Video message by António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, for the Opening Ceremony of the Thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13).
The thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) takes place in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 17 to 22 May 2026. The theme of WUF13 is: Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and communities.
In a landmark address from Gothenburg, Sweden, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen joins Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson to unveil the "mother of all deals"—a historic EU-India trade agreement covering 2 billion people (25% of global GDP) with 90% tariff cuts.
This $2 trillion market deal will boost trade, create jobs, and strengthen supply chains, while paving the way for deeper investment, security, and tech cooperation—including AI, semiconductors, and space exploration.
🔹 Key Highlights: ✅ Trade: 90% tariff cuts, record-speed implementation by end of 2026 ✅ Investment: Next phase to de-risk supply chains and diversify economic ties ✅ Security & Defence: Joint naval exercises, cybersecurity, and critical infrastructure protection ✅ Tech & Space: AI governance, semiconductor collaboration, and EU-India space missions ✅ Sweden-India Partnership: Commitment to double bilateral trade in 5 years
📌 Why This Matters: This deal marks a new era in EU-India relations, countering global instability with economic resilience, strategic autonomy, and shared prosperity.
Chapters
0:00 – Introduction: Gothenburg as a Trade Hub
0:25 – "Mother of All Deals": $2T Market & 90% Tariff Cuts
1:10 – From Gothenburg to Gujarat: Jobs & Prosperity
1:45 – Fast-Tracking the Deal: Business Event & Day-One Benefits
2:20 – Next Step: Investment Agreement to De-Risk Supply Chains
3:00 – Sweden-India Strategic Partnership: Doubling Trade in 5 Years
3:40 – Security & Defence: Naval Exercises & Cybersecurity
4:30 – Tech & AI: Semiconductors, Digital Systems & Supply Chain Resilience
5:10 – "Shooting for the Stars": EU-India Space Cooperation
6:00 – Conclusion: A New Era in EU-India Relations
Watch on the Audiovisual Portal of the European Commission:
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Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)
HS2 could end up costing the taxpayer £100bn.
Chair of the Public Accounts Comittee, Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, and Chair of the Transport Committee, Ruth Cadbury, sit down to discuss the unanswered questions around the major government project.
You can follow both committees’ work on the Parliament website 🔗 https://committees.parliament.uk
Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)
MPs on the Health and Social Care Committee take evidence for their inquiry, Food and weight management.
Witnesses:
Colette Marshall – Chief Executive at Diabetes UK
Professor Roy Taylor – Principal Investigator at DiRECT Study
Dr Neil O’Brien – Chief Medical Officer at North East and North Cumbria ICB
Dimitri Pournaras – Consultant Upper Gastrointestinal and Bariatric Surgeon and Council Member at British Obesity and Metabolic Specialist Society (BOMSS)
Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)
MPs on the Culture Media and Sport Committee take evidence for their inquiry, BBC Royal Charter Review.
Witnesses:
James Graham OBE – playwright and screenwriter
Marina Hyde – journalist and podcaster
Sir Peter Bazalgette – Co-Chair, Creative Industries Council
Dr Alex Mahon CBE – media executive
Patrick Younge – Chair, British Broadcasting Challenge
Euro Area Business Cycle Network, European Central Bank and Federal Reserve Board.
This is the 14th edition of the biennial conference series organised by the Euro Area Business Cycle Network, the ECB, and the Federal Reserve Board. The conference promotes the discussion of innovative research on theoretical and empirical macroeconomic issues with relevance for monetary policy.
Live @ 12:30pm Monday (NZ Time) – A View from Afar podcast. Series 06, Episode 04 – In this episode, political scientist and former Pentagon Analyst Paul Buchanan and Selwyn Manning will deep-dive into: The PRC/USA Summit, Geopolitics, Institutional Lag, Industrial Resilience.
Geopolitics is shifting, new alliances are forming, and co-operation between unlikely nations are paving the way for a different world.
So what is the power behind such shifts?
How are man-made conflicts impacting on progress?
And what of the consequences of climate change?
With such powerful and destructive headwinds, how can we all adapt and progress?
How is it possible?
Let’s deep dive into these issues with Paul and take the conversation to a deeper level of understanding.
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Also, we encourage you to join us via YouTube, as on YouTube live interaction is especially efficient. See you there.
