Monday morning news: March 20, 2023

ANNA JOHANSEN BROWN, NEWS ANCHOR: I'm Anna Johansen Brown.

Putin to Mariupol »

AUDIO: [PUTIN INTERACTING WITH PEOPLE]

Russian President Vladimir Putin toured an occupied Ukrainian city even as the International Criminal Court has a warrant out for his arrest.

The Russian leader visited Mariupol, where besieged Ukrainians held out in a steel mill for three months at the start of the war.

Russia expert Mark Voyger says Putin is trying to send two messages at once with this visit:

MARK VOYGER: Pretty much he's showing that he's unapologetic and he, you know, effectively he wants to show that he's above those legal developments. And also to his people, he's showing that he's in control.

The ICC on Friday accused Putin of war crimes in Ukraine and issued a warrant for his arrest.

Neither Russia nor the United States recognizes the authority of the ICC. But U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen says the arrest warrant will have an effect.

CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: This is a signal that the rest of the international community, the ICC, recognizes that war crimes have been committed. And so it Yes, it will further isolate Putin.

Xi to Russia preview » Meantime, Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit Russia this week.

The U-S doesn’t want China to hear about the war in Ukraine from only Russia. White House National Security spokesman John Kirby.

JOHN KIRBY: We hope, and we've said this before that Mr. President Xi will call and talk to President Zelenskyy because we believe the Chinese need to get the Ukrainian perspective.

The U.S. has claimed that China is considering sending weapons to Russia. China and Russia have publicly claimed that they have a “no limits” partnership.

UBS buys Credit Suisse » Swiss bank UBS is buying its rival Credit Suisse.

Swiss banking regulators orchestrated the $3 billion deal in an effort to avoid further market turmoil.

Last week, the Swiss central bank had offered Credit Suisse a $54 billion bailout.

UBS Chairman Colm Kelleher:

COLM KELLEHER - UBS' strength and our familiarity with Credit Suisse's business put us in a unique position to execute this integration efficiently and effectively with Swiss and international clients' best interests in mind.

Two U-S banks have failed this month, and a third almost followed in their footsteps last week. Several other American banks pulled together roughly $30 billion to bail out First Republic Bank.

Trump prepares for possible arrest »

DONALD TRUMP: This is the greatest witch hunt in the history of our country [FADE UNDER AND OUT]

Former President Donald Trump is predicting he’ll soon be arrested … in what he calls a politically motivated prosecution.

On Saturday, Trump posted on social media … that his arrest could come Tuesday. He called on his supporters to protest.

Over the weekend, Republicans echoed Trump’s criticism of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

Here’s Former Vice President Mike Pence:

MIKE PENCE: At a time when there’s a crime wave in New York City, the fact that the Manhattan DA thinks that indicting president Trump is his top priority just tells you everything you need to know about the radical left in this country.

But Pence also urged potential protesters to remain calm.

PENCE: I believe that people understand that if they give voice to this, if this occurs on Tuesday, that they need to do so peacefully and in a lawful manner.

It’s unclear exactly when the grand jury will complete its work. D.A. Bragg said in a memo Saturday that he would not tolerate attempts to intimidate his office or threaten the rule of law in New York.

Wyoming abortion pill law » Wyoming has a new, first-of-its-kind pro-life law. WORLD’s Josh Schumacher has more.

JOSH SCHUMACHER: Governor Mark Gordon on Friday signed a bill that protects unborn babies from so-called medication abortions.

Wyoming is the first state to criminalize prescribing or distributing the abortion pill.

Violators could face misdemeanor charges.

The law does not penalize women who take the pills. It also allows use of the drug if needed to save a woman’s life.

A federal judge in Texas is expected to rule soon in a case seeking to overturn U.S. approval of drugs for abortion.

For WORLD, I’m Josh Schumacher.

Ecuador earthquake » At least 15 people are dead in Ecuador and Peru after an earthquake struck the two countries.

The 6.8 magnitude earthquake injured hundreds. And buried even more under debris and rubble.

AUDIO: [Spanish]

One grieving woman saying here she doesn’t blame anyone but nature for the damage and the lives lost.

GUILLERMO LASSO: Spanish

Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso expressed solidarity over the weekend with the families affected by the earthquake.

France protests » Government offices in France are in shambles today after demonstrators vandalized many of them over the weekend.

AUDIO: [French Protests from Saturday]

Protesters in the streets of Paris this weekend clashed with police.

French President Emmanuel Macron wants to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64. Last week he ordered Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne to skirt a vote in the lower house of the French parliament to ensure passage of the bill.

The move sparked mass protests. French opposition lawmakers responded by filing no-confidence motions.

Gas Prices » AAA says gas prices remain relatively stable at roughly $3.46 cents per gallon for regular unleaded. That’s down just one cent from last week.

California has the highest gas prices in the U-S at roughly $4.85 cents per gallon, and Mississippi has the lowest, at roughly $2.99 cents per gallon.

I’m Anna Johansen Brown.

Straight ahead: the founder of a Christian law firm who is going to the Supreme Court next week.

Plus, the Monday Moneybeat.

This is The World and Everything in It.

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