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Here's the biggest news you missed this weekend

Editors  |  Paste BN

Putin makes surprise visit to occupied Mariupol

Vladimir Putin flew to Mariupol for a surprise visit to Russian-occupied territory in Ukraine, according to a Kremlin press release. It was the Russian president's second trip to newly annexed territories after he visited Crimea on Saturday to mark the ninth anniversary of Russia's illegal takeover of the Black Sea peninsula. On Friday, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants or Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova because of their alleged involvement in the unlawful deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia. 

Donald Trump claims he will be arrested

Former President Donald Trump said he expects to be arrested Tuesday in connection with a Manhattan district attorney investigation for a $130,000 payment he made just before the 2016 election to silence adult film star Stormy Daniels about an earlier affair. Danielle Filson, a spokesperson for Manhattan's DA's office, declined to comment on Trump's statement. In the meantime, as uncertainty remained about whether any legal action was actually imminent, Trump called on his supporters to protest. 

Real quick

March Madness: Upsets continue on the way to the Sweet 16

Chances are, your bracket has already been busted. It's been a wacky and unpredictable start to the NCAA men's basketball tournament, and the upsets continued this weekend as No. 1 seed Kansas was bounced by Arkansas, and No. 15 Princeton continued its Cinderella run with a win over Missouri in the second round. The last spots in the Sweet 16 were being determined in Sunday's games, including Fairleigh Dickinson's attempt to stay alive after becoming just the second 16 seed to win a first-round game. Get the latest March Madness updates.

UBS buying Credit Suisse in effort to quell banking turmoil

Banking giant UBS is buying its smaller rival Credit Suisse in an effort to avoid further turmoil in global banking, Swiss President Alain Berset announced Sunday. Credit Suisse is designated by the Financial Stability Board as one of the world's globally systemic important banks, meaning regulators believe its uncontrolled failure would lead to dangerous ripples throughout the financial system. The acquisition of Credit Suisse follows the collapse of two U.S. banks last week that spurred a frantic response to prevent further bank panics. Still, global financial markets have been on edge since Credit Suisse's share price began plummeting this week.

North Korea launches missile into sea amid US-South Korea drills

North Korea launched a suspected missile toward the sea on Sunday, its neighbors said, as it ramps up testing activities in response to U.S.-South Korean military drills that it views as an invasion rehearsal. The missile launched from the North's northwestern region flew across the country before it landed in the waters off its east coast, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement. It said South Korea's military has boosted its surveillance posture and maintains a readiness in close coordination with the United States.

Taylor Swift kicks off Eras tour

Forty-four songs. Three hours and 15 minutes. And a packed stadium. On Friday night Taylor Swift kicked off The Eras Tour at State Farm Stadium near Phoenix. Not since the most vigorous days of Bruce Springsteen and his legendary live concerts has a mainstream artist packed so much music into one show. But it was even more than that. Numerous moving set pieces, squads of dancers and backup singers, a quick-change costume parade, confetti — Swift’s show is as ambitious as a Broadway musical.

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This is a compilation of stories from across the Paste BN Network. Contributing: The Associated Press.

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