US President Donald Trump said the Gaza ceasefire remains in place, despite renewed violence between Israel and Hamas. Israel launched airstrikes across Gaza on Sunday after militants fired an anti-tank missile and gunfire at troops in Rafah, killing two soldiers. Hamas denied involvement and said it was unaware of any fighting in the area. Gaza health officials said 44 people were killed in the strikes. Both sides accused each other of breaking the truce. Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and adviser Jared Kushner are travelling to Israel to help keep the fragile ceasefire from collapsing. (PC: BBC)

Two airport ground staff died after an Emirates cargo plane skidded off the runway and crashed into the sea at Hong Kong International Airport early Monday. The Boeing 747, arriving from Dubai, veered off the runway at 3:50 a.m. and hit a patrol vehicle before breaking apart. The four crew members onboard survived and were rescued. Officials said the patrol car was outside the runway fencing and did not cause the crash. Investigators are searching for the plane’s black boxes to determine the cause. One runway remains closed, and several cargo flights have been cancelled. (PC: BBC)

An Emirates SkyCargo cargo plane from Dubai crashed at Hong Kong International Airport on Monday, killing two ground staff. Flight EK9788, operated by Turkish carrier Air ACT, skidded off runway 07R at 3:53 am local time. The Boeing 747-481 veered left mid-landing, struck a ground-service vehicle, and stopped with its nose over the seawall, partially plunging into the sea. Four crew members escaped unharmed. Two men in the ground vehicle, aged 30 and 41, were confirmed dead. Rescue operations involved fire services, marine police, and helicopters. Flight-tracking data showed sudden leftward trajectory shift after touchdown. The north runway remains closed pending debris clearance and safety inspections.

The Supreme Court has allowed the sale and bursting of CSIR-NEERI-certified green crackers in Delhi-NCR from October 18 to 20. Residents can burst them only between 6–7 am and 8–10 pm. The decision comes as Delhi’s air quality worsens, with the AQI at 296, close to the ‘very poor’ mark. Experts fear pollution may reach ‘severe’ levels during Diwali. Ghaziabad, Noida, and Gurugram are also seeing rising pollution. A survey shows 34% of families plan to burst crackers this year. Doctors have urged citizens to avoid all crackers to protect health and air quality. (PC: BBC)

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)