Russia Frees American Stephen Hubbard After Four Years
Russia has released Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired schoolteacher from Michigan who had spent more than four years in a Russian prison after being accused of fighting as a mercenary alongside Ukrainian forces. President Vladimir Putin announced the release during talks in St. Petersburg with Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s special envoy, and said Hubbard had been taken to Pulkovo Airport. Both Witkoff and Trump confirmed the release, which followed a request from Trump. Hubbard was jailed in 2022.
The release came during Witkoff’s visit to Russia, which the Kremlin confirmed began with his arrival in St. Petersburg on Wednesday morning. The timing places the prisoner release alongside a broader U.S. diplomatic push toward Moscow.
Pope Leo XIV Needs No Further Lung Cancer Treatment
Pope Leo XIV will require no further treatment for lung cancer after follow-up tests confirmed the disease was localized, the Vatican said in a statement. The 71-year-old pontiff had the lower lobe of his right lung removed last week and was discharged from hospital on Saturday. Doctors Luigi Carbone and Stefano Margaritora said the tumour was a pulmonary adenocarcinoma that had not spread. It remained unclear whether Leo would proceed with a planned November trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru.
Saudi Arabia Cancels Investor Summit as UK Sends Jets and US Withdraws Diplomats
The United Kingdom is sending Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jets to Saudi Arabia to fly defensive missions over cities and critical infrastructure as Iran-aligned Houthi rebels in Yemen escalate missile and drone attacks on the kingdom. British Defence Secretary Wes Streeting called the attacks “absolutely despicable and dangerous for the region.” The Ministry of Defence said the warplanes would operate in a defensive role and not be used to attack the Yemeni group.
Saudi Arabia cancelled its flagship 2026 “Davos in the Desert” investment conference until 2027 and ordered government staff to work from home. The United States has ordered some diplomats and the families of U.S. government employees to leave Saudi Arabia because of the Houthi threat, the State Department said. The Guardian reported that similar withdrawals were being considered in the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Qatar and Bahrain, and that near-daily attacks killed at least three people at an airport and oilfield on Wednesday evening.
Russia Agrees to Resume Trilateral Ukraine Peace Talks
During the same St. Petersburg meeting that produced Hubbard’s release, Putin agreed in principle to resume trilateral Russia-Ukraine-United States peace talks after 10 November, Putin foreign-policy adviser Yuri Ushakov told reporters. The announcement followed Witkoff’s earlier meetings in Oslo with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders. Washington is seeking to revive U.S.-led efforts to end the war. Moscow also said the leaders of Russia, the United States and China would meet in Shenzhen next month, and it noted that a U.S. diesel deal easing sanctions on Russia has angered Kyiv and European capitals.
Elon Musk Says SpaceX and Tesla Exploring Merger
Elon Musk said his companies SpaceX and Tesla are exploring a merger that would combine rockets, electric vehicles and artificial intelligence into a single entity valued at well over $3 trillion. Musk, who is chief executive and largest shareholder of both firms, called the tie-up a “good idea” with “a lot of merit” and said special committees had been formed at each company to study the possibility. Share prices of both companies rose on the remarks, though Musk warned it was premature to assume a deal would happen.
Nigeria Confirms First Ebola Case Linked to East Africa
Nigeria has confirmed its first Ebola case, involving a woman who arrived on a flight from Uganda and tested positive in Abuja. Sources said the patient is not Nigerian; she is in isolation in an Abuja hospital. The case is linked to an outbreak that began in the Democratic Republic of Congo in mid-May and has since spread in the region. Kenya confirmed its first case earlier this month and has recorded nine infections.
Drone Strike Kills at Least 153 in Disputed Abyei Region
A drone strike on a market next to a fuel depot in the disputed Abyei region on the Sudan-South Sudan border killed at least 153 people and left dozens injured, local officials said. South Sudanese authorities and local officials blamed Sudan’s military for Monday’s attack, which caused a large fire. Médecins Sans Frontières said it was treating 20 wounded people. The strike pushed the death toll from attacks in recent days above 250.
Arsenal Draw with Bayern Munich; Real Madrid Beat Leipzig
Arsenal drew 2–2 at Bayern Munich in the Champions League after Declan Rice scored a late equaliser. Eberechi Eze had put Arsenal ahead, Alphonso Davies levelled for Bayern and Harry Kane converted a penalty before Rice struck. Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka limped off with an early injury.
Real Madrid maintained a perfect start in the competition by beating RB Leipzig 4–1, with goals from Bernardo Silva, Arda Güler, Kylian Mbappé and Yan Diomande; Tidiam Gomis scored for Leipzig. Mbappé has found the net in all three European matches this season, taking his tally to 12 goals. Aston Villa also made it three wins from three by defeating Norwegian side Viking.
India 'Cockroach' Leaders Freed After Week in Tihar Jail
Two leaders of India’s Cockroach Janta Party, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, have been released from Tihar Jail after a week in custody. They were freed after pledging not to call for protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, where demonstrations have demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Police had accused the pair of breaking into an unauthorised protest venue.
US Embassy Accuses Canada of Election Meddling
The U.S. Embassy in Ottawa has accused Canada of trying to interfere in the upcoming U.S. midterm elections, circulating a memo that claimed Canadian ministers and premiers openly describe plans to influence American politics. The embassy cited Canadian tariffs, political meetings and anti-Trump advertising as evidence. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney dismissed the allegation, noting that the United States had initiated trade actions against Canada.