United News of Bangladesh

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday criticised Russia for continuing aerial attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, despite US President Donald Trump’s efforts to secure a ceasefire. Russian forces targeted Ukraine’s power grid, oil and gas facilities for the third consecutive night, Zelenskyy said, after Trump claimed that Moscow and Kyiv had agreed to an “energy ceasefire.” Zelenskyy, meanwhile, agreed to suspend Ukraine’s months-long campaign against Russian oil refineries, which had caused fuel shortages in Russia. Ukraine’s last reported strike on an oil refinery took place last Friday. The Kremlin has yet to confirm its participation in the proposed truce, saying only that discussions on the matter were continuing. Trump’s efforts to halt the fighting have so far yielded no progress. Ukraine claims battlefield gainsUkrainian officials said their forces were pushing back Russian troops in eastern Ukraine, where Moscow has been trying to expand its control for years. Brig Gen Andrii Biletskyi, commander of Ukraine’s Third Army Corps, said on Wednesday that Ukrainian forces had recaptured 277 square kilometres since launching an operation in the summer. The claim could not be independently verified, and Russian officials did not comment. Kyiv is increasingly concerned about a possible decline in US support after Trump reached a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to import Russian diesel, despite international efforts to penalise Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine. Ukrainian officials say the deal could help Russia sustain its military campaign, while European leaders remain concerned about Moscow’s broader ambitions and alleged acts of sabotage across the continent. Zelenskyy was scheduled to visit London on Wednesday for talks with British Prime Minister Andy Burnham as Ukraine and its European partners seek to strengthen the country’s defences. He could also travel to Brussels for a European Union summit later in the week. In a social media post, Zelenskyy urged the United States and other countries to respond firmly to Russia’s continued aerial attacks. He said Moscow had missed an opportunity to ease tensions and had instead chosen to continue what he described as a destructive war. Russian strikes disrupt Kyiv’s power supplyRussia’s Defence Ministry said its forces attacked energy facilities in Kyiv, the surrounding region and northeastern Kharkiv overnight, hitting six power plants. Ukrainian Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi said Russian forces struck all three of Kyiv’s combined heat and power plants overnight into Wednesday. At least 600,000 people were left without electricity, Zelenskyy said. Russia launched 39 ballistic missiles and more than 120 drones at energy and critical infrastructure in Kyiv, the surrounding region and Kharkiv, according to the Ukrainian president. Kyiv concerned over declining US supportUkrainian officials fear that US assistance, including military intelligence and access to Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite communications system, could be at risk. Ukraine relies on Starlink to defend against aerial attacks and operate long-range drones targeting military facilities inside Russia. Serhii Beskrestnov, an adviser to Zelenskyy, said SpaceX had imposed speed restrictions on Ukrainian Starlink terminals mounted on drones, complicating logistics, the operation of unmanned systems and medium-range strikes. He suggested the move might be linked to the current political situation. SpaceX did not immediately comment. Zelenskyy also said Ukraine had not received the usual advance warning from its partners before Russian missile attacks struck Kyiv. His remarks fuelled concerns that US intelligence assistance might have changed. Five people were killed and 36 injured in Russian attacks on the Ukrainian capital from Tuesday evening through Wednesday morning, Kyiv police said. Trump has maintained that Washington has not stopped sharing intelligence with Kyiv. A member of Ukraine’s parliamentary Defence Committee also told The Associated Press that intelligence-sharing arrangements with international partners remained in place. Ukraine targets Russian data centreUkraine continued its retaliatory operations against targets inside Russia. Russia’s Defence Ministry said its air defences intercepted 902 Ukrainian drones over several Russian regions, annexed Crimea and the Sea of Azov overnight. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said 493 drones had headed towards the Moscow region, with 180 intercepted as they approached the capital. He reported no damage or casualties in the Moscow region. In Russia’s Saratov region, one person was killed and several residential buildings were damaged, Governor Roman Busargin said. Russian state-backed lender Sberbank confirmed that its data centre in Saratov had been attacked. The facility had previously been planned as what would become Europe’s largest data centre. Sberbank’s first deputy chairman, Alexander Vedyakhin, said the bank’s systems continued to operate normally, according to the state news agency Tass. Britain pledges continued supportBritish Prime Minister Andy Burnham pledged continued support for Ukraine ahead of Zelenskyy’s visit, saying London would stand by the country for as long as necessary. European allies are seeking to reinforce Kyiv’s defences as concerns grow over the direction of US policy towards Russia. Rym Momtaz of Carnegie Europe wrote that Trump’s renewed shift towards Moscow posed risks for Ukraine ahead of a difficult winter, but said European partners were responding by taking action rather than panicking. Britain, like the European Union, is also considering further sanctions against Russia.

