ISLAMABAD:
The first round of additional secretary-level talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan has been completed, focusing on the implementation of decisions made during Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s visit to Kabul on April 19.
The discussions centered around key areas of mutual interest, including trade, transit cooperation, security, and connectivity.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Pakistani delegation was led by Additional Secretary for Afghanistan and Western Asia Ali Asad Gilani while the Afghan delegation was headed by Moti Noor Ahmad Noor, Director-General of the Political Division of the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
During the talks, both sides recognised terrorism as a significant threat to regional peace and security. Pakistan emphasised the need for decisive actions against terrorist groups operating from Afghan territory, stressing that such groups undermine Pakistan’s security and hinder regional development.
The two delegations also reviewed the progress of various agreements, including the removal of the 10% processing fee in Afghan transit trade, the provision of insurance guarantees, reductions in scanning procedures, and the activation of the track-and-trace system.
The inaugural round of the Additional Secretary-Level Mechanism between the Foreign Ministries of Pakistan and Afghanistan was held today in Islamabad pursuant to decisions reached during the visit of the Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister of Pakistan to Kabul, Afghanistan,… pic.twitter.com/EKMH34xTUY
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) July 7, 2025
Additionally, the discussions covered the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan railway framework agreement, with both sides agreeing to finalise it soon. The return of Afghan citizens to their homeland was also a key topic of discussion.
The briefing revealed that since January 2024, Pakistan has issued over 500,000 visas for medical, tourism, business, and educational purposes. Both sides reiterated their commitment to facilitating legal movement of individuals across borders and enhancing bilateral ties.
The next round of talks will be scheduled at mutually agreed-upon dates, with both countries reaffirming their support for strengthening sustainable cooperation to address shared challenges.
Epic Games Inc. settled its antitrust case against Samsung Electronics Co. that alleged the company was conspiring with Alphabet Inc.’s Google to block rival app marketplaces through default settings on mobile devices sold by the electronics giant.
In a brief court filing Monday, the maker of the blockbuster shooter game Fortnite dismissed all of the antitrust claims against Samsung and Google. Google remains a defendant on several non-antitrust claims.
Grace Kulik (née Ditzenberger), PT, DPT
Image credits: LinkedIn
Kristine M Erlandson, MD, MS
Image credits: LinkedIn
A new analysis from the PREPARE (Pitavastatin to REduce Physical Function Impairment and FRailty in HIV) trial found that 52% of middle-aged adults with HIV experienced measurable declines in physical function over time. Published in the June 2025 issue of Open Forum Infectious Diseases, the study highlights the importance of identifying individuals at risk for functional decline to support aging with HIV and prevent disability.
The analysis included 569 participants with HIV (median age 51 years; interquartile range, 47–55), 81% of whom were male and 52% White. Physical function was assessed annually using gait speed, chair rise rate, grip strength, and a modified Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), which also included balance time. Decline was defined as falling below the 20th percentile on at least one measure. While overall declines were modest, variability among individuals was considerable.
Demographic and clinical risk factors for decline included female sex (RR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.12–1.55), non-White race (RR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.05–1.45), and older age. In multivariable analyses adjusting for age, sex, and race, additional independent predictors included history of depression treatment, elevated body mass index (BMI), baseline frailty, and elevated inflammatory markers such as high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6).
To contextualize these findings, Contagion spoke with study authors Grace Kulik, PT, DPT, PhD candidate at the University of Colorado (UCD) Anschutz Medical Campus, and Kristine M Erlandson, MD, MS, professor of infectious diseases at UCD Anschutz about the clinical implications of functional decline in people with HIV (PWH), including the roles of inflammation, ART exposure, and screening in mitigating long-term impairment.
Kulik: Higher levels of inflammatory markers are thought to contribute to muscle wasting, which in turn is thought to reduce physical function. Chronic inflammation has also been linked with reduced levels of overall physical activity, and low physical activity is strongly associated with poor physical function.
The PREPARE trial found that 52% of adults with HIV showed measurable declines in physical function, based on standard mobility and strength assessments.
Risk factors for decline included elevated hsCRP and IL-6, higher BMI, prior depression treatment, female sex, and non-White race.
