980 CJME

Saskatchewan finds pay dirt late, clinching postseason berth with 16-12 win

Britton Gray — Sat, 17 Oct 2026 22:15:39 +0000

The Saskatchewan Roughriders found the end zone on their final offensive drive of the game to punch their ticket to the postseason on Saturday.

Saskatchewan drove 74 yards with a clutch third-down catch from KeeSean Johnson, a 22-yard rush from quarterback Trevor Harris and finally a touchdown pass between those two as Saskatchewan defeated the Montreal Alouettes 16-12 at Mosaic Stadium.

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Quarterback Trevor Harris finished the game with 251 yards, a touchdown and one interception. Johnson finished the game with a game-high 85 yards,

Kian Schaffer-Baker had 45 yards in the game, which puts him at 1,006 yards this season — the first time he has crossed 1,000 receiving yards in a season.

Saskatchewan’s rushing defence, which was one of their strengths all season, did surrender 109 yards to Montreal backup running back Shomari Lawrence.

Where Saskatchewan will play in the postseason remains to be determined. There are multiple scenarios that can still take place depending on the Calgary Stampeders and B.C. Lions game later on Saturday and then the games next weekend.

More to come …

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Saskatoon’s College Drive closure expected to delay hospital traffic

CKOM News — Sat, 17 Oct 2026 21:38:06 +0000

Saskatoon drivers should expect delays and detours Sunday as a busy stretch of College Drive will close completely for traffic signal installations.

The City of Saskatoon said in a news release on Oct. 17 that starting at 5 a.m. crews will shut down College Drive between Hospital Drive and Wiggins Avenue on Oct. 18. The city confirmed the closure is part of ongoing roadway corridor improvements in the high-traffic area.

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The closure will directly impact access to and from Royal University Hospital and Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital. Electronic message boards and detour signs will be set up throughout the area to guide drivers safely to hospital entrances and exits.

City officials say the road restrictions will be lifted late Sunday afternoon once the new traffic lights are fully installed.

Saskatoon Transit routes may also face delays or disruptions due to the detours. Commuters relying on public transit are encouraged to check real-time bus information and active service alerts through third-party apps like Transit or Google Maps.

With crews active on the road all day, the city is reminding drivers to plan ahead and stay alert behind the wheel.

“Be cautious when travelling near work zones,” the city shared in a statement. “Obey signs and watch for workers on the other side of the pylons. Every worker is someone’s someone, and we all deserve to get home safe.”

For up-to-date details on local detours, residents can check the city’s road restriction map at saskatoon.ca/construction.

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Sask. wildlife groups and hunters sound alarm over end of CWD testing

The Canadian Press — Sat, 17 Oct 2026 21:02:17 +0000

Some hunters in Saskatchewan say the were blindsided by the province’s decision to end a program that tests for chronic wasting disease (CWD) in deer and other similar animals.

A bulletin on the province’s website says the program is to be eliminated at the end of this month.

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Darrell Crabbe, the executive director of the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation (SWF), said he was informed of the decision earlier this week and that it caught him off guard.

In a news release on Oct. 16, the federation called for the immediate reinstatement of the program, saying, the decision removes an important tool for monitoring a disease that continues to threaten Saskatchewan’s wildlife.

“Hunters have spent years submitting samples and supporting efforts to better understand CWD,” Crabbe said in the release.

“Ending this program undermines that work and leaves hunters with fewer resources to make informed decisions about the animals they harvest.”

The province said it’s ending the program because uptake from hunters has been low. Chronic wasting disease affects the brains and nervous systems of cervids, such as deer, elk and moose.

Health Canada said there’s been no reported cases of the disease in humans, but it recommends people don’t eat meat from animals known to be infected.

According to the federation, CWD was first detected in Saskatchewan in a farmed elk in 1996 and in wild deer in 2000.

Saskatchewan became the first province to detect the disease in wild deer. Neighbouring Alberta and Manitoba also operate surveillance programs to monitor the disease and guide their response.

The SWF said it is particularly concerned that provincial funding for laboratory testing of eligible game-farmed animals continues while the surveillance program serving hunters and wild cervid populations is being discontinued.