Saudi Arabia has one of the world’s most expensive and sophisticated arsenals, filled with American warplanes, missile defenses and other cutting-edge technology. But in recent days it has appeared helpless in the face of barrages of missiles and drones fired by the Houthi rebel group from neighboring Yemen. The attacks have struck Saudi airports, killed at least 14 people and forced schoolchildren and businesspeople to stay indoors and work from home. The Iran-backed Houthis, once seen as little more than a ragtag militia, have grown into a formidable fighting force. They have inflicted damage on the region’s top oil producer, threatened critical supply routes in the Red Sea and now risk reigniting a full-scale war on the Arabian Peninsula that displaced millions and killed tens of thousands. The Houthis are attacking Saudi Arabia because it supports government forces in Yemen the rebels seek to overthrow. As Saudi Arabia investigates how its air defenses failed to stop the Houthis' attacks, it must also consider how to respond and what the rebels might do next. Here’s what we know and don’t know about the Saudi and Houthi conflict: Saudi Arabia has a vast arsenal of US weapons Saudi Arabia is the world’s top purchaser of American weapons, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. It says the Saudis received 12% of all U.S. arms exports from 2021-2025. Over the years, the Saudis have purchased American F-15 warplanes, Patriot air defense systems, as well as advanced radars and offensive missile systems, according to the think tank, which tracks global arms transfers. Saudi Arabia's annual budget for 2026 listed $83 billion for military expenditures. Earlier this year, it struck a $9 billion deal with Washington for 730 Patriot missiles. But it has a huge area to defend The Houthis have been able to exploit Saudi Arabia's large size. Vulnerable energy, civilian and military assets are scattered across the country's sparsely populated territory roughly three times the size of Texas. Its border with Yemen stretches more than 1,300 kilometers (800 miles) through rugged desert areas. “Expecting a country the size of Saudi Arabia to intercept every missile is simply unrealistic. No defense can guarantee complete protection,” Ali Shihabi, a Saudi analyst, said in a post online Monday. At the same time, regional officials say that Saudi Arabia is running low on interceptors and has reached out to allies for help. Saudi Arabia recently struck a joint defense pact with Pakistan and Turkey. But so far, the two countries appear to be largely staying on the sidelines or limiting their support. President Donald Trump said this week he is evaluating whether the U.S. should join Saudi strikes on the Houthis. But he has not yet announced a decision. Houthi weapons and tactics are battle-tested Like their patron Iran, the Houthis have deployed asymmetric warfare for the 21st century by capitalizing on their strengths — primarily drones and missiles. For the Houthis, success on the battlefield doesn’t require toppling Saudi Arabia; disrupting the Saudi economy and sowing fear within its society may be enough to give the Houthis leverage in any possible negotiations to end the fighting. The Houthis have a large arsenal capable of striking targets well over 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) away. Some warheads change direction during flight and pose an extra challenge to air defenses. The group has fired hundreds of drones and missiles at Israel since its war in Gaza erupted in October 2023. While most were intercepted, a handful managed to land, in one case killing an Israeli man. Another strike hit an Israeli airport last year. Andreas Krieg, a professor at King’s College London, said this experience in challenging Israel’s cutting-edge air defenses has given the Houthis confidence and expertise as they now strike Saudi Arabia. “They’ve learned how to over-saturate the radars,” he said. The Houthis, working with allied militias in Iraq, have also targeted Saudi oil installations, including a vital pipeline used to export oil through the Red Sea while movement through the Strait of Hormuz is limited. The Houthis have also seized territory in Yemen near the Bab el-Mandeb, a key Red Sea waterway, putting additional pressure on Saudi oil exports. Saudi Arabia appears to have miscalculated Michael Ratney, a former U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia, says