United News of Bangladesh

Autumn is a good time to clean up gardens, but removing all dead leaves and cutting back every plant may do more harm than good. While some plants need trimming to prevent diseases and pests, others should be left standing through winter to protect wildlife and prepare for healthy growth in spring. Knowing which plants to keep and which to remove can help gardeners maintain plant health, prevent diseases and encourage better flowering in the next growing season. Plants to leave standing over winter Perennials that produce seed heads should generally be left standing during winter. Their seeds provide food for birds that stay through the colder months, while their stems offer shelter for pollinators and other beneficial insects. These plants include allium, aster, black-eyed Susan, coneflower, goldenrod, milkweed, sneezeweed and rattlesnake master, among others. Most shrubs that bloom in spring develop their flowers on older stems, known as “old wood”. Pruning them in autumn can remove buds that would otherwise bloom next year. Gardeners should avoid cutting back azaleas, rhododendrons, forsythia and hydrangeas at this time. If these shrubs need trimming to maintain their shape or size, it is best to prune them within two weeks after their spring flowers fade. Ornamental grasses should also remain standing until new growth begins in spring. Besides adding beauty to winter gardens, they provide shelter for insects that survive the cold season. Fallen leaves can be spread over garden beds to provide additional protection for these insects. Many of them help control harmful pests when warmer weather returns. Woody or partly woody perennials, including Russian sage and lavender, should also be left uncut during winter. Their stems and leaves help protect the base of each plant, where the stems meet the roots, from frost damage. Plants to cut back during autumn Some plants should be cut down at the end of the growing season to reduce the risk of pests and diseases. Hostas, for example, should be cut back to ground level because their dying leaves can provide hiding places for slugs and other pests during winter. Irises should also be cut back, as their leaves can harbour iris borer eggs. Removing the foliage helps reduce the risk of these pests hatching in spring and damaging the plants. Perennials that are prone to mildew should be cut back even if they showed no signs of infection during the current season. These include herbaceous peonies, bee balm and phlox. Gardeners should also remove plants that suffered from disease during the year. Fallen leaves and other infected plant material should be cleared from the surrounding beds to reduce the chances of diseases spreading to new growth next season. Annual flowers, such as zinnias, which are particularly vulnerable to powdery mildew, should also be removed if infected. Diseased plant material should not be added to compost piles. Instead, it should be disposed of in the rubbish to prevent the spread of infection. Do not ignore damaged branches Regardless of the season, dead, broken or diseased branches on trees and shrubs should be removed when necessary. Leaving damaged branches in place can threaten plant health. They may also break during winter storms, potentially causing injuries or damage to nearby property.  

Eight endangered orangutans have been released into a protected forest in Indonesian Borneo after wildfires destroyed large areas of their habitat, a conservation group said. The orangutans, including three mothers with their infants and two adolescent males, were rescued from fire-ravaged areas in Ketapang and North Kayong regencies between August and September. They were relocated to Batu Nyambu protected forest in West Kalimantan province on October 8, said Heribertus Suciadi, a spokesperson for the Indonesian Nature Rehabilitation Initiative Foundation, or YIARI. The wildfires destroyed habitat corridors and reduced access to food, forcing the orangutans into plantations inhabited by people in search of food and shelter, where they became stranded, Suciadi told The Associated Press on Monday. "They had no burns, open wounds, broken bones or other life-threatening injuries, but appeared to be suffering from malnutrition and dehydration," Suciadi said. Among those rescued were a female orangutan known as Mama Man and her infant, Man, which had been monitored for months in a small patch of forest surrounded by plantations. Expanding fires and heavy smoke left them with no safe route to larger forests before they were evacuated in early September, Suciadi said. Two other mother-and-infant pairs and two juvenile males were found in similar conditions after fires swept through forests near villages in Ketapang and North Kayong. The orangutans underwent veterinary examinations and observation at a rehabilitation centre operated by YIARI to ensure they were healthy enough to return to the wild. YIARI Operational Director Argitoe Ranting said Batu Nyambu was selected as the release site because much of the forest remains intact despite the wildfires and provides abundant food, water, nesting trees and connections to neighbouring forests. "We want to ensure that rescued orangutans are not simply moved from one place to another, but actually have a chance to survive in their natural habitat," he said, adding that protected forests capable of accommodating displaced orangutans are becoming increasingly scarce as fires spread. Forest and land fires in Indonesia have worsened this year as El Niño intensifies a prolonged dry season. Other contributing factors include land clearance through burning in Indonesian Borneo and parts of Sumatra, as well as water shortages that have hampered firefighters. Japan has provided assistance to Indonesian firefighting efforts. In a separate incident, a male orangutan named Sampurna, believed to be around 20 years old, was found struggling to breathe by residents in early September at a palm oil plantation in Ketapang district of West Kalimantan, an area affected by wildfires. He died hours after being rescued, Indonesia's Forestry Ministry said. As of Saturday, more than 270 wild animals in the Indonesian part of Borneo had been rescued, rehabilitated or guided to safer habitats, including 46 orangutans rescued by YIARI, according to the ministry. YIARI Chief Executive Officer Karmele Llano Sanchez said the relocation was a last resort after the animals' original habitat became unsafe. "These orangutans have been traumatized and other impacts by wildfires that devastated their habitat, leaving them displaced," she said. "Rescuing them is one of the best ways we can help them survive."

