THE REVIEW

MUSIC

U2 IN PASADENA

Thirty years can't dull searing music, hopeful lyrics or the captivating Irish band behind them.

Like the hardy plant that gives the album its name — a uniquely beautiful survivor in the unforgiving, nearby California desert — the Dublin quartet persists. They're older, not immune to the sands of time, but they can still put on a show, as they showed in this early stop on the 18-city North American leg of the tour.

The album's songs, written during the Reagan era, comment on such issues as militarism and greed (Bullet the Blue Sky) and the power of women (Mothers of the Disappeared). Although the name Trump was never explicitly mentioned, save for a clip from a 1950s TV Western featuring a snake-oil salesman named Trump who promises to build a wall, Bono, commenting between songs, made clear the album's words remain relevant today. Don't expect him to be playing any Trump events.

Anti-trump message – hold out your hand hand of love

After moving to the main stage to begin the Joshua Tree portion, the band performed in front of a massive, 200-foot-wide video screen featuring stunning video of America's deserts, mountains and diverse population. The Edge's identifiable guitar opening of Where the Streets Have No Name, a rhythmic buildup of nervous energy that explodes into Bono's defiant lyrics, excited concertgoers.

Red Hill Mining Town, a Joshua Tree song played in concert for the first time on this tour, was inspired by a 1980s miners' strike in England, but Bono finds its message of worker persistence amid hardship resonant in contemporary America.

"Sometimes, songs become themselves years later," he told the crowd. "This feels right for the moment we're in."

Ultraviolet (Light My Way) honored women, with pictures of historic trailblazers (Rosa Parks) and modern-day role models (Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton) earning applause. One (also the name of a U2-supported campaign that fights poverty and disease) featured a fierce, aching Bono vocal, leading to an endorsement of political organizing and social movements.

FASHION AND EVENTS

MET GALA

Colloquially and affectionately referred to as “fashion’s biggest night out,” the Met Gala is a pinnacle of iconic style. A fundraising benefit for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, the event welcomes celebrity stars, young creatives, and industry paragons alike. And the excitement doesn’t stop there—the gala also signifies the highly anticipated grand opening of the Costume Institute’s annual fashion exhibition. This year, they honored Comme des Garçons designer Rei Kawakubo with an exhibition entitled “Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between.”

Katy Perry was cohost and cochair, having recently tried out several of Kawakubo’s most outrageous Comme des Garçons designs for the May issue of Vogue. The attire called for avant-garde black tie, and the guests shined big, bold, and bright that night.

Here are a few celebs to shout out

Rose hey to Madonna!

Madonna brought a canteen of rosé—or "summer water," as she told journalists—to fashion's biggest night and chugged it in between posing for photographers on the red carpet, talking to journalists, and Sarah Paulson. Why would she do this, you ask? Why not? She's an unapologetic bitch. A girl gone wild. Bitch, she's Madonna.

Leave it to Bella Hadid to wear a glittering catsuit by Alexander Wang. “It was exciting to do a bodysuit for the Met, because I felt that it was something that hasn’t been explored,” Wang says.

Hadid was actually sewn into the catsuit.

After much fanfare, Kim Kardashian West showed up solo to the 2017 Met Galain a surprisingly subdued and streamlined slip dress.

Designed by Vivienne Westwood, the off-the-shoulder number was the most avant-garde we've seen of Kim yet.

AFTER THE PARTY

The glamour of the Met Gala is undeniable. Meticulous planning ensures that the event is just as spectacular as the gowns worn, and while the event is one of grandeur and extravagance.

Spending an evening in couture might be the stuff of dreams, but in reality gargantuan skirts and thousands of delicate palettes do not always make for the best dancing attire.

The real fun begins when the star guests walk back down those famous steps. Couture gowns are swapped for natty barely-there party dresses and Guiseppe Zanotti stilettos exchanged for Adidas Superstars as the evening's shenanigans heads downtown.

ADVERTISING, CAUSES AND BRANDS

The 70th Cannes Film Festival

MAY 28, 2017 Cannes Film Festival 2017 - Highlights, Hotspots and Winners

The 70th Cannes Film Festival has come to an end. Perfect weather, good vibes, new movies and sparkling parties at the Cote d’Azur in Cannes were the best setting to entertain the world’s biggest stars in their magnificent wardrobes. The 10-day by invitation-only festival attracted not only celebrities, the film industry and press, but also the world’s most fascinating luxury brands and their guests. Those who have seen my Forbes Snapchat Takeover last weekend might have gotten a little glimpse into some of the events taking place during the festival. Here are the highlights and hotspots of the past days.

La Palme d’Or - And the winner is….

For over 20 years Chopard has been the official partner and sponsor of the Festival de Cannes. Engaged not only in sponsorship and events, but also in providing the festival’s star trophy, "La Palme d’Or”, which is made from ethical 18 carat fair-mined gold perched atop a crystal rock. It is the festival’s highest prize and a lifetime honor for actors and filmmakers.

