March 21: Russia formally annexes Crimea, a region in southern Ukraine, when president Vladimir Putin signs a bill finalizing the process.
March 25: President Obama announces a NSA reform plan, which says the NSA will no longer collect phone data from Americans. The phone companies will collect and store it for 18 months, and the NSA must seek a court order to access the records.
April 10: A coding error, dubbed “Heartbleed," is discovered in the popular encryption software OpenSSL that leaves users’ usernames, passwords, and personal information vulnerable for theft.
April 14: Around 276 Nigerian woman and girls are abducted and held hostage by terrorist group Boko Haram.
April 16: A South Korean ferry capsizes and sinks, killing more than 290 people, most of which are high school students.
April 29: LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling is banned for life from the NBA and fined $2.5 million after a video leaked showing Sterling making racist remarks.
May 19-20: Same-sex marriage becomes legal in Oregon on May 19 and in Pennsylvania the next day. The latter state is the last in the Northeast to legalize same-sex marriage.
May 20: General Prayuth of Thailand announces he has seized power from the interim government in a military coup - the second in less than 10 years for the country.
May 28: Poet, renaissance woman, and cultural pioneer Maya Angelou dies at 86.
July 17: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine after being shot down over a rebel-held area by a missile. Russia is blamed for the attack that killed nearly 300 people. (Pic 5 here)
July 31: The Palestinian death toll after Israeli missile strikes and ground invasions reaches 1410, mostly civilians. The Israeli death toll is 59.
August 4: African countries Liberia and Sierra Leone declare a state of emergency in response to the Ebola outbreak.
August 9: Police officer Darren Wilson shoots and kills 18-year old African American Michael Brown in Ferguson, MO. Brown was reportedly unarmed, but other details are under dispute. Violent protests quickly begin nationwide. (Pic 6 here)
August 11: Legendary actor and comedian Robin Williams dies at 63, most likely due to suicide.
August 19: ISIS militants behead American journalist James Foley and release a graphic video depicting the killing in retaliation for U.S. air strikes.
August 31: China denies Hong Kong the right to hold democratic elections. The decision sparks another wave of protests.
September 4: Comedian Joan Rivers dies at 81.
September 7-8: Serena Williams wins the U.S. Open against Caroline Wozniacki, marking her 18th Grand Slam title. Marin Cilic defeats Kei Nishikori the next day to win his 1st Grand Slam event.
September 18: Scotland votes to remain part of the United Kingdom, with 55% of voters agreeing. British leaders have promised to listen to the 45% who voted for independence.
22