Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)
The Transport Committee examine how landmark reforms to the railways could lead to improvements for passengers, accessibility and a simpler ticketing system.
Across three panels, the cross-party Committee explore plans to create a new passenger watchdog out of Transport Focus, an existing consultative body, that would be given powers to monitor performance of rail services on behalf of passengers.
Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)
The Work and Pensions Committee will hear from experts on the impacts of previous State Pension age increases, and the anticipated consequences of the next rise from 66 to 67, due to be phased in between 2026 and 2028. This will include how State Pension age increases disproportionately impact disadvantaged groups.
Source: United Nations (video statements)
The UN Security Council is meeting in New York for a high-stakes briefing on Ukraine, called by six members amid rising civilian casualties and renewed strikes on energy infrastructure as winter sets in.
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
Secretary-General Statement/Yemen
Yemen
Trip Announcement
Central Emergency Response Fund
Security Council/Ukraine
Sudan
South Sudan
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Lebanon/Israel
Sustainable Transport
Youth Peace and Security
International Days
Financial Contribution
SECRETARY-GENERAL STATEMENT/YEMEN
The Secretary-General is gravely concerned about the continued arbitrary detention of 59 United Nations personnel, in addition to dozens of NGO, civil society, and diplomatic mission personnel. He condemns the referral by the Houthi de facto authorities of United Nations personnel to their special criminal court.
The UN personnel have been held incommunicado, some for years, without any due process, in violation of international law. United Nations personnel, including those who are nationals of Yemen, are immune from legal process in respect of all acts performed by them in their official capacity.
We call on the de facto authorities to rescind the referral and work in good faith toward the immediate release of all detained personnel of the UN, NGOs and diplomatic community.
The United Nations remains committed to supporting the people of Yemen and delivering principled humanitarian assistance.
YEMEN
Following recent developments in Hadramout and Al-Mahra in the eastern region of Yemen, the UN Special Envoy, Hans Grundberg, today highlighted the need for all actors to exercise restraint and de-escalate through dialogue.
This came during meetings he held in Riyadh with the Yemeni Foreign Minister Shaya Zindani, the Saudi Ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed Al Jaber, the UAE Ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed Al-Zaabi. He also met with representatives of the permanent five members of the Security Council in Saudi Arabia and other diplomats.
He noted that the eastern region of Yemen is a vital area, both politically and economically and underscored the need to preserve the space where Yemeni parties can discuss in support of stability and in the interest of Yemeni people.
Grundberg reaffirmed his continued engagement with Yemeni, regional, and international actors to support de-escalation and advance prospects for a negotiated political settlement to the conflict in Yemen.
TRIP ANNOUNCEMENT
Later today, the Secretary-General will be leaving New York for travel to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Oman.
He will arrive in Riyadh on Wednesday, 10 December. There he will hold bilateral meetings with the Saudi leadership, including His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to discuss a number of pressing regional issues.
From Saudi Arabia, the Secretary-General will travel to Iraq on 13 December to mark the closure of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI). Mr. Guterres will express gratitude to the Mission’s staff members and to the government and people of Iraq for hosting UNAMI for 22 years.
While in Baghdad, he will have bilateral meetings with the leaders of the government of Iraq, including with the Prime Minister of Iraq, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.
The Secretary-General will return to Riyadh to participate in the 11th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations taking place on 14 and 15 December. The Forum, convened under the theme “Two decades of dialogue for humanity: Advancing a new era of mutual respect and understanding in a multipolar world,” marks the twentieth anniversary of the Alliance of Civilizations.
Prior to leaving the region, the Secretary-General is also scheduled to visit Muscat. There he will meet the Sultan of Oman, His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, on 15 December to discuss regional issues, including the situation in Yemen.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2025-12-09
Source: World Economic Forum (video statements)
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:
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#WorldEconomicForum #wef
Source: European Commission (video statements)
On 9 December 2025 the European Commission announced a reinforcement of controls on food, animal and plant products entering the EU: more audits, tougher checks, a new Task Force, and updated pesticide rules.
Stronger controls. Safer food. Fair competition.
Read more: https://link.europa.eu/6Ff7PB
Subscribe to stay in the know.
And share your views in the comments!
Source: United Kingdom UK House of Lords (video statements)
See members quiz the government in this question from Baroness Curran on Tuesday 9 December.
📺 Watch the question in full on Parliament TV and find out what other members had to say on the topic.
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:
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Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)
Jake Winter is the founder of Wild and Fruitful, a Cumbrian producer of British chutneys and preserves which you can find in the Houses of Parliament Shop.
📍Made in Cumbria. Stocked in Parliament.
Explore the range: https://www.shop.parliament.uk/
Source: European Central Bank (video statements)
Session 4 on geopolitical tensions and fiscal implications of war on the second day of the Fiscal Policy and Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) Governance conference. The conference is co-organised by the ECB and Fiscal Affairs Department of the IMF.
Chair: Era Dabla-Norris, International Monetary Fund
The price of war
Jonathan Federle, Kiel Institute for the World Economy, together with André Meier, Gernot Müller, Moritz Schularick
Discussant: João Monteiro, Einaudi Institute for Economics and Finance
Watch all sessions from the conference: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnVAEZuF9FZkp656i2hu_0dlpMBaQfGh0
Conference programme:
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/conferences/html/20251031_fiscal_policy_conference.en.html
Source: European Central Bank (video statements)
Session 4 on geopolitical tensions and fiscal implications of war on the second day of the Fiscal Policy and Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) Governance conference. The conference is co-organised by the ECB and Fiscal Affairs Department of the IMF.
Chair: Era Dabla-Norris, International Monetary Fund
The offensive power of defense news in Europe
Evi Pappa, University Carlos III of Madrid, together with Nadav Ben Zeev and Elena Scola Gagliardi
Discussant: Ethan Ilzetzki, London School of Economics
Watch all sessions from the conference: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnVAEZuF9FZkp656i2hu_0dlpMBaQfGh0
Conference programme:
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/conferences/html/20251031_fiscal_policy_conference.en.html