According to SWF figures, the provincial wildlife testing program costs approximately $450,000 annually, with more than $300,000 coming from the Fish and Wildlife Development Fund (FWDF), which receives a portion of hunting and angling licence revenues.

Hunters and anglers generate approximately $15 million annually through licence sales with approximately $10 million directed to general revenue, the SWF says, and it questions why a program supported substantially by licence-funded conservation dollars is being eliminated.

“Hunters and anglers already contribute millions of dollars each year through their licence purchases,” said Crabbe.

“Continuing to invest a portion of those dollars in CWD testing is a reasonable expectation. Saskatchewan’s wildlife deserves sustained attention, and hunters deserve access to a program they help fund.”

Testing provides information about where CWD occurs and how its prevalence changes over time. Ending surveillance will reduce the information available to hunters, researchers and wildlife managers working to understand and respond to the disease, the federation said.

The SWF added that anyone concerned about Saskatchewan’s wildlife should contact their local MLA, express their disappointment and call for reinstatement of the provincial CWD testing program.

“The government needs to hear directly from the people affected by this decision,” said Crabbe.

“We urge hunters to make their voices heard and ask their MLA to support restoring this essential program.”

Don Gordon, the president of the Saskatchewan Trappers Association, said the move is a step backward. He said he could see it result in less hunting, because hunters might not want to eat untested meat.

Gordon also said he worries about people wasting carcasses, which could result in the disease spreading quickly.

He said having the ability to test for the disease provided reassurance for both hunters and trappers.

“The testing for the individual that turned in the animals gave them the security that the animal was negative testing. The biggest thing … was the animals that were turned in from the various areas. They could show how the disease has spread throughout the province and what species were affected.”

Gordon said that without access to testing, hunters and trappers could unknowingly spread the disease.

“The science has proven that by redistributing a carcass that is positive can create a new positive area, and that’s the information that we’ve been told.

“Trappers are restricted in how far they can even take a roadkill animal — a distance of no more than 80 kilometres from where it was found — primarily because roadkill animals show a high prevalence of having CWD,” he said.

— with files from CJME News

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Clashes, fires and looting break out across France

Associated Press — Sat, 17 Oct 2026 20:52:15 +0000

PARIS (AP) — Violent clashes, fires and looting marred demonstrations across France on Saturday as hundreds of thousands of people marched against rising living costs and poor conditions in schools.

About 400 people were arrested nationwide, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said.

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Nuñez said 110 marches drew about 550,000 people across the country. Organizers, including the CGT labour union and students’ organizations, said about 800,000 demonstrators took to the streets.

Nuñez described troublemakers as “extremely violent, radical far-left groups” whom, he said, sought confrontations with police and targeted public buildings, including city halls and local government offices.

He said those groups have been joined by offenders willing to loot shops. Most of those arrested are adults, he said.

Some incidents were still ongoing in central Paris on Saturday night.

“There is no place for violence in our Republic,” French President Emmanuel Macron said in a message on X.

“Those who vandalized property, attacked government offices and businesses, and even looted our town halls will be prosecuted and punished.”

“We will stand united against those who sow chaos … and who prevent people from peacefully expressing their demands,” Macron added.

A car burns at Place de La Republique during a protest against rising living costs in Paris, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Emma Da Silva)

Fires and looting hit Paris and other cities

In Paris, police fired tear gas and water cannons to push back people wearing hoods and masks and throwing fireworks, paving stones and other objects at officers in the Place de la République, northeast of the Paris city centre.

Associated Press reporters saw thick black smoke rising from cars, bicycles and other vehicles, and trash bins on fire. A newspaper kiosk also burned, while several shops were looted. Several people have been injured in the clashes.

Many metro stations were closed Saturday at police request, including those around the Champs-Elysées and near the presidential palace, parliament and government offices.

Meanwhile, the majority of peaceful protesters joined a march that moved toward northwestern Paris. The crowd chanted France’s national anthem and waved flags, and some people played trumpets and violins.

In Lyon, France’s third-largest city where about 20,000 protesters joined the march, a fire broke out inside a tourist office.

In the southern port city of Marseille, some shops and a municipal police station were damaged, while protesters briefly forced their way into the lobby of City Hall.

