Latest news with #Apostles
Local Germany
11 hours ago
- General
- Local Germany
Pfingstmontag: Why is Monday June 9th a public holiday in Germany?
Workers in Germany will no doubt be happy that Pfingstmontag (Whit Monday) is a public holiday in Germany, which falls this year on Monday June 9th. But its religious significance is less clear than other religious Feiertage (public holidays) like Christmas or Easter. Pentecost, which takes place 49 days after Easter Sunday (this year on June 8th), commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles while they were in Jerusalem. Whit Monday originates from the Octave of Pentecost. This was ended by the liturgical reform of the Second Vatican Council in 1969. An octave refers to the eight days following a Christian festival. Like other religious holidays such as – Easter Monday and Boxing Day – Whit Monday extends the feast day, emphasising how important it is to the Church. It is primarily a Catholic holiday but is observed nationwide. But Whit Monday is not without controversy. Lacking as much significance as other religious holidays, it has been abolished in Italy, Sweden, the UK, and Ireland, though France reinstated it after briefly using it as an unpaid workday. Advertisement In 2005, a push by German business associations to scrap the holiday failed. Today, it remains a Feiertag in every federal state, though most people enjoy the day off without celebrating its religious aspects. Still, Pentecost is observed with distinctive customs in some areas. In Frankfurt, the Wäldchestag fair takes place on the Tuesday after Pentecost. In Marwede, a straw figure called the Pfingstkarl is burned and then doused with beer. And in some places, the night from Sunday to Monday is known as an 'unrest night,' traditionally associated with pranks. Which public holidays are coming up in Germany in 2025? June 9th (nationwide): Whit Monday June 19th (Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland; parts of Saxony and Thuringia*): Corpus Christi Predictably Byzantine rules determine which parts of these state celebrate the holidays, including, incredibly, that you are entitled to celebrate Corpus Christi in Saxony if your place of work, not your home, is located in a municipality which observes the holiday. The Deutsche Gewerkschaftsbund has a comprehensive list of concerned areas. August 15th (Saarland, parts of Bavaria*): Assumption Day September 20th (Thuringia): World Children's Day October 3rd (nationwide): German Unity Day
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Business Standard
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
David C Engerman looks at six S. Asian economists who shaped their nations
Of the Apostles still with us, there are few intersections between them and age-related constraints on all Sanjeev Ahluwalia Listen to This Article David C Engerman, an accomplished historian of contemporary economic development, is no stranger to South Asia. His 2018 book titled The Price of Aid, documents how India used the leverage provided by Cold War rivalries to manage the flow of foreign aid in line with its needs. The chosen entry point for this book is six eminent South Asian economists, all of whom graduated from Cambridge University. The term 'Apostles' is a riff on a 19th century secret society — the Cambridge Apostles. John Maynard Keynes was a member and Lal Jayawardene from Sri Lanka followed. The other five Apostles
Metro
18-05-2025
- Metro
Europe's 'undertourism capital' is a quiet paradise with return flights from £62
Protests and tourist taxes are changing the travel landscape across Europe, as several popular holiday destinations push back against visitors. Last summer, anti-tourism demonstrations swept Barcelona and the Balearic Islands, while Venice and Amsterdam increased tourist charges. Today, British holidaymakers are preparing for mass protests on the Canary Islands. Thousands of disgruntled locals are set to take to the streets on Sunday afternoon to fight mass tourism under the slogan: 'Canary Islands has a limit.' But Europe still has plenty of quiet corners, if you know where to look. One such place is Teleorman, a remote and underexplored part of southern Romania that has just been named the least visited place on the continent. Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. The region, which borders Bulgaria, recorded just 20 overnight stays per 1,000 residents in 2023, according to a new study by Which?. That's compared to Zante, a Greek island of 40,000 residents, which clocked six million overnight stays the same year — or 150 for every resident. In Teleorman, essentially, you've about as much chance of winning £50 on the lottery as bumping into another tourist. The nod comes as Romanians vote in a pivotal presidential run-off that could radically alter their country's position in Europe. The election, which has been described as a head-to-head between pro-western and anti-western Romania, pits a Trump-allied ultra-nationalist agitator against a centrist independent. Experts have called it the most important vote in the country's post-communist history. It doesn't have the beautiful buildings or swish cafes of Romania's capital Bucharest, but what Teleorman lacks in urban sophistication, it makes up for in history and natural beauty. Teleorman county is one of Romania's