According to The Guardian, the applause following Pillion’s screening at last year’s Cannes Film Festival “lasted several minutes, with the inevitable awkwardness of seeming dutiful”.

The Alexander Skarsgård film is the norm, not the exception.

In 2024, Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis reportedly got seven callous-inducing minutes of standing ovation. Guillermo Del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth managed to elicit a record-breaking 22 mins in 2006.

And Joachim Trier’s 2025 follow-up to The Worst Person In The World rivalled that, with the ovation for his latest film clocking in at almost 20 minutes.

GQ has said in the past that, when it comes to applause at Cannes, “anything five minutes or less is a tepid – or worse – appraisal”.

But how did this palm prison get built, and what is its purpose?

According to The Atlantic (who, like The Guardian, call the custom “awkward”), clapping at Cannes is part of the spectacle.

At the French festival in particular, the length and enthusiasm of the clapping is seen as a sign of who thinks which film will be the next “hit”.

But the “pageantry” of standing ovations is fallible at best and unfairly, performatively biased at worst – for what it’s worth, Megalopolis was both critically panned and a box office flop.

Speaking to The Atlantic, professor Scott Page, who’s studied clapping as a form of social behaviour, said: “There is a real asymmetry to who has influence”.

You might be more inclined to partake in a quarter-hour of palm-smashing if someone you really respect and admire is doing so beside you, he suggested.

He added that “if you’re not sure” about a film, and “you think the other people [around you] are smarter than you, then you are going to stand… I imagine Cannes to be a place [where if I ask myself,] ‘How confident am I, sitting near movie stars and directors?’”

The answer, he says, is likely to be “not very”.

Also, I can’t imagine the panic of being the first person to stop applauding, say, a Del Toro film in front of the man himself – peer pressure and etiquette pile up.

Speaking to Screen Daily, Barry Hertz, film editor and critic for Canadian national newspaper The Globe and Mail, says that the length of applause a film got at Cannes can sometimes be seen as an interim star rating system until its release.

“Instead of a film getting four stars, it got a ’10-minute standing ovation,’” he says.

But though an anonymous film PR told the publication that “nobody is taking it seriously,” Kent Sanderson, president of indie film distributor Bleecker Street, doesn’t think Cannes’ applause sessions are going anywhere fast.

“It’s a self-perpetuating machine between the festival, the trades and the audiences,” they commented.

The more the Cannes audience claps, the more it’s noted that they clap, the more expected long clapping sessions become; so, it becomes both a sign of disdain and proof of not being “in on” the festival’s culture not to do so.

I’d call it a vicious cycle, but it’s literally already a shoulder-aching, barbed, endless round…

Many will know that exercise seems to reduce dementia risk (a 2022 paper found that walking 3,800 steps a day may lower your likelihood of developing dementia by 25%, with increasing benefits up to 9,800 steps).

Even when it’s not directly dementia-related, movement appears to improve memory and thinking skills which become more vital in later life.

A recent paper, published in Brain Communications, has found that 20 minutes of cycling a day can create “ripples” in the brain that might help us to process and store information more efficiently.

The research involved 14 participants aged from 17-50. They tracked their brain activity before and after 20-minute stationary cycling sessions through an intracranial electroencephalography (iEEG).

The iEEG measures electrical activity in the brain, which provides an added layer of detail.

Previously, scientists had noticed “ripples” in the minds of rats, which were believed to improve their memories after exercise, though these had not been seen in humans before.

But the iEEGs in this research saw similar results after the participants completed their exercise.

Speaking to Medical News Today, study author Dr Juan Ramirez-Villegas said, “Ripples are very brief bursts of highly synchronised electrical activity in the brain’s memory centre, the hippocampus.

“In animals, they are known to play a key role in stabilising memories after an experience. You can think of them as moments when the brain rapidly ‘reviews’ information, helping convert recent experiences into lasting memories.”

They might also help to regulate blood sugar in animals, the study added.

The study found that the higher someone’s heart rate got during the cycling session, the stronger those “ripples” seemed to be.

“This suggests that the intensity of physical activity may influence how strongly the brain’s memory circuits respond,” stated Dr Ramirez-Villegas.

Aside from the “ripple” effect, this research also seemed to help different parts of the brain communicate better, potentially leading to improved memory.

