Changpeng Zhao, known as "CZ," stepped down as head of the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange and pleaded guilty to money laundering in 2023. U.S. President Donald Trump has issued Zhao a pardon.

Washington

U.S. President Donald Trump has granted a pardon to Changpeng Zhao, founder of Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange. Zhao had previously been sentenced to four months in prison after pleading guilty to money laundering charges and stepping down as CEO in 2023. 

The White House statement described Zhao's prosecution as part of the Biden administration's actions against cryptocurrency, which it claimed harmed the United States' reputation in technology and innovation. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission had filed 13 charges against Binance and Zhao, with Binance agreeing to pay €4 million to settle related allegations.

Trump pardons convicted Binance founder Changpeng Zhao

U.S. President Donald Trump has pardoned Shang-Peng Hsiao, the founder of Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, who was sentenced in April last year to four months in prison. According to a White House statement, Trump exercised his constitutional authority by issuing a pardon for Mr. Hsiao. The statement claimed that Hsiao was prosecuted by the Biden administration in their war on cryptocurrency, in quote, actions that severely damaged the United States' reputation as a global leader in technology and innovation, end of quote. I don't know him. I don't believe I've ever met him. But I've been told a lot of support. He had a lot of support. And they said that what he did is not even a crime. It wasn't a crime. That he was persecuted by the Biden administration. And so I gave him a pardon at the request of a lot of very good people. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission had fired 13 charges against Binance and Hsiao. Hsiao pleaded guilty to money laundering and stepped down as Binance CEO in 2023, while his company agreed to pay €4 million to settle related allegations.

New York Attorney General Letitia James pleaded not guilty to federal charges of bank fraud and railed against the Trump administration over her prosecution.

New York

Letitia James pleads not guilty in mortgage fraud case

The Pentagon announced the USS Gerald R. Ford, the Navy's newest and most advanced aircraft carrier, is headed toward South America as news emerges about a 10th U.S. strike against alleged drug-carrying vessels in the area.

Pentagon sending world's largest aircraft carrier to Latin America

U.S. President Donald Trump will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping next week as part of a trip to Asia, the White House said on Thursday (October 23), confirming the meeting which had been called into question following an escalation in trade tensions.

Seoul

Trump to meet Xi in South Korea as part of Asia swing

Britain's King Charles III and Pope Leo XIV have prayed in public together in a historic moment, marking the first time in 500 years that leaders of both the Church of England and the Catholic Church have taken part in a joint service.

Vatican City

King Charles meets Pope Leo XIV in historic public show of unity

U.S. President Donald Trump is reacting to an anti-tariff ad featuring a speech by former President Ronald Reagan. Trump is claiming that Canada is trying to influence the Supreme Court as it prepares to hear a case on tariffs.

Global Tariffs

Trump ending trade talks with Canada over anti-tariff ad

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro appealed Thursday for calm as tensions rose with Washington, saying in English: “No crazy war, please!” His plea followed US President Donald Trump’s announcement that he had authorised covert action against Caracas amid an expanding U.S. military campaign targeting alleged drug traffickers in the Caribbean and Pacific.

Caracas

'No crazy war, please!' Maduro pleads to Trump after covert action

Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups was charged in connection with a conspiracy to fix high-stakes card games. Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier was charged in a second fraudulent betting scheme and more than 30 people in total were arrested between the two cases.

Portland

NBA coach Chauncey Billups charged in rigged gambling scheme

An Alaska Airlines IT outage is causing a ground stop for flights nationwide.

Seattle–Tacoma International Airport

FAA issues ground stop for all Alaska Airlines flights due to tech issue

President Trump signaled the U.S. military is planning to go beyond just striking what the administration says are Venezuelan-linked drug boats, saying "land is going to be next."

Trump warns land strikes against alleged drug traffickers may be next

The European Union has imposed more economic sanctions on Russia, adding to U.S. President Donald Trump's new punitive measures against the Russian oil industry.

Brussels

EU joins U.S. in imposing more sanctions on Russia

President Trump announced Thursday that he has called off a plan to deploy federal agents to San Francisco after a conversation with the city's Democratic mayor, Daniel Lurie.

