The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) has said that the government’s target to bring inflation down to 7.5 percent in the proposed 2026–27 fiscal year budget is nearly impossible. The observation came at a press conference titled “National Budget 2026–27: CPD’s Review” held at Lakeshore Hotel in Dhaka, where CPD Executive Director Fahmida Khatun presented the analysis. She noted that the budget was announced amid multiple economic challenges, including prolonged high inflation, weak growth, low private investment, employment stagnation, revenue shortfall, and a fragile banking sector.

According to CPD, the proposed budget emphasizes human development, private sector–driven growth, and social protection to ensure economic recovery. It also aligns in several areas with the BNP’s election manifesto, particularly regarding employment generation, private investment, deregulation, and social sector development. CPD stressed that the success of the budget will depend on implementation quality rather than its size.

The organization added that strong and effective institutions are essential for achieving the budget’s goals. It described the budget as a major test for the new government to demonstrate its ability to drive economic recovery, boost investment, and advance structural reforms.

The World Bank has warned that the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran could push global economic growth to its lowest level since the COVID-19 pandemic. In its latest Global Economic Prospects report released on Thursday, the Washington-based institution cut its 2026 global growth forecast from 2.9 percent to 2.5 percent, citing rising energy prices, inflation, and high borrowing costs.

The report highlighted that Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, in response to the conflict initiated by the US and Israel, has severely disrupted global energy and supply chains. The Bank expects Brent crude oil to average 94 dollars per barrel this year, 36 percent higher than last year, and fertilizer prices to rise significantly, driving up food costs. Global inflation could reach 4 percent as a result of the strategic waterway’s closure.

If energy supply disruptions persist, the World Bank warned that global growth could fall further to 1.3 percent and inflation rise to 4.4 percent. Developing countries are expected to be the hardest hit, with growth forecasts downgraded for two-thirds of them since January.

Bangladesh’s Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury presented a Tk 9.38 trillion national budget for fiscal year 2026–27 in parliament, setting a revenue target of Tk 6.95 trillion and a deficit of Tk 2.43 trillion. The budget introduces eight major tax and revenue changes, including raising the tax-free income threshold to Tk 390,000 and maintaining corporate tax rates. The government plans to fully automate tax administration to curb evasion and reduce taxpayer harassment.

The budget proposes tax relief on 60 essential goods such as rice, wheat, and edible oil, and removes duties on key spices and baby food imports. It also exempts kidney dialysis filters from advance tax and lowers taxes on gold and jewelry. Freelancers and content creators will receive full VAT exemption, while mobile SIM taxes will be withdrawn. The government extended VAT exemptions for locally produced electronics and technology goods until 2030.

Additional measures include duty waivers for pharmaceutical raw materials and incentives for electric vehicle imports and production. The new system allows taxpayers to file returns year-round, with early submissions rewarded. The government aims to raise the tax-to-GDP ratio to 15 percent by 2035 through expanded coverage and automation.

U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that a deal with Iran has been finalized, stating that Tehran has agreed never to develop nuclear weapons. He also announced the cancellation of a planned military strike against Iran on Thursday night. The announcement suggests a potential shift in U.S.-Iran relations following heightened tensions.

According to Richard Weitz, an international security expert at NATO Defense College, Trump’s remarks indicate the possibility of a phased agreement. He told Al Jazeera that some measures, such as reopening the Strait of Hormuz, could be implemented quickly, while more complex issues like the nuclear question would be addressed later. Weitz cautioned that although the initial phase may progress smoothly, both sides could become entangled in details, potentially reversing early gains.

Weitz added that reopening the Strait of Hormuz is vital for Iran’s oil exports and equally important for U.S. Gulf allies and the global economy, underscoring the broader stakes of the emerging deal.

Egypt has called on the United States and Iran to take advantage of all available opportunities to reach a peace agreement aimed at ending the ongoing conflict. The appeal was made through a statement issued by Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which also commended U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to cancel a planned military strike against Iran.

