Latest news with #secondWorldWar
Indian Express
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Express at Cannes: Tom Cruise's Final Reckoning and a maddeningly marvellous Sound Of Falling
Cannes 2025 Competition opener 'Sound Of Falling' begins in what seems to be a straight-forward, almost prosaic way. It turns out to be anything but, in the way the director builds a maze of simmering emotions that women experience and suppress, across a hundred years and four generations, somewhere in Northern Germany. Generational trauma is a phrase flung about quite casually these days. In Mascha Schilinsky's remarkable handling of her material, dense and light, stately and playful, opaque and clear at the same time, this film becomes a palimpsest of feminine desire-and-deprivation, ordered by patriarchal command and control. It gives us four time zones. Pre World War one, sometime during the second World War, sometime in the 80s, and a here-and-now slice, but there are no dates given, the timeline keeps shifting, and the characters keep drifting in and out. You are left to join the dots, with the film's rewards slowly revealing themselves in an immersive, fever-dream like state. Quite clearly too, you know that you may not be able to piece together the whole puzzle at one go, but you make peace with it, promising yourself a repeat viewing. Also Read | 'Moulin Rouge meets Mayur Vihar': Urvashi Rautela walks Cannes 2025 red carpet with Rs 4 lakh parrot clutch, fails to recreate iconic Aishwarya Rai moment A young woman named Erika (Lea Drinda) is slowly making her way on crutches across the length of a farmhouse, as a male voice calls out insistently, growing louder with every step she takes. The girl straightens her leg; the crutches, belonging to her grievously injured Uncle Fritz, are replaced against a wall. She finally goes down to the yard, and her impatient father slaps her hard across the face. Instead of wincing and crying, she turns to the camera, and smiles, breaking the fourth wall. It is at the point where you stop expecting the expected, and start wondering: is it empathy for her grievously wounded uncle? Or is it a deeper, more complex emotion which teenagers sometimes attach to handsome men in their family? Or a mixture of shame and terror, distilled down the years? From the way little Alma (Hanna Heckt) and her mother and sisters dress, it seems like we've flashbacked to a turn of the 20th century era, where women are constantly sickened by either a fresh life growing in their belly, or at the thought of what the less privileged among them have to undergo, 'to make them safe for the men'. We hear Alma's voice telling us about horrific sterilisations in a matter of fact manner, to the extent little girls can understand the depth of the brutality, which carries over, in less overtly but still very clearly into a flash forward, where we encounter Erika's niece Angelika (Lena Urzendowsky) navigating her blossoming sexuality, under the heavy hand of a predatory uncle and his younger, gentler son. Memories make us human. Schilinsky evokes the feel of old albums, where some faces are sharp, the others faded. In a striking scene, the appearance of a polaroid camera causes much amazement: in the family photograph, the teenager is caught as a shadowy figure, almost as if she is writing herself out of the image, and collective memory. It's tough to unpack these strands without breaking the delicate, gossamer threads that this film weaves around us. But it also brings us back the joy of immersiveness, when you allow the film to cast its spell completely on you. 'Sound Of Falling' is maddeningly marvellous, and we may have already seen the best film of the festival, which has just begun. ** Tom Cruise brings The Final Reckoning Tom Cruise came cruisin' by, and the Croisette stopped in its tracks. Three years back, he was here with Top Gun: Maverick; this time around, it's the final installment of the Mission Impossible series, releasing in India this Saturday. The action star wears his 62 years lightly: 'boyish' may have been invented for him. In the movie, his hard-working secret agent Ethan Hunt saved the world once again. Later, he showed up in a maroon co-ord set to wow his fans lined up for a glimpse. So is this really the final reckoning? The world still needs saving.
India.com
10-05-2025
- Climate
- India.com
What is 'black rain' that pours down after a nuclear attack? Every single drop is a killer due to...
