Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)
Watch PMQs with British Sign Language (BSL) – https://youtube.com/live/vPKRsRnsu_Y?feature=share
Prime Minister’s Question Time, also referred to as PMQs, takes place every Wednesday the House of Commons sits. It gives MPs the chance to put questions to the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer MP, or a nominated minister.
In most cases, the session starts with a routine ‘open question’ from an MP about the Prime Minister’s engagements. MPs can then ask supplementary questions on any subject, often one of current political significance.
The Leader of the Opposition, Kemi Badenoch MP, asks six questions and the leader of the second largest opposition party asks two. If another minister takes the place of the Prime Minister, opposition parties will usually nominate a shadow minister to ask the questions.
Rachel Reeves MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer, will then deliver the Budget Statement in the House of Commons.
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Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)
In this session, MPs will question the leadership of regulator the Office for Rail and Road (ORR), which would continue to monitor the performance of GBR under the Government’s plans, but with changes to its powers of enforcement. The Committee is likely to ask whether GBR would have sufficient independence from Ministers under the new system and whether the ORR will have the tools it needs to be an effective regulator under the new system. This will include questions on whether the ORR can act as a realistic appeals route for operators, including freight companies, who want to use the railway network once GBR takes over.
There may be questions on the proposals to create a new passenger watchdog, to be grown out of Transport Focus.
MPs are also likely to ask about the way GBR would be provided with funding in five-year cycles to maintain and enhance rail infrastructure – whether this will be on terms that enable it to make long-term decisions.
The cross-party Committee will also be interested to hear witnesses’ views on whether the Bill will improve the ORR’s oversight of accessibility on the rail network, and services such as Passenger Assistance.
“Unfortunately for women, the home continues to be the most dangerous place for them in terms of risk of homicide, “ marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the 2025 femicide report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and UN Women confirms that femicide continues to take the lives of tens of thousands of women and girls worldwide, with no sign of real progress.
Last year, 83,000 women and girls were killed intentionally. Of them, 60 per cent – 50,000 women and girls – were killed at the hands of intimate partners or family members. This means one woman or girl is killed by a partner or family member almost every 10 minutes – an average of 137 every day. In contrast, just 11 per cent of male homicides were perpetrated by intimate partners or family members.
“Femicides don’t happen in isolation. They often sit on a continuum of violence that can start with controlling behavior, threats, and harassment – including online,” said Sarah Hendriks, Director of UN Women’s Policy Division.
Women and girls are subjected to this extreme form of violence in every region in the world, notes the 2025 femicide report. It is estimated that the highest rate of femicide by an intimate partner/family member was in Africa (3 per 100,000 women and girls), followed by the Americas (1.5), Oceania (1.4), Asia (0.7) and Europe (0.5).
Though femicides are also committed outside of the home, the amount of data remains limited. To help close these gaps, UN Women and UNODC are working closely with countries on the implementation of the 2022 statistical framework to enhance the identification, recording, and classification of gender-related killings of women and girls. Improving data availability will be vital to accurately assess the magnitude and consequences of these femicides, to support effective responses, and seek justice.
Hybrid press Conference by Annalena Baerbock, President of the 80th session of the General Assembly, on issues including the Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons and International Day of the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
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The President of the General Assembly, Annalena Baerbock, announced the launch of the formal selection and appointment process for the next Secretary-General, and said “the world is looking to the next SG to provide strong, dedicated and effective leadership in delivering on the three pillars of the United Nations; peace and security, human rights and development, and in making the United Nations fit for the future.”
Baerbock told journalists in New York that the President of the Security Council, Ambassador Michael Imran Kanu, and she, as president of the General Assembly, had signed the joint letter which formally initiates the process and said, “the selection of the next Secretary-General comes at a pivotal moment for our United Nations.”
She said, “our choice will send a powerful message about who we are as United Nations, and whether we truly serve all the people of the world, of which everywhere in the world half are women and girls.”
The GA President noted that the joint letter “reflects improvements to the process and the latest resolution on revitalisation of the work of the General Assembly, including a call to member states to strongly consider nominating women as candidates for the position of Secretary-General, the importance of regional diversity, transparent campaign disclosures and provisions on the withdrawal of candidates.”
