The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has stated that much of the anticipated damage to the global economy from the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran has already occurred. During its spring meeting in Washington, the IMF released a new economic forecast, noting that even if the conflict were to end immediately, global growth would still slow down.

The IMF further cautioned that if the conflict continues and infrastructure damage worsens, global growth could fall to around 2 percent, while inflation may exceed 6 percent next year. According to IMF experts, the impact will not be uniform across countries, with Middle Eastern oil-producing nations facing the greatest losses.

Developing economies are expected to feel nearly twice the impact compared to advanced economies, particularly those dependent on energy imports. Analysts also warned that continued instability in global energy markets and supply chains could further drive inflation in food, energy, and transport sectors.

Ziaul Haque, a 67-year-old retired agriculture officer and adviser to the Jamalpur District Awami League, died late Tuesday night while being taken to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital. He had been suffering from diabetes and kidney disease and fell seriously ill while in Jamalpur District Jail. His condition worsened on Tuesday afternoon, prompting authorities to transfer him for advanced treatment, but he passed away en route.

Ziaul Haque, a resident of Haridrata village in Digpait Union under Jamalpur Sadar upazila, had been in custody since January 15 after being arrested in a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission over recruitment irregularities at Digpait DK High School, where he served as managing committee president. His family alleged that negligence in providing medical care led to his death.

Jamalpur Jail Superintendent Lipi Rani Saha confirmed the death but denied any negligence, stating that the prison’s on-duty doctor had provided treatment to the detainee before his transfer.

Bangladesh has been ranked 95th in the latest global passport index published by Henley & Partners, moving down from its previous position of 93rd. According to the new ranking released on April 15, 2026, Bangladeshi passport holders can now travel to 36 countries without obtaining a visa in advance.

The list of 36 destinations includes Barbados, Bhutan, British Virgin Islands, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde Islands, Comoro Islands, Cook Islands, Djibouti, Dominica, Fiji, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Madagascar, Maldives, Micronesia, Montserrat, Nepal, Niue, Rwanda, Samoa, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Bahamas, Gambia, Timor, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. However, not all of these countries allow direct entry; some require on-arrival or electronic visas.

Globally, Singapore retained the top position in the index, followed by Japan, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates in joint second place. Sweden ranked third, while Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and Switzerland shared the fourth position.

US President Donald Trump has said that discussions between the United States and Iran could resume within the next two days. He made the remarks in a phone interview with the New York Post, noting that talks were ongoing but progressing slowly. About half an hour later, Trump called the newspaper again, suggesting that their correspondent should stay in Islamabad, where the first round of talks had taken place, because something might happen soon.

Trump added that the likelihood of renewed discussions was high, crediting Pakistan’s army chief for doing an excellent job. He had previously referred to the Pakistani military leader as a close ally. The comments were reported by the BBC and cited by the Bangladeshi outlet Amar Desh.

The report also mentioned that Gulf countries have shown interest in helping Pakistan facilitate renewed dialogue between the United States and Iran, indicating a possible regional effort to ease tensions.

Israeli forces are carrying out large-scale destruction in villages across southern Lebanon, mirroring tactics used in Gaza, according to a report by Israeli newspaper Haaretz published on April 15, 2026. The report cites an Israeli military officer who said troops are following the same approach as in Gaza, maintaining a list of houses to demolish and measuring success by the number of buildings destroyed each day.

Haaretz reported that bulldozers are flattening homes in border villages to clear space for new military outposts. A soldier interviewed by the outlet suggested that the nature of new constructions indicates Israel may be planning a long-term presence in the area. The report also noted that Israeli troops have advanced to villages about 20 kilometers south of Lebanon’s Litani River.

The Gaza-style “scorched earth” policy in Lebanon has raised concerns about a renewed humanitarian and geopolitical crisis in the region, according to the report sourced from Al Jazeera.

U.S. President Donald Trump wants to reach a major agreement with Iran, Vice President JD Vance said, according to a CBS News report cited by BBC. Speaking at a Turning Points USA event in Athens, Georgia, Vance noted that significant progress had been made during recent discussions between U.S. and Iranian representatives held in Pakistan. He emphasized that Trump is not interested in a minor deal but aims for a 'Trumpian grand bargain' of historic scale.

