Author: News Desk

The cryptocurrency market capitalization hit an all-time peak of $2 trillion, according to data and market trackers CoinGecko and Blockfolio, as gains over the last several months attracted demand from both institutional and retail investors. By mid-afternoon, the crypto market cap was at $2.02 trillion. The surge in crypto market cap was led by bitcoin, which hit its own milestone by holding the $1 trillion market cap for one whole week. Bitcoin was last up 1.4% at $59,045. Since hitting a lifetime peak of more than $61,000 in mid-March, bitcoin has since traded in a relatively narrow range. Analysts said…

Novavax Inc said on Monday participants in its ongoing COVID-19 vaccine trials in South Africa and the UK can now receive additional shots, ensuring those who received a placebo can also get the active vaccine. Allowing volunteers to crossover to the active vaccine offers them an incentive to continue in the trials even when other authorized vaccines are available. The company said it planned to cross over participants in its ongoing large, late-stage study in the United States and Mexico, for which the company plans to read out initial clinical data during the second quarter. If authorized for emergency use…

MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law that could keep him in office in the Kremlin until 2036, the government said on Monday. The legislation allows him to run for two more six-year terms once his current stint ends in 2024. It follows changes to the constitution last year. Those changes were backed in a public vote last summer and could allow Putin, 68, to potentially remain in power until the age of 83. He is currently serving his second consecutive term as president and his fourth in total. The law signed by Putin limits any future president…

BELGRADE: His Majesty the King’s Representative for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa arrived in Serbia on an official visit. HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad was received on his arrival by Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabić and other officials. In a statement on his arrival, he praised the warm welcome, hailing strong relations binding the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Republic of Serbia, supported by HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and follow-up by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

MELBOURNE: Australians were celebrating Easter Sunday in a relatively unrestricted manner as the country reported no new locally acquired coronavirus cases. Queensland, the epicentre of a recent, small COVID-19 community outbreak, has had only one infection in the past three days. The state has the tightest restrictions on public gatherings. Elsewhere, Australians flocked to the beaches, capitalising on the warm weather in many parts of the country, or gathered with families, in a stark contrast to last year’s Easter when a nationwide lockdown kept people confined to their homes. While many countries have imposed fresh lockdowns or curtailed services for…

MANAMA: Gulf Air – Bahrain’s national carrier celebrated its new direct service to and from Singapore, operated by the airline’s flagship Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner,  with Flight GF165 landing at Changi Airport at 12:25 local time on Sunday. “We’re happy to land in Singapore and expand our network with direct flights connecting Bahrain and the Far East,” Gulf Air’s Acting Chief Executive Officer Captain Waleed AlAlawi said. “This is a great opportunity for everyone to try our state-of-the-art Dreamliner and explore our latest boutique and premium leisure destination.” The direct flights feature 26 Falcon Gold seats and 256 economy class seats;…

BUENOS AIRES: Argentinian President Alberto Fernandez has tested positive for Covid-19, he said on Friday night, his birthday, the Deutsche Presse Agentur (DPA) reported. “At the end of today, after presenting a temperature of 37.3 [degrees Celsius] and a slight headache I had an antigen test which gave a positive result,” Fernandez said in a tweet posted just after midnight (0300 GMT). The Argentinian president said he was isolating and following protocols while awaiting a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test result. Antigen tests are quicker, but said to be less accurate than PCR tests. “I am physically well and, although…

MOGADISHU: Al Shabaab militants attacked two military bases belonging to the Somali National Army early on Saturday morning, witnesses and the militants said. Al Shabaab, which is linked to al-Qaeda, is made up of Islamist militants who have waged years of attacks and levied tolls on trade in a campaign to introduce strict religious law, Reuters reported. There was no immediate official comment or details on casualties but one military officer in the army confirmed the attacks. “We are on the way as reinforcement,” Ahmed Abdullahi told Reuters by phone, adding that the attacks occurred at the Bariire and Awdhigle…

Manama: Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA) President Shaikha Mai bin Mohammed Al-Khalifa received Advisor to the Economic Development Board (EDB) Ian Lindsay and discussed cooperation. Shaikha Mai highlighted BACA-EDB cooperation over the past years to supports cultural projects, include the Spring of Culture Festival. She underlined BACA-led efforts to ensure the success of Bahrain’s participation in the 2020 Dubai Expo, which will be held in October 2021. Lindsay praised BACA-led role in promote the cultural landscape in Bahrain, looking forward to continuing joint cooperation.

Manama: A coordination meeting was held today to prepare for the third meeting of the Bahrain-India High Joint Commission (HJC), to be held in New Delhi on April 7. The coordination meeting was chaired by the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for International Affairs, Dr. Shaikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, and the Secretary (CPV&OIA) of the Ministry of External Affairs of the Republic of India, Sanjay Bhattacharyya. During the meeting, the two sides reviewed the existing partnership frameworks between the two countries, the progress made in the fields of health, space science, computing, trade and investment, and security and…