Amna Nawaz:
Also today, the founder of Binance, Changpeng Zhao, pleaded guilty to failing to prevent money laundering. He said he is stepping down as CEO.
North Korea claims it launched a spy satellite into orbit today on its third try. There was no independent confirmation, but the U.S., Japan and South Korea condemned the attempt, which violated a U.N. ban. The North said its leader, Kim Jong-un, watched the launch and said the satellite is a response to hostile military moves by the U.S. and Japan.
The Philippines and the U.S. have started joint naval and air patrols in waters near Taiwan in a move to counter China. Beijing has claimed much of the South China Sea inside the so-called nine-dash line. The Philippines and other regional countries dispute that boundary. Just last month, a Chinese coast guard ship rammed a Filipino vessel in the South China Sea.
Top European officials made new shows of support for Ukraine today in its war with Russia. Germany’s defense minister, Boris Pistorius, laid flowers at the Maidan uprising memorial in Kyiv. It marks pro-Western protests that toppled a pro-Russian president 10 years ago. And European Union President Charles Michel met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
In a recorded message, Zelenskyy warned against accepting a stalemate with Moscow.
