Independent News & People Network Desk of News

George Lucas likens AI sceptics to luddites clinging to horses and carts

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-07-15T14:13:45+00:00

Star Wars director calls AI technology ‘the future’ of film-making and says ‘there’s nothing you can do about it’The Star Wars director, George Lucas, has added his voice to the growing chorus of film-makers receptive to the rising use of AI tools in moviemaking.Speaking in an interview with A Rabbit’s Foot, Lucas, 82, said: “Artificial intelligence means it’s much easier for us to make movies.” Continue reading...

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Bristol declared ‘city of harm reduction’ as Greens seek less punitive drug policy

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-07-15T14:12:46+00:00

Councillors pass motion that paves way to setting up drugs-consumption facility where users can be helped and treatedUK politics live – latest updatesBristol has been formally declared a “city of harm reduction”, with local politicians pledging to focus on helping and treating users of illegal drugs rather than punishing them.Green councillors, who lead the city council, said the declaration was a clear signal that public health rather than criminal justice solutions were needed to tackle the UK’s growing drugs crisis. Continue reading...

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Moscow warns that foreign troops in Ukraine would be seen as legitimate targets – Europe live

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-07-15T14:11:19+00:00

Members of the pro-Ukraine “coalition of the willing” this week reasserted their desire for such a force after a cessation of hostilitiesMeanwhile, the Kremlin has rejected Lithuanian president’s warnings about a potential Russian attack on critical infrastructure (10:06), dismissing them as “horror stories” intended to “prepare public for further militarisation.”Reuters reported that the Kremlin said these comments were merely a “pretext for further deployment of Nato military infrastructure to Baltic states.” Continue reading...

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Dale Vince to get damages from Daily Mail publisher over misleading article

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-07-15T14:06:19+00:00

Court of appeal rules Labour donor suffered ‘obvious injustice’ over photo next to the words ‘sex harassment’The green energy entrepreneur and Labour donor Dale Vince is in line to receive damages from the publisher of the Daily Mail after claiming it used his picture to mislead millions of readers.Vince, who has given more than £5m to Labour over several years, took legal action against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) over an article, published in June 2023, headlined “Labour repays £100,000 to sex pest donor”. Continue reading...

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Tripling US union membership would shift $1.2tn to workers annually – report

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-07-15T14:00:56+00:00

More density would also narrow racial pay gaps, while a decline in density correlated to surges in wealth inequalityTripling union membership in the US would lead to a 14.5% raise for the median US worker, shifting $1.2tn to workers annually and significantly narrowing racial wage gaps, according to a new report released Wednesday.The report from the Economic Policy Institute notes that union membership rates across the workforce, also known as union density, was once three times as high as it is today. Union density in the 1950s was more than 30% before it started to decline in the 1960s. By

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KisanKraft launches 2 electric-powered farm equipment

Source: The Hindu Business Line – Markets · Published: 2026-07-15T13:57:58+00:00

The machines have been tested at different geographical locations and agro-climatic conditions in India with different soil types and soil conditions

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Democratic senator grills Todd Blanche on Trump’s directives in attorney general confirmation hearing – live

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-07-15T13:55:55+00:00

Trump’s nominee for attorney general – also his former personal defense lawyer – faces questions from senators as he attempts to take the top justice department roleSign up for the Breaking News US emailDuring his opening remarks, Durbin slammed Blanche for a number of his decisions while both as deputy attorney general and his role as the nation’s acting top prosecutor.He criticized Blanche for his work establishing the almost-$2bn dollar “weaponization fund” used to pay out defendants who took part in the January 6 insurrection and born out of Donald Trump’s settlement with the IRS. “Despite

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Green Gold Animation opens Chhota Bheem eatery

Source: The Hindu Business Line – Markets · Published: 2026-07-15T13:55:17+00:00

The group targets 25 Chhota Bheem Cafés in the first phase, with an investment of Rs ₹50 crore over the next few months

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EN DIRECT, guerre en Ukraine : Donald Trump estime que Vladimir Poutine est « prêt à conclure un accord » pour mettre fin au conflit

Source: Le Monde - International · Published: 2026-07-15T13:50:55+00:00

Le président américain a affirmé dans un entretien à Fox News que la guerre entre la Russie et l’Ukraine pourrait être résolue rapidement, estimant qu’elle pourrait s’achever durant son mandat. « Je pensais même qu’elle se serait terminée plus tôt », a-t-il ajouté.

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EN DIRECT, guerre en Ukraine : Donald Trump estime que Vladimir Poutine est « prêt à conclure un accord » pour mettre fin au conflit

Source: Le Monde - International · Published: 2026-07-15T13:50:55+00:00

Le président américain a affirmé dans un entretien à Fox News que la guerre entre la Russie et l’Ukraine pourrait être résolue rapidement, estimant qu’elle pourrait s’achever durant son mandat. « Je pensais même qu’elle se serait terminée plus tôt », a-t-il ajouté.

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What DOGE saved, and what it cost

Source: Al Jazeera - World · Published: 2026-07-15T13:46:35+00:00

The US government project that slashed foreign aid died on July 4. AJLabs looks at the cost in lives around the world.

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Ціна на аукціонах "Енергоатому" не має ознак штучного заниження чи завищення, - Орлова

Source: UNIAN (General) · Published: 2026-07-15T13:37:00+00:00

Ціна 5 тис. грн/МВт-год на аукціонах "Енергоатому" відповідає ринку, стверджує аналітик / фото ua.depositphotos.comУчасники аукціонів державної генерації законтрактували весь виставлений обсяг електроенергії,...

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Former Obama White House counsel to face House questioning over Epstein ties

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-07-15T13:35:11+00:00

Kathryn Ruemmler welcomes closed-door interview and says she had no knowledge of ongoing criminal activityKathryn Ruemmler, who served as White House counsel under Barack Obama, is set to testify on Wednesday before the House committee on oversight and reform about her ties to Jeffrey Epstein as part of the panel’s investigation into the convicted sex offender.Ruemmler came under scrutiny earlier this year after her name appeared thousands of times in the records related to Epstein that were released by the justice department under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. She announced in February

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