Third Front: The Ukraine government and Western military officials say Russia has opened a third front with a “stealth” invasion in the area of Novoazovsk on the Sea of Azov. Armor, artillery, and infantry that crossed the border from Russia appear to have the Ukrainian defenders reeling in disarray. Jen Psaki, the State Department spokeswoman, said, “These incursions indicate a Russian-directed counteroffensive is likely underway.”

   Another column of 100 vehicles presumed to be Russian were spotted further north outside the embattled city of Donetsk. Russia appears to be trying to divide the Ukraine army’s power and take control of a port city in the event that pro-Russian rebels succeed in breaking away from Ukraine.

The Caliphate: A second American has been reported killed fighting for the Islamic extremists ISIS in Syria. Abdirahmaan Muhumed, of Minneapolis was a 29-year-old Somali American from Minneapolis who had also lived in San Diego. As many as 100 Americans have gone to fight for ISIS. For federal investigators the biggest concern is not that they go, but whether they will quietly return and bring the war to the US.

Money Matters: IMF chief Christine Lagarde has been charged with “negligence” for her handling of a multi-mullion-euro graft case while she was France’s finance minister. Lagarde is one of the most powerful economic figures in the world. Under the French system an investigation amounts to formal charges, but it doesn’t always result in a trial. Lagarde says she’s not going to resign.

Bad Boys: A crewmember shooting an episode of the long-running reality series “Cops” was shot and killed by an officer responding to a robbery at a Wendy’s restaurant in Omaha Tuesday night. Bryce Dion was a soundman from Boston who had been with the show seven years. The robbery suspect, who was later found to be armed with a plastic-pellet pistol that makes a sound like a gunshot, also was killed. The Omaha police chief said the video taken by the “Cops” crew would show that the shooting of Dion was justified under the circumstances.

Hack Attack: JP Morgan Chase and four other financial institutions have had their information systems cracked open by what are believed to be Russian hackers. Important information was leaked, officials say. What’s not clear is whether this is cyber crime, or a coordinated attack in retaliation for US sanctions against Russia involving the Ukraine crisis.

Better Late: President Obama will award the Medal of Honor to a Union officer who fought while wounded and died standing his ground against George Pickett’s famous charge at Gettysburg. It’s the result of a 25-year lobbying campaign by a 94-year-old Wisconsin woman whose grandfather fought for the Union. First Lt. Alonzo H. Cushing was a 22-year-old artillery officer who had to be propped up by a sergeant while he continued to give orders. A bullet killed him. Cushing was not recognized at the time because the Medal of Honor was not awarded posthumously in those days.

Strange Tale: The captain of the USC football team has been suspended indefinitely for making up a story about rescuing a child from a swimming pool. Starting cornerback Josh Shaw had said he injured his ankles Saturday night jumping from a second-story balcony to pull his nephew out of a swimming pool. Shaw now admits he lied, but what he was doing Saturday night and how he injured his ankles has not been explained.

Smart Bear: Breeders at a Chinese Panda facility are disappointed that a new cub is not on the way as thought. The panda Ai Hin was showing signs of pregnancy and was moved to isolation for special treatment and more food. After settling in to more comfortable accommodations Ai Hin no longer appeared to be pregnant. She’d been faking it. The bear breeders say it’s happened before.

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