The ministry expressed hope that this moment could be used to create a favorable environment for resolving outstanding issues and opening a new chapter of regional stability. It emphasized Egypt’s commitment to continue its tireless and sincere efforts to reduce tensions through coordination and cooperation with regional and international partners.

According to the statement, Egypt remains focused on promoting dialogue and stability in the region, viewing the current situation as a critical opportunity to prevent further escalation and foster long-term peace.

Iran has postponed the funeral and burial of its former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was reportedly killed in a joint attack by the United States and Israel. Tehran Mayor Alireza Zakani announced on Thursday that the funeral will now take place at the end of June or the beginning of July.

Previously, Iranian authorities had planned a three-day ceremony at the start of the Islamic month of Muharram, which was expected to occur in early June. However, Zakani stated in a new announcement that the event will instead be held after the first ten days of Muharram.

This adjustment means that Khamenei’s funeral is now scheduled to occur during the second ten days of Muharram, between June 26 and July 5, according to the revised plan.

Thousands of people took to the streets across Israel on Thursday night to protest against mandatory military service and the arrest of individuals refusing to join the army. Demonstrators blocked highways and railways in central Israel, leading to disruptions in transportation. Two people were reported injured during the protests, which were organized by a group called the Jerusalem Faction.

The protests followed the police handover of 19 detainees to the Israel Defense Forces on Wednesday. These individuals had been arrested the previous week for refusing military service. Similar demonstrations were also held outside detention centers in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv on Wednesday night.

Participants were brought from Jerusalem, Beit Shemesh, and other Haredi-populated areas. Police had earlier advised the public to avoid using private vehicles in the central region due to expected unrest. Train services in Tel Aviv were temporarily halted after protesters occupied railway tracks, but highways were later reopened as Jerusalem Faction leaders instructed demonstrators to disperse.

At least fifteen people were killed in violent clashes between protesters and security forces in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, according to local officials on June 12, 2026. The unrest erupted over opposition to reserved seats in the regional legislature for refugees who migrated from Indian-administered Kashmir decades ago. The protests were organized by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JSSC), a coalition of various groups opposing the reservation policy.

Authorities have accused the JSSC of sedition and violence, banned the organization, and announced rewards for the arrest of its leaders. Despite the ban, thousands of demonstrators began marching toward the regional capital, Muzaffarabad. Among the dead were eleven civilians and four security personnel, officials confirmed.

Local commissioner Sardar Wahid Khan said security forces were patrolling to maintain order and advised residents to stay indoors. He added that the convoy of more than ten thousand protesters, currently stationed four kilometers outside Rawalakot, would not be allowed to proceed toward Muzaffarabad.

Myanmar’s military leader Min Aung Hlaing visited India from May 30 to June 3, 2026, marking his first official foreign trip as the country’s self-declared president. Despite his role in the 2021 coup and ongoing civil conflict, New Delhi received him as a legitimate head of state. For Min Aung Hlaing, the visit offered a rare opportunity to seek international legitimacy after years of bloodshed and isolation, while for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it was a strategic engagement with a volatile neighbor sharing a 1,643-kilometer border.

The visit highlighted India’s growing reliance on Myanmar’s junta for border security and infrastructure projects such as the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project and the Trilateral Highway. However, much of the planned route lies in rebel-controlled areas beyond the junta’s authority. Analysts argue that Modi’s government risks repeating China’s mistake of treating the junta as Myanmar’s sole sovereign power, ignoring ethnic armed groups and the opposition National Unity Government.

The report concludes that India should balance its engagement by pressing the junta to halt airstrikes near the border and by opening dialogue with ethnic forces controlling key transit zones, as current strategies may undermine both stability and democratic credibility.

Israel is setting up a permanent military base in the city of Jenin in the occupied West Bank, according to a report by Israeli newspaper Haaretz. This will be the first such installation in an area that has been under full civilian and security control of the Palestinian Authority since the 1993 Oslo Accords.

The report states that the Israeli army says the new base aims to create conditions for safely evacuating residents from homes in the Jenin refugee camp. The base will be built near the camp, where repeated Israeli operations since early 2025 have displaced thousands of residents and caused extensive infrastructure damage.

