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Edition · 2026-07-20
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Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey opened on July 17 with a worldwide box office total of $264.064 million, surpassing prior expectations and his previous records. The domestic haul was $124.5 million, while international markets contributed $139.564 million. The film cost $250 million to produce and $125 million to market, making it one of the year's most expensive releases. Early forecasts had projected domestic earnings of $90 million to $100 million and a global total near $257.8 million. Actual results exceeded these estimates. Nolan's previous openings included $249 million for The Dark Knight Rises and $198 million for The Dark Knight. Oppenheimer earned $180.4 million in its opening weekend. The Odyssey, a three‑hour modern adaptation of Homer's Greek epic, was promoted as an IMAX project from a Best Picture‑winning filmmaker. It received an 8/10 rating from IGN, which described the film as offering horror, existential angst, and some humor. Competitors included Disney's live‑action Moana with $178.4 million, Minions & Monsters with $323.9 million, and Toy Story 5 with $958.4 million. Supergirl reached $120 million worldwide. Analysts expect the film to maintain momentum and potentially cross the $1 billion mark, though its long‑term performance remains uncertain.
The Odyssey, directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Matt Damon as Odysseus, opened in theaters and has received positive critical reception, including an 8/10 rating from IGN's Scott Collura.
The film adapts Homer's epic poem about the Greek hero's decade-long journey to return to his home island of Ithaca, representing Nolan's second adaptation of a classical work after his earlier projects.
Production used real locations and a large cast, including Anne Hathaway as Penelope and Tom Holland as Telemachus, and employed a subdued visual style with understated color grading to convey a decaying world while highlighting key moments. Nolan emphasized a cohesive world‑building approach that contrasts with the self‑referential tone of many modern superhero blockbusters.
With a runtime exceeding two hours, the film interweaves multiple episodes—such as the Cyclops, the Sirens, and the final confrontation with the suitors—into a continuous narrative, allowing the audience to experience the cumulative weight of Odysseus's journey. Critics have noted that the length supports thematic depth, though some observers question whether the episodic structure would have been better suited to a limited series.
The positive reception of The Odyssey demonstrates that large‑budget films with clear authorial vision can still achieve critical success, suggesting a potential opening for similar projects within the current studio environment.
U.S. forces carried out airstrikes on Saturday against Iranian military installations and civilian infrastructure, including power plants, water desalination facilities, food storage sites and bridges, marking the eighth consecutive night of attacks. Iran’s energy ministry urged residents to conserve electricity and air‑conditioning use after the strikes.
The attacks struck desalination and power installations near the port of Jask at 4:44 a.m., cutting water supplies to several villages, according to reports. In the Gulf, Iranian forces attacked a military base in Jordan on Friday, killing two U.S. service members and leaving one missing, and later struck a power and water desalination plant in Kuwait twice, disrupting about 90 percent of the country’s water supply.
The escalation follows the collapse of an interim ceasefire agreement signed a month earlier between the Trump administration and Iranian officials, which had been intended to open negotiations over the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping lane for a large share of global oil and gas. Iranian officials said Saturday that the country was ending its commitments to the deal, and air raid sirens were heard across Jordan on Sunday.
U.S. officials announced plans to deploy additional warplanes to the region and indicated that further strikes on Iranian infrastructure were under consideration, even before the Jordan casualties occurred. A third U.S. service member was killed in northern Iraq while disposing of a downed Iranian attack drone, the Pentagon reported on Sunday.
Amnesty International senior director Erika Guera Rosas said in April that, while some infrastructure can be a legitimate military target, power plants are essential for meeting civilians’ basic needs and attacking them may be disproportionate and unlawful under international humanitarian law.
Chinese firm Jingye Group said it will pursue full compensation through legal action after the UK nationalised the loss‑making British Steel plant on Thursday.
