China's top legislature opens annual session

The 14th National People's Congress, China's top legislature, opened its fourth session on Thursday morning at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Xi Jinping and other Party and state leaders, including Li Qiang, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Han Zheng, were seated at the rostrum.

Premier Li Qiang delivered a government work report.

China sets 2026 economic growth target at 4.5-5 pct

China targets an economic growth of 4.5 percent to 5 percent this year and will strive for better in practice, according to a government work report submitted Thursday to the country's top legislature for deliberation.

Main targets for development this year also include: a surveyed urban unemployment rate of around 5.5 percent; over 12 million new urban jobs; an increase in consumer price index of around 2 percent; growth in personal income in step with economic growth; a basic equilibrium in the balance of payments; grain output of around 700 million tonnes; and a drop of around 3.8 percent in carbon dioxide emissions per unit of gross domestic product.

Iran's FM says Tehran not seeking ceasefire, sees no reason to negotiate with U.S.

Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has said that his country is not requesting a ceasefire with the United States and Israel, and does not see any reason to negotiate with Washington.

He made the remarks in an interview with U.S. broadcaster NBC News aired on Thursday.

"We are not asking for a ceasefire, and we don't see any reason why we should negotiate with the United States when we negotiated with them twice, and every time, they attacked us in the middle of the negotiations," Araghchi said.

Israel says attack on Iran moves to "next phase," with 80 pct of Iran's air defense systems destroyed

Israel's military chief Eyal Zamir said in a televised address Thursday that Israeli forces are moving to the "next phase" of their campaign against Iran, in which they will intensify strikes against the Iranian government's foundations and its military capabilities.

Zamir said that following an initial "surprise opening strike" that suppressed Iran's ballistic missile array, the military is now shifting its focus. "We have further surprising moves that I do not intend to reveal," he said. "We will pursue all of our enemies and we will reach them."

Israeli air force has conducted 2,500 strikes, dropped over 6,000 munitions, and destroyed roughly 60 percent of Iran's ballistic missile launchers and 80 percent of its air defense systems, Zamir said, adding that Israel has achieved near-total air superiority over Iran.