“It is surprising how after a session of acute exercise, hippocampal-cortical communication seems to be enhanced, a phenomenon thought to be strongly linked to memory processing,” Dr Ramirez-Villegas said.

“This suggests that even a brief bout of physical activity can influence the neural dynamics involved in learning and memory.”

Keir Starmer has said he wants to lead Labour in the next general election, despite mounting calls for him to quit.

The prime minister once again insisted he was “not going to walk away” from Downing Street as he issued a fresh challenge to his rivals.

More than 90 Labour MPs have publicly called on the PM to resign, while the party’s trade union backers have said he will not be leader come the next election, in the wake of the disastrous elections on May 7.

Wes Streeting quit as health secretary with a furious attack on his time in office as is expected to mount a leadership challenge within weeks.

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham is hoping to win the upcoming Makerfield by-election so he can also mount a bid for the top job.

But speaking on Monday, Starmer insisted his premiership was not over.

He said: “I do want to fight the next election. Obviously, I recognise that after the local election results, the elections in Wales and Scotland as well, that the first task is obviously turning things around and making sure that my focus is in the right place.

“The last 10 days, there’s been a lot of activity, which hasn’t been as focused in my view as it should have been, and I remind myself every day that I was elected to office to serve the people, to serve the country, that’s what I believe in, and that’s what I’ll be getting on with.”

He said he would not “walk away” and would not set out a timetable to stand down if Andy Burnham wins the Makerfield by-election.

Starmer also denied that his time in office was “over”.

He said: “No, we’ve got a lot of work to do, and I was addressing Labour Party staff, actually this morning, reminding them that we were elected into office by millions of people to bring about change in this country.

“That’s our responsibility. My responsibility is to serve people who voted us into office, serve my country, to remind people that we have achieved already in terms of stabilising the economy, investing in the NHS, so that waiting lists are coming down.

“All those things make a material difference to people’s lives, but there’s a lot more to do, and obviously after the local election results, the results in Scotland and Wales, we need to show we can turn things around, and that’s what we’re doing.

“But I’m very focused on what I consider to be my responsibility, my duty, and that is to the country.”

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If you’ve heard your kids talk about looksmaxxing, mewing, jestermaxxing, or more recently, frame mogging, it might be time to gently explore where all this is coming from.

For those who aren’t chronically online and have absolutely no knowledge of these terms, I’ll quickly help fill you in on what they mean – and why you should keep a closer eye on your teen’s behaviour if you hear them discussing these terms.

‘Looksmaxxing’ describes the improvement of physical appearance, commonly through a number of practices which range in intensity – from using skincare to undergoing surgery.

While there’s nothing wrong in wanting to take pride in your appearance – indeed, having a skincare routine and using SPF, staying hydrated, eating a balanced diet and exercising are all great ways to look after yourself – looksmaxxing can take things to the extremes.

It’s a phenomenon that’s been catapulted from the manosphere – a collection of websites and forums that typically promote masculinity, some of which amplify misogynistic views – to the mainstream.

One online streamer known as Clavicular claims to have “looksmaxxed” himself from the age of 14 through a combination of exercise, steroids, surgery and taking a hammer to his face (also referred to as “bonesmashing”).

But experts have concerns over how the quest to looksmaxx impacts teens during a crucial period in development – and a time when self-esteem is typically pretty low.

Dr Candice O’Neil, psychologist at Ontic Psychology, previously told Patient looksmaxxing has the potential to “influence young people’s feelings about themselves and behaviours both implicitly and overtly”.

She explained: “This becomes unhealthy when it moves from general self-improvement and wellbeing practices into a preoccupation with their appearance – particularly when that involves constant comparison with others or extreme adjustments to food and exercise. This can also lead to deep feelings of poor self-worth and self-concept.”

Over time, this might begin to impact a person’s mental health and potentially lead to disordered eating, body dysmorphia, obsessive and compulsive behaviours, or self-harm.

Mewing is one of the practices some are trying in the pursuit of looksmaxxing. It involves pressing the tongue firmly against the roof of your mouth, with a view to reshape the jawline.

Does it work? Dr Baldeep Farmah, aesthetic doctor at Dr Aesthetica, said “no credible research supports the jaw restructuring looksmaxxing communities promise”.

Similar to looksmaxxing, but the focus is on being funny or hilarious, rather than physical self improvement. While there’s nothing wrong with having a laugh and joking around, some parents are noticing their teens are, once again, taking it to the extremes.