By · 95d ago · Source: bbc
Chinese firm Jingye Group said it will pursue full compensation through legal action after the UK nationalised the loss‑making British Steel plant on Thursday. The Scunthorpe plant in Lincolnshire had been owned by Jingye since 2020 and was scheduled for closure after reporting daily losses of about £700,000. The UK government took control of British Steel operations in April 2025 and completed the nationalisation on Thursday, saying the move safeguards a vital national capability. The government will publish draft compensation regulations in the autumn, with an independent assessor to determine any payable amount. Officials said commercial negotiations with Jingye failed to reach an agreement that represented value to the taxpayer. China’s commerce ministry said the nationalisation infringed Jingye’s rights and undermined confidence of Chinese companies investing in the UK, adding that Beijing will support Chinese firms to protect their rights. The UK government stated it values its relationship with China, remains open to Chinese investment, and will continue working toward a successful trading relationship. The plant employs about 2,700 people and supports regional industries. Business Secretary Peter Kyle said allowing the operation to close was not an option and the government will continue covering running costs for the immediate future, warning that loss of domestic primary steel production would increase reliance on global supply. British Steel was previously under state ownership from 1988 until its privatisation in the 1990s under Margaret Thatcher.
Andrew and Tristan Tate were arrested Saturday in Miami by the U.S. Marshals Service on a sealed warrant, the Associated Press reported. British prosecutors say they are seeking the brothers’ extradition on rape and sex‑trafficking charges allegedly committed between 2010 and 2017.
The brothers, dual U.S. and British citizens, moved to Romania in 2016, were arrested there in 2022 and later allowed to leave and travel to Florida on a private jet. They are expected to appear in Miami federal court early next week, a source familiar with the case said.
In the United Kingdom, the Crown Prosecution Service announced additional charges, bringing the total to 38 counts involving four more alleged victims; Andrew Tate also faces a separate charge related to profiting from prostitution and 19 counts concerning indecent images of a child and extreme pornography. Their attorney, Joseph McBride, said the new British charges constitute “filth and slander” intended to block defamation suits filed in the United States and called the Department of Justice’s involvement “egregious abuse of authority.”
Andrew Tate, 39, gained prominence after appearing on the British reality show “Big Brother” in 2016 and was removed when a video emerged appearing to show him assaulting a woman. He has more than 10 million followers on X and has been banned from several platforms for hate‑speech violations. Tristan Tate, 38, is his brother and business partner. Both have denied any wrongdoing.
A Trump administration official said the U.S. war with Iran has shifted to ensuring oil can pass through the Strait of Hormuz while fighting continues and 17 American service members have been killed. The conflict began in February after promises of diplomatic breakthroughs and short‑lived ceasefires, and recent fighting intensified around the Strait of Hormuz following retaliatory U.S. strikes on Iranian Revolutionary Guard units after the deaths of two U.S. troops in Jordan and a third service member killed in northern Iraq. Energy Secretary Chris Wright told ABC’s “This Week” that the mission now focuses on guaranteeing oil and gas shipments through the Strait “with or without Iranian cooperation” while degrading Iranian offensive capabilities, and said Iran has proven unwilling to allow safe oil flow. Senator Mark Warner of Virginia described the war as a “war of choice” launched without an imminent threat and said the administration has not achieved its previously stated objectives, noting that Iran’s enriched uranium remains and that removing it would require thousands of ground troops, while missile and drone capabilities have not been curtailed. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pledged that the military campaign would continue after the latest casualties, and President Trump urged Congress to add Iran to pending Russia sanctions legislation, referencing a June memorandum of understanding between the two countries. The renewed campaign entered its second week with no clear diplomatic resolution in sight.
Skyroot Aerospace’s Vikram-1 rocket reached orbit on its first launch, becoming India’s first privately developed orbital launch vehicle to achieve orbit on its maiden flight. The launch took place at 1:35 am EDT (06:35 UTC) on Saturday from the Satish Dhawan Space Center on Sriharikota Island, India.
The mission followed a half‑hour delay to resolve a last‑minute technical issue, after which the solid‑fuel first stage ignited and the rocket lifted off the pad. Vikram-1 is 72 feet (22 m) tall and can place up to 350 kg into low‑Earth orbit, a capability comparable to Rocket Lab’s Electron launcher.
