China's top legislature concludes standing committee session

The Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) concluded its 19th session in Beijing on Saturday.

At the closing meeting, lawmakers voted to adopt a Law on the Safety Management of Hazardous Chemicals, revisions to the Fisheries Law, the Civil Aviation Law, the Law on the Standard Spoken and Written Chinese Language, and the Foreign Trade Law, as well as a decision to approve a report by the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee on the progress of legislative review and cleanup and related handling measures.

President Xi Jinping signed six presidential orders to promulgate the laws and the decision.

Zhao Leji, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, presided over the closing meeting.

The meeting decided to submit the draft environmental code, the draft law on promoting ethnic unity and progress, and the draft law on national development planning to the fourth session of the 14th NPC for further deliberation.

The fourth session of the 14th NPC will open in Beijing on March 5, 2026, according to a decision adopted at Saturday's meeting.

Lawmakers voted to adopt the NPC Standing Committee's interpretation of article 292 of the Criminal Procedure Law.

The meeting also voted to adopt reports on the examination of deputies' proposals and on the qualification of certain deputies and other personnel-related bills.

Addressing the closing meeting, Zhao called for NPC deputies to study and discuss the above three drafts carefully in preparation for the upcoming fourth session of the 14th NPC.

Zhao urged efforts to fully recognize the country's achievements over the past year in pressing ahead under pressure and advancing toward higher national development goals, emphasizing gaining a deeper understanding of the major new accomplishments made in the cause of the Party and the country during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025).

He stressed the need to accurately grasp the overall requirements, main goals, policy orientation and key tasks for economic work next year, and ensure effective implementation based on the NPC's functions and responsibilities.

After the closing meeting, the NPC Standing Committee held a lecture for lawmakers.

The 19th session of the 14th NPC Standing Committee was held from Monday through Saturday.

China's top legislature concludes standing committee session

Russia said on Friday that its armed forces had carried out strikes on Ukrainian military-industrial sites, energy facilities, transport infrastructure, and armories over the past week, while Ukraine on the same day reported intercepting more than 500 drones and destroying Russian weapons.

The Russian Ministry of Defense said in Friday's report that its forces had advanced in Sumy, Kharkiv, Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhzhia in a week, and has taken control of eight settlements.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine said on Saturday that Russian armed forces had targeted the country's Ukrainian energy system, triggering power outages in Kiev City, Kiev Oblast, and Chernihiv Oblast.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported on Friday that 121 combat engagements had taken place along the front lines in the day. Ukrainian forces have struck Russian troop assembly areas and other objectives, destroying Russian tanks, armored vehicles, artillery, and other military equipment while intercepting over 500 Russian drones, according to the announcement.

On diplomatic developments, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Friday that the 20-point peace plan that Kiev is reportedly proposing differs significantly from the one that Moscow and Washington are working on. He stressed that Moscow remains committed to the negotiating framework agreed upon during meetings between the leaders of Russia and the United States.

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the same day that Russia hopes talks with Washington on Ukraine can deliver concrete outcomes, but Moscow is not prepared to compromise on its core positions.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday that he plans to meet U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday in Florida. According to Zelensky, the talks will focus on security guarantees for Ukraine as well as several "sensitive" issues.

Russia claims multi-directional advancements against Ukraine, Ukraine reports massive drone interception