Nuñez also reported violence by masked groups against local government buildings in Bordeaux, break-in attempts at Lille and Calais city halls and at a police station in Brest. Violence also broke out in Rennes, Toulouse, Montpellier and Grenoble, among other cities.

In Limoges, a middle-sized town in central France, the city hall was set on fire. Flames were still raging Saturday evening.

Living costs and school conditions fuel anger

Protesters across France responded to calls on social media to revive the “yellow vest” movement, which emerged in 2018 against social injustice. Demonstrators expressed widespread frustration and anger at the government as gasoline, energy and food prices have spiked in recent months.

Sonia Mabrouk, 40, said she came from a suburb west of Paris with her daughter, a high school student, to protest “everything that’s going wrong,” particularly the neglect of public services. Mabrouk, who took part in the yellow vest protests, criticized “policies that favor the rich and always hit the poorest people in their wallets.”

Many protesters could be seen wearing the fluorescent yellow vests that became a symbol of the 2018 rallies. “There’s a general sense of frustration and anger,” Mabrouk said, as she marched alongside peaceful demonstrators of all ages.

Student groups protesting since mid-September through school blockades have urged supporters to join them.

The CGT, one of France’s major labour unions, also backed the protests, calling for “higher wages and pensions, lower prices and the protection of public services that meet people’s needs.”

Far-left presidential candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who backed the high school students movement, also took part in the Paris protest Saturday.

Protester’s injury renews scrutiny of policing

Authorities opened an investigation after a young protester was badly injured Saturday and lost a hand in Saint-Etienne, Nuñez said. He declined to confirm French media reports the injury was caused by a police grenade explosion.

The incident comes as the police have drawn sharp scrutiny over their use of grenades and other riot-control weapons during recent demonstrations.

In the past weeks, France has seen thousands of arrests, hundreds of injuries and schools set on fire as the new school year descended into nationwide student protests that are influencing the country’s presidential election campaign and drawing international attention.

Among protesters, particularly gruesome wounds suffered by some teenagers have been blamed on police riot-control weapons.

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Danielle Smith is no separatist, political commentator says ahead of Alberta vote

CJME News — Sat, 17 Oct 2026 20:40:54 +0000

Albertans are preparing to head to the polls Monday to decide whether the province should remain part of Canada or hold a second, binding referendum on separation.

Brian Lilley, a political columnist for the Toronto Sun, joined The Evan Bray Show this week to discuss the vote, some of the questions involved and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s position.

Listen to the full interview or read the transcript below:

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The following questions and answers have been edited for length and clarity.

EVAN BRAY: Tell us about your chat with Danielle Smith.

BRIAN LILLEY: We had a long talk about the question everyone’s talking about, which is Question 10 on the ballot, but also the other nine questions they’ve put forward.

I’ve known Premier Smith for more than 15 years now, and it’s shocking to me how many people in eastern and central Canada think she’s a separatist because I’ve never had a hint of that. It’d be like telling me Scott Moe is a separatist. I’ve never had a hint of that.

Do they understand the frustrations their respective constituents feel about the relationship with Ottawa? Absolutely.

So we had a good conversation about Question 10, why she lowered the threshold for a referendum and why she decided to add this question. We also had a long discussion about the other nine questions, which Prime Minister Mark Carney has now come out and said people should reject.

These are nine questions that revolve around immigration, how immigration is handled by provincial governments, the costs associated with it, judicial appointments and abolishing the Senate. That last one is probably a moonshot.

But I think that if Premier Smith gets a good mandate, I’d be voting yes to the nine questions if I were an Albertan, and I’d be voting for Option 1, for Alberta to stay in Canada. I’d vote yes on the other nine because I think it’s important.

If she gets a strong mandate, I think she’ll have a lot of support for some of what she’s proposing, especially things such as judicial appointments and giving the provinces a greater say. I think she’d find allies in people such as Moe, Doug Ford here in Ontario and maybe even Wab Kinew (in Manitoba) and Tim Houston in Nova Scotia.

They’d all be able to say, “Yeah, we should have more say in appointing judges to the higher-level courts.”

