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Writer's pictureameyashanbhag

What's good this week: Hyperloop, AstraZeneca, Manned Flying Car and more



All the news seen here is hand-picked by me after going through websites like CNN, BBC, Reuters, The Guardian, Google News etc.

In today's world where everyone is under lock-down, our brain is sub-consciously storing all the negative information we see on Facebook, Instagram, or any other social media apps. Well, it is good to know what's going on in the world but not necessarily everything that's taking place is negative.


My intention here is to contribute to the society by spreading some positive and good news so that there is still a ray of hope in our mind that everything is going to be alright :D

 

Abstract: Past the pitfalls of this antiquated system of steel railroads and cumbersome commercial flights lies a faster future. When we arrive, we’ll enjoy new travel experiences defined by safety, speed, environmentalism, and improved comfort. To get there, you’ll need a fifth mode of transportation: Something low density, yet high volume. Something that is twice the speed of a plane, yet safer than any current public transportation; you’ll need something that is sustainable, reliable, and immune to weather variations. In other words, you’ll need a hyperloop. Coined by Elon Musk in 2013, the hyperloop is a bold engineering initiative to send elevated passenger pods through tubes using magnetic fields, allowing people to travel even faster than modern airplanes from city-to-city.

For more information, click on the title. Credits: CNBC


 

Abstract: Brazil’s COVID-19 death toll appears to be easing for the first time since May, data shows. The level of average daily deaths dropped below 900 per day last week - the lowest in three and a half months and below the rate of both the United States and India, according to a Reuters tally. A Reuters analysis of Google mobility data, which collates cellphone movement, showed that the number of people coming and going from places of work in Brazil went from a 37.8% reduction from pre-pandemic levels in April to down just 16% in August.

For more information, click on the title. Credits: Reuters


 


Abstract: The first shots of British drugmaker AstraZeneca’s potential COVID-19 vaccine could be on the market by the end of 2020, Italian Health Minister Roberto Speranza said on Wednesday. The European Commission has paid 336 million euros ($397.82 million) to AstraZeneca to secure at least 300 million doses of its potential vaccine for EU nations.

For more information, click on the title. Credits: Reuters


 


Abstract: It’s been five and a half long months but starting Wednesday New Yorkers will finally be able to return to the gym. Dale Paden is the vice president of marketing for Planet Fitness. All 40 locations throughout the five boroughs are opening their doors. “We have what we call social fitness,” said Paden. “We’ve spaced out all the equipment 6 feet, as state guidelines say, and for equipment that we can’t, such as cardio, we turn off the machines so you will never have someone working out next to you less than 6 feet away.” With each club an average size of 20,000 square feet, Planet Fitness has the benefit of space. They can reopen with new rules in place, but other gyms, many of them boutique, neighborhood ones, must remain shuttered.

For more information, click on the title. Credits: Pix11

 

Abstract: In June, Americans traveled nearly 37 billion -- yes, billion -- fewer miles than in the same month last year, according to the Federal Highway Administration. That's translating to a lot of cost savings: Workers who once commuted by car but now work from home are saving a total of $758 million per day, according to research from freelancing platform Upwork. Over the months since the pandemic hit the US, that figure amounts to a cumulative $90 billion. But the biggest factor in this calculation is time. It's hard to put a number on the literal value of your time, but the Department of Transportation provides an estimate, Ozimek noted: Every hour of commuting by car costs Americans $12.50.

For more information, click on the title. Credits: CNN

 

Abstract: Verizon is looking for nearly 1,000 new workers. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Verizon transitioned more than 90 percent of its employees to work-from-home. Now, the wireless company is hiring 950 additional customer service employees who will work from home permanently. The full-time customer service positions require a high school diploma or GED. Also, many of the listings require residence in a particular state.

For more information, click on the title. Credits: Abc11


 

Abstract: Contributing directly to charitable organizations is the easiest and most common way to give. However, it may not be the most efficient in light of your overall financial picture. There are several other tax-efficient methods for charitable giving that may help you maximize the impact of your charitable donations.

For more information, click on the title. Credits: Forbes


 

Abstract: Brazil's women's national players will be paid the same as male players for representing their country, Brazil's football association (CBF) has said. All players will be granted the same daily and prize amounts for taking part in preparation periods and games.

CBF president Rogerio Caboclo says the measures were put in place in March. "Since March of this year, CBF has made an equal value in terms of prizes and daily rates between men's and women's football," he said.

For more information, click on the title. Credits: BBC


 


Abstract: Uber and Lyft, which have built up massive fleets of drivers by treating them as independent contractors, are in the midst of a heated legal battle over how its drivers are classified in the state. Both recently threatened to shut down their services in the state rather than comply with a court order to reclassify their drivers as employees. In the meantime, some startups see a chance to show alternative models to the behemoth ride-hail platforms, including what it's like for drivers to fully control how and to whom they provide a service. Dallas-based rideshare startup Alto is gearing up to enter California by late October, beginning with Los Angeles. The startup, which launched in January 2019, classifies its drivers as employees, which Uber and Lyft have long fought against because they would need to offer them certain benefits. Alto has focused on offering an upscale ride service focused on hospitality and safety.

For more information, click on the title. Credits: CNN


 

Abstract: A Japanese company has announced the successful test drive of a flying car.

Sky Drive Inc. conducted the public demonstration on August 25. The car, named SD-03, manned with a pilot, took off and circled the field for about four minutes. "We are extremely excited to have achieved Japan's first-ever manned flight of a flying car in the two years since we founded SkyDrive... with the goal of commercializing such aircraft," CEO Tomohiro Fukuzawa said in a statement. "We want to realize a society where flying cars are an accessible and convenient means of transportation in the skies and people are able to experience a safe, secure, and comfortable new way of life." The SD-03 is the world's smallest electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle and takes up the space of about two parked cars, according to the company. It has eight motors to ensure "safety in emergency situations."

For more information, click on the title. Credits: CNN


 

If you have any positive articles you want to share, please post it in the comment section below and help fellow humans :D



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