Latest news with #Luther
Tatler Asia
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Tatler Asia
Inside the LA hotel featured in Maroon 5 and Lisa's ‘Priceless' music video
The hotel has a rich cinematic history, appearing in films like Interstellar , Rain Man and San Andreas , and recently in music videos for Kendrick Lamar and SZA's 'Luther' and HAIM's 'Down to be Wrong' featuring Logan Lerman. It was even featured for a Fear Factor stunt in 2002, involving plexiglass discs suspended from the building's fifth floor. Beyond theatrics and cinematic cameos, its appeal endures because it strikes a careful balance between spectacle and comfort, where even within such expansive interiors, guests can find quiet corners to retreat to. A 'Priceless' location Above Maroon 5 and Lisa of Blackpink's 'Priceless' music video features the iconic Westin Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles. The 'Priceless' video is styled like a high-stakes game of romantic cat and mouse between Adam Levine and Lisa. It features a series of intimate and playful moments, often framed by the hotel's stark geometry, particularly the chase sequences. The reflective surfaces, massive concrete pillars and overlapping levels of the atrium contribute to a mood of distance and allure, matching the push-pull dynamic of the song's narrative. Above Behind the scenes at the 'Priceless' music video shoot The 'Priceless' video also features scenes filmed in LA Prime, the hotel's rooftop steakhouse situated on the 35th floor. The restaurant offers panoramic views of Los Angeles through floor-to-ceiling windows and provides an intimate, understated contrast to the dramatic atrium scenes. LA Prime's refined yet relaxed atmosphere adds a layer of sophistication to the visual narrative. While The Westin Bonaventure has long been a favourite filming location, its role in 'Priceless' introduces this architectural gem to a wider audience. For visitors, the hotel offers a unique chance to experience a space where architecture, pop culture and cinema intersect. NOW READ It's staycation season: 10 city hotels you don't have to venture far for Home tour: A mindful restoration of a mid-century home in Los Angeles with relaxed Palm Springs vibes 7 concrete masterpieces: The world's most striking Brutalist hotels now
Atlantic
4 days ago
- Politics
- Atlantic
What Happened When Hitler Took On Germany's Central Banker
Adolf Hitler's first weeks as chancellor were filled with so many excesses and outrages—crushing states' rights, curtailing civil liberties, intimidating opponents, rewriting election laws, raising tariffs—that it was easy to overlook one of his prime targets: the German central bank. The Reichsbank president was a man named Hans Luther, a fiscal conservative who subscribed to the 'golden rule' of banking, which stipulated that a country's indebtedness should never exceed its obligations. In his adherence to protocol and policy, Luther could be 'holier than the Pope,' according to Lutz Schwerin von Krosigk, who served as the German finance minister from 1932 to 1945. On the afternoon of Monday, January 30, 1933, just hours after Hitler's appointment as chancellor, Luther stood in Hitler's office with a complaint. Nazi storm troopers, known as the SA, had forced their way into the Reichsbank building in central Berlin, despite what Luther described as 'emphatic protests' by bank personnel, and hoisted a swastika flag over the bank. 'I pointed out to Hitler that the SA actions were against the law,' Luther recalled, 'to which Hitler immediately answered that this was a revolution.' Luther informed Hitler in no uncertain terms that the Reichsbank was not part of his revolution. It was an independent fiscal entity with an international board of directors. If any flag were to be flying over the bank, it would be the national colors, not the banner of his political party. The next morning, the swastika flag was gone. On Hitler's first full day in office, rumors circulated that he wanted Luther gone. Alfred Kliefoth, the chargé d'affaires at the United States embassy in Berlin, dispatched a memorandum to the State Department: 'I have been informed, in confidence, by Dr. Ritter, the Chief Economist in the Foreign Office, that the new Government intends to exert pressure on Dr. Luther to resign.' Hitler's rumored plans to oust the Reichsbank chief came amid a massive purge of the Weimar Republic's civil service. Senior officials who had served for decades were