# data[].attributes.body
Present- Attack and threats by ISIS caused the US to return to military action in Iraq and Syria.

# data[].attributes.body
Russia annexed the Ukrainian territory of Crimea

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Premium members click here to view this article in the ad-free members area.Not a member yet? Subscribe now!

By Evan Centanni

Russia Annexes Crimea
The Crimean peninsula, which declared independence from Ukraine ten days ago as the Republic of Crimea, has now been absorbed into Russia. This was part of the plan all along - the claimed Republic of Crimea had requested to join Russia at the same time that it declared independence.

Related: Complete Map of Locations Seized by Russia in Crimea (Premium)

Once Russia had recognized Crimea as an independent country, Russian president Vladimir Putin then argued all that was necessary for his country to absorb the region was a treaty between the two supposedly sovereign states. The unification treaty between Crimea and Russia was signed on Mar. 18, the day after the peninsula's declaration of independence. The treaty went into full effect on Mar. 21 after it was ratified by both houses of the Russian parliament and formally signed into law by Putin.

See Also: Crimea Declares Independence: Is It Really a Country?

Geographical Implications

Territory Name:
* Crimea (English )
* Krym (Russian, Ukrainian)
* Qırım (Crimean Tatar)

* Ukraine
* Russia Claimants:

Simferopol/Sevastopol Actual Control: Russia Status: Federal subject of Russia (Republic of Crimea)/federal city (Sevastopol) Capital:

Crimea's annexation by Russia brings about several simultaneous changes to the world's political geography situation:
Besides those country-level changes, there has also been an adjustment to the subnational administrative status of Crimea. Ukraine's Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the special municipality of Sevastopol, which united to claim independence as the Republic of Crimea, have now been separated again as divisions within the Russian Federation. The former Autonomous Republic of Crimea is now the Republic of Crimea, a federal subject of Russia, and Sevastopol is a "city of federal significance" (also a type of federal subject within the Russian Federation).

Transitioning Between Two Countries
Russia's annexation of Crimea may look complete on paper, but changing the whole region from Ukrainian to Russian administration is goingto be a major logistical headache. In addition to the issues of distributing Russian citizenship to all Crimeans and figuring out what to do with members of the Ukrainian military who are stationed there, infrastructure will be a major issue.

Crimea has no land link to the rest of Russia, so new bridges and pipelines will need to be built if the region isn't going to remain heavily dependent on Ukraine. There will also be a major stir-up to the communications system as telephone area codes are completely replaced to fit into Russia's system. An extra digit will also need to be added to postal codes, and clocks will be permanently set two hours forward this Sunday to switch to the same time zone as Moscow.

Also check out our premium map report:
Complete Map of Locations of Russian Seizures or Attacks in Crimea

More Related Articles:
Ukraine Crisis Overview Map: Occupations, Autonomy, & Invasion (Premium)
How Sharply Divided is Ukraine, Really? Honest Maps of Language and Elections

Graphic of the Crimean flag is in the public domain (
source).

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Crimea Joins Russia, Gives Up Independence, Becomes Disputed Territory

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Premium members click here to view this article in the ad-free members area.Not a member yet? Subscribe now! By Evan Centanni Russia Annexes Crimea The Crimean peninsula, which declared independence from Ukraine ten days ago as the Republic of Crimea, has now been absorbed into Russia.

# data[].attributes.body
Obamacare, the Affordable Care Act, went into affect.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
From new insurance regulations prompted by the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA) to new avenues for delivering basic medical services, the healthcare industry is poised to undergo transformative changes in the coming years. Still, as patients head to their local pharmacy for a consultation, upload blood pressure readings to their physician's database via smartphone or take advantage of employer incentives to improve their fitness, the profession's core mission remains unchanged: to keep people healthier, longer.

Delivering the highest quality care for the lowest possible cost will be a constant challenge for the healthcare leaders of tomorrow, particularly as the nation's biggest population segment, the baby boomers, transition into their senior years.

The good news is that because of medical advances people are living longer than ever. That brings its own set of challenges, however. How can we prevent, treat and manage the diseases and conditions of old age, while still keeping health care affordable for all?

As ACA continues to take effect, sweeping changes to health insurance will follow. Insurance companies will be prohibited from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions, which will be offset by the requirement that everyone must have insurance or face a financial penalty. Many states will be expanding Medicaid to cover more low-income people, and states are also establishing online exchanges, where individuals and small businesses can go to purchase health insurance.

