Written by: Aarthi Ramnath, Raghav Bikhchandani & Yash Budhwar
Cannes 2025: Enough with the ‘naked dressing’!
The 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival kicked off yesterday—and will run till May 24. This year’s jury is led by the French actress Juliette Binoche—and includes hamaari Payal Kapadia who won the Grand Prix last year for ‘All We Imagine As Light’ (see: this Big Story). But the star of the group is clearly Halle Berry–as you can see below:
The lineup: 22 films will compete for the top honour Palme d’Or—which also seals a movie’s odds for an Oscar nomination. The biggest names in this year’s lineup:
- ‘Die My Love’ starring Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson
- The new Spike Lee film starring Denzel Washington titled ‘Highest 2 Lowest’
- Wes Anderson’s film ‘The Phoenician Scheme’ with an ensemble cast including Michael Cera, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Hanks and Riz Ahmed.
- The most anticipated Tom Cruise’s final “Mission: Impossible” movie
- Also notable Directorial debuts of Kristen Stewart, Scarlett Johansson and Harris Dickinson
Representing the desh: Neeraj Ghaywan's ‘Homebound’—starring Janhvi Kapoor and Ishaan Khatter. A restored print of Satyajit Ray's ‘Aranyer Din Ratri’—starring Sharmila Tagore and Soumitra Chatterjee—will be screened this year, as well. See the ‘Homebound’ poster below:
A controversial dress code: Cannes is neither extra like the Met Gala—or conventional as the Oscars. Its red carpet is best known for exposed skin—lots of it. What industry experts call ‘naked dressing’. Example: This Bella Hadid look from last year:
The French, however, have decided to be less French this year: “The new dress code for gala screenings includes the admonition, ‘for decency reasons, nudity is prohibited on the red carpet, as well as in any other area of the festival.’” In fact, even “voluminous outfits” are not allowed. Paavam Halle Berry had to cancel her Guarav Gupta dress—but Heidi Klum couldn’t care less:
Neither could Chinese actress Wan Qianhui:
If you need more, Business Insider has the best and worst looks. Deutsche Welle has the lineup of the Hollywood movies. New York Times reports on the dress code controversy. Hindustan Times spotlights the five Indian movies at the film festival. We also did an excellent Big Story on the origins and history of Cannes.
Over at Sundance: Actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco have been sued for copyright infringement for their new movie ‘Together’—an independent horror film that was sold for $17 million after a bidding war at the festival. The lawsuit claims that the film is a “blatant rip-off” of a 2023 independent film titled ‘Better Half.’ The damning bit: The defendants claimed that they had emailed the script of ‘Better Half’ to Franco and Brie’s agents in August 2020—offering starring roles for them. But their agents passed on the project. What’s next: The movie is set to release on August 1. You can watch the trailer for ’Together’ below:
We couldn’t find a trailer for ‘Better Half’ but here’s the movie poster. (Variety)
The Trump tariff wars: New Delhi slaps back!
How it started: Over the past couple of months, India was hit with a series of tariffs—now totalling 26%. All of these accompanied with the usual Trump name-calling. New Delhi played it cool—not putting up any kind of fight, convinced that all will be well once a bilateral free trade agreement is inked. In fact, Indian officials crowed they were way ahead than the rest in sealing a deal with our pal Donald.
Then came Operation Sindoor: If the April tariffs dhamaka was “worse than expected,” Trump’s intervention in the India-Pakistan conflict landed like a nuke. He was the first to announce the ceasefire, claimed to have brokered it—and then he said this: “I said… Let’s stop it. Let’s stop it. If you stop it, we’ll do a trade. If you don’t stop it, we’re not going to do any trade.”
Then it got worse: Right after allegedly using tariffs to get us in line, Trump kissed and made up with Beijing—slashing tariffs on Chinese products overnight. Not to mention the fact that China supplied most of the weapons used by Pakistan in the war. New Delhi didn’t just have egg on its face—it was covered from head to toe.
Finally, the diplomatic worm turns: New Delhi endured days of heckling from the White House—and finally responded on Tuesday. The External Affairs Ministry rep said there was no talk of trade during conversations about the war—but didn’t exactly call Trump a liar:
We have a longstanding national position that any issues related to the federally controlled union territory of Jammu and Kashmir must be addressed by India and Pakistan bilaterally. There has been no change to the stated policy.
What happened now: New Delhi has finally gone on the offensive—and proposed retaliatory tariffs—of the vaguest kind. It has complained to the World Trade Organisation about US tariffs—worth $1.91 billion—on Indian steel and aluminium. India has now threatened “suspension of concessions”—to match that $1.91 billion. There is no word on what US products will be affected.
What we now know: Washington is playing hardball on its steel and aluminium tariffs—calling them a “national security” measure (while Trump doles out AI chips to Gulf companies that are linked to China).
