I’ve stayed in over 70 Airbnbs solo, here’s how to find the perfect stay

The Independent - Oct 18, 2026

Having booked dozens of stays on the rental app, solo travel expert Lydia Swinscoe shares nine invaluable tips for choosing the very best bedrooms when going it alone

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Zelenskyy urges support for new US sanctions on Russia put on hold by Trump
Oct 18, 2026
Zelenskyy urges support for new US sanctions on Russia put on hold by Trump

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged supporters Saturday to speak out in favor of new U.S. sanctions against Russia, hours after President Donald Trump signed an executive order putting the sweeping restrictions on hold. The White House decision has heightened fears that Ukraine could be left exposed to Moscow’s escalating attacks as winter approaches. Overnight Russian attacks killed at least four people, including an ambulance driver, and wounded dozens, officials said. Ukrainian drones killed a woman in a Russian border region and disrupted flights at Moscow’s airports, according to Russian authorities. In a social media statement, Zelenskyy called Trump’s decision unfortunate but avoided directly criticizing the U.S. leader despite deepening tensions between Ukraine and Washington in recent days. “A decision was unfortunately made in America to completely disregard the Lindsey Graham Act, which was supposed to impose truly effective pressure on Russia to bring this war to an end,” Zelenskyy wrote. “This Act could have helped enormously – and s

Mass protests in France spiral into worst riots in years
Oct 18, 2026
Mass protests in France spiral into worst riots in years

PARIS — Rioting erupted in cities across France on Saturday as demonstrations against rising living costs and declining public services spiralled out of control in some of the worst violence the country has witnessed for decades. While hundreds of thousands protested peacefully in street marches in scores of cities, violent fringe groups targeted public buildings, looted luxury boutiques and supermarkets and attacked police vehicles and officers. In Limoges, the city hall was set ablaze; in Marseille, black-clad protesters broke into city hall and defaced the building with anarchic graffiti, and in Lyon, protesters torched the city's tourist office. French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said the government would not be "intimidated" by violence, and blamed the unrest on the "ultra-left" and criminals just months before a presidential election next year. "To those who clearly want to use this violence as a 'warm-up' before the presidential election, I say clearly: We will not let ourselves be intimidated. No one will impose their political agenda through violence," he wrote in a post

Japan to launch spacecraft on mission to get samples from Martian moon
Oct 18, 2026
Japan to launch spacecraft on mission to get samples from Martian moon

TOKYO — Japan is set to launch a spacecraft on the world's first mission to bring back samples from Phobos, one of the two small, potato-shaped moons orbiting Mars. Scientists hope the mission, which is expected to take five years, will provide clues to how Phobos and its smaller sibling Deimos formed, and hopefully even shed light on the origins of life in the solar system. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s launch of the spacecraft Tuesday on a new Japanese mainstay H-3 rocket comes as the United States, China and others consider sending astronauts to Mars. Samples from Phobos will provide useful data for scientists to consider using a Martian moon as a base for a future manned mission to the planet, said MMX project manager Yasuhiro Kawakatsu. “Despite their potential importance, Martian moons have never been fully investigated," Kawakatsu said. “They are known as the most important unclimbed mountains in the solar system." Japan leads the international mission that includes equipment and communications support from NASA and other national space agencies. JAXA aims to stud

Major fire breaks out in Alberta after deadly incident at military base
Oct 18, 2026
Major fire breaks out in Alberta after deadly incident at military base

EDMONTON, Alberta — Canada’s defense minister said Saturday that people were killed and injured in an incident at a military base in Alberta that caused a major fire. “I’m saddened to share that there have been both fatalities and injuries as a result of an incident on the base,” Defense Minister David McGuinty said. McGuinty did not provide casualty figures or details about what caused the incident. He said the Royal Canadian Mounted Police were involved in the investigation and described the situation as “very, very active and delicate.” The Canadian Armed Forces and federal, provincial and local authorities were coordinating the emergency response, he said. The nearby community of Wainwright was providing hospital and firefighting support. The Municipal District of Wainwright said the fire had crossed the base’s fence earlier Saturday and was spreading rapidly due to high winds. Firefighters from multiple jurisdictions were responding, and no evacuation order was in effect. “Our thoughts are with all the brave women and men affected,” Prime Minister Mark Carney said

Truck drives through soccer field during game in Kansas, killing 2 and hospitalizing 11
Oct 18, 2026
Truck drives through soccer field during game in Kansas, killing 2 and hospitalizing 11

WICHITA, Kan. — A woman drove a truck through a soccer field during a youth game in Kansas on Saturday, killing two people and sending 11 other victims to the hospital, authorities said. A 6-year-old boy and a 35-year-old man were killed, Wichita Police Capt. Aaron Moses said. The ages of the injured people ranged from 5 to 68. Moses said the driver, a 34-year-old, was in custody. He did not say whether authorities believe it was intentional. “We are still working to determine how this happened and why this happened,” he said. Two children were also in the truck, Moses said. Police Chief Joe Sullivan said that immediately after the incident, and before first responders arrived at the scene, people “sprang into action” to provide lifesaving assistance to the victims. “It was truly amazing,” Sullivan said. “But I think it's indicative of the Wichita community.” Authorities said there was no further public threat. Mayor Lily Wu advised people to avoid the area during the investigation and said the news was heartbreaking. “My thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected, es

Out-of-control truck kills 13 at Hindu festival in India
Oct 18, 2026
Out-of-control truck kills 13 at Hindu festival in India

NEW DELHI, India — A speeding truck in India killed 13 people when it ploughed into a crowd at a Hindu festival, officials said on Sunday, with President Droupadi Murmu describing the deaths as "heartbreaking." The heavily loaded truck reportedly lost control in the early hours of Sunday and hit devotees gathered at a temple in Gwalior, in the central state of Madhya Pradesh. The Press Trust of India news agency cited hospital officials as saying 13 people had died. "I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and pray for the swift recovery of those injured," Murmu said on social media. India, with 1.4 billion people, recorded more than 183,000 road traffic deaths in 2025, or over 500 a day, according to the roads ministry. Many are linked to inadequate road infrastructure, ill-maintained vehicles and exhausted drivers, according to official data.

