Wildfires, children online, AI and defence… Europe had a busy week
From helping countries fight wildfires, to taking action on online platforms, strengthening cybersecurity and stepping up on defence, here’s what happened across Europe.
Watch the full stories:
Wildfires: https://youtube.com/shorts/nPpCy2703C0?si=N3mdVUhkcI0D7gMi
Meta & children online: https://youtube.com/shorts/4i62UYdCxVI?si=ZWCwdu4IYN2f6Qye
We’ve spent decades making new technologies bigger. But the next wave of #tech may be heading in the opposite direction.
The World Economic Forum’s new Top 10 Emerging Technologies Report reveals a surprising pattern emerging across this year’s breakthrough innovations:
#Energy systems powered by parked cars and buildings
#Medicines tailored to a single person
#Innovations that are becoming more local, distributed and personal
Hear from Kimmy Bettinger, who leads the report, as she unpacks the trends behind this year’s most important emerging technologies. You can find about more about them in the report: https://www.weforum.org/publications/top-10-emerging-technologies-of-2026
The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. It provides a global, impartial and not-for-profit platform for meaningful connection between stakeholders to establish trust, and build initiatives for cooperation and progress.
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How do we turn today’s technological breakthroughs into tomorrow’s growth, jobs and opportunity?
That was the question at the heart of the 17th Annual Meeting of the New Champions known as #SummerDavos, where 1,500 leaders from business, government and academia gathered in Dalian, China.
This film captures the conversations, ideas and energy of the meeting, featuring insights from World Economic Forum Managing Directors on shared challenges – from AI to advanced manufacturing, clean energy to the investments needed to accelerate innovation at scale.
Watch full sessions from the meeting on our website and YouTube channel:
https://www.weforum.org/meetings/annual-meeting-of-the-new-champions-2026/programme/
https://www.youtube.com/@wef/streams
The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. It provides a global, impartial and not-for-profit platform for meaningful connection between stakeholders to establish trust, and build initiatives for cooperation and progress.
Find out more below:
World Economic Forum Website ► http://www.weforum.org/
YouTube ► https://www.youtube.com/wef
LinkedIn ► https://www.linkedin.com/company/world-economic-forum
Facebook ► https://www.facebook.com/worldeconomicforum/
Instagram ► https://www.instagram.com/worldeconomicforum/
X ► https://twitter.com/wef
TikTok ► https://www.tiktok.com/@worldeconomicforum
WhatsApp ► https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaDcHBKGZNCihKxwiD0L
Threads ► https://www.threads.com/@worldeconomicforum
Flipboard ► https://flipboard.com/@WEF
On Saturday, 18 July 2026, the UN Chamber Music Society of the United Nations Staff Recreation Council (UNCMS) presents “Madiba” with Wouter Kellerman, a three-time Grammy Award-winning South African flautist, producer, and composer, who has also earned nine South African Music Awards. The event will be broadcasted internationally through the global platforms of the United Nations: UN Web TV and UN YouTube.
Honouring the enduring legacy of the former South African President and his commitment to peace, freedom, and service, “Madiba", a musical prayer, offers a heartfelt tribute that blends power and tenderness. Founded in 2016 by Brenda Vongova, the UN Chamber Music Society is dedicated to promoting the United Nations’ goals and values at large – through the universal language of music.
Learn more about Mandela Day at the United Nations:
https://www.un.org/en/events/mandeladay/
Listen to the “Madiba” on Spotify, Apple, Deezer, Tidal, YouTube, TikTok, Pandora, and all the major music distribution platforms worldwide.
100% of the UN Chamber Music Society’s streams will be donated to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) — supporting its frontline response to climate-driven humanitarian crises worldwide.
Support the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) by donating to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF)
https://crisisrelief.un.org/
Indrika Ratwatte, Acting Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, briefed the Security Council (9 Jul) on the situation in Ukraine.
