Chinese Premier Li Qiang will break a three-decade tradition by not addressing the press at the annual National People’s Congress (NPC) gathering in Beijing. NPC spokesperson Lou Qinjian announced the decision, stating that Li would not hold a press conference at the end of the “Two Sessions” or any NPC session this term. The move has sparked concerns as press conferences provided a rare opportunity for journalists, including foreign media, to ask pressing questions and engage with high-ranking officials. Lou explained that the decision was made due to the increased number of briefings by government ministers during the annual parliament meeting covering diplomacy, the economy, and people’s livelihoods.
The House of Lords has secured an initial victory against British PM Rishi Sunak’s controversial Rwandan asylum bill, aiming to ensure full compliance with domestic and international law. Human rights groups, immigration law experts, and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees argue that the current bill violates the UK’s international legal obligations. Lawmakers will vote on nearly 50 amendments this week, addressing legal obstacles to the government’s plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda, allowing for removal flights before an expected general election. Many of the amendments focus on strengthening the bill’s human rights provisions.
While delivering the maiden work report at the annual session of the Chinese parliament, the National People’s Congress (NPC), Chinese Premier Li Qiang said that China would be firm in advancing the cause of its reunification with Taiwan. The statement was a change in stance from previous references to “peaceful reunification” with Taiwan so far. Amid Beijing’s hardening stance on Taiwan, Li also mentioned that China was planning to boost its defence spending by 7.2% this year
On Monday, Nepali PM and Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ ditched his alliance with the Sher Bahadur Deuba-led Nepali Congress. Prachanda terminated the nearly 15-month partnership due to differences between the top leadership. The PM has now formed a new coalition with former premier K.P. Sharma Oli’s Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist).
France ratified abortion rights in its constitution on Monday. In a special joint vote of the two houses of parliament, the move was supported by senators and members of parliament by 780 votes to 72. Prior to the vote, PM Gabriel Attal told MPs, “We’re sending a message to all women: your body belongs to you and no one can decide for you.” The outcome of the voting on Monday established that “the law determines the conditions in which a woman has the guaranteed freedom to have recourse to an abortion,” as stated in Article 34 of the French Constitution.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ally and deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, referred to Ukraine as a part of Russia on Monday and declared that historical regions of Russia needed to “come home.” “One of Ukraine’s former leaders said at some point that Ukraine is not Russia,” Medvedev said, adding that this “concept needs to disappear forever. Ukraine is definitely Russia.”