Latest news with #GonewiththeWind
Yomiuri Shimbun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Japan Rice Paddy Art Depicts Scenes from Hollywood Classics; Village Official Hopes to Attract Over 300,000 Visitors
INAKADATE, Aomori — Officials of an Aomori Prefecture village, famous for its rice paddy art, are proud of this year's work, saying that it is the best yet. Rice paddy art can be seen in two locations in the village of Inakadate, Aomori Prefecture. The first, located behind the village office, depicts images from the movies 'Gone with the Wind' and 'Roman Holiday,' as well as the village's mascot Ichihime. Prefectural rice and kodaimai ancient rice were used to create the different colors to form the image. The second venue, located along the national highway, depicts images of a movie that will be released nationwide in autumn. The best time to view the artworks is between now and mid-August. 'We're aiming for a record of more than 300,000 visitors,' said an official in charge of the art. Both artworks can be seen from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and costs ¥300 for adults.
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First Post
30-06-2025
- Politics
- First Post
History Today: When the 'Night of the Long Knives' made Hitler synonymous with Nazi power
On June 30, 1934, Hitler unleashed the Night of the Long Knives, a ruthless purge that eliminated internal threats, silenced rivals and secured the Reichswehr's loyalty — cementing his grip on power and setting the course for the authoritarian Third Reich read more A picture dated 1939 shows German Nazi Chancellor Adolf Hitler giving the Bazi salute during a rally next to "Deputy Furhrer" Rudolf Hess. File Image/AFP As part of Firstpost's History Today series we take a look at events that occurred on June 30. Most grimly remembered is the Night of the Long Knives in 1934, when Adolf Hitler carried out a violent political purge to consolidate his dictatorship in Nazi Germany. This same date also witnessed the birth of groundbreaking science in 1905, when Albert Einstein published his theory of special relativity. In 2019, US President Donald Trump made history by stepping into North Korea to greet Kim Jong Un. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD And in 1936, the literary classic Gone with the Wind was released. The Night of the Long Knives In the early hours of June 30, 1934, Adolf Hitler unleashed a brutal, premeditated purge known as the Night of the Long Knives (Nacht der langen Messer), eradicating real and perceived threats within his own party and cementing his grip on power in Nazi Germany. This carefully orchestrated massacre, carried out by Hitler's loyal SS and Gestapo forces, extended through July 2 and resulted in widespread fear, a shift in loyalty and the establishment of unchecked authoritarian rule. Following Hitler's ascension to chancellorship in January 1933 and the passage of the Enabling Act in March — transferring legislative power to him — Germany was under Nazi dominance. Yet internal tensions simmered. The Sturmabteilung (SA), the Nazi Party's paramilitary 'Brownshirts' led by Ernst Röhm, had grown to some 3 million loyalists. Having played a key role in Hitler's rise, Röhm now aspired to integrate the SA with the regular military, demanding a second, social-revolutionary purge that alarmed conservative elites. This clashed with the priorities of Germany's traditional power holders — the Reichswehr (army), industrial magnates and right-wing officials — who saw the SA's socialist rhetoric and street violence as dangerous. Hitler faced a perilous contradiction: restrain Röhm and the SA to placate the army, or risk fracturing his regime. The SA issue threatened Hitler's alliance with military and economic leaders, essential for his Nazi agenda moving forward. Elements within Hitler's circle, especially Heinrich Himmler, Reinhard Heydrich and Hermann Göring, fuelled rumors that Röhm was planning a coup with the SA. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD They shared intelligence — likely overstated — claiming Röhm's complacency with betrayal, including involvement with Catholic groups or foreign powers. Göring tasked Gestapo chief Rudolf Diels to gather compromising material, including allegations of SA corruption, homosexual activity and conspiracies with Kurt von Schleicher. Hitler privately cautioned Röhm in February 1934: 'Only the Reichswehr is entitled to bear weapons.' A June 4 meeting reaffirmed the rift. Although Höhrer efforts faltered, Hitler was already leaning toward eliminating Röhm to establish control. On June 30, Hitler, thoroughly advised by Göring and Himmler, deployed SS and Gestapo teams to arrest Röhm and other SA leaders at Bad Wiessee. They seized men by surprise during a holiday retreat. Röhm and his colleagues were forced to sign undated statements claiming to revolt imminently. Röhm was imprisoned in Munich's Stadelheim Prison. Over the next two days, SS units across Germany executed upwards of 85 individuals — potentially more, by some estimates — as loyalist forces swept through SA strongholds and political opponents, even killing Gregor Strasser, Kurt von Schleicher, Franz von Papen's staff, Catholic leaders like Adalbert Probst, and dissident journalists. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Röhm declined to commit suicide. On July 1, he faced execution by SS officers Theodor Eicke and Michael Lippert. The circumstances of his death remained murky — but definitive. A law passed on July 3 retroactively validated the purge by framing it as emergency self-defence. Hitler, in a Reichstag speech on July 13, claimed authority as 'the supreme judge of the German people.' This manoeuver dismantled the rule of law. Courts and legislators acquiesced, establishing a precedent that violence by Hitler's regime was inherently legitimate . The purge's immediate effects included: Neutralisation of the SA's threat; the organization was sidelined to minor political policing under new leader Viktor Lutze. Expansion of SS authority under Himmler and Heydrich; the SS emerged as the regime's chief instrument of terror. Securing the army's loyalty; the Reichswehr leadership saw Hitler as the protector of traditional order. It entrenched Hitler's status, and solidified a totalitarian apparatus willing — and legally empowered — to eliminate dissent at will. The Night of the Long Knives was not mere internal politics — it was the defining moment that eliminated collective power threats within Nazi Germany and formalised Hitler's right to extrajudicial violence. Invoking legality to justify murder, dismantling institutional opposition and empowering single-man rule, the purge shaped the dictatorship, enabling it to wage war and genocide. It is a stark example of legal authoritarianism and the fragility of democracy under systemic deception. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Einstein publishes his special Theory of Relativity On June 30, 1905, Albert Einstein's paper 'Zur Elektrodynamik bewegter Körper' (On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies) was published in Annalen der Physik, introducing Special Relativity — a framework reshaping physics. Einstein discarded the ether concept and proposed: The laws of physics are invariant in all inertial frames. The speed of light in a vacuum is constant. He derived iconic formulas like E=mc², introduced time dilation and length contraction, and unified space and time into spacetime. Though initially overlooked, his theory changed physics — leading to GPS, nuclear energy and deeper cosmological insights. This paper is central to what Einstein likened as his annus mirabilis, launching him to lasting fame. Trump walks into North Korea at the DMZ On June 30, 2019, United States President Donald Trump became the first sitting US president to step into North Korea, walking across the border at Panmunjom, DMZ. Trump and Kim Jong Un shook hands before beginning informal talks alongside South Korea's Moon Jae-in. Trump described it as 'a great day,' though it accomplished little regarding denuclearisation. The historic moment was widely seen as symbolic diplomacy. Critics argued it granted legitimacy to Kim's authoritarian regime, while supporters highlighted its potential to thaw relations. Gone with the Wind is released On June 30, 1936, Margaret Mitchell's epic novel Gone with the Wind was published by Macmillan in Atlanta and nationwide. Set during the Civil War and Reconstruction, the thousand-page saga quickly became a bestseller. Over 20,000 copies sold in advance; by Christmas, over a million were in circulation. Mitchell received the 1937 Pulitzer Prize, and David O. Selznick's 1939 film adaptation became a monumental box-office and cultural phenomenon. While celebrated, the novel has faced criticism over its nostalgic portrayal of the antebellum South and minimised depiction of slavery. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Still, its enduring impact on American literature and cinema is undeniable. With inputs from agencies
Sydney Morning Herald
26-06-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
Your questions: My daughter is doing the Americas solo. Is it safe?
