Pope Francis prays for victims of Hurricane Ida

ABU DHABI, 5th September, 2021 Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, the newest national airline of the UAE, is all set to continue enabling exciting travel opportunities from Sunday for international travellers looking to explore the UAE capital without having to quarantine. The Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Committee has approved removing the need to quarantine for all vaccinated travellers arriving into Abu Dhabi from all international destinations, effective from Sunday, 5th September 2021. Before boarding to Abu Dhabi, all travellers must show a negative PCR test result from within 48 hours of departure. All travellers must take a free-of-charge PCR test on arrival at Abu Dhabi international airport. Vaccinated citizens, residents and visitors arriving from green list destinations must take another PCR test on day 6, if staying in the emirate. From other destinations, they must take PCR tests on days 4 and 8, if staying in the emirate. Since launching at the start of the year, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi has announced a wide range of exciting routes to and from the UAE capital, including Athens, Alexandria, Bahrain, Belgrade, Odesa, Sarajevo, Thessaloniki, Tirana and a number of others. Kees Van Schaick, Managing Director of Wizz Air Abu Dhabi commented, "Wizz Air Abu Dhabi is perfectly positioned to provide ultra-low fare, worry-free and efficient travel options for people looking to explore all the remarkable attractions that the UAE capital has to offer. We very much welcome the changes to the quarantine rules, which will continue to ensure maximum safety but also provide people with the freedom and flexibility to travel and experience new places and cultures. We look forward to seeing more people enjoy our flights in the coming period." Travellers arriving to Abu Dhabi and immediately continuing their trip to Dubai or another Northern Emirate are exempt from quarantine provided that they inform the medical authorities accordingly upon arrival and travel using the official Airport Taxi. Unvaccinated citizens, residents and visitors, including those exempt from vaccination, arriving into Abu Dhabi from green list destinations must take further PCR tests on days 6 and 9, without quarantine. Unvaccinated citizens, residents and visitors arriving from other destinations must quarantine for 10 days and take another PCR test on day 9. PCR tests costs 50 AED in the UAE capital. Everyone on board of Wizz Air Abu Dhabi flights will have been tested prior to boarding and approved to travel in line with Abu Dhabi Airport guidelines. All Wizz Air crew are fully vaccinated, said a press release issued by the airline on Sunday.

Vatican City, Sep 5, 2021 / 07:00 am (CNA). Pope Francis prayed Sunday for the victims of Hurricane Ida, which has resulted in the deaths of more than 50 people in the United States.“I assure you of my prayers for the people of the United States of America hit by a strong hurricane in recent days,” Pope Francis said after his Angelus address on Sept. 5.“May the Lord welcome the souls of the dead and support those who suffer from this calamity,” the pope prayed from the window of the Apostolic Palace.Hurricane Ida was one of the most powerful storms to ever make landfall on the U.S. mainland. The category 4 storm first hit Louisiana last week with sustained winds of up to 150 miles per hour. The storm went on to hit the northeastern U.S. with record-breaking rainfall causing flooding in New York City and New Jersey, which was also hit by tornadoes amid the storm.Recovery efforts are underway in both Louisiana and the Northeast. U.S. President Joe Biden is scheduled to visit New Jersey and New York on Sept. 7 amid the clean-up efforts. Catholic Charities USA has said it will direct 100 percent of the funds raised through texts of “HurrIda” to 41444 to its agencies with residents impacted by Hurricane Ida.Damage from Hurricane Ida. Diocese of HoumaThibodeauxHurricane Ida resulted in the deaths of 12 people in Louisiana and at least 44 people in New York and New Jersey, Reuters reported on Sept. 4.Among the victims of the hurricane were six elderly people evacuated from their nursing homes in Louisiana ahead of the storm. The bishop of Houma-Thibodeaux in southeastern Louisiana told CNA on Sept. 3 that many parts of his diocese were still without running water and electricity nearly a week after the storm.Of the diocese’s 39 churches nearly all, 36, were damaged in the storm. Some of the churches suffered severe damage. Damage from Hurricane Ida. Diocese of Houma-Thibodeaux“We've taken a significant blow and we just need some help right now,” Bishop Shelton Fabre told CNA.“And we trust that that help will come and that God will provide. So, you go forward and hope.”Although the physical damage from the storm was extensive, Fabre said that he was “grateful” that unlike in other storms, there was not a widespread loss of life due to Hurricane Ida. Hurricane Ida made landfall on the 16th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, which killed over 1,500 people. And despite the significant losses, Fabre explained to CNA that he has been thankful for the outpouring of support his diocese has received. Anyone who wishes to help, he said, can do so by contacting the Catholic Charities of HoumaThibodeaux, as by praying for the diocese. “We're grateful for the good