US WARNS CHINA AGAINST PROVIDING LETHAL AID TO RUSSIA

The United States warned China of serious consequences were it to provide arms to support Russia's invasion of Ukraine, as Kyiv's top general visited the frontline town of Bakhmut where Ukrainian defenders were holding out against constant attacks.

Washington and its NATO allies are scrambling to dissuade China from providing military aid for Moscow's war, making public comments on their belief that Beijing is considering providing lethal equipment possibly including drones.

Western fears of China helping to arm Russia come as Moscow's forces struggle to make gains around key objectives in eastern Ukraine, and as Kyiv prepares a counter-offensive with advanced Western weapons including battle tanks.

"Beijing will have to make its own decisions about how it proceeds, whether it provides military assistance - but if it goes down that road it will come at real costs to China," White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told CNN's "State of the Union" programme.

While China had not moved forward in providing that aid, neither had it taken the option off the table, Sullivan said in a separate interview on ABC's "This Week" programme.

NIKKI HALEY PLEDGES TO STOP ALL AID FOR ENEMY COUNTRIES OF US

Nikki Haley, who has announced to run for the presidential candidate of the Republican Party, has declared that if elected, she will stop all foreign aid to nations that hate the US. This entails China, Pakistan, and other adversaries as "a strong America doesn't pay off the bad guys."

"I will cut every cent in foreign aid for countries that hate us. A strong America doesn't pay off the bad guys. A proud America doesn't waste our people's hard-earned money. And the only leaders who deserve our trust are those who stand up to our enemies and stand beside our friends," Haley, the former governor of South Carolina and former US ambassador to the UN, wrote in an op-ed for New York Post.

America spent $46 billion on foreign aid last year, according to Haley. It is far more than any other nation. Taxpayers have a right to know where and how their money is being spent. They will be startled to learn that a significant portion of it funds anti-American movements and nations.

COVID-19 PANDEMIC LIKELY CAUSED BY ACCIDENTAL CHINESE LAB LEAK: REPORT

New intelligence has prompted the Energy Department to conclude that an accidental laboratory leak in China most likely caused the novel coronavirus pandemic, reported The Wall Street Journal (WSJ).

The shift by the Energy Department, which previously was undecided on how the virus emerged, is noted in an update to a 2021 document by Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines's office.

The conclusion was a change from the department's earlier position that it was undecided on how the virus emerged, reported WSJ.

The update, which is less than five pages, wasn't requested by the Congress. But lawmakers, particularly House and Senate Republicans, are pursuing their own investigations into the origins of the pandemic and are pressing the Biden administration and the intelligence community for more information.

The Energy Department now joins the Federal Bureau fof Investigation in saying the virus likely spread via a mishap at a Chinese laboratory, reported WSJ.

The Energy Department's conclusion is the result of new intelligence and is significant because the agency has considerable scientific expertise and oversees a network of US national laboratories, some of which conduct advanced biological research.

ITALY MIGRANT BOAT SHIPWRECK: NEARLY 60 KILLED OFF CALABRIA COAST

At least 59 migrants, including 12 children, have died and dozens more are feared missing after their boat sank in rough seas off southern Italy.

The vessel broke apart while trying to land near the coastal town of Crotone in the Calabria region. Survivors said at least 150 people were aboard.

Many of them were fleeing difficult conditions, Italy's president said.

Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, who visited the scene, said as many as 30 people may still be missing.

A baby thought to be only a few months old was among the dead, according to Italy's Ansa news agency.

Bodies were recovered from the beach at a nearby seaside resort.

The coastguard said 80 people had been found alive, "including some who managed to reach the shore after the sinking".

The exact number of people who were on the boat when it broke apart is not clear - rescue workers told the AFP news agency that the vessel had been carrying "more than 200 people", which would mean more than 60 people unaccounted for.

The boat, which sailed from Turkey several days ago, was carrying passengers from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia and Iran.

The vessel is reported to have sunk after it crashed against rocks during rough weather, sparking a large search-and-rescue operation on land and at sea.

RUSSIA ACCUSES U.S. AND ALLIES OF ‘OPEN BLACKMAIL’ AHEAD OF G-20 FOREIGN MINISTERS’ MEET

A day after the G-20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meeting in Bengaluru failed to issue a joint communique, Russia praised the role of the Indian Presidency and accused the Western countries of “open blackmail”. A statement from Moscow’s Foreign Ministry said Russia and China protested against the U.S. and its allies, accusing them of sowing “enmity and hatred”.

