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We are delighted to announce that our iOS app is here—joining its Android cousin which is already making many of our subscribers happy. Please note we only send one notification per day when the edition drops. And we do not use or sell your personal information in any way—and only monitor broad traffic/audience stats. So be sure to download it here.

We strongly urge you to use the app to read your daily splainer, and here’s why:

• It gets rid of all the pesky issues on the web browser—including repeated requests to log in.
• Since the sections are separated, there isn’t one long unbroken scroll. The app is far easier to navigate—just use the forward button and our trusty dog Khabri.
• Each section can be shared separately on Twitter, Instagram or WhatsApp.
• You don’t have to go back into your email inbox or WhatsApp to find the link to an edition. It’s just easier to read us whenever you want during the day.
• This is especially true if you use the handy bookmarks feature at the end of each section. You can save everything you want to read later.

Please note: We have an app feedback thread on our Slack community for subscribers—which is a big help to us. Be sure to join and offer your comments there.

Pfizer delivers very good news

The company has agreed to allow generic drug companies to produce its Covid pill for use in 95 countries—including in India—in a deal struck with the UN. Why this is a big deal: According to the latest trial data, the experimental VOID-19 medication cut the risk of hospitalisation and death by nearly 90% in people with mild to moderate infections. The agreement, however, excludes a number of key countries, including Brazil, China and Thailand. Point to note: Pfizer, Moderna and others continue to refuse to share their mRNA vaccine technology. (Associated Press via Indian Express)

Meanwhile, in India: There are new questions about the government’s deal with Bharat Biotech—the maker of Covaxin—which has been blamed by some for the slow vaccination rate. This Article14 exclusive takes a closer look at why the Memorandum of Understanding remains such a big secret.

Also, this Covid horror: People in China are up in arms over video footage that shows Covid workers beating a dog to death with a crowbar. The health workers were disinfecting an infected woman's flat—while she was quarantined at a hotel where pets were not allowed. This is not the first time that China’s zero-Covid policy has hurt animals. Three cats were also killed in similar circumstances. (BBC News)

Russia’s ‘reckless’ satellite strike

Moscow launched a missile from Earth which took out a Soviet-era satellite in space. And the Americans are furious:

“The test has so far generated over 1,500 pieces of trackable orbital debris and hundreds of thousands of pieces of smaller orbital debris that now threaten the interests of all nations.”

The US also claims such strikes threaten the safety of astronauts on the International Space Station. Of course, Russia has dismissed the complaints as “hypocrisy.” (Washington Post)

A Mensa-sized miracle!

The six-month old company raised $135 million and became the fastest Indian startup to become a unicorn—i.e. a company with a valuation equal or higher to $1 billion. Mensa was valued at around $250 million during its last tranche in September. What the company does: It is an “ecommerce rollup”—as in, it buys brands in order to scale them. But unlike an acquisition, these companies are allowed to retain their separate entities. Economic Times has a good explainer on Mensa and the business model.

Insta needs your selfie

The platform has started asking users to take a short video selfie: “We need a short video of turning your head in different directions. This helps us confirm that you're a real person and confirm your identity.” The new feature—spotted by a social media consultant—is likely an attempt to weed out fake accounts. And Insta promises it won’t store any biometric data. (NDTV Gadgets)

Speaking of social media: Be sure to check this new University of Michigan study of tweeting patterns during Aryan Khan’s arrest—the study is here and the summary Twitter thread is here. What’s most surprising: Sushant Singh Rajput supporters were “key to online anti-Aryan Khan organizing, and part of a pro-establishment ecosystem.” Also: the largest fan club @SRKUniverse stayed silent. 

