* Leaders of Ukraine and Russia agree to tentative truce to begin this weekend. * See also: Ukraine borders porous enough to allow 30 billion cigarettes to sneak through. * If Obama gets the nod to fight the Islamic State, it'll be a ringing endorsement of unlimited presidential war making. * "
* An estimated 20,000 foreign fighters have traveled to Iraq and Syria to join IS, including 150 from the US. * Obama to withdraw most troops from West Africa and declare the five-month Ebola effort a success. * Trumpeting supremacy clause Obama confident Supreme Court will raise LGBT rights to a
* Controversy reignites over Italy's end of search and rescue after 29 migrants die aboard a coast guard boat. * Bulging with immigrants and without jobs for the young, Eastern Europe's economies need to make up ground. * Since 2006 a North Carolina state agency—the only of its
* Defying federal law, Alabama Chief Justice orders judges not to award marriage licenses to same-sex couples. * Leaders will convene in Minsk to iron out differences driving Ukraine conflict; solution could include a DMZ. * In "Grexit" drama, internal opposition girds Greece's finance minister against easy answers
* Rebels, Ukrainian authorities agree to allow civilian evacuation from the current fighting in eastern Ukraine. * The first pope to address Congress, Francis will wield authority over the core of modern American political debate. * MLK's mother was also assassinated—like other black women leaders she's left out
* According to a former Al Qaeda operative, US partner Saudi Arabia had a strong alliance with the terrorist group prior to 9/11. * Ukraine’s war enters its deadliest period since September's nominal ceasefire. * Netanyahu and Boehner's decision to cook up a speech to Congress behind
* Murdered Argentinian prosecutor had drafted an arrest order for President Kirchner, but hadn't yet delivered it. * Uber says it's helping to reduce drunk driving, but there's little evidence to support that claim. * Jordanian pilot killed by ISIS may have died a month ago—making
* White House: Officials will delete private information collected on Americans that has no intelligence purpose. * The case for Obama's library on Chicago's South Side raises questions about U of C's role there. * One of the spaces in Rep. Aaron Schock's new DC
* Mitt Romney declines to run in 2016; contenders Christie and Bush jockey for support of Romney's donors. * Obama submits annual budget to Congress, proposes tax on overseas earnings to finance infrastructure investments. * Al-Jazeera journalists freed after 400 days in Egyptian prison. * Following the murder of two citizens
* Poverty determines who lives and dies—medicine must find equitable ways to finance healthcare. * Rand Paul moves with progressive Democrats—albeit uneasily—on criminal justice reform. * Bobby Jindal is a hypocrite: He thinks Muslims should be secular, but has no such expectation of Christians. * Oklahoma's new seismic activity