the kingdom assumed the Houthis wouldn’t strike civilian targets like airports. Doing so marked “a paradigm shift,” he said. Ratney, now an adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the Saudis now find themselves in a position where they have to respond while also trying to prevent the fighting from spinning out of control. “They can’t not strike back — they were attacked in a very brutal way by their archenemies,” he said. “They need to exert military pressure on the Houthis and then find a way to kind of deescalate.” Rather than sending troops into Yemen, the Saudis will likely launch airstrikes against the Houthis and ramp up support of nationalist forces, several analysts said. “It will be surrogate warfare,” Krieg said. The Houthis are now a formidable force While the Houthis don't have the firepower of Saudi Arabia, they have grown into a fearsome force controlling roughly one-third of Yemen thanks to help from Iran. The United Nations estimates that the Houthis by 2024 had recruited up to 350,000 fighters. That's up from just 30,000 in 2015, when Saudi Arabia intervened in the internationally recognized Yemeni government's civil war against the Houthis and imposed a naval blockade. Ratney says the Houthis now have a “symbiotic relationship” with Iran and should not be seen as an Iranian puppet. The strikes on Saudi airports and economic assets symbolize a sharing of lessons in asymmetric warfare between the Houthis and the Iranians: how to not just puncture expensive air defenses, but also damage vulnerable energy installations and threaten global maritime routes. “Over the course of the past few years, the Iranians have been innovating and sharing that with the Houthis and it’s gone both ways. The Houthis have been innovating, and sharing it with the Iranians,” Ratney said. “It’s no coincidence that they’ve ended up with a similar approach.” Their recent military successes have made the Houthis feel “untouchable,” said Farea Al-Muslimi, a fellow at Chatham House focused on Yemen. “It’s very hard to convince a man he’s going on the wrong side if he just moved forward and he has a gun in his hand,” he said. But the Houthis are now likely to suffer a brutal Saudi counterattack, he said.  

A court in India has sentenced two leaders of the youth-led “Cockroach” movement to five days in jail after police detained them during a protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the group said on Wednesday. Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das were among around a dozen people detained on Tuesday after climbing over barricades to enter the grounds of Jantar Mantar, a historic observatory in central New Delhi that has long been used for protests. Police said the site was no longer an officially designated protest venue and accused Ranka and Das of trespassing and violating prohibitory orders. The arrests came after a major police crackdown over the weekend to prevent mostly young demonstrators from gathering in New Delhi to demand Kumar’s resignation. Police briefly detained thousands of protesters. “Jantar Mantar belongs to the people of India. We will reclaim it,” opposition leader Rahul Gandhi wrote on X, condemning the arrests as “an act of cowardice.” The protests have grown over a nationwide revision of voter lists that has removed more than 130 million names since last year. Critics allege that the process is politically motivated and could prevent millions of eligible voters from casting their ballots. However, the Election Commission and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government say the exercise aims to remove duplicate and ineligible entries from the lists. Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the “Cockroach” movement, also criticised Modi in a post on X. “If you're so determined to crush dissent, have the courage to officially declare an Emergency instead of hiding behind these cowardly tactics,” Dipke wrote. The “Cockroach” movement emerged as an online satirical campaign this summer after India’s chief justice compared unemployed young people to parasites. Many young Indians adopted the cockroach as a symbol of resilience in response to the remark. Protests organised by the group led to the resignation of Modi’s education minister in July, marking a rare political setback for the prime minister, who has been in power for more than 12 years.  