Routine clinical screening using chair rise or gait speed tests can help identify early functional decline and guide timely interventions.
Kulik: Prior studies by Dr. Erlandson have demonstrated that physical function is negatively associated with the immune response to cytomegalovirus, which is a common co-infection among people with HIV, even if they have a suppressed viral load. HIV is associated with a greater risk for other comorbidities, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, which have also been linked to physical function impairment. Performing annual or semi-annual tests such as 4-meter gait speed, time to complete 5 or 10 chair rises, and grip strength tests are the most commonly used strategies to screen for physical function impairment. Personally, I think that the 4-meter gait speed or chair rise assessments are the most feasible to incorporate for clinical screening because grip strength requires additional equipment and calibration.
Erlandson: Some of the older therapies (AZT, DDI, D4T) can have a negative impact on skeletal muscle, mitochondrial function (in fat or skeletal muscle), and/or contribute to neuropathy. Efavirenz has also been linked to greater physical function decline, possibly through some of the neurocognitive or weight-suppressive effects. Obesity contributes to physical function decline, so we ultimately may see greater physical function declines in people with greater weight gain, regardless of the regimen.
Erlandson: Many infectious disease specialists serve as the primary care providers for patients living with HIV. Infectious disease providers may see people with HIV frequently—especially older adults or those with more comorbidities—and have the opportunity to recognize early declines and to provide counseling on preventive measures to mitigate physical function declines. Infectious disease specialists may also recognize important side effects or drug interactions with HIV medications that might contribute to physical function impairments, such as protease inhibitors with some statins.
Effective June 2, 2025, the TSX Venture Exchange (the “TSXV”) has implemented substantive changes to its former Policy 5.4 – Escrow, Vendor Consideration and Resale Restrictions, now renamed Policy 5.4 – Capital Structure, Escrow and Resale Restrictions (the “New Policy”). These changes aim to streamline and modernize requirements for New Listings, including Initial Public Offerings (IPOs), Reverse Takeovers (RTOs), Changes of Business (COBs), and Qualifying Transactions (QTs).
This article highlights the most significant changes introduced in the New Policy. Notably, the TSXV has:
Under the New Policy, an Issuer must demonstrate an “acceptable capital structure” (previously referred to as “evidence of value”) by meeting at least one of the following criteria:
Contemporaneous equity financing
The majority of securities of the Issuer must be issued to subscribers who are not Non-Arms Length Parties of either the Issuer or the Target Company, and either:
In either case, this includes equity financings completed by the Target Company within the past six months, provided the price is not below the Discounted Market Price.
Appraisal of valuation
An appraisal or valuation that supports at least 50 percent of the Consideration.
Consideration includes all payments made or to be made by the Issuer, and encompasses:
Expenditures
Expenditures made within the past five years in relation to an asset account for at least 50 percent of the Consideration. The expenditures are subject to additional requirements for mining, oil and gas, and technology and research and development issuers with no significant revenue.
New tangible assets of the target company
Net tangible assets of the target Company, in relation to a company, equal at least 50 percent of the Consideration.
Operating cash flow of the target company
Ten times the target Company’s average annual cash flows from operating activities, calculated over at least eight fiscal quarters, equals at least 50 percent of the Consideration.
Securities listed by the target company
Where an Issuer proposes to acquire a Target Company, at least 50 percent of the outstanding equity securities of the Issuer have been issued either:
Current listing
The Issuer has been listed and trading on a recognized stock exchange, other than the TSXV, for at least one year and the Issuer has not completed an RTO, QT, COB or analogous transaction within the preceding year.
IPO
The New Listing involves an IPO that includes a financing (e.g., it cannot be a non-offering prospectus).
Elimination of “Surplus Securities” escrow
The New Policy eliminates the “Surplus Securities” regime. All escrowed securities will now follow the “Value Securities” schedule:
Releases are now evenly distributed, with no back-weighted schedules.
IPO vs non-IPO transactions
For IPO transactions, the TSXV will generally follow the escrow requirements outlined in NP 46-201 – Escrow for Initial Public Offerings (“NP 46-201”).
