WAO ART #198

Twitter's payment branch, X, has been granted a license by Rhode Island to store, transfer, and trade Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies on behalf of its users. This license is necessary for companies that want to engage in these activities related to digital assets.

Hurricane Idalia is approaching the coast of Florida, with up to 12 inches of rain expected in northern parts of the state. Evacuations have been ordered, and emergency shelters have been opened. Florida has mobilized thousands of National Guardsmen and utility workers to assist with the response.

The Irish electoral commission has recommended an increase in the number of TDs (members of parliament) in the Dáil due to a rise in population. The commission suggests increasing the number of TDs from 160 to 174, with 43 constituencies instead of the current 39.

The army in Gabon has announced a coup, annulling the results of the recent election in which President Ali Bongo was declared the winner. Military officials have placed Bongo under house arrest and arrested one of his sons for treason. This marks the end of Bongo's family's 53-year hold on power.

Google Cloud has partnered with the government of El Salvador to establish an office and provide cloud services, making it the first government in the region to access this technology. The partnership aims to modernize government, healthcare, and education by utilizing cloud technologies.

UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has defended talks with Chinese officials in Beijing, stating that it would not be "credible" to disengage from China. Cleverly's visit, the first by such a senior UK figure in five years, aims to address areas of disagreement and work together.

Australia will hold a historic referendum on 14 October to decide whether to establish an Indigenous Voice to Parliament. If approved, the vote would recognize Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the country's constitution and create a permanent body for them to provide advice on laws.