Week of October 26

2026-W44: Oct 26 – November 1, 2026
FINAL: Last update October 30, 2026
COUNTRIES IN THE NEWS: United States
Iran
Israel
Turkey
China
Serbia
Hungary
Pakistan
Russia
NEWS LANGUAGE: English
中文 (original)

President Donald Trump said the Iran question "must be decided

First published Mon, Oct 26

President Donald Trump said the Iran question "must be decided," framing the choice as either reaching an agreement or ending it outright. He issued what coverage described as an ultimatum to Tehran: a deal, or complete destruction. International oil prices fell back from a six-month high after the demand.1 2 3 4

A US military large-scale air strike plan is prepared and ready, awaiting Trump's order, with a reported window of 96 hours to launch once he gives it. The US ambassador to Turkey said Washington could begin bombing Iran soon, giving a timeframe for the first strikes.5 3

Both sides suspect the other is preparing to act, and coverage described the risk of an all-out war rising sharply, with a single bullet enough to set it off. Iran's foreign minister has said Tehran is ready for either war or negotiation.6 3

Trump said the US will soon win the war with Iran and denied offering sanctions relief or unfrozen assets, while not ruling out further airstrikes and leaving open the possibility of talks. US and Iranian officials confirmed negotiations aimed at ending the Iran war will restart.3 6

US Central Command chief briefs Trump on Iran strike options as 10 transport planes reach Israel

First published Fri, Oct 30

Ruled paragraphs are attributed to the outlet named in them, not stated as established fact.

The commander of US Central Command made a rare trip to the White House to brief President Donald Trump on options for attacking Iran, while 10 transport aircraft flew into Israel. Trump also cancelled a weekend campaign appearance, and The Wall Street Journal reported that a front-line Iranian commander made a rare visit to the White House to give a briefing.1 2 3

Vice-President JD Vance sent a letter to a hardline Iranian leader offering to hold talks in person, according to an account of its contents. Trump said Vance was only discussing medical supplies with Iran.4 3

Trump said the war with Iran will end quickly, with US midterm elections approaching. He has previously said Washington will soon win the war, denied offering sanctions relief or unfrozen assets, and left open both further airstrikes and talks.5 2

Attributed claim: 自由時報 / Yahoo新聞: Coverage of the same developments differs in emphasis. The centre-right Liberty Times presents the CENTCOM briefing and the transport flights as signs that a renewed war is near, while the centre Yahoo News account leads on Trump's description of Vance's contact as talks about medical supplies and on the briefing covering attack options.1 3

Serbia's opposition student-led anti-corruption alliance wins parliamentary election as Vucic concedes

First published Mon, Oct 26

Serbia's parliamentary election has changed the country's government, with a student-led anti-corruption alliance winning and President Aleksandar Vucic conceding defeat. The result ends 14 years of his rule, according to the vote count reported after the ballot.1 2 3

The opposition bloc is identified as the "student list" party, a movement that grew out of anti-corruption protests triggered by a canopy collapse. The snap election was held early, with the student camp campaigning to end Vucic's tenure.2 4

The Serbian result follows a change of government in Hungary, where a long-serving strongman also fell, and the two shifts are described as affecting European politics. Coverage links the outcomes as successive departures of entrenched leaders in the region.5

Taiwan legislature passes third reading of drug-driving bill allowing death penalty for repeat offenders who kill

First published Fri, Oct 30

Taiwan's legislature passed a third reading of amendments to drug-driving penalties under which a repeat offender who causes a death can face the death penalty. Legislators including Shen Po-yang did not vote, and the bill cleared the chamber.1 2 3

Newtalk asked whether raising the penalty for a drug-driving death to the death penalty amounts to a consensus of the three parties, and reported the position of the Democratic Progressive Party caucus.3

Pakistan closes airspace to Taiwan's China Airlines and Mandarin Airlines flights over one-China policy

First published Wed, Oct 28

Ruled paragraphs are attributed to the outlet named in them, not stated as established fact.

Pakistan has closed its airspace to Taiwan's national carriers, forcing their Europe-bound flights to reroute through Russian airspace. The ban is the first time Pakistan has blocked commercial flights from Taiwan. China Airlines and Mandarin Airlines were the carriers affected, according to the reports.1 2 3

The closure is tied to Pakistan's support for the one-China policy, which treats Taiwan as part of China. Flights to Europe that previously crossed Pakistani airspace now take the northern route over Russia instead.1 2

China Airlines and Mandarin Airlines have resumed flying over Russian airspace, returning to the northern route after four years away from it. The shift restores a path the carriers had not used since the earlier diversion.4

Attributed claim: UDN reported that Pakistan reversed course and again allowed Taiwan's airlines to fly over its territory, a turn it framed as inconsistent with the one-China policy it cited for the ban. The other accounts describe the closure as still in force, with the carriers routing through Russia.5 1 2

Also this week

Published earlier this week and since overtaken by bigger stories. Open one to read it in full.

