Inflation Continues to Rise as Apple gives the Right to Repair Movement Wins Against Apple
--
Inflation continues to rise in the US as we approach the holiday season. Apple concedes to the right to repair movement. Stephen Curry passes Ray Allen to become all-time 3-point leader. NASA is planing to build Nuclear power plant on the Moon. Booster shots are authorized for all US Adults as Pfizer asks the F.D.A. to authorize its Covid antiviral pill. Here are this week’s stories.
1. Inflation Continues to Rise
Inflation continues to rise as we approach the holiday season. According to figures from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, consumer prices increased 0.9% in October, extending the year-over-year gain to 6.2%, a 30-year record. Prices are up in various sectors of the economy, including energy, shelter, vehicle, gas, and food. However, an analysis of the data indicates that inflation is not here to stay. Inflation is rising partly because of the pandemic’s direct impact on businesses, such as clothing stores, hotels, rental car companies, and restaurants. These businesses are raising prices to make up for the losses during lockdowns, and they are gradually increasing production for the increased demand. The oil industry, for example, was producing 100 million barrels of oil a day before the pandemic, which dropped gas prices to $2.50 a gallon. Now, the world is back and is consuming over 100 million barrels of oil a day, but production is well below that causing prices in the US to skyrocket to $3.50 a gallon. Soon, the producers will be forced to produce more oil for the world and prices will drop back down.
2. The Right To Repair
The right to repair movement has been growing over the past year, putting pressure on manufacturers from consumers and governments to make their products easily repairable. Supporters of the movement argue that Consumers should have control over their devices and access to replacement parts. It is more suitable for the economy and the environment to increase the lifespan of an old device by replacing the battery or the screen instead of buying an entirely new device. Apple has been notably against this idea and made its devices nearly impossible to repair. The iPhone 13, for example, would lose Face ID if its display was replaced by someone other than Apple. However, Apple recently announced that the company will start selling parts and tools directly to consumers and offer repair guides. The move came as a huge surprise and was instantly hailed as a victory by right-to-repair activists. But why would Apple abruptly change its mind? Well, the company has been recently been facing pressure from consumers and regulators. Even Steve Wozniak, the co-founder of Apple, called out the practices. The company is trying to look good in the eyes of consumers and politicians and distancing itself from monopolies like Facebook.So, Apple is now supporting the right to repair movement and will also profit by selling parts and tools.
3. Stephen Curry Passes Ray Allen to Become All-time 3-point Leader
NBA superstar Steph Curry is breaking records every week. Earlier this month, Curry overtook Wilt Chamberlain to become the oldest player to record 50 points and 10 assists in a game. Last week, Steph Curry surpassed Ray Allen, officially making him the best three-point shooter of all time; and, he did this in 585 fewer games. Although Curry is 33, he is still playing in his prime, averaging 29.6 points and 6.6 assists per game, and he is currently the top candidate for the NBA MVP award. Curry will play until he is around 40, and by that time, he is estimated to have over 5100 regular-season three-pointers made. For comparison, Ray Allen has just under 3000. Well, how is Curry doing this? The whole league is shooting more three-pointers and being more efficient, especially Curry. He could miss his next 520 three-pointers, and he would still have a better three-point percentage than Ray Allen. Based on the records, Curry is simply the best shooter of all time.
4. NASA Hoping to Build Nuclear Power Plant on the Moon
NASA and the US Department of Energy will seek proposals to build a nuclear power plant on the Moon and Mars to support its long-term exploration plans. They plan to build a fission surface power system on Earth and have a flight system, lander, and reactor ready to launch by 2026. Fission surface power systems work by splitting uranium atoms inside a reactor to generate heat that is then converted to electricity. It can generate at least 10 kilowatts of electricity which is enough to run a portion of the infrastructure and equipment required by astronauts on the Moon’s surface. The systems can also provide consistent electricity regardless of the resources available on a planet or the environment, and be robust to handle the harsh conditions of space. Nuclear energy is one of the cleanest and most efficient forms of energy and will be pivotal to space exploration.
5. Booster Shots Out for all US Adults as Pfizer Asks the FDA to Authorize its Covid Antiviral Pill
After the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved the doses for the general public on Friday, all adults in the United States are now eligible to get Pfizer and Moderna’s Covid vaccination boosters. It is recommended that Americans get the booster shot at least six months after their second dose. The booster shot is 95% effective at preventing symptomatic infection. Immunity from the Coronavirus vaccines wanes for everyone, but it declines faster for the elderly. But now that cases in the US have started rising again, the immunocompromised and elderly should consider getting a booster to maintain protection against the virus. Healthy adults should also consider the dose as an added layer of protection during the holiday season. In addition to the booster dose, Pfizer has been developing an antiviral pill to treat people with Covid-19 who are at high risk of becoming severely ill. The pharmaceutical and biotechnology company recently applied to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for authorization. The drug, which will be sold under the brand name Paxlovid, was proven to significantly lower the risk of hospitalization or death when given to high-risk unvaccinated volunteers shortly after they began to develop symptoms in a clinical experiment. It is more effective than Merck’s molnupiravir, another antiviral pill that might be approved as early as December.
Above were my top stories for the week of November 21st, 2021. Thank you and see you next week!
