WAO ART #247

Egypt has become the first African country to issue a Sustainable Panda Bond, worth 3.5 billion RMB ($478.7 million), with backing from the African Development Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. The bond will be used to drive inclusive growth and support green objectives.

Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin has addressed speculation surrounding his recent ETH transfers, stating that they were primarily charitable donations and not personal sell-offs. Buterin clarified that the transfers were made to cover operational expenses of organizations and projects.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to establish an indigenous space station by 2035 and land an Indian on the moon by 2040. This comes after a review of preparations for India's first manned mission to space, scheduled for 2025.

The US is reportedly making a deal with Venezuela to ease sanctions on its oil industry in exchange for a fair and competitive presidential election next year. This could lead to a medium-term increase in oil production of 200,000 barrels per day (bpd).

Russia's digital financial assets have failed to attract significant capital from local investors, despite efforts by the Bank of Russia to promote them as an alternative to crypto. The Finance Ministry is now hoping to bring in investors from the crypto market to support Russia's economy.

Ray-Ban Meta sunglasses, which feature integrated cameras, speakers, and microphones, have made their real-life debut. Reviewers have praised the audio quality and spatial audio capabilities of the glasses. The touchpad on the temple allows for easy control.

Social media site X, formerly known as Twitter, has started charging new users in the Philippines and New Zealand for basic features like posting messages. Owned by Elon Musk, X said the subscription method aims to reduce spam and manipulation on the platform.