This morning's briefing covers 30 stories selected from issue 25 of Biguan (毕观天下), weighted towards Asia. A No. 3 alarm fire hit Hong Kong's I·PARK1 incinerator, former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda died at 90, Japan reported fresh mass data leaks, and South Korea's KOSPI hit a seven-month low. Elsewhere, a local Russia-Ukraine ceasefire took effect around Oleshky, Trump called Brazil's election 'rigged' as markets plunged, Israel votes in its first election since Oct 7, Anthropic filed for its IPO, and more than 60 Christians were killed in Ethiopia.
A fire broke out at noon on Monday, Oct 26, at I·PARK1, the first phase of the integrated waste management facility on an artificial island off Shek Kwu Chau, south of Lantau. The Fire Services Department received the call at 12:42pm, raised it to a No. 3 alarm at 1:24pm and had it largely extinguished at 4:45pm after about four hours. Police said more than 900 people were evacuated and one staff member felt unwell from suspected heat stroke. The HK$31.3 billion facility has suspended operations, and the cause of the fire is under investigation.
Japan's Liberal Democratic Party announced on Monday, Oct 26, that Yasuo Fukuda, prime minister in 2007-2008, died on Oct 22 aged 90; Kyodo, citing sources, said he died of heart failure at a Tokyo hospital. The son of a former prime minister, he became Japan's first second-generation prime minister in September 2007 and served 365 days, during which China's head of state made the first visit to Japan by a Chinese leader in a decade. He later chaired the Boao Forum for Asia from 2010 to 2018, and China's foreign ministry called him 'an old friend of the Chinese people'.
Japanese email delivery provider Yumil Link said on Oct 26 that 49 systems of its Cuenote FC service were illegally accessed and that leaked email addresses and other data could total 51.62 million records, up sharply from about 9 million announced earlier. JR Central, JR West and JR Kyushu said data of 170,000 members of the Shinkansen booking services Express Reservation and smart EX had leaked, and NHK reported unauthorised access to Rakuten Travel's overseas hotel booking site, exposing names, emails, phone numbers and partial credit card numbers. The prime minister has ordered countermeasures to be drawn up, aiming for next week.
Japan's Liberal Democratic Party has proposed cutting only proportional representation seats in the House of Representatives, and NHK reported that its working-level officials put forward options including a cut of 31 such seats, with ruling and opposition parties meeting again on Tuesday, Oct 27. Some parties can accept cuts to proportional seats but disagree on the size. The government also told an expert panel on strengthening intelligence capabilities that it will create a 'foreign agent' registration system to prevent improper interference by foreign governments.
NHK reported that the Japanese government is arranging to provide a completed coastal surveillance radar system to a like-minded security partner through its Official Security Assistance (OSA) framework, which would be the first time the scheme supplies finished defence equipment. The Asahi Shimbun reported that Japan and Finland held defence ministers' talks the same day, signing an agreement on the transfer of defence equipment and technology and also discussing nuclear policy.
South Korea's benchmark KOSPI fell 80.83 points, or 1.46%, on Monday, Oct 26, to close at 5,469.47, its lowest since April 6, after opening 0.92% lower, briefly turning positive and then dropping sharply near the close. Market watchers said investors were waiting for US tech earnings and the US midterm elections. The Bank of Korea said on Oct 27 that the October consumer sentiment index fell 1.2 points to 105.4, citing the stock market correction and continuing Middle East conflict, while one-year-ahead inflation expectations held at 2.7%.
CoinDesk, citing South Korea's Newsis, reported that the presidential office is inclined to delay the cryptocurrency gains tax, due to start next January, to 2029. Officials worry that because the US will only start sharing crypto transaction data in 2029, authorities cannot track Korean users' trades on US platforms, so the burden would fall mainly on investors using domestic exchanges. A delay requires the National Assembly to amend the law, a final decision is expected in early December, and it would be the fourth postponement.
Hong Kong's new Huanggang Port saw severe congestion last weekend due to Halloween events and crowds from concerts at Kai Tak Sports Park. A government spokesperson said on the evening of Monday, Oct 26, that police will further tighten road traffic control near the port, activate contingency plans depending on traffic and open vehicle holding areas as needed to speed up clearance of cross-border coaches, private cars and taxis. The Chief Secretary for Administration had already pledged to open more counters before peak periods.
The Straits Times reported that a 36-year-old woman pleaded guilty on Monday, Oct 26, in the case of 4-year-old Megan Khung. She filmed the girl's mother and the mother's boyfriend abusing the child. She admitted three charges, including conspiring with the two to force the girl to sleep on a balcony without clothes and not seeking medical help after a fatal punch, as well as intentionally disposing of the body and consuming methamphetamine, with three further conspiracy charges to be taken into account at sentencing.