A group exhibition titled ‘Unbroken Line’ (Apromeyo Rekha), featuring drawings by 42 established, mid-career and emerging artists spanning seven decades of artistic practice, is underway at Bengal Shilpalay in the capital. Organised by Bengal Foundation, the exhibition opened on October 9 and will continue until October 30 at the Kamrul Hasan Exhibition Room on Level 1 of Bengal Shilpalay in Dhanmondi. Prominent art critic and writer Moinuddin Khaled and Professor Shishir Bhattacharjee, dean of the Faculty of Design and Technology at Shanto-Mariam University of Creative Technology, jointly inaugurated the exhibition. Professor A K M Moinul Islam of the Department of Ceramics and Sculpture at Rajshahi University and artist Soma Surovi Jannat also attended the opening as special guests. The exhibition brings together works by pioneers of modern art in Bangladesh and the wider region, including Zainul Abedin, Quamrul Hassan and Safiuddin Ahmed, alongside artists from subsequent generations. The participating artists include Aminul Islam, Anjay Kumar, Bipul Shahriar, Bipasha Hayat, Dhali Al Mamoon, Farah Naz Moon, Hamiduzzaman Khan, Hritendra Kumar Sharma, Imam Hossain Sumon, Ismail, Ismat Azim, Israt Jahan Tanni, Jannatun Noor Saymum, Jogen Chowdhury, Kalidas Karmakar, Kazi Abdul Baset, Lalu Prasad Shaw, Mainul Islam Pal, Md Arman Chowdhury, Md Munem Shahriar, Md Saifullah Abir, Mishkatul Abir, Murtaja Baseer, Mustafa Zaman, Nasir Ahmed, Nazneen Ahmed, Noor-e-Amena, Paritosh Sen, Qayyum Chowdhury, Rafiqun Nabi, Rikel Chakma, Sanat Kumar, Sanjoy Kumar Sutradhar, Shahabuddin Ahmed, Liton Chandra Sarkar, Cynthia Akter Shanta, SM Sultan, Syed Zakir Emon and Tayeba Begum Lipi, among others. Through a diverse range of works, ‘Unbroken Line’ traces how drawing in Bangladesh has evolved beyond its traditional roles in academic art education and social and political documentation to emerge as an independent and multilayered medium of contemporary artistic expression. The exhibition also highlights the diversity of approaches to drawing across generations, bringing together established masters and emerging practitioners. The inclusion of works representing both Dhaka-based and regional art institutions offers an opportunity to explore varied artistic perspectives and experimental practices. By presenting works from different periods and artistic backgrounds, the exhibition reflects the changing language of drawing and its continuing relevance to contemporary art, according to the organizers. The exhibition is open to all and can be visited daily from 4 to 8 pm until October 30 at Bengal Shilpalay, House 42, Road 27 (new Road 16), Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1209.

