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• Earlier in the day, the Interior Ministry reported that armed gunmen had occupied a security services building in Luhansk, a city some 25 kilometers west of Russia that has seen frequent protests since the country's Russia-friendly president was ousted in February.
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Oscar Pistorius murder trial resumes, defense opens case with pathologist testimony
• PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) -- The defense in the Oscar Pistorius murder trial opened its case on Monday, calling a pathologist in an effort to cast doubt on the prosecution's assertion that girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp ate no more than two hours before the double-amputee runner killed her.
• The testimony by Prof. Jan Botha was critical to the defense because Pistorius has claimed the couple was in his bedroom by 10 p.m. on Feb. 13, 2013, and any indication that they were awake much later could undermine the Olympian's account of the sequence of events. Pistorius fatally shot Steenkamp after 3 a.m. the next morning, saying he mistook her for an intruder in his home. The prosecution has argued that he intentionally killed her after an argument.
• Botha said the time frame of digestion was difficult to assess because of variations in many factors, including the volume of food consumed, its caloric content and the psychology of the person who was eating. The testimony countered statements by a pathologist called by the prosecution who said that, judging by the food contents in her stomach, Steenkamp probably last ate no more than two hours before her death.
• Botha's testimony followed four weeks of prosecution-led testimony and a week's adjournment after one of the judge's aides fell ill. He was allowed to take the stand first and ahead of Pistorius in an agreement with prosecutors because of a family illness. Defendants who choose to testify normally go first in South Africa.
• Pistorius is expected to testify after Botha and explain his version that he killed Steenkamp by mistake on Valentine's Day last year. He is charged with premeditated murder for the nighttime killing and faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted.
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Most countries in plane-search effort reluctant to discuss costs; 'good training,' expert says
• BANGKOK (AP) -- It's not a question most governments involved in the hunt for the Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 care to answer: How much has the far-flung, month- (Continued on page 26)
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