varieties - INTERNATIONAL AGENCY FOR JOURNALISM AND STRATEGIC STUDIES

Taliban capture Afghan district ahead of Eid ceasefire

The Taliban have taken control of a district near the Afghan capital, Kabul, a day before a three-day ceasefire is due to begin. ...

US fuel pipeline hackers 'didn't mean to create problems'

A cyber-criminal gang that took a major US fuel pipeline offline over the weekend has acknowledged the incident in a public statement. ...

Agent Orange: French court rejects lawsuit against chemical companies

A French court has thrown out a bid by a former journalist to hold companies to account for supplying the toxic herbicide "Agent Orange" during the Vietnam War. ...

Chinese rocket debris crashes into Indian Ocean - state media

The remains of a Chinese rocket that was hurtling back towards Earth have crashed into the Indian Ocean, the country's space agency says. ...

Nigeria Rivers attack: Gunmen kill at least seven police officers

A manhunt is underway after a night of violence left at least seven police officers dead in Nigeria's oil-rich Rivers State on Friday. ...

Sinopharm: Chinese Covid vaccine gets WHO emergency approval

The World Health Organization (WHO) has granted emergency approval for the Covid vaccine made by Chinese state-owned company Sinopharm. ...

Saudi Arabia wants to see 'verifiable deeds' from talks with Iran, says official

A Saudi foreign ministry official said on Friday that talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran aim to reduce regional tensions, but added it was too early to judge the outcome and Riyadh wanted to see "verifiable deeds". ...

Amnesty apologises to Alexei Navalny over 'prisoner of conscience' status

Amnesty International has apologised to Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny and reversed a decision to stop calling him a "prisoner of conscience". ...

France launches campaign to end selfies on rail tracks as incidents rise

France's national rail operator is warning people not to take selfies on tracks as reported incidents rise during the coronavirus pandemic. ...

George Floyd: Four police officers charged with violating civil rights

Four ex-police officers have been charged with violating the civil rights of African-American George Floyd, whose murder in Minneapolis last year sparked global outrage. ...

Antony Blinken: US will respond to reckless Russian acts

The US secretary of state has told the BBC that the US will respond to reckless or aggressive acts by Russia. ...

India Covid: Opposition calls for full national lockdown

India's main opposition party has called for a full national lockdown, shortly after the country passed more than 20 million Covid-19 infections. ...

Pfizer expects Covid vaccine demand for years

Demand for Pfizer's Covid vaccine could bolster its revenues for years, the US drugs giant has said. ...

Mexico City metro overpass collapses, killing 15

At least 15 people have been killed and dozens injured after a metro overpass collapsed in Mexico City while a train was travelling on it, officials say. ...

India says infections 'slowing down' as it passes 20 million cases

  The number of new Covid infections in India has officially passed 20 million cases, even as the government says that infection rates are coming down. ...

Italy theft: Two suspects killed in jewellery shop robbery

Two people have been killed following a raid on a jewellery shop in Italy, according to local media. ...

Covid: France aims to reopen except nightclubs by July

France will allow cafes, bars and restaurants to serve outside and relax a nightly curfew in a planned easing of lockdown measures starting next month. ...

Gaunt Navalny attacks Putin as network is disbanded

Alexei Navalny has appeared in court from prison, head close-shaven and face gaunt, and accused Vladimir Putin of attempting to rule Russia "forever" and caring only about "clinging to power". ...