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet British Prime Minister Andy Burnham in London on Wednesday as Ukraine seeks greater support to defend itself against Russia’s intensifying attacks. Ukraine and its European allies are working to strengthen the country’s defences amid growing Russian bombardment and uncertainty over the Trump administration’s commitment to supporting Kyiv in its war against Moscow, which began in February 2022. Burnham’s office said the UK would provide “urgent support” to Ukraine in the coming weeks and speed up deliveries of air defence missiles needed to protect the country ahead of the harsh winter. US President Donald Trump’s recent decisions have repeatedly raised concerns among Ukrainian and Western European leaders. Last week, Trump announced a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to import large quantities of Russian diesel. The announcement came as Western countries continued efforts to impose sanctions on Russia and limit Putin’s international influence. It added to concerns in Kyiv and European capitals that Trump was moving closer to the Russian leader while distancing himself from Zelenskyy. Burnham, however, reaffirmed Britain’s commitment to Ukraine ahead of the Ukrainian president’s visit. “My message to the Ukrainian people could not be clearer, we are with you for as long as it takes, and we will go further and faster in our support to back your courageous fight for peace in Europe,” he said. Analysts said Trump’s latest move had strengthened European determination to continue supporting Ukraine. “Ahead of a tough winter for Ukraine, Donald Trump's swing back toward Russia bodes ill,” Rym Momtaz of Carnegie Europe wrote in an assessment on Tuesday. “But instead of panicking, Kyiv's European allies are focusing on action.” Britain, along with the European Union, is also considering further sanctions against Russia. London has urged Moscow to respect a partial ceasefire announced by Trump and stop attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Zelenskyy has said Ukraine is complying with the energy ceasefire. Burnham made Kyiv his first foreign destination after becoming prime minister in July, offering to share technology for producing long-range missiles with Ukraine. Russia subsequently accused Britain of taking part in the war on Ukraine’s side.  

Ukraine has become a global leader in military drone technology since Russia launched its full-scale invasion more than four years ago, helping its forces counter a much larger enemy. However, the country’s growing drone industry still relies heavily on electronic components made in China, a key Russian ally. Ukraine fears Beijing could restrict supplies of essential components or give Russian defence companies preferential access to Chinese factories. Over the past two years, Ukraine has tried to reduce its dependence on China by expanding domestic production and importing more components from Taiwan, Europe and the United States. These efforts have reduced its reliance on Chinese motors, flight controllers and other parts, but completely replacing Chinese supplies remains difficult because of their lower prices and China’s huge production capacity. “If China stops their production to us ... we are blinded,” said Andrii Taganskyi, an executive at Ukrainian weapons manufacturer Odd Systems, which develops cameras for drones. China has tightened export controls on drones and related equipment several times in recent years, citing concerns about the military use of civilian technology and the continuation of the war. Although the restrictions have not stopped Chinese components from reaching Ukraine, they have caused delays, increased costs and forced Ukrainian companies to use intermediaries in other countries. “China has leverage,” said Robert Tallost, a researcher at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), a think tank. He warned that Beijing could direct more supplies to Russia while limiting shipments to Western countries. China’s Foreign Ministry said Beijing follows a “prudent and responsible” approach to military exports, opposes the use of civilian drones for military purposes and urges all sides to seek a political settlement. Replacing Chinese components would raise costs Ukraine’s drone industry has gained international recognition for developing and assembling advanced systems that have changed modern warfare. However, many essential components remain difficult to produce domestically. Around a dozen Ukrainian manufacturers said they still depend largely on China for magnets, motors, chips, thermal sensors, battery cells and other materials. Oleksandr Yakovenko of TAF Industries, a major Ukrainian defence company, said replacing Chinese components entirely with Western alternatives could increase costs by as much as 60% and reduce production by a similar proportion. He and other industry executives said such a trade-off would not be practical. Nevertheless, Ukrainian manufacturers have made progress in increasing domestic production. Three years ago, drone maker Vyriy relied on China for nearly 90% of the components used in its attack drones. Today, about 70-80% of its components are made in Ukraine, said its founder, Oleksii