He said the intensifying fighting was narrowing opportunities to reach civilians safely. “For example, in parts of Donetsk region, humanitarian access has been intermittently suspended, making it harder for humanitarians to help civilians leave and for humanitarian relief to reach those who remain,” he said.
He said a humanitarian convoy was struck by a drone last week in Ukraine-controlled Dnipro region, the third such incident in two months, while attacks also damaged a Ukrainian Red Cross warehouse, destroying humanitarian supplies intended for civilians. “Overall, attacks harming humanitarian personnel and damaging their assets have increased by more than 20 per cent compared with the same period last year,” he said.
Source: Council of the European Union (video statements)
Sanctions are one of the EU’s most powerful tools – but how do they actually work, and why does the EU use them? In this video, we break down the different types of EU sanctions and why they’re used, and look at the EU’s response to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine as a real-world example.
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Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:54 What are sanctions?
01:21 Types of sanctions
02:28 Why does the EU use sanctions?
03:15 EU sanctions on Russia
04:40 Why does it matter to you?
05:20 Outro
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This is the official YouTube channel of the European Council and the Council of the European Union.
The European Council is the highest political body of the European Union. It brings together the heads of state or government of all member states, as well as its President and the President of the European Commission. It shapes the EU’s political agenda, addresses major challenges and sets strategic priorities, such as those outlined in the Strategic Agenda 2024–2029. This seeks to build a Europe that is free and democratic, strong and secure, prosperous and competitive. The European Council also plays a key role in crisis management, from responding to Russia’s war in Ukraine to tackling the COVID-19 pandemic. Decisions are typically made by consensus. Its meetings, often called ‘European summits’, take place at least four times a year in Brussels.
The Council of the European Union (often referred to as the ‘Council’) is where the EU’s day-to-day legislative and policy work takes place. Bringing together ministers from each EU member state, it negotiates and adopts laws, usually in partnership with the European Parliament, across 10 policy areas, from foreign affairs to energy. Unlike the European Council, the Council of the European Union operates under a rotating six-month presidency. Each member state holds the presidency in turn. Meetings are held regularly in Brussels and Luxembourg, ensuring that every EU country, regardless of size, has an equal voice in shaping European policies.
Find out more: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/
As governments assess SDG7 progress, global crises are driving a shift toward domestic renewables, boosting solar trade across Asia and Africa. Meanwhile, AI and data centers are spiking power demand, yet 2,500 GW of renewable projects remain stalled in grid queues. Investing in modern grids and digital infrastructure offers a massive opportunity; AI alone could optimize transmission and save $110 billion annually.
The insights in this discussion draw from Tracking SDG7: The Energy Progress Report and the SDG7 Policy Briefs for the HLPF, launching July 8.
Speakers:
– Alexander De Croo, Administrator of UNDP
– Damilola Ogunbiyi, SRSG on Sustainable Energy for All
Moderator: Cherisse Bovell, Consultant to the United Nation Foundation’s Our Future Agenda Programme
Source: United Kingdom UK House of Lords (video statements)
‘There’s a huge amount of risk in this job compared to other ministerial portfolios’
Lord Timpson reflects on the high numbers of prisons ministers, 25 since 1990, and the challenges of the role in the latest episode of Lord Speaker’s Corner.
He also explains the changing performance of prisons and probation, and the importance of rehabilitation.
Listen to his full conversation with Lord Forsyth of Drumlean:
🎧 Search House of Lords Podcast on all major platforms
📺 Watch on YouTube https://orlo.uk/6NuOH
📖 Read a transcript, links to watch and subscribe and other episodes in the series https://orlo.uk/gzq1q
Source: World Trade Organization – WTO (video statements)
The WTO and the International Labour Organization jointly celebrated the centenary of the Centre William Rappard at an event held on 1 July.
Download this video from the WTO website:
https://www.wto.org/english/res_e/webcas_e/webcas_e.htm