poorest areas. The roads are lined with wild poppies and the absence of commercialisation endears it to travellers looking to escape tourist traps. Alexandria, the region's capital, is a small but charming city of cathedrals, museums, and a 5,000-seat football stadium. Its rivers are an excellent place to try your hand at fishing, surrounded by valleys and verdant fields. Teleorman roughly translates to 'wild forest', and there are plenty of green spaces to reflect that. The Vedea Forest Park, for example, is a great destination for hikers. In the southern part of the region, the Danube Valley gives way to ponds and tributaries that flow into the mighty Danube River, creating a spectacular vista. This part of the world has weathered many wars and Communist rule, a chequered past that's reflected in historical landmarks such as the Saint Ioan Valahul Monastery, a ruined structure on the outskirts of Poiana village. The monastery was recently restored, and a young monk now hosts tours that take you through the site's cultural significance. Teleorman is home to the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul Church, famous for its four towers – two big and two small – that form the shape of a cross. Built between 1902 and 1904, it was last restored in the 1930s with the help of the local community. Steeped in unassuming solitude, this place is worlds away from the chaos of Europe's busiest destinations. Teleorman, Romania (21.54 tourists per 1,000 residents) Dytikos Tomeas Athinon, Greece (64.13) Călăraşi, Romania (123.97) Olt, Romania (148.3) Severoistočen, North Macedonia (177.84) Podunavska oblast, Serbia (277.83) Arr. Soignies, Belgium (284.11) Targovishte, Bulgaria (332.15) Rybnicki, Poland (351.1) Benevento, Italy (398.17). If you prefer a city break but can't cope with the chaos of Paris or Madrid, a 90-minute drive from Teleorman is Bucharest. Romania's capital has long been described as the 'Paris of the East' for its lavish architecture and tree-lined boulevards. During the 19th and 20th centuries, Bucharest was a hotspot for French artists and intellectuals, who frequented the city. At the time, society mirrored the Parisian way, with a focus on fashion, elegance and sophistication. Likewise, prominent Romanian artists, including Constantin Brâncuși, studied in Bucharest before making their names in Paris. Recently ranked 9th in The Times' roundup of '24 of the best affordable city breaks in Europe', the city is also actively welcoming tourists. The Romanian government is pouring money into accommodation and public transport in a bid to attract travellers, while other countries are pushing them away. Metro's Alice Murphy travelled across Romania in 2023 and fell head over heels for Brasov. A train ride from Bucharest in the heart of Transylvania, she says you'll find a perfect blend of traditional charm and modern city life. Brasov's Old Town, which is protected by Unesco, is quainter than its counterpart in the capital. Embroidered with medieval buildings, including the Gothic Black Church and the Council House, the city is home to Rope Street, the narrowest street in Romania. The Bucharest to Brasov train takes around 2 hours and 30 minutes, with prices ranging between £5 to £14. In summer, the mercury in Romania hovers around 35°C. The hottest August on record topped a sweltering 44.5°C. With that in mind, the best time of year to visit is generally considered to be May into early June, or September into early October, when the average daily temperature rests at 25°C. More Trending If you want to avoid the cold, January is a no-go, with lows of -4°C. From London, Ryanair and Wizz Air run direct routes to Bucharest from London Stansted and Luton. According to Google Flights, return flights in October are now available from £62. To get to Teleorman, the best option is to fly to Bucharest and drive the final leg, which takes about an hour and a half. Public transport is limited in this part of Romania, and there is no train. Zakynthos (Zante), Ionian Islands, Greece (149,886.95 tourists per 1,000 residents) Istria County, Croatia (133,466.93) Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain (118,720.31) Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain (117,785.17) Dodecanese Islands, Greece (113,790.45) Tiroler Oberland, Austria (112,716.37) Pinzgau-Pongau, Austria (109,009.7) Cyclade Islands, Greece (104,152.63) Kerkyra (Corfu), Greece (100,079.59) Außerfern, Austria (97,299.12). Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: Everything I ate in a weekend of pintxos hopping in San Sebastián MORE: 'Lively' European city named world's most walkable and flights are just £66 MORE: This UK beach is 'more relaxing than the Algarve' — two hours from London
Mint
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning' review: Franchise betrays its tone
