Owner of Viking ship used in The Odyssey says studio has not paid bill for damage 23. July 2026 (17:28) Swedish nonprofit alleges cost to repair replica was $6,000 but Universal – which made $264m on film’s opening weekend – has not stumped upThe Swedish owners of a Viking longship replica that features in the Hollywood blockbuster The Odyssey say they feel “forgotten” after film-makers allegedly returned the vessel damaged and failed to foot the bill for repairs.In nearly three decades at sea, the warship Glad av Gillberga – based on a wreck from around 1040 found in Denmark’s Roskilde fjord – has successfully sailed the North Sea, the Baltic and even voyaged to Canada. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘I got carried away’: Elon Musk expresses regret about Doge and wading into Trump’s orbit 23. July 2026 (17:27) Billionaire in interview with the Economist admits he was too consumed by politics and shares predictions about AIElon Musk has admitted he became too consumed by politics during his volatile alliance with Donald Trump and his brief appointment as the president’s financial axman, running the so-called “department of government efficiency” (Doge).The world’s richest person, and briefly its first trillionaire after his SpaceX company floated on the New York stock exchange in June, made the confession in a wide-ranging interview with the Economist published on Thursday. He shared his positions on subjects from foreign wars to AI, and made a number of eye-opening predictions for the future. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Pauline Hanson blames ‘fake news’ media for her bad press. But serious leaders have to own their actions 23. July 2026 (17:00) In a fortnight of rolling blunders, the One Nation leader digs deep into the Trump playbook of blame-shiftingGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThere’s apparently only one thing to blame for Pauline Hanson’s string of bad headlines in recent weeks, from her decision to pal around with the far-right convicted criminal Tommy Robinson to her description of domestic violence on Wednesday as a “two-way street”.According to the One Nation leader, it’s of course not Hanson herself who is to blame. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Our system is in dire straits’: progressive Democrats hold Medicare for All hearing 23. July 2026 (16:58) Congressional Progressive caucus say ‘healthcare should not be a privilege’ as they champions single payer systemThe Congressional Progressive caucus (CPC) held a shadow hearing on Medicare for All on Wednesday, led by Pramila Jayapal and Debbie Dingell.The hearing comes as over half of the House Democratic caucus has co-sponsored Medicare for All legislation, and Senator Andy Kim introduced legislation on Tuesday that would enroll all children into Medicaid until the age of 26, while Republicans passed drastic healthcare cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, including nearly $1n in cuts to Medicaid and allowing Affordable Care Act subsidies to expire. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Murdoch and Musk in the crosshairs at Venice film festival 23. July 2026 (16:58) Danny Boyle’s drama about the acquisition of the Sun and a four-hour Elon Musk documentary will premiere alongside new films from Martin McDonagh and Werner Herzog – but only one female director has a movie in competitionThe Venice film festival promises to take a swing at media moguls of the print and digital era this year, with Trainspotting director Danny Boyle’s new film about Rupert Murdoch’s acquisition of the Sun and a new documentary about Elon Musk included in the lineup of the films for the festival’s 83rd edition.In Boyle’s Ink, which will open the festival on the Lido on 2 September, Australian actor Guy Pearce plays compatriot newspaper tycoon Murdoch, whose purchase of the Sun in 1969 sensationalised the media landscape and transformed public life in Britain. The script is written by Olivier award-winning playwright and screenwriter James Graham (Dear England, Brexit: The Uncivil War). Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Burnham pauses prisoner early release scheme before September launch 23. July 2026 (16:44) Probation union and crime victims had raised doubts over plan to free 6,000 offenders across England and WalesUK politics live – latest updatesAndy Burnham has paused an early release scheme for 6,000 prisoners that was due to start in September after an outcry from crime victims.The prime minister said an “urgent review” will aim to “minimise risk to the public” amid concerns that killers, rapists and sex abusers would be freed on tags. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US House passes war powers resolution directing Trump to withdraw US military from Iran 23. July 2026 (16:38) Resolution, which comes after similar one in June, is largely symbolic, as Trump administration says it’s unconstitutionalUS politics live – latest updatesThe US House of Representatives on Thursday for the second time passed a war powers resolution directing Donald Trump to withdraw the US military from the conflict with Iran, amid renewed fighting in the Middle East that has driven oil prices to their highest levels in weeks.The resolution proposed by Democrat Pramila Jayapal passed by a 214-208 vote, with four Republicans joining all Democrats in attendance to vote in favor. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Israeli security minister joins Jewish extremists as they storm al-Aqsa mosque compound 23. July 2026 (16:33) Far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir was among thousands who gathered at Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy siteIsrael’s far-right minister of national security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, joined thousands of Jewish extremists who stormed Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site on Thursday.Escorted by armed police, they prayed, waved the Israeli flag and sang the national anthem in a provocative display of political power. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
About 500 national guard members deployed to West Virginia after flash floods 23. July 2026 (16:11) Search and rescue operations continue as troops deploy across state after torrential rain caused floods and damageAbout 500 national guard members have been deployed across West Virginia after torrential rain caused flash floods in parts of the state this week, and as emergency crews continue search and rescue operations.Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday, West Virginia’s governor, Patrick Morrisey, said that the state remained in a “phase of search and rescue” with teams working to “identify any individual who we might be able to save”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
MoD cancels army training in Kenya over powers to prosecute British soldiers 23. July 2026 (16:06) September exercise called off after Kenya raises concerns over funding and jurisdiction for criminal offencesThe British army has been forced to cancel training for its troops in Kenya after the Kenyan government refused to ratify a bilateral defence agreement.While the UK government wanted to renew the existing agreement, Kenyan lawmakers had sought changes to give local authorities greater powers to hold British soldiers accountable for any offences committed in the country. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
