United News of Bangladesh

Israeli forces carried out airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs on Sunday, just days after a ceasefire agreement brokered in Washington came into effect, according to Lebanese and Israeli officials. Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported that at least two people were killed and 11 others injured in the strikes, based on preliminary figures. The attack came despite reported US efforts to prevent strikes on the Lebanese capital and amid renewed diplomatic efforts to revive talks between Iran and the United States. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the strikes were launched in response to alleged rocket fire from the Iran-backed Hezbollah group into northern Israel earlier in the day. In a statement, Netanyahu’s office said the attacks targeted Hezbollah “command centers” in the densely populated southern suburbs of Beirut. “We are striking them very hard, and we know that Hezbollah is on the run,” Netanyahu told his cabinet. Hezbollah did not immediately claim responsibility for the reported attacks on northern Israel. The latest escalation occurred only days after Lebanese and Israeli officials met in Washington and renewed discussions aimed at maintaining a ceasefire and ending months of hostilities. Despite previous ceasefire understandings, Israeli forces have continued near-daily strikes in southern Lebanon, while ground troops remain deployed in parts of the country following military operations against Hezbollah. Earlier this week, Israel had threatened to strike Beirut’s southern suburbs after Hezbollah claimed attacks on northern Israel. However, urgent diplomatic contacts mediated through Washington reportedly helped avert those strikes after Hezbollah agreed to halt attacks on Israeli border communities. According to local reports, Sunday’s strike hit a residential building, damaging four of its seven floors. The Lebanese military later cordoned off the area after an unexploded munition was discovered in the rubble. The latest developments have raised concerns over the stability of the ceasefire and the broader regional security situation.

Pakistan's interior minister arrived in Tehran on Sunday in a renewed effort to help revive talks between Iran and the United States, as the US military said it shot down two more Iranian drones over the Strait of Hormuz after they posed a threat to international shipping. The latest development comes as Washington continues to push Tehran toward an agreement aimed at ending the ongoing Middle East conflict, which has put pressure on the global economy and raised concerns about worsening hunger in some of the world's most vulnerable countries. Although the most intense phase of the fighting ended with a preliminary ceasefire on April 8, the parties have yet to reach a lasting agreement to formally end the conflict. At the same time, clashes between Israel and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah continued despite the extension of a US-brokered ceasefire announced last week. Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi is visiting Tehran to deliver a message from Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, according to Iran's state news agency IRNA. Khamenei has not appeared in public since becoming Iran's leader after the death of his father during the opening day of the war on Feb. 28, when the United States and Israel launched a major bombardment campaign against Iran. Naqvi met Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni on Saturday and held talks with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Sunday, Iranian media reported. Officials did not disclose details of the message. Pakistan has previously said it is working with regional countries including Qatar, Turkey and Egypt to help narrow differences between Washington and Tehran, reduce tensions and support efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, hopes for a sustained ceasefire in Lebanon appeared uncertain. Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, has rejected the US-mediated proposal and instead supports Tehran's position that any agreement to end the broader conflict should also include Lebanon. Israel said it carried out strikes on more than 150 Hezbollah targets across southern Lebanon over the weekend, including rocket launchers and command centres. On Sunday, the Israeli military said at least five projectiles were fired from Lebanon toward northern Israel. The projectiles were either intercepted or landed in open areas. Hezbollah did not immediately claim responsibility but said it had attacked Israeli troops in southern Lebanon. The Israeli military said two soldiers were killed during fighting in southern Lebanon on Saturday. The ongoing violence in Lebanon threatens efforts to secure a broader regional truce and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global oil and gas supplies. Disruptions in the waterway have already shaken international energy markets. Iran insists that any long-term ceasefire must also cover Lebanon. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated that military operations will continue until Israel believes Hezbollah no longer poses a security threat. In a related development, Lebanese Army Commander Gen. Rodolphe Haikal travelled to Pakistan on Saturday at the invitation of Pakistan's army chief. Lebanese authorities did not provide further details about the visit. The US military said on Saturday it intercepted several Iranian missiles and drones heading toward the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf Arab states, and later struck Iranian coastal radar sites used for surveillance. US Central Command said the drones posed an immediate threat to maritime traffic in the region. Iran's Revolutionary Guard said it had targeted the Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, where US forces are stationed, as well as the US Navy's Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain, according to IRNA. The US military said there were no reports of casualties among American personnel. Earlier this month, Iranian drone attacks heavily damaged a passenger terminal at Kuwait's main airport, killing one person and injuring dozens more. Washington has maintained its blockade of Iranian ports in response to Tehran's control over the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global energy exports. The conflict has driven up energy prices, creating political challenges for US President Donald Trump's Republican Party ahead of congressional midterm elections later this year.

