After a new truce, Gazans hurried to banks hoping to withdraw money. But many found there was no cash left. Two branches of the Bank of Palestine reopened on Sunday for the first time since March. People waited in long lines only to be told the coffers were empty. Most ATMs and bank buildings were destroyed during the war. Israel has blocked new currency from entering Gaza, leaving residents to use old, torn notes or costly money transfers. Many say they cannot buy food or pay for daily needs. “We are exhausted,” said one resident. “We just need cash to live.” (PC: Reuters)

Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Taliban government have agreed to an immediate ceasefire after more than a week of deadly clashes along their shared border. The agreement was reached in talks mediated by Qatar and Turkey. Both sides said they will stop attacks and avoid targeting civilians or infrastructure. The Taliban promised not to support groups carrying out attacks inside Pakistan. At least three dozen Afghan civilians were killed in recent cross-border strikes. Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif called the truce “a step in the right direction.” Further peace talks will take place next week in Istanbul. (PC: BBC)

The fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is under strain as both sides accuse each other of breaking the truce. The Israel Defense Forces said Hamas fired an anti-tank missile and gunfire at its troops near Rafah. In response, Israel launched air strikes in southern Gaza. Hamas denied any clashes and said Israel was violating the deal. A doctor in al-Zawaida reported six deaths in an Israeli strike, while the Hamas-run Health Ministry said eight people were killed in 24 hours. The truce was part of a U.S.-backed plan aimed at easing the months-long war in Gaza. (PC: BBC)

On October 19, 2025, Paris’s Louvre Museum was hit by a daring seven-minute robbery at the Galerie d'Apollon. Thieves targeted nine historic jewels belonging to Napoleon and Empress Joséphine, entering via a basket lift and breaking display cases with chainsaws. They escaped on motorcycles, evading authorities. One stolen piece, believed to be Empress Eugénie’s crown, was recovered nearby, though damaged. The heist, executed shortly after opening hours, is being treated as highly organized. Police have launched a full-scale investigation into the audacious theft of these irreplaceable artifacts.  

Ayodhya, the city of Lord Rama, shone brightly on Sunday as over 26 lakh diyas lit up the city during Deepotsav celebrations. The event set two Guinness World Records — for lighting 26,17,215 diyas and for the most people performing diya rotation together. Organised by the Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department and the District Administration, the celebration showcased Ayodhya’s rich spiritual and cultural heritage. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath received the Guinness certificates. The Sarayu River glowed like a river of light, marking another historic Diwali for the holy city and drawing visitors from across India. 

A major robbery took place at the Louvre Museum in Paris on Sunday morning. Thieves entered through a window in an area under construction and stole several pieces of jewellery in just seven minutes. They used a basket lift and a disc cutter to break into the Apollo Gallery, which displays France’s Crown Jewels. Police said the gang appeared to have done prior scouting. One stolen jewel, believed to be Empress Eugénie’s crown, was later found broken outside the museum. No injuries were reported. The Louvre was closed for the day as police carried out forensic work. (PC: HT)

On October 19, 2025, the Louvre Museum in Paris was closed after a daring daylight robbery in the Galerie d’Apollon, home to part of the French Crown Jewels. Thieves used a basket lift to gain access, smashing display cases and stealing nine pieces of historic jewelry, including items associated with Napoleon and Empress Eugénie. The heist lasted approximately seven minutes, and the perpetrators escaped on motorcycles. No injuries were reported, and visitors were evacuated. Authorities are conducting forensic investigations, and a detailed inventory of the stolen items is underway. The museum remains closed for the day to preserve evidence.  

Israel launched airstrikes in southern Gaza's Rafah on Sunday following alleged Hamas attacks on Israeli forces with sniper fire and rocket-propelled grenades. Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 reported Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defence Minister Katz held emergency discussions with military officials. Israel's public broadcaster claimed the strike followed an "exchange of fire," while Al Jazeera reported an IED explosion injured Israeli soldiers. Hamas accused Israel of ceasefire violations. Gaza's civil defense recovered nine Palestinian bodies, including four children, after Israeli tank shells hit a bus Saturday. Both sides have traded ceasefire violation accusations for days. Under the US-brokered agreement, Hamas returned all 20 surviving hostages and 12 deceased remains, with remaining bodies requiring recovery from rubble.

The US military destroyed a suspected drug-carrying submarine in the Caribbean on Thursday, killing two people, President Trump announced Saturday. Trump claimed the vessel was "loaded mostly with Fentanyl" and would have killed "at least 25,000 Americans" if allowed ashore. Pentagon footage showed the semi-submersible exploding after strikes. Two survivors including citizens of Ecuador and Colombia were rescued and returned for prosecution. Trump justified the operation under "armed conflict" legal authority against cartels, treating traffickers as enemy combatants. This marks the sixth strike on drug vessels since early September, bringing the death toll to 29. The campaign occurs amid US military buildup in the Caribbean with 6,500 troops, destroyers, F-35s, and a nuclear submarine.

The Donald Trump administration announced the destruction of a “very large drug-carrying submarine” in the Caribbean, targeting what U.S. intelligence claimed was a vessel loaded with fentanyl and other illicit narcotics. Two suspects were killed and two survived, later repatriated to Ecuador and Colombia for prosecution. Trump asserted the strike prevented up to 25,000 American deaths from drug-trafficking, labelled the incident a blow against “narcoterrorists,” and signalled a shift in U.S. policy toward lethal military action in drug interdiction.