Investigators say the husband pushed for a rushed marriage and then urged his wife to travel aloneThu, Oct 29Investigators say the husband pushed for a rushed marriage and then urged his wife to travel alone, which prosecutors treat as part of a plan to arrange her killing abroad. Mirror Media reported that he repeatedly asked whether she would maim herself to claim payouts, quoting the question as whether she would break an arm or a leg for the insurance money.

Investigators say the husband pushed for a rushed marriage and then urged his wife to travel alone

First published Thu, Oct 29

Investigators say the husband pushed for a rushed marriage and then urged his wife to travel alone, which prosecutors treat as part of a plan to arrange her killing abroad. Mirror Media reported that he repeatedly asked whether she would maim herself to claim payouts, quoting the question as whether she would break an arm or a leg for the insurance money.1 2

Coverage of the case spread across Taiwan's outlets within a day of the detention. The victim was described in the Liberty Times as a supporter of the commentator Pa Chiung, who responded to news of her death, while other accounts traced how a five-month marriage drew her into what one writer called a trap built on greed.3 4 5

The case has revived attention to insurance fraud in Taiwan, with UDN recounting four major past cases, including the South Link railway sabotage and a killing staged to look like an accident. Lawyers cited in Mirror Media said the evidence points to premeditated murder carried out through instructions to a hired killer, and questioned whether the policies could ever be paid out.6 2

China's Fifth Plenum closes with record-low attendance as Central Committee seats fall vacantThu, Oct 29The Chinese Communist Party's Fifth Plenum has closed, with coverage reporting a fresh round of vacancies on the Central Committee and a purge that has now been made public. Attendance at the plenum fell to a record low, and a Hong Kong media account said the figure shows anti-corruption work needs to address root causes rather than symptoms.

China's Fifth Plenum closes with record-low attendance as Central Committee seats fall vacant

First published Thu, Oct 29

The Chinese Communist Party's Fifth Plenum has closed, with coverage reporting a fresh round of vacancies on the Central Committee and a purge that has now been made public. Attendance at the plenum fell to a record low, and a Hong Kong media account said the figure shows anti-corruption work needs to address root causes rather than symptoms.1 2

Liu Jianchao, once a leading candidate for Chinese foreign minister, has reportedly been demoted abruptly, with sources cited in the reporting saying his problems are more serious than those of Qin Gang.3

Coverage also examined how scrutiny reached Huang Qifan, tracing the path of the case against him.4

Israel exit polls show Netanyahu bloc short of majority as opposition claims victoryWed, Oct 28Before polls closed, a recording surfaced in which Netanyahu said of his opponents: "Are they crazy? We will die." The remark circulated as the vote count tightened.

Israel exit polls show Netanyahu bloc short of majority as opposition claims victory

First published Wed, Oct 28

Before polls closed, a recording surfaced in which Netanyahu said of his opponents: "Are they crazy? We will die." The remark circulated as the vote count tightened.1

Netanyahu said US-Israeli cooperation could eliminate the Iranian threat, and his rivals warned him against using security issues to build a coalition.2

With the result too close to call, coalition-building prospects are described as full of challenges.3 4

Ting Hsin's Wei family returns to Taipei 101 as Itochu sells 17.274% stake to Chengmei Venture CapitalTue, Oct 27Itochu has transferred its entire 17.274 percent stake in Taipei 101 to Chengmei Venture Capital, bringing the Ting Hsin group's Wei family back into the tower's shareholder list after an eight-year absence. Taipei 101 confirmed the Wei family's return as a shareholder and said it welcomes the new shareholder.

Ting Hsin's Wei family returns to Taipei 101 as Itochu sells 17.274% stake to Chengmei Venture Capital

First published Tue, Oct 27

Itochu has transferred its entire 17.274 percent stake in Taipei 101 to Chengmei Venture Capital, bringing the Ting Hsin group's Wei family back into the tower's shareholder list after an eight-year absence. Taipei 101 confirmed the Wei family's return as a shareholder and said it welcomes the new shareholder.1 2 3

The deal was signed on Tuesday, with reports describing it as the Wei family buying back roughly 17 percent of Taipei 101. Mirror Media identified the buyer as Wei Ying-chiao, who repurchased the 17.27 percent stake.4 3

The Finance Ministry responded to the transaction, according to accounts of the deal. Outlets reported the stake at slightly different precision: 17.27 percent in the Liberty Times and UDN accounts, and 17.274 percent in the Yahoo News and Mirror Media accounts.2 5 4