Former U.S. President Donald Trump expressed confidence that Saudi Arabia would soon join the Abraham Accords — a normalization agreement between Israel and several Arab countries brokered during his first term. Trump is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia next month, marking his second foreign trip of his second campaign after attending Pope Francis’ funeral at the Vatican. Trump also noted that Saudi Arabia has pledged to invest one trillion dollars into the U.S. economy, and he plans visits to Qatar and the UAE as well.

Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus paid respects to the late Pope Francis upon arriving in Rome, where he was welcomed by Bangladesh’s ambassador to Italy and Vatican City. Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Mazumdar noted that Pope Francis had been an admirer of Yunus’s work, particularly his “Three Zeros” vision. The Vatican had also collaborated with Yunus on launching the “Three Zero Initiative” in Rome.

Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam announced in Doha that Bangladesh plans to establish an onshore LNG terminal as soon as possible to ensure adequate gas imports for industries.
He said many factories have been stalled due to gas shortages. During the Chief Adviser’s visit to Qatar, discussions were held with Qatar Energy regarding this initiative.
He also noted that Bangladesh has reduced its external debt from $3.2 billion under the previous government to $600 million under the current administration.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has arrived in Rome to attend the funeral of Pope Francis.
According to sources, he will pay respects at St. Peter’s Square shortly after arriving in Italy. He is scheduled to attend the funeral on Saturday.
Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam confirmed that the Chief Adviser has no other meetings planned during his visit and is expected to return to Bangladesh on Sunday.

Spain has cancelled a $7.5 million arms deal with Israeli firm IMI Systems due to pressure from left-wing coalition partners. The move comes after prior criticism of Israel’s war in Gaza, and follows a February deal to purchase 15 million rounds of ammunition, which the government has now scrapped.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the Pahalgam attack during a phone call with Indian PM Narendra Modi, expressing solidarity with the victims and their families. India has blamed Pakistan for the attack, while Islamabad has rejected the allegations as a “false flag operation.”

Chief Adviser Prof. Dr. Muhammad Yunus has left Qatar for the Vatican to attend Pope Francis’s funeral. He departed Doha at 12:25 PM Bangladesh time and is expected to arrive in Rome at 2:15 PM local time. The Bangladeshi ambassadors to Italy and the Vatican will receive him upon arrival.

Pakistan’s Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar claimed Islamabad possesses evidence and intelligence proving that armed tourists entered Srinagar. He challenged India’s assertion of Pakistani involvement in the Pahalgam attack and urged the country to share proof with the global community. Dar also warned that Pakistan’s armed forces are prepared to respond to any Indian aggression.

Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus stated that Bangladesh’s struggling economy has recovered thanks to the contributions of expatriates. “We will ensure VIP services at airports for them,” he said, adding that travel to and from Bangladesh should be smooth and joyful. The government is also working on reducing cargo fees and improving logistics at Dhaka, Chattogram, and Sylhet airports. All passport and consular services are being moved online, and Yunus urged expats to offer suggestions for improvements.

In the wake of a deadly attack on tourists in Jammu and Kashmir, Indian authorities have detained at least 1,500 individuals as part of the ongoing investigation. The attackers, armed with automatic rifles, opened fire for about 20 minutes. They were identified as members of the banned militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba’s offshoot, the Kashmir Resistance Front. Security forces have also released sketches of the suspected assailants.

The US has advised citizens to avoid travel within 10 kilometers of the India-Pakistan border and the region of Kashmir. Caution is also advised for parts of Manipur and central/eastern India. US officials require approval to visit most parts of Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Meghalaya, and Odisha—except their capital cities. Prior permission is also needed for visits to Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and non-capital areas of Assam, Mizoram, Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Tripura.

Punjab’s Information Minister Azma Bokhari termed the Pahalgam attack a ‘false flag’ operation. Warning India against any misadventure, she stated that Pakistan is fully prepared for retaliation. “Last time we served tea; this time we may not be so polite,” she said, asserting that Pakistan knows how to respond appropriately.

In response to India’s five-step action following the Pahalgam attack, Pakistan’s National Security Committee announced the suspension of visas for Indian citizens, closure of airspace to Indian flights, and a halt to all bilateral trade. Islamabad also rejected India’s move to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, warning that any attempt to divert water would be considered an act of war.

Amid rising tensions, India has summoned the senior-most Pakistani diplomat stationed in New Delhi following a deadly militant attack in Kashmir that claimed the lives of 26 people. The Indian government blamed the deteriorating security situation on Pakistan, signaling a worsening of diplomatic ties. In the aftermath of the attack, fierce gunfights broke out between Indian security forces and separatist militants in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir. One Indian soldier was reported killed during a raid based on intelligence inputs.

On the final day of his four-day visit to Qatar, Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus met with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. He is also scheduled to meet the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Earlier, Dr. Yunus engaged with top Qatari investors and invited them to invest in Bangladesh.