This hybrid event, hosted by UNIDIR, will explore the current status and future development of the UN Global Intergovernmental Points of Contact (POC) Directory.
The directory, established following the work of the UN Open-ended Working Group (OEWG) 2021–2025, aims to strengthen secure, direct communications among member states on ICT (information and communications technology) incidents, including those involving critical infrastructure, thereby contributing to the de-escalation of digital tensions and enhancing transparency.
Since its official launch in May 2024, over 120 countries have nominated national points of contact and added their information to the directory. Under upcoming plans, further operationalisation is expected under the framework of the Global Mechanism, scheduled to begin in 2026.
The event will be held on the margins of the 80th session of the UN First Committee and will bring together national representatives and stakeholders to share experiences with the directory, and to offer recommendations for its enhancement and smooth transition into its next phase.
The 16th Session of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD16) is scheduled to be held from 20 to 23 October 2025 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. Hosted by the Government of Switzerland in collaboration with UNCTAD, the conference convenes every four years as the organisation’s highest-level intergovernmental gathering.
UNCTAD16 aims to bring together Heads of State and Government, Ministers of Trade, Economy, Finance, and Foreign Affairs, along with leaders from international organisations, Nobel Laureates, civil society, business, academia, and youth. The aim is to engage in policy dialogue and strategic reflection on trade, investment, technological change, digital economies, sustainable development, and how these can be harnessed in the service of inclusive growth.
This year’s theme is ‘Shaping the future: Driving economic transformation for equitable, inclusive and sustainable development.’ Over the four days, UNCTAD16 will feature more than 40 high-level sessions, including ministerial roundtables, forums for business and civil society, dialogues between public and private sectors, parallel events, and thematic discussions.
A key outcome of UNCTAD16 will be the setting of UNCTAD’s mandate and work priorities for the next four-year period, including the formulation of global policy recommendations that address structural challenges and support equitable development.
The Global Cyber Conference returns for its 4th edition, once again gathering senior cybersecurity stakeholders, decision-makers, public authorities, and academia from across the globe. It provides a robust networking and learning platform to gain a shared understanding of what must be done to strengthen cyber resilience. The program is now structured around four main steps: Global Risks, Governance, Hands-on Resilience, and Future-ready Strategies. Each step is covered in depth to offer attendees comprehensive knowledge, practical use cases, and critical tools to effectively address the challenges facing their organizations.
To attend the conference and for further details, please follow: https://globalcyberconference.com/#book_tickets
Blockchain Life 2025, happening October 28–29 at Dubai’s Festival Arena, is a large-scale industry forum focused on cryptocurrencies, mining, and Web3. The two-day event will bring together people working across the crypto and blockchain space—investors, developers, entrepreneurs, traders, and service providers—offering a platform for discussion, business development, and technical exchange.
The agenda spans a wide range of topics: blockchain infrastructure, trading approaches, mining technologies, regulation, tokenization, and more. Speakers include founders, executives, and policymakers sharing updates and projections on industry directions. Alongside the talks, the expo floor features hundreds of booths where companies and startups present tools and services aimed at different segments of the digital asset ecosystem.
The event also includes structured and informal networking options, including meetings arranged through an official app, side events during the surrounding Blockchain Life Week (October 24 – November 2), and an afterparty focused on high-level professional exchange.
France and Germany will co-host a high-level Summit on European Digital Sovereignty on 18 November 2025, bringing together EU institutions, member states, businesses, and key stakeholders from across the continent.
The summit will serve as a platform to advance Europe’s vision of digital sovereignty. It will be a starting point to mobilise European investment in strategic programs and align national and EU funds.
The agenda will feature a high-level forum with leading public and private actors in digitalisation from France and Germany. Under the umbrella of the renewed Zukunftswerk / Forum d’avenir, GovTech Campus Germany and La French Tech will showcase flagship projects designed to strengthen Europe’s digital agenda and foster innovation.
The summit was announced in the context of the Franco-German Joint Economic Agenda, published in 29 August 2025.
The G20 Leaders’ Summit 2025 is scheduled for November 22 and 23, 2025, in Johannesburg, South Africa. This annual meeting brings together the heads of state and government from the 19 member countries, plus the African Union and the European Union.
The G20 Summit represents the conclusion of the work carried out by the country that holds the rotating presidency of the group. It is the moment when heads of state and government approve the agreements negotiated throughout the year.
South Africa is holding the Presidency of the G20 from 1 December 2024 to 30 November 2025. South Africa has set out three guiding principles for its presidency:
Solidarity – building collective responses to shared global challenges.
Equality – ensuring fairness between nations and peoples.
Sustainability – pursuing growth that protects future generations.
The approach is shaped by the African philosophy of Ubuntu: ‘I am because we are’, which stresses interconnectedness and shared humanity. One of the key high-level deliverables is Task Force 3 – Artificial Intelligence, Data Governance and Innovation for Sustainable Development, which provides an opportunity for the G20 to shape the future of AI development and use for the global public interest. The task force aims to contribute to the evolution of safe, secure, ethical, and trustworthy AI ecosystems to which there are commitments in the G20, but also to ensure that they are reliable, development-oriented, and more equitably inclusive and just. Key deliverables include
the launch of an ‘AI for Africa’ initiative to accelerate the extension and implementation of the AU Data Policy Framework and Continental Artificial Intelligence Strategy
the development of a Technology Policy Assistance Facility to assist countries in the development of national AI strategies, policies, and laws for countries, as well as knowledge sharing to ensure linkages to the research and policy work that is already available.
The summit aims to bring together international stakeholders, including policymakers, industry leaders, and technical experts, to discuss and advance the development of global standards for AI.
Key topics will include promoting interoperability, ensuring transparency, and upholding human rights in AI technologies. The initiative aligns with the objectives outlined in theGlobal Digital Compact and responds to calls for enhanced AI governance through international collaboration.
By fostering dialogue and cooperation, the summit seeks to establish a foundation for responsible AI development and deployment worldwide. The event is by invitation only.
In 2025, a UN process will review the implementation of outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). Twenty years after the finalisation of the summit (which was held in two phases, in Geneva in 2003 and Tunis in 2005), the WSIS+20 review process will take stock of the progress made in the implementation of WSIS outcomes and address potential ICT gaps and areas for continued focus, as well as addressing challenges, including bridging the digital divide and harnessing ICTs for development.
The overall review will be concluded by a two-day high-level meeting of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), to be held on 16–17 December 2025. The meeting will be preceded by an intergovernmental preparatory process that also takes into account input from all relevant WSIS stakeholders. The process will result in an intergovernmentally agreed outcome document, for adoption at the high-level meeting.