For non-IPO transactions, the TSXV will apply similar requirements with three key differences:
Securities subject to and excluded from escrow
Securities subject to escrow include all Principals’ Securities outstanding or to be issued in connection with the transaction, and any securities transferred from a Principal within six months prior to the listing application. Securities that will generally be excluded from escrow include:
SSRRs are one-year hold periods imposed by the TSXV on certain securities held by individuals who are not Principals of the Issuer at the time a transaction is completed.
SSRRs apply to all Listed shares, convertible or exercisable securities, and other securities held by non-Principals if they were:
“Transaction Price” is defined as the greater of the Discounted Market Price (as defined in the policies of the TSXV), and the price of the financing completed in connection with the transaction. If there is no Discounted Market Price or financing price, or if more than one financing is completed, the TSXV will determine the Transaction Price.
SSRRs release schedule
The release schedule under the New Policy has been simplified so that all SSRR Securities subject to a hold are released in equal 20 percent tranches every three months, starting on the Bulletin Date.
However, securities issued at or above the Minimum Price but below 25 percent of the Transaction Price are exempt from a hold if held for at least twelve months. Similarly, those issued at or above 25 percent but below 50 percent of the Transaction Price are exempt if held for more than three months.
Existing escrow agreements under the former policy will remain in effect. However, with disinterested shareholder approval, Issuers may apply to amend existing escrow agreements to align with the New Policy.
Amendments to existing SSRRs can be made without shareholder approval.
All applications for amendment must be made through LINX and include a $1,000 fee plus applicable taxes.
The New Policy marks a meaningful step toward modernizing the TSXV’s listing framework. It is clearly responsive to market feedback, offering issuers more practical, realistic and easy-to-apply criteria for demonstrating an acceptable capital structure. By expanding the available methods to establish value, standardizing escrow requirements and simplifying resale restrictions, the TSXV has reduced procedural friction for companies looking to go public. Notably, the elimination of the complex “surplus securities” regime is likely to enhance the appeal of a TSXV listing by removing an often misunderstood and complex regime which had created a perceived barrier to listing. In short, these changes are both timely and constructive.
For further information, please contact the authors or any member of our Equity Capital Markets team.
FC Barcelona and the player Wojciech Szczęsny have reached an agreement for the extension his contract which will tie him to the Club until 30 June 2027.
The deal comes after a great season from the goalkeeper following his unexpected arrival to cover the unfortunate long term injury to Marc ter Stegen. Barça needed a keeper and chose Szczęsny, who came out of retirement to accept the challenge after having hung up his gloves in the summer. The Pole responded by showing he is still one of the best goalkeepers in European Football.
In 30 appearances for Barça in the 2024/25 season, Szczęsny kept 14 clean sheets and was never on the losing side in La Liga. The Polish player’s experience and maturity was a great help for coach Hansi Flick in a young and inexperienced Barça squad.
The goalkeeper’s time at Barça is another addition to his impressive career. Szczęsny announced his retirement in August 2024. However, Barça’s call brought him back to football after an admirable career and many achievements. After leaving his hometown of Warsaw at the age of 16 years old, he went on to play for major European sides such as Arsenal, Roma and Juventus, giving him great experience in the continent’s top leagues.
With the domestic treble at Barça in 2024/25, Szczęsny has now claimed 14 trophies during his career with more than 500 appearances, 83 of which have come in the Champions League, the last eight of which came last season in a Barça shirt. They may well not be his last with the goalkeeper remaining a blaugrana now until 2027.
It happens from time to time: You start telling a story, only to lose your train of thought halfway through. Or you walk into a room and can’t remember what you went in there to do. Mental glitches like these happen to everyone and are understandably scary, but aren’t necessarily a sign of cognitive decline. “The feeling of your brain short-circuiting is often more likely due to psychological processes,” says Sarah Garcia-Beaumier, Ph.D. Increases in stress, distractions, multitasking, anxiety or depression can be contributors. “A common consideration we have to make clinically is whether cognitive symptoms are due to early dementia, or rather due to a depressive or anxiety disorder,” Garcia-Beaumier says.