BRAY: Does the referendum set Smith up for failure if she can’t get those things done, even if the majority says they want to see them happen?

LILLEY: Let’s start with the immigration question, because that’s Question 1. It asks whether the province should have a greater say. Effectively, if that question passes and she takes it to the federal government, Alberta will be asking to be treated the way Quebec is treated.

Quite frankly, that’s how all provinces should be treated. Instead, in far too many instances, Quebec has a special deal that the rest of the country doesn’t get.

Ontario has always been the worst at this. Quebec asks for something special and gets it. Other provinces say they want the same thing, and Ontario has generally taken a middle-of-the-road, go-along-to-get-along approach rather than rocking the boat.

So that hasn’t been an issue for Ontario. I think Premier Ford would agree with Premier Smith and likely Premier Moe. We should have a greater say. We should look at how the people we bring in will contribute to the economy.

This has long been a debate in Canadian immigration policy. How much should be humanitarian? How much should be about family reunification? How much should be economic?

There are a couple of questions about whether people should be eligible for social services or education, or whether they should have to pay for health care if they aren’t permanent residents or don’t have official status.

What fascinated me in talking to Premier Smith was her description of how, under the Trudeau government, the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and international student programs allowed people to bring their families with them. That had never happened before.

They estimated how much tax revenue was being generated by people in those programs compared with the costs, and the costs were 10 times the revenue. That’s really not fair. That’s not what the programs were designed for.

Starting in 2022 and accelerating in 2023, the Trudeau Liberals took all the guardrails off the temporary foreign worker programs. A lot of what Smith is proposing is an attempt to put those guardrails back in place.

Judicial appointments are another example. She told me that a couple of recent higher-court appointments opened up in Alberta and that the province wanted a say.

The federal government wouldn’t agree to let Alberta choose the judges, but provincial officials put forward names, and the two sides reached a consensus. That doesn’t require a constitutional amendment. It could simply become good practice.

BRAY: The problem is that this works if you have two leaders or two groups that can get along. The reason to have it enshrined in legislation is for the days when you have someone like Justin Trudeau at the helm, when you can’t get along and agree on these things.

LILLEY: Yeah, Trudeau was often unwilling to compromise. We see that in the excerpts from Chrystia Freeland’s new book that has just come out.

It’s striking how he would react to certain things, such as chastising a woman Freeland described as a very progressive cabinet minister. She used the term “crazy,” and Trudeau lost his mind, saying, “You can’t use the term crazy. You can call it bananas, but not crazy. That’s offensive to people with mental …”

I could see Trudeau saying, “No, we need a very progressive judge in Alberta.” In fact, that’s what he did when he was choosing Supreme Court justices from Western Canada. He picked people who were very much in a left-wing liberal mould, not even a classical liberal mould.

So, yeah, he would have been difficult to work with on that. But right now, there’s a government you could work with.

BRAY: What was behind some of the comments from Thomas Lukaszuk, the leader of the Forever Canada movement? The former Conservative politician has been criticizing Smith and Poilievre.

LILLEY: In my experience, Lukaszuk is all about himself, and he’s been accused of using Forever Canada simply for data mining.

He knows that Poilievre appointed Dane Lloyd, who’s from just outside Edmonton, to be the point person for starting up a new group. Unlike the Quebec referendum, there isn’t an official yes campaign and no campaign, so all these different groups have to operate independently of one another.

The federal Conservatives had to set up their own group. They did that. I interviewed Lloyd about it months ago. The video was out. The story was out.

Lukaszuk is saying, “Oh, they’re not doing anything,” because he was part of the Progressive Conservative government back when the Alberta PC Party had little to do with progressive conservatism. It was a vehicle for whoever wanted to gain power.

That’s when he was involved. He had a falling out with the Alberta PC Party long ago. He doesn’t like anyone who’s conservative, so he lashes out all the time. He makes crazy comments.

He should be trying to unify people, but no, it’s all about him.

Poilievre, of course, is out there telling people to vote for Alberta to stay in Canada. Smith, as I said, has never given me a whiff of being a separatist. She has said time and again that Alberta should remain in Canada.

BRAY: How much of an impact do you think provincial issues and elections will have on the makeup of Canada moving forward?

