Mumbai, June 12 -- The World Bank has cut its global growth forecast for 2026 to 2.5%, saying that the slowdown is the worst hit to the global economy since the COVID-19 pandemic as soaring energy prices from war in the Middle East fuel a new round of inflation. It noted that after expanding at a 2.9% rate in 2025, the world economy is now projected to slow further, with the 2026 figure representing the weakest growth rate recorded since the COVID-19 pandemic first emerged. The revised forecast comes in 0.1 percentage point below what the bank had expected in January. The bank noted that growth could fall to just 1.3% if energy supply disruptions intensify and financial markets come under stress. Growth in emerging market and developing eco...