Global Situation Board
Morning note

23 September 2026

Overnight movers picked from the morning's headline pull and judged on the headlines alone, without opening the articles, followed by the dates coming up in the next seven days. How the board works.

Overnight movers

  • Russia–Ukraine war: An overnight Russian drone attack on Kyiv was reported to have killed 2 people and wounded more than 20 hours before Zelenskyy's UN address. Plainview Herald, Anadolu. No listed indicator.
  • US and Israel vs Iran (Hormuz war): The US and Iran were reported to have held three hours of mediated talks at the UN in New York on ending the war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, with Iran denying it had dropped its preconditions. Al Jazeera, The Guardian. Matches watch indicator: A formal US reply to the conditions Iran sent via Qatar, or a direct US-Iran meeting (the talks were reported as mediated).
  • Yemen, Houthis & Red Sea: Yemeni government forces were reported to claim control of Mount Qarfan in Taiz. Al Jazeera. No listed indicator.
  • South Sudan: President Kiir was reported to have dissolved the transitional government and removed Machar and four vice-presidents. The New Times, Sudans Post. Matches watch indicator: Dissolution of the unity government or removal of the vice-presidents.
  • Ethiopia & Eritrea: Tigrayan forces were reported to have seized a regional airport, and Ethiopian Airlines was reported to have suspended flights to three northern Tigray airports. Al Arabiya, Al Jazeera. No listed indicator.
  • Afghanistan and the Afghanistan–Pakistan war: Pakistan was reported to say it shot down eight Afghan Taliban drones near Torkham and Kohat after an airspace incursion. Dawn via UA.NEWS, Caliber.Az. Matches watch indicator: Afghan Taliban retaliation against Pakistani border posts or territory.
  • Moldova & Transnistria: Moldova was reported to have declared a state of emergency over energy and water shortage fears after Russian strikes. The Independent, EU Today. No listed indicator.
  • Venezuela: Trump and acting president Delcy Rodríguez were reported to have held their first meeting, in New York during the UN General Assembly. BBC, IntelliNews. No listed indicator (the listed indicator concerns sanctions relief or an election timetable from the meeting, and neither was reported in the headlines).

Dates in the next 7 days

  • 2026-09-24: Trump-Xi summit in Washington (Taiwan Strait; South & East China Sea; North Korea; US–China relations; Global institutions & diplomacy)
  • 2026-09-25: Official Russian State Duma election results due no earlier than this date (Russia–Ukraine war)
  • 2026-09-25: Russian gas deliveries to Armenia are due to resume after pipeline maintenance (South Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia))
  • 2026-09-26: FSB curfew and movement restrictions on the Russian side of the Narva border zone with Estonia due to end (Russia–NATO frontier)
  • 2026-09-27: Panel of Experts expiry and 90-day 1737 Committee briefing (Iran nuclear program)
  • 2026-09-27: UN Iran Panel of Experts mandate lapses (US and Israel vs Iran (Hormuz war))
  • 2026-09-27: Vucic says he will resign the Serbian presidency to lead his party's election campaign (Western Balkans)
  • 2026-09-29: International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons (Nuclear weapons & arms control)
  • 2026-09-29: US import bans on Canadian alcohol, motorcycles, whey and other goods take effect (US posture in the hemisphere)
  • 2026-09-30: Approval window for the election deal closes (approximate) (Libya)
  • 2026-09-30: Curfew in Guayas, Manabi, Los Rios and El Oro under Ecuador's Decree 498 due to end (Ecuador, Peru & Bolivia)
  • 2026-09-30: End of the US-led coalition mission (Iraq; Private military companies & proxies)
  • 2026-09-30: End of the US-led coalition mission in Iraq; Iraqi officials say it is not a disarmament deadline (Iraqi Shia militia disarmament crisis)
  • 2026-09-30: Tulkarm and Nur Shams camp closure orders lapse or renew (West Bank)
  • 2026-09-30: UN Security Council vote on re-authorising the Gang Suppression Force; current mandate expires (Haiti)
  • 2026-09-30: UNSC monthly Syria meeting (approximate) (Syria transition)