1. North Korean missile launch

2. A North Korean missile fired Wednesday exploded "within seconds of launch," according to US Pacific Command. US officials confirmed North Korea had attempted to launch a missile on the country's east coast, but early reports suggest it failed. Neither the US nor South Korea have released information on what type of missile was fired, or why it failed. The attempted launch comes four days after the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un announced it had tested a new rocket engine, describing it as a "great leap forward" in their missile program. US defense officials said the engine could be used for a long-range intercontinental ballistic missile. South Korea and the United States continued their annual military exercises, which often provoke retaliation from the North Koreans. The exercises began on March 1 and will end on April 30. According to one expert, "The North Koreans respond to (the drills) almost every year with some kind of outlash or provocation or something like that. Missile tests are a nice way to send a signal.” China once again stressed a proposal for an end to the US-South Korean drills in exchange for North Korea halting its nuclear program. "We consider the proposal the only correct, fair and reasonable way out of the current dilemma ... As the saying goes, 'let he who tied the bell on the tiger take it off‘.” It isn't North Korea's first launch this month -- the country fired four intermediate-range ballistic missiles on March 6. Three of them landed less than 200 miles off the Japanese coast, antagonizing the South Korean and Japanese governments (who we are allies with).

3. In Other News
Apple unveiled Tuesday a special red version of the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, to commemorate the 10-year partnership between the tech giant and Red, an organization that helps fights AIDS. The special edition iPhones, which feature a red aluminum body, will come in 128GB and 256GB models starting at $749. The red phones will be available in stores and online starting Friday for a "limited" time, though Apple declined to provide specific details about the timeframe. Apple also would not share how much money will be donated to Red through the sales of these special iPhones. Overall, Apple said, it has contributed more than $130 million as part of its partnership with Red, making the company the world's largest corporate donor to the Global Fund to fight AIDS.
According to the social media platform Twitter, as of March 21, the most followed user is Katy Perry, with 96 million followers. Rounding out the top 5…Justin Bieber (92 million), Barack Obama (86 million), Taylor Swift (84 million), and Rihanna (74 million).