About that free trade agreement: Some experts say India’s “retaliation could cast a shadow over negotiations”—which are expected to kick off on May 17. Though Indian “officials” insist the timing is coincidental. That said, Washington has now dialled back Trump’s offer to “solve” Kashmir—insisting merely that the US wants a ceasefire:
That is what we are happy to see. That’s where our focus remains. And we want to see a ceasefire be maintained, and we want to encourage direct communication. That is our focus here. Our focus is the ceasefire. Our focus is on encouraging direct communication. That’s where our focus is going to remain. The President has spoken on this.
So what’s next: The New York Times argues that we now know how Trump uses tariffs:
[I]t now seems evident that what really excites him is using the tariffs as a cudgel, and to make his minimum 10% tariff on all foreign goods look like a bargain, even if it is onerous to consumers. Everything above that number is highly negotiable.
When US tariffs are reduced to 10%, it also allows the other side to claim victory (see: the UK). We can expect some version of the same for India. Our threatened tariffs won’t kick in for another 30 days. Hopefully, Trump will give India a similar path to saving face before our deadline expires.
Reading list
Bloomberg News and The Hindu have the reporting on New Delhi’s WTO notification. Associated Press has Trump’s trade threat and New Delhi’s rebuttal. For more on Trump’s truce with Beijing, check out Wall Street Journal.
A super-fast trek of Mount Everest… on xenon?!
Climbing Mt Everest usually takes up to ten weeks. But a private company—Furtenbach Adventures—plans to do it in just seven days. The secret of this new-found speed: Xenon gas. Instead of spending three weeks acclimatizing climbers to high-altitudes, they will inhale the gas for ten days before departure.
How xenon works: Our kidneys naturally produce erythropoietin (EPO) as a reaction to insufficient oxygen levels to fight hypoxia—boosting red blood cell count. More red blood cells = better oxygen delivery = faster acclimatization. The company claims xenon stimulates greater production of EPO… voila, express ascents to Everest.
But, but, but: There is little scientific evidence that xenon increases levels of EPO. Also: “drugs designed to induce EPO could potentially increase the risk of blood clots capable of triggering strokes or pulmonary embolisms.” Wait, it gets worse. Xenon is also an anesthetic. Using it before extreme altitude climbs could impair brain function, breathing, and increase the risk of death.
Why this matters: This latest ‘innovation’ marks a new low in the Everest climbing dhandha—which is already blamed for rising numbers of deaths and accidents. Yet there are no rules to restrict drug use—unlike professional sports. Btw, in 1953, a legendary Austrian alpinist managed a solo ascent of the 8,126m (26,660ft) Nanga Parbat—thanks to the help of his little friend methamphetamine.
What’s next: Four clients will soon cough $170,000 to sniff xenon to make their speed tour. The mountain climbing community is getting their popcorn ready. (BBC News)
what caught our eye
India vs Pakistan
- New York Times (splainer gift link) has a good read on how satellite images cut through the war talk—showing India-Pakistan’s biggest clash in decades caused far less damage than both sides claimed.
- An Indian tech team landed in New York to present evidence on the Pahalgam terror attack, aiming to get The Resistance Front banned by the UN’s 1267 Sanctions Committee.
- Flights are finally back in Srinagar after nearly a week’s halt—offering relief to stranded travellers and Haj pilgrims, even as the highway remains shut due to landslides.
- In a border swap at Attari-Wagah, Pakistan returned a detained BSF constable who crossed over by mistake, while India sent back Pakistan Rangers personnel.
- RSS-linked Swadeshi Jagaran Manch calls for sanctions, flight bans, and a diplomatic rethink on Turkey after its drones backed Pakistan’s attack during last week’s military confrontation.
business & tech
- SoftBank is back in the green after four years’ worth of high-profile failed investments such as WeWork.
- Google’s classic “I’m Feeling Lucky” button is out—making way for a new AI Mode being tested right underneath the search bar.
- Quartz has a good read on how Trump’s return is shaking up global tech—giving Europe’s startup scene a rare shot at outshining Silicon Valley.
sports & entertainment
- The IPL has wiped player stats from the abandoned PBKS vs DC match off its website—sparking confusion ahead of the replay on May 24.
- Novak Djokovic has ended his short-lived coaching stint with Andy Murray—just two weeks before the French Open. A related good read: The Guardian on how Djokovic and Murray went from sparks of promise to courtside swearing.
- RIP Robert Benton—the Oscar-winning director of ‘Kramer vs. Kramer’ and co-writer of ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ passed away in Manhattan at the age of 92.
- Madonna’s getting the Netflix treatment—a limited series on her life and music is in the works with director Shawn Levy.
health & environment
- Humans aren’t alone in having hygiene and healthcare habits. A new study reveals that chimpanzees use leaves and chewed-up plants to wipe their butts, tend to wounds and clean up after sex.
meanwhile, in the world
- Israeli strikes in Gaza have killed at least 84 people since Wednesday morning—including dozens of women and children.
