Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements)
RECAP 📹 | Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane, on behalf of the Republic of South Africa, delivers South Africa’s intervention during Day 2 of the High-Level Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on the Midterm Review of the New Urban Agenda (NUA).
The second session focused on "Unlocking Delivery: Financing Sustainable Urbanisation at Scale," where Minister Simelane highlighted South Africa’s efforts to expand access to affordable housing finance and accelerate inclusive, sustainable urban development.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) (video statements)
Securing large special events requires a team of FBI experts who stand ready to respond to any potential threat. Watch as this bomb technician from FBI Washington demonstrates just one of the remote-controlled robots they have at their disposal to dismantle the danger.
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#EUNews #agerestriction #TeamGaza #DroneAlliance
This week’s EU news (13-19 July) – The EU is proposing age restrictions for social media, launching the Team Gaza Initiative, deepening cooperation with Ukraine through the new Drone Alliance, and advancing electrification to reduce energy dependencies while cutting emissions.
#news #EuropeanCommission #renewableenergy #decarbonisation
The Commission today published a toolbox to support EU countries in promoting public inclusion in renewable energy projects. The toolbox aims to guide EU countries’ authorities in involving local communities and administrations more in the development of renewable energy projects. More info here: Commission publishes toolbox to increase public participation in renewable energy projects – Energy
“Technology that will shape the future of humanity must be shaped by all humanity,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres addressed the opening ceremony of the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai.
Guterres said today (17 Jul) that AI could be humanity’s greatest opportunity of the 21st century – or one of its greatest risks. He thanked China for convening the gathering under a theme built on partnership.
The Global Digital Compact was proof that no handful of countries or companies should govern the technology’s future, Guterres said, “Technology that will shape the future of humanity must be shaped by all humanity. It cannot be governed by a handful of countries or a handful of companies. Every nation needs a seat at the table.”
The UN chief warned, “AI can help usher in a quantum leap across the Sustainable Development Goals. But it won’t happen if the historical injustices of the past are repeated in the technologies of the future. And yet one-third of humanity is still offline.”
He said, “Computing power, data resources and technical expertise remain concentrated. Hundreds of billions of dollars of private investment flood into artificial intelligence – while many developing countries receive just a trickle. AI risks pushing the world towards even greater inequalities … greater divides in income, in opportunity, in security … greater gaps between North and South. We cannot let that happen.”
Guterres said, “Developing countries bring enormous assets to the age of AI. Talent. Ideas. Young, dynamic populations. Every country should be able to shape this technology to its own needs: with its own skills, its own data, in its own languages.”
The UN chief called for governance anchored in international law, “Systems that cross borders need standards that cross borders. We need common approaches to testing, risk assessment, and responsibility. We need governance that is inclusive, networked, and anchored in international law. Human rights must be protected. Humans must keep control over every life-and-death decision. And no AI system should be put in a child’s hands before it has been proven safe.”
He urged AI companies to come clean on their environmental impact, “AI can help speed the energy transition – managing grids, integrating renewables, cutting waste. But its growing demands for energy, water and land must be brought into the open. I call on every major AI company to disclose the full environmental footprint of their systems – and power them with renewables by 2030.”
Guterres closed by saying, “The defining question is not whether artificial intelligence w, “ill transform the world. It will. The defining question is whether that transformation will reduce inequalities or reinforce them. Whether it will concentrate power or expand opportunity. Whether it will bring the promise of progress for every country – or only to those already at the front of the pack. This is a test of technology – and a test of solidarity.”
Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
• Secretary-General/China
• Deputy Secretary-General
• Pakistan
• Middle East
• Lebanon
• Occupied Palestinian Territory
• Democratic Republic Of The Congo
• Venezuela
• Nelson Mandela International Day
SECRETARY-GENERAL/CHINA
This morning, in Shanghai, the Secretary-General addressed the opening ceremony of the World Artificial Intelligence Conference. He said that Artificial Intelligence can be humanity’s greatest opportunity in the 21st century, and it could also become one of its greatest risks.
The Secretary-General underscored that the technology that will shape the future of humanity must be shaped by all humanity, and it cannot be governed by a handful of countries or a handful of companies. He pointed out that few areas hold greater promise for our common future than the application of AI to sustainable development, but it won’t happen if the historical injustices of the past are repeated in the technologies of the future.
Also in the morning, the Secretary-General toured an exhibition of China’s MAZU meteorological AI early-warning system. In the afternoon, he attended the World Artificial Intelligence Conference Meteorological Forum. In his remarks, he noted that the Forum shows one of the clearest ways AI can serve humanity: by helping save lives.
The Secretary-General said that early-warning systems are the most cost-effective protection against climate disaster. He noted that 128 countries now have multi-hazard early-warning systems, more than double since 2015, but one-third remain unprotected.
The Secretary-General stressed that we urgently need to accelerate, and artificial intelligence can help.
Also today, the Secretary-General met with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The Secretary-General thanked President Xi for China’s consistent support for multilateralism and the United Nations and its activities, including peacekeeping.
The Secretary-General reaffirmed his strong commitment to UN reform, fully in line with the UN Charter and International Law, and full respect for the equilibrium among the three pillars of the United Nations activities: peace and security, sustainable development and human rights, and to enhance the cooperation with China in all of them.
The Secretary-General also held a bilateral meeting with Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL
The Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, will be arriving shortly in Sierra Leone, at the invitation of the Government, to participate in the 69th Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Summit on the Future of Regional Integration.
The Deputy Secretary-General will address the Summit and participate in discussions on the economic, development and security priorities of the region. She will reaffirm the United Nations’ strong partnership with ECOWAS and its support for regional efforts to strengthen peace and security, economic cooperation and regional integration, while accelerating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
While in Sierra Leone, the Deputy Secretary-General will hold bilateral meetings with leaders attending the Summit and other senior officials.
She will return to New York on Monday.
PAKISTAN
The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, is wrapping-up a visit to Pakistan today, which was focused on climate risk, disaster preparedness and resilience.
Today, he visited Hassanabad Nala, a flood-affected village near the Shisper Glacier in Gilgit-Baltistan, where he met residents and saw projects helping communities prepare for recurring climate-related hazards. He also visited the Hunza Solar Project, highlighting the opportunities to build resilience through clean energy.
Throughout his visit, Mr. Fletcher stressed that Pakistan is on the front line of the climate crisis, while also demonstrating practical approaches from which other climate-vulnerable countries can learn.
He called for stronger international support to help countries prepare for, and respond to, disasters.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-07-17
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) (video statements)
Dismantling dangerous devices takes a lot of guts. For bomb technicians at the FBI, it’s what they’ve trained their entire lives to do. Hear the role they play in protecting some of the nation’s largest special events, and the advanced training they receive to become professional problem solvers.
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Source: Council of the European Union (video statements)
A few fun facts about the EU’s 24 official languages, because more languages means more stories worth celebrating.
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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.