This year’s Palme d’Or goes to: Ruben Östlund for directing „The Square“.

Other award winners included Diane Kruger as best actress in „In the Fade“, Joaquin Phoenix as best actor in „You were never really here“, Nicole Kidman for the 70th Anniversary prize or Sofia Coppola as best director of „The Beguiled“.

Chopard Space Party

This year Chopard wowed its guests with its presentation of the "Chopard Loves Rihanna" collection, which featured high-jewelry and jewelry pieces created in collaboration with the famous singer.

Caroline Scheufele’s (Co-President of Chopard) annual private dinner, which took place inside a space shuttle tent, was another festival highlight. The star-studded dinner included futuristic food presentations, personal speeches and as a highlight a Chopard and Ellie Saab fashion show.

The galactic after party featured a live performance by Bruno Mars, which literally flew Caroline’s guests to the moon.

Dior Suite

Dior crafted its bespoke and stylish suite and extended a welcome to their guests to come up to the penthouse level at the Hotel Barrière Majestic, Cannes. This setting overlooks the Film Festival's heart at Le Palais Royale, as well as the yacht-studded seafront and was the perfect venue for Dior to greet famous actors, models and personalities.

All sorts of film industry figures called in for a beauty treatment, fashion selections, photo shoots or interviews. Led by Christian Dior Makeup Creative and Image Director Peter Philips, a team of Dior backstage professionals and internationally recognised make-up artists took care of Dior’s guests so that they were truly ready for the red carpet.

Fashion for Relief

For the twelfth time, Naomi Campbell invited her friends to celebrate at a glamorous night for a good cause. She laid on a fashion show featuring none other than her top model colleagues like Heidi Klum, Kate Moss and Bella Hadid who strode the catwalk watched by guests such as Queen Rania of Jordan and Donatella Versace sitting right there in the front-row. The fashion show was followed by a gala dinner all to raise funds for the vital work of "Save the Children".

Nespresso is an official sponsoring partner of the Cannes Film Festival. There was therefore a buzz of excitement with the unveiling of The Plage Nespresso right by the Cannes seafront. The pop up venue with its sleek, contemporary design was the place to relax and enjoy delicious gourmet menus and ice cold coffee creations. As an active supporter of leading chefs and talented filmmakers, Nespresso hosted famous actors and directors for interviews, photo shoots and live discussions or simply for unwinding just a short step away from all the film action.

The annual amfAR Gala at Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes is the most celebrated charity event that takes place during the Cannes Film Festival and is one of the most important occasions in the luxury industry calendar. An A-List of stars such as Will Smith, Leonardo DiCaprio, David Beckham, Dustin Hoffman, Nicole Kidman, Diana Ross, Uma Thurman and many more attended this year’s black-tie gala. Whilst enjoying the live show, an exquisite dinner, fine drinks and the lively auction, the guests raised the incredible sum of more than $20 million in support of amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, and its pursuit of a cure for HIV/AIDS.

Highlights of the auction were: "Football star David Beckham took the stage to introduce a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, a chance for the winning bidder and ten friends to join David Beckham in an exceptional 90-minute football match in Paris, followed by dinner and drinks with Beckham. A painted 1977 Chevy Van titled Ice Cream, a work by Street Art movement pioneer Richard Hambleton. A one-week trip for 30 guests aboard the superyacht Serenity. The Egg Number 1, Versailles, a work by French artist and interior designer Jonathan Loubens."

Trump Leaves Israel With Hope for Peace, but No Plan for It

CRED: IAN FISHER, PETER BAKER and ISABEL KERSHNERMAY

JERUSALEM — In case there was any doubt, President Trump made it exceedingly clear: He wants a deal. “I intend to do everything I can,” he said on Tuesday. Moreover, he left after a 28-hour visit to Israel and the occupied West Bank convinced that he has partners in peace after meeting with the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel.

“President Abbas assures me he is ready to work toward that goal in good faith,” Mr. Trump said in Bethlehem with Mr. Abbas by his side. “And Prime Minister Netanyahu has promised the same.”

What Mr. Trump did not do was reveal the least hint of what, if anything, was behind it: He put little public pressure on either leader. There was none of the usual talk of borders, of settlements, of incitement of terrorism or of the long and gnarled history of two peoples on the same land.

He did not say anything about moving the American Embassy to Jerusalem or recognize the city as Israel’s capital. Nor was there a process for what comes next.

Mr. Trump and his wife, Melania, laid a wreath on Tuesday at the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem. CreditStephen Crowley/The New York Times That does not mean, he and others were quick to add, that the quick trip to Israel and the occupied territories, on Mr. Trump’s first foray abroad, was not useful in building bridges, in setting a different tone, in showing Israelis full support and Palestinians respect.

Mr. Trump made clear that the new relationship Israel seeks with its Sunni Arab neighbors, some of whom he met earlier in Saudi Arabia, was linked to progress with the Palestinians. Mr. Trump seemed to accomplish all of this, most experts here agreed, with few of the missteps that have dogged him at home.

