Nation

New York

Man convicted in assassination plot

NEW YORK — A Pakistani business owner who tried to hire hit men to kill a U.S. politician has been convicted in a trial that showcased allegations of Iran-backed plotting on American soil.

Asif Merchant testified that he was acting on instructions from a contact in the Islamic Republic’s powerful paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. Merchant said the handler broached possible targets including then-candidate Donald Trump, then-President Joe Biden and Nikki Haley.

District of Columbia

Russia has provided Iran with information

WASHINGTON — Russia has provided Iran with information that could help Tehran strike American warships, aircraft and other assets in the region. That’s according to two officials familiar with U.S. intelligence on the matter.

The officials, who were not authorized to comment publicly on the sensitive matter and spoke on the condition of anonymity, cautioned that the U.S. intelligence has not uncovered that Russia is directing Iran what to do with the information.

World

Nigeria

Militants abduct more than 300 people

ABUJA — Local officials say Islamic militants attacked a town in northeastern Nigeria, abducting more than 300 people, including women and children.

The attack happened on Friday in the town of Ngoshe in Borno state.

Egypt

Gulf allies complain of lack of US notification

CAIRO — Officials say Iran’s retaliatory attacks in the Middle East over strikes from Israel and the U.S. have left some of America’s partners in the Gulf frustrated over a lack of notice or adequate defense.

The mostly private frustration comes as Pentagon officials con­ceded this week they’re struggling to stop waves of drones launched by Iran.