10 Things to Know for Monday, March 31, 2014

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:

1. U.S. AND RUSSIA STILL AT ODDS OVER UKRAINE  While both sides favor a diplomatic solution to the crisis, they were unable to bridge the gap between them at a meeting of their top diplomats in Paris.   UNITED STATES-UKRAINE

2. KOREAS TRADE FIRE  Residents of five South Korean islands were evacuated to shelters as artillery shells were fired across a disputed sea boundary between the two foes.   KOREAS TENSION

3. OCEAN JUNK DISTRACT SEARCH FOR FLIGHT 37O  Tangled fish lines and other trash floating on the surface of the Indian Ocean create false alarms in the global effort to find the Malaysian jetliner.   MALAYSIA PLANE-DISTRACTING TRASH

4. DEMOCRATS FACE UPHILL BATTLE IN MIDTERM VOTE AS GOP REDRAWS ELECTORAL MAP  Gerrymandering following the 2010 census means Republican voters are spread among more districts in many states.   GOP ADVANTAGE

5. WASHINGTON MUDSLIDE DEATH TOLL RISES TO 21  Searchers hope to make headway in their efforts as rains ease this week. WASHINGTON MUDSLIDE

6. MARATHON BOMBING EXHIBIT INCLUDES ITEMS FROM PUBLIC MEMORIAL  To mark the first anniversary of the twin bombings, Boston's public library is putting up an exhibition of items such as runner shoes, teddy bears and signs that were left by mourners.   BOSTON-MARATHON-BOMBING-ARTIFACTS

7. SENATE REPORT PROVIDES NO KEY LINK BETWEEN BIN LADEN'S DEATH AND TORTURE  Sources tell AP that the widely anticipated study found that harsh interrogation techniques of terror suspects did not aid in killing the al-Qaida leader.   CIA INVESTIGATIONS

8. WHAT A FAIR MINIMUM WAGE MEANS  The hot election year issue divides economists and politicians even though its buying power has declined since 1968.   MINIMUM WAGE-FAIRNESS-Q&A

9. WHERE EGYPTIAN DOG AND CAT MUMMIES ARE TAKING CENTER STAGE  Dozens of centuries-old specimens are on display at a California museum, including a canine so well detailed that even its floppy ears are prominent.   ANCIENT ANIMAL MUMMIES

10. WHO EARNED A SPOT IN THE FINAL FOUR  UConn will play Florida, the NCAA tournament's overall No. 1 seed, while Kentucky faces off against Wisconsin.   FINAL FOUR LOOKAHEAD