Detained American Stephen Hubbard released by Russia as Witkoff meets Putin

President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff landed in the Russian city of St. Petersburg on Wednesday morning, a Kremlin aide confirmed.

LONDON -- President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff traveled to Russia on Wednesday to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and oversee the release of Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired teacher from Michigan who had been in Russian detention since 2022, according to reports in Russian state-run media. Witkoff landed in the Russian city of St. Petersburg on Wednesday morning, a Kremlin aide confirmed, ahead of the planned meeting with Putin. Trump's envoy thanked Putin for freeing Hubbard, according to a readout of the meeting published by Russia's state-run RIA Novosti news agency. Putin said that Hubbard -- who was detained in eastern Ukraine in April 2022 -- was taken to St. Peterburg's Pulkovo Airport, the readout said. In this photo taken from video released by the Moscow City Court Press Service shows Stephen Hubbard in the Moscow City court in Moscow, Russia, Oct. 7, 2024.(Moscow City Court Press Service via AP, File)Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters on Wednesday that Witkoff was set to meet with Putin at St. Petersburg's Constantine Palace "in the first half of the day," as quoted by Russian state media. Witkoff arrived in St.

LONDON -- President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff traveled to Russia on Wednesday to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and oversee the release of Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired teacher from Michigan who had been in Russian detention since 2022, according to reports in Russian state-run media. Witkoff landed in the Russian city of St. Petersburg on Wednesday morning, a Kremlin aide confirmed, ahead of the planned meeting with Putin. Trump's envoy thanked Putin for freeing Hubbard, according to a readout of the meeting published by Russia's state-run RIA Novosti news agency. Putin said that Hubbard -- who was detained in eastern Ukraine in April 2022 -- was taken to St. Peterburg's Pulkovo Airport, the readout said. In this photo taken from video released by the Moscow City Court Press Service shows Stephen Hubbard in the Moscow City court in Moscow, Russia, Oct. 7, 2024.(Moscow City Court Press Service via AP, File)Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters on Wednesday that Witkoff was set to meet with Putin at St. Petersburg's Constantine Palace "in the first half of the day," as quoted by Russian state media. Witkoff arrived in St.

Canada’s record-setting $90 million Lotto Max jackpot has been won by a ticket sold in Alberta following Tuesday night’s draw, the OLG confirmed. The historic jackpot, first announced on Oct. 14, surpasses the previous Canadian lottery record of $85 million.

POLITICSWednesday, October 21, 2026 10:56AMPedro Rivera has breaking details. WEST BANK (WABC) -- Brad Lander, the Democratic nominee for New York's 10th Congressional District and former New York City comptroller, said Wednesday that he was detained by the Israel Defense Forces while participating in an olive harvest in the West Bank. In a social media post, Lander wrote: "I've been detained by the IDF, along with a group of rabbis & volunteers. We were simply harvesting olives in a grove near Nehalim in the West Bank. " He added, "The occupation is a crime under international law. Harvesting olives isn't a crime under any law I know. "According to the Israeli human rights group Rabbis for Human Rights, Lander was among roughly 90 volunteers and activists detained Wednesday while accompanying Palestinian farmers during the olive harvest near the village of Nahalin, outside Bethlehem. The group said volunteers had been helping farmers harvest olives on land they had been unable to access since Oct. 7.

Smiles, strength and hope filled the Prima Luna reception hall in Montreal’s Rivière-des-Prairies borough on Saturday, as dozens gathered for the fifth annual breast cancer fundraiser in support of St. Mary’s Hospital, raising money for treatments and services for women affected by the disease. “I am a fighter,” said Rosa Di Paolo, organizer of the event. “I want to help.”