Representational Image/AI-generated. India-Pakistan nuclear war: The United States on Saturday mediated a 'full and immediate' ceasefire between India and Pakistan, ending weeks of hostilities between the two nuclear-armed rivals that could have easily escalated into an India-Pakistan nuclear war, especially since Pakistan's top military and civilian leadership was openly hinting at using the nuclear option. But experts have warned that nuclear war is not something that should be romanticized because even a low-scale nuclear attack is guaranteed to have devastating effects for the region its carried out on, as well as the rest of the world. In the immediate aftermath of a nuclear blast, black rain or radioactive rain starts pouring down from the skies, and every single drop of this unnatural precipitation is highly poisonous and a potential killer. What is 'Black Rain'? Black rain, is essentially polluted rain which contains dark particulates, such as those from wildfires, volcanic eruptions and explosions. In the case of a nuclear blast, this rain contains particles, apart from dust, ash, and soot, thrown up into the stratosphere due to the massive blast caused by the nuclear detonation. Depending on the intensity and yield of the nuclear blast, this radioactive rain can causes severe radioactive burns and even kill humans if exposed for long. The debilitating effects of nuclear rain are well-documents among the population of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan, where atomic bombs were dropped by the United States towards the end of the second World War. According to various estimates, around 80,000 people were killed instantly in the initial nuclear blast, while hundreds of thousands have died since due to the nuclear fallout, including the ill-effects of black rain. How 'black rain' is formed? According to experts, the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima created massive fires, sending huge amounts of of ash into the atmosphere, which 'seeded' the clouds, resulting in black rain, which poured continuously for nearly 2 hours after nuclear blast. The black rain, which felt like molten tar, was a combination of ash, radioactive fallout, and water. The black rain caused severe radiation burns to those who were exposed to it, while long-term effects included death and DNA degradation, all typical symptoms of nuclear exposure, as per doctors.
Daily Record
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Antiques Roadshow's Fiona Bruce left amused by 100-year-old war hero's saucy remark about soldiers
BBC Antiques Roadshow viewers were taken back to WW2 for a special episode ahead of VE day where Fiona Bruce chatted with 100-year-old Bletchley Park codebreaker Hazel Halter about her memories of the past. Antiques Roadshow host Fiona Bruce shared a light-hearted exchange with a 100-year-old WW2 hero who made a saucy comment about her night with some American soldiers. The hit BBC programme took a break from its usual evaluation of unique and rare antique items to take viewers back to the era of the second World War ahead of VE day on May 8. Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire was the main hub for Allied-code breaking efforts, an endeavour said to have shortened the war by as much as two years with mostly women being hired to take on this important role. For the special episode, Fiona was given the opportunity to interview former Bletchley Park code-breaker, centenarian Hazel Halter, who shared her experiences from her past work. Despite the serious nature of their conversation, the two women still managed to find moments of humour. Host Fiona asked: "So paint a picture for me of what life was like here at Bletchley Park". Hazel explained there were six female codebreakers who lived on the estate together. She recalled: "We'd see other ATS (Auxiliary Territorial Service) girls maybe, RAF girls, but we never mixed with them." Fiona questioned: "You just kept yourselves to yourselves?" Hazel agreed, before revealing how they would sometimes attend dances hosted by young American men. Raising an eyebrow, Fiona responded: "That sounds fun". With a twinkle in her eye, Hazel explained: "And they'd form two lines and walk down the middle and they'd pick out the one they wanted. "Then they'd present us with a corsage and a pair of nylons [tights]. We'd never had nylons before! 'So we used to go to these dances. After that, there were other things they wanted which we weren't prepared to give". Struggling to contain her laughter, an amused Fiona said: 'I get the general idea', as Hazel cheekily replied: 'I think you do!' The special episode follows another entertaining incident on Antiques Roadshow last week which saw a shocked guest clasp her hand over her mouth when she found out the staggering value of a 'broken' charity shop brooch she had picked up for £2.50. Sunday's instalment of the BBC show saw expert Susan Rumfitt evaluate the accessory. The guest explained she had found it in a charity shop but hadn't worn it due to the broken clasp. When she took it to a repair shop, she asked jewellers if it was 'worth anything'. She recalled the shop keeper's reply: "'Not really but if you're selling it I'll buy it for £50". She added: "I thought if he wants to buy it for £50, it's probably worth a little bit more.'" Expert Susan explained the true value, saying: "The style of this brooch really does show a lot of hidden meaning within it. "So, you've got sapphires, the blue stones which represent devotion in the language of gemstones and diamonds represent everlasting eternal love, so you've got a very devotional and romantic piece of jewellery." The antiques guru added how the gold and silver mounts were 'two entwined hearts' and could have been given as a 'marriage gift'. She estimated that the brooch dated back to 1870 and estimated it would be worth between £2,000 and £3,000. The guest was left gobsmacked as she exclaimed: "Oh my goodness" and clasped her hand over her mouth. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Time of India
