Lebanon’s The Daily Star reports from Benghazi that Libya’s oil security forces have retaken control of the Al-Ghani oilfield after militant gunmen attacked the facility, killing seven guards. A security official said his forces were also now controlling Mabrouk, Bahi and Dahra oilfields in the central Sirte basin, which were also attacked over the last week.  

Libya’s rival factions this week held United Nations-backed talks in Morocco with parties to the talks expressing confidence in the progress. UN envoy to Libya Bernardino Leon said in a post on the UN mission's Twitter page, “I am optimistic about the security arrangements, which is a key element.” Al Jazeera reported the two sides were moving closer to a deal on a national unity government.

Meanwhile, AGI quotes EU’s foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini  saying the EU stands ready to provide support “with all possible means” if a political settlement goes forward. She told a news conference the 28 EU foreign ministers meeting in Riga had agreed to give all diplomatic support to Leon’s initiatives and to invite representatives of Libyan municipalities to meetings in Brussels. 

There has been a sharp reaction from Italy to the statement to Ansa by Frontex executive director Fabrice Leggeri’s contention that between 500,000 and a million migrants could set off from Libya for Europe through Italy this year. Christopher Heinrich, director of the Italian Council for Refugees (CIR), told Adnkronos that before spreading alarmist figures, Frontex would do well to effectively assess the needs of the most vulnerable that in Libya are subjected to all forms of violence and abuse. 

Al Ayyam says the Iraqi Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, with a post on his Facebook page, has confirmed reports that that Isis had “levelled" with bulldozers the ancient archaeological site of Assyrian Nimrudm, near Mosul.  

The Washington Times reports the US authorities have unveiled charges against two Vietnamese nationals and a Canadian in connection with a computer fraud scheme to steal over one billion email addresses. Indictments in the case accuse the men of hacking into at least eight major email services from February 2009 to June 2012, stealing the email addresses that were then used for various spam and marketing schemes. The scheme netted at least $2 million from the marketing of various products and services.

France 24 says France will commit €8 billion as part of European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker’s plan to boost economic growth. Last December approved the broad outline of Juncker’s €315 billion investment plan, intended to kick-start growth in Europe by financing hundreds of projects. Germany has committed €15 billion and Spain 1.5 billion, but other EU member states have been slower to react.

Greece is calling for immediate, technical talks with its lenders on reforms which would help end its current bailout program and allow for fresh loans. Eurozone finance ministers are set to meet next week. Reuters quotes a letter from Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis to the chairman of euro zone finance ministers, Jeroen Dijsselbloem, saying “Greece does not want to wait until April to start the talks, which it said should be held in Brussels rather than Athens”.

Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reports Greece has repaid the first €310-million-euro instalment of a loan from the International Monetary Fund. The loan falls due this month.

Voice of Nigeria says Boko Haram militants have killed 74 men and 20 children who refused to join their ranks. Since 2009 in Nigeria Boko Haram has killed more than 13,000 people.

The Daily Mirror says Star Wars actor Harrison Ford was yesterday hailed as a hero for saving “several lives” after bravely fighting with the controls of his stricken plane before crash landing .

ABC reports US security agents searching a checked suitcase after an alarm went off at New York’s LaGuardia Airport expected the usual contraband – guns, knives or a hand grenade – but instead found a stowaway Chihuahua. Staring back at the agents was a seven-year-old beige and brown dog who had sneaked into the luggage, which its owner had checked onto her American Airlines flight to Los Angeles.