Source: International Monetary Fund – IMF (video statements)
The countdown to the 2026 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group in Bangkok, Thailand, has officially begun.
Finance ministers, central bank governors, and thousands of delegates from around the world will convene at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center from October 12 to 18.
Thailand’s hosting of the 2026 Annual Meetings reflects the country’s economic evolution over the past three decades and Asia’s central role in global economic stability. Follow us for updates as we count down to October 12. #IMFMeetings
Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
– World Cup
– Secretary-General/Travels
– Nelson Mandela International Day
– Iran
– Yemen
– UNIFIL
– Occupied Palestinian Territory
– Security Council
– Sudan
– Democratic Republic of the Congo
– Burundi
– Ukraine
– Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator – Burkina Faso
– World Heritage Committee
– World Chess Day
– International Moon Day
– Guests Today and Tomorrow
WORLD CUP
Huge congratulations to the men’s Spanish team on its World Cup victory yesterday. They now join the Spanish Women’s team in being the reigning football world champions. It’s the first time one country has held both men’s and women’s teams championships at the same time.
By every account, it was a very impressive run by La Roja during the championship, during the games.
And well played to all of the other teams, as well, who, during the five weeks, provided the world with a lot of emotion … passion, joyfulness and a little bit of heartbreak for some of us. But congratulations to La Roja.
SECRETARY-GENERAL/TRAVELS
Meanwhile, the Secretary-General is on his way back to New York from China. He will arrive late tonight. Following his attendance at the opening ceremony of the World AI Conference in Shanghai, he travelled to the Yunnan Province.
This morning, in Kunming, the Secretary-General interacted with beneficiaries and local counterparts of UN programmes from agencies such as UNDP, FAO, IFAD and UN Women, supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in China. He heard first-hand accounts from beneficiaries of projects on biodiversity conservation and ecosystem restoration, promoting nature-based solutions, the sustainable use of medicinal plants and community-based conservation efforts linked to local livelihoods.
The Secretary-General will be back in the office tomorrow.
NELSON MANDELA INTERNATIONAL DAY
Courtenay Rattray, the Secretary-General’s Chef de Cabinet delivered remarks on behalf of the Secretary-General to the General Assembly in observance of Nelson Mandela International Day, which was observed on Saturday.
In his remarks, the Secretary-General paid tribute to the life and legacy of Madiba. He highlighted that Mandela Day reflects a defining challenge of our time, poverty and inequality, and celebrated Madiba’s ability to see the world both for what it was and what it could be, having recognized that progress is never automatic; it is the result of action.
To honour that legacy, the Secretary-General encouraged all of us to carry forward Mandela’s vision of a just, inclusive, equal and peaceful world.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-07-20
In today’s era of economic volatility and sluggish growth, the clean energy sector stands out as a global success story, creating jobs and driving economic growth around the world.
China’s dominance in manufacturing has driven down the cost of #solar panels and wind turbines, but its scale is causing smaller players to erect trade barriers as they try to compete, says Kelly Sims Gallagher, Dean of The Fletcher School at Tufts University. Healthy competition is good news for this sector’s future, she argues. But who will provide it?
Kelly Sims Gallagher joined a panel at this year’s Annual Meeting of the New Champions to discuss China’s #energy system and its future trajectory. You can watch the session here: https://www.weforum.org/meetings/annual-meeting-of-the-new-champions-2026/sessions/inside-china-s-energy-system/
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/
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WhatsApp ► https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaDcHBKGZNCihKxwiD0L
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Flipboard ► https://flipboard.com/@WEF
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) (video statements)
In a media interview, FBI Director Kash Patel detailed the security operation behind the World Cup, including more than 700 drone takedowns and no significant criminal attacks.
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Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) (video statements)
In a media interview, FBI Director Kash Patel said there were no significant attacks even as more than 6.5 million people attended 78 matches across 11 venues in the U.S.
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Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) (video statements)
In a media interview, FBI Director Kash Patel said the World Cup was the Bureau’s largest-ever deployment of personnel and required the FBI to be "mathematically precise" in how and where teams were assigned.
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Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) (video statements)
Director Kash Patel shares how the FBI and its partners secured FIFA World Cup 2026, the largest special security event ever held in the United States.
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On #NelsonMandelaDay, we honor a legacy of service, justice, and hope. This year’s theme is a reminder that the power to combat poverty and inequality is still in our hands.
More information: https://www.un.org/en/exhibits/page/building-legacy-nelson-mandela
Source: United Kingdom UK House of Lords (video statements)
Members will quiz the government in an urgent question on its steps to assist in opening the Strait of Hormuz to merchant traffic; and the advice being given by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) Centre to UK merchant shipping.
Private notice questions are urgent questions granted by the Lord Speaker. Find out more https://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/private-notice-question/
Catch-up on House of Lords business:
Watch live events: https://parliamentlive.tv/Lords
Read the latest news: https://www.parliament.uk/lords/
Stay up to date with the House of Lords on social media:
AliExpress failed to properly mitigate the risks of illegal, counterfeited, and unsafe products on its marketplace. Under the Digital Services Act, AliExpress will be fined for €550 million.
