The U.K. cruise company, Saga, has become the first tour operator to require passengers to have a Covid-19 vaccination before setting sail. It marks a turning point in international travel, as more and more companies are deliberating how to safely restart travel, and as the clamours for ‘vaccination passports’ or ‘immunity passports’ become louder.
Saga cruises offer vacations for over 50s, and is only taking reservations on the condition that passengers have had a Covid-19 shot, two if necessary, at least 14 days before they set sail. The Guardian reported a surge in bookings since the scheme was announced.
Saga decided to bring in the new requirements after taking a poll of its customers, who said they were overwhelmingly supportive; the first cruise will depart on 4 May, giving its customers enough time to get jabs. Saga will also enforce Covid-19 tests at check in and once onboard, there will be more medical staff, enhanced cleaning and far fewer passengers in total.
While most cruise ships remain grounded–President Biden has six weeks to decide if he will allow cruises to set sail or extend the ‘no sail’ ban past 1 March–some cruises have set sail during the pandemic.
The MSC Grandiosa set sail from Genoa in September to Naples and Malta, and National Geographic reported on the new normal for cruise liners: cruise ship workers cleaning in Hazmat suits, spraying the loungers with disinfectant; dancing allowed in the disco but only if wearing masks; and meals served at socially-distanced tables after a pre-meal temperature check.
To say that the industry has suffered is an understatement, of course, and it cannot afford another disastrous PR event. Cruises were seen as the embodiment of the pandemic last March, as pictures flashed around the world of passengers catching Covid-19 onboard; Carnival’s Ruby Princess, docked in Australia with over 900 infected people. Authorities were criticised for allowing the ship to sail into port without restrictions on March 19 and almost 3,000 passengers went back to their homes around the world, some carrying the virus with them.
The draws for the Olympic Basketball Tournaments are out!
D’Tigress are grouped alongside the USA, France, and Japan. D’Tigers will square up against Australia, the winner of the OQT in Croatia, and the winner of the OQT in Serbia
Ibime: Whoever has Binance should go and trade Doge. Those boys have just started what looks like a mega run again. Maybe raising money for GME fight tomorrow.
@pdpguy, 2nd chance to take some profits at a high? I would consider it.
Once it’s value grows 200% higher then I’m taking profits
NBBF has invited 16 players to D’Tigress’ Atlanta camp for a 10 day training session as preparation commences for the 2020 Olympics Games in Tokyo. Training camp to be held at Fairfield Inn & Suites, Atlanta will start on Sunday, 31st of January and end on Monday, 8th, of February.
The list is headlined by centre, Elizabeth Williams who plays for the AtlantaDream in the WNBAand 26th overall draft pick, Erica Ogwumike, Minnesota Lynx who are part of the five new faces joining the team. Nicole Enabosi will have another chance to be a part of the team after missing out of the 2018 FIBA World Cup in Spain due to injury she suffered while with the team.
Forward, Amy Okonkwo with Club Deportivo Zamarat, Spain has also been invited alongside Oderah Chidom, with Tsmoki-Minsk BC of Bulgaria as well as Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpannah with Pallacanestro Vigarano of Italy.
Most Valuable Player of the 2020 Afrobasket, Ezinne Kalu who plays for Landerneau BB makes a return to the team with Promise Amukamara (Charnay BB) and Evelyn Akhator (Flammes Carolo) all based in France.
Team captain, Adaora Elonu (Uni Girona CB) will lead the Spanish legion which has Elo Edeferioka (Celta de Vigo Baloncesto) and Atonye Nyingifa (Ensino Lugo Club de Baloncesto).
Otis Hughley handed an invitation to Sarah Ogoke, Sarah Imovbioh (Club Namur-Capital, Belgium), 20yr old guard, Elizabeth Balogun with University of Louisville as well as Kosovo Superleague side, KB Bashkimi new signing & four time Afrobasket winner, Aisha Balarabe.