A pumpkin grown by a Rhode Island farmer appears to have set a new world record for the heaviest pumpkin, weighing nearly 300 pounds (136 kilograms) more than the current record holder. Ron Wallace of Greene, Rhode Island, weighed his giant pumpkin at a competition in New England on Saturday and is now awaiting confirmation from Guinness World Records. The existing record was set by an English grower about a week earlier. Wallace said he had been in contact with Guinness officials, who indicated that the record was on track for verification. “It’s truly massive, it was a pleasure to grow,” Wallace said by phone on Monday. Guinness World Records currently lists a 2,857-pound (1,296-kilogram) squash grown by Ian Paton of Lymington, England, as the world’s heaviest. Paton set the record on October 3. Guinness officials did not respond to a request for comment. The potential record comes as pumpkin growers worldwide take part in competitions this month, hoping to produce the heaviest pumpkin. In Northern California on Monday, a Minnesota grower won a major annual competition for the fifth consecutive time. Potential record-breaking pumpkin Wallace received $3,500 for winning his local competition. He said other contests had tried to attract him with larger prize money, with some offering as much as $70,000, but he wanted to celebrate the potential record-breaking achievement in his hometown. “I was just ecstatic, the place just exploded,” Wallace said, describing the crowd’s reaction when his pumpkin was weighed. He credited the pumpkin-growing community for freely sharing tips and techniques to help growers produce larger pumpkins. This year, Wallace grew his pumpkins in a greenhouse for the first time, which he said made a significant difference. “The only way you create a 3,000-pound pumpkin is a community working together,” he said. Wallace took up the hobby after starting an online business selling gardening supplies. He said he was proud to be part of the pumpkin-growing community and believed competitions helped establish the credibility of growers. According to Wallace, the agriculture industry has increasingly been seeking advice from pumpkin growers on soil management and other cultivation techniques. California contest in its sixth decade In Northern California, a pumpkin named Rocky won a major annual weighing contest on Monday, tipping the scales at 2,389 pounds (1,083 kilograms), although it fell well short of a potential new world record. Horticulture teacher Travis Gienger transported the pumpkin from Minnesota to win the competition for the fifth consecutive year. He received $21,501 in prize money after beating dozens of other giant-pumpkin growers at the event in Half Moon Bay, south of San Francisco. Gienger missed last year’s competition after his pumpkin broke while growing. Hoping to make a comeback, he named this year’s entry “Rocky” after the iconic boxer portrayed by Sylvester Stallone. “Five-time champion, that’s what we came here to do,” Gienger said after the victory. Gienger and his family drove for 35 hours to California, transporting a pumpkin roughly the size of a small car. According to competition organiser Ronan Fowler, Gienger grows his pumpkins in a backyard patch in Anoka, a city on the banks of the Mississippi River north of Minneapolis. This year, Gienger faced temperatures that dropped below freezing. He said he would likely need to start growing pumpkins in a climate-controlled environment, similar to Wallace’s greenhouse, to compete more seriously. “The fact that Travis can weather the elements, like 30-degree weather, and still grow this massive pumpkin is pretty unbelievable,” Fowler said. Hundreds of people attended the 53rd World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off, enjoying food trucks, music and pumpkin-related jokes. Earlier in the day, the crowd cheered as a particularly symmetrical pumpkin named Tinkerbell won the contest for the prettiest pumpkin. The prize money was calculated at $9 per pound, and Gienger’s winning pumpkin will be displayed in a parade through Half Moon Bay this weekend. He missed out on an additional $30,000 prize for breaking the world record. However, these giant pumpkins are cultivated for their size rather than their taste, meaning the festival ended without any giant pumpkin pies.

