US says 47,000 Americans returned from Middle East since Iran warWASHINGTON, United States, March 13, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Around 47,000 Americans have returned home from the Middle East since February 28, when the United States and Israel began their attacks on Iran, a State Department official told AFP on Thursday. Countries worldwide have urged citizens to avoid the Middle East during the ongoing war against Iran, which has seen violence erupt across much of the region. US officials in particular came under fire for allegedly not giving citizens sufficient warning to avoid the Middle East in the days before launching the attacks on Iran. "We have offered departure options to nearly every American in the region who has asked us for assistance," the state department official said. Separately on Thursday, the state department raised its terror advisory alert on Azerbaijan to Level 3 (Reconsider Travel), citing "terrorism, armed conflict, and risk of landmines."

SYDNEY, March 13, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Australia's energy minister warned on Friday against "dangerous" price gouging of petrol as he relaxed rules on how much fuel companies needed to hold in stock in a bid to boost supply. The country -- reliant on oil imports for fuel -- has seen petrol prices spike due to panic buying since the outbreak of the war in the Middle East. Australia's government has blamed price gouging by retailers for rising domestic costs of fuel. He said people selling fuel at inflated prices were engaging in actions that were "un-Australian" and "dangerous". Meanwhile, the government has insisted the country's fuel supply is secure.

WASHINGTON, United States, March 13, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Moscow said on Friday that the global energy market "cannot remain stable" without its oil, piling pressure on Washington to lift more sanctions as the Middle East war strangles supplies. The United States has eased some oil sanctions on Russia imposed over its invasion of Ukraine, prompting backlash from Western allies who urged Washington to keep up restrictions as the Ukraine conflict drags into its fifth year. "The United States is effectively acknowledging the obvious: without Russian oil, the global energy market cannot remain stable," Dmitriev posted on Telegram. "Amid the growing energy crisis, further easing of restrictions on Russian energy sources appears increasingly inevitable, despite resistance from some in the Brussels bureaucracy," he added. The move came after Washington last week temporarily allowed Russian oil that was stranded at sea to be sold to India.

BAGHDAD, March 13, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Air strikes killed at least 11 Iran-backed fighters in Iraq on Thursday near the Iraqi-Syrian border and in the capital Baghdad, senior security and armed faction officials told AFP. Nine fighters were killed and another 10 wounded in strikes that targeted a base housing the US-blacklisted Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya, two security officials said. "The base was destroyed, and the rescue teams who arrived at the site were also targeted," one of the officials said on condition of anonymity. The PMF added that "all fighters killed were carrying out their official duties, and some were stationed near the borders". The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a loose alliance of several Iran-backed groups, has been claiming daily attacks against US bases in Iraq.

In his first public comments since succeeding his father four days ago, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said the Strait of Hormuz -- through which a fifth of global oil and gas passes -- must remain effectively shut. "The lever of blocking the Strait of Hormuz must definitely be used," Khamenei said in a message read by an anchor on state television. The IEA said Thursday that the war "is creating the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market". The US president struck a defiant tone in a social media post Thursday, writing that the United States "is the largest Oil Producer in the World, by far, so when oil prices go up, we make a lot of money". "For now, however, the dominant features are higher energy prices and extremely elevated volatility markets."

Iran says will make US regret war as oil prices soarTEHRAN, March 13, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Iran vowed Thursday to make the United States regret attacking the Islamic republic and said it would keep up a chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz that has sent oil prices soaring. - 'War of attrition' -Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the joint US-Israeli campaign was "crushing" Iran and the Tehran-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon. With Gulf states slashing production and oil tankers stuck in the Gulf, benchmark oil prices have risen 40 to 50 percent since the US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, threatening to crimp growth and stoke inflation. Three million people have been displaced by the war in Iran, according to figures issued Thursday by the UN's refugee agency. Officials said 14 people had been killed in Israel since the start of the Iran war, while attacks in the Gulf have killed 24, including 11 civilians and seven US military personnel.

WASHINGTON, United States, March 13, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - An American KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq while a second plane involved in the incident landed safely, the US military said Thursday. "One of the aircraft went down in western Iraq, and the second landed safely. Iran's military however claimed in a statement carried by state TV that an allied group in Iraq had downed the aircraft with a missile, killing all its crew. The KC-135 is at least the fourth US military aircraft lost during the war in the Middle East, after three F-15s were shot down by friendly fire over Kuwait. That incident occurred during combat including "attacks from Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles, and drones," the military command said at the time.