The Middle East conflict is approaching its 100-day mark, with U.S.-Iran talks still seesawing and the outlook for shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remaining uncertain. Since fighting broke out in late February, the war has spilled far beyond the region, disrupting energy supplies, reigniting inflationary pressures and unsettling financial markets. International institutions are now warning that the conflict is becoming a growing drag on the global economy. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and other bodies have recently lowered their forecasts for global growth, citing the prolonged conflict as a major source of uncertainty. What began as market concern over a short-term spike in oil prices has evolved into broader anxiety over weaker growth, higher inflation and longer-lasting damage to supply chains. ENERGY SUPPLY SHOCK The most immediate impact has come through energy supplies. The blockage of the Strait of Hormuz has triggered what the International Energy Agency (IEA) has described as the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market, pushing up oil and gas prices as well as shipping costs. According to a recent IEA report, global oil supply losses since February have reached 12.8 million barrels per day. Gulf producers affected by the closure of the strait are producing 14.4 million barrels per day less than before the war. Based on the daily shortfall of 12.8 million barrels, more than 1.2 billion barrels of supply have been affected since the conflict began, underscoring the strain on global energy inventories and transport capacity. The IEA expects global oil supply in 2026 to remain, on average, 3.9 million barrels per day lower, even if shipping through the strait gradually resumes. In a joint statement, the IEA and other bodies warned that if shipping fails to return to normal and global oil inventories continue to fall rapidly, global economic resilience could face serious risks. The shock is not limited to oil. The World Bank expects global energy prices to rise 24 percent in 2026 because of the conflict. Overall commodity prices are projected to increase 16 percent, driven mainly by energy, fertilizer and some metals. John Roper, chief executive for the Middle East at German energy company Uniper, said the strait's closure and damage to facilities took most of the gas supply growth between 2025 and 2026 off the market, warning that the pain from the supply shortfall could last at least until 2030. INFLATION PRESSURES RETURN The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said in a recent report that even under a scenario involving a short-lived conflict and moderate increases in energy and commodity prices, global inflation would reach 4.4 percent in 2026, significantly deviating from the recent disinflation trend. Signs of renewed inflationary pressure have already appeared in Europe and the United States. U.S. gasoline prices in April were more than 50 percent higher than before the war, while real disposable personal income fell for a third consecutive month. In the eurozone, inflation in France, Italy, Spain and Germany has stayed above the European Central Bank's 2 percent target for three months in a row, with higher energy costs spreading into food and services prices. "The longer the disruptions last, the larger the economic and social costs become," OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann said. Developing economies face a heavier burden. The World Bank expects inflation in developing economies to average 5.1 percent in 2026, 1 percentage point higher than prewar forecasts. "The poorest people, who spend the highest share of their income on food and fuels, will be hit the hardest, as will developing economies already struggling under heavy debt burdens," World Bank chief economist Indermit Gill said. "All of this is a reminder of a stark truth: war is development in reverse." GROWTH OUTLOOK DARKENS The conflict is also clouding the growth outlook. The OECD expects global growth to slow from 3.4 percent in 2025 to 2.8 percent in 2026, down 0.1 percentage point from its March forecast. If disruptions to Gulf energy production and exports persist into 2027, global growth in 2026 could fall further to 2.1 percent. The IMF has listed the Middle East conflict as a major test for the global economy, projecting growth to slow to 3.1 percent in 2026, down from its January forecast of 3.3 percent. The United Nations expects global growth of 2.5 percent, 0.2 percentage point lower than its January projection. The war is weighing on growth through inflation, consumption and investment. Higher energy and raw material costs squeeze corporate profits and dampen investment appetite. Rising prices erode real incomes and curb consumer spending. Higher financing costs add pressure on companies and governments already carrying heavy debt burdens. That leaves major economies facing a sharper policy dilemma. Slower growth, weaker consumption and higher business costs call for policy support, but rising energy prices and renewed inflation limit the scope for monetary easing. After the pandemic and years of high interest rates, many governments have less capacity to offset the energy shock through subsidies or tax cuts.

