and disease resistance — often at the cost of scent. Today, many carnations, violas, and even some modern roses lack the fragrance they once had. But if you're looking for flowers with a truly captivating scent, there are still great options that will delight your senses. How to pick the most fragrant flowers Not all lilacs smell the same. One of the most fragrant varieties is the dwarf Korean lilac, Syringa meyeri ‘Palabin’, which thrives in zones 3–7. Other strongly scented choices include Syringa x Josee (zones 2/3–9), Syringa vulgaris ‘Krasavitsa Moskvy’ (Beauty of Moscow, zones 3–7), and Syringa vulgaris ‘President Lincoln’ (zones 3–7). For a memorable, sweet scent and striking blooms, consider magnolias. The southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) is known for its large, fragrant flowers and grows well in zones 7–9. The sweet bay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana), which is more cold-tolerant, suits zones 5–10. Another option is the Texas lilac, or chaste tree (Vitex), which blooms in midsummer with purple flowers and a pleasant aroma. It’s best for zones 6–9. Old-fashioned roses — the heirloom varieties untouched by modern breeding — may only bloom once per year, but their deep, classic rose fragrance makes them worth growing. Look for types in the tea, gallica, damask, and alba groups for the most powerful scent. Among vines, star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) is a standout. This evergreen vine produces starry white flowers with a heady fragrance and is perennial in zones 7–10. In colder areas, grow it in a large container that you can move indoors for winter. Common jasmine (Jasminum officinale) is unrelated but equally fragrant. For early spring fragrance, plant Dutch or common hyacinths (Hyacinthus orientalis) in the fall near your entrance (zones 4–8). Sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus) — unrelated to edible peas — are beloved annuals with an intensely sweet aroma. Other fragrant annuals include heliotrope (a tender perennial in zones 9–11) and flowering tobacco (Nicotiana), though scent strength can vary by variety. When choosing plants, follow your nose!   

Melissa Hortman, once a teenager making chili cheese burritos and later a powerful Democratic leader in Minnesota’s deeply divided Legislature, is being remembered for her compassion, resilience, and unwavering commitment to public service following her tragic death. Hortman and her husband, Mark, were fatally shot early Saturday at their home in suburban Brooklyn Park in what authorities have described as targeted political violence. Their deaths came just hours after attending a major Democratic event in Minneapolis. A lifelong resident of the Minneapolis area, Hortman pursued her higher education at Boston University before returning to Minnesota for law school. She began her career as a volunteer lawyer combating housing discrimination and entered politics in 2004 when she was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives. Over the years, she rose to prominence and helped pass significant liberal legislation, including a 2023 initiative providing free lunches to public school students. As House Speaker, she played a pivotal role in breaking a recent budget deadlock after the chamber became evenly split between Democrats and Republicans. Known for her bipartisan negotiations, Hortman cast the decisive vote last week to pass a contentious budget bill, despite Democratic opposition to a provision ending state health coverage for undocumented adult immigrants by 2026. "I know that people will be hurt by that vote," she admitted emotionally, while stressing the need for compromise. Galapagos tortoise turns 135 and celebrates first Father’s Day at Zoo Miami Beyond politics, Hortman was active in community service. She and her family volunteered with Helping Paws, an organization training service dogs for veterans, and she served on the board of a nonprofit that provides car repairs for low-income residents. A photo shared by Helping Paws shows Hortman smiling with Gilbert, a golden retriever trained and adopted by her family. Senator Amy Klobuchar, a close ally, paid tribute to her friend on ABC’s "This Week," calling her “a true leader” and “such a decent person.” U.S. Senator Tina Smith echoed those sentiments, noting the personal loss felt by the political community after seeing Hortman at Friday’s party dinner named after Minnesota icons Hubert Humphrey and Walter Mondale. In a separate but possibly linked incident, state Senator John Hoffman and his wife were also shot and wounded at their home in nearby Champlin. Both are recovering after surgery. Outside the Minnesota State Capitol, mourners have set up a memorial for Hortman and her husband, leaving flowers, flags, candles, and handwritten notes of gratitude for her service — one simply read, “You changed countless lives.” Before her political rise, Hortman’s résumé included stints as a taco maker, caterer, and auto parts store runner. She earned degrees in philosophy, political science, and law, and later obtained a master’s in public administration from Harvard. Her husband, Mark, held a physics degree and an MBA, and co-founded a consulting firm after a career in the auto parts industry. He also worked with Habitat for Humanity. The couple is survived by their adult son and daughter. “We remember Melissa for her kindness, compassion, and unwavering commitment to making the world better,” Helping Paws wrote in a tribute on social media. Source: With inputs from agency 

The oldest animal at a South Florida zoo marked a major milestone on Sunday, celebrating both his 135th birthday and his first Father’s Day. Goliath, a 517-pound (234-kg) Galapagos tortoise at Zoo Miami, recently became a father for the first time, zoo officials announced. “Goliath is my hero, and I believe he’ll soon inspire many others!” said Zoo Miami spokesperson Ron Magill in a statement. “He shows us that with determination, anything is possible—never give up!” Out of eight eggs laid on January 27, one successfully hatched on June 4. This marks not only Goliath’s first baby, but also the first Galapagos tortoise ever hatched at Zoo Miami. These tortoises, once devastated by human impact and invasive species in the Galapagos Islands, still face modern threats such as climate change and habitat destruction. Records show Goliath hatched on Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos sometime between 1885 and 1890. The island chain lies near the equator in the Pacific Ocean, west of mainland Ecuador. Goliath was brought to the Bronx Zoo in 1929 and relocated to Zoo Miami in 1981. Although he has previously mated with several females, he had never fathered a baby until now. The mother of the hatchling, Sweet Pea, is estimated to be between 85 and 100 years old. Zoo staff report that both tortoise parents are doing well in their exhibit, while the hatchling is healthy and being kept in a separate area. In the wild, hatchlings are not cared for by their parents.

