Ukraine: Pro-Russian separatists have taken positions within the cities of Donetsk and Luhansk in anticipation of an onslaught by Ukrainian troops. Russia appears to be standing by, taking no action, as Ukraine sealed off the border to stop the flow of weapons and supplies.

Residents fear all out war will come to the city centers, putting the civilian population in the middle of the fighting. Seven bridges were blown up yesterday to stall a government advance. One of them was a railroad bridge over a major road with a cargo train on it. Part of the span collapsed on the highway, leaving several train cars precariously stretched over the sagging rail line.

Holy Land: Israel hit about 50 targets in Gaza today in response to 80 rockets fired at Israel. One of the primary targets was what Israel described as a “terror command center embedded within civilian infrastructure.” Israel is bolstering its forces on the border with Gaza, deploying two brigades and calling up 1500 reservists. The government has authorized the military to activate another 40,000 reservists, if necessary. Authorities appear to be trying to move quickly in the case of a murdered Palestinian boy, in part to defuse the violence in Gaza. Israeli authorities say three suspects have admitted to the the crime and performed a re-enactment for investigators. The identity of the suspects has not been revealed. Last week 16-year-old Mohammed Abu Khdeir was grabbed outside his home and burned to death in a nearby forest. Street violence quickly followed. In a related development, a border policeman has been suspended in the investigation of the videotaped beating of Khdeir’s American cousin.

Holy Apology: Pope Francis yesterday delivered a public apology to six victims of clerical sexual abuse and vowed to eradicate the crimes he described as a sacrilegious cult. They were the strongest words on sexual abuse uttered by any pope. He said, “Before God and his people I express my sorrow for the sins and grave crimes of clerical sexual abuse committed against you. And I humbly ask forgiveness.”

Heavy Weather: A powerful typhoon pounded Okinawa causing damage and the cancellation of all outdoor activity at American military bases. The storm is tracking to cross Japan’s main island of Honshu.

Immigration Battle: The White House announced that most of the unaccompanied minors taken into custody crossing the border will be returned. But it comes with a hitch. The Obama administration is asking Congress for $2 billion in emergency funding to deal with the immigration crisis.

In other developments, a federal appeals court yesterday struck down Arizona’s law that denies drivers licenses to younger immigrants who have permits to work in the US. The law was aimed only at illegal immigrants shielded from deportation by order of President Obama. The state still issues licenses to some illegal immigrants with protected status under other laws, which left Arizona open to violating the 14^th Amendment, equal protection of the law.

In Los Angeles, Mayor Eric Garcetti said the city will no longer honor federal requests to hold deportable criminals after their release from jail unless presented with a court order. “The federal government is in charge of enforcing federal immigration laws — not us at the local level,” Garcetti said. At least a dozen California counties have made a similar decision to cease what are known as “ICE” detainers.

Scandal: It turns out that Warren G. Harding, one of the dullest and most corrupt presidents in US history, was more interesting than previously thought. He had a mistress named Carrie Phillips for 15 years, to whom he wrote torrid and graphic letters that only now are being released by his descendants. A sample: “And you came — a vision vividly plain, a goddess in human form — and a perfect form — clad only in flowing hair, and you were joyously received, and Jerry came and insisted on staying while we all retrospected in the happiness of a Sunday in Richmond.” Jerry was his nickname for his penis. Carrie’s intimate parts, “Mrs. Pouterson.” The least admired of all presidents, Harding might get a spike in his ratings. Jerry would be up for that.