One parent shared on Reddit that their 16-year-old son was ‘jestermaxxing’ at home non-stop: “He’ll just interrupt us at dinner with some loud random joke or impression then stare at everyone waiting for a huge reaction … Family time is exhausting because it’s like he’s performing all the time instead of just talking normally.”

They added: “He used to talk about girls like a normal teenager but now he says things like ‘foids [a derogatory term for women] only respect you if you jestermaxx correctly’ which I had to search and it made me feel sick.”

More recently, kids have been talking about frame mogging, but to understand the meaning of that one, we need to first define mogging, which means outperforming or dominating over someone.

He added frame mogging “comes from a really toxic thought process that is good [for parents] to be aware of”.

When Clavicular was approached to take a photo with a fraternity leader, and the photo was posted online, his followers joked he’d been “frame mogged” as the fraternity leader was bigger built.

So, in short: frame mogging means you’re showing someone up by being more muscular. And in these communities, muscle apparently equals ‘alpha male’.

A lot of these terms stem from incel (involuntary celibate) communities online, made up of men who forge a sense of identity around their perceived inability to form sexual or romantic relationships.

They might say this is because of how they look or because they’re “low status”. Either way, much of their anger is directed at women.

According to Educate Against Hate, boys are drawn to this kind of content because it offers a sense of belonging, simple answers to complex societal problems, and an element of control or empowerment.

Nearly 70% of boys aged 11-14 years old have been exposed to misogynistic content online, per Ofcom, and most primary and secondary school teachers are “extremely concerned” about the influence of the manosphere on children and young people.

While there will be plenty of boys who shun these narratives, over time this content can – and does – subtly shift perceptions.

If you notice your son using these terms, your best bet is to stay curious and keep the lines of communication open.

Staying non-judgemental and asking open-ended questions, like “What do you like about that content?” or “How did you come across that idea?”, is key.

Fiona Yassin, a family psychotherapist and founder and clinical director of The Wave Clinic, previously told HuffPost UK: “It’s important for parents to name what’s happening. For example, acknowledging that there are online spaces where relationships are framed transactionally – where worth is tied to wealth, appearance, or sexual history.”

Parents can show awareness, and therefore signal understanding, without endorsement, she said. You could say something like: “I understand this is something people are talking about right now.”

Teaching and encouraging critical thinking is important, as is reinforcing your family values.

Check out more tips on speaking to kids about misogyny here.

Robert Jenrick’s attack on Andy Burnham’s pro-migration stance has one rather substantial problem: the Reform MP’s own time in office.

Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, is hoping to be selected as Labour’s candidate in the upcoming Makerfield by-election.

If victorious in the selection process and at the Makerfield ballot box, Burnham is expected to try and oust Keir Starmer from No.10.

But Reform won all eight wards in the constituency during the local election earlier this month – and so the party is already trying to demolish the mayor’s reputation.

In a social media video, Jenrick claimed: “If Burnham wins, a million low skilled migrants will be allowed to stay and get British citizenship in the next few years.

“And he won’t stop the boats. Instead he will put them in bedsits on your street. To pay for it all? He’ll have to hike your taxes.”

Burnham has previously criticised the Labour government’s migrants reforms after Shabana Mahmood announced plans to force asylum seekers to wait 20 years to gain permanent residency in Britain instead of five years.

But online critics could not help point out an inconsistency in Jenrick’s line of attack.

Though Reform UK’s Treasury spokesperson now, the Newark MP used to serve as the immigration minister under the Conservatives.

During his tenure – October 2022 until December 2023 – net migration sky-rocketed, peaking at 944,000 in the year ending March 2023.

Jenrick did resign under Rishi Sunak, insisting the Rwanda deportation plan did not go far enough to tackle illegal immigration.

But, social media users have pointed out that Jenrick vowed to procure even more asylum hotels when he first got the job in November – rather undermining his line of attack towards Burnham.

Others were simply exasperated at Reform focusing on migration once again…

Andy Burnham is very clear that the Makerfield by-election should not be about Brexit.

Speaking at an event on Monday, the Labour leadership hopeful said: “Brexit has been damaging, but the last thing we need right now is to re-run those arguments.

“I respect the [Brexit] vote and am not suggesting rejoining the EU.”

