ANKARA, March 13, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Sirens wailed early on Friday at Turkey's Incirlik airbase, a key NATO facility where US troops are stationed near the southern city of Adana, state news agency Anadolu reported. NATO had on Monday confirmed shooting down a second ballistic missile fired from Iran, prompting Ankara to warn Tehran against "provocative steps". Later that day, Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian phoned Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan and denied the missile had been fired from Iran. On Tuesday, Turkey said a Patriot missile defence system was being deployed in Malatya as NATO "strengthened its air and missile defence measures". A day later, it said it had strengthened its "alliance-wide ballistic missile defence posture" without giving details.

Iran Guards vow 'stronger' response than in January if new protests eruptTEHRAN, March 13, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Iran's Revolutionary Guards, the ideological arm of the country's military, warned on Friday that any new protests against the authorities would be met with a stronger response than in January, when several thousand people were killed. In December, protests against the high cost of living in Iran turned into a broad protest movement against the authorities. It reached its peak on January 8 with what Iranian authorities called "riots" blamed on "terrorists" working on behalf of Israel and the United States. The official death toll from Iranian authorities stands at more than 3,000, with the government saying the vast majority were members of security forces or passers-by. The Human Rights Activists News Agency, based in the United States, says more than 7,000 people were killed.

LONDON, March 13, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Britain's economy stalled in January, official data showed Friday, with the possibility of worse gloom in the coming months as the Middle East conflict sends oil prices surging. Gross domestic product showed zero growth at the start of the year after GDP expansion of 0.1 percent in December, the Office for National Statistics said in a statement. Responding to Friday's data, finance minister Rachel Reeves acknowledged "there is more to do" to grow the UK economy "in an uncertain world". And "GDP growth is more likely to lose momentum in the coming months rather than gain it", said Paul Dales, chief UK economist at Capital Economics research group. "An energy price shock also reduces GDP growth," he added.

PARIS, France, March 13, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Paris on Friday, his spokesman said, for talks with President Emmanuel Macron on ramping up pressure on Russia. The visit comes as talks brokered between Kyiv and Moscow by the United States to end the four-year invasion have been derailed by the US-Israeli war with Iran. The talks between Macron and Zelensky will focus on increasing sanctions pressure on Russia by targeting its "shadow fleet" of tankers used to transport oil in breach of sanctions imposed over the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the French presidency has said. The US government has temporarily eased economic sanctions to allow Russian oil currently stranded at sea to be sold to India until April 3. Zelensky said last week it could take four to six weeks to make the pipeline operational again.

Bangladesh and Japan today resumed negotiations with a Japanese consortium in a renewed effort to operationalise the long-delayed Third Terminal of HSIA on a win-win basis. We are trying to make the third terminal operational as soon as possible as per the instruction of honourable Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. We hope we will reach a win-win deal with Japan to open the new terminal." While talking to journalists, Humayun Kabir and State Minister Millat described the discussions as positive and expressed optimism that a mutually acceptable solution could be reached soon. Millat mentioned Bangladesh and Japan are seeking a solution beneficial for Bangladesh while correcting shortcomings in earlier agreements to ensure a "win-win" outcome for operating HSIA's third terminal.

The National Memorial. File PhotoDHAKA, March 13, 2026 (BSS) – Public entry to the National Memorial premises at Savar will remain closed from March 23 to 25 to ensure cleanliness and proper arrangements ahead of the observance of Independence and National Day 2026. The restriction has been imposed to keep the memorial area clean and well prepared for the national programme, an official release said. Besides, public entry to the National Memorial will remain suspended early on the morning of March 26 until the invited guests leave the premises after paying tribute. All concerned have been requested to extend their cooperation in maintaining the sanctity and overall beauty of the National Memorial.

Understanding forever chemicals in California produceA fact-based guide for families about 'forever chemicals' in produce and how to make informed shopping choices.

Extra security measures by police in Rajshahi ahead of EidRAJSHAHI, March 13, 2026 (BSS)- Ahead of the upcoming holy Eid-ul-Fitr, law enforcement agencies in Rajshahi have taken additional security measures to maintain law and order and ensure safe and smooth travel for people returning home for the festival. He said that the law and order situation in Rajshahi has improved due to the strong activities of the police. Through collective cooperation and coordination, it will be possible to minimize potential suffering during the Eid travel rush. He also said that security measures around Eid prayer congregations will be ensured and mobile courts have been strengthened to prevent the collection of excessive transport fares. Meanwhile, Additional Superintendent of Police Sabina Yasmin said that extra police personnel have been deployed at eight police stations under Rajshahi District Police.

