Bitcoin blows past US$41,000 for first time

Bitcoin’s price rallied to a fresh all-time high on Friday, rising past US$41,000 for the first time as investors increasingly view the cryptocurrency as an inflation hedge, CNBC reports.

The world’s most valuable cryptocurrency traded as high as US$41,756 at 7:26 a.m. eastern time, according to data from Coin Metrics. It was last trading up about 6 percent from a day earlier, at US$41,190.

Bitcoin has extended its 2020 rally — which saw it skyrocket over 300 percent — into the new year. It is currently up over 40 percent so far in 2021, and on track to post its second-best week since the peak of the December 2017 surge.

Antony Blinken, Biden's State Department pick, says Donald Trump "got it right" on China

Blinken said "no party has a monopoly on good ideas," and he embraced Trump's tough stance in dealing with China.

National Mall's 'Field Of Flags' Illuminated Ahead Of Joe Biden's Inauguration

The completed "Field of Flags" display on the National Mall was lit up by powerful beacons on Monday. The display was...

Statement from the White House Regarding Executive Grants of Clemency

President Donald J. Trump granted pardons to 73 individuals and commuted the sentences of an additional 70 individuals.

TikTok owner ByteDance launches payments in China as it pushes into fintech and e-commerce

ByteDance has launched a new payment service within Douyin, the Chinese version of short-video sharing app TikTok.

Donald Trump wants to create new ‘Patriot Party’

President Trump reportedly wants to create a third party once he leaves office.

One in five firms linked to spying on staff as they work from home

A surge in secret software used to spy on staff working from home during the pandemic has led to calls for new laws to be brought in against unscrupulous bosses.

United States Declares China Committing "Genocide" Against Uighurs

"I believe this genocide is ongoing, and that we are witnessing the systematic attempt to destroy Uighurs by the Chinese party-state,"...

12 US Guard Troops Pulled From Joe Biden Inauguration After Far-Right Probe

Two of the 12 were removed from duty for making "inappropriate comments or texts," said National Guard Commander General Daniel Hokanson.

"Pray" For Success Of Biden Administration, Says Trump On Last Day In Office

Donald Trump, who has not appeared in public for a week, broke days of silence with a videoed farewell address which the White...

Teen mum who didn't know she was pregnant dies after giving birth at home

A heartbroken boyfriend has paid tribute to a ‘selfless’ teenage mum who died after giving birth at home following an ‘unknown pregnancy’.

Joe Biden To Unveil Sweeping Immigration Reforms On First Day In Office

Joe Biden "has spoken of the need for a path to citizenship for the individuals who have been in this country for many years,...

Teacher denies sex with schoolboy claiming she's too short for sex position

A married teacher claims she could not have had sex with a pupil as she is too short for the position in question.

Hong Kong’s MTR Corporation warns of losses of HK$4.8 billion in 2020

The losses marked the first time the company has found itself in the red in the two decades since it was publicly listed.

Military medics drafted in to help Midlands hospital amid staff shortages

The army is being drafted in to help hospitals in Shropshire facing staff shortages due to a rise in Covid-19 sickness levels.

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Hong Kong protests: university heads pressed to get tough on student action

University heads in meeting on campus governance and security issues say they will discipline any student who violates school regulations.

Once-bustling Hong Kong district quiet under mandatory Covid-19 testing order

Some residents say they have been taking extra precautions all along given what they see as the inherent risks of living in crowded Yau Tsim Mong district.

Hong Kong developers launch luxury projects as surging stocks create wealth

Wharf (Holdings) and CK Asset are lining up to release their new developments on The Peak and in the Mid-Levels soon, betting on...

Ten domestic helpers held over bank accounts tied to money laundering

Dozens of accounts involved in laundering scheme to clean money that had been swindled online. Officers from Tuen Mun district...

Govt to ramp up mandatory testing in Sham Shui Po

Thousands living in Sham Shui Po may be required to undergo mandatory testing after health officials announced that a similar mandatory...

Lunar New Year fairs to resume flower selling with number of stalls halved

Hong Kong’s health chief has announced that the 15 Lunar New Year fairs in the city will resume flower selling, with the number of stalls halved.

Jobless rate climbs to 16-year high

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased from 6.3 percent in September - November 2020 to 6.6 percent in October - December...

Nearly ONE-THIRD of Covid survivors in England re-hospitalized & over 12% of them died within 5 months, new research claims

Around 30 percent of those hospitalized with the coronavirus in England were readmitted for treatment within five months of their...

One in eight people in England had Covid-19 antibodies in December, new figures reveal

New statistics show that an estimated 5.4 million people in England had coronavirus antibodies in December, and the rate of infection...

National lockdown will last for another six to eight weeks, UK cabinet minister suggests

The UK’s Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis has warned the public that the national lockdown may last a further six to eight...