fired. Hitler assigned his chief lieutenant, Hermann Göring, to clean house in Prussia, the largest of Germany's 17 federated states. When Göring entered the Prussian government offices in central Berlin, he told Rudolf Diels, the head of the Prussian political police, 'I want nothing to do with the scoundrels sitting here in this building.' When Diels tried to defend one senior colleague, Göring responded by firing the colleague on the spot. Timothy W. Ryback: How Hitler dismantled a democracy in 53 days A memorandum was circulated to all state civil servants demanding blind loyalty to the Hitler government. Anyone who did not feel they could support Hitler and his policies, Göring added, should do the 'honorable' thing and resign. The Berliner Morgenpost observed that Hitler was clearly working to 'transform the state bureaucracy from the most senior positions down to the administrative levels to align with his political positions.' In a speech on March 11, Göring compared the Nazi's draconian measures to cutting wood: 'When you chop, chips fly.' Despite Hitler's heavy-handed assault on the government bureaucracy, he could not touch Hans Luther. According to a 1924 law, the Reichsbank was independent of the elected government; the Reichsbank president served at the discretion of a 14-member board, which included seven international bankers and economists. Even Reich President Paul von Hindenburg, the ultimate constitutional authority, possessed the power only to confirm the appointment of the Reichsbank president, not to dismiss him. The Reich president headed the state and commanded the military, and the Reich chancellor ran the government, but the Reichsbank controlled the currency and the economy. Luther brandished his independence and power with confidence and control. He had already served as finance minister and had also done a stint as chancellor. He understood both politics and economics. In 1923, Luther had designed the rescue plan that saved Germany from the inflation crisis that saw Germans pushing wheelbarrows full of cash through the streets to buy a loaf of bread. After the global market crash of 1929, he had guided Germany back to employment stability and production growth by the spring of 1932. Great Britain emerged from the crisis with twice the national debt of Germany. France's was fourfold. The New York Times reported that Luther had 'stood like a rock' amid the global financial turmoil. The newspaper Vossische Zeitung described Luther as 'equal to any storm.' Finance Minister Krosigk attributed the Reichsbank president's success in stabilizing the economy to Luther's 'intelligence, his clear-sightedness, his extraordinary work ethic, his common sense and his energy.' Luther was firm in his principles and policies, and he believed in meeting international obligations. But he was cautious with his pronouncements. As a central banker, Luther knew that a single word, or even a smirk or smile, could send markets tumbling. On Wednesday, November 23, 1932, Luther had been invited to address a group of industrialists and businessmen in the city of Düsseldorf, in the country's industrial heartland, along with the jurist and political philosopher Carl Schmitt. Schmitt was already renowned as the the most eloquent political theorist and advocate of authoritarianism in Germany. (Known as the 'crown jurist of the Third Reich,' Schmitt would later supply legal justification for Hitler's Night of the Long Knives, in 1934, and for the anti-Semitic Nürnberg Laws of 1935.) On that November Wednesday in 1932, Luther listened in dismay as Schmitt laid out his arguments for the 'Hitler system' of authoritarian rule, which included ending representative government and parliamentary rule, as well as the eradication of political parties, press freedoms, due process, and rule of law in favor of ' totale Diktatur.' Luther was appalled. For the first and only time in his career as Reichsbank president, Luther took a public political stance. Speaking after Schmitt, he argued that a functioning economy required democratic structures and processes, and that industrialists and businessmen were duty bound to support constitutional democracy. 'We all bear the responsibility,' Luther said, arguing that it was in everyone's interest—financial, social, and political—to support the Weimar Republic's constitutional democracy and the rule of law. 