She said, “I am convinced that the decision about the future leadership of this organisation is also about credibility.”
Baerbock said, “as President of the General Assembly, I will therefore ensure that the process reflects the principles of the United Nations Charter and the very best of our shared commitment and values.”
On 5 September 2025 the General Assembly adopted resolution 79/327 on the Revitalisation of the work of the General Assembly, which sets out the process for the selection and appointment in line with Article 97 of the Charter of the United Nations. The resolution builds on previous related resolutions, which introduced significant improvements to the selection and appointment process of the Secretary-General.
According to the resolution, candidates are nominated by a Member State or groups of Member States and must provide a vision statement, curriculum vitae and campaign financing disclosures.
The President of the General Assembly then convenes webcast interactive dialogues with all candidates and engages closely, in a transparent and inclusive manner, with Member States.
Nazhat Shameem Khan, Deputy Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) said, “those responsible for inflicting suffering in Libya are mistaken if they believe they are still outside the reach of justice.”
Addressing the Security Council Nazhat Shameem Khan said, “Through our collective work, there is a new momentum towards justice in Libya, and we now look towards the first trial to be held at the Court in this situation. Based on the progress we now see, I firmly believe there is an opportunity for us to show a collective success based on the partnership between Libya, this Council and the ICC.”
She also said, “Through the arrest of Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri by German authorities on 16 July, on the basis of a warrant issued by Pre-Trial Chamber I of the ICC, we see a clear example of the momentum we are building. The Office of the Prosecutor alleges that Mr. El Hishri is responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Mitiga Prison from February 2015 to at least early 2020.”
She continued, “Through the imminent transfer of Mr. El Hishri to the ICC, based on the mandate provided by this Council, and through the first pre-trial and subsequently trial proceedings before the Court in the situation in Libya, we send a clear message: those responsible for inflicting suffering in Libya are mistaken if they believe they are still outside the reach of justice. ”
She added, “Our Office also remains clearly focused on securing the arrest and transfer of Mr. Osama Elmasry Njeem for trial at the ICC for the war crimes and crimes against humanity we allege he has committed in Mitiga prison. These alleged crimes also include murder, torture, rape and sexual violence. We have received reports in recent weeks of his possible arrest in Libya and are seeking confirmation of this from the Office of the Attorney General.”
She also said, “And we are also continuing steps, together with our Registry colleagues, to ensure the effective tracking and arrest of Mr. Saif Suleiman Sneidel, in relation to whom Pre-Trial Chamber I unsealed an ICC arrest warrant on 8 August.”
Over 80,000 women and girls were killed intentionally last year according to a new report on femicide by UN Women and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Over half of those femicides occurred at the hands of intimate partners or family members. That means one woman or girl is killed by a partner or family member almost every 10 minutes.
This year’s 16 Days of Activism to End Gender-based Violence campaign targets digital violence and calls on governments to implement laws that end impunity, technology companies to ensure the safety of platforms, and donors to support organizations in eradicating violence.
Over 80,000 women and girls were killed intentionally last year according to a new report on femicide by UN Women and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Over half of those femicides occurred at the hands of intimate partners or family members. That means one woman or girl is killed by a partner or family member almost every 10 minutes. In contrast, only 11 per cent of male homicides were perpetrated by intimate partners or family members during the same year.
This year’s 16 Days of Activism to End Gender-based Violence campaign targets digital violence and calls on governments to implement laws that end impunity, technology companies to ensure the safety of platforms, and donors to support organizations in eradicating violence.
A joint letter marking the formal start of the selection and appointment process for the next UN Secretary-General has been signed today (25 November) by the President of the Security Council, Michael Imran Kanu, and the President of the General Assembly (PGA), Annalena Baerbock. The letter serves to begin soliciting candidates for the position while also setting out the modalities for submitting and considering nominations.
A joint letter marking the formal start of the selection and appointment process for the next UN Secretary-General has been signed today (25 November) by the President of the Security Council, Michael Imran Kanu, and the President of the General Assembly (PGA), Annalena Baerbock. The letter serves to begin soliciting candidates for the position while also setting out the modalities for submitting and considering nominations.