'I need you to trust me.' Though Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) asking people to place their trust in him has always been the implicit theme of the Mission: Impossible series, the first time it's said in so many words is in the third film, to his wife. He says the same thing to his old friend and teammate Luther (Ving Rhames) in the sixth film. He uses the word five times in an effort to convince Grace (Hayley Atwell) in the seventh. And in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, by all accounts the last film in the series, he says: 'I need you to trust me… one last time.' And because Tom Cruise hasn't let us down yet, across seven films and 30 odd years, we do as he asks. We trust that the long exposition scenes will give way to the glorious frenetic activity these films are known for. We trust him through an inordinate number of goodbyes and till-we-meet-agains. We trust him even though the big set piece, a deep-sea dive in frozen waters, is claustrophobic and confusing. Most of all, we trust him to remember what made this a uniquely pleasurable series. This is where the problem lies. It's not that Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie, writer-director of entries 5 through 8, aren't thinking of the earlier films. If anything, they're thinking of them too much. The Final Reckoning begins with a sizzle reel of Hunt's past missions, and flashbacks appear through the film. There are also multiple callbacks—CIA director Kitteridge (Henry Czerny) had already returned in Dead Reckoning; sad sack analyst Donloe (Rolf Saxon), him of the violently upset stomach, is back too; and both agent Jasper Briggs (Shea Whigham) and Admiral Neely (Hannah Waddingham) reveal associations with characters and events in previous films. The idea of culmination hangs heavy over the film: 'Every choice, every mission, has all led to this'. Mission films are always about the world ending in fire; this one offers global chaos as the best-case scenario, nuclear Armageddon as the worst. Yet, until now, this has never weighed them down. Instead, the more insane the doomsday scenario, the more cheerful the IMF team seems. One of the joys of the series is not having to pay any attention to whatever snake oil the plot is trying to sell—Apostles, Syndicate, Rabbit's Foot. The whole point is to have Cruise running and hanging off things and saving or being saved by the various brown-haired women in his life. After defying every single authority he's encountered for three decades, Hunt is not only working with The Man here, he's practically coordinating government operations. Since the events of Dead Reckoning, the mysterious rogue AI known as the Entity has hacked into the nuclear silos of several nations and set their missiles to fire in four days. The only hope of stopping it is the cruciform key in Hunt's possession, which can unlock the source code of the Entity, somewhere in a sunken submarine under the frozen Bering Sea. Written out like this, it's a pretty typical Mission plot. And yet, this one is not like the others. The Final Reckoning betrays the franchise's tone. Suddenly, everything's very serious. Exposition that would be normally be done in a few crisp lines is expanded into long, painfully underlined speeches. Gone is the lighter-than-air feel of entries 4-6, the high point of the series. In its place is another Hollywood action film dragged down by its own self-importance. At its worst, it becomes the sort of dull, commonplace film this franchise has always resisted: where the US military shows restraint and flexibility and its leaders choose the greater good over national interest—a fantasy, just not the kind we're used to. It's a sad fact that Mission: Impossible developed its villain problem right at the end. The series always managed to find compelling antagonists… until Dead Reckoning. In theory, having Cruise, crusader for the theatrical experience, fight an evil AI makes sense. But the Entity never becomes an emotionally compelling adversary. We only see it communicate once in The Final Reckoning, through an inadvertently comic sound-and-light show. The threat it represents is dire and relevant, but the absence of something corporeal to root against, something with motives and weaknesses, is deflating. There's a henchman problem too. Smirking assassin Gabriel returns as the Entity's on-ground representative, now out of favour; Esai Morales' performance is as charmless as the last film. The occasion seems to get to everyone. Waddingham, Wigham, Angela Bassett, Nick Offerman and Holt McCallany are so painfully tense as assorted government and military types that it's hard to believe this is the series that let Alec Baldwin play the fool for two films. Luther is ailing, Benji can at best muster a sad smile (though I'd have liked him to lift the moroseness, it's been fascinating to see Simon Pegg's tech guy, introduced as comic relief, deepen as a character). Atwell, introduced in the last film, has a light touch, but the film's insistence upon Hunt's deep connection with her is a rebuke to the memory of Rebecca Ferguson's Ilsa. Cruise is visibly moved by all the fuss, and rather moving as a result. He looks tired (someone even comments on it) and older than he ever has onscreen; you have to imagine it's a deliberate choice on his and McQuarrie's part. After the murk and gloom of the film's long Arctic passage—Hunt underwater, Grace and Benji dealing with suspicious Russians—and one of several indifferently lit confrontations, the film sputters into blazing, brilliant life. Here, at last, is what we came for: Cruise racing through a field, legs like pistons, commandeering a biplane, doing ridiculously dangerous things with a sense of joy. It's a perfect 20 minutes, a final breathtaking gift from this, the most buoyant of modern action franchises.
