Latest news for 26 October 2026

ISRAEL

Poll position.

Voters head to the polls in a tightly contested election tomorrow (Tuesday) that could end Netanyahu’s second marathon in power, with opposition momentum coalescing behind former military chief Gadi Eisenkot. (Haaretz)

Comment: The latest polls suggest neither Netanyahu nor Eisenkot are likely to secure the 61 seats needed to form a government, meaning Israel’s smaller parties (including those representing two million Arab-Israelis) might end up kingmaker again. Financial markets are rallying in anticipation an Eisenkot administration might lower the political risk and stabilise Israel’s regional ties, though that’s not because Eisenkot is a dove (he’s not); rather, markets probably see him as a potential circuit-breaker.

SERBIA— Students oust the strongman.

After two years of student-led anti-corruption protests originally sparked by a deadly railway station collapse in 2024, long-time strongman Aleksandar Vučić has now conceded defeat in Sunday’s parliamentary elections. The new Student List movement — uniting a colourful mix of professors, activists, and even actors — ended up thumping Vučić’s nationalists by 14 points, pushing turnout to Serbia’s highest since at least 2000. (EuroNews)

Comment: There’s clearly a massive amount of Vučić fatigue at play here, and credit to the guy (for all his pre-electoral shenanigans) for just leaving power rather than pulling any more stunts. The funny thing about this victorious movement, however, is it’s staunchly decentralised, meaning it’s not actually clear who Serbia’s next leader might be, though one of the more prominent names in the mix is a cardiologist (Srdanović).

VENEZUELA

Look who’s back.

Nobel laureate and opposition leader María Corina Machado is now back in Venezuela after a year in exile and seven thwarted attempts to return. (CNN)

Comment: The ultimate high-wire act begins now. Machado must mobilise her base for free elections without irking President Trump or rattling the US-installed Rodriguez administration; and ditto, Rodriguez knows Machado would wipe her in a free fight, but likewise knows arresting Machado would be a bridge too far for DC and many investors.

CHINA

Kim comes to visit.

North Korea’s Kim Jong Un has returned from his day-trip to China’s border city of Dandong, where he met Wang Huning (#4 in Beijing) and Wang Yi (foreign minister). (Bloomberg $)

Comment: It’s always a guessing game how and why these two opaque systems interact, but this visit was probably about showcasing their new land-bridge, aligning ahead of China’s big APEC summit next month, and soothing Beijing’s nerves at how close Kim has been getting to Putin.

SINGAPORE

Bad gas.

Indonesia has started curbing its natural gas exports to neighbouring Singapore, citing a need to prioritise its own expanding industries. In response, Singapore itself has sought to calm market jitters, noting the cuts amount to less than 2% of its daily gas demand. (Straits Times)

Comment: Compare that official explanation with the fact Indonesia’s energy minister (Bahlil) had just warned he’d review gas contracts with “uncooperative” partners. And… recall Singapore recently threatened to impose costs on Indonesian agri-business players causing the region’s current toxic haze crisis. So there’s a real chance this is less about helping local industries, and more about punishing unsympathetic neighbours.

BULGARIA

Turnout burnout.

The Ukraine-sceptic incumbent (Yotova) has narrowly beaten the more pro-West Gyurov in a first round for Bulgaria’s mostly-ceremonial presidency. But because turnout just plunged to a record-low ~22% (way below the required 50%), the two foes now return for a runoff next weekend. Everyone had expected an easier win for the incumbent. (DW)

Comment: Sure, mostly ceremonial, but still interesting because a) Bulgaria’s head of state appoints interim governments during a political crisis, and b) the vote is still a good pulse-check for how Bulgaria navigates its NATO/EU commitments amid its centuries of history with Moscow. The abysmal turnout suggests the dominant emotion is just fatigue right now, after seven parliamentary elections in three years.

GABON

Back online.

Authorities have finally lifted the eight-month ban on social media apps that President Nguema first imposed amid mass street protests. But important caveat: users now have to provide formal ID! (Africa News)

Comment: Authoritarian digital gymnastics at its finest, blending free speech with naked intimidation.

SAUDI ARABIA

Risky re-opening.

Authorities are declining to clarify how they assessed it was now safe to reopen Riyadh’s international airport despite the Iran-aligned Houthis threatening a repeat of the attack that just left a dozen dead. (NYT $)