UK Should social media be banned for children under 16? – Science, Innovation and Technology Committee

Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)

Warning: This evidence session includes content that some viewers may find distressing.

The Science, Innovation and Technology Committee hold a one-off evidence session exploring whether the Government should ban access to social media for under 16s.

This evidence session follows the recent launch of the Government’s consultation on measures to keep children safe online, which includes a potential ban on social media for under 16s.

Witnesses:

Dr Rebecca Fuljambe – Founder at Health Professionals for Safer Screens and GP Partner
Frank Young – Chief Executive at Parentkind

Professor Lorna Woods OBE – Professor Emerita School of Law at University of Essex and advisor to the Online Safety Act Network (OSN)
Dr Kim Sylwander – Research Manager and researcher at Digital Futures for Children centre, London School of Economics and Political Science
The Baroness Kidron OBE – Crossbench Peer at House of Lords and Founder and Chair of 5Rights

Julie Inman Grant – eSafety Commissioner at Australia
Professor Amy Orben – Research Professor and Programme Leader at MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge and Fellow at St. John’s College, University of Cambridge
Professor Jeff Hancock – Founding Director at Stanford Social Media Lab, Director, Stanford Cyber Policy Centre and Harry and Norman Chandler Professor of Communication

https://committees.parliament.uk/event/26768

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAMtAWLKc-U

Situation in the Middle East: President von der Leyen at the EP Plenary Session Debate

Source: European Commission (video statements)

On 11 March 2026, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen gives an opening speech at the European Parliament Plenary Session on the Situation in the Middle East.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9eIE3hhyD4

Syria: Chemical Weapons eliminations efforts – ODA Briefing | United Nations

Source: United Nations (video statements)

The Deputy to the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Adedeji Ebo, told the Security Council that the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the Syrian Arab Republic “have continued to engage on how to eliminate any remnants of the chemical weapons programme developed by the previous government.”

Addressing a Council meeting on the implementation of resolution 2118 on Syria’s chemical weapons programme, Ebo recalled that “since 2014, the OPCW Technical Secretariat has not been able to confirm that the declaration submitted by the previous government was accurate and complete.”

He said, “in addition to the 26 declared chemical weapons-related sites, information made available to the OPCW suggests that there are more than 100 other sites that may have been involved in the previous government’s chemical-weapons related activities. As part of its work on this matter, the OPCW Technical Secretariat plans to visit all these locations.”

Ebo said the new Government of Syria “has been working with the OPCW Technical Secretariat to obtain clarifications on the full extent and scope of the programme developed by the previous Government and to ensure Syria’s long-term compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention.”

He urged Council members “to unite and show leadership in providing the support that this unprecedented effort will require” and added that the United Nations “stands ready to support and will continue to do our part to uphold the norm against the use of chemical weapons – anywhere and at any time.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HF8vlfsX6w

Iran on the Middle East – Security Council Stakeout | United Nations

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Iranian Ambassador Amir-Saeid Iravani said, “the world is witnessing how a rogue and irresponsible state, together with an illegitimate regime, is targeting the Iranian schools, hospitals, residential building infrastructure, a sports hall and relief facilities. These attacks have already claimed the lives of hundreds of innocent civilians, including women and children.”

Amir-Saeid Iravani told reporters at in New York today (10 Mar) airstrikes on the night of March 7 hit fuel storage facilities in Tehran and other cities. “This attack released large quantities of hazardous and toxic pollutants into the atmosphere,” he said. He cited the Iranian Red Crescent Society as saying the blasts caused “severe air pollution and serious health risks for civilians, especially children, women and elderly, and those with critical health conditions.”

The ambassador said the United States on March 7 targeted a freshwater desalination plant on Qeshm Island in Hormozgan Province, disrupting water supplies to 30 villages and putting thousands of civilians at risk.

