Thursday briefing: The largest cluster of cases in a generation – what’s behind the meningitis B outbreak?

• Polish President Karol Nawrocki accused Russia of destabilizing Europe through hybrid operations and acts of sabotage during a recent address. • Nawrocki stated that Poland is modernizing its military equipment and strengthening alliances specifically to prevent war rather than to wage it.

• Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for a resolution to the Kashmir issue through dialogue during his recent address to the UN General Assembly. • The statement was delivered during a session focused on global security concerns, humanitarian crises, and ongoing international conflicts.

• Dr. Antonio Bhardwaj reported on September 23, 2026, that a convergence of geopolitical events involving Iran, China, and the U.S. is reshaping global power dynamics. • Key developments include a Trump-Xi summit regarding the Taiwan Strait and a South Korean proposal to freeze its nuclear program.

• Qatar's Majed al-Ansari stated that Doha is determined to use diplomacy to end the conflict between the United States and Iran. • The Qatari government believes a purely confrontational approach between the two nations carries significant risks of regional instability.

• UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned this week that unilateral actions by major powers are creating a crisis of relevance and funding for the United Nations. • Guterres told Al Jazeera that these geopolitical conflicts are causing direct humanitarian impacts, including rising fuel prices and global inflation.

• Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani delivered a speech at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. • The address focused on the Palestinian cause and the situation in the Gaza Strip while calling for dialogue and negotiation.

• Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian addressed the UN General Assembly today to state that Tehran is open to diplomacy rather than the use of force. • Pezeshkian claimed that Iran has been a victim of terrorism and asserted that the country did not target civilian populations.

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with U.S. President Donald Trump in New York on September 22 during the United Nations General Assembly. • Zelensky urged Trump to organize a trilateral meeting involving Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the conflict that began in early 2022.

• UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivered his final General Debate address as he enters the final months of his tenure. • His decade of leadership was defined by managing the COVID-19 pandemic, ongoing wars, and deepening geopolitical divisions.

• India and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) are strengthening partnerships in critical minerals, renewable energy, and digital transformation. • The collaboration was discussed during a High Level Meeting of Like-Minded Global South Countries and Friends held during the 81st UN General Assembly.

• President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized the European Union during the UN General Assembly for efforts to weaken sanctions on Russian oligarchs. • Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told the assembly that Iran will not surrender in its conflict with the United States.

• The United Nations has opened its annual meeting, with diplomats gathering to discuss various global issues. • Diplomats describe the current state of the world as "messy, troubled, unpredictable", highlighting deep divisions on issues like reproductive rights and climate change.