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Morning Brief: Trump Says Ukraine Should Cede Donbas, Xi Opens Party Meet on 2026-2030 Plan, Afghanistan-Pakistan Agree to Ceasefire

BY Guy D. McCardle

Trump targets Colombia, Gaza ceasefire falters, Xi unveils China’s new plan. Here’s your Monday morning rundown, October 20, 2025.

President Donald Trump walks alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during Zelenskyy’s visit to the White House. (@ZelenskyyUa/X)

Start your week with the top stories shaping the world this Monday, October 20, 2025. Trump slashes aid and imposes tariffs on Colombia in a heated clash with President Petro. A Marine live-fire drill at Camp Pendleton sends shrapnel into a California Highway Patrol vehicle. The US Army investigates a fatal training accident in Germany, while Trump suggests Ukraine give up Donbas to end the war. Israel’s Gaza ceasefire falters, Houthis detain UN workers in Yemen, Xi charts China’s next five-year plan, and Afghanistan and Pakistan reach a fragile truce.

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Trump Cuts Aid and Imposes Tariffs on Colombia, Accusing Petro of Failing to Fight Drug Trade

President Donald Trump announced that the US will cut financial assistance to Colombia and impose new tariffs, accusing President Gustavo Petro of failing to combat drug production.

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Trump called Petro “an illegal drug leader” and said the US would act directly if Colombia did not curb narcotics operations.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the US had recently struck a vessel linked to Colombia’s ELN rebel group, though no evidence was presented.

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Petro rejected the accusations, defended his anti-drug efforts, and denounced Trump’s comments as “rude and ignorant,” calling them a threat to Colombia’s sovereignty.

The Colombian government also condemned the statements as an illegal intervention.

The dispute marks a sharp escalation between the US and one of its main Latin American allies, potentially disrupting regional security cooperation as tensions with Venezuela rise.

 

Secret Service Finds Suspicious Hunting Stand Overlooking Air Force One Landing Zone

The US Secret Service discovered a hunting stand overlooking the area where President Donald Trump exits Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport, prompting an Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigation.

Officials said the stand, found Thursday during advance security checks, provided a direct line of sight to the aircraft.

No individuals were present, and the structure appeared to have been set up months earlier.

FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed agents are collecting evidence and using cell phone analytics to identify possible links.

The discovery follows a recent assassination attempt on Trump by Ryan Routh, who was convicted of setting up a sniper position near one of Trump’s golf courses in Palm Beach.

The FBI and local law enforcement continue to investigate the new incident.

 

US Government Shutdown Nears Record Length as Health Care Dispute Blocks Deal

The US government shutdown is set to become the second longest in history as Congress remains deadlocked over extending health care subsidies.

Democrats insist on renewing the subsidies before voting to reopen the government, while Republicans argue the issue should be addressed afterward.

House Speaker Mike Johnson has dismissed members, signaling no immediate resolution.

President Donald Trump expressed frustration over stalled negotiations, while Representative Sarah Elfreth warned that millions could face higher insurance premiums.

Around 700,000 federal workers are furloughed, with thousands laid off, prompting food aid efforts across the D.C. region.

The Senate is expected to hold another vote to reopen the government, but it is likely to fail without a bipartisan breakthrough.

 

Artillery Shell Debris Hits CHP Vehicle During Camp Pendleton Exercise Attended by VP Vance

Metal shrapnel from an exploding artillery shell struck a California Highway Patrol (CHP) vehicle during a live-fire Marine Corps exercise at Camp Pendleton over the weekend, state authorities said. No one was injured.

The shell detonated prematurely in the air while Marines fired rounds over Interstate 5, which had been closed by order of Governor Gavin Newsom, who had opposed the drills for safety reasons.

The exercise, held to mark the Marine Corps’ 250th anniversary, was attended by Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The Marine Corps suspended firing after the incident and launched an investigation. Newsom later criticized the White House, calling the event “reckless.”

 

US Army Investigates Death of 101st Airborne Soldier in Training Accident in Germany

The US Army has launched an investigation into the death of Sgt. Terell Seales, a 34-year-old member of the 101st Airborne Division, who was killed Saturday in a vehicle accident during training at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany.

Seales, from Florence, New Jersey, joined the Army in 2021 and was on his second European deployment.

Col. Duke Reim, his brigade commander, praised Seales as an “exceptional leader” and thanked German partners for their assistance.

His death is the latest in a series of US Army training fatalities in Europe, following incidents in Lithuania, Hungary, and near Berlin earlier this year.

 

Coast Guard to Spend $200 Million on Gulfstream Jets for DHS Officials, Drawing Criticism

The US Coast Guard plans to purchase two Gulfstream G700 jets for use by Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi L. Noem and other top officials at an estimated cost of $200 million, according to documents obtained by The Washington Post.

The expense, which includes training, “specialized paint,” and “cabin enhancements,” is four times higher than the $50 million originally requested for a single jet.

The move follows scrutiny over Noem’s use of a Coast Guard residence and government aircraft for personal purposes.

Congressional Democrats condemned the purchase, calling it a misuse of taxpayer funds and a sign of misplaced priorities during a government shutdown.

DHS has not commented on the contract, which involves luxury aircraft marketed as long-range business jets with expansive cabin space.

 

Trump Says Ukraine Should Cede Donbas to Russia to End War as Drone Strikes Hit Russian Energy Sites

President Donald Trump said Sunday that Ukraine should “leave it the way it is” in the Donbas region, suggesting Kyiv accept current battle lines that leave most of the territory under Russian control to end the nearly four-year war.

Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump urged both sides to stop fighting and “go home.” His comments came after Ukrainian drones struck Russia’s Orenburg gas processing plant near the Kazakh border, causing a large fire and disrupting operations.

Kyiv also claimed a strike on the Novokuibyshevsk oil refinery, while Moscow said it downed 45 Ukrainian drones overnight.

Trump’s remarks marked a shift toward endorsing territorial concessions for peace, following recent meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials accused Russia of using new long-range rocket-powered bombs against civilians in Kharkiv, as drone and missile attacks continued across both countries.

 

EU Officials Condemn Possible Putin Visit to Hungary Ahead of Trump-Led Peace Talks

European Union Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas criticized reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin may travel to Hungary for talks on the Ukraine war, calling the visit “not nice” given his International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant.

The trip is reportedly tied to US President Donald Trump’s planned meeting with Putin in Budapest as part of efforts to push peace talks.

Kallas said US pressure on Russia could help end the war but stressed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy must also be part of any negotiations.

Several EU foreign ministers condemned the idea of Putin visiting an EU country, with Lithuania’s top diplomat saying “the only place for Putin in Europe is The Hague.”

Kallas also confirmed that the EU plans to adopt a 19th sanctions package against Russia this week.

The controversy follows reports that Trump urged Zelenskyy to concede territory to Russia during recent talks in Washington.

 

Israeli Strikes Test Gaza Ceasefire as Dozens Killed and Aid Halted

Israel launched a series of airstrikes in Gaza after two soldiers were killed, marking the first major breach of the US-brokered ceasefire that began just over a week ago.

The strikes killed at least 36 Palestinians, including children, according to Gaza health officials.

Israel said it targeted Hamas positions in response to attacks on its troops. Aid deliveries were briefly suspended but are expected to resume Monday.

US President Donald Trump said the ceasefire “remains in place” but acknowledged “fits and starts,” while Vice President JD Vance said he may visit Israel soon. Both sides blamed each other for violating the truce, as Egypt mediated efforts to restore calm.

Meanwhile, Israel confirmed the identification of two hostages’ remains returned by Hamas and pressed for the recovery of others.

Talks in Cairo continued on the ceasefire’s next phase, which includes disarming Hamas and forming an internationally supported governing authority for Gaza.

 

Satellite Images Reveal New Airstrip on Yemen’s Zuqar Island Amid Red Sea Tensions

Satellite images show construction of a nearly 2,000-meter airstrip on Yemen’s Zuqar Island in the Red Sea, likely linked to forces opposed to the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels.

The airstrip, which began construction in April, includes a dock and a paved runway visible by October.

No group has claimed the project, but evidence points to involvement by United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based companies, continuing a pattern of Emirati-runway construction across Yemen and nearby islands.

The airstrip’s location gives potential control over key maritime routes through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and could enhance surveillance and counter-smuggling operations targeting Houthi supply lines.

Analysts suggest it may strengthen anti-Houthi forces aligned with the Saudi-led coalition, though these groups remain fragmented.

The project expands a network of strategic bases in a region where Houthi attacks on global shipping have intensified since the Israel-Hamas war.

 

Houthis Detain Two Dozen UN Workers in Yemen Raid on Sanaa Facility

Iranian-backed Houthi rebels detained around 20 UN employees in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, on Sunday after raiding a UN facility, according to UN officials.

The group includes five Yemeni and 15 international staffers, while 11 others were released after questioning.

The Houthis seized communications equipment, including phones and servers, from the site. The detainees work for several UN agencies, including the World Food Program and UNICEF.

The incident is part of a wider Houthi crackdown on UN and aid organizations in rebel-held areas, with more than 50 UN workers detained to date.

One World Food Program employee died in custody earlier this year. The Houthis claim, without evidence, that aid workers are spies, accusations the UN denies.

 

Xi Jinping Opens Party Meeting to Shape China’s 2026-2030 Development Plan

Chinese President Xi Jinping opened a key Communist Party meeting Monday to outline the country’s next five-year plan, which will guide economic and social policy from 2026 to 2030.

According to state media, Xi presented draft proposals focusing on “high-quality development,” technological innovation, and national security, though no specifics were released.

The plan comes amid economic slowdown, trade tensions with the US, and limits on China’s access to advanced technology.

Analysts expect the plan to address structural reforms, domestic consumption, and demographic challenges.

About 200 Central Committee members and 170 alternates are attending the four-day meeting, with full details expected in March when the plan is formally approved.

 

Afghanistan and Pakistan Agree to Ceasefire After Weeks of Deadly Border Clashes

Afghanistan and Pakistan agreed Sunday to an immediate ceasefire after weeks of cross-border fighting that killed dozens and injured hundreds.

The truce, mediated by Qatar and Turkey, aims to halt hostilities and prevent future attacks. Both sides pledged not to target each other’s forces, civilians, or infrastructure and to stop supporting armed groups operating across the border.

A follow-up meeting is planned for October 25 in Istanbul to discuss implementation details.

The clashes disrupted trade and displaced residents along the 2,611-kilometer (1,622-mile) Durand Line, where key crossings such as Chaman and Torkham remain closed.

Officials from both countries thanked Qatar and Turkey for brokering the deal.

 

Sources: News Agencies

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