06-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
80 years after World War II, Germany still searches for fallen soldiers
German soldiers carry the small coffins with the remains of fallen German soldiers of WWII to the grave during a funeral service at a memorial site for fallen soldiers in Halbe, Germany (Image: AP) 'More than 2 million German soldiers unaccounted for' 'War criminals in our war graves' 'They deserve to be buried' 80 years have passed since the second World War came to an end. However, the search for the bodies of fallen soldiers continues. Much work remains to identify the deceased and inform any surviving family week, in a forest near Berlin, the remains of 107 fallen German soldiers were cremated respectfully with rituals. Hundreds of villagers and relatives looked on as soldiers who died in one of the last big World War II battles, fighting for Hitler's army, were finally laid to remains of German soldiers are still being found across Europe in forests, fields and beneath old farmland. Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgraberfursorge (German War Graves Commission) is a non-profit organisation that has been continuously digging up the remains of soldiers and reburying them. They have been doing this work for week marks 80 years since World War II ended, but the search for soldiers' remains continues. The war's effects are still being felt, and the work to find and identify the dead is not yet finished."It's very, very important that this is still being done," said Martina Seiger, 57, whose grandfather's bones were found and buried a few years and identifying the remains is a slow of those missing were buried quickly during retreats or battles, without any markers or official possible, the organisation brings the remains to cemeteries maintained specifically for German soldiers who died abroad. It has a humanistic goal: to offer a dignified burial to every person who died in the war, regardless of the role they Volksbund's mission is not about honoring the fallen, but about identifying them and making sure they aren't forgotten or lost in the earth without a to the Volksbund's estimate, more than 2 million German soldiers remain unaccounted for. Over the past 30 years, since gaining access to former Eastern Bloc territories, the Volksbund has recovered and reburied the remains of one million some parts of Europe, there is still resentment toward anything that seems to revive or honor the Nazi military past."I don't want to rule out the possibility that we have a large number of war criminals in our war graves. We also know that some of them have even been proven to have committed the most serious war crimes," said Dirk Backen, the secretary general of the Volksbund."Behind every dead person is a human destiny and that is our main focus," he said. "When you stand in front of the grave of an 18-year-old young Wehrmacht soldier, you naturally ask yourself whether he may have had other plans in life and a different dream than to give his life at the age of 18 for a cause that was also criminal."Lukasz Karol, a Polish archaeologist working on the excavation, admits to having ethical concerns about his task. He struggled with the challenge of unearthing soldiers from an army that had invaded Poland and caused the deaths of around 6 million Polish citizens during the he said the work has moral significance and uncovers important scientific information."These are also people and they also deserve a burial," Karol said.
Irish Times
06-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Friedrich Merz's bid to become Germany's 10th chancellor fails first ballot
Conservative leader Friedrich Merz 's bid to become Germany 's 10th chancellor since the second World War failed in the first round of voting in parliament on Tuesday by six votes, a vote he had been widely expected to win smoothly. Mr Merz needed a majority of 316 out of 630 votes in a secret ballot. He only received 310 votes. Friedrich Merz reacts after he was not elected Germany's new chancellor in the first voting process at the parliament Bundestag in Berlin. Photograph: Markus Schreiber/AP The parties were to regroup to discuss the next step but it was not immediately clear how long the process could take. READ MORE The lower house of parliament – called the Bundestag – has 14 days to elect a candidate with an absolute majority. If that also fails, the constitution allows for the president to appoint the candidate who wins the most votes as chancellor, or to dissolve the Bundestag and hold a new national election. Mr Merz is seeking to take the helm of the 27-nation European Union's most populous member after outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government collapsed last year. Germany has the continent's biggest economy and serves as a diplomatic heavyweight. Mr Merz's portfolio would include the war in Ukraine and the Trump administration's trade policy on top of domestic issues such as the stagnant economy and the rise of a far-right, anti-immigrant party. – PA