French police arrest 1,800 after violent clashes and looting mar protests
Oct 18, 2026
French police arrest 1,800 after violent clashes and looting mar protests

PARIS — Police arrested at least 1,800 people across France after violent groups clashed with officers and looted shops during nationwide demonstrations that drew hundreds of thousands of people who denounced rising living costs and poor conditions in schools. Authorities said masked groups on Saturday set fires and attacked public buildings, including city halls, in several cities. In Limoges, a city in central France, flames engulfed the 19th-century City Hall, causing its roof to collapse. Haute-Vienne prefect Maurice Barate told LCI television that the fire was deliberately set and nearly destroyed the building. The fire was under control Sunday. French President Emmanuel Macron will hold an emergency meeting with top government officials on Sunday afternoon, before addressing the nation at 8 p.m., according to his office. “The right to protest is a fundamental right. Deliberately and collectively sowing disorder through violence is not," Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez wrote on X, pointing to the lootings of hundreds of businesses in Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux, Rennes, St

Saudi landmark closes offices, chopper pilots killed near Yemen
Oct 18, 2026
Saudi landmark closes offices, chopper pilots killed near Yemen

RIYADH — Riyadh's Kingdom Centre skyscraper ordered remote working for office tenants on Sunday following repeated Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, as the Saudi-led coalition said two pilots were killed in a crash near the Yemen border. The imposing, 99-story landmark announced "mandatory" remote working until further notice. No reason was given for the order, but it comes a week after 13 people were killed in a major Houthi attack on Riyadh's international airport. The Saudi coalition's decade-plus war with the Iran-backed Houthis has reignited during the U.S.-Iran war, with regular attacks reported by both sides. Tenants of the Kingdom Centre, which towers over central Riyadh, include financial services giant Merril Lynch, management consultancy McKinsey and the International Monetary Fund. "Please be advised that remote working arrangements are mandatory for all office employees at Kingdom Centre, effective immediately and until further notice," the building's management said in an email seen by AFP. "Kindly refrain from attending the offices during this period," it added. The mall at

Blaze at St Petersburg oil sites as Kyiv launches more than 1,000 drones at Russia
Oct 18, 2026
Blaze at St Petersburg oil sites as Kyiv launches more than 1,000 drones at Russia

Ukrainian attacks set an oil export terminal ablaze in St. Petersburg on Sunday, as Kyiv launched more than 1,000 drones across Russia in one of its largest ever aerial bombardments. The attack comes amid deepening tensions between Ukraine and Washington, with U.S. President Donald Trump criticizing Kyiv for its strikes on Russian oil infrastructure. One person was killed and five more were wounded in the attack, which sparked fires at both the Petersburg Oil Terminal and the city’s Ruchi oil depot, said local Gov. Alexander Beglov. A logistics center belonging to Russian retailer Ozon and a data center for local tech giant VK were also targeted, both companies confirmed. Russia’s defense ministry said Sunday that its forces had destroyed 1,015 Ukrainian drones over 15 Russian regions, as well as the annexed Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea and the Black Sea. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told Russian state news agency TASS that Kyiv was “resisting” Moscow's invasion, but that Ukraine could not "change the current course of events.” Meanwhile, a woman died and at least two oth

Faithful gather to welcome Pope Leo back for Sunday blessing after cancer surgery
Oct 18, 2026
Faithful gather to welcome Pope Leo back for Sunday blessing after cancer surgery

VATICAN CITY — Catholic faithful converged on St. Peter’s Square on Sunday to welcome Pope Leo XIV back to the Vatican after surgery to remove a tumor from his lung. Leo is delivering the traditional Angelus blessing, his first official appointment since being released from the hospital on Saturday, four days after cancer surgery. The 71-year-old pontiff had the lower lobe of his right lung removed on Tuesday in the first major health event of his 17-month pontificate. The surgery confirmed he had adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer. He told a reporter in English that he was doing ‘’much better’’ as he drove away from Rome’s Gemelli hospital to return to the Vatican, well ahead of the weeklong hospital stay than had been initially anticipated. “I don’t believe it, because he was just operated on the other day,” said Cosimo Mastrocinque, a retired factory worker visiting the Vatican from the southern region of Puglia. “It is a miracle that he recovered already.” American tourists were especially eager to pray alongside the first pope born in the Unit

Indian-Origin Man Blamed ICE For Wife’s Disappearance, Arrested After Her Burned Remains Were Found
Oct 18, 2026
Indian-Origin Man Blamed ICE For Wife’s Disappearance, Arrested After Her Burned Remains Were Found

Indian-origin man Gurinder Gill has been arrested in California for his wife Jasmine Gill’s murder after claiming ICE agents had detained her.

France protests turn violent: Over 1,800 arrested amid nationwide clashes and looting as riots devastate Paris streets
Oct 18, 2026
France protests turn violent: Over 1,800 arrested amid nationwide clashes and looting as riots devastate Paris streets

France counts cost of worst unrest in years to the wreckage of one of its most violent days of unrest in years after protests over high prices and public services left one demonstrator dead, hundreds of police injured and nearly 2000 people arrested.Nationwide demonstrations erupted into riots on...

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