Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)
The Treasury Committee question witnesses about what steps they believe the Chancellor could take in her 2025 Budget in order to alleviate child poverty in the UK, including on the two-child benefit cap.
Appearing in front of MPs will be the Institute for Fiscal Studies’ Head of Retirement, Savings and Ageing, Jonathan Cribb, and Sophie Howes, Head of Policy at Child Poverty Action Group. Professor Kitty Stewart from the London School of Economics, who specialises in social policy, will complete the panel.
Hybrid press briefing by Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967 (oPt). following their presentation to the General Assembly’s Third Committee. Ms. Albanese briefs reporters virtually.
Source: United Kingdom UK House of Lords (video statements)
On Wednesday 29 October the House of Lords presses the government in an urgent question, put forward by Lord Empey and granted by the Lord Speaker, on Hurricane Melissa.
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:
For 25 years, the Technology Pioneers community has helped shape our future. Now it’s your turn!
Every year, the community welcomes 100 leading early-stage start-ups from around the globe, whose cutting-edge technologies have the potential to improve the world. The programme helps them scale their impact and innovations.
Are you ready to scale your start-up and make a difference?
Apply now to join the next cohort of Technology Pioneers: http://wefglobal.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1HS50XyUqbdNVhs
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:
World Economic Forum Website ► http://www.weforum.org/
YouTube ► https://www.youtube.com/wef
LinkedIn ► https://www.linkedin.com/company/world-economic-forum
Facebook ► https://www.facebook.com/worldeconomicforum/
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Flipboard ► https://flipboard.com/@WEF
Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)
Watch PMQs with British Sign Language (BSL) – https://youtube.com/live/ibqoih-13aU?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.
Want to find out more about what’s happening in the House of Commons this week? Follow the House of Commons on:
Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)
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.
Want to find out more about what’s happening in the House of Commons this week? Follow the House of Commons on:
Source: International Monetary Fund – IMF (video statements)
Economic growth in the CCA region exceeded expectations in 2025, driven by strong domestic demand and hydrocarbon exports, while inflation accelerated. Economic activity in many CCA countries was stronger than expected in the first half of the year, underpinned by robust remittances, rapid credit growth, and, for oil exporters, higher hydrocarbon production.
Join us on October 30 at 1:00 AM ET for a panel discussion on the IMF’s October 2025 Regional Economic Outlook (REO) for the Caucasus and Central Asia with:
• Jihad Azour, Director, Middle East and Central Asia Department, IMF
• Arif Ali (CEO, CJSC Kyrgyz Investment and Credit Bank)
• Akylzhan Baimagambetov (Deputy Governor, National Bank of
Kazakhstan)
• Aziza Umarova (Head of Delivery Unit at the Agency for Strategic
Reforms under the President of Uzbekistan; Fellow at Harvard’s Davis
Center)
Source: International Monetary Fund – IMF (video statements)
Europe is facing daunting fiscal pressures both from new policy priorities (defense, energy security), the escalating costs of population aging (pension, healthcare), and a rising interest bill on already high debt. Without prompt policy action, public debt levels could more than double for the average European country in the next 15 years. This could drive up interest rates, slow down already sluggish economic growth, and undermine market confidence. Both structural reforms and fiscal consolidation will be necessary to deliver the difficult policy adjustment, with one third achieved through a set of moderate reforms and two thirds coming from consolidation. For high-debt countries, however, this policy package would likely be insufficient to meet the fiscal challenge, leaving no option other than a deeper rethink of the scope of public services and the social contract to fill the gap. Delaying policy action could be costly, as the fiscal position would deteriorate further, and make the task for policymakers even more challenging.
On November 4, 2025, the IMF and the European Central Bank jointly organized the launch of the IMF fiscal note of the 2025 Regional Economic Outlook for Europe at the House of the Euro in Brussels. The event features:
• Oscar Arce, Director-General for Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics, European Central Bank
• Alfred Kammer, Director, European Department, International Monetary Fund
• Benedicta Marzinotto, Board Member of the European Fiscal Board and lecturer in Economic Policy at the University of Udine
• Maarten Verwey, Director-General for Economic and Financial Affairs, European Commission
• Moderator: Sarah Collins, Brussels Correspondent, Business Post
Source: International Monetary Fund – IMF (video statements)
Growth in Latin America and the Caribbean is expected to remain steady in 2025 and moderate slightly next year. Inflation convergence toward targets continues, though at a slower pace.
Rodrigo Valdés explains the main challenges facing the region. https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/REO/WH/Issues/2025/10/17/regional-economic-outlook-western-hemisphere-october-2025
Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)
The Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy will hear evidence from senior government ministers on government decision-making in relation to espionage cases, following the collapse of the recent alleged China spy case.
In our second session this week, the cross-party Committee will hear evidence from the Attorney General and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
