WAO ART #354

American Airlines will launch its longest non-stop flight from Dallas to Brisbane in October 2024. The new route will connect the two cities for the first time and offer one-stop connections to Brisbane from over 100 destinations. The flight will be operated by the airline's Boeing 787-9 aircraft.

Hong Kong is set to launch a consultation on the regulatory framework for over-the-counter (OTC) venues in the cryptocurrency market. The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Christopher Hui, announced that the consultation will take place "very soon."

Bitcoin mining operations in the United States consume between 0.6% to 2.3% of the nation's total electricity, according to a report by the US Energy Information Administration. This surge in electricity usage is primarily due to the rapid growth of Bitcoin mining.

Binance, a cryptocurrency exchange, has frozen $4.2 million worth of stolen XRP tokens linked to a recent $120 million hack. The XRP Ledger developers alerted exchanges to be cautious of deposits from wallets associated with the hacker. Binance CEO Richard Teng stated that they will support Ripple.

European financial regulators have released a new consultation on how to classify crypto assets, raising concerns that they may fall under securities laws rather than the bloc's bespoke crypto laws. Legal experts warn that this could lead to a more litigious regulatory environment.

South Korea is donating 16 retired MD500 helicopters to Kenya for use in United Nations peacekeeping missions. The first six helicopters are currently being refurbished in the United States before being transferred to Kenya. The donation is commitment to promoting international peace and security.

El Salvador's Bitcoin City project and plans for Bitcoin bonds are set to continue, regardless of the outcome of the upcoming presidential election. President Nayib Bukele, is expected to be re-elected, solidifying the country's commitment to integrating the cryptocurrency into its economy.