Alliance Française de Dhaka (AFD) launched its ‘Animation Short Film Development Workshop’ on Saturday, a pioneering initiative aimed at nurturing new voices in Bangladesh’s animation industry. The inauguration ceremony took place at 6 pm at AFD’s Auditorium Nouvelle Vague, beginning with an introduction to the workshop’s core vision and objectives, with participation from aspiring animators, filmmakers, and cultural enthusiasts. This unique workshop focuses on the development phase of animation film production, guiding selected participants through three foundational pillars: research, writing, and design. It is structured to provide intensive mentorship, equipping participants with the tools to develop strong, production-ready projects and to engage with potential collaborators, producers, and funding bodies both nationally and internationally. Whether participants are interested in fiction, non-fiction, or experimental formats, the workshop’s curriculum is designed to enhance a broad range of creative practices. Through this collaborative space, selected individuals will develop their own short film projects that blend local narratives with global sensibilities. SCO film festival to kick off in China's Chongqing The workshop is coordinated by Sara Hossain, an acclaimed animation filmmaker and writer based in Dhaka. Till June 17, Individuals passionate about animation, storytelling, filmmaking, or video art are encouraged to apply, and further details and the application form are available at www.afdhaka.org.

Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys’ visionary and fragile leader whose genius for melody, arrangements and wide-eyed self-expression inspired “Good Vibrations,” “California Girls” and other summertime anthems and made him one of the world’s most influential recording artists, has died at 82. Wilson's family posted news of his death to his website and social media accounts Wednesday. Further details weren't immediately available. Since May 2024, Wilson had been under a court conservatorship to oversee his personal and medical affairs, with Wilson’s longtime representatives, publicist Jean Sievers and manager LeeAnn Hard, in charge. The eldest and last surviving of three musical brothers — Brian played bass, Carl lead guitar and Dennis drums — he and his fellow Beach Boys rose in the 1960s from local California band to national hitmakers to international ambassadors of surf and sun. Wilson himself was celebrated for his gifts and pitied for his demons. He was one of rock’s great Romantics, a tormented man who in his peak years embarked on an ever-steeper path to aural perfection, the one true sound. The Beach Boys rank among the most popular groups of the rock era, with more than 30 singles in the Top 40 and worldwide sales of more than 100 million. The 1966 album “Pet Sounds” was voted No. 2 in a 2003 Rolling Stone list of the best 500 albums, losing out, as Wilson had done before, to the Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.” The Beach Boys, who also featured Wilson cousin Mike Love and childhood friend Al Jardine, were voted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. Wilson feuded with Love over songwriting credits, but peers otherwise adored him beyond envy, from Elton John and Bruce Springsteen to Katy Perry and Carole King. The Who’s drummer, Keith Moon, fantasized about joining the Beach Boys. Paul McCartney cited “Pet Sounds” as a direct inspiration on the Beatles and the ballad “God Only Knows” as among his favorite songs, often bringing him to tears. Wilson moved and fascinated fans and musicians long after he stopped having hits. In his later years, Wilson and a devoted entourage of younger musicians performed “Pet Sounds” and his restored opus, “Smile,” before worshipful crowds in concert halls. Meanwhile, The Go-Go’s, Lindsey Buckingham, Animal Collective and Janelle Monáe were among a wide range of artists who emulated him, whether as a master of crafting pop music or as a pioneer of pulling it apart. An endless summer The Beach Boys’ music was like an ongoing party, with Wilson as host and wallflower. He was a tall, shy man, partially deaf (allegedly because of beatings by his father, Murry Wilson), with a sweet, crooked grin, and he rarely touched a surfboard unless a photographer was around. But out of the lifestyle that he observed and such musical influences as Chuck Berry and the Four Freshmen, he conjured a golden soundscape — sweet melodies, shining harmonies, vignettes of beaches, cars and girls — that resonated across time and climates. Decades after its first release, a Beach Boys song can still conjure instant summer — the wake-up guitar riff that opens “Surfin’ USA”; the melting vocals of “Don’t Worry Baby”; the chants of “fun, fun, fun” or “good, good, GOOD, good vibrations”; the behind-the-wheel chorus “’Round, ’round, get around, I get around.” Beach Boys songs have endured from turntables and transistor radios to boom boxes and iPhones, or