- China opens $71 bn 'swap facility' to boost markets
- Mets advance on Lindor grand slam, Yankees and Tigers win
- Taiwan President Lai vows to 'resist annexation' of island
- China's solar goes from supremacy to oversupply
- Asian markets track Wall St record as Hong Kong, Shanghai stabilise
- 'Denying my potential': women at Japan's top university call out gender imbalance
- China's central bank says opens up $70.6 bn in liquidity to boost market
- Zelensky on whirlwind tour of Europe ahead of US vote
- Youth facing unprecedented wave of violence, UN envoy warns
- 'A casino in every kitchen': Brazil's online gambling craze
- Nobel chemistry winner sees engineered proteins solving tough problems
- Lindor powers Mets past Phillies into NL Championship Series
- Wildlife populations plunge 73% since 1970: WWF
- 'Sleeper agent' bots on X fuel US election misinformation, study says
- Death toll rises to 109 after Haiti gang attack, official says
- Tigers beat Guardians and on brink of advancing in MLB playoffs
- Argentina MPs back Milei's veto of university funding
- Man City sink Barca in Women's Champions League as Bayern outgun Arsenal
- Greek international Baldock, 31, found dead in pool: state agency
- Florida seaside haven a ghost town as hurricane nears
- Pharrell Williams to co-chair Met Gala exploring Black dandyism
- Wall Street indices hit fresh records as Chinese shares tumble
- Taiwan's president to deliver key speech for National Day
- Sea row on the menu as ASEAN leaders meet China's Li
- Injured Kane won't start England's Nations League clash with Greece
- Discord seen as online home for renegades
- US forecasts severe solar storm starting Thursday
- Mozambique starts tallying votes in tense election
- Zelensky moves to court European leaders in drive for military aid
- Ratan Tata: Indian mogul who built a global powerhouse
- Rodgers rejects 'false' suggestions of role in Saleh dismissal
- One dead as storm Kirk tears through Spain, Portugal, France
- Indian business titan Ratan Tata dead at 86
- Lebanon facing 'catastrophic' situation as 600,000 displaced: UN
- US warns Israel not to repeat Gaza destruction in Lebanon
- Musk's X returns in Brazil after 40-day showdown with judge
- Call her savvy? Harris unleashes unconventional media blitz
- Lucian Freud 'masterpiece' fetches £13.9 million at London sale
- SoFi Stadium to hold next two CONCACAF Nations League finals
- McIlroy and DeChambeau set for PGA-LIV 'Showdown' in Vegas
- Fed minutes highlight divisions over rate cut decision
- Steve McQueen debuts new WWII film at London festival
- Run blitz edges India and South Africa closer to World Cup semi-finals
- Zelensky to court European leaders in drive for military aid
- Israel captain says 'difficult' to focus on football in time of war
- Macron to host Ukraine's Zelensky after meeting Ukrainian troops
- Root says 'many more to get' after England Test runs landmark
- India pile up World Cup high to rout Sri Lanka
- One year later, Israeli hostage family learns of loss
- Texans receiver Collins, Pats' safety Peppers out for NFL clash
'The Idol' scandalises Cannes with kink and toxic fame
Cannes cinemagoers may only have seen two episodes of new HBO series "The Idol," which premiered at the festival on Monday, but they got what some critics said was a "shocking" amount of raunchy sex scenes.
The series stars Lily-Rose Depp as a pop star struggling to get back on track after a public breakdown, surrounded heartless handlers, when she meets the manipulative leader of a modern-day cult, played by musician Abel "The Weeknd" Tesfaye.
A leaked revenge porn shot of Depp with semen on her face is seen as a pathway to more fame, with a mention of reality star Kim Kardashian, and there is a significant nod to Britney Spears and the toxic fame that engulfed 90s female pop stars.
"When you're famous, everyone lies to you," Depp says, between two kinky masturbation scenes and dozens of shots of her breasts.
Feeling a loss of control over her art, Tesfaye's character starts to lure her in, despite her best friend and assistant warning her he is "so rapey."
"I kinda like that about him," says Depp's character.
The series received a modest five-minute ovation, and early reviewers focused on the kink, which included some graphic dirty talk.
An Indiewire columnist wrote on Twitter it was like putting "'Black Swan', 'Succession', and 'Secretary' in a blender' ... Prepare yourself for quite the discourse."
The series had already been plagued by rumours of onset turmoil and graphic sex scenes.
Variety reported that the show needed major re-writes and re-shoots and switched director midway through, bringing in "Euphoria" creator Sam Levinson.
However, it does bring yet another complex female character to Cannes, which has served up plenty of films exploring the dark side of women, and making their stories the focus.
- Race for the Palme -
The world's leading industry extravaganza has entered its second week, and the competition for the main prize, the Palme D'Or is heating up.
Tuesday will bring more stars to the red carpet with the premiere of Wes Anderson's "Asteroid City" -- about American space cadets -- with a dazzling cast including Margot Robbie, Tom Hanks, Scarlett Johansson, Tilda Swinton and Jeff Goldblum.
On Sunday, Jude Law awed and disgusted cinemagoers with his portrayal of King Henry VIII -- with a stomach-turning leg infection and penchant for offing his wives -- in "Firebrand", which premiered on Sunday.
The movie focuses on Catherine Parr, the only of Henry's wives to outlive him, played by Alicia Vikander.
Festival favourite, Finland's Aki Kaurismaki, returned with his bittersweet romance "Fallen Leaves" on Monday, along with "Club Zero" by Austria's Jessica Hausner about a nutrition cult.
There are still movies to come from past winners, Britain's Ken Loach and Germany's Wim Wenders, among others.
An early front-runner from the first week is British director Jonathan Glazer's "The Zone of Interest", a unique and horrifying look at the private life of a Nazi officer working at the Auschwitz concentration camp.
There was also a lot of love for Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore's "May December," which looks at the relationship between an older woman and a schoolboy, still married years after their relationship became a tabloid scandal.
The festival has also seen major out-of-competition world premieres for "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" and Martin Scorsese's "Killers of the Flower Moon" which received rave reviews over the weekend.
And Lily-Rose's father Johnny Depp made a splash at the festival, with the controversial actor appearing as French King Louis XV in opening film "Jeanne du Barry".
P.Silva--AMWN