LILLEY: I think it’s going to be big, and I do hope Premier Smith does well on her nine questions. Will all of them pass? I don’t know, but I hope she gets a strong mandate to say there needs to be change.

You’ve got Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, the new leader of the Parti Québécois, and he was just sworn in yesterday as Quebec’s new premier.

He has a very different take on immigration, too. We’ve been sharing clips of him criticizing the Liberals for what they did to the system and how out of control it was. He also has a different view of what the relationship between Ottawa and the provinces should look like.

I think he’ll find some allies on certain issues, despite the fact that they won’t like that he’s a separatist. He’ll find common ground with Moe, Smith and occasionally even Ford.

It’s going to be an interesting time for Carney as he governs the country and says we all have to stand together because of the threat from Donald Trump and Washington. At the same time, the provinces will be saying, “Now, hold on a minute, buddy. We have a different view here.”

It’s not going to be smooth sailing.

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VIDEO: Davidson’s last wooden grain elevator goes out with a flash

Tracey Tufnail — Sat, 17 Oct 2026 20:40:37 +0000

A piece of Prairie history came crashing down in Davidson this week, but the demolition of the community’s last remaining wooden grain elevator delivered an unexpected jolt when the falling structure struck a live power line, knocking out electricity in the community and surrounding areas.

The Oct. 14 demolition marked the end of an era for Davidson, where wooden grain elevators once dominated the skyline and served generations of Saskatchewan farmers.

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Video of the demolition captured the towering wooden structure tipping over before a bright electrical flash appeared as it came into contact with nearby power infrastructure.

The flash was followed by a power outage affecting Davidson and neighbouring communities.

The incident also drew attention online as footage circulated showing the elevator’s final moments and the electrical flash.

The local Facebook page Davidson Days Gone By shared the demolition, reflecting on both the loss of the landmark and the unexpected outage.

“And it’s gone! We had a small power outage this morning but thank goodness, Sask Power was all over it,” said a post on the page.

SaskPower crews responded, and electrical service was subsequently restored. The exact number of customers affected and the full duration of the outage have not been confirmed. No details have been released identifying the company responsible for the demolition.

From seven elevators to none

For longtime Davidson residents, the loss represents much more than the removal of an old building.

At one time during the 1990s, Davidson was home to seven wooden grain elevators, including facilities operated by Pioneer, Saskatchewan Wheat Pool, United Grain Growers and Cargill.

The elevators formed a familiar part of the community’s landscape, standing alongside the railway and serving as important collection points for grain produced by area farmers.

They were also landmarks for generations of travellers moving through Saskatchewan’s agricultural heartland.

Over time, the traditional wooden structures were gradually replaced by larger, more efficient grain-handling facilities.

One significant change came in May 2016, when the Richardson Pioneer wooden elevator, originally constructed in 1928, was demolished.

The company had previously explained that older wooden elevators could no longer provide the capacity and efficiency required by modern grain producers.

That demolition left Davidson with just one remaining traditional wooden elevator.

On Wednesday, that final piece of the community’s historic elevator skyline disappeared.

Davidson’s disappearing elevators reflect a transformation that has taken place across Saskatchewan over the past several decades.

At one time, nearly every Prairie town along a railway line had at least one wooden grain elevator. Larger agricultural centres often had several, creating the distinctive rows of towering structures that became symbols of rural Saskatchewan.

As grain transportation and handling systems modernized, smaller country elevators were gradually closed or demolished in favour of high-capacity concrete terminals.

Davidson remains an important grain-handling location, with modern facilities operated by Cargill and Richardson Pioneer.

— with files from CJME News

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Expert says bus model involved in deadly Calgary crash considered ‘extremely safe’

Syndicated Content — Sat, 17 Oct 2026 19:44:37 +0000

CALGARY — An expert on low-carbon transportation says the roughly 1,000 compressed natural gas buses running in Canada are still considered “extremely safe” after one such bus was involved in a deadly crash in Calgary that claimed the lives of three people.

On Thursday, a chain-reaction crash happened when a transit bus hit several vehicles before rear-ending a parked bus, igniting an explosion that also left more than a dozen others injured.

