The World Bank has lowered its global growth forecast to its lowest level since the pandemic, warning of the expanding economic impacts of the war in the Middle East on countries around the globe, AFP reports.

“Global growth is forecast to slow to 2.5 per cent in 2026, down from 2.9pc in 2025. Forecasts for two-thirds of economies have been downgraded relative to January of this year,” the multilateral lender says in a statement accompanying the release of its Global Economic Prospects report.