Source: International Monetary Fund – IMF (video statements)
Governments are facing growing demands from citizens to deliver high-quality public services. This is happening in the context of limited fiscal space, shrinking official financing, and rising spending needs linked to crisis responses, defense, demographics, and development. With limited room to raise revenues or expand financing, policymakers increasingly need to focus on how to make better use of existing public spending, ensuring that public outlays are efficient, adequate, and sustainable. The seminar will discuss how countries are addressing this challenge in practice, and what lessons can be drawn on how to spend better.
Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)
MPs on the Work and Pensions Committee & Education Committee speak to experts for their joint inquiry, ‘Realising potential: Delivering the Child Poverty Strategy’.
Witnesses:
Baroness Ruth Lister – Emeritus professor of social policy at Loughborough University
Edward McPherson – Senior Consultant at WPI Economics
Dr Matt Barnes – Senior Lecturer in Sociology at City St George’s, University of London
Professor Ruth Patrick – Professor of Public and Social Policy at University of Glasgow
Alun Francis OBE – Chair of the Social Mobility Commission
Carl Cullinane – Director of Research and Policy at Sutton Trust
Daniel Lilley – Head of Youth at the Centre for Social Purpose of the Session research, Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR)
As the war in Sudan enters its fourth year, the most acute loss is the country’s greatest asset: its people. Sudanese refugees in Uganda appreciate the welcome they have received, seek international support, and contribute to their societies, even as they have been forced to leave behind productive lives they hope to soon resume in Sudan.
“Yemen remains highly exposed to the economic repercussions of the regional escalation, and as the global situation has made clear, it is always the poorest and most vulnerable who bear the heaviest burden,” Hans Grundberg, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen said.
Briefing the Security Council, Grundberg also said, “Yemenis across the country have long contended with inadequate public services, delayed salaries, and rising prices, and they will now have to contend with import disruptions and higher fuel and food prices triggered by wider conflict in the Middle East.”
Yemen continues to be affected by spillover from the regional crisis that began with US‑Israeli strikes against Iran on 28 February. The Houthis–a Yemeni rebel group holding de facto control over northern Yemen that is part of an Iran-backed coalition of armed groups known as the “axis of resistance”—had paused their attacks on Israel and on Red Sea shipping following the Gaza ceasefire agreement in October 2025.
However, on 28 March, the group resumed strikes on Israel in response to the widening regional escalation, including Israeli military expansion into Lebanon and strikes targeting Hezbollah.
Following the 7 April announcement of a two-week ceasefire between Iran and the US, differences emerged between the conflict parties on whether the truce framework included Lebanon, which Israel continued to bomb heavily.
In a 9 April speech, Houthi leader Abdulmalik al-Houthi described the ceasefire announcement as a “great victory” for Iran, while stressing that de-escalation efforts will not be successful unless Israel ceases its attacks on Lebanon and on any member of the “axis of resistance.” He also signalled the group’s readiness to prepare for “inevitable coming rounds” of conflict.
