News Wrap: Cryptocurrency exchange Binance pleads guilty in securities investigation

Read the Full Transcript

• Amna Nawaz:

  The world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, Binance, pleaded guilty in a sweeping U.S. securities investigation and agreed to pay $4.3 billion in fines. The charges were similar to those against FTX, the crypto company that collapsed last year. Attorney General Merrick Garland said Binance let drug gangs and terror groups launder money.

• Merrick Garland, U.S. Attorney General:

  Using new technology to break the law does not make you a disrupter. It makes you a criminal. This Justice Department has no tolerance for crimes that threaten our economic institutions and undermine public trust in the fairness of those institutions.

• 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.

• Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukrainian President (through interpreter):

  When the civilized world starts looking for compromises with terrorists and making concessions to tyrants, then we will all lose. Ukraine, Europe, the world, we lose naively thinking that there can be a draw with them. A draw is impossible.

• Amna Nawaz:

  In Washington, the White House warned there are signs that Iran may provide ballistic missiles to Russia. And the U.N. Human Rights Office reported more than 10,000 civilians have died in Ukraine in nearly two years of war.

  Back in this country, there's word that House Speaker Mike Johnson met with former President Donald Trump last night in Florida. It's widely reported that Johnson traveled to the Trump estate at Mar-a-Lago a week after endorsing Mr. Trump's presidential bid. The new speaker is already taking fire from hard-right Republicans for relying on Democrats to pass a government funding bill.

  Millions of people began boarding flights and hitting the highways today for what may be a record Thanksgiving travel season. Airports anticipated more than five million passengers before Thursday, and AAA predicted 55 million Americans will drive at least 50 miles from home. In the East, travelers face a storm moving up the Atlantic Coast that could disrupt both air and ground traffic.

  In economic news, sales of existing homes in October were the slowest in 13 years, as high mortgage rates and high prices took a toll.

  And on Wall Street, stocks came up short. The Dow Jones industrial average lost 62 points to close at 35088. The Nasdaq fell 84 points. The S&P 500 slipped nine.