I believe this is the first time a Nigerian airline has taken delivery of a new airplane since the mid 1980s, when Nigeria Airways achieved the same feat with an Airbus aircraft.
Ibime: Na dem. Dey moved from GameStop to Dogecoin and Nanocoin since exchanges kept blocking them from trading GameStop. I was watching Dogecoin last night pissed that my Binance verification wasn't in place. The thing was moving per second. If I had Binance, I for 5x the thing. See how it moved in one day. It went all the way to 0.08 before calming down.
Man, I no sleep last night, Na so I watch as the thing dey move like rocket. I will buy some more between today and tomorrow to further drive up the price.
BTW, one of my friends said a 25-year old female friend of his made a whopping $490,000 on GameStop! She first got into it when it was under $3. Now, my paddy wan upgrade am to sugar mummy
Ibime: I know PDPGuy is holding some Dogecoin. I hope it's substantial holdings so he can buy us some drinks after nearly decupling his investment
Haha My holdings are definitely substantial. I read that some Twitter group has been pumping Doge, and expect it to hit $1 within a few days! Man, I hope it comes to pass cos I will be rubbing shoulders with DJ Cuppy
Following Janet Yellen’s confirmation, the only federal departments that are yet to be headed by a woman are the Veterans Affairs department, and Department of Defense
descarado: Especially with the manufactured foreign accent. Oh gosh! That's where u will notice that majority of us have low self esteem U will never see a south African, Ghanaian, gambian, Kenyan etc deny their mother tongue cos they want to fit in.
I always tell anybody who feign to struggle with hearing my accent to listen very well, if I can hear him or her, she or him should make effort to hear me. And once you say this, they will sit up and respond appropriately. End of story.
Great point you made. I’ve noticed in America that whenever it comes to money, specifically giving White people money, they never complain about your accent. They will always hear your perfectly
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has released updates pictures of the new international terminal at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano state.
The terminal, just as the one in Lagos, is set to be commissioned next month..
AmazonTopaz: Do you think it is possible for dems to nuke the filibsuster as many have been saying.Nothing is getting done they are so slow they are yet to confirm half of Biden's nominees.Republicams still chair committees there are a lot of bills Pelosi sent to Moscow mitch that Schumer can pass including the voting rights act.What is wrong with them nuke the filibuster and get to work if Schumer cannot lead he should be removed.No time to waste if the dems mess up they deserve to lose in 2022 and I will want them to lose badly they better get to work.Biden is doing his part and we are seeing that he is willing to work the senate should do theirs and dems should step up and help Biden's agenda.Biden will not get a bipartisan support for the relief package pass it through reconciliation and nuke the filibuster people want reaults dems should stop playing nice.The GOP in Georgia and other states they control are actvely working to try to suppress votes they should pass the voting rights act in the senate the house passed it long ago.Let the work of the Georgia voters not be in vain.Mcconell is irrelevant he should be sidelined and ignored.Bernie is already warning them to step up even Warren.
The Democrats can theoretically nuke the filibuster, but such a drastic move may come back to bite the Dems in the a.s.s. I remember the Senate Democrats getting rid of the filibuster for judicial nominees during the Obama administration because the Republicans were obstructing all Obama nominees left, right and center. However, when Republicans took over the Senate, with Trump as president, they used the same non-filibuster to push through all of Trump's judicial nominees.
So, I will advice the Democratic majority to thread softly on this matter.
Fun fact: With an annual salary of $417,608, Dr. Fauci is the highest paid employee in the US federal government. He earns more than the US President ($400,000)
The European Commission is exploring proposals to introduce vaccine passports, a move that will facilitate greater travel across borders within the EU. Member states will discuss the idea at a summit this week, with many already signaling their approval for a passport-style document.
EU countries press for COVID passports The concept of a vaccine passport has already been touted by some EU member states, including Greece, Spain and Belgium. In a November interview with Simple Flying, Lufthansa executive, Bjoern Becker, revealed that governments are looking at immunity documentation and predicted its widespread rollout. The idea behind a passport system is to allow more freedom of movement between borders without risking further spread of the virus.