Cognitive decline typically involves a worsening of performance in areas such as memory, attention or language. Common signs include forgetting to call someone or struggling to recall the right word. When those symptoms appear much more than they did previously, so much so that others are starting to notice, “that’s typically an early red flag for cognitive decline beyond what we expect for the normal aging process,” says Garcia-Beaumier. Normal aging may cause minor delays in memory retrieval, like struggling to remember a name but recalling it later. These are not signs of dementia or cognitive impairment, per Thomas Hammond, M.D. “Forgetting conversations or important appointments, or feeling lost in familiar places, are more worrisome and concerning for significant early cognitive impairment,” Hammond explained.
Garcia-Beaumier notes that some individuals with mild cognitive impairment may stabilize or improve over time. Still, unresolved psychological distress or untreated health issues could increase the risk of dementia, making it crucial to address potential warning signs early.
The corticolimbic system of the brain modulates the experience of anxiety. “It also happens to be the same area of the brain that helps with processing speed, attention, planning, judgment, organization and lots of thinking skills,” says Garcia-Beaumier. “So if there’s a change in this area of the brain due to stress or anxiety, these cognitive skills are also affected.”
This overlap in brain pathways, along with the larger amount of resources devoted to modulating your stress and anxiety due to your body constantly shifting between survival and recuperation mode, will lead to a varying array of cognitive deficits.
These pathways are also crucial in processing information—if you can no longer pay attention to things, your brain isn’t going to be able to encode them and retain them for later memory.
Cognitive decline manifests itself in almost all aspects of complex daily tasks, especially our language. “Even a simple undertaking, like naming a kitchen appliance, engages our brain networks extensively, making it a sensitive indicator of early decline,” says Aubry Alvarez-Bakker, Ph.D..
A strong sign can be found in moments when you might forget a simple, specific word you’re looking for, so you try to describe it instead. Over time, you might also start having difficulty keeping up with conversations, which can lead to anxiety in social situations.
The specific mechanism behind why this happens isn’t fully known, but research shows that language decline often originates in the left side of the brain. “We also know that low BDNF production (a protein produced by our nervous system that’s crucial for the production of new brain cells) means fewer new cells to help us carry on activity across our brain,” says Alvarez-Bakker.
As we age, production of this protein naturally declines, so our body relies heavily on our environment to create BDNF to “fertilize” our brain and allow new cells to form. “Among the best foods to consume to boost BDNF in our body—and subsequently ward off cognitive decline—are blueberries, turmeric, green tea and dark chocolate,” says Alvarez-Bakker.
Because apathy is a common symptom of severe burnout, it’s easy to pay no mind that it can also be a symptom of cognitive decline. “It’s actually the most common symptom and perhaps the most overlooked,” says Alvarez-Bakker.
A sudden loss of interest in activities you used to love, or a willingness to throw in the towel easily, is a common symptom of dementia. You might lose interest in reading books, gardening or many other activities you used to enjoy. You might also find things that used to be easy for you to accomplish are now overwhelming, or that you avoid complex tasks or projects entirely.
“This is unfortunate because withdrawing from stimulation is known to speed up the decline process,” says Alvarez-Bakker. “Luckily, our lifestyle can help counteract this symptom to an extent.” When apathy creeps in, the best step to take is to get personal by integrating things you deeply enjoy—music, art, sports, reminiscing—into daily activities that will boost your participation in life, and in turn, stimulation.
Subtle personality changes are an often-missed sign of cognitive decline, primarily because of how easily they can be blamed on chronic stress (say, becoming easily angered or swearing when that isn’t a regular part of your vocabulary).
You might also find yourself withdrawing from social interactions and activities—and when you are around others, you may not participate in discussions, but instead stay quiet. “These are symptoms which are often written off as an individual being shy,” says Hammond. “However, the person who was once talkative and garrulous will often become quiet and a wallflower as an early sign of developing cognitive decline.”
Regardless if stress is the cause or a variable that’s augmenting the cognitive decline, “any treatment hoping to prevent or reduce cognitive decline needs to incorporate stress management,” says, Isaac Tourgeman, Ph.D.
