All the news, drama, and cultural buzz—here's what everyone’s talking about right now

Whether it’s a headline that changes history or a trend that takes over your feed, here’s everything worth talking about right now. From a new Pope to the rise of AI (and creepy-cute toys), consider this your quick scroll through the moments shaping the world—and your group chats.

The chosen one

Unlike in Conclave (2024), the real-life version of the election of the Pope after Pope Francis’ death on April 21 didn’t drag on. By May 8, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost had been elected the 267th Pope of the Catholic Church, making history as the first American to hold the post. Now known as Pope Leo XIV, the 69-year-old Chicago-born reformer—also a Peruvian citizen—spent years as a missionary in Peru, where he’s remembered for uplifting marginalised communities. At his first Mass under Michelangelo’s ceiling frescoes in the Sistine Chapel, he said that he hoped to lead a Roman Catholic church “that illuminates the dark nights of this world”.

They mean business

At this year’s Google I/O, the tech giant unveiled a number of upgrades. First up, its AI model, Gemini 2.5, will now be faster, smarter, and more theoretical (whatever that means). Google is bundling these tools into two subscriptions: AI Pro and AI Ultra. Pro includes premium access to Gemini Advanced, Flow, NotebookLM, and more. While with Ultra, you can enjoy early access to upcoming AI products like Project Mariner, Veo 3, and Gemini 2.5 Pro with Deep Think mode. Plus, Google’s AI push is now baked into Gmail, Docs, and Meet—because even your calendar deserves a little machine intelligence.

Gremlins gone glam

If your feed is suddenly full of these creepy little goblins, congrats—you’ve met Labubu. Even though they first crept onto the scene in 2019, in true Internet fashion, 2025 has crowned them the It accessory. Once niche collectables, they’re now clinging to every bag, grinning menacingly with their adorable-yet-unsettling teeth. Labubus are sold out everywhere, they are being resold for wild prices, and have knockoffs called “Lafufus” (yes, really). This craze has been (for the most part) fuelled by celebs, with BLACKPINK’s Lisa kickstarting it.

Crisis on campus

In the latest episode of Trump vs Harvard, the president has thrown another tantrum—this time demanding the university reveal where its international students are really from. This came right after US District Judge Allison D Burroughs issued a temporary restraining order against his administration’s attempt to boot those students out. The judge agreed with Harvard’s argument that the measure would cause “immediate and irreparable injury” to the university.

All eyes on him

Twenty-five-year-old cricketer Shubhman Gill has been appointed India’s 37th Test Captain after Rohit Sharma hung his boots. Gill and Vice Captain Rishab Pant will lead India in the upcoming five-match Test series against England. In an interview, Gill said he was honoured and overwhelmed to have been given the opportunity. He shared, “As a young kid when anyone starts playing cricket, they want to play for India and not just play for India, play Test cricket. To be able to get this opportunity is a great honour and it’s a big responsibility.”

‘A victory for diversity’

The Kannada writer, activist, and lawyer Banu Mushtaq’s short story collection Heart Lamp has won the 2025 International Booker Prize. Translated from Kannada by Deepa Bhasthi, it is a collection of 12 short stories on Muslim and Dalit women. The 77-year-old author has been a practising lawyer in Karnataka since 1990, and is known for her work as a women’s rights activist. Mushtaq described her win as a victory for diversity.

All images: Getty Images

This article originally appeared in Cosmopolitan India, May-June 2025 print issue.

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