Source: International Monetary Fund – IMF (video statements)
Join us on Thursday, April 16, at 11:30 AM ET (3:30 PM UTC) for our Governor Talks series, where IMF’s Abebe Aemro Selassie hosts a Q&A with Burkina Faso’s Minister of Economy and Finance, Aboubacar Nacanabo.
Since 2022, Burkina Faso has pursued ambitious reforms to strengthen domestic revenue mobilization amid growing security challenges and reduced external support. The results have been remarkable, with Burkina Faso now recording the highest tax-to-GDP ratio in the WAEMU region.
https://www.imfconnect.org/content/imf/en/annual-meetings/calendar/open/2026/04/16/208315.html
Source: International Monetary Fund – IMF (video statements)
The Governor Talks series provides a forum for Central Bank Governors and Finance Ministers to share their regional or national perspective on range of global issues. https://www.imfconnect.org/content/imf/en/annual-meetings/calendar/open/2026/04/14/207098.html
Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements)
Deputy President Paul Mashatile replies to questions in the NCOP| PresidencyZA
Stay updated, South Africa! Subscribe to The Presidency’s Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@PresidencyZA/?sub_confirmation=1.
In an era where social media algorithms shape public opinion faster than ever, the battle for accurate information has become critical to addressing climate change, maintaining peace, and building resilient societies. This conversation explores how current information dynamics are undermining collective action on global challenges, and how innovative communications approaches like the UN’s Verified initiative are cutting through the noise to reach audiences with trusted, actionable content.
Speakers:
Jeremy Heimans, Co-founder and Chairman, Purpose
Moderator:
Melissa Fleming, UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications
SDG Media Zone website: https://www.un.org/en/sdgmediazone
Football is the world’s most popular sport, with unparalleled reach and the power to advance the SDGs. This discussion will bring together legends of Liverpool FC and Manchester United with Soccer Forward, the foundation of the US Soccer federation responsible for the social impact legacy of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the US.
Speakers:
Lex Chalat, Executive Director, Soccer Forward
Rishi Jain, Director of Impact, Liverpool Football Club
Robbie Fowler, former Liverpool Football Club and England forward
Moderator:
Christine Cupo, Soccer Analyst, Host, CBS Sports
SDG Media Zone website: https://www.un.org/en/sdgmediazone
0:13 – Journaling gave this author a lifeline: To writer and speaker Suleika Jaouad, journalling is more than a hobby: itâs a lifeline. Through three bouts of cancer, her journals have allowed her to make sense of her experience, to stay creative, and to keep in contact with the people she loves. She was a guest on the World Economic Forumâs #MeetTheLeader podcast.
04:31 – World’s Largest Green Hydrogen Project: This factory in China uses energy from nearby wind and solar plants to generate clean #hydrogen, a key fuel for the energy transition. It could cut carbon emissions by 1.5 million tonnes annually – and already powers AI data centres using 100% renewable energy. Here, Envision CEO and Founder Lei Zhang describes this incredible hub of #energy innovation in the Inner Mongolian desert.
07:36 – Quantum Tech fighting climate change: Cutting methane emissions is one of the most effective ways to curb global warming – but most methane leaks go unnoticed. Traditional sensors can tell you thereâs a leak nearby, but thatâs about it. QLMâs quantum lidar cameras represent a vast step-up in capability. They can detect and measure methane emissions with pinpoint accuracy and at distances of up to 200 metres, giving industries a vital tool for tackling leaks.
08:59 – How the Iran Conflict hits the Economy: One month into the #Iran war, amid the humanitarian tragedy, clues are emerging about the wider economic fallout. As the world faces one of the most severe #energy and commodity shocks in recent history, the World Economic Forum convened a panel of leading chief economists, comprising Saad Rahim (Trafigura), Razia Khan (Standard Charter), MĂĄximo Torero (FAO) and Ludovic Subran (Allianz), to discuss the far-reaching implications of the escalating Middle East war for the global #economy.
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 âșÂ http://www.weforum.org/
YouTube âș https://www.youtube.com/wef
LinkedIn âșÂ https://www.linkedin.com/company/world-economic-forum
Facebook âșÂ https://www.facebook.com/worldeconomicforum/
Instagram âșÂ https://www.instagram.com/worldeconomicforum/Â
X âșÂ https://twitter.com/wef
TikTok âș https://www.tiktok.com/@worldeconomicforum
WhatsApp âș https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaDcHBKGZNCihKxwiD0L
Threads âș https://www.threads.com/@worldeconomicforum
Flipboard âșÂ https://flipboard.com/@WEF
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator, Alexander De Croo, told reporters in New York that Syria is at a âpivotal momentâ and stressed that as more than 1.6 million people have returned to Syria last year, there are increased âneeds on housing, needs on government services, needs on jobs.â
De Croo, briefing jointly from Damascus with humanitarian Chief Tom Fletcher, told reporters that âafter a too long period of an atrocious war with too many casualties,â Syria is âat the moment where we can shift from purely humanitarian to also doing development work.â
He said returnees had âleft often in dramatic circumstancesâ and providing services is âreally crucial because if we’re not able to provide those services, well, actually people who had the intention to return might at some point make the choice to not return at all.â
The UNDP Administrator said the region âis in urgent need for a success story, and Syria could be a success story if we are able to stand on the side of the Syrian people and provide the services that are needed.â
He appealed to the international community âto do the necessary investment, support and advocacy for making sure that we can shift into development work.â
De Croo said the impact of the Iran war âis really reversing progressâ in the region, pointing out a UNDP estimation âthat it would lead to a scaling back of one-and- a-half-year of progress, an economic loss of 190 billion and more than 4 million people being pushed into poverty.â
For his part, Fletcher said, âthere has been real progress in the last 15 months since I was here in December 2024, progress that has defied a lot of predictions and many expectations. And we have to build on that progress now, which means we accelerate the humanitarian work that we’re doing, including that vital mine clearance.â
Noting the launch of the United Nations 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for Syria, Fletcher highlighted the importance of âthis transition, this recalibration, as we face down the humanitarian response and phase up the development, resilience, long term recovery response.â
He said, âabout 200,000 refugees or displaced people have crossed the border in the last 3 or 4 weeks. The vast majority, about 175,000 of those are Syrians coming home. But that leaves about 25,000 others, mainly Lebanese and of course, Palestinians. People who have often been displaced multiple times. So, while the government is preparing and is very focused on creating the conditions where they can close the camps within Syria, these are very, very significant numbers.â
The 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for Syria, launched today, identifies primary areas of intervention, including critical infrastructure, essential services, socio-economic resilience, institutional building, and mine and unexploded ordnance clearance.
