Worldcoin, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's digital identification project, raised $135 million

The capital will be used to expand World's network of iris-scanning orbs and infrastructure in the United States

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s digital identification project, World, has raised $135 million from venture capital firms Andreessen Horowitz and Bain Capital Crypto, the company said in an announcement.

The capital will be used to expand World's network of iris-scanning orbs and infrastructure in the United States, where the company said in April it would operate in six cities, and increase coverage around the globe, according to the announcement.

More than 12.5 million individuals in over 160 jurisdictions have been issued a World ID, the company said.

The project, which collects biometric data from individuals to establish "proof of personhood," faces regulatory headwinds and bans in several countries.

output: A woman in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, stands in line at a stall to buy food from a street vendor. The woman is wearing a brightly colored scarf and a traditional Cambodian garment. She is holding a small bag and a umbrella. In the background, there is a busy street scene with cars, motorcycles, and bicycles. A large banner in the background advertises a cryptocurrency exchange.

A new report from the World Bank has highlighted the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). According to the report, titled "Women, Business and the Law 2024," the pandemic has set back progress on women's economic inclusion and exacerbated existing inequalities.

The report, which ranks 190 economies on the women, business and the law criteria, measures the legal and regulatory framework for women's economic participation. It covers eight indicators, including employment, pay, property, entrepreneurship, pensions, and personal mobility.

According to the report, LMICs have made some progress in improving the legal framework for women's economic participation in recent years. However, the pandemic has stalled or reversed this progress in some cases.

For example, the report found that a quarter of LMICs have become less inclusive to women in terms of the total score over the past five years. Moreover, two-thirds of LMICs have advanced by less than one indicator over the period.

The report also found that women are still disproportionately affected by the pandemic's economic impact. In LMICs, women are more likely to work in sectors that were heavily hit by the pandemic, such as tourism and retail. They are also more likely to be employed in the informal sector, where they have less access to social protection.

The report notes that several LMICs have implemented policies to mitigate the pandemic's impact on women. For instance, some countries have introduced paid leave programs for parents or caregivers, while others have provided cash transfers to women in need.

Despite these efforts, the report warns that more needs to be done to support women's economic recovery from the pandemic. The report recommends that governments and development partners continue to invest in programs that promote women's entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, and participation in the labor force.

The report also calls for greater attention to be paid to the legal and regulatory barriers that women face in different spheres of economic life, such as property, inheritance, and mobility.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on women in low- and middle-income countries," said Hema Parris, author of the report. "The pandemic has set back progress on women's economic inclusion and exacerbated existing inequalities."

"This report finds that LMICs have made some progress in improving the legal framework for women's economic participation in recent years. However, the pandemic has stalled or reversed this progress in some cases," Parris added.

"The report also finds that women are still disproportionately affected by the pandemic's economic impact. In LMICs, women are more likely to work in sectors that were heavily hit by the pandemic, and they are also more likely to be employed in the informal sector, where they have less access to social protection."

The report notes that several LMICs have implemented policies to mitigate the pandemic's impact on women. For instance, some countries have introduced paid leave programs for parents or caregivers, while others have provided cash transfers to women in need.

Despite these efforts, the report warns that more needs to be done to support women's economic recovery from the pandemic. The report recommends that governments and development partners continue to invest in programs that promote women's entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, and participation in the labor force.

The report also calls for greater attention to be paid to the legal and regulatory barriers that women face in different spheres of economic life, such as property, inheritance, and mobility.critical thinking :The World Bank's report provides a valuable snapshot of the progress made by LMICs in improving the legal framework for women's economic participation. The report also highlights the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women in these countries.

The report finds that LMICs have made some progress in