'I believe that the private sector in particular has a tremendous interest in emphasizing the necessity of legal security across the board,' Luther said, 'because legal stability is the foundation of all economic life.' Timothy W. Ryback: The oligarchs who came to regret supporting Hitler That same month, Luther cautioned Chancellor Franz von Papen against 'experiments' with the recovering German economy. 'I told Dr. Luther that if he was not prepared to accept the risks involved,' Papen later recalled, 'the government would be obliged to disregard his advice.' Within a month, Papen was out as chancellor. Papen's successor, Kurt von Schleicher, encountered similar resistance. When Schleicher informed his cabinet that his government would seek a 2.7 billion reichsmark credit line, he received a chastening reply, as recorded in the cabinet minutes: 'The Reich Minister of Economics, who had also participated in the meeting with the President of the Reichsbank, declared that, based on all experiences in negotiations with the Reichsbank, further commitments would probably not be possible.' Schleicher's government fell within the month. By the time Hitler assumed the chancellorship, Luther had already outlasted three chancellors, and there was reason to believe that Hitler could be the fourth. However much Hitler might want to remove Luther from his post, Vossische Zeitung reported, 'existing legal frameworks make this hardly possible.' But that still left extralegal frameworks. Luther knew all too well about these. Months earlier, on the evening of April 9, 1932, Luther had been shot by two assailants in the Potsdam Train Station in central Berlin. According to the court record, the attackers intended to 'slightly wound' Luther—which they succeeded in doing—as a 'protest' against currency policies they believed 'were wrong and damaging to the German people.' Although the court said it could not rule on Luther's currency policies, it did sentence the two assailants to 10 months in prison for their 'choice of means' in expressing their policy objections. Following the meeting about the swastika banner on his first day as chancellor, Hitler did not see Luther for six weeks. Instead, Hitler turned for economic guidance to Luther's predecessor at the Reichsbank, Hjalmar Schacht. The former central banker had become a key Hitler ally in the financial world, seeking to rally bankers and industrialists behind the Nazi government. Kliefoth, the U.S. embassy chargé, dined with Schacht shortly after Hitler ascended to the chancellorship. 'Schacht took pains to impress me with the fact that he is Hitler's financial and economic adviser and that he is constantly in consultation with the new chancellor,' Kliefoth reported. Kliefoth further noted that Schacht had told him German industrialists were backing Hitler and his program. 'I have good reason to believe, however, that this statement is an exaggeration,' Kliefoth reported in a subsequent memo to the State Department. 'A leading executive official of the Reichsverband der Deutschen Industrie told me only this morning that the four-year plan announced by Hitler last night was an absurdity and that this organization viewed the latest political developments with skepticism and reserve.' Only after national elections on March 5, when National Socialists secured 44 percent of the electorate and a mandate to move forward with a major rearmament program, did Hitler again summon Luther to the chancellery. Hitler admitted that he'd been compelled to meet with Luther because, given that the government was already running significant budget deficits, it would have been 'completely impossible to begin the work of rearmament' without substantial funds from the Reichsbank. After spending two hours explaining to Luther the need for expanded military capacities, Hitler asked him how much financing the Reichsbank would be able to make available. In response, Luther assured Hitler that, as a 'nationally minded man,' he appreciated Hitler's intentions, and would be willing to provide 100 million reichsmarks—not even one-20th of the billions Hitler had requested. Hitler was stunned. He thought he had misheard, so he repeated his question. Luther gave the same answer. He later observed that, beyond the gross violation of Germany's international debt obligations the chancellor was calling for, Hitler's preparations for the 'mass-murderous poison of war' were not in Luther's medicine cabinet of remedies for the German economy. Hitler informed President Hindenburg that he wanted Luther removed as head of the