My 27-year-old daughter plans to spend two months travelling solo in Mexico, Colombia, Cuba, Panama and Nicaragua with no fixed plans. I am the soon-to-be-worried mum, losing sleep. She is well versed in travelling in Europe and lives independently in the UK. For us to be both rational about this, I am seeking your considered and impartial views. A. Robinson, Camberwell, Vic What parent does not feel your pain? But your daughter is possibly more resilient than you realise. After all, she has made a life of her own in the UK and that requires problem-solving and overcoming challenges. However, Central and South America, and solo, comes with next-level challenges. Communicate your concern. You might ask that she takes some steps to reduce her risk and give you peace of mind. For example, you could suggest she starts her travels with a group tour, perhaps in Mexico. She'll be in the company of like-minded travellers, she'll be well taken care of, she'll probably pick up some useful tips for travelling in Central America and that helps build a solid foundation for the rest of her travels in the region. There are plenty of tours that qualify, perhaps G Adventures might appeal. You might also suggest that she carry a personal safety alarm. These are small devices that fit easily into a pocket, yet they can be activated instantly and they emit an ear-splitting shriek. The international emergency number is 112, get that locked into her phone. In most of the world, the number can be dialled on mobiles, even without a SIM card or when locked. Uber is a safe way to get around in many cities in Central America. In Nicaragua, Aventon provides the same service. Travel insurance is of course a given. Bad things can happen, but the world is more frightening from a distance than it is close-up. The kindness of strangers is very real, and underestimated. One of my daughters has worked in Afghanistan since 2019 and she's totally OK. My partner and I are planning a trip on Amtrak's Silver Meteor from New York City to Miami. What are the top three to four must-see stops along the way? Does Amtrak have a ticket that allows for multiple stopovers? S. McLeod, Breakfast Point, NSW Make Washington DC your first stop and spend at least three nights to take in the Lincoln Memorial, Capitol Hill, the museums of the Smithsonian Institution, Constitution Avenue and lively neighbourhoods such as Georgetown. One hotel I particularly like is The Line in the Adams Morgan district, known for its pop-up restaurants, bars and flea markets. Next stop, South Carolina's Charleston. One of the most historic cities in the country, Charleston charms with its cobblestoned streets and antebellum architecture. Some of its plantation houses including Middleton Place and Boone Hall and their surrounding gardens evoke memories of Tara in the film version of Gone with the Wind. Fort Sumter National Monument, reached by ferry from the city, is where the first shots of the Civil War were fired. From there your next stop is Savannah, Georgia, famous for its Savannah Historic District, the largest National Historic Landmark District in the US. In its grid of streets there are 22 landscaped squares with fountains, sculptures, and live oaks and highlights including Chippewa Square, Madison Square and Monterey Square. The Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters explores the asymmetric relationship between slaves and masters, a moving and powerful experience. While Amtrak does not have a provision for multiple stopovers on one ticket, look for Amtrak's Multi-City link, and you can book separate tickets for each sector, with up to four segments. We will end our European trip with about eight days in Malta, any recommendations on where to stay? Preferably two places, with a view of the water with good access to transport and restaurants. We would like to explore the historical sites and also have some time to relax at beaches and swim. Would you recommend using public transport or hiring a car? K. King, Springwood, NSW Malta is small and there's no real need to stay in more than one place, although you could stay for a few days on the neighbouring island of Gozo if you want a change of scenery. Either Sliema or St Julian's would qualify, both are close to the city of Valetta, where most of the main attractions are located and these you can easily explore on foot. The Plum Guide has a few high-quality suggestions for self-contained apartments in Valetta and Casa Rocca Piccola and Palazzo Consiglia are also great choices. From there you can take a tour to visit places that are further away such as the Blue Grotto, Marsaxlokk, Mdina and Hagar Qim. Take a boat tour to visit the nearby islands of Gozo and Camino. You need to take a few tours but unless you go in peak season you don't need to book in advance. Malta Tours covers everything you need and Viator has more options. A hire car gives you more freedom, and the rewards include hidden beaches, remote temples and villages that are hard to reach any other way. However roads are narrow and congested if you're there in peak period, and parking can be problematic. My husband and I will arrive in Tokyo's, Haneda Airport at 8.15pm, staying at the ANA Intercontinental in Minato City. As we are elderly, could we travel by airport coach or public bus after 9pm? Any suggestions on tours available in Tokyo and Aomori? M. Gomes, Baulkham Hills, NSW Public bus is not a great option when you're arriving in a strange city late in the evening, and the limousine bus that usually operates to the ANA Intercontinental is currently out of service. At Haneda's Terminal 3, the taxi stand is on the first floor, just outside the terminal building. You can expect to pay between ¥9000 to ¥11,000 ($95 to $116), and there's no fear of bad behaviour with Tokyo taxi drivers. Another option is a private transfer. You'll be met at the terminal, a representative will take your luggage and you to the waiting car, and you'll be whisked off to your hotel. Blacklane is one operator, or use NearMe, an airport taxi transfer app. Tokiotours is a tour agency based in Minato with a range of food and cultural tours, Arigato Travel is another tour operator. Both have excellent reviews. In Aomori, the Aomori Tourist Information Center in Shin Aomori Station is your best bet for finding local tours.