Iravani said the U.S. president on Sunday “openly expressed pride in the destruction of civilian infrastructure, Iran’s navy and killing of Iranian sailors.” According to the ambassador, the intention was “to terrorize civilians, massacre innocent people and cause maximum destruction and suffering.”

On the Beirut attack, Iravani said Israel carried out what he called a “deliberate terrorist attack” against the Ramada Hotel in the early hours of March 8, killing four Iranian diplomats. He said those diplomats had relocated to the hotel from Iran’s diplomatic premises after threats were made against those premises, and that the move was coordinated with the Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“The targeted killing of diplomats on the territory of another sovereign state is a grave terrorist attack, a war crime and a flagrant violation of international law,” he said.

Iravani said the Security Council had remained silent despite what he described as grave violations, and that some council members were “attempting to reverse the roles and position of victims and aggressors.” He said a resolution under consideration would reward Israel and the United States and embolden further aggression.

“Today it is Iran,” he said. “Tomorrow it could be any other sovereign state.”

Iran would defend itself, Iravani added. “We will take all necessary measures to defend our people, our territory and our independence.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQqBmhc03sk

Colombia, Iran, Lebanon & Other Topics – Daily Press Briefing (9 March 2026) | United Nations

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:
Tom Fletcher Briefing
Trip Announcement
Town Hall with Women Civil Society Leaders
Colombia
Middle East/Iran
Lebanon
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Security Council/Syria
Security Council/Afghanistan
Afghanistan Refugees
South Sudan
Ukraine
Myanmar
Cuba
Violence Against Children
Gender-Discriminatory Nationality Laws
International Day of Women Judges

TOM FLETCHER BRIEFING

Tomorrow, at 2pm in Geneva, which will be 9am here in New York, given the time difference, Tom Fletcher, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, will be speaking to reporters.

He’ll update you all on the progress made in his goal this year to reach 87 million people with life-saving aid. For that, the humanitarian community will need $23 billion.

Connection details will be shared later for those of you who want to join.

TRIP ANNOUNCEMENT

Every year, the Secretary-General undertakes a Ramadan solidarity visit. This year, he will travel to Türkiye, to the capital Ankara, to pay tribute to the extraordinary generosity of the Turkish people. Over many years, during his tenure as UN High Commissioner for Refugees and then as Secretary-General, António Guterres has witnessed Türkiye open its doors and communities to millions of people forced to flee violence and persecution. The Secretary-General will meet, during his trip, with representatives of non-governmental organizations working to support refugees in Türkiye.

Türkiye has provided refuge and support, hosting one of the largest refugee populations in the world, with nearly 2.5 million refugees and asylum seekers, including more than 2.3 million Syrians.

While in Türkiye, the Secretary-General will receive the state award, the “Atatürk International Peace Prize.”, which he will accept on behalf of UN personnel throughout the world. This recognition, as you are well aware, comes at a time of immense suffering around the world.

The unfolding crisis in the Middle East stands as a tragic example of that. During his visit, the Secretary-General is scheduled to hold discussions with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hakan Fidan.

TOWN HALL WITH WOMEN CIVIL SOCIETY LEADERS

This morning, the Secretary-General participated in a town hall with women civil society leaders.

In his opening remarks, he thanked them for being on the frontlines every day, defending hard‑won rights for women and girls and for building coalitions when societies are being pulled apart.

These are trying times, he said. A bitter wind is blowing around the world, hardening attitudes, and fueling a backlash against women’s rights.

Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-03-10

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9z8IB8VK41U

Your FBI: Cyber – Business Defense

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) (video statements)

FBI Cyber Division host a roundtable discussion about Operation Winter SHIELD, the FBI’s 60-day operation to defend the homeland. Assistant Director of FBI Cyber Division, Brett Leatherman, discusses zero-day threats, end-of-life technological vulnerabilities, and the emerging threat of agentic AI with SSA Joshua Blanchard and SC Taushiana Bright.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3isTETnylB4