Reichsbank. Hindenburg reminded Hitler that the Reichsbank was an internationally governed institution and thus beyond the reach of German authority. So once again, Hitler summoned Luther to the Reich chancellery. At his first meeting with Hitler, back in January, Luther had been struck by Hitler's apparent moderation. The chancellor was not the ranting, raging fanatic—'the abnormal man'—depicted in press accounts. Six weeks later, that moderation was gone. Although it was becoming ever clearer to Luther that Hitler was going to make it impossible for him to carry out his fiduciary duties to the government, Luther used the occasion to remind Hitler of the Reichsbank's independence and his own immunity from dismissal. Hitler acknowledged that, as chancellor, he did not have the legal power to remove Luther as central banker. But, he told Luther bluntly, as the new 'boss' of the country, he had access to considerable alternative sources of power that he would not hesitate to employ 'ruthlessly' against Luther 'if the interest of the state demanded it.' The nature of Hitler's threats was unmistakable. Luther—who had already been shot once before in protest of his monetary policies—did not need to be warned again. On March 16, Luther submitted his resignation to the Reichsbank board. In an extended letter to Hindenburg, Luther explained his reasons for stepping down. Luther reminded Hindenburg 'that the leadership of the Reichsbank must be stable and independent of partisan political currents, that a change in political parties, directions, and majorities must not in itself result in a change in the leadership of the Reichsbank.' Luther also reminded Hindenburg that he had served as Reichsbank president alongside three previous governments. Nevertheless, Luther continued, it had become clear to him that the strained relationship between the Reichsbank and the current government was not sustainable and would only damage the country and its economy. But Luther insisted to Hindenburg that his resignation was contingent on the assurance that 'an independent Reichsbank be preserved for the sake of the German state, its people and its economy.' Timothy W. Ryback: What the press got wrong about Hitler The Berliner Morgenpost, like many mainstream newspapers, lamented the departure of the man whose 'strict fiscal policy' had twice rescued Germany from economic ruin. The New York Times observed that regulatory safeguards designed to secure the independence of the Reichsbank proved to be 'wholly illusory' with the current administration. 'Under the pressure of the kind in which the National Socialists are adept at applying,' the Times wrote, 'even high government officials in Germany do not now try to retain their posts.' Amid the turmoil of his wrangling with Luther, Hitler had summoned Hjalmar Schacht to the Reich chancellery, where he posed to Schacht the same question he had asked Luther: How much did Schacht think the Reichsbank could provide in helping finance the Hitler government's plans? Schacht dodged the question. Giving a precise amount was impossible, Schacht said. 'You must be able to tell me to what degree the Reichsbank can or should provide assistance,' Hitler pressed. 'Herr Reich Chancellor,' Schacht said, 'I really cannot give you a specific amount.' Too many factors existed when it came to a massive rearmament program. But Schacht assured Hitler of one thing: that the Reichsbank would provide Hitler with as much money as he needed. Hitler paused. He studied Schacht in silence, then asked, 'Would you be willing to resume the leadership of the Reichsbank?'
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Idris Elba's Favorite Late-Night Snack Is Simple—and Probably Not What You're Expecting
Idris Elba's Favorite Late-Night Snack Is Simple—and Probably Not What You're Expecting originally appeared on Parade. Idris Elba is known for his portrayal of incredibly cool and energetic characters in a slew of Hollywood movies and TV shows. From his roles on The Wire and Luther to his turn in various blockbuster movies, like The Suicide Squad, Fast and Furious and Sonic The Hedgehog, it's clear that he has some serious range. Elba is also a passionate musician and DJ, which gives him even more cool points. Elba keeps us on our toes with his signature swagger and sense of mystery, so when it came to his food preferences, we knew better than to try and guess. Luckily, the internet uncovered his favorite late-night snack, and we were definitely