Obama vs. Romney on Syria policy

If killing Osama bin Laden, untangling U.S. forces from Iraq and fighting a bare-knuckle drone war against al Qaeda are the Obama administration's foreign policy triumphs, its biggest stumble may be its failure to produce an international solution to what has become an all-out civil war in Syria.

Afghan attacks on allies alarm departing nations

Western nations preparing to withdraw from combat in Afghanistan increasingly are alarmed by Afghan security forces turning their weapons on allied troops, attacks that the Taliban claim as proof of their sway over local troops.

With iPads, playbooks a new game for Redskins

It was the morning after the Washington Redskins' preseason opener at the Buffalo Bills, and linebacker Lorenzo Alexander didn't have to go to the team's practice facility to review his game performance. He could do that in his basement, or over a bowl of cereal.

Economic recovery rockiest since Depression

The recession that ended three years ago this summer has been followed by the feeblest recovery since the Great Depression, according an extensive review of the country's economic ups and down over the past eight decades.

Pa. voters will need to show their IDs

In a ruling with implications for the presidential race, a judge on Wednesday rejected an effort by civil rights groups to block Pennsylvania's voter-ID law, legislation that Republicans say is needed to prevent fraud at the polls this fall.

Romney seeks to elevate tone of debate

Flashing anger at the direction the presidential campaign has taken, Mitt Romney on Wednesday challenged President Obama to elevate the debate after a month in which Democratic operatives and the Obama campaign charged Mr. Romney was a felon and connected him to a woman's cancer death.

Dispute with Japan over islands flares up

Regional tensions flared on the emotional anniversary of Japan's World War II surrender, as activists from China and South Korea used Wednesday's occasion to press rival sea territory claims, prompting 14 arrests by Japanese police.

Gunman shoots guard inside Family Research Council D.C. offices

A man with a gun walked into the D.C. offices of the Family Research Council on Wednesday morning and fired on a security guard who confronted him in what is being investigated as a possible hate crime or act of domestic terrorism, authorities said.

Felix Hernandez throws first perfect game in Mariners' history

King Felix now has a crowning achievement.

General reassures Marines after Afghan attacks

The Marine Corps' top officer is trying to soothe the rattled nerves of his troops in Afghanistan, who saw six of their comrades gunned down by Afghan security forces Friday.

Asian island dispute flares on WWII anniversary

Regional tensions flared on the emotional anniversary of Japan's World War II surrender as activists from China and South Korea used Wednesday's occasion to press rival territorial claims, prompting 14 arrests by Japanese authorities.

Stocks mostly higher on signs of economic growth

Signs that the U.S. economic recovery is advancing, albeit slowly, sent stocks bouncing up and down in narrow ranges for much of the day Wednesday.

Australian court OKs logo ban on cigarette packs

Australia's highest court upheld the world's toughest law on cigarette promotion Wednesday, prohibiting tobacco company logos on cigarette packs that will instead show cancer-riddled mouths, blinded eyeballs and sickly children.

Familiar faces win primaries: Mack in Fla., McMahon in Conn., and Thompson in Wis.

In the latest showdown between the two factions fighting for the soul of the GOP, both sides could claim victory in Tuesday's primaries, with tea party candidates winning races in Connecticut and Florida and "establishment" Republicans prevailing elsewhere in Florida and Wisconsin.

Obama is ready to sign up immigrants

More than 1.7 million illegal immigrants could become eligible for tentative legal status Wednesday when President Obama's non-deportation policy goes into effect, and after initial fears that the program would backfire, immigrant advocates are urging young immigrants to sign up.

Grenades at Afghan mosque, bicycle bomb injure 23

Nearly two dozen Afghan civilians were wounded Wednesday when two grenades exploded inside a mosque compound and a bicycle bomb blew up in a city market, officials said.

Commentary

CROUSE: Helen Gurley Brown's pernicious legacy

Helen Gurley Brown, former editor of Cosmopolitan magazine, passed away this week, but her toxic legacy for the American woman lives on.

PENDLEY: Green groups exploit law for financial gain

Last month, Karen Budd-Falen, a Cheyenne, Wyo., lawyer, presented her findings on the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA) to the 100th Anniversary Conference of the Rocky Mountain Coal Mining Institute in Vail, Colo. After spending years researching court documents -- the federal government keeps no records of EAJA disbursements -- Ms. Budd-Falen found that environmental groups have amassed hundreds of millions of dollars in EAJA awards.

MOLLOHAN AND KEENE: Left and right agree on criminal justice reforms

While Americans seem to be sharply divided along partisan lines when it comes to important domestic policy issues -- take health care, immigration or the national debt, for example -- in at least one area of national importance, conservatives and liberals are increasingly united: criminal justice reform.

EDITORIAL: Obama's fuel follies

Don't look now, but gas prices are beginning to bite hard again. That's bad news for President Obama, who, until now, might have thought he had gotten lucky when prices dropped earlier in this critical election year. As the energy issue makes the campaign trail bumpier, Mr. Obama has no one to blame but himself.

MILLER: Tax on God

It took God six days to create the earth, but it took only one vote for the District to charge you for using it. Mayor Vincent C. Gray proposed taxing people who use public parks for things like popular boot camps, tennis lessons or baseball camp.