Germany's Chancellor MERZ said excessive public debt threatens national sovereignty and constrains fiscal flexibility; in some EU countries interest payments on debt exceed defense spending.

Pakistan economic survey projects real GDP growth of 3.7% in FY2026.

CNN, citing three sources and the local fire department, reported a hazardous-materials incident inside the Pentagon that prompted lockdowns of multiple floors and corridors and evacuations. A Pentagon spokesman on Thursday confirmed building systems detected an air-quality issue and said precautionary measures were taken pending assessment of severity; affected areas were placed under shelter-in-place orders and emergency response teams were deployed to assist personnel.