In brief: Boko Haram attacks spread to towns in second country

NIAMEY, Niger – Nigeria’s Islamic extremists invaded a second country in the region Friday, attacking two towns in a part of Niger that is already home to tens of thousands of refugees who have fled the terror group’s attacks back in Nigeria.

The expansion of Boko Haram’s reach came as neighboring countries are fighting back with ground troops and aircraft, with even greater military strikes by more countries planned. The U.S. strongly condemned the Boko Haram attacks and pledged continuing assistance to fight the militants.

Boko Haram has openly threatened to attack other countries taking part in the military effort to subdue their insurgency, blamed for 10,000 deaths over the past year. Cameroon, Niger, Chad and Benin all have pledged to send troops to fight Boko Haram, which has waged a five-year rebellion against the Nigerian government.

Biden will skip Israeli prime minister’s speech to Congress

WASHINGTON – Vice President Joe Biden won’t attend Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s controversial speech to Congress next month, his office confirmed Friday, saying the vice president will be traveling abroad on a previously scheduled trip.

As president of the Senate, Biden is typically on hand to greet and listen in when any foreign leader addresses a joint session of Congress. He’s missed just one other such speech, the White House said.

His attendance at the March 3 speech has been watched closely. Netanyahu is expected to make a case against the administration’s negotiations with Iran on a nuclear deal. He was invited by House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and accepted the invitation without telling the White House – a breach of protocol that has set off widespread criticism.

The White House has already said President Barack Obama won’t meet with the Israeli leader during the visit.

The vice president’s office did not disclose where in the world Biden will be in early March.