The Age
26-06-2025
- The Age
Your questions: My daughter is doing the Americas solo. Is it safe?
My 27-year-old daughter plans to spend two months travelling solo in Mexico, Colombia, Cuba, Panama and Nicaragua with no fixed plans. I am the soon-to-be-worried mum, losing sleep. She is well versed in travelling in Europe and lives independently in the UK. For us to be both rational about this, I am seeking your considered and impartial views. A. Robinson, Camberwell, Vic What parent does not feel your pain? But your daughter is possibly more resilient than you realise. After all, she has made a life of her own in the UK and that requires problem-solving and overcoming challenges. However, Central and South America, and solo, comes with next-level challenges. Communicate your concern. You might ask that she takes some steps to reduce her risk and give you peace of mind. For example, you could suggest she starts her travels with a group tour, perhaps in Mexico. She'll be in the company of like-minded travellers, she'll be well taken care of, she'll probably pick up some useful tips for travelling in Central America and that helps build a solid foundation for the rest of her travels in the region. There are plenty of tours that qualify, perhaps G Adventures might appeal. You might also suggest that she carry a personal safety alarm. These are small devices that fit easily into a pocket, yet they can be activated instantly and they emit an ear-splitting shriek. The international emergency number is 112, get that locked into her phone. In most of the world, the number can be dialled on mobiles, even without a SIM card or when locked. Uber is a safe way to get around in many cities in Central America. In Nicaragua, Aventon provides the same service. Travel insurance is of course a given. Bad things can happen, but the world is more frightening from a distance than it is close-up. The kindness of strangers is very real, and underestimated. One of my daughters has worked in Afghanistan since 2019 and she's totally OK. My partner and I are planning a trip on Amtrak's Silver Meteor from New York City to Miami. What are the top three to four must-see stops along the way? Does Amtrak have a ticket that allows for multiple stopovers? S. McLeod, Breakfast Point, NSW Make Washington DC your first stop and spend at least three nights to take in the Lincoln Memorial, Capitol Hill, the museums of the Smithsonian Institution, Constitution Avenue and lively neighbourhoods such as Georgetown. One hotel I particularly like is The Line in the Adams Morgan district, known for its pop-up restaurants, bars and flea markets. Next stop, South Carolina's Charleston. One of the most historic cities in the country, Charleston charms with its cobblestoned streets and antebellum architecture. Some of its plantation houses including Middleton Place and Boone Hall and their surrounding gardens evoke memories of Tara in the film version of Gone with the Wind. Fort Sumter National Monument, reached by ferry from the city, is where the first shots of the Civil War were fired. From there your next stop is Savannah, Georgia, famous for its Savannah Historic District, the largest National Historic Landmark District in the US. In its grid of streets there are 22 landscaped squares with fountains, sculptures, and live oaks and highlights including Chippewa Square, Madison Square and Monterey Square. The Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters explores the asymmetric relationship between slaves and masters, a moving and powerful experience. While Amtrak does not have a provision for multiple stopovers on one ticket, look for Amtrak's Multi-City link, and you can book separate tickets for each sector, with up to four segments. We will end our European trip with about eight days in Malta, any recommendations on where to stay? Preferably two places, with a view of the water with good access to transport and restaurants. We would like to explore the historical sites and also have some time to relax at beaches and swim. Would you recommend using public transport or hiring a car? K. King, Springwood, NSW Malta is small and there's no real need to stay in more than one place, although you could stay for a few days on the neighbouring island of Gozo if you want a change of scenery. Either Sliema or St Julian's would qualify, both are close to the city of Valetta, where most of the main attractions are located and these you can easily explore on foot. The Plum Guide has a few high-quality suggestions for self-contained apartments in Valetta and Casa Rocca Piccola and Palazzo Consiglia are also great choices. From there you can take a tour to visit places that are