Gillian Maegan Montalbo had only a few pimples on her forehead and nose during her teenage years. But after entering the workforce, her acne returned and became more severe. Breakouts on her cheeks and chin made the Philippines-based marketer and content creator feel uncomfortable making eye contact with her bosses. “It really took a toll on my self-esteem and my self-confidence,” Montalbo said. Although acne is commonly associated with adolescence, adults can also develop it. Breakouts may appear on the face, chest, shoulders and back. The causes and severity vary from person to person, and acne can leave dark spots and scars that take longer to heal. Dermatologists recommend seeking professional help when breakouts persist or cause changes in skin colour or texture. “We know how to treat acne. We know the cause of it. So don't suffer alone,” said Dr Crystal Aguh, a dermatologist and director of the Ethnic Skin Program at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. What causes adult acne? Teenagers commonly develop acne on their foreheads, noses and cheeks. Adults, particularly women, may experience hormonal acne around the jawline and chin, Aguh said. Steroid use can also trigger breakouts. Acne develops when tiny openings in the skin become clogged with oil, bacteria and dead skin cells. While occasional pimples may disappear within weeks or months, persistent or spreading breakouts may indicate acne, a medical condition. “Essentially, you're not getting a break from a breakout,” Aguh said. Genetics, hormones, environmental factors and diet can all contribute to acne. Consuming excessive amounts of dairy may also play a role. Facial and body acne share similar causes, although skin bacteria can be more influential in body breakouts. Acne can appear as small, painless white bumps or dark spots known as whiteheads and blackheads. More severe cases may involve painful red bumps and deep cysts, a feature of cystic acne. Treatment options range from creams to medication Dermatologists strongly advise against squeezing or picking pimples, as doing so can worsen inflammation, spread acne and increase the risk of scarring. “Everyone wants to pick and squeeze. That will almost always make things worse,” said Dr Lauren Fine, founder of Fine Dermatology in Chicago. Aguh said people with darker skin may be more likely to develop lasting dark marks because their skin can produce extra pigment in response to inflammation. Acne treatments include over-the-counter products and prescription medicines. Treating facial acne can be easier than treating breakouts elsewhere on the body, as applying creams to hard-to-reach areas such as the back can be difficult. For mild facial acne, dermatologists may recommend face washes and creams containing benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid or retinoids such as adapalene. People with frequent breakouts may need stronger treatments, including prescription antibiotics or medicines containing tretinoin. Isotretinoin may be considered for severe cystic acne or cases that do not respond to other treatments. Treatment for hormonal acne in adult women may differ from that used for teenagers. Options can include birth control pills to help regulate hormones or medicines such as spironolactone. Cortisone injections may quickly reduce individual inflamed pimples, but they are not a long-term solution, Fine said. Pimple patches containing hydrocolloid, a gel-like material that absorbs fluid, may help protect some pimples and discourage picking. However, the patches are generally more suitable for mild acne. Aguh said they are not appropriate for every type of breakout, while Fine noted that some of her patients had experienced skin discolouration after using them. Dark spots and scars may take longer to heal Products containing glycolic acid, including exfoliants and face washes, may help fade dark marks. Over-the-counter adapalene products and retinol creams can also improve skin appearance. For more severe scarring, dermatologists may recommend treatments such as lasers that target deeper layers of the skin. Finding the right treatment can take time, and visible improvements may take even longer. Some people also experience an initial increase in breakouts, known as skin purging, when starting certain treatments as clogged pores come to the surface. Montalbo's acne cleared within a year of consulting a dermatologist, but the scars remained. She then had to work on rebuilding her confidence. She said having supportive people around her helped her through the most difficult periods. Her father, who had also struggled with acne, encouraged her to seek medical advice and find suitable products. A close friend also travelled abroad with her for a holiday during her worst breakouts and casually mentioned that she had never even noticed Montalbo's acne. “When you are with the right people, they won't mind how you look,” Montalbo said. “Because to them, what's important is how you treat them.”

Jessica Renda realised the importance of self-care during a chaotic Christmas when her eldest daughter's mental and behavioural health struggles left her unable to exercise or enjoy activities she loved. “I really need to take care of myself,” she said, stressing that caregivers cannot effectively support others without looking after their own wellbeing. Renda leads a support group for parents and caregivers at the New Hampshire chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). She encourages self-care, setting boundaries and taking breaks, even if it means spending 10 minutes crying in the shower. Nearly 63 million US adults, or almost one in four, provided care to adults or children with medical conditions or disabilities in 2025, a 50% increase in a decade, according to a report by the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP. Nearly two-thirds reported high emotional stress. Dartmouth College and its healthcare system have announced a Family Caregiver Institute to offer services, education, support and access to home health aides. NAMI New Hampshire Executive Director Susan Stearns advises caregivers to seek help from relatives or neighbours, prioritise sleep and exercise, and maintain social connections through friends, phone calls or online support groups. She also recommends setting realistic expectations and learning to say no. Jennifer Rabalais of the University of New Hampshire said many caregivers fail to recognise themselves as such, despite regularly helping others with shopping, bills and household tasks. She warned that neglecting their own health could eventually leave caregivers needing care themselves.