Babenko. Greater domestic production also allows companies to respond more quickly to battlefield demands. Locally made drones and components can be redesigned within days, while changes involving foreign supply chains may take months, said Artur Savchii, an analyst at the Kyiv-based Serpens Center for International Security. Ukrainian customs data show that nearly 90% of the country’s imported drone components came directly from China at the beginning of 2024. The figure fell to 28% during the first eight months of 2026. However, the decline may be less significant than the figures suggest, as some components recorded as imports from Poland and the Czech Republic may have been manufactured in China and shipped through those countries. Thermal cameras highlight the challenge Ukraine’s continued dependence on Chinese technology is particularly clear in thermal cameras used by military drones. Ukrainian companies design the cameras but rely on imported sensors that detect infrared radiation and lenses that cannot currently be manufactured domestically, industry representatives said. Germanium, an important raw material for these lenses, is widely available in China, helping Chinese manufacturers produce them at lower prices than European suppliers. Although the United States and Europe also manufacture thermal sensors, much of their output is used in their own markets. Taganskyi said Ukraine could produce thermal cameras entirely from European components, but limited production capacity and high costs remain major obstacles. Europe produces about 600,000 thermal sensors annually, compared with Ukraine’s estimated requirement of four million, he said. For now, some Chinese components remain essential. “Without this 5%, there is no camera,” Taganskyi said. Ukraine competes with Russia for Chinese supplies Experts say Russia is even more dependent on Chinese components than Ukraine, partly because Western sanctions have restricted its access to other markets. However, Moscow does not face the same concern that Beijing could favour Ukraine when supplying military-related technology. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently raised concerns about China’s closer commercial relationship with Russia. “They are slightly on Russia's side. And by ‘slightly,’ I mean not direct weapons supplies, but a greater openness to them, a greater willingness to help them rather than us,” Zelenskyy said. He added that even a limited preference could have significant consequences given China’s size. Competing with Russian buyers for supplies from the same Chinese factories also risks revealing Ukraine’s military requirements to Moscow. Babenko recalled that Ukrainian forces recovered a Russian drone fitted with advanced antennas for long-range reconnaissance and guidance. His company traced the technology to a Chinese supplier. When Ukrainian representatives sought to purchase several hundred units, the supplier initially refused before agreeing on the condition that the deal remain confidential because the technology had been developed for Russia, Babenko said. The incident reinforced the need for domestic manufacturing, he added, warning that Ukraine should prepare for a situation in which China fully sides with Russia. Companies find ways around export restrictions Since 2023, China has repeatedly tightened controls on exports of drones and related components. Further restrictions introduced this summer have prevented Ukrainian companies from directly purchasing some long-range civilian drones, motors, cameras and infrared imaging equipment from Chinese suppliers. To maintain supplies, Ukrainian defence companies have turned to intermediaries in third countries. Executives said the restrictions had disrupted deliveries and increased costs. One executive described a system in which partner companies purchase components in other countries before they are shipped through additional locations to Ukraine. Another executive said some companies alter product descriptions on official paperwork to get around export controls. Both spoke anonymously to avoid exposing their methods. Joseph Webster, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, said Chinese manufacturers’ continued willingness to sell to Ukrainian buyers and the ability to route goods through third countries made it difficult to stop the trade completely. “This dependence is not going to go away in a war where both sides are burning through equipment at a horrifying scale,” said Samuel Bendett, an analyst of military robotics. “Where domestic industry cannot keep up, China can.”  

