Independent News & People Network Desk of News

Trump hails Russia’s release of US teacher amid Witkoff’s visit – politics live

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-10-21T10:49:20+00:00

US was not required to give anything in return for Stephen Hubbard’s release ‘out of respect for President Trump’, he claimsSign up for Breaking News US emailThe US president has just posted on Hubbard’s release, saying: “Welcome home Stephen, it’s great to have you back.”The statement posted on his Truth Social says the prisoner release was the result of a direct request Trump made to Putin in a telephone call last week.The United States, out of respect for President Trump, was not required to give anything in return - an unprecedented situation for Russia.There was no “swap” necessary for th

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Trump hails Russia’s release of US teacher amid Witkoff’s visit – live

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-10-21T10:49:20+00:00

US was not required to give anything in return for Stephen Hubbard’s release ‘out of respect for President Trump’, he claimsSign up for Breaking News US emailThe US president has just posted on Hubbard’s release, saying: “Welcome home Stephen, it’s great to have you back.”The statement posted on his Truth Social says the prisoner release was the result of a direct request Trump made to Putin in a telephone call last week.The United States, out of respect for President Trump, was not required to give anything in return - an unprecedented situation for Russia.There was no “swap” necessary for th

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РФ відправить перший танкер з дизелем до США вже завтра: в Україні підрахували обсяги

Source: UNIAN (General) · Published: 2026-10-21T10:47:00+00:00

Уповноважений президента України з питань санкційної політики заявив, що цього дизельного пального вистачить менше ніж на 2 години споживання в США.

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Burnham to face Badenoch at PMQs as Labour accused of ‘climate vandalism’ after Jackdaw gasfield approved – UK politics live

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-10-21T10:42:49+00:00

The Jackdaw field will start supplying gas to homes and businesses from the end of the month, the government saidHere is an explainer by Jill Ambrose about the Jackdaw decision.But environmental groups have condemned the decision. Ami McCarthy, head of politics for Greenpeace UK, said:Approving Jackdaw shows the toxic grip fossil fuel lobbyists still hold over our energy policy. Andy Burnham promised pragmatism [see 8.40am], but there is nothing pragmatic about rubber-stamping a project that won’t lower energy bills, won’t boost energy security and will create just 27 full-time jobs …True prag

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Race for crucial midterms attracting vast sums of money on both sides | First Thing

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-10-21T10:40:59+00:00

Billionaire Michael Bloomberg is spending $80m to help Democratic candidates, while Trump has promised Republicans $400m. Plus a vital investigation into justice in LouisianaGood morning. Vast sums of money are being ploughed into November’s midterms, with the billionaire Michael Bloomberg spending $80m to help Democratic candidates, and Donald Trump announcing he intends to spend $400m to aid Republican candidates, with $300m already disbursed.Bloomberg made the contributions in September and October, particularly focused on Democrats running to flip the US House of Representatives. Democrats

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Trump calls for data center ‘dividends’ in bid to win over midterm voters – US politics live

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-10-21T10:39:15+00:00

President’s social media post says sites should pay the communities where they will be located and comes amid growing unpopularity of facilitiesSign up for Breaking News US emailWitkoff announced this morning that Russia authorities had freed Hubbard, the first American known to be convicted of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine. Hubbard, who grew up in Michigan, had been living with his Ukrainian wife in the eastern Ukrainian city of Izyum. He was arrested when the Russians briefly took over the city at the start of the war in 2022.In 2024, he was sentenced to nearly seven years in priso

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Travel platform Onto debuts with $1 million pre-seed funding

Source: The Hindu Business Line – Markets · Published: 2026-10-21T10:38:08+00:00

Offers “Price Drop Refund” feature which automatically refunds travellers the difference if the price of their hotel booking falls after the reservations are made

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GRAP-1 curbs imposed in Delhi-NCR as air quality slips into 'poor' category

Source: The Hindu Business Line – Markets · Published: 2026-10-21T10:35:15+00:00

"The Air Quality lndex (AQI) of Delhi which was observed 179 (Moderate category)on October 20, has exhibited a sharp rise with AQI of 244 at 2 pm on October 21 (Poor category)," said the CAQM in a statement.

