EXPLAINER
Why is Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey so controversial?
Controversy has centred largely on casting, but it also reflects broader debates on who gets to retell this epic story.
![Rare T. rex skeleton sells for $50.1 million in New York auction [DIANE DESOBEAU/AFPTV/AFP]](/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/image-1784091465.jpg?resize=770%2C513&quality=80)
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Bayeux Tapestry smuggled into Britain for first visit in 1,000 years
The loan of the artwork is seen as symbolic of French-British relations as London works to mend ties post-Brexit.
US court rules that Trump’s name must stay off Kennedy Center during appeal
Trump’s name was removed from the centre’s facade and signage last month, after a judge ordered its removal.
‘Limited damage’: Upcoming Bollywood film angers Kashmir pellet gun victims
Makers of Chauhaan accused of mocking more than 1,000 Kashmiris partially or completely blinded by pellet shotguns.
Argentina's Ara Libertad ship sails by the Statue of Liberty in New York City as part of Sail250's Parade of Sail, part of the US's Independence Day festivities [Yuki Iwamura/AP Photo]
Macy's Fourth of July fireworks explode over New York City on July 4. [Carlos Barria/Reuters]
Cuban singer-songwriter Willy Chirino performs at the FIFA Fan Fest on Independence Day in Miami, Florida. [Marco Bello/Reuters]
Officials in Washington, DC, called on attendees at the Great American State Fair to seek shelter ahead of an evening thunderstorm on July 4. [Cheney Orr/Reuters]
A football fan dressed as a US Revolutionary War hero waves a sign that reads 'Happy birthday USA' before the July 4 World Cup match between Canada and Morocco in Houston, Texas. [Karen Warren/AP Photo]
Twice-deployed Marine Sergeant Diakaria Sangare, one of the many immigrants serving in the US armed forces, poses for a portrait following his naturalisation ceremony in Alexandria, Virginia, on July 4. [Rod Lamkey Jr/AP Photo]
A giant American flag is spread across the baseball field in Washington, DC, before the July 4 game between the Washington Nationals and the Pittsburgh Pirates. [Nick Wass/AP Photo]
Joey Chestnut and other competitive eaters race to swallow as many hot dogs as they can during the 2026 Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest on July 4 in New York City. [Anna Connors/AP Photo]
Joey Chestnut gestures as he participates in the 2026 Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island, New York City, on July 4. [Jordan Tovin/Reuters]
A man wears a US-flag-themed suit to the Texas World Cup match on July 4 between Morocco and Canada. [AFP]
A US Navy Band performs before the World Cup match between Canada and Morocco in Houston, Texas, in honour of US Independence Day. [AFP]
Members of the white supremacist group Patriot Front exit a metro station in New Carrollton, Maryland, as the group reportedly holds neighbourhood marches around the US capital on July 4. [Reuters]
Military planes fly over New York City, spraying jets of red, white and blue, during the Sail250 Parade of Sail event on July 4. [Kena Betancur/EPA]
A sightseer in nautical clothing records the Sail250 Parade of Sails from the shores of New York City on July 4. [Angelina Katsanis/Reuters]
Military members wave flags in a march through New York City to mark the 250th anniversary of the US Independence Day. [Angelina Katsanis/Reuters]
The Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg Marching Saints twirl flags as they prepare to march in the Independence Day Parade in Washington, DC, an event that was ultimately cancelled due to excessive heat. [Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters]
A large US flag waves over the 'O Say Can You See!' event in Louisville, Kentucky, on July 4. [Jon Cherry/AP Photo]
Protesters carry a reproduction of the Declaration of Independence as they participate in a 'We The People 250' through Washington, DC, on July 4. [Joe Raedle/Getty IMages via AFP]
Demonstrators at the 'We the People 250' march showcased a version of the Declaration of Independence that was roughly 700 feet long, or 233 metres, to denounce the erosion of civil rights. [Joe Raedle/Getty Images via AFP]
The sun rises on July 4 over the Freedom 250 Ferris wheel at The Great American State Fair in Washington, DC. [Finn Gomez/Getty Images via AFP]
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Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce marry at NYC’s Madison Square Garden
A-list celebrities attend wedding at Madison Square Garden to see superstar couple tie the knot.
From: NewsFeed
Video: The Cape Verde effect
Cape Verde’s World Cup run has become about more than football.
Published On 3 Jul 2026
From: This is America
How American food, film and music influences culture around the world
US soft power shapes global culture through film, music, food and brands, boosting its influence beyond military
Published On 3 Jul 2026
‘If it dies, it’s on you’: Saving Nigeria’s Benin bronze casting
Behind the global restitution story, master artisans are fighting to keep a centuries-old craft alive.
From Alabama to Yosemite: 50 US places with Native American origins
As the US marks 250 years since its July 4 declaration, Al Jazeera traces 50 place names, their meanings and origins.
Maradona to Messi: Why Bangladesh loves Argentina’s footballers
Diego Maradona turned a nation 17,000km from Argentina into die-hard fans. Lionel Messi has enthralled a new generation.
![Bangladeshi supporters of Argentina's football team at a welcome rally for fans in Dhaka, Bangladesh on June 17, 2026 [Masum Billah/ Al Jazeera]](/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/IMG_1334-1782972382.jpg?resize=770%2C513&quality=80)