China’s exports rose 36.3 percent year-on-year in September, putting the country on track to exceed last year’s record trade surplus as the European Union and other trading partners increase pressure on Beijing to address trade imbalances, customs data showed Wednesday. The export growth exceeded economists’ expectations and accelerated from 25 percent in August. It was the fastest pace since February, according to FactSet data, supported by strong overseas demand for high-tech products, including semiconductors and automobiles. Imports also grew 31 percent year-on-year in September, up from 28.2 percent in August. However, China’s trade surplus widened to $133.5 billion last month from $119.1 billion in August. For January-September, the surplus reached $938 billion, raising expectations that it could surpass the record $1.2 trillion recorded last year. Strong exports have supported China’s economic growth this year despite weak domestic consumption and investment amid a prolonged property sector downturn. However, China’s export strength faces growing challenges, said Ecaterina Bigos, a senior market strategist at BNP Paribas Asset Management. Although trade tensions between the United States and China have eased somewhat, the EU’s efforts to address trade imbalances are directly targeting China’s high-value exports, she said. Washington has launched an investigation into excess industrial capacity in China and other trading partners. However, the two countries agreed last month to extend their trade truce and reduce tariffs on $60 billion worth of goods. The 27-member EU has been struggling with a trade deficit with China exceeding $1.1 billion a day. EU trade chief Maroš Šefčovič said last week that an agreement had been reached with Beijing, including plans to halve Chinese hybrid car imports into the EU over the next few years. Cornell University economics and trade policy professor Eswar Prasad said many of China’s trading partners faced weak growth prospects and feared their manufacturing industries could be overwhelmed by Chinese exports. Policymakers have also raised concerns that a weaker Chinese yuan makes the country’s products cheaper in international markets, contributing to trade imbalances. Beijing has rejected claims that it deliberately devalues its currency to gain a competitive advantage, saying export growth reflects the strength of its industries. Customs data showed that the value of China’s semiconductor exports surged 108.1 percent year-on-year during the first nine months. Exports of automatic data processing equipment and parts increased 54.6 percent, while automobile exports rose 54.3%, driven by global demand for Chinese electric and hybrid vehicles. Bigos said China’s export-led growth depends on access to international markets. Although expanding trade with Southeast Asia and Latin America could help, those markets could not fully replace demand from Western economies. China’s dependence on high-tech exports could also face risks if global investment in artificial intelligence slows. Some US technology industry leaders have called for a worldwide pause in AI development over safety concerns. Max Zenglein, Asia-Pacific senior economist at The Conference Board, said a slowdown in global AI investment could pose a greater threat to China’s export growth than trade restrictions. Chinese leaders have set an economic growth target of 4.5-5 percent for 2026. The country is scheduled to release its July-September economic growth figures next week. The International Monetary Fund this week lowered its forecast for China’s 2026 economic growth to 4.5 percent, down 0.1 percentage point from its previous projection, warning that strong exports could not fully offset domestic economic weaknesses. Although Chinese officials have stressed the need to boost domestic demand, analysts say it has yet to become a priority this year. Authorities have recently introduced measures to support the economy, including subsidies for homebuyers’ mortgage interest payments.  

Approximately 1.3 million children in Cambodia are at risk of severe climate-related impacts driven by an unusually intense El Nino cycle, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) warned in a news release on Tuesday. Across the broader Asia-Pacific region, the natural climate phenomenon threatens an estimated 190 million children, the news release said, adding that it could severely worsen conditions for families already struggling with conflict, economic hardship, and prior climate shocks. "For Cambodian families, the phenomenon could lead to shortages of water for daily use and agriculture, putting pressure on household incomes while disrupting children's education and access to healthcare," the news release said. A recent assessment highlighted the scale of the vulnerability, revealing that more than 3,872 schools and 401 health centers, roughly one-third of all such facilities across the Southeast Asian nation, are highly vulnerable to natural disasters like severe droughts and floods. Forecasters predict the 2026-2027 El Nino cycle will be significantly stronger than usual, the news release said. Driven by warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, the phenomenon alters global rainfall and temperature patterns, it said, adding that while it triggers extreme heat and drought in some regions, it unleashes heavy rainfall and flash flooding in others. In an official message marking National Disaster Management Day on Tuesday, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has urged relevant authorities to treat disaster management as a core priority, calling for a significant strengthening of human and material resources to combat rising climate change risks. "Climate change, rapid urbanization, and environmental degradation pose serious threats to sustainable social and economic development," he said.

