Ukraine: Pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine say voters overwhelmingly cast their ballots yesterday in favor of independence from Ukraine. They said the vote was 90 percent in Donetsk and 96 percent in Luhansk, although the election was conducted in some …

Ukraine: Thirty-four rebels and four Ukrainian soldiers were killed in fighting to re-take the city of Sloviansk from pro-Russian gunmen. The fighting in Sloviansk has been the government’s biggest effort to reassert control in Eastern Ukraine as rebels control key …

Underwater: As much as 15 to 20 inches of rain fell in parts of the Southeast, bringing flooding to parts of the Alabama coast and the Florida panhandle. Some people had to be rescued from their cars and the rooftop …

Ukraine: Ukrainian officials say an “anti-terrorist” operation is underway to take back buildings occupied by pro-Russian militants in Eastern Ukraine. One Ukrainian security officer was killed today in a gun battle with militants in the eastern city of Sloviansk. One …

Ukraine Crisis: The European Union today is prepared to offer $15 billion in aid to shore up Ukraine. That’s in addition to the $1 billion offered by the US yesterday.   Stocks jumped yesterday as investors relaxed their fears about …

World: Secy. Of State John Kerry basted climate change deniers in a speech to students in Indonesia. “We should not allow a tiny minority of shoddy scientists and science and extreme ideologues to compete with scientific facts,” Kerry said. “The …

Iran: President Obama and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani made a diplomatic breakthrough yesterday speaking to each other on the telephone. It’s the first time since 1979 that leaders of Iran and the US have spoken to each other. Obama said …

Day Four: Gunfire and explosions can still be heard from inside the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi as the Kenyan army continues to hunt for militants. Despite announcements yesterday that the situation is under control and the siege was over, …

  National: The FBI over the weekend busted child prostitution operations in 76 cities, arresting 159 people described as “pimps”. Agents and local police recovered 105 children held at truck stops, motels and casinos for use as prostitutes. The suspects …

Guns: Sen. Diane Feinstein of California says that today she will introduce a bill to ban 157 types of semi-automatic weapons and bullet magazines that hold more than ten rounds. Existing weapons would be grandfathered, although they would have to …