20.10.2025 – WEEKLY BRIEFING

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  • Thieves steal ‘priceless’ jewelry from the Louvre in 7-minute raid – 19.10.2025

On October 19, 2025, the Louvre Museum in Paris was the target of a highly organized seven-minute robbery. The perpetrators used a truck-mounted ladder to gain access to the Apollo Gallery, one of the museum’s most ornate rooms, and stole eight out of nine pieces from the French Crown Jewels collection dating back to the Napoleonic era. The stolen items included tiaras and necklaces once worn by Queen Marie-Amélie, Queen Hortense, and Empress Eugénie, while only Empress Eugénie’s crown was recovered at the scene in a damaged state. According to French authorities, the unarmed thieves threatened museum guards with angle grinders and escaped on motorcycles. The incident is being investigated as aggravated theft by an organized gang and criminal conspiracy. French President Emmanuel Macron described the theft as an attack on France’s cultural heritage and assured that all efforts are being made to recover the artifacts and apprehend the suspects. Officials noted that the operation appeared meticulously planned, with possible international involvement not ruled out.

  • North Korean soldier defects to South Korea across the rivals’ heavily fortified border – 19.10.2025

On Sunday, a North Korean soldier defected to South Korea by crossing the heavily fortified central section of the inter-Korean border, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff. The soldier, who expressed an intention to resettle in South Korea, marked the first known military defection since August 2024, when another North Korean staff sergeant fled through the eastern border. Such defections are rare due to the Demilitarized Zone’s (DMZ) extensive security measures, including land mines, tank traps, barbed wire fences, and armed troops. The DMZ, despite its name, remains one of the most militarized borders in the world, and satellite imagery has recently shown new North Korean fortifications near the area. Since the Korean War (1950–1953), around 34,000 North Koreans have defected to South Korea, mostly via China’s less secure border. The incident occurred amid heightened tensions between the two Koreas, as North Korea continues to reject diplomatic outreach from South Korean President Lee Jae Myung. Earlier this month, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un showcased his nuclear-armed military during a large parade attended by Chinese, Vietnamese, and Russian officials, emphasizing the country’s goal of becoming an “invincible” force against external threats.

  • Afghanistan and Pakistan pledge to respect ceasefire after more than a week of deadly fighting – 19.10.2025

Afghanistan and Pakistan, following weeks of deadly clashes that killed dozens and injured hundreds, agreed on Sunday to an immediate ceasefire mediated by Qatar and Turkey. The truce aims to halt escalating hostilities that both countries have blamed on each other, with Afghanistan denying accusations of harboring militants responsible for cross-border attacks. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed in Doha that both sides signed a bilateral agreement pledging not to engage in hostile actions, support militant groups, or target each other’s forces, civilians, or infrastructure. Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif stated that cross-border terrorism from Afghan territory would cease immediately and that both nations would respect each other’s sovereignty, with a follow-up meeting scheduled in Istanbul on October 25. The conflict, centered along the disputed 2,611-kilometer Durand Line, has severely disrupted trade and displaced thousands of civilians, leaving major crossings such as Torkham and Chaman largely closed. Officials from both countries expressed gratitude to Qatar and Turkey for facilitating the negotiations that led to the ceasefire.

  • Israel resumes ceasefire in Gaza and says aid deliveries will restart Monday – 20.10.2025

Gaza’s fragile ceasefire faced a serious test as Israeli forces launched airstrikes after reporting that two of their soldiers had been killed; at least 36 Palestinians were killed in the attacks. Israel later announced it would resume compliance with the ceasefire and that humanitarian aid deliveries would continue on Monday. U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the ceasefire remained in place but claimed that “rebellious elements” within Hamas were responsible for recent attacks. Egypt and other mediators continued efforts to de-escalate tensions, while Hamas denied responsibility for certain incidents. Meanwhile, Israel confirmed receiving the remains of 12 hostages from Hamas and identified two of them. The second phase of the ceasefire is expected to focus on Hamas’s disarmament, Israel’s withdrawal from additional areas in Gaza, and the establishment of an internationally backed governing authority. Since the war began, more than 68,000 Palestinians and over 1,200 Israelis have been killed.

  • Trump says US will increase tariffs on Colombia as drug trade feud escalates – 20.10.2025

U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to raise tariffs on Colombia and halt all financial aid to the country, intensifying tensions following U.S. military strikes on vessels allegedly linked to drug trafficking. The dispute escalated after Trump labeled Colombian President Gustavo Petro an “illegal drug leader,” while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth claimed U.S. forces had destroyed a rebel-affiliated vessel. Petro denied the accusation, saying the targeted boat belonged to a civilian family, and condemned Trump’s remarks as disrespectful. Colombia’s government criticized the statements as an attack on national dignity and vowed to seek international support. The episode further strained U.S.-Colombian relations, already troubled by Washington’s military operations in the Caribbean and the recent suspension of U.S. aid. Trump’s administration maintains that Colombia has failed to curb narcotics production, while Petro continues to face domestic challenges in controlling coca cultivation.

  • South Korea seeks to arrest dozens of online scam suspects repatriated from Cambodia – 20.10.2025

South Korean authorities are seeking arrest warrants for 58 of the 64 citizens recently repatriated from Cambodia for allegedly participating in online scam operations, amid investigations into whether they joined voluntarily or were coerced. The individuals were detained in Cambodia over recent months and returned to Korea on a charter flight, with four claiming they had been beaten and forced to work in scam centers. The surge in online scams across Southeast Asia since the COVID-19 pandemic has drawn global concern, with tens of thousands trafficked into such operations. South Korea has faced growing pressure to protect its nationals abroad following the death of a Korean student in Cambodia who was reportedly tortured by a scam group. Seoul estimates around 1,000 South Koreans remain trapped in Cambodian scam centers and has imposed a travel ban on affected areas while pursuing joint measures with Cambodian authorities.

  • Two dead after cargo plane skids off Hong Kong runway into sea – 20.10.2025

An Emirates cargo plane operating under Turkey’s ACT Airlines skidded off the runway and crashed into the sea at Hong Kong International Airport early Monday, killing two ground staff in an airport patrol vehicle. The Boeing 747, arriving from Dubai, veered off the runway, broke through fencing, and collided with the vehicle before coming to rest partly submerged. All four crew members survived without serious injuries. Airport officials said the patrol car was outside the runway area and that the plane had not issued a distress signal before landing. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the crash, are searching for the flight’s black boxes, and have closed one runway while keeping two others operational. The accident is Hong Kong’s deadliest aviation incident in years and only the second fatal one since the airport opened in 1998.

  • Centrist Rodrigo Paz wins Bolivia’s presidential runoff, topping right-wing rival – 20.10.2025

Centrist senator Rodrigo Paz won Bolivia’s presidential election with 54% of the vote, defeating former president Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga and ending two decades of rule by the Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) party. Paz’s victory reflected widespread frustration over the country’s severe economic crisis, marked by inflation, fuel shortages, and a lack of foreign reserves. Promising gradual market reforms while maintaining social protections, Paz plans to phase out fuel subsidies and end Bolivia’s fixed exchange rate without turning to the IMF. His running mate, former police officer Edman Lara, gained strong grassroots support for his anti-corruption stance and populist appeal, helping Paz attract working-class and Indigenous voters once loyal to MAS. Despite holding a narrow majority in Congress, Paz faces major challenges in stabilizing the economy and uniting a politically divided nation.

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