The International Monetary Fund on Tuesday slightly upgraded its outlook for the world economy for this year, while warning of growing risks from rising debt, including borrowing related to artificial intelligence. The IMF says it expects the global economy to grow at a 3.1% pace this year. That's up from its July forecast for 3.0% growth and well below the 3.5% expansion in 2025. Growth in 2027 should rebound to 3.4%, it said in its latest Economic Outlook. The report, released as world economic and financial leaders gather in Bangkok for the fall meetings of the IMF and World Bank, predicts that growth in the United States will remain steady at 2.3% in 2026 and 2027. Collectively, advanced economies will grow 2.1% this year, up from 2.0% in 2025. But growth is forecast to slow to 1.9% next year, it said. The forecasts are based on a nearly 41% increase in oil prices this year, at an average of $96 a barrel. Global inflation is foreseen at 4.7% in 2026, falling to 4.1% next year. They also are based on the assumption that shipments of oil and gas through the Strait of Hormuz will resume by March, and that the boom in AI demand will moderate. AI has uneven impacts The boom in artificial intelligence is offsetting damage from sharply higher prices for oil and gas, IMF economists say, but it also carries risks. Its benefits are not shared equally: the U.S. and China account for more than three-quarters of net demand for imports of computer chips and other AI-related equipment, the report said. "The outlook is highly uneven," Silvana Tenreyro, the IMF's director of research, told reporters in Bangkok. Growth is increasingly concentrated, with 32 countries accounting for 95% of global growth, the report said. That compares with 54 countries as of April. "The global economy is not simply slowing or accelerating; rather, growth is being reallocated across countries according to their exposure to the war-induced supply shock and AI-related demand strength," it says. Athanasios Vamvakidis, deputy director at the IMF's Monetary and Capital Markets Department, said an AI-related correction in stock markets is just one of the risks. Rising bond yields are another evolving problem, along with cyberthreats that could disrupt financial systems, he said. AI's effects on employment are another key focus of the meetings in Bangkok, which IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva described during an event Monday as "a slow moving tsunami, but a tsunami nonetheless." "The impact over time on jobs globally we estimate to be around 40% — jobs either augmented or downgraded or eliminated. And we are already seeing some of this impact," she said. Debt remains a key concern for regional economies Last week, the IMF chief urged countries both rich and poor to do a better job of improving their national finances, urging policymakers to do more to tame mounting levels of debt. That's especially true at a time of high borrowing costs, Tenreyro said. Countries that are somewhat insulated from the energy shocks of the Iran war and that are benefiting from rapid adoption of AI are managing to keep growth on track. But developing economies and emerging markets more vulnerable to higher costs for oil and gas will see growth slow to 3.7% this year from 4.5% in 2025, the report says. It forecasts they will regain momentum next year, expanding at a 4.4% annual pace. The situation is much worse in the Middle East and Central Asia, where those regions' economies are expected to contract this year before recovering to a 6.3% rate of growth in 2027. The 21 European countries that share the euro currency are expected to grow by 1.1% this year and 1.2% in 2027. China, the world's No. 2 economy, is expected to expand 4.5% this year, down from 5% in 2025, in line with the government's official target. India is once again forecast to be the world's fastest-growing major economy, advancing at a 7% clip, down from a sizzling 7.7% last year. The IMF is a 191-nation lending organization that works to promote economic growth and financial stability and to reduce global poverty. At the meetings in Bangkok, finance ministers and central bank governors will assess the state of the world economy and discuss strategies to support financial stability and sustained growth.

French police detained a 14-year-old student who wounded his middle school principal and a teacher in their legs with a shotgun hidden in a guitar case at Joseph Lakanal middle school in Aubagne on Monday. The boy fired twice on the first floor and twice on the second floor, hitting a teaching board, before a staff member courageously disarmed him in a stairwell. The victims were hospitalized with non-life-threatening 12-gauge pellet injuries. Marseille prosecutor Nicolas Bessone and deputy prosecutor Audrey Jouaneton said his motives remain unknown. The shooting at the school, located 15 kilometers east of Marseille, was unrelated to ongoing pupil protests. President Emmanuel Macron praised staff composure for preventing a worse outcome, while Education Minister Édouard Geffray condemned rising violence. Counseling was offered. School gun violence remains rare in France, following a 2017 shooting that wounded four, a 2025 stabbing killing an employee, and another 2025 stabbing leaving one student dead and three injured.

A projectile struck a passenger terminal at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport on Sunday, killing one person and injuring 11, a day after an attack on the same complex killed 12 people and wounded more than 300, Saudi authorities said. The latest victim was identified as a Pakistani national. India’s embassy said one of its citizens also died from injuries sustained in Saturday’s attack, potentially raising the death toll to 13. The airport has remained closed since Saturday. The airport has been struck four times in five days as Iran-backed Houthi rebels claim responsibility for attacks on Saudi targets. Authorities also reported an attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam. The escalation threatens global oil supplies and commercial shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a crucial alternative route to the Iran-threatened Strait of Hormuz. US President Donald Trump is considering possible military involvement against the Houthis. Meanwhile, the Houthi-run health ministry reported that a child was killed and six people injured in a suspected Saudi airstrike in Sanaa. It said 91 Yemenis, 60 percent of them women and children, had been killed in five weeks. An analyst warned that attacks on critical Saudi infrastructure could strengthen Riyadh’s resolve to continue its military campaign.