According to the report, the base may also be used to support Israeli military operations and protect nearby Israeli settlements.

Iran’s Ministry of Sports has issued a strong warning ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, stating that any display of unauthorized flags or anti-national team slogans during its matches will lead to the suspension of play. According to Iranian media citing Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali, FIFA has already been formally notified of this stance. Iran is set to begin its World Cup campaign against New Zealand on June 15 in Los Angeles, followed by matches against Belgium on June 21 and Egypt on June 26 in Seattle.

The warning comes amid ongoing political and social controversies surrounding Iran’s participation. The Iran–Egypt match in Seattle has been designated a “Pride Match” by local organizers, coinciding with the city’s Pride Week, prompting both nations to request FIFA to prevent LGBTQ-related activities or symbols inside the stadium. Iran has also faced protests calling for its exclusion from the tournament and ticket allocation issues that left many fans unable to attend.

The Iranian team is currently training in Tijuana, Mexico, and will enter the United States only a day before its first match due to visa restrictions, adding to the tension surrounding its World Cup journey.

US President Donald Trump has said that Iran has agreed not only to refrain from producing nuclear weapons but also from purchasing them. He described this as a major success in the ongoing negotiations between Washington and Tehran. Trump made the remarks during a phone call with his supporters, highlighting that earlier drafts of the agreement only prohibited Iran from making nuclear weapons, without explicitly banning their purchase.

According to Trump, he questioned the omission of a clause on buying weapons, and two days later, Iran agreed to include it. He stated that the United States achieved everything it sought in the negotiations. However, Iran has not yet made any public comment or confirmation regarding the details of the potential agreement.

The report, citing Middle East Eye, indicates that while the US side is presenting the development as a breakthrough, the absence of an Iranian response leaves uncertainty about the final terms and implementation of the deal.

Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom have jointly launched a four million dollar peace fund to support the two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict. Each country will contribute 1.34 million dollars to the fund, which was announced on Thursday. According to the UK Foreign Ministry, the initiative will focus on new and existing grassroots projects, particularly those involving youth groups, civil society organizations, and women.

The move comes as the three countries, along with France, New Zealand, and Norway, have imposed coordinated sanctions against networks financing and executing violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank. Western nations have taken this step in response to record levels of illegal settlement expansion and increasing violence against Palestinians in the region.

British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper stated that peace, justice, and security in the Middle East depend on a two-state solution, noting that their countries have recognized both Israel and Palestine as states.

Iran has rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that a peace deal between the two countries has been finalized, ending their state of conflict. According to Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency, Tehran has not approved any draft agreement with Washington, though it may consider signing one in the future. Trump had earlier announced on social media that talks with Iran had reached the highest leadership level and were approved, prompting him to cancel a planned airstrike.

The proposed peace deal reportedly aims to reopen diplomatic channels and lift U.S. sanctions on Iran. However, both sides are expected to require further discussions on Iran’s nuclear program and the conditions for lifting sanctions before any agreement can be reached. Iranian news agencies Fars and Tasnim both dismissed Trump’s statement, noting that similar claims in the past had not produced results.

Reports suggest that until Iran officially announces a potential understanding, Trump’s statements should be treated as his previous unconfirmed messages.

The BNP-led government, in its first full budget after nearly two decades, has introduced a provision allowing individuals to legalize undisclosed income by investing in land, buildings, or apartments upon payment of a 15% tax. The Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury presented the 2026–27 fiscal year budget of Tk 9.38 trillion in the National Parliament. According to the Finance Bill, if the tax is paid, no authority will question the source of the money. However, if undisclosed income is detected before declaration, an additional 20% tax must be paid.

The provision will remain effective from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027. Both buyers and sellers of property can use this opportunity to legalize undeclared amounts by paying applicable taxes. Similar opportunities were offered during previous Awami League governments, though economists and business groups have often criticized such measures as unethical and unfair to honest taxpayers.

A similar proposal in the interim government’s 2025–26 budget was withdrawn after criticism, but the current administration has reinstated the option, continuing a long-standing debate over the effectiveness and morality of legalizing black money in Bangladesh.