China: China's prime minister, Wen Jiabao, closes the annual parliament today before meeting the press at his annual news conference, which is sure to focus on the resignation of Hong Kong leader Tung Chee-hwa and a controversial law setting a legal framework to invade Taiwan.
The congress, a largely ceremonial event to celebrate the triumph of socialism with Chinese characteristics, is a throwback to the Cold War era, taking place in the Great Hall of the People, a massive room bedecked with red flags and ringing with the rhetoric of Marxist-Leninism.
Whether or not the congress is just a talking shop, it has not been short on controversy.
The annual news conference is a rare chance for domestic and foreign journalists to ask questions of Mr Wen. The media is tightly controlled in China and a free-for-all is unlikely, but after such a busy congress, the questions could be interesting.
The meeting was overshadowed by leaked reports that beleaguered Hong Kong leader Mr Tung was due to step down, most likely because his Beijing bosses were unhappy with his handling of calls for more democracy.
And fears that a war could break out over Taiwan were heightened when the rubber-stamp parliament approved an anti-secession law which the government says is aimed at stopping Taiwan from pushing for independence.
Beijing has claimed sovereignty over Taiwan since the end of China's civil war in 1949, when the defeated nationalists fled to the island as the Communists swept to power. The law has cranked up tensions in the Strait of Taiwan and prompted fears that China's sabre-rattling was getting increasingly dangerous.
Mr Tung officially resigned at the National People's Congress on Saturday. He was appointed, as expected, to a senior position on the country's top advisory board, the CPCCC. But focus in the territory at the weekend was chiefly on matters legal.
Hong Kong's new chief executive, Donald Tsang, has taken his position but there are fears that the manner in which Mr Tung departed was a sign of Beijing flexing its muscle in the territory.
Mr Tsang said he would be in power until the election of a new leader on July 10th. He said the elected leader would only complete Tung's term by serving two years and a new election would be held as scheduled in 2007.
However, some legal experts say this goes against Hong Kong's mini-constitution, the Basic Law, which indicates that any elected leader is supposed to serve for a full term.
There are fears in the city that China is interpreting the law to suit its own ends, endangering Hong Kong's legal independence and integrity. Mr Tsang is widely expected to win the election.