TEHRAN, March 13, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Saudi Arabian forces intercepted more than two dozen drones on Friday after renewed Iranian threats against oil facilities, as the regional conflict killed a French soldier in Iraqi Kurdistan. The conflict that began February 28 with US-Israeli strikes that killed Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has quickly spread across the region. A French soldier was killed in an attack in the Erbil region of Iraq, French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday, adding that several other soldiers were wounded. The French military said earlier that drones hit a base where troops were taking part in counter-terrorism training with Iraqi counterparts. - 'We won't leave' -Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the war war "crushing" Iran and Tehran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon.

ANKARA, March 13, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - A magnitude 5.5 earthquake rattled north-east Turkey on Friday, the country's disaster management agency said. The Turkish disaster and emergency management authority said the tremor had hit around 3:35 am (0035 GMT) in Tokat province, with no reports of damage.

Blasts heard, smoke seen over central Dubai: AFP correspondentDUBAI, March 13, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Explosions rattled buildings in Dubai and a large cloud of smoke hung over a central area of the Middle East financial hub on Friday, AFP correspondents said. An AFP correspondent felt the building shake and heard a huge explosion.

US launches trade probes into failures to act on forced labor=WASHINGTON, United States, March 13, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The United States launched trade investigations Thursday into 60 economies including China, the EU and Japan, fueling the possibility of further tariffs after the Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump's global duties. Theset of probes, initiated by the US Trade Representative (USTR) office, will look into "failures to take action on forced labor" and whether these burden or restrict US commerce. The tranche of investigations came a day after US trade envoy Jamieson Greer launched a probe centered on excess industrial capacity, targeting 16 trading partners. Thursday's investigations will consider policies and practices "related to the failure to impose and effectively enforce a ban on the importation of goods produced with forced labor," the USTR notice said. "For too long, American workers and firms have been forced to compete against foreign producers who may have an artificial cost advantage gained from the scourge of forced labor," Greer said in a statement.

TOKYO, March 13, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - French President Emmanuel Macron will visit Japan from March 31 to April 2 and then South Korea, Tokyo and Seoul said on Friday. "We have agreed to receive President Emmanuel Macron of the French Republic and Mrs. Macron as official working visit guests from March 31 to April 2," Japanese government spokesman Minoru Kihara said. Macron, who has visited Japan several times, will hold talks with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. South Korea said that Macron's state visit to South Korea will be from April 2 to April 3 at the invitation of President Lee Jae Myung. "Macron will be the first European leader to make a state visit to South Korea since the launch of (our) new administration," the South Korean presidential office said.

Brazil's Recife basks in success of 'The Secret Agent' before OscarsRECIFE, Brazil, March 13, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The northeastern Brazilian city of Recife, where the Oscar-nominated movie "The Secret Agent" is set, is revelling in its moment in the limelight as tourists flock to film locations and a classic local shirt flies off the shelves. The movie has already received numerous awards worldwide, and is nominated for four Oscars -- best picture, best international feature film, best actor, and best casting. - 'Huge impact' -Right after seeing "The Secret Agent," tour guide Roderick Jordao was inspired to create a tour of film locations in the city. The film "put Recife in the spotlight in a way that no government campaign could have achieved," he said while leading a group through several sites. Tomas Santa Rosa, a 22-year-old actor, traveled from Rio de Janeiro to Recife after seeing the film.

Dr Shafiqur Rahman said the current parliament is not a routine one, rather it stands on the sacrifices and blood of people. He congratulated the newly elected Speaker and Deputy Speaker, expressing the hope that they would perform their responsibilities with fairness and impartiality. Shafiqur Rahman expressed optimism that under the Speaker’s leadership, the parliament would become dynamic and constructive. The Jamaat leader assured the Speaker of his party’s cooperation in running the parliament smoothly and effectively. “We want justice,” he said, expressing hope that the parliament would play a central role in addressing political, economic and social injustices.

Photo: BSSDHAKA, March 12, 2026 (BSS) - Twelve players shared lead in the point table after the third round of SSPL Int’l FIDE Rating Chess tournament held at Bangladesh Chess Federation hall-room today (Thursday). They are IM Abu Sufian Shakil, Swarnavo Choudhury, Mohammad Shafiqul Islam, Faisal Hossain, Md. In the day’s third round matches, IM Mohammad Fahad Rahman defeated CM Md. Rabiul Hossain defeated Golam Mostafa Bhuiyan, IM Abu Sufian Shakil defeated CM Md Nasim Hossain Bhuiyan, Swarnavo Choudhury defeated Khondakar Nazre Mowla, Faisal Hossain defeated Md. Imam Hossain Mir, Tahmidul Haque defeated Gulam Sarwar, Badal Halder split point with Afzal Hossain Sacchu and Aiyan Rahman split point with CM Avik Sarker.