Herald Malaysia
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Herald Malaysia
Cardinal Mamberti: Pope Francis, faithful to his mission with all his strength
On Sunday afternoon, 4 May, the Third Sunday of Easter, Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti presided over the ninth and final Novemdiale Mass in Saint Peter's Basilica in suffrage for Pope Francis, with the participation of the College of Cardinals. He recalled that Peter's mission is love expressed through service to the Church and all humanity. May 05, 2025 Cardinal Dominique Mamberti when giving his homily (@VATICAN MEDIA) By Alessandro Di BussoloThe mission of Peter and the Apostles, Cardinal Mamberti noted in his homily, 'is love itself, which becomes service to the Church and to all humanity.' Pope Francis, 'animated by the Lord's love,' was faithful to his mission 'to the point of exhausting all his strength.' This was a primary point of Cardinal Mamberti's homily, delivered during the final Mass of the Novemdiales (Masses marking the nine days of mourning for a deceased pope), reflecting on the Gospel passage from John read on this Third Sunday of Easter. The reading recounts the encounter of the Risen Jesus with several apostles by the Sea of Tiberias, ending with Jesus entrusting Peter with his mission and the command: 'Follow me!' Proclaiming the joy of the Gospel Cardinal Mamberti remarked that this Gospel is especially fitting for a Church now praying for a new Successor of Peter as the Conclave begins on 7 May. As well, the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, where Peter and the others declare: 'We must obey God rather than men.' The French Cardinal recalled how Pope Francis, using those very words, warned the powerful and proclaimed to all humanity the joy of the Gospel, the Merciful Father, and Christ the Savior. 'He did this through his teachings, his travels, his gestures, and his way of life. He said, 'I stood near him on Easter Sunday at the Loggia of the Blessings of this Basilica, a witness to his suffering, but above all to his courage and determination to serve the People of God until the end.'' Peter's humble love Cardinal Mamberti recalled words of Pope Benedict XVI, who said, 'Simon understands that Jesus is satisfied with his poor love, the only one he is capable of.' It is this divine understanding that gives hope to the disciple who has known the pain of unfaithfulness. From that moment on, Peter follows the Master 'with full awareness of his own fragility.' Cardinal Mamberti also recalled Saint John Paul II, who on the 25th anniversary of his pontificate said, 'Every day in my heart I relive the same dialogue between Jesus and Peter,' and that he felt Jesus encouraging him to answer, like Peter: 'Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.' Then Jesus would entrust him again with his responsibilities. The essential dimension of adoration Cardinal Mamberti also recalled the second reading from Revelation with its praise and adoration of God and the Lamb. Pope Francis often emphasized, he said, that 'adoration is an essential dimension of the Church's mission and of the faithful's lives.' In his homily for Epiphany 2024, the Pope lamented that 'we've lost the habit of adoring, the ability that adoration gives us. Let's rediscover the beauty of prayerful adoration. Today, adoration is lacking among us.' 'This ability to adore was clearly present in Pope Francis. His intense pastoral life and countless encounters were always rooted in long periods of prayer shaped by Ignatian discipline. He often reminded the Church that contemplation is 'a dynamic of love' that 'lifts us to God not to detach us from the world, but to help us dwell in it more deeply.'' In conclusion, Cardinal Mamberti recalled how Pope Francis did everything under the gaze of Mary, Salus Populi Romani, before whom he prayed 126 times at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major. 'Now that he rests near the beloved icon,' Cardinal Mamberti invited the faithful to entrust him to the intercession of the Mother of the Lord and our Mother. Prayer for Pope Francis During the prayers of the faithful, the Church prayed that the Lord welcome Pope Francis into His kingdom, acknowledging his trust in the Church's prayer, purifying him 'of human weakness,' and granting him 'the reward promised to faithful servants.' On Sunday, some Cardinals celebrated Mass in their titular churches across Rome. On Monday, 5 May, the Cardinals will meet for General Congregations in the morning at 9 and again at 5 p.m. For Tuesday, 6 May, only a morning session is planned so far, with a possible afternoon session if needed.--Vatican News