Calgary police said one officer was taken to the hospital with injuries after running towards a bus as fire erupted.

One of the 12-metre-long buses involved in the crash was powered by compressed natural gas, a kind of fuel considered cheaper and more environmentally friendly than diesel gas.

Buses that run on compressed natural gas are common in public transit and have been in operation for the past two decades, said Josipa Petrunic, president and CEO of Canadian Urban Transit Research and Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC), a national non-profit focused on low-carbon transit research and planning.

“It's considered extremely safe technology, so we all need to find out what happened to create an unsafe environment in a crash situation,” Petrunic said.

There are 958 compressed natural gas-powered buses operating in Ontario, Alberta and B.C., according to a CUTRIC database report.

Petrunic said there are several heavy-duty safety mechanisms involved in building these buses, including a series of tools and technologies designed to manage leakage and reduce the risk of fire. Their tanks are also designed to withstand heavy impacts.

Usually, the most unsafe part of these buses, and any form of public transportation, is the lack of seatbelts, Petrunic said.

A spokesperson from Nova Bus confirmed that it was the manufacturer of the bus that was rear-ended in Thursday’s crash and the company is in contact with Calgary Transit.

The spokesperson also said that it was “premature to speculate on the cause before a thorough investigation has been completed.”

“Safety remains Nova Bus's highest priority, and we are offering our full cooperation to Calgary Transit and the relevant authorities as they work to establish the facts.“

Calgary Transit procures its buses from manufacturers that go through Altoona testing, a rigorous certification process for any new bus model to assess its durability and reliability before being rolled out into their fleet, said Petrunic.

The agency has nearly 250 CNG buses, which represents about 20 per cent of its fleet, according to the agency’s website. The website says the city plans to buy about 150 more this year to replace diesel buses.

As investigators continue to look into the cause of the crash, Petrunic said industry leaders will be looking into what factors went into the collision.

“A series of events had to have occurred in tandem for this cataclysmic event to occur leading to death,” said Petrunic. “A transit crash shouldn't result in passenger deaths.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 17, 2026.

Sadeen Mohsen, The Canadian Press

Police identify 34-year-old man as victim of Red Earth homicide

paNOW — Sat, 17 Oct 2026 19:16:56 +0000

Saskatchewan RCMP continue to investigate a homicide on Red Earth Cree Nation after a 34-year-old man was found dead at a home on Thursday afternoon.

Police have identified the victim as Billy Whitecap of Red Earth Cree Nation. His death is being investigated as a homicide, according to an RCMP update issued on Oct. 16.

Carrot River RCMP received a report of an injured man at a residence on the First Nation at approximately 1:45 p.m. on Oct. 15. Officers responded and located the man, who was declared dead at the scene by emergency medical services.

A dangerous persons alert was issued at approximately 3:37 p.m. Thursday after police determined there was a potential imminent risk to public safety on Red Earth Cree Nation and in the surrounding area.

The alert was cancelled at approximately 8:10 p.m. after investigators determined there was no longer an imminent threat to public safety.

No suspect has not been arrested, and Saskatchewan RCMP’s Homicide Investigation Unit continues to work to identify and locate a man described as about five-foot tall. He was last seen wearing a Canada Goose vest and sweatpants.

RCMP say the public will be notified if investigators identify a renewed risk to public safety.

Investigators are asking residents of Red Earth Cree Nation to review security camera and doorbell camera footage recorded between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Oct. 15.

Anyone whose cameras captured suspicious activity during that period is asked to report the information to police immediately.

Information can be provided to local police by calling 310-RCMP. Anyone facing an emergency should call 911.

Saskatchewan RCMP remain on Red Earth Cree Nation, and police say an increased police presence will continue in the area for an undetermined period.

Investigators say they are unable to release further details at this time. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

— with files from CJME News

Zelenskyy urges support for new U.S. sanctions on Russia

Associated Press — Sat, 17 Oct 2026 19:00:00 +0000

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged supporters Saturday to speak out in defence of new U.S. sanctions against Russia, hours after President Donald Trump signed an executive order pausing a sweeping package of restrictions targeting the Russian economy.