further away such as the Blue Grotto, Marsaxlokk, Mdina and Hagar Qim. Take a boat tour to visit the nearby islands of Gozo and Camino. You need to take a few tours but unless you go in peak season you don't need to book in advance. Malta Tours covers everything you need and Viator has more options. A hire car gives you more freedom, and the rewards include hidden beaches, remote temples and villages that are hard to reach any other way. However roads are narrow and congested if you're there in peak period, and parking can be problematic. My husband and I will arrive in Tokyo's, Haneda Airport at 8.15pm, staying at the ANA Intercontinental in Minato City. As we are elderly, could we travel by airport coach or public bus after 9pm? Any suggestions on tours available in Tokyo and Aomori? M. Gomes, Baulkham Hills, NSW Public bus is not a great option when you're arriving in a strange city late in the evening, and the limousine bus that usually operates to the ANA Intercontinental is currently out of service. At Haneda's Terminal 3, the taxi stand is on the first floor, just outside the terminal building. You can expect to pay between ¥9000 to ¥11,000 ($95 to $116), and there's no fear of bad behaviour with Tokyo taxi drivers. Another option is a private transfer. You'll be met at the terminal, a representative will take your luggage and you to the waiting car, and you'll be whisked off to your hotel. Blacklane is one operator, or use NearMe, an airport taxi transfer app. Tokiotours is a tour agency based in Minato with a range of food and cultural tours, Arigato Travel is another tour operator. Both have excellent reviews. In Aomori, the Aomori Tourist Information Center in Shin Aomori Station is your best bet for finding local tours.
Time of India
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Anupam Kher says Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol's 'Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge' would not work for today's audience: 'Now it's like, fall in love today, and have s*x the next day...'
Veteran actor Anupam Kher is gearing up for the release of his upcoming movie 'Metro... In Dino' alongside Neena Gupta. In a recent interview, Anupam shared his thoughts on the changing portrayal of love in cinema. The actor feels that Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol 's Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge may not be accepted if it were originally released today. Anupam Kher about how the portrayal of love has changed in movies During a conversation with India Today, Anupam reflected on how the portrayal of love in films has changed over time, noting that cinema mirrors societal shifts — from the songs and language to how love is expressed. He added that earlier films carried a certain kashish (appeal) and emotional longing that is often missing today. 'In those times, we never used to speak directly. Falling in love took time. Even going to bed with someone wasn't immediate — first love, then marriage, then sex . Now it's like, fall in love today, and have sex the next day. There's nothing wrong with it, I'm not judging. But that's how it's shown now,' he stated. Anupam Kher Finds Monsoon Peace With Kishore's Tunes Anupam Kher says Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge will not work for today's audience He wishes to watch a movie that has a certain appeal to it. He feels Sanjay Leela Bhansali 's Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam was such a beautiful romantic film as it had all of these elements in it. He is unable to recall any good romantic films released in recent times, as he feels all of them have a sort of restlessness. But Anupam also admitted that society has changed a lot and that old-school love stories may not work for today's audience. Anupam cited Shah Rukh and Kajol's Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge as an example and stated that it would not work for today's audience the way it did in the past. 'Today, it works because of its nostalgic value. But if it were made for the first time now, it wouldn't have had the same impact. Just like Gone with the Wind — if it were made today, it wouldn't resonate the same way. Times have changed, life has changed. Back then, in the late '90s and earlier, we had stories of couples eloping. But DDLJ was the first time when the hero said, 'I will convince your father. Only then will we marry.' That was new. The father tells his son, 'You failed in London? Good. We've all failed in India too.' These were fresh, grounded characters,' he revealed. About Metro... In Dino Metro... In Dino, starring Aditya Roy Kapur and Sara Ali Khan, will hit theatres on July 4.
