Islamic militants abduct 300 people in northeastern Nigeria

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) – Islamic militants attacked a town in northeastern Nigeria on Friday, abducting more than 300 people, including women and children, local officials said. The attack happened in the town of Ngoshe in Borno state, according to Bulama Sawa, an official from the Gwoza area.

Sri Lanka takes custody of Iranian vessel off its coast after US sank warship

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) – Sri Lanka transferred more than 200 sailors from an Iranian naval vessel to shore Friday after it sought assistance while anchored outside the country’s waters, as tensions mounted in the Indian Ocean following the sinking of an Iranian warship by a U.S. submarine.

German media group Axel Springer buys UK's Daily Telegraph for $766 million

LONDON (AP) – German media group Axel Springer has agreed to buy the owner of Britain’s Daily Telegraph newspaper for 575 million pounds ($766 million), the companies announced Friday. The agreement ends a long saga over ownership of the Telegraph Media Group, which publishes the 171-year-old, conservative-leaning Daily Telegraph.

Editorials from The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian and others

March 2 – The Washington Post says DHS remains unfunded despite heightened terror threat. As America’s conflict with Iran continues, the Department of Homeland Security is warning law enforcement about the heightened risk of lone wolf attacks. Yet the agency tasked with keeping Americans safe – remains unfunded.

Intense Israeli strikes hit Iran and Lebanon as US warns the bombardment will 'surge dramatically'

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) – Intense Israeli airstrikes pounded the capitals of Iran and Lebanon early Friday as the U.S. apparently struck an Iranian drone carrier at sea in its unrelenting campaign against the Islamic Republic’s fleet of warships.

EU suspends visa-free travel for Georgian diplomats over democratic backsliding

BRUSSELS (AP) – The European Union on Friday suspended visa-free travel in Europe for diplomats and officials from Georgia for at least a year over democratic backsliding and the crackdown on anti-government protesters.

Kurdish Iranian dissidents in Iraq deny attack plans

IRBIL, Iraq (AP) – Officials with one of the armed Kurdish Iranian dissident groups based in northern Iraq told The Associated Press that they are not planning an imminent cross-border attack on Iran but would join a ground invasion if the U.S. were to launch one.

A boost for Moscow in the shadow of Iran war

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) – The U.S. Treasury Department’s decision to allow India to buy Russian oil for 30 days underscores a boost for Moscow’s fortunes against the backdrop of the Iran war as Russia’s oil exports help Kremlin pay for its own war on Ukraine.

For US Muslims, anti-Muslim rhetoric clouds Ramadan

PATERSON, N.J. (AP) – Midway through Ramadan, Muslims across the United States are striving to maintain the holy month’s traditional mix of prayers and festive spirit under a cloud of worrisome events.