any device that could lie on a beach towel or be placed upright in the sand. Frederick Forsyth, author of 'The Day of the Jackal,' dies at 86 The band’s innocent appeal survived the group’s increasingly troubled backstory, whether Brian’s many personal trials, the feuds and lawsuits among band members or the alcoholism of Dennis Wilson, who drowned in 1983. Brian Wilson’s ambition raised the Beach Boys beyond the pleasures of their early hits and into a world transcendent, eccentric and destructive. They seemed to live out every fantasy, and many nightmares, of the California myth they helped create. From the suburbs to the national stage Brian Wilson was born June 20, 1942, two days after McCartney. His musical gifts were soon obvious, and as a boy he was playing piano and teaching his brothers to sing harmony. The Beach Boys started as a neighborhood act, rehearsing in Brian’s bedroom and in the garage of their house in suburban Hawthorne, California. Surf music, mostly instrumental in its early years, was catching on locally: Dennis Wilson, the group’s only real surfer, suggested they cash in. Brian and Love hastily wrote up their first single, “Surfin,’” a minor hit released in 1961. They wanted to call themselves the Pendletones, in honor of a popular flannel shirt they wore in early publicity photos. But when they first saw the pressings for “Surfin,’” they discovered the record label had tagged them “The Beach Boys.” Other decisions were handled by their father, a musician of some frustration who hired himself as manager and holy terror. By mid-decade, Murry Wilson had been displaced and Brian, who had been running the band’s recording sessions almost from the start, was in charge, making the Beach Boys the rare group of the time to work without an outside producer. Their breakthrough came in early 1963 with “Surfin’ USA,” so closely modeled on Berry’s “Sweet Little Sixteen” that Berry successfully sued to get a songwriting credit. It was their first Top 10 hit and a boast to the nation: “If everybody had an ocean / across the USA / then everybody’d be surfin,’ / like Cali-for-nye-ay.” From 1963-66, they were rarely off the charts, hitting No. 1 with “I Get Around” and “Help Me, Rhonda” and narrowly missing with “California Girls” and “Fun, Fun, Fun.” For television appearances, they wore candy-striped shirts and grinned as they mimed their latest hit, with a hot rod or surfboard nearby. Their music echoed private differences. Wilson often contrasted his own bright falsetto with Love’s nasal, deadpan tenor. The extroverted Love was out front on the fast songs, but when it was time for a slow one, Brian took over. “The Warmth of the Sun” was a song of despair and consolation that Wilson alleged — to some skepticism — he wrote the morning after President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. “Don’t Worry Baby,” a ballad equally intoxicating and heartbreaking, was a leading man’s confession of doubt and dependence, an early sign of Brian’s crippling anxieties. Stress and exhaustion led to a breakdown in 1964 and his retirement from touring, his place soon filled by Bruce Johnston, who remained with the group for decades. Wilson was an admirer of Phil Spector’s “Wall of Sound” productions and emulated him on Beach Boys tracks, adding sleigh bells to “Dance, Dance, Dance” or arranging a mini-theme park of guitar, horns, percussion and organ as the overture to “California Girls.” By the mid-1960s, the Beach Boys were being held up as the country’s answer to the Beatles, a friendly game embraced by each group, transporting pop music to the level of “art” and leaving Wilson a broken man. The Beach Boys vs. The Beatles The Beatles opened with “Rubber Soul,” released in late 1965 and their first studio album made without the distractions of movies or touring. It was immediately praised as a major advance, the lyrics far more personal and the music far more subtle and sophisticated than such earlier hits as “She Loves You” and “A Hard Day’s Night.” Wilson would recall getting high and listening to the record for the first time, promising himself he would not only keep up with the British band, but top them. Ways to safeguard yourself from poor air quality resulting from Canada's wildfires Wilson worked for months on what became “Pet Sounds,” and months on the single “Good Vibrations.” He hired an outside lyricist, Tony Asher, and used various studios, with dozens of musicians and instruments ranging from violins to bongos to the harpsichord. The air seemed to cool on some tracks and the mood turn reflective, autumnal. From “I Know There’s an Answer” to “You Still Believe in Me,” many of the songs were ballads, reveries, brushstrokes of melody, culminating in the sonic wonders of “Good Vibrations,” a psychedelic montage that at times sounded as if recorded in outer space. The results were momentous, yet disappointing. “Good Vibrations” was the group’s first million-seller and “Pet Sounds,” which included