The White House decision has further raised fears that Ukraine could be left exposed to Moscow’s escalating assaults with winter approaching.

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Russian attacks overnight 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 statement on social media, Zelenskyy described Trump’s move to put sanctions on hold as unfortunate, but did not directly criticize 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.

He separately thanked Democrats and Republicans who backed the legislation. He said blocking it would encourage Russia to continue killing, and limiting Ukraine’s ability to retaliate against Russian attacks would not bring peace.

“Nevertheless, we very much hope — and I personally hope — that the president of the United States of America will do everything possible to make (Russian President Vladimir) Putin stop the killing, stop the attacks on our energy infrastructure, and end this war,” he said.

Asked about contacts with Washington, Zelenskyy said that Ukraine’s lead negotiator, Rustem Umerov, met with U.S. presidential envoy Jared Kushner, who is also Trump’s son-in-law, on Friday.

He said that the U.S. was working to arrange a trilateral meeting with both him and Putin. He said it could take place in the Middle East, Europe or the U.S.

Critics say Trump’s decision helps Putin

Named after late South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, the legislation had sought to clamp down more quickly on the flow of financial resources fuelling Russia’s 4 1/2-year-old war against Ukraine.

The bill had sought to sanction Russian officials, banks and a shadow fleet of tankers that keeps Russian energy moving.

Trump personally signed the legislation just last month and his move came just two days before a deadline set in the law itself for its implementation. Trump told Congress that the pause was in the national interest but gave no further details.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who co-drafted the bill, criticized Trump’s move, saying the president turning his back on “the majority of Americans, their representatives in both houses of Congress, and our European allies.”

“These waivers have nothing to do with our national security, and everything to do with sucking up to Vladimir Putin,” Blumenthal said.

Trump’s unexpected decision comes a week after he had agreed to purchase diesel from Russia to try to bring down global energy prices, despite that potentially hurting Ukraine.

Republicans and Democrats alike say the purchase will help Russia execute its war against Ukraine — without making a difference to global fuel prices, which are elevated mostly due to Trump’s war on Iran.

Zelenskyy said that Kyiv was investigating sudden speed restrictions on Ukraine’s use of Starshield, the military-grade version of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service, which is the backbone of Ukraine’s drone operations and communication.

The restrictions, imposed without warning early Thursday, cut the internet data connection when a communication terminal moves faster than 160 kph (100 mph). The cap forced Ukrainian drones to fly slower than usual, making it easier for Russian weapons to target or evade them.

Zelenskyy said that there were no similar restrictions in European Union countries and apply only to Ukraine. “In other words, this is a planned operation,” he said.

It was unclear who was responsible.

SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk said this week that the U.S. government owns and controls the system, with decisions about its use resting with the U.S. military and, ultimately, the president. The Pentagon has not answered questions from The Associated Press sbout the restrictions.

Trump told reporters Friday that he did not order restrictions on the system. He also doubted that the disruption came from Musk.

“Well, I don’t know if it was anybody, but it wasn’t me, and I don’t think it was Elon,” Trump said. “And from what I understand, it’s the same as it’s always been.”

People walk past a crater in front of a residential building damaged by a Russian airstrike in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Kateryna Klochko)

Kyiv says Moscow carried out a ‘massive’ energy strike

Moscow carried out a massive strike on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, targeting more than 15 sites across the country, Zelenskyy said.

“The sheer scale and unrelenting pace of Russia’s strikes, specifically against our energy sector, are unfortunately having severe consequences,” he said.

Ukraine’s air force said it intercepted all four of Russia’s cruise missiles and most of 332 attack drones it fired overnight.

Russia’s heavy bombardment of the power grid ahead of winter has been an annual feature of the war, aimed at wearing down Ukraine’s appetite for the fight by denying civilians heat and running water. Ukrainian officials have warned that Russia is stockpiling ballistic missiles for more attacks in the coming months.

Russian attacks killed three people in the Ukrainian city of Sloviansk, Vadym Liakh, head of the city military administration, said Saturday. A Russian strike also killed an ambulance driver in Ukraine’s Kherson region, head of the local military administration Yaroslav Shanko said. The strike, which used guided bombs, wounded at least 33 others, he said.