President Donald Trump increasingly appears to be boxed in. U.S. and Iranian negotiators reached a tentative agreement a week ago to extend the ceasefire by 60 days and start a new round of talks on Iran’s nuclear program. Trump, however, has called for unspecified changes, and Iranian officials have shown no public sign of agreeing to the deal. The fighting in Lebanon, where Israeli forces have seized large swaths of the south while saying it targets the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group, also challenges efforts to end the Iran war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has demanded that any lasting truce extends to Lebanon. The Trump administration has touted the latest ceasefire agreed to earlier in the week by the Lebanese government and Israel after U.S.-brokered talks in Washington. However, Hezbollah has rejected the agreement. Meanwhile, Iran fired ballistic missiles and drones toward Bahrain and Kuwait that were intercepted early Saturday, Bahrain’s government said, and called on Tehran to halt attacks on Gulf neighbors that test a fragile ceasefire in the Middle East conflict. Iran said that it targeted American military assets in both countries, after the U.S. attacked surveillance facilities on Qeshm Island and near Sirik that Iran said were used to protect borders and “ensure the security of navigation in international waters.” Tehran called the attack a ceasefire violation. Later Saturday, U.S. Central Command said U.S. forces had shot down two Iranian attack drones over the Strait of Hormuz. The latest exchanges came as the Trump administration presses Iran to make a deal to end the war, which has strained the global economy and threatened a hunger crisis in some of the world’s most vulnerable countries.  

More than one million people gathered in central Madrid on Sunday for Pope Leo XIV’s main Mass and a grand religious procession featuring Spain’s traditional flower carpets, one of the country’s most iconic expressions of Catholic devotion. The crowd filled Plaza Cibeles and surrounding streets, cheering loudly as the pope arrived in his popemobile. Many shouted, “This is the youth of the pope!” as he made his way through the packed venue surrounded by barricades. Sunday’s Mass marked the Catholic feast of Corpus Domini, a day traditionally observed with processions in which priests carry the Eucharist through streets decorated with intricate floral designs. In Spain and other mainly Catholic countries, these flower carpets are a key part of the celebration. Pope Leo XIV, who began his weeklong visit to Spain on Saturday, has been encouraging young people to connect with long-standing Catholic traditions and consider religious vocations. At a vigil on Saturday night, around 600,000 young people joined the pope in prayer, many kneeling in silence. The large turnout suggested continued interest in religious life among youth in Spain, a country often described as highly secular. “Don’t ever be afraid of thinking about a vocation to the priesthood or religious life, or other services in the church,” the pope told the gathering. During the vigil, a young couple, Irati Valda and Javier Hormazal, who are set to marry on June 13, were invited close to receive the pope’s blessing after holding up a sign announcing their wedding plans. “Seeing so many young people together is incredible. Half a million people in silence, it’s something you only experience once,” Valda said. Organisers said about 1.2 million people attended Sunday’s Mass and procession under clear spring skies, with many more unable to enter the main area. The flower carpet tradition, where detailed designs are created on streets and later destroyed as the procession passes over them, dates back around 200 years. It is also seen in parts of Latin America, where sand designs are used in similar rituals. The artworks are considered offerings to the Eucharist. Spain’s Galicia region is among areas seeking UNESCO recognition for its tradition of flower carpets as part of global intangible cultural heritage, following Poland’s earlier recognition. According to organisers, 16 floral carpets lined a half-kilometre procession route. More than 30,000 flowers were used, mainly in yellow and white to reflect the colours of the Holy See, along with religious symbols such as the keys of the Vatican. Religious processions remain a strong cultural feature across Spain, especially during Holy Week, when brotherhoods carry statues of Christ and the Virgin Mary through the streets accompanied by music and large crowds of both worshippers and tourists. Local fiestas also frequently honour patron saints, while pilgrimages such as Andalusia’s El Rocío draw up to a million participants who travel on horseback and decorated wagons in a mix of devotion and celebration. Pope Leo XIV arrived in Spain on Saturday, calling for unity and an end to political polarisation. He is expected to meet members of his Augustinian order and address cultural leaders later on Sunday.

The influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has dismissed US calls for North Korea's denuclearization as an outdated fantasy, saying Pyongyang will continue to strengthen its nuclear capabilities in response to what it sees as threats led by Washington. The remarks by Kim Yo Jong came a day before Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to visit North Korea for talks with Kim Jong Un, marking his first trip to the country in seven years. Kim Yo Jong said the United States has no authority to challenge North Korea’s status as a nuclear-armed state and described Washington’s position as unilateral rhetoric without legal force. She also rejected US claims that President Donald Trump and Xi Jinping had reaffirmed their shared goal of denuclearizing North Korea during talks in Beijing last month, calling such assertions false. According to Kim Yo Jong, some US officials remain trapped in what she described as an unrealistic and outdated view regarding North Korea’s nuclear programme. North Korea has accelerated efforts to expand its nuclear weapons capabilities since diplomacy between Kim Jong Un and Trump collapsed in 2019. Analysts say Pyongyang seeks international recognition as a nuclear state to strengthen its position in negotiations and push for the removal of international sanctions. Last week, Kim Jong Un visited a newly built nuclear materials production facility and said the country's nuclear forces would grow at an “exponential” pace. North Korean state media reported Sunday that he also inspected a weapons factory a day earlier and ordered a 2.5-fold increase in missile production capacity under the current five-year development plan. In her statement, Kim Yo Jong accused the United States and South Korea of continuing military build-ups, saying North Korea’s policy of strengthening its nuclear deterrent for self-defence is irreversible and will be pursued without conditions. Experts say Xi’s visit is largely aimed at reinforcing China’s influence over North Korea at a time when Pyongyang has been drawing closer to Russia. They believe Xi is unlikely to press the denuclearization issue directly and may instead focus on economic cooperation and assistance. North Korea has provided troops and conventional weapons to Russia to support its war in Ukraine. Officials in South Korea and the United States say Moscow has responded by offering economic and other forms of assistance to Pyongyang.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to visit North Korea for the first time in nearly seven years, in a trip that is expected to highlight North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s increasingly active foreign policy and his efforts to strengthen ties with traditional allies. The visit comes as North Korea seeks to balance its growing relationship with Russia while renewing closer cooperation with China, its biggest economic partner and longtime ally. It will be the first meeting between Xi and Kim since the North Korean leader visited Beijing in September 2025 for events marking the anniversary of the end of World War II. Kim looking for economic support Analysts say Kim is likely seeking stronger economic cooperation with China after spending recent years deepening ties with Russia, including sending troops and military supplies to support Moscow's war in Ukraine. While North Korea is believed to be receiving military assistance and other benefits from Russia, experts say Kim needs greater economic support from China if he hopes to improve living standards at home. According to analysts, discussions could include restarting Chinese tourism to North Korea, opening a long-completed bridge over the Yalu River that has never been used, and exploring joint economic projects in border areas shared by North Korea, China and Russia. Observers also note that Kim may see closer ties with China as useful if he eventually decides to reopen diplomacy with the United States. His previous talks with US President Donald Trump collapsed in 2019 over disagreements on sanctions and North Korea's nuclear programme. North Korea has so far rejected Trump's recent offers to resume talks, insisting that Washington first abandon its demand for denuclearisation as a condition for negotiations. China aims to restore influence For China, the visit offers an opportunity to strengthen its influence over a traditional ally that has recently moved closer to Russia. Experts say Beijing is likely concerned about the growing relationship between Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin and may seek to rebalance North Korea's foreign relations through economic incentives and food assistance. Xi's trip is also significant because it marks his first overseas visit of 2026. Analysts say the visit sends a message that China intends to remain a key player in shaping security issues on the Korean Peninsula. Recent developments also suggest China may be taking a more pragmatic approach toward North Korea's nuclear ambitions. During a visit to Pyongyang in April, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met Kim, and observers noted that official statements did not mention denuclearisation, a term China has traditionally used when discussing North Korea. Some analysts believe this could indicate that Beijing is increasingly accepting the reality of North Korea's nuclear status while focusing on maintaining stability and countering US influence in the region. A warmer relationship, but limits remain Experts expect Kim to give Xi a grand welcome during the visit, reflecting the importance of relations between the two countries. However, they also say North Korea's leader is now more confident on the international stage and may be less willing to follow China's wishes than in the past. While the visit is expected to strengthen political ties and economic cooperation, analysts believe North Korea will continue pursuing an independent foreign policy aimed at balancing relations with both China and Russia while protecting its own interests.

