Putin, Erdogan for prompt Mideast truce

MOSCOW, Apr 04 (AFP/Reuters): Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East war during a phone call on Friday, the Kremlin said.The war started over a month ago with US-Israeli strikes on Iran, triggering a conflict throughout the Middle...

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Pakistan announces free public transport as energy crisis bites

ISLAMABAD, Apr 04 (AFP): State-run public transport in Pakistan's capital and most populous province will be free for the coming month, officials said Friday, after the government drastically raised fuel prices due to the Iran war.The announcement came after street protests and long queues of motorcycles at fuel stations triggered...

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Afghan quake kills 12, including 8 members of same family

KABUL, Apr 04 (AFP): An earthquake that struck Afghanistan overnight killed 12 people, including eight members of the same family, a government official and the Afghan Red Crescent Society said on Saturday.The 5.8-magnitude quake struck at 8:42 pm (1612 GMT) on Friday at a depth of 186 kilometres (115 miles)...

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