“Through open blackmail and dictate, throwing in absurd interpretations of the situation in Ukraine, the Westerners once again disrupted the adoption of collective decisions,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Sunday. The statement called on the “collective West to abandon its destructive course as soon as possible” and build “normal relations with new centers of power in the international arena, such as Russia.” The sharp attack by Russia has set the tone for the March 1-2 G-20 Foreign Ministers Meeting to be held here.

ISRAELI, PALESTINIAN OFFICIALS MEET, PLEDGE TO CURB VIOLENCE

Amman (Jordan) : Israel committed to stop authorisation of settler outposts in the occupied West Bank for six months during a meeting on Sunday with Palestinian officials in Jordan when the sides pledged to de-escalate surging violence. This came even as a Palestinian gunman killed two Israelis in a shooting in the occupied West Bank.

In a statement at the end of a meeting in the city of Aqaba, Israel and Palestinian officials said they would work closely to prevent “further violence” and “reaffirmed the necessity of committing to de-escalation on the ground”. Host nation Jordan, along with Egypt and US, considered “these understandings as major progress” the statement said.

The meeting brought together top Israeli and Palestinian security chiefs for the first time in many years, officials said. Israel and the Palestinian Authority “confirmed their joint commitment to work to end unilateral measures for three-six months”, the statement said. “This includes an Israeli commitment to stop discussion of any new settlement units for four months and to stop authorisation of any outposts for six months,” the statement said The participants also agreed to meet again in Egypt in March. As the negotiators were meeting, a Palestinian gunman killed two Israeli brothers in West Bank. The army was looking for the attacker, and Israel’s defence minister called for beefing up the military presence in West Bank.

BLAST AT MARKET IN PAK’S BALOCHISTAN KILLS 4, INJURES 14

Karachi : A blast caused by an improvised explosive device planted on a motorcycle killed at least four people and left 14 others injured inside a market in Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province on Sunday, police said. The blast took place a day after two policemen were killed and another was injured in Balochistan’s Khuzdar when an IED went off while police officers were patrolling the area.

Barkhan deputy commissioner Abdullah Khoso told Dawn newspaper that the blast occurred when an IED planted on a motorcycle exploded. Unverified videos on social media show volunteers carrying bloodied victims away. Mangled motorcycles and charred vegetables can be seen strewn about on the road. No terrorist groups have claimed responsibility for the blast.

NIGERIA ELECTION 2023: EARLY RESULTS ARRIVING

Early results have started to arrive from Nigeria's tightest election since the end of military rule in 1999.

Official results from the south-western Ekiti state show a clear victory for ruling party candidate Bola Tinubu in one of his strongholds.

Further results will not be formally announced until 10:00 GMT.

Following widespread delays and attacks on some polling stations on Saturday, voting was postponed until Sunday in parts of the country.

Voting continued through the night in some areas.

Turnout appears to be high, especially among young people who make up about a third of the 87 million eligible voters.

This makes it the biggest democratic exercise in Africa.

MEXICO PROTESTS: HUGE CROWDS RALLY AGAINST ELECTORAL REFORM

Huge rallies have been held in several Mexican cities against what protesters say are government attempts to undermine the electoral authorities.

The biggest was in Mexico City, where organisers say 500,000 people marched on the city's main plaza. The local government put the number at 90,000.

Lawmakers last week voted to slash the budget of the National Electoral Institute (INE) and cut its staffing.

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador accuses the INE of being partisan.

But opponents describe the recent vote as an attack on democracy itself, pressing the Supreme Court to overturn them as unconstitutional.

On Sunday, massive crowds gathered in Mexico City's historic Zocalo Square. The demonstrators spilled out into adjoining streets in the city centre.

"We're fighting to defend our democracy," protester Veronica Echevarria was quoted as saying by Reuters. She was wearing a cap emblazoned with the words "Hands off the INE". Many demonstrators carried cards with a similar slogan.

Smaller peaceful demonstrations were staged in several other cities.

Mexico's Senate approved the reforms on Wednesday, following a similar vote in the lower chamber of parliament. The reforms will come into force once they are signed by President López Obrador.