Incessantly ruminating and worrying keeps your fight-or-flight response in overdrive, and symptoms of chronic stress can mimic cognitive decline, such as forgetfulness and inattention.
“Uncontrolled, toxic thinking has the potential to create a state of low-grade inflammation across the brain and body over time, which can impact our cognitive health and ability to remember or recall information,” says Caroline Leaf, Ph.D. “If left unmanaged, this kind of chronic cognitive upset can progress into varying levels of cognitive decline.”
Resolution of the underlying causes of your rumination and worry is paramount to improving current and preventing future symptoms of cognitive decline.
“Cognitive dulling is a common feature associated with general medical illnesses, such as the flu, urinary tract infection and gastroenteritis,” says Hammond. “Metabolic stress caused by minor infection will often lead to a transient cognitive decline,” Hammond added.
Other conditions can also lead to cognitive decline, including sleep disorders (such as sleep apnea). “Similar to psychological distress, sometimes symptoms can be resolved if it’s due to one of these conditions,” says Garcia-Beaumier. “But if left untreated, it does increase a person’s risk of dementia down the line.”
Depression can result in what’s called pseudodementia, where depression essentially masquerades as cognitive impairment. “Symptoms present as forgetfulness, difficulty with attention and lowered energy and motivation,” says Tourgeman. This is when it’s especially important to consult with your doctor to ensure the right diagnosis is made and proper treatment given.
“We all experience cognitive glitches to a certain extent when going through the pressures of life, but a good rule of thumb is if anyone who knows you has noticed a consistent increase of these symptoms over time, it may be a sign that you’re experiencing cognitive decline,” says Leaf. Usually the person experiencing symptoms is the last to be aware of the decline, so it’s important to be open to feedback and proactive about taking action.
“While we currently aren’t able to change our genes, we can influence how our environment impacts them,” says Tourgeman. “A healthy lifestyle—eating a brain-healthy diet (like the MIND Diet), exercising regularly, reducing stress and distractions, maintaining a sense of utility and connectedness—can all go a long way.”
And no healthy lifestyle with the goal of avoiding or improving cognitive decline would be complete without a wide range of activities that keep your brain engaged. “Playing brain games on your phone will only go so far, though, mostly because you’ll only get really good at that one thing,” says Garcia-Beaumier. “Doing lots of activities that you enjoy and that challenge you is best.” Things like reading, playing games, learning new skills and dancing can all contribute to optimal cognitive health when done in conjunction with other healthy habits.
“Any time someone notices cognitive changes, such as memory not being as good or the brain feeling slower or foggy, they should check in with their doctor,” says Garcia-Beaumier. “But it’s especially important if family or friends are also noticing issues or if the issues make it hard to fulfill daily responsibilities.”
You can try to work on decreasing stress and improving how you take care of any other health conditions to see if that also clears up any cognitive issues, but there isn’t a definitive way to know whether your symptoms are due to stress, psychological issues, another health condition or cognitive decline without talking to a healthcare provider and possibly seeing specialists for further testing.
“Even getting some basic tests, early before any issues arise, can allow your doctor to compare your current cognitive performance to possible cognitive issues in the future,” says Garcia-Beaumier.
The occasional mental lapse, like misplacing your keys or forgetting the name of a person you just met, is a normal part of life and not necessarily a cause for concern. These fleeting moments of forgetfulness are often tied to stress, lack of sleep, or even simply being preoccupied with too many things at once. However, when these cognitive issues become consistent, noticeable to others and begin to interfere with daily life, they may signal something more significant, such as cognitive decline. Taking proactive steps to manage stress, maintain overall health, and engage in stimulating mental and physical activities can help you protect your brain’s function and resilience.
Understanding the difference between normal cognitive aging and more concerning symptoms is key to addressing issues early on. Consult a healthcare professional if you or those close to you observe persistent changes in memory, attention, or overall behavior. Seeking support and adopting lifestyle habits that prioritize brain health can not only slow potential decline but also improve your quality of life. By staying informed and proactive, you give yourself the best chance at maintaining your cognitive health and vitality for years to come.