"Everything is canceled," a Colombian foreign ministry source told AFP. One Colombian official acknowledged reports of a security threat, without specifying whether those threats came from Colombia or Venezuela. The area around Cucuta is home to numerous drug-running left-wing guerrilla groups, which Colombia has long accused Venezuela of funding and protecting. In a sign of how abruptly the meeting was canceled, US President Donald Trump had wished Petro luck for the meeting during a call on Thursday. In recent months, the area around Cucuta has become more violent with rival guerrilla groups launching deadly battles over trafficking routes.

The temporary capacity has been raised to nearly 63,000, with the end goal to host 105,000 once the top tier is finally completed. Sevilla's visit comes in between Champions League last 16 ties against Newcastle, with Barca looking to build on this week's 1-1 away draw. The Catalan giants have not won the Champions League since 2015. Flick's team will also be out for revenge after Sevilla inflicted a heavy 4-1 defeat on them in October, their first of the league season. FixturesFriday (all times GMT)Alaves v Villarreal (2000)SaturdayGirona v Athletic Bilbao (1300), Atletico Madrid v Getafe (1515), Real Oviedo v Valencia (1730), Real Madrid v Elche (2000)SundayMallorca v Espanyol (1300), Barcelona v Sevilla (1515), Real Betis v Celta Vigo (1730), Real Sociedad v Osasuna (2000)MondayRayo Vallecano v Levante (2000)

-The bill would require Americans to prove their citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections and present identification when casting a ballot. Under the legislation, voters would have to provide documents such as a passport or birth certificate, along with a valid photo ID, to demonstrate they are US citizens. -The president has repeatedly argued that tighter voting rules are needed to protect elections from fraud. Studies of US elections have repeatedly found that fraud occurs at very low levels, particularly when it comes to non-citizens voting. They also criticize Trump's attempts to add unrelated provisions to the legislation, including restrictions on mail voting and policies targeting transgender issues.

Each time, he tells us that in this competition, he supports Iran." - Employers 'weren't paying' -A 24-year-old Afghan who worked at a factory in Tehran:"I saw a bomb drop on a military base. The market would be open for an hour or two, people would buy what they needed and leave quickly. The war is not only in Tehran, it is in other cities as well, but the situation in Tehran is very bad." Almost every family here is hosting at least one family from Tehran.

INDIAN WELLS, United States, March 13, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Two-time champion Carlos Alcaraz held off 29th-ranked Cameron Norrie 6-3, 6-4 on Thursday to book an Indian Wells semi-final against Russian Daniil Medvedev. The world number one from Spain improved his unbeaten 2026 record to 16-0 as he reached the Indian Wells final four for the fifth straight year. He arrived in Indian Wells seeking a third title in the elite ATP and WTA Masters 1000 having followed up his Australian Open triumph with a title in Qatar. Alcaraz avenged a loss to Norrie in the second round of the Paris Masters 1000 last year. Next up is Medvedev, a two-time Indian Wells finalist who beat defending champion Jack Draper 6-1, 7-5 to reach the semi-finals for a fourth straight year.

KABUL, March 13, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Afghan authorities said on Friday that Pakistan had carried out new strikes on Kabul and border provinces, killing four people in the capital. A Pakistani security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that Pakistan struck overnight, adding their forces targeted the Pakistani Taliban militant group, known as TTP. Islamabad last month launched a wave of air strikes on its neighbour, an operation it says is targeting militancy following growing attacks in Pakistan. In Kandahar, which is home to the administration's supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, air strikes hit a fuel depot for airline Kam Air, near the airport. Pakistan then declared "open war" against the Taliban authorities, bombing the capital, Kabul, on February 27.

GENEVA, March 13, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The world has entered a "new dark age of abuses", with the United States "raining death" on Iran and Venezuela, a UN special rapporteur said Thursday. "We have entered a new dark age of abuses in the name of countering terrorism," he told a press conference in Geneva. "But the more the international community remains silent... the more it emboldens bullies like the United States and Israel." Saul wants countries to urgently adopt an international definition of terrorism to protect human rights from terrorism and excessive state responses to it. He said vague and overbroad definitions had led to countless rights violations, with the abuse of counter-terror laws becoming the tool of choice to suppress critics.