MIDDLE EAST

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At least 20 people have been killed and hundreds injured after a 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck northern Afghanistan early Monday, shaking homes across the region and damaging one of the country's most sacred landmarks,  the historic Blue Mosque in Mazar-e-Sharif.

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Afghanistan has entered a nationwide communications blackout after the Taliban ordered the suspension of internet and telecom services, leaving millions disconnected from the outside world.

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After a dangerous escalation that included border clashes and alleged Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Taliban government announced a 48-hour ceasefire, effective at 13:00 GMT Wednesday.

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When bulldozers rolled into the Aydid district of Tarim and began tearing down the spectacular mud-brick palace of Abdul Rahman Bin Sheikh al-Kaf, clouds of dust rose into the air, carrying with them fragments of Yemen’s cultural legacy. The demolition of the landmark sparked outrage in the ancient city, where residents gathered in disbelief to witness the disintegration of a palace that had stood for generations.

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Thousands of Palestinians erupted with joy in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis on Monday, as Red Cross buses brought back nearly 1,700 former prisoners.

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On Monday, nearly 200 media outlets from 50 countries will stage an unprecedented protest to demand an end to Israel’s killing of journalists in Gaza and to call for international press access to the enclave.

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Israeli naval forces intercepted part of a civilian aid flotilla bound for Gaza on Thursday, sparking immediate diplomatic fallout and global protests. Organisers said 14 of the roughly 40 boats were stopped in international waters, while 23 vessels carrying supplies and activists pressed on toward the enclave.