Authorities have consulted with airlines on the matter, with many carriers in favor of mandating vaccination passports or certificates. Presently, COVID tests act as de facto second passports across the world, with airlines and countries refusing passengers unable to present a negative result.
Several airlines have already indicated their pro-vaccination position, including Qantas, which is looking at a ‘no jab, no fly’ policy on long-haul international flights. Proposals for a standard COVID passport are still in the early stages, with no indication yet of how the passports will work in practice.
PrideofLincoln2: You know these guys ain't get shiit. All they do is come on Nairaland and make a foool of themselves. What does the Penis Enlarger also known as LoyalHustler have on a N30.000 monthly salary.
Former US President Donald Trump has started putting together the defense team for his historic second Senate impeachment trial, starting with hiring South Carolina-based lawyer Butch Bowers.
Trump adviser Jason Miller, announced the hiring on Twitter, and said Bowers “is well respected by both Republicans and Democrats and will do an excellent job defending President Trump.” Miller would not say whether others had signed on or whether Bowers would be the sole lawyer tasked with representing Trump.
Republican Senators were briefed on Bowers’ involvement on a GOP conference call this afternoon, two people familiar with the discussions said. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., mentioned that he had recommended Bowers to Trump, the sources said.
Later asked about Trump’s legal team, Graham told reporters: “Well, I think he’s going to have a good one. Butch Bowers, I think, will be the sort of anchor tenant. But I’ve known Butch for a long time, solid guy. And I think over time, they’ll put the team together.”
Graham, who has been advising the former president, shared that he spoke to Trump about the pending trial earlier on Thursday. “I think the President looks forward to getting this behind him … He’s going to have his day in court and that’s the way the system works.”
Graham added that Bowers “was involved in very complex litigation, he’s represented the state of South Carolina and federal court over lots of issues.” Bowers, for example, served as counsel to former Gov. Mark Sanford when he faced impeachment in the South Carolina House in 2009. He also served in the Justice Department under former President George W. Bush.
Republican Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., echoed Graham’s confidence in Bowers. “He’s a competent attorney who has served well in South Carolina and understands election laws about as good as anyone that I know so it'll be interesting to watch it all unfold," he said.
LoyalHustler1: between now and February and let me tell you something the big tech media won't tell you.
The united States troops keep coming into washington DC even after the inauguration of Biden.
Most people actually don't know why but in two to three weeks from now you all will know why.
Biden is going to jail, this is hundred percent confirm. They are actually coming into DC to protect the capital and the white house because after the arrest of Biden and trump Inaugurated as the president, some pained elements will want to storm dc with violence but by then the military will be everywhere.
The United States military are going through this on a gradual process because if they had arrested biden on the inauguration day, it would have caused chaos all around America so they are doing this gradually on a low key, making arrest on a low before the big ones and at the same time trying to secure washington DC.
Listen what i am telling you is a confidential information straight from someone in the united States military.
I am not just writing a conspiracy theory, i am telling you all the things that is going on underground and what is about to happen in the coming days and weeks.
The united States constitution States that the united States military can overthrow the government of the united States if there are evidence of foreign interferance and control in any election and government.
They had to allow Biden to go on with the inauguration just to put a final nail on his casket because by doing That, Joe biden has successfully committed treason against the constitution by illegally coming into the white house through the help of china and this is why they had to allow the inauguration so he can commit treason.
Biden and the Dems won't know what hits them, top Pentagon officials are getting ready to start the cleansing but they are doing this on a low key.
The big tech media won't tell you this even as at now an article of impeachment have been signed against biden with hard evidence by some republicans and the media knows this already.
Do you know that the inauguration of Biden was so unpopular online? So many dislikes were clicked by Americans and it was so embarrassing that they had to unlist the inauguration from official white house youtube handle?
But you won't know because you watch too many CNN but whatever the case, president Donald trump is coming back and all Glory will be given to GOD.