Some of the other ACA measures scheduled for implementation through 2020:

The Independent Payment Advisory Board will begin overseeing Medicare payments to health care providers, medical device firms and insurance companies.

Larger employers (those with 100 or more workers) will be able to purchase insurance through exchanges beginning in 2017.

Senior citizens no longer will be responsible for the coverage gap (the so-called "donut hole") between their initial limit and the catastrophic limit in their prescription drug plans administered through Medicare.

The Future of Health Care Policy

Beyond the impact of government-mandated changes such as ACA, the evolution of healthcare in the United States may be driven by a variety of industry initiatives. For example, advanced computer systems are allowing for the wholesale adoption of electronic medical records. Digital technology, such as mobile apps and telemonitoring, is shifting the delivery of medical care away from hospitals and into patients' homes.

Meanwhile, more physicians may earn a salary rather than the traditional fee-for-procedure pay model, with bonuses for keeping patients healthy.

All of these will necessitate responses from local, state and national policymakers to guide health care providers, insurance companies and patients. Meeting the challenge of the massive changes facing the healthcare industry will require a concerted and coordinated effort among healthcare administrators and managers, service providers and the nation's millions of dedicated healthcare workers.

Highly skilled leaders will be needed to work toward improving the quality of patient care and controlling costs. Frontline workers, from ambulatory care technicians to registered nurses, may assume new responsibilities and train for new roles.

For healthcare personnel, the future appears likely to include working on interdisciplinary teams, using increasingly sophisticated technology, processing more information and dispensing care in nonhospital settings. As always, training and education will be key components in preparing professionals to meet the coming challenges.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Affordable Care Act and Changes in Healthcare Administration

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
From new insurance regulations prompted by the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA) to new avenues for delivering basic medical services, the healthcare industry is poised to undergo transformative changes in the coming years.

# data[].attributes.body
Sandy Hook Elementary School
(Connecticut).

# data[].attributes.body
Boston Marathon terrorist bombing.

# data[].attributes.body
Hurricane Sandy hit the New Jersey coast and New York City, with an estimated cost of $65.6 billion.

# data[].attributes.body
Barack Obama won the presidential election

# data[].attributes.body
The United States Congress passed a $700 billion bailout,the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act, giving the Treasury Department authority to assist Wall Street and baking businesses of the United States due to the housing, banking, and mortgage crises

# data[].attributes.body
Michael Phelps, the United States swimmer, won his 8th Gold Medal of the Beijing Summer Olympic Games, breaking the record of seven won by Mark Spitz.

# data[].attributes.body
Al-Qaeda hijacked four planes; two crashed into the twin World trade center towers of NYC, another into the pentagon in the Washington D.C. area, and another into a field in Pennsylvania.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Sorry for the lost comments, I had to edit the video because discovery added something in the beginning, that has been stripped away now. Some people mention the silence of the twin tower collapse. These sound samples are genuine as far as I know.

# data[].attributes.body
Civil Rights activist Rosa Park died.

# data[].attributes.body
The start of the war in Afghanistan (the US and the UK)

# data[].attributes.body
Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast and New Orleans

# data[].attributes.body
The southeast Asian tsunami.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
★ Shock and Awe the initial bombing of baghdad ★

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Live CNN coverage as it happened...Old vid,i'm sure it's a repost...but Spectacular

# data[].attributes.body
The population of the United States reached three hundred million people.

# data[].attributes.body
The War in Iraq begins with the bombing of Baghdad after additional measures and mandates from the United Nations and the United States coalition fail to gain concessions or the removal of Saddam Hussein from power. The U.S. coalition, upon failure to extract authority from the U.N. for the veto power of France, begin land operations one day later with the participation from U.S., British, Australian, and Polish troops.

# data[].attributes.body
The United States Congress passed a revolution giving the President of the U.S. the authority to use the military forces of the country as he thinks necessary.

# data[].attributes.body
George W.Bush election controversy.

# data[].attributes.body
John McCain chose Sarah as his vice-presidential candidate.

# data[].attributes.body
The U.S. took control of Baghdad.

# data[].attributes.body
United States manufacturing decreased after the sale of the last shares of his General Motors stock by U.S. billionaire Kirk Kerkorian. This marked the start of the economic recession.

# data[].attributes.body
Saddam Hussein, former leader of Iraq, was captured by the US military.