At least 12 people were injured in a shooting near a crowded street festival in Ohio on Saturday, prompting panic among attendees as some sought cover while others rushed to assist the wounded. Toledo Deputy Police Chief Joe Heffernan said no suspects had been arrested several hours after the incident and urged festivalgoers to provide photos or videos that could aid the investigation. Tens of thousands protest austerity in Brussels, police use tear gas The shooting occurred near the Old West End Festival, an annual event featuring live music and home tours. Heffernan said preliminary information indicated that at least two individuals exchanged gunfire and were “probably shooting at each other.” Two victims remained in critical condition. The injured ranged in age from 14 to 61, with most in their early 20s. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine expressed concern, saying summer festivals should be safe places for families. Fire Chief Allison Armstrong said road closures and heavy traffic complicated access to hospitals, but all victims were transported from the scene within an hour. Witness Kevin Berry, who was attending the festival, said he heard several gunshots and later saw multiple people suffering from gunshot wounds. City officials were considering whether the two-day festival would continue after the violence.

A senior commander of Yemen's pro-government forces was killed in a roadside bomb attack targeting his convoy in the Red Sea province of Hodeidah on Saturday. The force said the victim was Yahya Wahish, commander of its First Division. He was killed when an explosive device detonated as his convoy was traveling through the Al Khawkhah district in southern Hodeidah. The statement said one of Wahish's escorts was also killed in the explosion, while two other escorts sustained injuries. The National Resistance Forces blamed the Houthi group for planting the bomb. However, there was no immediate response from the Houthis, and no group had claimed responsibility for the attack. The National Resistance Forces are led by Tariq Saleh, a member of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) and nephew of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh. The force was established with backing from the Saudi-led coalition and is based in the strategic coastal city of Mocha near the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Yemen has remained embroiled in conflict since late 2014, when the Houthis took control of the capital, Sanaa, prompting a Saudi-led coalition to intervene in support of the internationally recognized government in 2015. Although a UN-brokered truce between the Yemeni government and the Houthis, reached in April 2022, expired after six months, both sides have largely observed a de facto ceasefire since then. The prolonged conflict has caused one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, with millions of people facing food insecurity and limited access to essential services.

Police in Pakistan-administered Kashmir arrested dozens of supporters of a banned organization on Saturday ahead of a planned protest march, according to officials and witnesses. The arrests followed the regional government's decision on Friday to outlaw the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), citing concerns over public order and security. The ban comes after weeks of tensions between the group and authorities over a 38-point list of demands, including subsidized wheat and electricity, as well as broader political and economic rights. Officials said that 36 of the demands had already been accepted last year following negotiations involving JAAC representatives, regional authorities and Pakistan’s federal government. Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, the prime minister of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, said the government remains open to dialogue with JAAC leaders regarding the two remaining unresolved issues. However, JAAC has refused to withdraw its planned protest march scheduled for Tuesday, insisting that all of its demands must be met. According to Rathore, one of the unresolved issues relates to 12 seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees in the region’s legislative assembly. Security has been tightened across Pakistan-administered Kashmir ahead of the planned demonstrations. The Himalayan region of Kashmir is divided between Pakistan and India, with both countries claiming it in full. Since independence from British rule in 1947, the two nuclear-armed neighbours have fought two of their three wars over the disputed territory. The latest tensions come a year after deadly clashes between JAAC supporters and security forces that left several people dead, including police personnel. On Saturday, JAAC alleged that two of its members were injured when police opened fire during an operation. Police rejected the claim, saying officers came under fire from armed individuals who allegedly ignored orders to stop their vehicle during an overnight encounter.