The new iPhone 12 will come in four variations including the base model, the pro, max and mini. There will be five fresh new finishes in black, white, green, red and blue. It also comes with aero-space grade aluminum edges, as well as a ceramic shield that is “tougher than any smartphone glass,” according to Apple.

This new feature makes the device “virtually impervious to heat and electricity” and has better resistance against drops, spills and splashes.

The new headlining feature for the device or what the company calls “the most exciting step yet,” is that this generation is 5G compatible.

“5G will bring a new level of performance for downloads and uploads, higher quality video streaming, more responsive gaming, real-time interactivity and so much more,” said chief executive Tim Cook.

Depending on the carrier and region, 5G grants faster internet access away from Wifi. The iPhone 12 has access to Verizon 5G ultrawide band. According to Apple, this is the fastest in the world with downloads speeds like 4 gigabytes per second.

Many of Apple’s well-known features have been improved in the new model. The iPhone 12 boasts a Super Retina XDR display, a crisper portrait mode, 4k HDr recording and turbo charging.

New accessories are also on the horizon as Apple adds new MagSafe accessories like cases and shielded credit card wallets. However, the new phones will not come with the compulsory earphones and charger. Apple touts this as a means to help reduce its impact on the environment.

Base prices will start at $799 and the new mini will start at $699. The new iPhone 12 is set to drop on Oct. 23, but is already available for pre-sale.

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While another almost 24,000 employees have already taken retirement buyouts and voluntary separations, according to CNN, the company will need to reduce their staff by at least another 40,000 employees to stay afloat.

Reuters.com states that these cuts “comprise of 17,500 furloughs of union workers -including 1,600 pilots and 8,100 flight attendants – and 1,500 management positions.”

The CARES Act, which provided $50 billion worth of help for the airlines, did not allow the companies to lay-off or involuntarily furlough any staff members until October. With that deadline quickly approaching, American has become more fearful for the future of the company.

A letter warning of the impending lay-offs was sent on Aug. 25 to over 17,500 American Airlines employees, reported CNN.

“The only problem with the legislation is that when it was enacted in March, it was assumed that by September 30, the virus would be under control and demand for air travel would have returned,” American CEO Doug Parker and President Robert Isom wrote in a letter sent to employees.

“That is obviously not the case. Based on current demand levels, we at American now plan to fly less than 50% of our airline in the fourth quarter, with long-haul international particularly reduced to only 25% of 2019 levels,” they added.

According to ABC News, “…other airlines are also announcing job cuts as air travel remains down around 70% compared with last year and experts predict it will not return to pre-pandemic levels until 2024.”

Earlier this summer, United Airlines announced that it would need to lay-off a total of 36,000 employees and sent furlough warning letters to 2250 of its pilots.

Earlier this week, Delta Air Lines also announced that just under 2000 of its pilots would be furloughed on October 1.

Aside from the furloughs, American will also suspend services to 15 small cities in October if their financial needs are not met.

Forbes.com reported that in order to avoid lay-offs and suspended flights, there will need to be an extension of the federal aid program.

Across the Airline industry, there will be well over 100,000 lay-offs without an extension of the CARES Act to include relief for the industry. This will mean these same unemployed individuals will add to already strained unemployment services in states across the country. Industry leaders and unions are urging Congress to take action and save these jobs before it’s too late.

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At around 6pm local time, a warehouse that had been holding what was estimated to be over 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate for the past six years exploded in the city’s port area creating two separate blasts, according to USA Today.

General Security chief Abbas Ibrahim said: “It appears that there is a warehouse containing material that was confiscated years ago, and it appears that it was highly explosive material.”

The first explosion sent what residents thought to be an earthquake across the city, and the second, emitted a large red “mushroom” like cloud in the sky. The United States Geological Survey reports that the explosion registered a magnitude of 3.3.

According to ABC News, “The blast itself was heard up to 25 miles south of the city, and many streets in Beirut are now paved with broken glass.” Some witnesses have claimed that the blast was heard over 125 miles away to the neighboring country of Cyrpess, and that it was reminiscent of a “nuclear bomb.”

As a result of the deadly blast, a “strange smell” has been emitted that officials are claiming could be toxic and are enforcing masks to be worn. The U.S. Embassy in Beirut has issued a security warning to any Americans in the area, “stay indoors and wear masks if available.”

Many civilians have been sharing their grievances about those harmed, as well as reporting about the damage done to their homes.

“I have friends who live 10-15 minutes away who showed me their entire house was blown out. I am wondering how people are going to sleep tonight without windows,” said local reporter, Habib Battah.

The cause of the explosion is still unknown, but Prime Minister Hassan Diab vowed in a televised address that “those responsible for this catastrophe will pay the price,” and declared Wednesday a day of national mourning.  

