Assassination: The shooting of a prominent critic and opponent of Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday on a Moscow bridge within sight of the Kremlin had all the markings of a political hit. Reports say Boris Nemtsov was shot four times …

Culture War: The religious war in Syria and Iraq has become a war on art.A new video shows Islamic State militants ransacking the central museum in Mosul, Iraq and destroying irreplaceable ancient artifacts. They broke up statues with sledgehammers and …

The Executioner: The Islamic State killer known as “Jihadi John” who has appeared in videos beheading hostages has been identified as Mohammed Emwazi, a former British resident born in Kuwait who grew up in London. Emwazi has a college degree …

Guilty: The former Marine who killed “American Sniper” Chris Kyle was found guilty of murder yesterday in a Texas court and sentenced to life in prison. The mentally disturbed Eddie Routh had claimed he was not guilty by reason of …

Nation: A Metrolink train bound for Los Angeles hit a tractor-trailer on the tracks and derailed in Oxnard this morning. Three of four passenger cars landed on their sides and at least 30 people were injured. No fatalities have been …

Homeland v. Immigrants: Defense and security-minded Congressional Republicans are edging toward allowing the Department of Homeland Security to be partially shut down in a fight with President Obama over legal protections the president has extended to half a million illegal …

Ukraine: Government troops began pulling back their heavy weapons today in accord with the recently negotiated ceasefire. Both Ukraine and rebel troops are supposed to step back, creating a neutral buffer zone roughly 30 to 85 miles wide. The rebels …

Towering Inferno: An 86-storey residential tower caught fire in Dubai last night, burning like a giant torch and raining debris on the street. It was a dramatic sight in the night. The tower actually called the Torch is located in …

Frozen: The arctic cold snap in the East is expected to continue through today then ease off to more normal February temperatures. The cold front has dipped so far south that it’s 31 degrees this morning in Daytona Beach, Fla., …

Superbug: The UCLA medical Center says 179 of its patients may have been infected and seven have died after being exposed to a “superbug” during endoscopic procedures to treat pancreatic and bile duct problems. The problem is believed to have …