A reality TV racism row 

Raghav Juyal, host of the 'Dance Deewane' show on Colors, introduced a child participant from Guwahati like so:

Everyone laughed at the time—including judge Madhuri Dixit. But there was widespread outrage once the clip went viral—and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma called it “shameful and totally unacceptable.” Juyal apologised but also called it an “inside joke” between him and the child based on a conversation about “speaking” Chinese:

In other news about racism: Former cricketer Azeem Rafiq offered brutal and tearful testimony in a parliamentary hearing into allegations of racism at the Yorkshire cricket club. Some of the biggest names in English cricket were implicated—including Matthew Hoggard, Tim Bresnan, Michael Vaughan, Gary Ballance and Andrew Gale. The Guardian explains why this hearing has thrown the sport into crisis in the UK.

Also stirring up a row: Virat Kohli, who is in the middle of a fresh controversy. This time around, his chain of restaurants One8 Commune is in the line of fire. The LGBTQ+ group ‘YesWeExistIndia’ has accused the Pune outlet of allowing only heterosexual couples or groups of cisgender women—and claims that a number of its other restaurants are the same. One8 says this is a misunderstanding of their ‘stag entry policy’ that prohibits groups of men “so as to ensure a safe and enjoyable environment for our guests.” Point to note: ‘no stag’ policies are common in many nightclubs and restaurants—mainly to prevent packs of men from harassing women.

Questions to consider: Are gay men being banned because they are gay or because they are men? If groups of gay men are allowed, then can we still block straight men? And should we? (Business Today)

Meanwhile in South Africa: The government has withdrawn support for the country’s beauty queen Miss South Africa—and the pageant’s organiser. The reason: They have refused to boycott the Miss Universe contest that will be held in Israel this year. South Africa has a strong record of supporting the Palestinian cause—perhaps because Israel was notorious for supporting the apartheid regime. (Reuters)

An alternative use of nappies

Japan’s population is rapidly aging—and there are more adult nappies sold than the baby kind. One town decided to make the best of urinary incontinence—by recycling adult diapers—which represent about a tenth of its trash. They are turned into fuel pellets that power boilers at the public bath house. Point to note: “Although the process produces carbon emissions, the pellets are less polluting than either coal or the petroleum gas previously used in the boiler.” (New York Times)

Pochampally is the best!

The village in Telangana is among those to be named as the best Tourism Villages by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation at its annual meeting. Located 50 kilometres from Hyderabad, it is an artisanal village known for its exceptional Ikat weavers and exquisite saris. Craftsvilla has everything you want to know about the Pochampally sari. (The Hindu)

Three things to see

One: Back in 2020, President Emmanuel Macron quietly decided to give the French flag a teeny makeover—changing one of the stripes from a brighter blue to a darker navy colour. What’s really amusing: No one noticed until recently. (The Guardian)

Two: Heavy rain and flash flooding in Aswan has unleashed a horrific problem: hundreds of ‘deathstalker’ scorpions that were washed out of their burrows—and into villages and homes. They stung 503 people in one night alone. (New York Times)

Three: Move over, ladies! Harry Styles is the latest celeb to launch a beauty line. The gender-neutral brand is apparently inspired by the things he uses in his own beauty routine. Here’s Harry striking a pose for Pleasing’s Insta handle. (People)

Dine With Data: All About Adaface

Editor's Note: Here is DWD’s weekly installment of one cool, innovative or just plain quirky startup from around the world.

Company: Adaface 

About: Most team leads will tell you that most of their work has to do with quality hiring. Adaface wants to make that easy. Adaface creates tests for 700+ skills that move beyond regular knowledge and test for on-the-job application of the skill. The tests are much more conversational than just being Q&A and claim to be non-googleable. 

Currently, the company provides tests for senior hiring, campus hiring, coding, and even aptitude + psychometric fits. 

Food For Thought: What impressed us most about Adaface is the stellar client list. From organisations like the United Nations and Government of Singapore to large companies like Amazon, PayPal, and Microsoft—their tests have worked for some of the biggest names in a host of fields. 

DWD Take: According to the founder’s twitter, every single customer that subscribed to Adaface in 2020, renewed their subscription in 2021. That means that they’re not only solving an incredibly important problem, but they're solving it correctly. Zero churn, woah! 🔁

URL: https://www.adaface.com/