AnewZ Morning Brief - 20 October, 2025

Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for October 20th, covering the latest developments you need to know.

'Priceless' jewels stolen in raid on Louvre Museum in Paris

A manhunt is under way for a gang of thieves who carried out a broad daylight raid on Paris's Louvre Museum and stole jewels described as priceless.

French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said it took just minutes for the masked suspects to carry out the burglary on Sunday morning, shortly after the museum opened to visitors.

The gang appear to have used a mechanical ladder to reach a first-floor window, before breaking into display cases and escaping on mopeds.

Israel reverses decision to halt humanitarian aid to Gaza, to reopen crossings Monday

Israel reversed a decision to stop humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip following U.S. pressure, with Tel Aviv pledging to reopen the territory’s crossings Monday.

Channel 12, citing an unnamed political official, said Tel Aviv backtracked on its decision to suspend aid deliveries to Gaza “until further notice” after pressure from Washington.

The official added that Israel promised the U.S. that it would reopen Gaza’s crossings for humanitarian aid starting Monday.

Hamas delegation arrives in Egypt to discuss implementation of Gaza ceasefire

A Hamas delegation led by group leader Khalil al-Hayya arrived in Egypt to follow up on the implementation of a Gaza ceasefire agreement following a wave of Israeli airstrikes in the enclave.

At least 20 Palestinians were killed in a series of Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip on Sunday despite the ceasefire deal.

AZAL flight to Baku made an emergency return to St. Petersburg

A passenger plane operated by Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) was forced to return to St. Petersburg’s Pulkovo Airport on Monday while en route to Baku.

The Airbus A320 aircraft, performing flight J2-020, experienced a technical problem with its landing gear, prompting the captain to decide on an emergency return to ensure flight safety.

According to AZAL, the crew followed all standard safety procedures, including fuel reduction before landing.

Trump threatens to cut U.S. aid, subsidies to Colombia, calling President Petro 'a drug leader'

US President Donald Trump said he would end all U.S. aid and subsidies to Colombia, accusing President Gustavo Petro of overseeing large-scale drug production and failing to curb narcotics trafficking.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump called Petro “an illegal drug leader” who has allowed the cultivation of narcotics “in big and small fields all over Colombia,” despite what he described as “large-scale payments and subsidies from the USA.”

“As of today, these payments, or any other form of payment, or subsidies, will no longer be made to Colombia,” he wrote, adding that drug production in the South American nation fuels “death, destruction, and havoc” in the United States.

Ecuador declares state of emergency as protests over fuel subsidy cuts escalate

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that if the United States supplied Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine for long-range strikes deep into Russia then it would lead to the destruction of Moscow's relationship with Washington.

Less than two months since U.S. President Donald Trump met Putin at a summit in Alaska, peace looks even further away with Russian forces advancing in Ukraine, Russian drones allegedly flying in NATO airspace and now Washington talking about direct participation in striking deep into the world's biggest nuclear power.

Cargo plane slides off runway in Hong Kong

Two Hong Kong airport security staff were killed early on Monday after a cargo plane from Dubai skidded off the runway on landing, collided with their security patrol vehicle and pushed it into the sea.

The Boeing 747 involved in the deadliest airport incident in the financial hub in more than 25 years also fell into the water and was partially submerged, but all four crew members on board escaped.

Airport security staff were rescued unresponsive, with one dead at the scene and another later at the hospital, said Steven Yiu, executive director of airport operations at Airport Authority Hong Kong. 

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