Nicole Daedone, who’s in jail awaiting her sentencing for crimes related to her “orgasmic meditation” business, condemned what she believes is a double standard reflected in the outcome of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ case.
“Diddy basically gets off while Rachel and I get convicted for what could be twenty years,” Daedone said in a statement given exclusively to NBC News, referring to former company executive and co-defendant Rachel Cherwitz. “That should tell you everything you need to know about how we (society) view women’s sexuality.”
Last month, a federal jury in Brooklyn found Daedone and Cherwitz guilty of forced labor conspiracy. Federal prosecutors in New York alleged in their indictment that they targeted victims of trauma to become members of their company and manipulated them into performing sex acts and going into debt, among other things. The government said the two women “coerced their victims to sexually service OneTaste’s current and prospective investors, clients and employees.” Daedone and Cherwitz denied the claims.
They are currently in jail awaiting their sentencing, which is scheduled for September. They face up to 20 years in prison.
“The case operated at an emotional level, not a legal or rational one. It made perfect sense to me: a self-possessed sexual woman is presumed guilty; in the current culture she can never be proven innocent,” Daedone said.
Prosecutors declined to comment on Daedone’s statement.
Daedone founded women’s wellness company OneTaste in 2004 and grew it into a $12 million business with thousands of followers, winning celebrity fans such as Gwyneth Paltrow and Khloe Kardashian. But an explosive 2018 Bloomberg article and a subsequent 2022 Netflix documentary “Orgasm Inc.” featured former employees who said they were subjected to a toxic environment. Daedone and Cherwitz, who had been head of sales for the company, were indicted in 2023.
Daedone said her conviction is unjust in comparison to hip hop mogul Combs’ acquittal last week on charges of sex trafficking and racketeering. Combs was convicted by a Manhattan federal jury of two lesser charges of transportation to engage in prostitution. His attorneys called the verdict “a victory” after prosecutors for seven weeks painted him as the leader of a criminal enterprise who sex trafficked two of his former girlfriends.
The prostitution crimes carry maximum sentences of up to 10 years each, but experts don’t expect him to receive that much.
Maurene Comey, who led the team of prosecutors in Combs’ trial, repeatedly played the security footage of Combs brutally beating Cassie Ventura at a Los Angeles hotel in 2016. Prosecutors told jurors that Combs used violence, drugs and blackmail to force Ventura and another girlfriend known as “Jane,” to have sex with male escorts in drug fueled encounters he dubbed “freak offs.”
NBC News has reached out to Combs’ team for comment.
Veteran filmmaker Terry Gilliam is headed to the Umbria Film Festival in Italy, where a screening next weekend of his iconic 1985 dystopian black comedy Brazil will celebrate the film’s 40th anniversary. Nominated for two Oscars and winning a pair of BAFTAs, the movie centers on Jonathan Pryce’s Sam Lowry, who works in the sprawling archives of a megalopolis ruled by faceless bureaucracy and an all-seeing Information Department. When a band of terrorists begins sowing chaos, Sam escapes the gray monotony of his desk job through vivid, dreamlike visions — until reality and fantasy collide with explosive consequences.
Gilliam’s own career has been filled with the fantastical, and often courted controversy. He famously clashed with Universal’s then-Chairman, Sid Sheinberg, over the U.S. release of Brazil, which has gone on to be considered a masterpiece of science fiction.
Earlier, during his days with Monty Python, Gilliam co-wrote biblical black comedy The Life of Brian, whose themes of religious satire drew accusations of blasphemy and protests.
More recently, Gilliam’s The Man Who Killed Don Quixote went through a lengthy and troubled production before it finally premiered at Cannes in 2018.
In the discussion below, Gilliam, who has not directed a feature since Don Quixote, talks about not wanting “any more fights.” He says he’s lined up such talent as Johnny Depp, Adam Driver, Jeff Bridges, Jason Momoa and Tom Waits for his next project, Carnival at the End of Days, but that financing is proving a challenge.
He tells us, “Filmmaking is, I think, different now, and I think the producers, the financiers, the studios, are very timid these days.”
This conversation has been condensed and edited for clarity.