The post Beirut Explosion Kills 73 and Injures Thousands appeared first on CitizenNewsWire.

Fox News stated that due to quarantine and stay-at-home orders, TikTok reported 30 million active users as of May between the ages of 16-24, and more quarterly downloads than any other app in history, according to analytics company Sensor Tower. This dramatic surge of usage in the past months is worrying the U.S. government,  and is urging users not to download the app.

“It collects your geolocation in realtime, that is a problem for soldiers and military personnel because they can be identified by the Chinese government, it’s a problem for children, in fact, TikTok was fined by the Federal Trade Commission for illegally collecting child information…also for your beliefs, they wanted to censor those videos [on Hong Kong],” said Roslyn Layton, co-founder of Chinatechthreat.comsaid in an interview with Fox News.

TikTok is owned by Beijing owned startup ByteDance, and has been claimed to be a threat to national security by government officials, according to CNN.

TikTok has denied all allegations of data stealing and told Fox News, “TikTok is led by an American CEO, with hundreds of employees and key leaders across safety, security, product, and public policy here in the U.S. We have no higher priority than promoting a safe and secure app experience for our users. We have never provided user data to the Chinese government, nor would we do so if asked.”

Despite denying these claims, the U.S. is not the only country keeping the app at arm’s length. CNN reported that India has already banned the app, and the UK is not far behind. The Economictimes.com stated that a TikTok ban would “leave a giant social media hole,” forcing fans to flock to similar apps like Triller.

The post Could TikTok Soon be Banned in US appeared first on CitizenNewsWire.

According to New York magazine, restaurateurs must apply for a permit that allows them to expand out with regular sidewalk cafe regulations, as well as the use of curbs and adjacent parking lots. Owners are using all kinds of materials to create an outdoor dining exepriemce that is similar to their establishment’s aesthetics.

Although the use of flower pots and shipping pallets may seem less chic, New Yorkers are less concerned about the design, and are simply enjoying getting out of the house. A Curbed.com article claimed that the kitchy innovations are a new style of urban, “cottagecore.”

Mayor de Blasio announced that (in addition to sidewalks, patios, and curb lanes, and plazas) restaurants can utilize the 45 miles of city streets that are currently blocked off to cars during the weekdays between 8am and 8pm.

The “Open Streets Program” has changed the trajectory of both dining in New York City, as well as quality of life during the pandemic. Mayor Bill de Basio stated that the program not only offers the space for New Yorkers to dine, but also safe places for children to play.

“I have seen kids learning how to ride their bikes, people pulling their groceries in wagons down the street, people walking dogs, Revel lessons. The street is quieter than I’ve ever known it,” said Manhattan resident Melodie Bryant.

A study called “The Unrealized Potential of New York City’s Open Streets,” stated that in theory the program has potential, but has proved to be flawed. 

“At present, the program remains a disconnected network of public space islands with management challenges,” said the study.  “While pocket parks and outdoor restaurants are helpful, they will not solve our transportation crisis or revive our economy.”

The post It’s ‘Open Streets’ in New York City appeared first on CitizenNewsWire.

Michael Walsh, Mate of Programs at the Transatlantic Sea Scouts BSA, tells us that #BSAMapathon promotes learning and advancement in science, technology, engineering and Math (STEM). “In addition, the youth serving on the council will be able to earn community service hours and acquire the knowledge, skills, and networks needed to become future leaders,” said Walsh.

Due to quarantine restrictions, many Scouts have been unable to complete their community service requirements in person. However, this service project promotes community service and thought leadership through humanitarian mapping from the comfort of their homes.

The Scouts use a series of free humanitarian mapping technologies such as, OpenStreetMap and the HOT Tasking Manager. Once the data is collected, they are then able to make edits and contribute them to the Missing Maps Project.

“To complete the challenge, Scouts will need to become proficient in the use of OpenStreetMap and the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team Tasking Manager,” Walsh explains.

The maps being edited show frontline responders the places in a community that are at greater risk of humanitarian crises like COVID-19 and Ebola. The initiative, #BSAMapathon, has already contributed over 1,800 to the Missing Maps Project covering over 1,400 buildings and 130 kilometers of roads across Asia, Africa and the Pacific.

Several other branches of Scouts including the Scouts from the Aloha and Transatlantic Council have led the way by contributing over 450 and 650 edits in their first two weeks.

This initiative is instilling Scouts with practical skills like using a compass, reading maps and navigational charts for their outdoors activities. Dr. Jose Lepervanche, Commodore of the Transatlantic Sea Scouts BSA stated, “In addition, their mapping service is one of the essential values of all Scouts, service to communities in need.”

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