WAO ART #119

Hong Kong legislator Johnny Ng has invited Coinbase and other crypto exchanges to establish official operations in the city state amid hostility from US regulators. Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has just begun accepting applications for licenses from crypto trading platforms.

Billionaire philanthropist George Soros has handed control of his $25bn financial and charitable empire to his son Alex. The 92-year-old former hedge fund manager said his son had "earned it". The family's wealth has been directed towards democracy-building in dozens of countries since the 1990s.

Around 13,000 people have been evacuated in the Philippines as the country's most famous volcano, Mayon, continues to ooze lava. The volcano, known for its "perfect" conical shape, started spewing lava last week, but evacuations only began over the weekend as volcanic activity intensified.

Former Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi has died at the age of 86. Berlusconi, a flamboyant billionaire media tycoon, led four governments until 2011, becoming the longest-serving prime minister in post-war Italy. His death has been described as leaving a "huge void" by Italy's defence minister.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is set to tell business leaders that Australia is uniquely positioned to emerge from the current global economic turmoil in a stronger position than before. He will name the clean energy transition, the growth of the care and support economy.

Ghana has become Africa's leading producer of gold again, with a 32% increase in production last year. However, the country is facing an environmental crisis due to illegal gold mining, which has damaged forests, rivers, and other bodies of water, leading to health concerns in mining communities.

The European Union is seeking to strengthen ties with South American countries, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen set to visit Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Mexico. Discussions will focus on the current situation of the South American trade bloc Mercosur.