surprised. When it comes to celebrities and their favorite snacks, we've been surprised by how simple most of them are. Tom Cruise is big on popcorn, Dolly Parton hits up Taco Bell, while Martha Stewart loves an onion sandwich as a late-night snack. And for Elba? His favorite midnight bite is a spoonful of honey. Related: What is Idris Elba's Favorite Late-Night Snack? In an interview with GQ, Elba shared that he typically avoids eating after 9 p.m., but if he gets hungry in the middle of the night, he opts for honey, specifically "a teaspoon of high-quality honey." Honey is tasty and has a perfect dose of natural sweetness, but Elba told GQ that the sweetener also serves as a nourishing remedy that keeps him balanced. "[It] usually curbs any hunger pangs, and I'll sleep all through the night when I do that. Then, when I wake up in the morning, my metabolism really kicks in," Elba told the magazine. Why are we not surprised that even Elba's midnight snack has some solid logic and purpose behind it? And Elba isn't the only celebrity who swears by honey. Fellow actors Timothy Olyphant and Keanu Reeves have shared their love for the sweet stuff, too. Olyphant mentioned that he likes to drizzle his ice cream with honey and Reeves told Stephen Colbert that his favorite sandwich combo is crunchy peanut butter and honey. Clearly, honey is an A-list-approved snack strategy. Related: 😋😋 SIGN UP to get delicious recipes, handy kitchen hacks & more in our daily Pop Kitchen newsletter. 🍳🍔 Elsewhere in the GQ interview, we found out that Elba's daily food choices are equally unpretentious. He said he tries to "avoid eating too much or snacking" but when he feels peckish, he reaches for a banana, "which is great for energy." And occasionally, his childhood nostalgia wins out with a chocolate bar, a treat he allows himself every now and then . Related: So if you're looking for a new late-night snack ritual that actually works—and doesn't require special ingredients, why not try a spoonful of honey before bed? If it's good enough for Idris Elba, it's good enough for Elba's Favorite Late-Night Snack Is Simple—and Probably Not What You're Expecting first appeared on Parade on Jul 18, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 18, 2025, where it first appeared. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Morgan Wallen, Kendrick Lamar Top Midyear Album, Song Sales
Morgan Wallen's I'm The Problem was the biggest album in the U.S. through the first half of 2025, and Kendrick Lamar and SZA had the biggest song with 'Luther,' Luminate reported in its 2025 Midyear Report published Wednesday morning. Since its release in May, I'm The Problem has already amassed 2.562 million equivalent units, per Luminate, buoyed most directly by over 2.9 billion streams, while also amassing about 200,000 album sales and another 250,000 song sales. SZA's SOS, which has enjoyed a significant boost since she released her deluxe Lana reissue of the album at the end of last year, was the second-biggest album in the U.S. at the midyear with about 1.711 million equivalent units. Kendrick Lamar's GNX came in third with just over 1.7 million, Bad Bunny's Debí Tirar Más Fotos took fourth with 1.65 million, and Sabrina Carpenter's 2024 Short n' Sweet rounded out the Top Five with over 1.3 million. More from The Hollywood Reporter Amazon Music to Exclusively Stream KCON L.A. 2025 For Songwriters to Earn a Living Wage, Spotify Must Step In 'American Idol' Family Mourns Death of Show's Music Supervisor, Robin Kaye On the U.S. songs side, Lamar has three of the top five. 'Luther' is the undisputed Number One, racking up over 3.9 million units on over 530 million streams, and Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars' 'Die With a Smile' took second with 3.1 million units. Lamar's 'Not Like Us' and 'TV Off' took third and fourth, and Wallen's 'I'm The Problem' rounded out the top five with 2.5 million units. Globally, 'Die With a Smile' came in first with 1.9 billion streams, Rosé and Mars' 'APT' with over 1.6 billion streams, Billie Eilish's 'Birds of a Feather' is number three with over 1.3 billion streams, 'Luther' took fourth with over 1.2 billion streams and Bad Bunny's 'DtMF' was in fifth with over 1.1 billion. Overall, global streams rose about 10 percent at the midyear 2025 compared to last year, up to about 2.5 trillion streams. Streaming accounted for 92 percent of all music consumption in the U.S., Luminate said. Physical album sales fell