World: President Obama has stepped into the Syrian civil war, asking Congress for $500 million to train and equip “appropriately vetted” members of the Syrian opposition. The danger of sending equipment to Syria is that weapons can fall into the …

Iraq: Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has rejected international calls to form a unity government that includes the Sunni minority to defuse the country’s civil war. Maliki is a Shiite who has squeezed Sunnis out of power in both the military …

We Knew That: Flame-haired former newspaper editor Rebekah Brooks has been found not guilty of hacking the cellphones of celebrities and news subjects for Rupert Murdoch’s now-defunct News of the World. Her former deputy Andy Coulson was found guilty on …

Ukraine: Russia is demanding an apology from Ukraine claiming artillery fire hit a Russian border post and destroyed a building. It happened just as Ukraine declared a one-day ceasefire. A Kremlin statement said about the ceasefire, “this is not an …

Iraq: President Obama is sending 300 military advisors to stiffen the spine of the Iraqi army that’s collapsing before advancing Sunni Islamist rebels. Although the presence of “advisors” is often the first step to entering combat, Obama said American soldiers …

Iraq: The country’s biggest oil refinery appears to have fallen into the hands of Sunni Islamic militants after the army and helicopter gunships failed to hold them back. Black militant banners are reported to be hanging high within the refinery. …

Spin: Twin tornadoes ripped through northeast Nebraska yesterday, killing a five-year-old child and injuring possibly dozens of others. At least half the town of Pilgar was damaged or destroyed. Homes and grain elevators were flattened and livestock killed. Officials said …

Iraq: The State Department ordered the evacuation of a large number of American personnel from the US embassy in Baghdad in the face of an Islamic militant force trying to fight its way to the city. How many people would …

Iraq: Government forces appear to have at least temporarily blunted the march of Sunni Islamic militants headed toward Baghdad. Counter attacks by troops for the Shiite led government have actually reclaimed a little territory, the army claims. An Iraqi military …

Iraq: With Sunni militants advancing toward Baghdad, Iraq’s most influential Shiite cleric issued a call to arms for the defense of the nation’s capital. Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have fled their homes to escape the fighting. President Obama says …