DEADLINE: There are a lot of major films having big anniversaries this year. When you look back now, how does it feel to realize it’s been 40 years since Brazil?
TERRY GILLIAM: Well, that’s the thing that’s always interesting. I mean, it doesn’t feel that long ago for me because it was such an intense period, not the making of the film, the fighting to get the film released as we made it — that was very intense and interesting. I kind of look back at that time and think, “Wow, it was almost good fun to have that fight with Universal.” I was just so determined that they were not going to change the movie. As a result of it, I was for a while, inundated by other filmmakers who were thinking that I had changed the rules. There was a little opening for a few weeks, and then it closed again. And it’s either you have to decide whether you want a career or you want to make your movie the way you want to make it. Simple.
DEADLINE: It feels as though it has held up well across 40 years.
GILLIAM: That’s the thing I like about the success of the film, the fact it’s lasted. It doesn’t feel dated. People keep coming up to me say, “How did you understand the world was going to be like it is then?” And I say, “Well, you just had to keep your eyes open.” Basically, most people don’t think ahead. They seem to be just dealing with the daily noise. But it seemed to me, it was about then as far as I was concerned. And then is the same as now, just the players changed basically. … A few years ago when Dick Cheney and George W were running the show in America, I was in the States promoting something and I said that I was considering taking the two of them to court for the illegal and unauthorized remake of Brazil. Homeland Security is out with us now, and it’s very much like the Ministry of Information.
DEADLINE: And even today it feels relevant.
GILLIAM: You always need an enemy. And whether there’s a real one, you fabricate him. I’m almost finding it enjoyable to listen to Trump and Musk go at each other like two children in the playground. It’s the world’s richest man and the world’s most powerful man behaving like that. That’s kind of fascinating and entertaining, and I think the idea of pushing all those people out of California, in all of America, that’s the workforce folks, it isn’t going to give more jobs to Americans. We need immigrants. The same thing happened when Britain left Europe.
DEADLINE: What’s your state of mind today in that regard as you work to get another project, Carnival at the End of Days off the ground?
GILLIAM: I’m getting weary as I get old. I really don’t want any more fights. Filmmaking is, I think, different now, and I think the producers, the financiers, the studios, are very timid these days.
That’s one of the problems. That’s what’s depressing, the fact that to have ideas, strong opinions, and things that try to get people thinking, or at least discussing or even being outraged about what’s happening. It just feels like it’s not a very interesting time. I watch movies now, and I see them very technically skilled films, but not doing anything to make my view of the world different. They’re not shocking me. They’re not making me think. And I find that’s what’s so depressing, it makes me feel old.
I started writing the script in 2020, Carnival at the End of Days, and then I teamed up with a young dramatist in his early 30s, Christopher Brett Bailey, because I thought I’m an old fart, and I want to stay in touch with the audience, a younger audience And so we wrote this script, and it’s very, very funny. What I did cleverly is I sent the script directly to actors that I knew. I didn’t go through agents, because agents are very cautious, concerned people, and I had been warned anyway by a guy very much in Hollywood who did read the script and said: “Don’t let anybody else read this in Hollywood. You’ll never work again, mate.” And so I assembled this incredible group of actors, so I thought, “Wow, who can say no to that?” And now we’ve been pissing around for almost another year.
DEADLINE: Is there a way to maneuver to get your stories across?
GILLIAM: As an independent, they say you’ve got to keep your budget at around $10 million or below $10 million, it seems to me, if you’re going to go anywhere, and my ideas tend to need more. Quixote was $20 million, and I finally got it made. But not because of the system, because of a fairy godmother who came up with the last bit of money. I don’t know how to make films as cheaply anymore because my ideas have become invariably bigger. I’m kind of caught in this trap between independent film budgets and studio budgets. That’s what is my mistake in life.
On this particular project, I decided to get the cast first and then find the money. So I have this wondrous cast — Johnny Depp, Adam Driver, Jeff Bridges, Jason Momoa, Tom Waits, Asa Butterfield, Emma Laird — who are all willing to work for less. That’s not the problem; it’s still getting the money needed. In the independent world, you either have solid independent producers who will work below $10 million or the ones who are more adventurous, more crazy, more socially demanding … who will at least try to make more expensive fare, but after a couple years, I’m getting ready to go back and talk to studios again.
