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News Roundup

This is a roundup of news that I have come across during the day. In this latest post you can read about Amazon Prime reaching 142 million members in U.S., crypto startup is offering 8.6% interest on savings accounts, cruise line to require all passengers be fully vaccinated, designer reveals jaw-dropping New York skyscraper and countries without coronavirus in 2021?

Amazon Prime member total reaches 142 million in U.S.

Consumer Intelligence Research Partners data shows that as of Dec. 31, 2020, more than half of Amazon Prime members (52%) had an annual membership, up from 49% just three months earlier. Typically during the holidays, Amazon will see a spike in monthly Prime members as shoppers seek to take advantage of the program’s perks, such as free shipping, without making a long-term commitment.

This crypto startup is offering 8.6% interest on savings accounts

BlockFi is letting users earn at a rate that’s nearly 123-times higher than the national average, but its for dollar-backed cryptocurrencies known as stablecoins. More specifically, the company is currently paying an 8.6% interest rate on savings accounts holding the Gemini dollar, the stablecoin introduced by the Winklevoss twins’ regulated and audited New York trust company Gemini. Interest is paid out monthly by BlockFi in either traditional dollars, or a favored cryptocurrency like bitcoin or ether.

UK cruise line to require all passengers be fully vaccinated before boarding

Saga Cruises, a UK-based boutique cruise company that advertises largely to older travelers, announced on Wednesday that all passengers be fully vaccinated at least 14 days prior to boarding its river cruises or ocean-going cruises, beginning with the first voyage scheduled for its return-to-service on May 4.

Are there STILL Countries Without Coronavirus in 2021?

It’s been a year since the pandemic took us all by surprise in 2020. First appearing in late December and becoming global news by mid-January, it wasn’t long before COVID-19 spread around the world, eventually reaching all 7 continents and developing into the pandemic that continues to cause disruption around the world still today. So, is it possible that there are countries still out there that managed to avoid the pandemic entirely?

Turkish designer reveals jaw-dropping New York skyscraper design

Eye-popping renderings have been unveiled for a 210m (688ft) sci-fi-style New York skyscraper that almost looks like it has been fashioned from Play-Doh, with twisting tube-like structures coiled inside a towering frame. The organic design has been dreamt-up by Turkish architecture firm Hayri Atak Architectural Design Studio, which described the structure as ‘amorphous’ and having a ‘transparent, ghostly stance in the city skyline’.