Reuters reported that Vance also acknowledged the deep mistrust between the two nations, saying that decades of distrust cannot be resolved overnight. Washington views the high-level talks, the first of their kind in 49 years, as a positive development. Despite the U.S. military maintaining a strict naval blockade on Iran, the Trump administration’s proposal for a major deal has sparked new debate in Middle Eastern geopolitics.

The renewed diplomatic engagement signals a potential shift in U.S.–Iran relations, though the outcome of the proposed negotiations remains uncertain.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned that escalating conflict in Iran and continued volatility in global energy markets could push the world economy to the brink of recession. According to the IMF, repeated shocks in the energy sector may reduce global growth from the current 3.1 percent to 2 percent.

The IMF outlined three possible scenarios. In the best case, if the war remains short-lived, oil prices could normalize to an average of 82 dollars per barrel in the second half of 2026. Under a moderate scenario, if the conflict drags on, oil prices may hover around 100 dollars this year and fall to 75 dollars in 2027, bringing global growth down to 2.5 percent from 3.4 percent in 2025. In the worst case, oil could reach 110 dollars per barrel in 2026 and 125 dollars in 2027.

IMF Chief Economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas said current supply disruptions and the lack of a clear path to peace make the moderate or adverse scenario more realistic. The organization also warned that the crisis could further fuel global inflation.

Ireland’s coalition government survived a no-confidence vote in parliament on Tuesday, retaining power amid criticism of its response to an energy crisis triggered by the Middle East conflict. The motion, brought by the main opposition party Sinn Féin, was defeated with 92 votes in favor of the government and 78 against after a heated debate.

The vote followed a week of protests by transport operators and agricultural contractors over soaring petrol and diesel prices. Demonstrations had disrupted major roads in Dublin and partially blocked the country’s only oil refinery and several fuel depots. In response, the government convened an emergency cabinet meeting on Sunday and announced tax relief measures.

Under the new measures, fuel prices were reduced by 10 cents per liter, and a planned carbon tax increase was postponed from May until the October budget. The government’s victory in the vote allows it to continue implementing these measures to ease public discontent.

Sri Lanka has repatriated 238 Iranian sailors who had been stranded in the country following damage to an Iranian naval vessel caused by a U.S. submarine torpedo attack. Deputy Defence Minister Aruna Jayasekara said 32 sailors rescued from the warship IRIS Dena and 206 from IRIS Bushehr left Sri Lanka on Tuesday aboard a chartered flight. Fifteen Iranian sailors remain in Sri Lanka to operate the Bushehr, which is anchored near Trincomalee.

According to Iranian authorities, the IRIS Dena was destroyed in the attack, killing 104 sailors, of whom 84 bodies have been recovered and sent home. Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that the Bushehr crew were sheltered under the 1907 Hague Convention for humanitarian reasons. Iran’s ambassador Alireza Dilkhoush confirmed that Tehran and Colombo had been in talks over the sailors’ return.

Analysts view Sri Lanka’s decision as a humanitarian gesture that underscores its diplomatic neutrality amid regional tensions.

Iran is attempting to strengthen its relations with European nations to increase pressure on the United States. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has intensified diplomatic efforts, briefing European countries on Tehran’s proposals regarding its stockpile of highly enriched uranium and supervision of the Strait of Hormuz during discussions held in Islamabad.

Araghchi has also held phone conversations with the foreign ministers of France, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Qatar to discuss these issues. He emphasized that although the first round of talks in Islamabad did not result in an agreement, Iran does not consider the process to be over.

The report notes that U.S. President Donald Trump has sidelined Europe on the Iran issue for over a year, focusing instead on cooperation with Israel. In response, Tehran, which had long viewed European governments as permanent U.S. allies, is now reconsidering its stance as transatlantic divisions deepen and European economies face mounting pressure.