Unfortunately for the Greater Manchester mayor, his political opponents are determined not to follow his desired script.

On Saturday, Wes Streeting – who could be facing off against Burnham to be the next prime minister within weeks – used his first public comments since quitting the cabinet to pin his colours firmly to the European Union mast.

Leaving the EU had been, he said, a “catastrophic mistake”.

“We need a new special relationship with the EU, because Britain’s future lies with Europe – and one day back in the European Union,” Streeting declared.

This immediately shone a light on Burnham’s own views about Brexit, which he made clear as recently as last year’s Labour conference in Liverpool.

“Long-term, I’m gonna be honest, I’m gonna say it: I want to rejoin,” he told a Guardian event. “I hope in my lifetime I see this country rejoin.”

Helpfully, a video of the mayor’s remarks was uncovered and is now being widely shared on social media.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has also leapt on Burnham’s comments, vowing to make Brexit a key issue between now and polling day on June 18.

“At a time when millions of voters are demanding control of our borders, he continues to advocate re-joining a European project built around the free movement of 500 million people,” he told the Daily Express.

The controversy has led some senior Labour figures to question whether Burnham – who will be confirmed as the party’s by-election candidate later this week – can see off the Reform challenge.

One told HuffPost UK: “I could get on the Andy bandwagon. But I watched and read Andy’s interviews over the weekend and thought – ah. He sounds exactly like he did in 2015. It was unclear and blustering. It gave me pause for thought.

“He’s going to be ring rusty because he hasn’t had to fight in a decade. He needs to shake it off quickly because in the first few days he’s been given a schooling by both Wes and Reform.”

Another party insider said: “It’s incredible that he went into the first weekend with nothing to say. He was a sitting duck.

“The people around him need to wise up because he’s playing on a different level now. They think that ‘Brand Andy’ will see them through and they need to sharpen up, quickly.”

However, one Labour figure in the north-west of England said the row would have no bearing on the final result, given Burnham’s personal popularity.

“He will walk the seat,” the source said. “Voters around here love him.”

Others in the party question Wes Streeting’s decision to raise the Brexit issue at all, given the deep splits within Labour over the issue.

“Reaction to his rejoin campaign has been pretty dead in the water,” an insider said. “I’ve not seen rejoice. It’s just led to a negative reaction and a tough conversation about what would rejoining actually look like.

“I wonder if some Labour Remainers are actually upset at Wes for going too early before the public and the party are ready for it – causing two days of infighting throughout the party. It shows really poor judgement.”

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This week’s planned Tube strikes in London have been called off.

Two National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) Tube strikes were expected to take place this week: one from Tuesday, 19 May (midday) until Wednesday, 20 May (midday), and another from Thursday, 21 May (midday) until Friday, 22 May (midday).

But these will no longer happen (nor will those set for June 16 and 18).

An RMT spokesperson told HuffPost UK: “At the 11th hour the employer has shifted its position, allowing us to further explore our members concerns around the imposition of new rosters, fatigue and safety issues.”

HuffPost UK has reached out to Transport for London (TfL) but has yet to receive comment.

“The dispute is not over, and more strike action will follow if we fail to make sufficient progress,” RMT added.

Strikes scheduled for June 16 and 18 have also been called off, though the union has set new dates (June 2 and 4) if they remain unhappy with TfL’s response, The Independent reported.

Previously, the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (ASLEF), a union body which represents just over half of all Tube drivers, campaigned for a four-day work week.

TfL has since begun optionally trialling the “compressed” work week on the Bakerloo line. Drivers can opt into or out of the system.

But the RMT said that this basically amounted to packing five days’ work into four in a way which might affect the safety of their drivers and passengers. They also said the change “includes reduced flexibility over shift patterns, with the potential for only 24 hours’ notice of what shifts people will be doing”.

And they added previously that “the fact that Transport for London has made no new offer despite months of negotiation” left them “no other choice than to take strike action”.

In response, TfL said at the time: “We have set out proposals to the RMT for a four-day working week which are supported by the other Trade Union representing London Underground drivers.

“This allows us to offer train operators an additional day off, whilst at the same time bringing London Underground in line with the working patterns of other train operating companies, improving reliability and flexibility at no additional cost.

“The changes would be voluntary, there would be no reduction in contractual hours and those who wish to continue a five-day working week pattern would be able to do so.”