DEADLINE: In terms of finance and how things have changed, what about a streamer? Would you think about seeking out that avenue? Or are you strictly in the big-screen theatrical camp?
GILLIAM: There’s many days I would be happy to work for Netflix or anything because, having not made a film now in almost 10 years, it’s time to go back to work. It doesn’t matter. Except, last night I saw F1. I saw it in Imax and it’s really good, especially on Imax. On a big screen with big sound, that’s what the film is about.
If you sit and watch it on your iPhone or at home on your little computer, it’s not the same experience. So that’s what I like about big screens. That’s why I keep the films that way because it’s also a little bit more of a religious experience. You’re paying money, you’re going into this cathedral of darkness, where this screen is out there, and you start from a position of respect for cinema. But I find almost everything I’m watching these days is being streamed. I’ve got a 52-inch screen at home that’s pretty good, but it’s without an audience, without that sense of a communal experience.
When I’m on the tube here in London, and I see somebody watching Star Wars on their iPhone, I want to take them out and shoot them. The whole point is the film, the presentation is gigantic, and we the viewers are small in comparison. It’s not the other way around. It’s my big head and my little iPhone. This is the wrong relationship.
DEADLINE: So what do you see as the future for Carnival at the End of Days?
GILLIAM: We may be getting closer to the time when this film is more allowed likely to breathe. Hollywood, you know, in the last couple years has been a very nervous world. You were not allowed to offend anyone, and all the executives were living in fear so I started looking elsewhere.
It’s a simple tale of God deciding to destroy humanity, wipe them out for ruining his beautiful garden, a comedy! Where and when we will start shooting has not been easy is all I can say. When you have to deal with the apocalypse and things like that it gets more costly. The apocalypse is always going to be expensive. And the other problem is that the script, in some ways, is out of date because it was a satire of the world two years ago, and Donald Trump has come along, and he is the carnival. He’s turned the world upside down — everything. We may have to rework some of the story because parts of it was very specific about the wonderful world of woke before The Donald took over again. That very narrow way of thinking of life. We’ll see where it goes. At the moment, I may be out of a job for another 10 years.
DEADLINE: You renounced American citizenship a long time ago; right about now I’m guessing you feel good about that decision.
GILLIAM: Yes, I haven’t been back to [live in] America since whenever it was, and I don’t intend to. I think America is in a very difficult position now because Trump and company are quite extraordinary. On the other hand, he may actually succeed where other people didn’t, in a strange way. It’s like Richard Nixon, you know, brought about the rapprochement with China.
DEADLINE: When you look back at some of the films that you’ve done, anything from Brazil to 12 Monkeys to the earlier movies, do you reflect on them with fondness, or do you have a critical eye? Do you discover new things about them, or maybe about who you are now versus who you were then?
GILLIAM: Well, I’m not the guy that made those films. That guy was worn out some years ago, or, I think he died. I’m not sure what the accident was, but he doesn’t live in this body anymore, is all I can say. And I’ll tell you, I don’t watch my films after I’ve finally finished them, and maybe it was two years now, I supervised the 4k version of The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, and I hadn’t watched it in such a long time, because the whole experience had been so nightmarish and painful. But I watched it, and I just came out like I’d never seen the film before. I said, “This is a f*cking great movie. This is so good. I wish I could make something like that.”
I want to be able to be like the guy that sees one of my films for the first time. And that was an instance with Munchausen because it was just absolutely wonderful as far as I was concerned.
DEADLINE: If you haven’t sort of revisited them, do they still live within you? I mean, do you still feel like the person you know who can speak about them with the most authority?
GILLIAM: No, I can only remember what I was like during the making of them. I know what the films are, but it’s the guy who watches the finished product and that’s it. So I’d basically go to film festivals just to hear people tell me how much they love various films I’ve done, and that just makes me feel good, and that’s all I really want to hear, that the fact that the films made a difference to people, made them laugh more, made them think more, had an impact on them. That’s makes me happy.