Former Chattogram City Corporation mayor Manjur Alam has explained what happened when NCP leader and Member of Parliament Hasnat Abdullah visited his residence. According to Manjur, Hasnat had a scheduled program in Chattogram and called him around noon, expressing his wish to visit. Manjur invited him for lunch, and Hasnat arrived around 3 p.m., staying until about 6 p.m. During that time, a group of local youths gathered outside the house, identifying themselves as July fighters and questioning Hasnat about his visit. Videos of the incident later spread on social media.

Manjur told BBC Bangla that some of the youths accused him of being an ally of the Awami League, which he denied. He stated that he had been elected mayor in 2010 with BNP support and retired from politics after the 2015 election, now focusing on social work. He also dismissed speculation that he might contest future mayoral elections under the NCP banner, saying he had not discussed such matters with Hasnat Abdullah.

Hasnat Abdullah did not respond to calls seeking his comment on the incident.

Authorities in Noakhali’s Senbagh upazila seized around 5,500 liters of fuel hidden inside a house in Madhya Kadra village under Senbagh municipality on Tuesday afternoon. The mobile court recovered 4,000 liters of diesel and 1,500 liters of octane from the residence known as Bhuiyabari. The operation was led by Assistant Commissioner (Land) Nur Peyara Begum, who also fined a man named Iqbal Bhuiya Tk 50,000 under the Consumer Rights Protection Act.

According to the mobile court, the seized fuel will be sold in the local market at government-fixed prices. Officials stated that the fuel had been illegally stored inside the house. The raid was part of an ongoing administrative effort to curb illegal fuel hoarding in the area.

The enforcement action highlights local authorities’ continued monitoring of fuel storage and distribution practices to ensure compliance with government regulations.

U.S. President Donald Trump has sharply criticized Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for not directly supporting the United States in its conflict with Iran. In an interview with the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, Trump said he was disappointed in Meloni, claiming she lacked courage and questioning why she was not involved in securing Iranian oil resources. He also accused her of ignoring the threat of Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

The remarks came after Meloni’s right-wing government decided not to automatically renew Italy’s defense cooperation agreement with Israel, opting instead to suspend it. Tensions between the two leaders had already risen when Meloni previously condemned Trump’s negative comments about Pope Leo as unacceptable.

Analysts cited in the report said the public exchange between the long-time allies signals growing instability in international politics, particularly in U.S.–European relations. Trump’s aggressive stance toward Iran is reportedly creating pressure even among his closest allies.

A new Pew Research Center survey indicates that Israel is losing public support in the United States, particularly among Democrats, younger Americans, and increasingly among Republicans. More than 60 percent of Americans now view Israel negatively, up from 53 percent the previous year. The report notes that 28 percent of respondents hold a very negative view of Israel, a nine-point increase in one year and nearly triple the 2022 figure.

Among Americans aged 18 to 29, 75 percent expressed negative views of Israel, while 67 percent of those aged 30 to 49 shared similar sentiments. Even before the Iran war, U.S. public support for Israel had been declining over its military actions in Gaza. The Gaza conflict further alienated many Americans, especially left-leaning youth, while far-right antisemitism has also resurfaced.

The report underscores that Israel’s long-term security depends heavily on its alliance with the United States, which in turn relies on American public backing. Pew’s data suggest that the erosion of this support is a tangible and growing reality.

Indonesia has reached a new agreement with France to enhance cooperation in the defense industry. Jakarta announced that following a meeting between the presidents of both countries in Paris, the two sides decided to expand collaboration in defense technology, equipment procurement, and industrial development.

The meeting between Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and French President Emmanuel Macron took place at the Élysée Palace. Discussions covered strategic cooperation, strengthening the defense industry, and energy transition. Indonesia’s official statement emphasized that the partnership aims to boost local defense capabilities and identified France as a key strategic partner in Europe.

The report also noted that Indonesia has been diversifying its international partnerships, recently joining the BRICS economic bloc and maintaining balanced relations with the United States and Russia. Analysts view these moves as part of Indonesia’s broader strategy to reinforce its defense and economic resilience amid global energy and geopolitical challenges.