the hits “Sloop John B” and “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” awed McCartney, John Lennon and Eric Clapton among others. Widely regarded as a new kind of rock LP, it was more suited to headphones than to the radio, a “concept” album in which individual songs built to a unified experience, so elaborately crafted in the studio that “Pet Sounds” couldn’t be replicated live with the technology of the time. Wilson was likened not just to the Beatles, but to Mozart and George Gershwin, whose “Rhapsody in Blue” had inspired him since childhood. But the album didn’t chart as highly as previous Beach Boys releases and was treated indifferently by the U.S. record label, Capitol. The Beatles, meanwhile, were absorbing lessons from the Beach Boys and teaching some in return. “Revolver” and “Sgt. Pepper,” the Beatles’ next two albums, drew upon the Beach Boys’ vocal tapestries and melodic bass lines and even upon the animal sounds from the title track of “Pet Sounds.” The Beatles’ epic “A Day in the Life” reconfirmed the British band as kings of the pop world and “Sgt. Pepper” as the album to beat. All eyes turned to Wilson and his intended masterpiece — a “teenage symphony to God” he called “Smile.” It was a whimsical cycle of songs on nature and American folklore written with lyricist Van Dyke Parks. The production bordered on method acting; for a song about fire, Wilson wore a fire helmet in the studio. The other Beach Boys were confused, and strained to work with him. A shaken Wilson delayed “Smile,” then canceled it. Remnants, including the songs “Heroes and Villains” and “Wind Chimes” were re-recorded and issued in September 1967 on “Smiley Smile,” dismissed by Carl Wilson as a “bunt instead of a grand slam.” The stripped down “Wild Honey,” released three months later, became a critical favorite but didn’t restore the band’s reputation. The Beach Boys soon descended into an oldies act, out of touch with the radical ’60s, and Wilson withdrew into seclusion. Years of struggle, and late life validation Addicted to drugs and psychologically helpless, sometimes idling in a sandbox he had built in his living room, Wilson didn’t fully produce another Beach Boys record for years. Their biggest hit of the 1970s was a greatest hits album, “Endless Summer,” that also helped reestablish them as popular concert performers. Although well enough in the 21st century to miraculously finish “Smile” and tour and record again, Wilson had been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and baffled interviewers with brief and disjointed answers. Among the stranger episodes of Wilson’s life was his relationship with Dr. Eugene Landy, a psychotherapist accused of holding a Svengali-like power over him. A 1991 lawsuit from Wilson’s family blocked Landy from Wilson’s personal and business affairs. His first marriage, to singer Marilyn Rovell, ended in divorce and he became estranged from daughters Carnie and Wendy, who would help form the pop trio Wilson Phillips. His life stabilized in 1995 with his marriage to Melinda Ledbetter, who gave birth to two more daughters, Daria and Delanie. He also reconciled with Carnie and Wendy and they sang together on the 1997 album “The Wilsons.” (Melinda Ledbetter died in 2024.) In 1992, Brian Wilson eventually won a $10 million out-of-court settlement for lost songwriting royalties. But that victory and his 1991 autobiography, “Wouldn’t It Be Nice: My Own Story,” set off other lawsuits that tore apart the musical family. Carl Wilson and other relatives believed the book was essentially Landy’s version of Brian’s life and questioned whether Brian had even read it. Their mother, Audree Wilson, unsuccessfully sued publisher HarperCollins because the book said she passively watched as her husband beat Brian as a child. Love successfully sued Brian Wilson, saying he was unfairly deprived of royalties after contributing lyrics to dozens of songs. He would eventually gain ownership of the band’s name. The Beach Boys still released an occasional hit single: “Kokomo,” made without Wilson, hit No. 1 in 1988. Wilson, meanwhile, released such solo albums as “Brian Wilson” and “Gettin’ In Over My Head,” with cameos by McCartney and Clapton among others. He also completed a pair of albums for the Walt Disney label — a collection of Gershwin songs and music from Disney movies. In 2012, surviving members of the Beach Boys reunited for a 50th anniversary album, which quickly hit the Top 10 before the group again bickered and separated. Wilson won just two competitive Grammys, for the solo instrumental “Mrs. O’Leary’s Cow” and for “The Smile Sessions” box set. Otherwise, his honors ranged from a Grammy lifetime achievement prize to a tribute at the Kennedy Center to induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In 2018, he returned to his old high school in Hawthorne and witnessed the literal rewriting of his past: The principal erased an “F” he had been given in music and awarded him an “A.”