Alliance Française de Dhaka (AFD) hosted 'Ghazal Evening: A Tribute to Jagjit Singh' on Saturday, bringing together music lovers for a houseful evening celebrating the timeless melodies and enduring legacy of legendary ghazal singer Jagjit Singh. The concert offered an intimate musical experience centred on the expressive beauty of ghazals, a genre celebrated for its poetic depth, emotional resonance and delicate interplay of melody and words. Through soulful renditions and evocative compositions, the evening paid tribute to Jagjit Singh’s distinctive musical style and his lasting influence on generations of listeners across the subcontinent. The programme featured Bangladeshi ghazal singer Manzurul Islam Khan, accompanied by guest artist Afsana Runa, with Indrani Nishi as the host.

Personal memories, questions of identity and a lifelong search for belonging have shaped the artistic journey of Tayeba Begum Lipi, who revisited the experiences behind her work at the 13th session of Cosmos Art Echo in Dhaka on Friday. Titled 'Being & Belonging', the art talk was organised by Gallery Cosmos and Cosmos Atelier-71 at Cosmos Centre, bringing together artists, diplomats and members of the cultural community to hear Lipi reflect on how childhood, travel, relationships and personal struggles have influenced her practice. Enayetullah Khan, Chairman of Cosmos Foundation and Editor Emeritus of United News of Bangladesh (UNB); Catherine Grace Gardner Khan, Creative Artistic Director of Cosmos Global Resources; and prominent artist Mahbubur Rahman, Lipi’s husband and Co-Founder of Britto Arts Trust, attended the event. The packed evening audience also included Mahfuzur Rahman, speechwriter to the Prime Minister, alongside diplomats, artists, art enthusiasts and other members of the cultural community.

By late afternoon, dozens of brown boxes of different sizes often pile up in the lobby of an apartment building. Each carries Amazon’s familiar smile-shaped logo, stretching from the letter “A” to “Z” and representing a company that sells almost everything and promises quick delivery. Amazon’s delivery box, seen on suburban doorsteps and in city apartment buildings, has become a symbol of a shopping culture where customers expect to receive almost anything within hours, or even in less than 30 minutes in some cities. Behind these deliveries is a vast network of workers and robots sorting and packing orders, along with trucks, vans, bicycles and even drones transporting products to customers. A few decades ago, getting something immediately usually meant visiting a nearby shop. Catalogue shopping through companies such as L.L. Bean and Lands’ End was also popular, but deliveries could take at least a week. Amazon changed those expectations after launching as an online bookseller from founder Jeff Bezos’s garage in July 1995. The company later expanded into CDs, DVDs, videotapes, toys, clothing and numerous other products, earning a reputation as an “everything store.” In 2005, Amazon introduced two-day delivery for Prime members, transforming online shopping. Since then, the company and its competitors have continued to reduce delivery times. Amazon is introducing 30-minute delivery this year. According to the company, Prime members in the United States can access free shipping on more than 300 million items across over 35 categories. Research firm eMarketer estimates that e-commerce will account for 17.4% of US retail sales this year, worth $1.4 trillion. Amazon controls 40% of the country's online market, followed by Walmart with 11.4%. The company has also expanded its operations in cloud computing and artificial intelligence. As its business grows, Amazon is developing packaging that is lighter, more compact and easier to recycle, said Pat Lindner, the company's vice president of mechatronics and sustainable packaging. The company is also reducing its use of single-use plastic packaging. The share of Amazon shipments in North America using such packaging fell from 65% in 2023 to 27% in 2025. Amazon is also using fewer of its signature cardboard boxes. Around 11% of its global orders are now shipped in their original manufacturer packaging without additional boxes or envelopes, the company said. Last year, more than half of its orders were delivered without a box, either in their original packaging or in flexible packaging. However, the traditional cardboard box is unlikely to disappear. “The box will always be important,” Lindner said, adding that Amazon would continue to introduce innovations to meet customers’ needs.

Cultural organisation Chhayanaut is set to organise its annual Autumn programme jointly with St Joseph Higher Secondary School on Friday, bringing together students from several educational institutions through music, dance and other cultural performances. Titled 'Jog De Re Aj Saman Tane', the programme will begin at 7:30 am at the St Joseph Higher Secondary School premises at 97 Asad Avenue in Mohammadpur. A second joint programme, also titled “Jog De Re Aj Saman Tane,” is scheduled for Saturday at St Gregory’s High School and College, with participation from St Gregory’s, Nalanda High School and Chhayanaut.  Students and performers from St Joseph Higher Secondary School, St Joseph International School, Excel Academy, Nalanda High School and Chhayanaut will take part in the programme, which will remain open to all.