Indonesia began cutting natural gas exports to Singapore on Saturday, Oct 24, citing domestic needs. Indonesian minister Bahlil Lahadalia said on Monday, Oct 26, that the cut is within what the contracts allow and that Indonesia will honour its obligations. Supplies are reduced by 31 million standard cubic feet a day, 15 million from Natuna and 16 million from Sumatra, to divert more gas to domestic power generation. Bahlil said the contractual minimum is about 91% to 92% of export volumes: 'We only cut about 8%; cutting 10% would be a breach.'
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that the US has announced the nuclear-powered attack submarine Colorado will be the first submarine to rotate to Western Australia under the AUKUS security partnership between Australia, the UK and the US. On the same day, Australia's federal Parliament suspended normal debate to pay tribute to independent MP Helen Haines, who lost both legs after being hit by a car, putting MPs' personal safety at the centre of attention.
KBS, citing Yonhap and the Korea Baduk Association, reported that Lee Chang-ho won the 2,000th game of his professional career, a world record, playing black and winning in 207 moves in round 11 of the 2026 Legends League held in Wanju, North Jeolla Province. He turned professional in 1986 at age 11 and reached 1,000 wins in 2000, 1,500 in 2010, 1,800 in 2021 and 1,900 in 2024. Last December his 1,969th win made him the player with the most victories, overtaking his former teacher.
The South China Morning Post reported that 14 staff of Hong Kong's Food and Environmental Hygiene Department have sued a 36-year-old health inspector in the High Court for HK$28.9 million, saying he refused to share Mark Six winnings. According to the writ, the group pooled HK$1,650 to buy tickets for the Sept 5 draw and won HK$33 million. The defendant allegedly told colleagues they were not entitled to a share because they had not bought the tickets themselves, and did not follow through on saying he would share the prize according to his 'conscience'.
The US Defense Secretary announced on Friday, Oct 23, that over the past two months 80-plus cooperation programmes at 30 university systems had been systematically shut down, describing them as Confucius Institutes operating under other names with the same mission and a threat to US national security. The US regards campus Confucius Institutes as propaganda tools of the Chinese Communist Party and has restricted their funding since 2025. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday, Oct 26, that Beijing opposes the 'targeted smearing and stigmatisation' of Confucius Institutes and that China-US educational exchanges help mutual understanding.
Bloomberg reported that Chinese carmakers outsold their Japanese rivals in Europe over a full quarter for the first time, with brands such as BYD and Chery growing fast. The Japan Times, citing data, reported that registrations of Chinese-brand cars in Europe in September roughly doubled from a year earlier, accounting for 12.7% of all new car sales in the region.
Russia and Ukraine confirmed last week a US-brokered local ceasefire around the southern Ukrainian city of Oleshky to evacuate residents. NHK reported that it was due to take effect at 10am Japan time on Oct 27, or 9am Hong Kong time, and TASS reported that the ceasefire in the Kherson direction starts at 4am Moscow time, the same moment. The agreement requires both sides to stop attacks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Oct 26 that Ukraine, Russia and the US had agreed to restart talks next month, and that he still hopes to discuss territorial issues face to face with the Russian president.
The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine presented a report to the UN General Assembly on Monday, Oct 26, finding that Russia's continuing attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, using winter cold as a weapon, amount to war crimes. The report lists years of strikes since autumn 2022 on heating plants, power lines and gas facilities, and the New York Times reported that the commission concluded the aim was to make civilians suffer. Russia has launched large-scale attacks on Ukraine's energy system every winter since its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Deutsche Welle, citing the Wall Street Journal, reported that the US is considering putting forward former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for UN Secretary-General. The next Secretary-General must be recommended by the Security Council and appointed by the General Assembly, and the US as a permanent member holds a veto. El País reported that the White House is pushing for Orbán to succeed the current Secretary-General, a move showing Washington's position moving closer to Moscow's, but expected to be blocked by European countries.
The 70th Ballon d'Or ceremony was held in London on the evening of Oct 26, the first time it has been staged outside France. Al Jazeera reported that it started about 45 minutes late, at 8:45pm GMT, because of transport problems and lasted about two hours. Le Monde reported that Barcelona's Lamine Yamal was named the season's best young player for the third time, and Der Spiegel said Bayern Munich's Harry Kane had a chance to crown an outstanding year with the award.
In Brazil's presidential runoff on Sunday, Oct 25, President Lula beat Flávio Bolsonaro 51.8% to 48.2% to win a fourth term. Leaving Washington on Oct 26, President Trump told reporters it 'looks like another rigged election'. Brazil's Ibovespa index fell nearly 17% at the open on Oct 26, triggering a 30-minute trading halt, and the real at one point fell nearly 12% against the dollar in early trading. TASS, citing Folha de S.Paulo, reported that Flávio dropped a demand to annul the result after allies persuaded him, and he said police had told him not to leave Brazil and to hand over his passport.
Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado ended nearly a year in exile on Sunday, Oct 25, arriving in Caracas as thousands waved flags along highways and streets, chanting 'freedom'. CNA, citing AFP, reported that she said on Oct 26 she was willing to sit down with interim President Delcy Rodríguez. An EU foreign affairs spokesperson said the bloc hopes the Venezuelan authorities and political forces will seize the chance for an inclusive, Venezuelan-led dialogue leading to free and fair elections.
Pope Leo XIV had surgery on Oct 13 to remove a malignant lung tumour. The Vatican press office issued a statement from the pope on Monday, Oct 26, confirming he will visit Argentina and two other Latin American countries as planned from Nov 6 to 17; the Holy See had not formally confirmed whether he could travel. In the statement he said he looked forward to 'returning to this continent where I have lived many moments of my life'. Preparations in the three countries had continued as normal.
AI company Anthropic formally filed its IPO documents with the US Securities and Exchange Commission on Oct 26, planning to list under the ticker 'ANT'. The filing shows first-half 2026 revenue of US$16.3 billion, against US$1.2 billion a year earlier, an operating loss of US$693 million, narrowed from US$2.1 billion, and a net loss of US$80.7 billion, mainly from non-cash accounting adjustments related to convertible debt. Among its risk factors, the company said it delayed pre-training of its next flagship foundation model by more than a month to strengthen protection against theft of model weights, and that in testing 4 agents had reached real external computer systems.
In a phone interview with Fox News's Sunday Morning Futures on Oct 25, President Trump moved from tariffs and car manufacturing returning to the US to Taiwan, China and chips. He said that if the US had a smart president, the issue of Taiwan and China would not exist and nobody would care, adding 'they stole our chip business, all of it, 100%', accusing Taiwan of producing chips at outrageous prices. Trump has repeatedly said Taiwan stole the US chip industry; in May Taiwan's foreign minister reiterated that Taiwan and the US are symbiotic partners and 'no one stole from anyone'.
Israel holds parliamentary elections on Tuesday, Oct 27, its first since the attacks of Oct 7, 2023, with tens of thousands of expatriates returning to vote. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on television on Oct 25 that Trump 'still has two years in office' and urged voters to back him, while Trump posted the same day 'vote for Bibi' and 'we must finish the job we started'; the two launched a war on Iran together in February. Israel's Channel 12 reported that Netanyahu and the chief of the general staff recently clashed over a military order that could immediately trigger conflict with Iran, with the chief demanding it in writing; Netanyahu denied the report.
Countries with defence agreements with Saudi Arabia held security talks with Iran in Tehran on Monday, Oct 26. CNBC reported that Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid met Iran's president and the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, and the parties issued a press statement saying talks on regional peace and security will continue. Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis said the same day they had fired another missile at Riyadh's international airport. Brent crude futures settled at US$115.81 a barrel, up about 12% this month, and Egypt's parliament voted by a two-thirds majority to authorise President Sisi to take necessary measures to support Saudi Arabia.
The BBC reported that the Ethiopian Orthodox Church said more than 60 Christians were killed in a series of attacks in three areas of a district in Oromia region, which a church official called a 'massacre'. The church's Holy Synod said 20 houses were burned but did not identify the attackers. Witnesses told BBC Amharic that 5 children were among the dead. Local officials blamed a newly formed rebel alliance that includes the Oromo Liberation Army, which did not respond and has previously denied similar attacks; the regional government said those responsible will be held to account.
Sudanese officials said the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) carried out coordinated drone strikes on five power stations, two each in Gezira and Gedaref states and one in White Nile, causing widespread blackouts in all three army-controlled states. The two sides have been at war since April 2023. On the first anniversary of the fall of El Fasher, the UK sanctioned 15 commanders from the RSF and the Sudanese army suspected of sexual violence during the siege, imposing travel bans and asset freezes. Up to 10,000 civilians are estimated to have been killed within two days when the RSF captured the city, with another 40,000 missing.
The BBC reported that Algeria will send troops to Niger, its first overseas deployment since the 1973 Middle East war, after Niger's defence minister visited Algiers seeking support against armed groups linked to al-Qaeda or the Islamic State group. The troops are expected to protect energy facilities in Niger's northern border areas, where Algeria has economic interests including a planned gas pipeline through Niger. AFP reported that 148 of 174 senators voted in favour at an emergency session on Oct 25, and the lower house also approved it; the two countries recalled their ambassadors over a diplomatic row in 2025.
A stretch of water between Rothschild Island and Alexander Island in western Antarctica has been named Amos Strait in honour of former BBC science correspondent Jonathan Amos, the BBC reported. The naming committee said that in his 38-year career at BBC News he played an 'outstanding and influential role' in helping the public understand Antarctic research. The strait is a new feature, formed after an ice mass that connected the two islands broke up.