China moves to tighten grip on Hong Kong in NPC

China’s ceremonial National People’s Congress opened Friday, taking up several issues including Hong Kong’s electoral system. [Forward to a friend]( | [Subscribe]( | [View in your browser]( [Top of The World]( --------------------------------------------------------------- In the news today China tightens grip on Hong Kong, announces moderate plans on climate [Delegates applaud as Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives for the Chinese National People's Conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, March 4, 2021.] Credit: Andy Wong/AP China’s ceremonial National People’s Congress (NPC) [opened Friday](, taking up several issues including Hong Kong’s electoral system. In a move to tighten Beijing’s [grip over Hong Kong](, the top lawmaking body in the country unveiled a plan specifying only "patriots" can govern the city — [prompting warnings]( from the European Union. The NPC’s plan, which would prevent locally elected district counselors from taking part in governing, follows a controversial national security law imposed on the former British colony last year. [The NPC]( also released moderate plans to reduce carbon emissions over the next five years by 18%. China remains the world's biggest emitter of dangerous global-warming greenhouse gases. The announcements Friday gave little sign that the country plans to make drastic moves to swiftly combat climate change. What The World is following The US Supreme Court [has dismissed several cases]( related to “sanctuary cities.” The move comes after the [Biden administration’s urging](, jointly with state and city governments in New York and California. The Trump administration pushed to limit cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities by withholding grants for cities that refused to cooperate with the Homeland Security Department — known as sanctuary cities. Also in immigration news, the Biden administration is moving to speed up asylum cases by [transitioning some detention centers]( in Texas to processing facilities. The plan, already underway along the US southern border with Mexico in Texas, would release parents and children within 72 hours of their arrival in the US to avoid shortages of bed space and personnel. It's a stark contrast to former President Donald Trump’s [vow to end]( the so-called “catch-and-release” policies from previous administrations. --------------------------------------------------------------- From The World [Pope Francis' historic trip to Iraq embraced by many as a welcome boost]( [Iraqis put up a poster announcing the upcoming visit of Pope Francis and a meeting with a revered Shiite Muslim leader, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, right, in Najaf, Iraq, March 4, 2021.]( Credit: Anmar Khalil/AP Pope Francis’ three-day trip marks the first-ever papal visit to Iraq. His itinerary includes meetings with political and religious leaders plus visits to historical sites. The pope described the journey as a [means of forging unity]( and a way to strengthen ties between different faiths. “I come as a pilgrim,” he said, addressing the people of Iraq, asking for prayers for a successful trip. [Danish window company confronts its historic carbon emissions through forest conservation]( [U Saw Mhue Dee, U Saw Benjamin and Daw Naw Lay Lay explain the process of growing elephant foot yam, sheltered from the afternoon heat under a stilt house in Paungdawgyi Village.]( Credit: Courtesy of WWF Denmark The multibillion-dollar Danish company Velux [is pledging to address its legacy emissions]( dating back to 1941 through forest conservation projects in places like Myanmar. --------------------------------------------------------------- Podcast special: Coronavirus Conversations [Grieving and mental health amid the coronavirus pandemic]( [A nurse walks past a red zone as medical workers wearing special suits to protect against the coronavirus work there in central district hospital of Kolomyia, Ukraine, Feb. 23, 2021.]( Credit: Evgeniy Maloletka/AP Despite vaccination campaigns underway, the end of the pandemic is still a ways off and the death toll continues to weigh on the mental health of people around the world. How do you grieve amid the ongoing suffering? As part of The World's regular series of conversations with Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health and as a special feature in our podcast feed, reporter Elana Gordon [moderated a discussion with clinical psychologist Christy Denckla](. 🎧 Download on [Apple Podcasts]( or [Spotify]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Global hit For decades, Norwegian composer Terje Isungset has been making "ice music" [using instruments made out of ice]( (🎧). His annual Ice Music Festival Norway, scheduled for this past weekend, was canceled due to the coronavirus, but Isungset will host a virtual performance later this month. [Watch the ice instruments played in this video]( [A screen grab of a tweet from Suzanne Gervais]( Credit: Twitter --------------------------------------------------------------- In case you missed it from The World --------------------------------------------------------------- Don't forget to subscribe to The World's Latest Edition podcast using your favorite podcast player: [RadioPublic](, [Apple Podcasts](, [Stitcher](, [Soundcloud](, [RSS]( [The World logo]( [The World on Facebook]( [The World's Twitter account]( [Donate]( | [Forward to a friend]( | [Subscribe]( | [Edit your subscription]( | [Unsubscribe]( | [View in your browser]( Top of the World is written weekday mornings by the team at [The World](. [The World]( is produced by [PRX]( and [GBH](.