A Russian woman was killed in a Ukrainian drone attack in the Russian border region of Belgorod, local officials said.

Russia’s Ministry of Defense said Saturday that its forces shot down 610 Ukrainian drones overnight over 15 Russian regions, as well as the annexed Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea and the Black Sea.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that more than 100 drones were shot down en route to the capital. More than 350 flights were canceled or delayed at Moscow airports, local media reported, as planes were grounded in response to incoming drones.

The Kremlin announced Saturday that Putin approved a government program to help restore trade and logistics facilities damaged in drone attacks.

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Trump’s decision to waive Russian sanctions outrages Congress

Associated Press — Sat, 17 Oct 2026 18:38:38 +0000

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s abrupt decision to waive sanctions on Russia days before they were to take effect drew outrage Saturday from members of Congress, which had overwhelmingly passed the legislation in a bipartisan display of American support for Ukraine in the war with Russia.

Lawmakers from both parties blasted the executive order late Friday, the latest in a series of steps that the Republican president has taken drawing the United States closer to Russia’s Vladimir Putin.

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Trump recently announced a diesel deal with Putin to import Russian energy in a long-shot effort to curb high gas prices in the U.S. that are roiling the midterm elections on Nov. 3.

“Beyond irresponsible,” said Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., on social media, hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed hope that the sanctions that were supposed to take effect Sunday targeting Russian’s economy could be revived.

“What part of enforcing a law passed 86-11 by the Senate does the President and his advisors not understand?” Tillis said.

“It’s unconscionable that this administration is capitulating to a Russian dictator who illegally invaded Ukraine.”

Tillis said that if Trump wants to actually bring down energy prices, he should resolve the Iran war, which is largely blamed for the spike at the pump, and “not by doing a solid for Vladimir Putin.”

Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas said “Lindsey would be appalled,” referring to the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who worked endlessly on the bill before he died this summer. The bill is known as the Lindsey Graham Russian Sanctions Act.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said Trump is “thumbing his nose” at Congress and “enabling Vladimir Putin to continue his war of aggression.” She urged her colleagues to take action to reverse course.

Trump’s actions come as Ukraine is bracing for a stark winter confronting Russia’s ongoing attacks on its energy infrastructure to heat homes and keep the lights on.

Zelenskyy, who has endured a rocky relationship with Trump but stayed close to the U.S. lawmakers, urged supporters to speak out on behalf of the sanctions.

The next steps are highly uncertain with the House and Senate are on recess until after Election Day.

Trump said he was waiving the sanctions indefinitely, citing national security concerns. It is unlikely Congress would be in a position to take any action to challenge Trump’s moves until lawmakers return to Washington.

Skeptics warned Trump would not follow the law

It took almost a year for Graham to persuade Trump to agree to the Russian sanctions package.

It was designed to impose steep tariffs on countries that import large amounts of Russian oil and energy products and was promoted as way to halt the flow of funds fueling Putin’s four-year war against Ukraine.

But even as Zelenskyy had watched from the visitor gallery as the Senate advanced the package after Graham’s death, skeptics in Congress warned Trump would be unlikely to follow the bill once he had signed it into law a month ago.

Last week, a bipartisan group of senators urged the Trump administration to more quickly clamp down on Russia, particularly the “shadow fleet” of tankers that Moscow is using to transport oil and bypass America’s sanctions. The senators noted that the bulk of the new law’s provisions were to be effective Sunday.

Instead, Trump soon announced the diesel deal with Putin, saying that Russia had agreed to supply tons of fuel to the U.S., where gas prices have skyrocketed in some areas and voters saying affordability issues are a top concern.

Outraged lawmakers have pledged to stop the Trump-Putin deal.

New York Rep. Gregory Meeks, the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee who had led opposition to the Graham bill — warning that Trump would flout the law — introduced legislation Friday that would block Trump’s diesel deal with Putin.

“At a time when the United States should be increasing pressure on the Kremlin, Donald Trump is cozying up to Putin and striking self-enriching deals instead of standing with Ukraine,” Meeks said in a statement.

He called the deal “corrupt” and said it “goes against everything the United States stands for.”

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