San Francisco

Trump reverses plan to send federal agents to San Francisco

President Trump has pardoned Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, who pleaded guilty to enabling money laundering through the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange.

Trump pardons Binance founder Changpeng Zhao

In a post on X, Lithuania's President Gitanas Nausėda slammed what he called a "blatant breach of international law and territorial integrity."

Vilnius

Russian aircraft enter NATO member Lithuania's airspace

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Andrew Cuomo were seen together at last night's Knicks game following the final mayoral debate.

Adams to endorse Cuomo in NYC mayoral race

Several National Basketball Association stars have been charged in an illegal gambling scheme that involved multiple organized crime families. Among those taken into custody are Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and current Miami Heat player Terry Rozier.

NBA stars linked to illegal gambling investigations

King Charles III met on Thursday with Pope Leo XIV during a state visit to the Vatican, where he made history as the first head of the Church of England to pray publicly with a pontiff in a service broadcast live on Vatican media.

British royals at Vatican for historic visit with Pope Leo

The U.S. struck two more alleged drug vessels, this time on the Pacific side of Latin America – totaling nine strikes in less than two months.  Videos released by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday show boats destroyed in two separate military strikes.

U.S. strikes two alleged drug vessels in the Pacific, Hegseth confirms

U.S. President Donald Trump is imposing new sanctions against Russia as violence against civilians in Ukraine continues. CBS News' Nancy Cordes reports.

Ukraine Invasion

Trump imposes new Russia sanctions

US Vice President JD Vance is in Israel to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A US-brokered Gaza ceasefire has come under pressure over the weekend as both sides, Israel and Hamas, accused the other of not abiding by the ceaesfire's conditions.

Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

U.S. VP Vance meets Israeli PM Netanyahu in Jerusalem

The director of the Louvre admitted to inadequate camera surveillance of the museum's outside walls, three days after thieves robbed it of prize jewels in a brazen daytime heist. But Laurence des Cars said that a diamond- and emerald-studded crown that the burglars damaged and dropped as they fled could be restored.

Paris

Louvre director admits 'insufficient' camera coverage after heist

Testimony has begun in the murder trial of former Sangamon County Sheriff's deputy Sean Grayson, who shot and killed Sonya Massey in her home last year after she had called 911 for help.

Springfield

Testimony begins in murder trial of ex-deputy who killed Sonya Massey

The International Court of Justice has ruled that Israel is legally obligated to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, amid growing concerns over the worsening crisis in the enclave.

The Hague

UN court rules Israel legally obligated to allow aid into Gaza

The U.S. hit another alleged drug vessel with a military strike Tuesday night, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed Wednesday. CBS News senior national security correspondent Charlie d'Agata has more.

U.S. carries out eighth strike on alleged drug boat

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is expected to present U.S. President Donald Trump with a plan to end the war between Russia and Ukraine. CBS News' Charlie D'Agata has more details.

NATO chief to present Russia-Ukraine peace plan to Trump

Russia attacked Ukraine's second-largest city of Kharkiv on Wednesday, hitting a kindergarten with children in attendance. Ukraine’s president said all children have been evacuated, with many “experiencing acute stress reactions”.

Kharkiv

Russian strike hits Kharkiv kindergarten

Colombia has recalled its ambassador to the U.S. amid rising tensions between the two countries. Following U.S. military strikes on suspected drug boats, President Donald Trump imposed new tariffs and suspended aid to Colombia, while Bogota accused Washington of violating Colombian sovereignty.

Feud escalates between U.S., Colombia leaders

President Donald Trump could demand the government pay him $230 million. It would be taxpayer dollars, approved by the DOJ, that he says he deserves for past cases. CBS News' Scott MacFarlane explains.

Trump may demand the DOJ pay him $230 million

The Louvre Museum in Paris reopened Wednesday for the first time after Sunday's heist. The thieves are still on the run. CBS News' Elizabeth Palmer reports on the latest in the investigation and how much the stolen jewels are worth.

Louvre reopens amid search for heist suspects

AccuWeather forecasters are warning that the western Caribbean could face extreme impacts from Tropical Storm Melissa as the storm will barely move for nearly a week.

Breakdown