Invasion of Ukraine: Meeting between US and China in Rome today

Today's headlines: China has imposed a lockdown on Shenzhen; in the Philippines Marcos continues to lead the polls, but is the last choice of investors; Iran has launched 12 missiles against Erbil; today in Kyrgyzstan professional cowboy competitions begin.

WAR IN UKRAINE

US national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Chinese diplomat Yang Jienchi are meeting in Rome today after at least 35 people died and 134 others were wounded in a Russian air strike yesterday at the Javorinsky military range near L'vov, 25 kilometres from the Polish border. Meanwhile, the US said China will face harsh consequences if it sends military aid to Moscow.

RUSSIA

Moscow Patriarch Kirill (Gundjaev) presided over the solemn celebration of the Feast of Orthodoxy, on the first Sunday of Lent, in the presence of many metropolitans and high prelates together with representatives of the government and institutions. At the end of the ceremony, the Patriarch awarded various personalities with ecclesiastical honours for their service to the homeland and the Church, and pronounced the special "prayer for the restoration of peace" read in all the Churches of Russia, which calls for the restoration of "the spirit of fraternity of the peoples who came out of the common baptismal font" and to prevent "the lies of the foreign language of those who want to divide them".

CHINA

China has reported 1,437 new cases of Covid-19 across the country and put the 17 million inhabitants of Shenzhen, where 66 new infections were recorded yesterday, on lockdown. Mass testing will be carried out and public transport will be suspended for at least a week. Yesterday in Hong Kong there were 32,430 new cases.

PHILIPPINES

Ahead of the presidential elections in May, the namesake son of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos continues to hold a strong lead in the polls, but investors believe that current Vice-President Leni Robredo would be the "best person to lead the economy" in the Philippines. Sixty percent of the population favour a Marcos presidency, while Sara Duterte, daughter of the current president continues to be the first choice for the vice-presidency.

INDIA - PAKISTAN

Pakistan has called for a joint investigation into the accidental firing of a missile by India. In recent days, New Delhi has acknowledged that a technical malfunction caused the launch of the rocket (which was unarmed). On 11 March, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry summoned India's chargé d'affaires to Islamabad to protest against what it called an unprovoked violation of its airspace.

AFGHANISTAN

The humanitarian crisis continues in Afghanistan: since the beginning of the year, almost 16,000 children have contracted measles and more than 120 have died. The main cause is unhealthy and insufficient food. 97% of the population lives below the poverty line.

KURDISTAN

In the night between Saturday and Sunday, Iran launched 12 ballistic missiles against the US Consulate in Erbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan. The Guards of the Revolution wanted to strike an Israeli "strategic centre", they said on their channels. Only damage to buildings and one wounded person were reported. Meanwhile, Iran has suspended talks with Saudi Arabia.

KYRGYZSTAN

A delegation of professional cowboys from the United States is arriving in Kyrgyzstan today to take part in the 'Kočmon and Cowboy Ride Together' project, which will feature competitions in Kok-Boru, the typical Kyrgyz horse race. The 30 years of relations between the two countries will be celebrated, with an exchange of cultural values and respective traditions. The events will take place in various Kyrgyz cities until 21 March.