China warns of ‘challenges’ as it sets lowest GDP growth target in decades

INTRO: China announced the country's lowest annual growth target in decades during its biggest political gathering.

Beijing is looking to reshape its economy as it faces weak consumption, an ongoing property crisis and global trade tensions. Laura Westbrook reports from Hong Kong.

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Nepal votes in key post-uprising polls

INTRO: Polling is underway in Nepal. The country is electing a new parliament in its first general election since deadly youth-led protests toppled the government of then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli last September. Nearly 19 million people are eligible to vote... and at least 800-thousand of them will be casting their ballot for the first time. Neha Poonia reports from  Kathmandu

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19 million set to vote in historic Nepal election

Polling is underway in Nepal, as the country elects a new parliament and Prime Minister.

This is the first general election since deadly youth-led protests toppled the last government last September.

Nearly 19 million people are eligible to voteand at least 800,000 of them will be casting their ballot for the first time.

Neha Poonia is outside a polling booth in Kathmandu.

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Neha Poonia explains the key issues that will decide the election's outcome..

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AG Bondi subpoenaed in Epstein probe

US Attorney General Pam Bondi has been subpoenaed to testify in a Congressional probe into the late sex-offender Jeffrey Epstein. The Republican-led House Oversight Committee wants to question her about the Justice Department's handling of the case - and the release of the Epstein files, with millions of documents still not made public. Toni Waterman has more.

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US submarine sinks Iranian warship

At least 80 bodies have been recovered by Sri Lankan authorities after a torpedo fired by a US submarine sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said it was the Islamic Republic's prize ship. And the first such strike since World War 2.

Kate Fisher has more from Washington

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US continues Iran strikes, promises more

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the US can sustain its military
action in the Middle East as casualties mount.

Iran says hundreds of people have been killed in the US-Israeli
strikes, even as Hegseth says there will be no letup in the attacks.

Jagruti Dave reports from Washington.

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[ALT] Jagruti Dave reports from Washington that polling suggests
concerns in the US about the military action.

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Iran continues strikes on Gulf neighbours

Iran is continuing attacks on neighbouring countries in the Middle
East as the conflict continues for a fifth day.

It comes as the US says it is accelerating its military campaign against Iran.

Blake Sifton sent this update from Dubai.

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[ALT] Blake Sifton sent this update from Dubai.

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UK SETS FIRST FLIGHT TO RETURN BRITONS FROM MIDDLE EAST

The UK government has arranged its first flight to transport Britons in the Middle East back to the UK, as thousands have registered to return amid the escalating conflict.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said two more chartered flights are set to fly in the coming days, and that the government is currently looking at how to further assist the situation.

Lara Bentley has more from London…

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US Senate Considers Limiting Trump's Campaign Against Iran

The US Senate will convene on Wednesday to hold a vote on whether to limit President Trump from continuing to use military force against Iran.

Mitch McCann reports:

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Russia will not impose sanctions on the US over Iran, Moscow says

Russian Foreign Minister said Moscow will not impose sanctions on the US over its attacks on Iran. It's not the kind of methods Moscow resorts to, the diplomat said. Russia urged all sides of the hostilities in the Middle East to end escalation and offered its mediation in the conflict. Daria Bondarchuk reports from Moscow.

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UK Deploying Warship and Helicopters to Cyprus

A British warship equipped to counter ballistic missiles, as well as helicopters with anti drone technology, are deploying to Cyprus from the UK after military base RAF Akrotiri was struck by a drone attack. 

The announced deployment comes as the US/Israeli war against Iran continues, and the UK's lack of support for US offensive action has come under criticism from President Trump.

Simon Gaitán reports.

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Spain defends Iran stance

Spain's Prime Minister has defended his position to not support U.S.
and Israeli strikes on Iran.

The decision to not let U.S. forces use its bases in the region
prompted President Donald Trump to say he's cutting off trade with the
country.

William Denselow reports from Brussels.

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UK: SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WILL ENDURE

UK officials insist the country's position on Iran will not change despite fierce criticism from US President Donald Trump.

President Trump said he was 'not happy with the UK' over its refusal to allow the US to use UK bases for offensive strikes on Iran.

London is allowing bases to be utilised for what it describes as 'defensive' targeting of Iranian missile sites that are launching attacks across the Middle East.

UK government minister James Murray says Keir Starmer is sure of his stance.

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UK government minister James Murray says Keir Starmer has acted in the national interest.

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Pakistan seeks Saudi help to reroute its energy shipments amid the Gulf crisis

Suggested lead:

Pakistan is seeking Saudi Arabia's help to reroute its energy imports amid growing instability in the Gulf. 

With most of its oil supplies passing through the Strait of Hormuz, the country faces risks of disruption. 

Experts caution that prolonged conflict could drive up energy costs and strain Pakistan's economy, which currently has about a month's worth of reserves.

Hira Mustafa has more.

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UK HOLDS IRAN POSITION AFTER TRUMP CRITICISM

UK officials insist the country's position on Iran will not change despite fierce criticism from US President Donald Trump.

President Trump said he was 'not happy with the UK' over its refusal to allow the US to use UK bases for offensive strikes on Iran.

London is allowing bases to be utilised for what it describes as 'defensive' targeting of Iranian missile sites that are launching attacks across the Middle East.

Former Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt says Prime Minister Keir Starmer is getting the balance wrong.

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Indian rupee hits record low on Middle East conflict

The Indian rupee has weakened to a new record low past 92 against the US dollar amid the escalating war in the Middle East.

India has concerns about the impact an energy supply squeeze could have on the economy.

Rebecca Bundhun has more.

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Oil prices rise as Asian stocks slide

INTRO: Oil prices rose while Asian stocks declined for a third consecutive day early on Wednesday as the war in the Middle East widened.

The US-Israeli attack on Iran has destabilized the Middle East and threatens to deliver a new inflationary shock to the global economy by pushing up oil prices. Laura Westbrook reports from Hong Kong.

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US to offer insurance, escort to tankers traveling through Strait of Hormuz

President Donald Trump says the US will start offering insurance and navy escorts to tankers travelling through the Strait of Hormuz, as oil and gas prices spike due to the war in Iran. About 20% of the world's oil and roughly a third of its Liquefied Natural Gas passes through the narrow waterway off of Iran's coast. Toni Waterman has more

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Voters head to polls in first primaries for US midterm elections

Voters are heading to the polls in three US states today in the first primary contests for this year's midterm elections.

The results will determine which Republicans and Democrats face off in a number of key races in November.

Ira Spitzer reports.

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Trump: potential Iranian leaders dead; Iran strikes were preemptive

US President Trump says that Iranian officials the United States had eyed as potential new leaders of the country had been killed in the U.S.-Israeli bombing campaign. As the war in the Middle East widened, he said that the worst outcome would be that whoever takes over Iran could be "as bad" as their predecessors.

He also claimed that he went to war with Iran as a preemptive action before it attacked Israel.

Kate Fisher reports from Washington 

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