10 things to know for Monday

WASHINGTON — Here’s your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about Monday:

1. ‘TODAY WE ARE GOING BACK HOME’

That’s what Viktoria Chernyshova of Crimea declared after the region voted overwhelmingly to leave Ukraine and join Russia. Western leaders condemned the referendum and plan to hit Russia with economic sanctions.

2. OBAMA TO PUTIN: U.S. WON’T RECOGNIZE CRIMEA VOTE

U.S. officials reaffirmed that the White House and European Union will impose penalties on Russia if it annexes the strategic region.

3. WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE MALAYSIA AIRLINER DISAPPEARED

Someone aboard the Boeing 777 disabled a communications system, then shut down a transponder that identified the plane to radar, authorities say.

4. WHY ARMY WILL DROP SEX ASSAULT CHARGES AGAINST GENERAL

Lawyers for Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Sinclair said he will plead to lesser charges after the prosecution’s case crumbled as questions arose about whether the accuser lied in a pre-trial hearing.

5. EGYPT’S CRACKDOWN ON ISLAMISTS JAILS 16,000

The flood of arrests, which is the country’s biggest in nearly two decades, has swamped prisons and the legal system.

6. U.S. KEEPS COMMERCIAL DRONES GROUNDED

But use of the small, remote-controlled aircraft is starting to spread to countries where authorities see little threat if operators follow safety rules.

7. HOW SOME CALIF. TOWNS DEAL WITH DROUGHT

Across Santa Monica and other communities, people are collecting rainwater, recycling wastewater and taking up conservation measures.

8. PISTORIUS TRIAL TRANSFIXES S. AFRICA

The rise and fall of the double-amputee Olympian who killed model Reeva Steenkamp is a consuming saga for the nation.

9. IN PAST YEAR, MORE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION DENIALS

The Obama administration cited more legal exceptions it said justified withholding materials and refused a record number of times to turn over files quickly that might be especially newsworthy, an AP analysis finds.

10. CAVS JOIN GATORS, ‘CATS, SHOCKERS ATOP OF BRACKET

Florida earned the overall No. 1 seed for the NCAA tournament, but reigning national champ Louisville draws a No. 4 seed.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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