Putin hosts Trump envoy Witkoff for Ukraine talks, frees U.S. citizen held in Russia - The Globe and Mail

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the release of US captive Stephen Hubbard during talks with US special envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg on Wednesday. Hubbard had been taken captive by Russian forces on charges of being a mercenary, which he denies. He was sentenced to seven years in prison at a closed trial in 2024.

As a candidate positioned at the center of what researchers say are the worst Islamophobic attacks seen since the aftermath of 9/11, many would expect Abdul El-Sayed to simply defend himself and move on. Instead, the Democratic candidate for US Senate in Michigan has repeatedly demanded those who question his positions on Israel, the Muslim Brotherhood, and his faith, explain the premise of their enquiry. Rather than let others put his loyalties on trial, he has tried to put their assumptions on trial. The clearest example is a town hall exchange from this weekend that has been viewed more than 50m times. A man in the crowd demanded he disavow the Muslim Brotherhood. “Sure, yeah, absolutely,” El-Sayed said. Then: “What are you implying? Do you assume that I wouldn’t?”For five minutes he stayed on it, comparing the question to the doubts people once had about JFK’s Catholicism, and asking the man whether he would disavow reading religious doctrine into American law. The man said he wouldn’t. El-Sayed told him he was the one who needed to understand the constitution. The room cheered. The man turned out to be Thomas Teepell, a former aide to the Republican senator Josh Hawley.

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Rhoam Summer, the 5-year-old who was among the four victims fatally shot at an Oregon elementary school, is the youngest person ever killed in a deliberate mass attack at a US school, according to his family’s attorney and experts who track school shootings.

Climate16 years after one of the deadliest oil spills in history — BP's Deepwater Horizon — there is measurable evidence that wildlife is in serious decline and not recovering in the Gulf of Mexico where the disaster occurred. Through trawling, sound waves and DNA analysis, researchers showed persistent declines of around 60 per cent in some species in the years since. Fishes, crustaceans, squid show persistent declines and even chemical compounds in their tissuesAnand Ram · CBC News · Posted: Oct 21, 2026 4:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 4 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 5 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results. On April 21, 2010, a deadly explosion on the offshore oil rig Deepwater Horizon had crews battling for hours, and the resulting oil spill lasted for months. (Reuters/U. S. Coast Guard/Handout)More than 16 years after one of the deadliest oil spills in history, a highly comprehensive study has found that life in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico remains severely in decline.

Paris, France — Enzo, 17, said a police officer grabbed his arm as another struck him from behind with a baton. With his head covered in blood, he was hospitalised and needed stitches. Eden, a 14-year-old, cannot talk right now. His jaw was smashed after a police officer fired a tear gas grenade at his face in Saint-Ouen-l’Aumone. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4French protest violence: A ‘Christmas present’ for Le Pen’s far right?list 2 of 4France protests are ‘outburst of resentment’ against Macronlist 3 of 4French protests: Is it game over for Macron’s centrists before elections?list 4 of 4France PM promises more curfews as authorities seek to regain controlend of listMael, 16, cannot see from her right eye after being struck by a rubber-bullet launcher fired by the police. Since mid-September, when French high school students started revolting against the education system they say has failed them, police tactics have come under scrutiny. Lawyers and protesters who spoke to Al Jazeera accused police of stirring violence and resentment, rather than seeking to de-escalate tensions.