Good morning, and happy Tuesday. Here are six of the top stories we are following this morning at NBC News:
1. Putin calls new Ukraine government ‘unconstitutional coup’
Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a news conference today that use of force in Ukraine would be a last resort. But Putin made it clear that the ouster of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, who favored strong ties with Moscow, was nothing more than a military power grab. His comments come as U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry heads to Ukraine to show solidarity with the country's new government. Read more in NEWS.
2. Pistorius defense: ‘Blood-curdling’ scream was Oscar’s
The courtroom drama continued today in the high-profile trial against South African sprinter Oscar Pistorius, accused of murdering his girlfriend in their home last year. His lawyer tried to cast doubt on a neighbor who said she heard four gunshots and a piercing scream on the night Reeva Steenkamp was killed. The lawyer suggested it was Pistorius shouting for help. Meanwhile, Steenkamp’s mother appeared on the “TODAY” show this morning. Read more in NEWS.
3. Brigadier general’s sex assault trial starts
Brigadier General Jeffrey Sinclair, 51, faces charges of forcible sodomy, indecent acts and conduct unbecoming an officer when his court-martial opens today. His accuser is a female captain who worked with him in Iraq and Afghanistan. Read more in NEWS.
4. Domestic drones could be hacker targets
While U.S. companies such as FedEx and Amazon have discussed using drones for deliveries — a possibility in the not-so-distant future, the whirring devices will certainly be at risk from hackers, tech experts say. One self-described hacker posted a video on YouTube showing software he created to hijack a drone. Read more in TECH & SCIENCE.
5. Record cold marches in this spring
An icy blast has brought record-freezing temperatures to some places along the East Coast today. Meanwhile, at least seven traffic-related deaths are being blamed on the storm that roared through the Mississippi Valley to the Mid-Atlantic on Monday. Thankfully, this big chill isn't expected to last through the week. Read more in NEWS.
6. Nearly $250K in property missing from Khloe and Lamar’s pad
Law enforcement have launched a criminal investigation into how the property vanished from estranged couple Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom’s Los Angeles home. A detail of the items wasn’t immediately known. Read more in POP CULTURE.
… What’s trending today?
Video of a 10-month-old baby howling in terror from the sight of NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams has gone viral. Every time the newsman appears on screen, the young boy named Jude can’t seem to hold back his tears.