- Iran wants to swap a nuclear dismantling plan for a new proposal: a regional uranium enrichment project backed by Arab partners and US cash.
- Indian national and Georgetown Uni researcher Badar Khan Suri has been freed from a Texas detention center after a federal judge ordered his release. He was arrested amidst the Trump administration’s crackdown on foreign students.
- German police arrested three Ukrainians suspected of planning parcel bomb attacks for Russia, raising new fears of a Moscow sabotage in Europe.
- An update on the ‘Pfizergate’ case—an EU court has ruled that the European Commission was wrong to refuse the release of President Ursula von der Leyen’s texts with Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla during the pandemic.
- The Trump administration has rescinded a Biden-era rule that placed limits on the number of AI chips that could be exported to markets like Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
- Wall Street Journal (splainer gift link) has a must-read history lesson on Camp Century—the US nuclear base that operated in Greenland from 1959 to 1967.
- US energy officials are assessing the risk involved with Chinese-made inverters that were discovered to contain rogue communication devices.
meanwhile, in India
- Mukesh Ambani is heading to Doha for a meet-up with Trump—this time over a state dinner hosted by Qatar’s Emir at Lusail Palace.
- Women snag just one in three entry-level private jobs in India—and barely a quarter of manager roles, says a McKinsey report.
- Madhya Pradesh High Court ordered police to file an FIR against Cabinet Minister Vijay Shah for inflammatory remarks against Army officer Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, the same officer who was giving press updates during Op Sindoor.
- Some students were blocked from entering DPS Dwarka over unpaid fees, sparking angry protests from parents and chaos outside the school gates.
- Newslaundry highlights a study that links the legal targeting of journalists to their language and location—Hindi-speaking reporters in smaller towns face the most heat.
- India has blocked X accounts of Chinese and Turkish state media—just after Beijing stirred the pot by renaming spots in Arunachal Pradesh, a region China claims but which falls under India’s sovereign territory.
- India saw a staggering 5.4 million disaster-driven displacements in 2024—the highest in 12 years—as floods and storms forced millions to flee, says a new report.
- In a move raising eyebrows, Delhi University’s Shaheed Bhagat Singh College has told students and staff to follow the VC on X—and amplify his pro-Armed Forces posts.
- In a first for India, Maharashtra has greenlit a forensic study on serial killers in its prisons—modelled on the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit.
Four things to see
One: Yesterday, Donald Trump had tea with rebel-turned-interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Riyadh—with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the phone. Syria described the meeting as “historic” as it is the first meeting between a US and Syrian president in 25 years. Trump also said that the US will drop “all sanctions” against Syria—a decision that surprised Trump’s own officials—as the US has a history of imposing sanctions on the country since the 1970s.
Point to note: Ahmed al-Sharaa was placed on the US Specially Designated Global Terrorist list in 2013 for heading al Qaeda’s affiliate in Syria—Al Nusra Front—and until recently had a $10 million US bounty on his head. See Trump and al-Sharaa shaking hands—with a beaming Prince Mohammad bin Salman on the side—below.
Here’s Trump’s first impressions of the Syrian President—an interview bite he gave from Air Force One. In it he even speaks about Syria possibly joining the Abraham Accords. CNN has more on why this new camaraderie is significant.
Two: The wait is over! Here’s the trailer for ‘Taare Zameen Par’ sequel—‘Sitaare Zameen Par’. But the movie follows an entirely different plot. Unlike the original, Aamir Khan plays a hot-headed basketball coach who is sentenced to teaching a group of neurodivergent people.
Point to note: The movie is an adaptation of the 2023 American sports comedy-drama ‘Champions’. Some people on the internet have pointed out how the trailer is a frame-to-frame copy of the American film—as you can see below. Though, this is hardly surprising as his last film ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’ was a remake of ‘Forrest Gump’. (NDTV)
Three: The Rajasthan Royals have picked up the unlikeliest of new fans—‘Schitt’s Creek’ star Eugene Levy! Watch the cute exchange between RR head coach Rahul Dravid and the veteran actor—which involves a personalised team jersey. (Hindustan Times)
Four: In the world of AI robots, Dutch scientists have created a “soft robot” that doesn't have a brain or control system. It does not need electricity either. Rather it can “think” with its legs. It is inspired by the famous dancing “Fly Guys” and operates using airflow physics—as explained in the video below. Possible applications: health tech and space tech. (Ars Technica)
feel good place
One: Why big cats need a #MeToo movement lol!
Two: Also a MeToo hazard: French accents. Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner explain.
Three: Throwback Thursday: Shakira twinning with Pink.