Mr. Netanyahu, pressed by conservatives in his coalition, got much of what he wanted in a speech delivered Tuesday by Mr. Trump at the Israel Museum that adopted much of the prime minister’s own worldview of a dynamic, democratic Israel courageously defending itself against enemies like Iran.

“Through it all, they have endured and, in fact, they have thrived,” Mr. Trump said. “I stand in awe of the accomplishments of the Jewish people, and I make this promise to you: My administration will always stand with Israel.”

That prompted a standing ovation, and Mr. Netanyahu to shake his hand.

Mr. Trump went on to note that Iran has committed itself to Israel’s destruction.

“Not with Donald J. Trump, believe me,” he declared, and again the audience responded vigorously.

“Thank you,” Mr. Trump said. “I like you, too.”

And though the trip was largely focused on Israel, Mr. Abbas, struggling to maintain sway after years in power, got at least some of what he wanted as he hosted Mr. Trump in Bethlehem as a seeming equal. Mr. Trump’s trip and hourlong meeting with Mr. Abbas had all the pomp of a state visit — a quickly corrected public schedule from the White House even referred to “Palestine,” which many Israelis object to as a recognition of a Palestinian state — with little of the public chiding Israelis might have liked.

Mr. Abbas, who met with Mr. Trump this month in Washington, repeated “our commitment to cooperate with you in order to make peace and forge a historic peace deal.”

Decades of American-led peacemaking has resulted in little when it comes to a deal with the Palestinians. But there is precedent for strict secrecy in the early stages, if that is what is happening.

Israeli and Palestine Liberation Organization officials met secretly in hotel rooms and country estates and came up with the principles that led to the Oslo Accords in the early 1990s, with the Norwegians acting as a conduit. The Americans were not actively involved. The Israeli-Jordanian peace treaty signed in 1994 was also the culmination of decades of secret bilateral contacts.

Mr. Trump’s speech at the Israel Museum was so friendly and considerate of Israeli emotions that one right-wing Israeli legislator described it as deeply expressive of the “Zionist narrative.” But some Israeli analysts say such a warm embrace can be conducive to building the trust necessary for a meaningful process.

“The message that comes out of this speech reflects the whole goal of the trip,” Prof. Avi Ben-Zvi, an expert on Israeli-American relations at Haifa University, said in a radio interview. If a regional peace initiative does begin to crystallize, he said, “Israel will have to pay a price, a painful, harsh compromise. Israel will only be able to make such a compromise from a position of confidence — confidence in Trump’s leadership and the confidence that the United States will be behind it.”

If there is any substance, secrecy may be all the more essential for Mr. Netanyahu because most of his current cabinet members oppose any far-reaching concessions to the Palestinians or the establishment of a Palestinian state. And several were gleeful that Mr. Trump pointedly avoided referring to a two-state solution that most of the prime minister’s allies oppose.

“The president spoke about peace six times, and in all, he avoided supporting a Palestinian state, which would undoubtedly be an obstacle to achieving that goal,” said Naftali Bennett, Israel’s education minister, who advocates going so far as to annex areas of the West Bank.

ADS AND BRANDS

FACEBOOK

The streaming-crime-on-Facebook problem gets a mention

With its huge reach, Facebook has begun to act as the great disseminator of the larger cloud of misinformation and half-truths swirling about the rest of media. It sucks up lies from cable news and Twitter, then precisely targets each lie to the partisan bubble most receptive to it.

Manjoo's narrative arc, over a series of visits to Facebook HQ and across multiple conversations with Zuckerberg, is that the company is increasingly taking its "dangerous side" -- particularly in regard to the power of its News Feed -- seriously, but may just be too hampered by its deep-seated engineering mindset; e.g., "Facebook approaches the feed as an engineering project rather than an editorial one," as Manjoo puts it.

Delivery on route

Meet your new Walmart delivery driver. Credit: Walmart

Walmart has a new idea for beating the high cost of shipping e-commerce packages – paying store employees to deliver them on their way home.

The program aims at using one of Walmart's biggest assets – more than a million U.S. store employees – to help close its big e-commerce sales gap with Amazon. Walmart has more than 4,700 stores, putting potential delivery nodes within 10 miles of 90% of the U.S. population.

In a test that launched a month ago in two stores in New Jersey and one in Northwest Arkansas, employees can opt in to deliver packages on their way home for extra pay. They use an app that offers opportunities to deliver up to 10 packages per commute.

In a news conference in Bentonville on Thursday, spokesman Ravi Jariwala said the program is entirely voluntary. He declined to specify the pay, but said finding the right compensation is part of the test. And he said the retailer will comply with all applicable state and federal labor laws, such as those covering overtime.

"It just makes sense," said Walmart E-Commerce chief Marc Lore in a blog post."We already have trucks moving orders from fulfillment centers to to stores for pickup. Those same trucks could be used to bring ship-to-home orders to a store close to their final destination, where a participating employee can sign up to deliver them to the customer's house."