Emmy-Winning Actor Tom Skerritt Dies at 93
Tom Skerritt, the Emmy-winning actor whose six-decade career included commanding performances in Alien, Top Gun and the television series Picket Fences, has died at the age of 93. His family and publicist confirmed the death, and his publicist said he died from natural causes.
Russia Frees US Prisoner and Agrees to Ukraine Talks
Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired schoolteacher from Michigan who had been jailed in Russia since 2022 on charges of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine, has been released and returned to the United States. The release came during a visit to St. Petersburg by President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, who met Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Following the meeting, Putin foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov said Russia is “ready in principle” to resume trilateral Russia-Ukraine-U.S. peace talks after Nov. 10. The announcement came as Ukraine was hit by new Russian missile strikes.
Judge Orders Trump Deposition in BBC Defamation Lawsuit
A U.S. federal judge has ordered President Donald Trump to sit for a deposition by Dec. 11 in his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC, warning that failure to cooperate could lead to sanctions, including dismissal of the case. The suit stems from a Panorama documentary.
The BBC has accused Trump of trying to postpone his deposition until January 2027.
ICC Wins EU Sakharov Prize Amid US Sanctions
The International Criminal Court has been awarded the European Union’s Sakharov Prize for human rights and democracy, a decision announced less than two weeks after the Trump administration imposed sanctions on the court. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola called the prize recognition of the court’s work in upholding international law and justice.
France Reports First Human Case of Shamonda Virus
French health authorities have recorded the first known human infection with Shamonda virus, a bunyavirus normally found in livestock and spread by infected midges. The patient, who had a severely compromised immune system, died in early October, and investigators are examining whether the virus contributed to the death.
Officials described the case as exceptional and said there is no apparent public health risk.
Magnitude 7 Earthquake in Tibet Kills at Least 16
A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Tibet in southwestern China, killing at least 16 people and injuring dozens, according to Chinese state media. Local medics reported 32 wounded, and more than 300 homes were toppled. State television said it was the strongest quake to hit the remote Himalayan region in five years.
Ilhan Omar to Move After Federal Raid on Home
U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar said she will move out of her Washington, D.C., apartment after federal agents searched the residence last week as part of an immigration investigation. The Minnesota Democrat cited safety concerns and death threats, saying publicity from the raid made her address public.
Final Michigan Senate Debate Turns on Loyalty Attacks
In the final debate of the Michigan Senate race, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers repeatedly questioned each other’s loyalties while also clashing on policy. El-Sayed accused Rogers of being too devoted to President Trump, while Rogers charged that El-Sayed was insufficiently loyal to the country. The exchange was more cordial than their previous debate.
Germany Arrests Ukrainian Man Suspected of Spying for Russia
German federal prosecutors said police have arrested a Ukrainian man suspected of spying for Russian intelligence. He is alleged to have gathered defense-related information on tank and munitions production and on NATO’s eastern flank. The German military has raised the threat level for Russian sabotage against German troops and facilities.
RFK Jr. Adviser Calley Means Resigns From Trump Administration
Calley Means, a top adviser to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and a leading advocate of the Make America Healthy Again movement, has resigned from the Trump administration. Administration officials said he had grown frustrated by a lack of progress on MAHA priorities.
Trump Rallies for Ashley Hinson in Iowa Senate Race
President Donald Trump held a rally in Sioux City, Iowa, on Thursday to boost Republican turnout for Senate candidate Ashley Hinson in a state that has become less reliably Republican. The visit ties Hinson more closely to a president whose approval ratings are weak.
Hinson recently condemned an attack ad by Ohio Republican governor candidate Vivek Ramaswamy that featured opponent Amy Acton’s estranged mother, putting her at odds with Trump.