Source: United Kingdom UK House of Lords (video statements)
What information has the government provided to parents and early-years providers about safe and appropriate use of digital technology by pre-school children?
đź“ş Catch up on this question from Baroness Penn on Thursday 18 December.
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ECB President Christine Lagarde explains the Governing Council’s monetary policy decisions and will answer questions from journalists at the Governing Council press conference to be held on Thursday, 18 December 2025 at 14:45 CEST in Frankfurt am Main.
Source: United Kingdom UK House of Lords (video statements)
Members quiz the government on ensuring schools’ core budgets in more deprived communities are not disproportionately used to meet the costs of providing free school meals.
Catch up on this question from Baroness Boycott on Tuesday 16 December.
đź“şWatch the question in full and find out how other members quizzed the government at parliamentlive.tv
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Source: United Kingdom UK House of Lords (video statements)
What steps is the government taking to ensure that schools’ core budgets in more deprived communities are not disproportionately used to meet the costs of providing free school meals? Baroness Boycott asks in this highlight from Lords questions.
Read a transcript of this question: https://hansard.parliament.uk/lords/2025-12-16/debates/E66C2BE9-F2DD-4887-B8EB-080F97EB14ED/FreeSchoolMeals
Catch-up on House of Lords business:
Watch live events: https://parliamentlive.tv/Lords
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Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on all parties in Yemen to “exercise maximum restraint, de-escalate tensions, and resolve differences through dialogue.” He also “strongly” condemned the continued arbitrary detention of UN staff and partner personnel.
Guterres spoke to reporters after a closed consultation on the situation in Yemen.
Guterres pointed out that earlier this month, forces affiliated with the Southern Transitional Council – or STC – advanced on Hadramawt and al-Mahra, adding that he told the Security Council, unilateral actions will not clear a path to peace. A full resumption of hostilities could have serious ramifications on regional peace and security – including on the Red Sea, in the Gulf of Aden, and in the Horn of Africa, he said.
The UN chief urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint, de-escalate tensions, and resolve differences through dialogue. “This includes regional stakeholders, whose constructive engagement and coordination in support of UN mediation efforts are essential for ensuring collective security interests,” he said.
Guterres continued, “The sovereignty and territorial integrity in Yemen must be reserved. Yemen needs a sustainable, negotiated political settlement where it embraces the aspirations of all Yemenis; And brings this devastating conflict to an end.”
The Secretary-General also strongly condemned the continued arbitrary detention of 59 UN colleagues and partner personnel – as well as staff from NGOs, civil society organizations, and diplomatic missions.
He called for their “immediate and unconditional release, in accordance with international law.”
Guterres also noted that in recent days, Houthi de facto authorities referred three of UN colleagues to a special criminal court.
The UN chief stressed, “This referral must be rescinded. They have been charged in relating to their performance of United Nations official duties.”
He reiterated, “These charges must be dropped.’
“The continued detention of our colleagues is a profound injustice to all those who have dedicated their lives to helping the people of Yemen,” Guterres underscored, adding that the United Nations and its partners “must never be targeted, arrested, or detained in connection with their official duties.”
“We must be allowed to perform our work without interference,” the Secretary-General emphasized.
Guterres concluded by saying the path to peace is possible, and the United Nations remains committed to supporting the Yemeni people along this path.
Despite huge damage to nature and the growing impact of climate change, Sylvia Earle believes there is not better time in history to be alive.
Now 90, the pioneering ocean explorer has this message of hope for humanity.
Links:
Friends of Ocean Action: https://www.weforum.org/friends-of-ocean-action/
Mission Blue: https://missionblue.org/
Follow the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting 2026 on the website wef.ch/wef26 and across social media using the hashtag #WEF26
Related podcasts:
Ocean: how David Attenborough’s new film will transform how you see Earth: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/ocean-david-attenborough-colin-butfield/
Humans rely on the ocean. Here’s how both can thrive: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/ocean-marine-prosperity-areas/
Remembering Jane Goodall and her legacy of hope: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/meet-the-leader/episodes/remembering-jane-goodall-leadership-lessons/
What my record 102-hour saltwater swim taught me about the ocean: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/ocean-action-mediterranean-swim-noam-yaron/
Talks on creating a "Paris Treaty for plastics" just stalled – here’s why, and what happens next: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/plastics-treaty-inc-gpap/
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Briefing by Dennis Zulu, UN Resident Coordinator in Jamaica, The Bahamas, Bermuda, The Cayman Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands, on the impact of Hurricane Melissa.