The flight sequence included three solid‑fuel stages followed by a liquid‑fuel fourth stage that placed the vehicle into an orbit of about 280 miles (450 km) altitude with a 60‑degree inclination. US military tracking confirmed orbital insertion. A brief anomaly occurred during third‑stage separation, but the fourth stage completed its burn.
“I did not expect to reach orbit on the first attempt,” said Pawan Kumar Chandana, Skyroot’s cofounder and CEO, in remarks to his team. “The mission achieved its objectives.” Chandana also said the launch demonstrated the feasibility of a fully Indian‑designed and built rocket. Pawan Goenka, chairman of IN‑SPACe, said the mission met its primary goal of liftoff and tower clearance and successfully deployed the intended payloads. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said it provided technical support, including solid‑rocket motor facilities and launch pad access. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the team, stating that the achievement reflects growing private sector participation and will inspire further innovation.
Skyroot plans a second Vikram-1 launch before the end of the year and is developing the Vikram-1U and Vikram-2 variants to increase payload capacity and enable cryogenic upper stages. The company has raised about $160 million, valuing it at $1.1 billion, and employs more than 1,000 staff, most of whom are under 30 years old.
Apple filed a trade secrets lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging that former Apple employees shared confidential information to aid OpenAI’s hardware development. OpenAI said it is unaware of any merit in the claim.
The complaint, filed in a California court last week, names former Apple hardware chief Tang Tan among alleged recipients of trade secrets and seeks injunctive relief and damages. Apple says the alleged misconduct could delay OpenAI’s plans for a mobile smart speaker and other hardware products.
Discussing the case on TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, Sean O’Kane said the suit may cause delays for OpenAI’s hardware initiatives and could affect the company’s upcoming IPO, which it has filed confidentially and may pursue as early as the end of this year. He noted that OpenAI’s current business is primarily software.
Anthony Ha pointed out that more than 400 former Apple employees now work at OpenAI, representing a significant talent drain. The allegations remain unverified pending discovery. Kirsten Korosec suggested that OpenAI may prefer a quick settlement to avoid further reputational risk, though she also said the company could be prepared to endure a trial similar to its recent victory over Elon Musk.
The lawsuit is ongoing, and its resolution could influence OpenAI’s hardware strategy and the valuation of its prospective IPO.
Uber and Waymo have taken opposing positions on a proposed Washington, D.C. bill that would allow autonomous vehicles to operate in the city. The D.C. Council scheduled a hearing on Monday to consider the legislation. The proposal requires autonomous vehicles to complete 180 days of testing and accumulate 250,000 miles before receiving a permit, and imposes a $1 million application fee, a $5 million permit fee and a $0.15 per mile tax. Uber argues the bill would eliminate for‑hire human drivers and give Waymo a de facto monopoly, and it has proposed that robotaxis must operate on a ride‑hailing network alongside human drivers. Tesla and other autonomous vehicle developers have criticized the testing and fee requirements, saying mileage earned elsewhere should count toward the 250,000‑mile threshold. Waymo, which has already met the testing and mileage criteria while operating with human safety operators in D.C., would gain at least a six‑month head start if the bill passes as written. The hearing included representatives from Lyft, Tesla, Uber, Waymo, disability rights groups, business associations, highway safety organizations, labor unions and think tanks. The council will vote on the measure, and its passage could affect the timing and structure of robotaxi deployment in the capital.
Netflix disclosed in a regulatory filing that it paid $587 million in cash to acquire InterPositive, a startup co‑founded by Ben Affleck. The transaction was announced in March. Affleck said the acquisition aimed to preserve human creativity. InterPositive’s AI tools assist filmmakers in post‑production by addressing missing shots, background replacements, and lighting issues. Netflix said the entire InterPositive team would join the company and that Affleck would serve as a senior advisor. Financial terms were not disclosed, though a Bloomberg report noted the deal could be valued up to $600 million. In its latest earnings report, Netflix said roughly 300 of its titles had already employed generative AI.
This edition was assembled from neutral, agent-rewritten summaries of the day's aggregated news.
Why it matters: Every article was reviewed for loaded language, partisan framing, and missing attribution before publication.
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