He was known as a tightly wound Hollywood tough guy, on and off screen – and then the star found himself fighting for his life. He talks about ‘bullying his body’ into recovery, and how the accident changed him

Six ribs broken in 14 places. Three breaks in the lower pelvis. Right and left ankle broken. Left tibia broken. Left wrist fractured. Left toes, three breaks. Right clavicle broken. Right shoulder blade cracked. Eye socket, jaw, mandible, all broken. Major laceration back of head. Lung collapsed. Liver pierced from rib bone. The inventory of Jeremy Renner’s injuries, documented by the twice Oscar-nominated movie star himself, was exhaustive. It was a miracle that the actor had survived; he had no right to. Renner had been crushed by his own 14,000lb (6,350kg) snowplough on New Year’s Day 2023. A neighbour who helped him at the scene believes he died momentarily. So does Renner. He tells me it was a very special moment.

“What I experienced when I passed was this collective divinity and beautiful, powerful peace. It is the most exhilarating peace you could ever feel. It’s the highest adrenaline rush. Everything stopped … maybe for 30 seconds, maybe a minute. It was definitive for me. It all made perfect sense.” Does he believe in God? “No. My dad’s a theologist and I studied all religions growing up, so I steer away from religions.”

As prices have ratcheted up, the bag created for Jane Birkin has lost its bohemian edge and its fashion appeal

The news that Jane Birkin’s original Hermès bag has sold for a record-breaking €8.6m (£7.4m) at auction will no doubt cause some jaws to drop to the floor. However, perhaps it should not surprise – this is a bag design that is often linked to eyewatering amounts of money. Forty years on from the prototype, it’s now less a (very expensive) symbol of style and elegance, and more a way to signal you have a lot of money and you would like everyone to know that.

A Birkin has always been expensive – about $10,000 (£7,400), according to the Guardian last year – but the complicating factor is demand. As was reported, two California residents sued Hermès for a practice known as “tying”, which means customers are expected to pre-spend a sufficient amount on other items, such as homewares or jewellery – some say up to $30,000 – before they are even put on the waiting list for a Birkin. Therefore, wearing one on your arm – to those in the know – shows you have the disposable income that not only means you can buy the bag, but also go through with this practice in the first place.

Lauren Cochrane is a senior Guardian fashion writer

Fill July and August with awesome activities for less than a fiver a head – 24 of them won’t cost a thing!

Organised by wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation, the Big Butterfly Count is an annual citizen science programme that asks the public to help build up a picture of the UK’s butterfly population. Running from 18 July to 10 August, it’s open to anyone in the UK. Pick a spot and spend 15 minutes looking for butterflies and moths, then log your findings on the website or the Big Butterfly Count app.

Talk of a new party led by Jeremy Corbyn is just the latest example of a growing clamour for leftwing alliances

In the past week alone, 100 people have signed up to Majority, a progressive coalition based in the north-east of England that advocates for wealth taxes, public ownership of important utilities and upholding universal human rights.

It may not seem a huge number in a country of 57 million people, but it is part of a bigger picture of grassroots activity on the left that is fuelled by dismay at Labour’s record after a year in government, anger over its perceived targeting of the poorest and most vulnerable with benefits cuts and explosive fury at the relentless killing of people in Gaza.

Online abuse of striker exposed as specious as selfless displays make her key to Lionesses’ success

Dare mention Alessia Russo was a good pick for player of the match after her three assists against the Netherlands, without an afterword on Lauren James also being superb or highlighting the performances of Jess Carter or Hannah Hampton or any of the others in an all-around strong showing, and you will be accused of being influenced by PRusso.

The not-so-witty merging of PR and the player’s name has become an insult online, used to denigrate anyone who suggests that Russo may be quite a good player. Your opinion cannot possibly be right; it’s Russo’s good PR team that has led you to believe that she is good. You have been influenced, you are a sheep, you have been blinded by the shiny Adidas adverts and the magazine cover shoots. Open your eyes, they scream into the online abyss, Russo is an average player, someone else was better, anyone else was better.

Need something brilliant to read this weekend? Here are six of our favourite pieces from the past seven days

Deputy PM accused of refusing to engage as union considers cutting ties with Labour

Angela Rayner has been accused of handling the Birmingham bin workers’ strike in a “totally and utterly abhorrent” way by the Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham.

Graham told BBC Radio 4 Today’s programme: “Angela Rayner refuses to get involved, and she is directly aiding and abetting the fire-and-rehire of these bin workers, it is totally and utterly abhorrent.”

Main points from the preliminary report on the 12 June crash in which 260 people died

A preliminary report from investigators looking at the Air India Flight 171 crash, which killed 260 people on 12 June, has been published.

‘Atypical expenditure’ document suggests utility’s costs over 12 months outstripped the £130m it paid in fines

Thames Water spent at least £136m on the effort to secure emergency funding over 12 months, according to a leaked document that suggests costs outstripped the £130m the struggling utility paid in fines.

The law firms Linklaters and Akin Gump received £45m and £26m respectively during the financial year to March 2025, and another 10 firms were paid more than £1m, according to a document listing “atypical expenditure” for the year, seen by the Guardian. It is the first time the fees paid by Thames Water have been detailed publicly.

• Updates from the third day’s play at Lord’s

• Get in touch! Share your thoughts with Rob

46th over: India 158-3 (Rahul 54, Pant 31) The first inspection of the ball comes after only 13 deliveries. Archer sniffs when he’s told to continue with the current ball, then sends down a sharp lifter that is fenced through the vacant backward short leg area by Rahul. The resulting single brings up an important fifty partnership inside 13 overs.

There’s an occasional bit of extra bounce but no sideways movement whatsoever. England have another 34 overs of old-ball toil ahead.