RAF Fairford, a British airbase used by the US military, has hosted US bombers involved in operations linked to the war with Iran.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss operational matters, said Pakistani aircraft were taking part in attacks on the group.
Col. David O. Smith, a former US Army attaché in Pakistan and former senior Defense Intelligence Agency analyst, told the Times that analysts estimate about 8,000 Pakistani troops have been deployed to Saudi Arabia.
Smith said the contingent includes Pakistan Air Force and Army Air Defense personnel and would likely be used to help protect Saudi oil infrastructure.
He said Pakistani troops were unlikely to take part in direct ground combat against the Houthis as Islamabad seeks to preserve its relationship with Iran.
A second Pakistani official told the Times that Pakistan’s role was expected to focus on countering Houthi drones and missiles through air support rather than joining a ground offensive in Yemen.
The German outlet, citing several unnamed Western intelligence officials, said Israel warned US and German partners about a potential threat three weeks ago.
The concern centers on bases supporting US military operations and logistics connected to the conflict with Iran, according to the report.
Reuters said the campaign involved the security apparatus, judiciary and state broadcaster and was aimed at creating a climate of fear.
Despite US and Israeli strikes on at least 17 police stations, military bases and intelligence offices linked to the January crackdown, Reuters said Iran’s security apparatus appeared entrenched. At least 34 people have been executed over their involvement in the January protests, while thousands have been jailed.
Reuters also documented pressure on Iranians in Turkey, Armenia and Georgia, including threats against relatives in Iran, passport cancellations and withheld consular services.
United Kingdom Prime Minister Andy Burnham met with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin on Thursday and stressed that he seeks closer ties with the European Union.
Speaking at a press conference alongside Merz, the British prime minister underlined that he is "very committed to securing deeper cooperation" at the upcoming EU-UK summit, adding that he wants to "bring the UK closer to Europe, particularly in the interest of economic growth and collaboration on irregular migration."
Burnham also praised Germany as a "great partner" in "these challenging times." He added that the UK is open to Germany joining the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), a trilateral defense initiative between the UK, Italy, and Japan, aimed at developing next-generation fighter jets.
https://breakingthenews.net/Article/Burnham-seeks-to-'bring-UK-closer-to-Europe'/67258878
Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey warned on Thursday that rising borrowing costs and weak growth are eroding governments’ capacity to cushion future economic downturns.
Addressing the audience at the Central Bank of Turkey, the banker explained that higher financing costs and sluggish growth push up debt-to-GDP ratios, while repeated supply shocks increase pressure for fiscal support. He went on to stress that if investors question the credibility of governments' fiscal trajectories, bond yields could rise further, tightening monetary and financial conditions.
Governments have traditionally borrowed to soften severe downturns, then rebuilt fiscal space as conditions improved, but Bailey cautioned that more frequent shocks, weaker underlying growth and higher debt are making that approach increasingly difficult to sustain. He urged policymakers to pursue sustainable growth and maintain credible monetary and fiscal frameworks, adding that financial markets must be able to absorb shocks without amplifying them.
https://breakingthenews.net/Article/BoE's-Bailey:-Rising-debt-limits-UK's-crisis-response/67259980
The World Trade Organization (WTO) posted the latest version of its Global Trade Outlook and Statistics report on Thursday, upgrading the 2026 merchandise trade volume growth expectations to 3.9% from March's estimate of 1.9%, despite the events taking place in the Middle East. The figure is anticipated to come in at 4.1% in 2027.
"The revision reflects evidence that global supply chains adapted to disruptions in energy and fertilizer markets, while strong investment in AI-related infrastructure boosted trade in AI-enabling goods," the organization explained.
Meanwhile, the 2026 services trade volume growth projections were lowered from March's 4.8% to 3.3%. The growth is expected to stand at 6.4% in 2027. WTO also predicted that the world's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2026 will rise by 2.6%.
https://breakingthenews.net/Article/WTO-revises-2026-global-goods-trade-estimate-up-to-3.9/67259830
