Author: News Desk

Bitcoin dropped below $20,000 on Saturday to its lowest level in 18 months, extending its slide as investors pull back from riskier assets amid rising interest rates. The biggest cryptocurrency was down 7.1% to $18,993 at 0906 GMT, having earlier touched $18,732, its lowest since December 2020. It is down about 59% this year, while rival cryptocurrency Ethereum-backed ether is down 73%. The digital currency sector has been pummelled this week after cryptocurrency lending company Celsius froze withdrawals and transfers between accounts. The sector has also suffered losses after companies such as Coinbase Global Inc, Gemini and Blockfi said they…

With a fresh blessing for its European Union ambitions and a promise of continued strong support from Britain, Ukraine kept fighting on Saturday, with Kyiv’s troops holding out against Russian assault on a pivotal eastern city and communities pounded by more heavy shelling. At a summit next week, EU leaders are expected to grant Ukraine candidate status following Friday’s recommendation from the bloc’s executive, putting Kyiv on course to realise an aspiration seen as out of reach before the invasion, even if actual membership could take years. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who made a surprise visit to Kyiv on…

The Biden administration’s plan to sell four large, armable drones to Ukraine has been paused on the fear its sophisticated surveillance equipment might fall into enemy hands, according to two people familiar with the matter. The technical objection to the sale was raised during a deeper review by the Pentagon’s Defense Technology Security Administration charged with keeping high value technology safe from enemy hands. Previously the plan, which has been circulating since March, had been approved by the White House, three people said. The plan to sell Ukraine four MQ-1C Gray Eagle drones that can be armed with Hellfire missiles…

Lithuanian authorities said a ban on the transit through their territory to the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad of goods that are subject to EU sanctions will take effect from Saturday. News of the ban came on Friday, through a video posted by the region’s governor Anton Alikhanov. The EU sanctions list notably includes coal, metals, construction materials and advanced technology, and Alikhanov said the ban would cover around 50% of the items that Kaliningrad imports. Its immediate start was confirmed by the cargo arm of Lithuania’s state railways service in a letter to clients following “clarification” from the European Commission…

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy visited soldiers on the southern front line during a working trip to the Mykolaiv region, he said on Saturday, without specifying when the visit took place. In his trademark khaki t-shirt, the president handed out medals and posed for selfies with the servicemen in what appeared to be an underground shelter, according to a video posted to his official Telegram account. “Our brave men. Each one of them is working flat out,” he said. “We will definitely hold out! We will definitely win!” Russian forces reached the outskirts of the regional capital Mykolaiv in early March…

Bahrain’s National carrier Gulf Air, started its services to Milan. The maiden flight left Bahrain International Airport (BIA) on June 1 inaugurating the airline’s direct and indirect operations to Italy’s second-largest city. Gulf Air held a celebratory lunch in Milan which was attended by Ambassador of Bahrain to Italy Dr. Nasser Al Balooshi, Paola Amadei Ambassador of Italy to Bahrain, Andrea Tucci Head of Business Development Aviation at SEA – Milan Airport. The luncheon also included trade and travel representatives and members of the media.

Council of Representatives Speaker Fawzia bint Abdulla Zainal met Senator James E. Risch, Chairman of Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, on the sidelines of her official visit, along with a parliamentary delegation, to the United States of America. She stressed the importance of stepping up parliamentary cooperation and building on strategic alliance and historic relations binding the Kingdom of Bahrain and the USA. The Speaker highlighted Bahrain’s development and democratic strides, led by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, stressing efforts to promote human rights and the values of tolerance, coexistence, dialogue and moderation. She underscored the importance…

The Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR), the UAE’s independent nuclear regulator, has today issued the Operating Licence for Unit 3 of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant to Nawah Energy Company (Nawah), the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation’s (ENEC) subsidiary responsible for the operation of the nuclear power plant located in the Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi Emirate. The licence, with an estimated duration of 60 years, authorises Nawah to commission and operate Unit 3 of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, Emirates News Agency (WAM) repored. The decision to issue the licence is a culmination of efforts made by FANR…

Lebanon will sign a “final” agreement to import gas from Egypt on June 21, its energy ministry told Reuters, after months of delays to a plan viewed as critical to boosting power supplies for Lebanon’s stricken economy. The plan, first floated in summer 2021, is part of a U.S.-backed effort to address Lebanon’s crippling electricity shortages using Egyptian gas supplied via Jordan and Syria, Reuters reported. A U.S. official said earlier this week that final approval of the agreement between the countries would allow Washington to evaluate whether the deal was in compliance with U.S. sanctions on Syria, after which…

The Egyptian Supreme Committee for the Management of the Epidemiology and Health Pandemic Crisis has announced the lifting of  all COVID-related entry restrictions that had been imposed on Egyptians and foreign travellers. This came during a meeting organised by the Committee under the chairmanship of Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, with the participation of a number of ministers and officials concerned.