Happy Monday! It’s October 20, and we’re tracking top stories to start the week: U.S. Cutting Aid to Colombia Over Drugs, $20M verdict against BNP Paribas over Sudanese atrocities, France turns up heat on Binance, Louvre Museum heist, and much more…

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🎯 FEATURED STORY

U.S. Cutting Aid to Colombia Over Drugs.  Trump said Petro was encouraging drug production and the U.S. wouldn’t give any more payments or subsidies to the country, long the U.S.’s closest ally in the war on drugs. WSJ

🔥 TOP STORIES

U.S. jury issues $20M verdict against French bank BNP Paribas over Sudanese atrocities AP 

France turns up heat on Binance and rivals amid EU power struggle Cointelegraph

Louvre Museum heist: Jewels with 'inestimable' value stolen from Napoleon collection ABC

Brussels wants to grab another €25B from frozen Russian assets for Ukraine Politico

China accuses U.S. of cyberattack on national time center AP

Iran announces official end to 10-year-old nuclear agreement Guardian

'Great Hackers, Terrible Traders': How Exploiters Panic Sold and Lost $13M During Market Chaos CoinDesk

New York judge says Venezuela's PDVSA must pay $2.86 billion to bondholders Reuters

Ships Accused of Stealing Ukrainian Grain Linked to Assad Regime Front OCCRP

Mamdani appears smiling, arm-in-arm with unindicted ‘93 WTC bombing co-conspirator and terrorist apologist NYP

🚩 RUSSIA & CHINA

EU seeks to boost powers to board Russian shadow fleet vessels Politico 

Nexperia says Chinese unit operating as usual as tensions with the Netherlands run high Reuters

Austria to back EU's new Russia sanctions, clearing hurdle Reuters

How China tightens the screws in trade war with the U.S. DW

Chinese tech giants pause stablecoin plans after Beijing steps in Reuters

💸 CORRUPTION & FINANCIAL CRIME

How Venezuela’s Maduro Became Coup-Proof After Years of Military Purges WSJ 

Victims of romance fraud tricked out of £106m in past year BBC

US and UN sanction former Haitian security head, gang leader for aiding gang coalition AP

Nearly 60 South Koreans repatriated from Cambodia over alleged scams BBC

🔐 CRYPTO & CYBER

Why the F5 Hack Created an ‘Imminent Threat’ for Thousands of Networks Wired 

How anonymous is bitcoin? US seizure of tycoon’s US$13 billion in tokens raises questions SCMP

XRP Investor Says $3M in XRP Was Stolen; Cold Wallet Maker Says Seed Import Made Wallet Hot CoinDesk

$15B Bitcoin Seizure Exposes Challenges For US Crypto Reserve Strategy Forbes

Latvian police bust European cybercrime ring and arrest seven suspects Euro News

🚚 TRAFFICKING

U.S. says it hit Colombian rebel vessel as Colombia condemns Trump's accusations against Petro Reuters 

Italy’s Mafia Uses TikTok to Rebrand and Reach Followers OCCRP

El Salvador's most wanted gang leader 'El Calaco' arrested in Virginia ABC

World’s landscapes may soon be ‘devoid of wild animals’ Guardian

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