slightly by 3 percent in the first half of the year, though excluding Swift's massive sales from last year, album sales grew 5.5 percent. In order, the top 10 most-popular genres in the U.S. are as follows: R&B/Hip-Hop, rock, pop, country, Latin, dance/electronic, Christian/gospel, world music, children, and classical. Per Luminate, the highest-growth Genres in the first half of the year were rock, latin, country, Christian/gospel and Blues, the latter of which saw a bump because of the soundtrack to Sinners. Groups like Sleep Token and Ghost, who both managed to top Billboard's 200 Albums Chart this year, reflect growth in hard rock in particular. According to Luminate, 69 percent of hard rock listeners are men and 35 percent of them are millenial. Hard rock progenitors Led Zeppelin had the top music documentary in the first half of the year with Becoming Led Zeppelin, which Luminate said helped drive a 23 percent bump in their streaming numbers. 'This report identifies numerous opportunities for continued diversification and growth across the industry. For example, the evolving interplay of generations, genres and growth is clearly demonstrated by the resurgence of the Christian/Gospel genre,' Luminate CEO Rob Jonas said in a statement. 'This multifaceted trend is fueled by its artistic evolution, enhanced accessibility through digital platforms, influence of modern worship movements, rise of powerful subgenres such as Christian Hip-Hop and a growing consumer demand for authentic content.' Best of The Hollywood Reporter From 'Party in the U.S.A.' to 'Born in the U.S.A.': 20 of America's Most Patriotic (and Un-Patriotic) Musical Offerings Most Anticipated Concert Tours of 2025: Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar & SZA, Sabrina Carpenter and More Hollywood's Most Notable Deaths of 2025 Solve the daily Crossword
Cosmopolitan
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
Andrew Lincoln's 'best performance yet': Cold Water is the 'thrilling' new UK series on masculinity & murder
After years away from British TV The Walking Dead's Andrew Lincoln is finally returning to our UK TV screens in what is potentially his best series yet, as he stars in the new series Cold Water on ITV. First announced last year, the show is about a man named John (Lincoln) who moves his family to the small sleepy town of Coldwater in rural Scotland, where he develops a unconventional relationship with the enigmatic new neighbour. The first teaser for the series dropped on ITV earlier this week and it's safe to say we are so excited about this new show which is expected to drop on our screens in autumn this year. Curious to know more? Here's all the important info you need to know about ITV's new show Cold Water. Andrew Lincoln stars as John, an ordinary man who is struggling and internally raging with his life as a middle-aged stay at home dad. After he's unable to help in a violent crisis in a local London park, he's reached breaking point and moves his whole family to a small sleepy village in rural Scotland. His wife Fiona (Indira Varma) is also on board as she seeks a new challenge after growing frustrated with her job as a chef. Upon their arrival John bonds with neighbour Tommy (Ewen Bremner), who is husband to the local vicar (Eve Myles) and the self-appointed leader of the village's all-male book group. As the two grow closer, Fiona grows more suspicious of Tommy and believes not everything is as it seems with the new neighbour, who she suspects of harbouring dark secrets. And when John's long-repressed rage finally comes a to a head, John finds himself indebted to his new friend. The series will be six episodes long and is ultimately described as a tale of "masculinity, religion and murder." Sign us up. Leading the cast of Cold Water is Andrew Lincoln, who is of course best known for his role as Rick in The Walking Dead and Mark in Love Actually. Lincoln takes on the role of lead character John, who is struggling with his identity. Starring alongside Andrew as John's wife Fiona is Indira Varma. Indira is best known for her roles in Luther, Game of Thrones, and The Capture. Joining Andrew and Indira are Eve Myles and Ewen Bremner as the couple's neighbours Rebecca and Tommy. Following the show's announcement last year, it has now been confirmed the show will be coming to our screens on ITV1 and ITVX at some point this autumn. When we know the exact date we'll be sure to update you. Cold Water comes to ITV later this year