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Reader Q&A: What’s next for France after a weekend of riots? Ask our Europe columnists

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-10-21T10:32:48+00:00

At 3pm BST / 4pm CEST Friday 23 Oct, Guardian Europe columnists Rokhaya Diallo and Alexander Hurst will be live taking questions from our readers about the riots and protests in France. Send your questions by email now to conversations@theguardian.com, or join the discussion on FridayAfter weeks of protests and a weekend of riots in which a town hall was set ablaze, 2,000-plus shops were looted, 2,300 people were arrested and 1,000 police injured, the repercussions for France – for its society and its economy – continue. Allegations of police brutality surfaced, and the violent protests unnerv

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Giant tunnel proposed to tackle Windermere sewage discharges

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-10-21T10:32:12+00:00

Water company, Environment Agency and local campaigners say 12-mile tunnel could take sewage away from England’s largest lakePlans are under way for a new giant tunnel to transport sewage away from Windermere, England’s largest lake.Windermere, in the Lake District, has suffered from widespread raw sewage and bacterial pollution driven by discharges from United Utilities. Campaigners say this pollution has caused more frequent toxic blue-green algal blooms, with the public advised to avoid swimming in the lake. Continue reading...

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Macron blasts ‘unacceptable’ and ‘stupid’ commentary on protests from other leaders – Europe live

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-10-21T10:27:14+00:00

Macron says he is frustrated by the ‘visible manipulation of information’ about the events in FranceMeanwhile, French president Emmanuel Macron blasted “unacceptable” and “stupid” comments on the protests and riots in France from foreign leaders, accusing them of “campaigning at our expense.”Speaking to reporters from Doha, visibly annoyed Macron said he was frustrated by “visible manipulation of information” about the events in France, “that were unacceptable and stupid from many quarters, including from foreign leaders.”“For instance, we saw images generated by artificial intelligence depic

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Cabinet split widens as minister refuses to back Shabana Mahmood immigration policy

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-10-21T10:21:18+00:00

Miatta Fahnbulleh avoids explicitly expressing support for 15-year permanent residency wait for foreign workersUK politics live – latest updatesA cabinet split over Shabana Mahmood’s immigration policy has deepened after the energy secretary refused to say she backed plans to make foreign workers wait 15 years to claim permanent residency in the UK.Miatta Fahnbulleh said in an interview with Sky News that changes to the immigration system were needed and that they should be “based on the principle of compassion” and recognising contribution. Continue reading...

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Cabinet split widens as minister refuses to back Shabana Mahmood’s immigration plans

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-10-21T10:21:18+00:00

Miatta Fahnbulleh avoids explicitly expressing support for 15-year path to permanent residency for foreign workersUK politics live – latest updatesA cabinet split over Shabana Mahmood’s immigration policy has deepened after the energy secretary refused to say she backed plans to make foreign workers wait 15 years to claim permanent residency in the UK.Miatta Fahnbulleh said in an interview with Sky News that changes to the immigration system were needed and that they should be “based on the principle of compassion” and recognising contribution. Continue reading...

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‘Jackdaw means we pay our mortgages’: relief in Aberdeen over gasfield approval

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-10-21T10:19:18+00:00

Few believe decision will bring back city’s boom years, but workers hope it will keep as many North Sea jobs for nowUK approves Jackdaw gasfield in North SeaWhat does the UK’s approval of the Jackdaw gasfield mean?As recently as 2012, Aberdeen boasted the highest concentration of millionaires in the UK. An ATM reportedly had the highest withdrawal rate in Europe in the 90s, as oil and gas wealth flowed through the city. House prices skyrocketed in the scramble for space as fossil fuel firms transformed the city’s grand granite houses into company offices. But that was then.Today, “for sale” an

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Sensex today | Stock Market Live: Sensex ends down 143 pts, Nifty at 22,811; Nifty IT surges 2.2%

Source: The Hindu Business Line – Markets · Published: 2026-10-21T10:15:24+00:00

Sensex, Nifty, Share Prices LIVE: Markets surrendered a promising gap-up opening on Wednesday and turned lower through the session, with selling spreading well beyond the indices as breadth deteriorated sharply, 322 stocks on BSE touched fresh 52-week lows against just 81 hitting new highs, and the advance-decline ratio on the Nifty stood at a lopsided 11:39.

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Vale de Almeida: “Trump ci ha riportato all'Ottocento. La democrazia mai stata così in pericolo”

Source: Repubblica Homepage · Published: 2026-10-21T10:14:30+00:00

Intervista al veterano della diplomazia ed ex ambasciatore dell’Ue all’Onu, a Washington e a Londra che esce ora con un libro in Italia: “L’Occidente sta implodendo, si sta autodistruggendo. L’ordine mondiale è in terapia intensiva. Con Putin anche noi occidentali abbiamo commesso degli errori, ma poi lui ha scelto il lato oscuro"

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Gujarat asks factories to curb power usage as demand surges

Source: The Hindu Business Line – Markets · Published: 2026-10-21T10:10:24+00:00

Half of India’s coal-fired plants face critically low stocks as demand surges on hotter weather and industrial activity

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