The great pandemic: A new surge

• First, the India numbers: India recorded 25,920 new cases—and 492 deaths.  
• While India appears to have passed its peak, the Asian Pacific region is experiencing a huge surge. Malaysia and South Korea have set new highs in the number of Covid cases, while New Zealand’s daily new cases are at their highest. Hong Kong reported 4,000 news cases on Wednesday and that number is expected to double by the end of week. For perspective: the city never added more than 200 cases per day since the pandemic began. Also in Omicron’s grip: Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand and Japan. (Washington Post)

Google gets serious about privacy

The company plans to introduce new measures to limit user data tracking on Android devices—presumably taking its cue from Apple. These will include “privacy-focused advertising solutions that will limit the sharing of user data with third parties”—which is even worse news for Meta, whose earnings have crashed due Apple’s privacy policies. 

But the company promised not to take the same "blunt" attitude as its rival—as such approaches can be “ineffective and lead to worse outcomes for user privacy and developer businesses.” A relieved Meta spokesperson said the company is looking forward to this “long-term, collaborative approach to privacy-protective personalised advertising.” (CNN)

New Delhi irked by Singapore PM

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong made a speech in Parliament criticising corruption in politics, and gave the example of India:

“While Nehru’s India has become one where, according to media reports, almost half the MPs in the Lok Sabha have criminal charges pending against them, including charges of rape and murder. Though it is also said that many of these allegations are politically motivated.”

Adding salt to the wounds: In the same speech, he cited Jawaharlal Nehru as an example of a leader of “great courage, immense culture and outstanding ability”—who’d won independence for his nation. The Ministry of External Affairs summoned Singapore’s High Commissioner and informed him that Lee’s comments were “uncalled for” and “unacceptable.” (The Hindu)

Goodbye Hippocratic Oath?

The National Medical Commission—the body that governs medical studies—wants to replace the pledge taken by doctors around the world with something called the ‘Maharshi Charak Shapath’. The Indian Medical Association (IMA)—the largest organisation of doctors—calls the plan “unacceptable and ill-advised.” The reason: 

“The doctors have also said that the ‘Charak Shapath’ mandates ‘growing of beard and hair’, ‘paying for cows and Brahmins’, ‘not treating those who are in opposition to the King or whom the physician or society may despise’, and also ‘not giving any priority or any treatment at all to those who are gravely ill’.”

Also in the works: plans to make yoga mandatory for medical students and faculty. The News Minute has more details.

Three studies of note

Covid: A new US study shows that the disease may increase the risk of developing mental health issues such as anxiety, depression and sleep disorders. People who had Covid were 39% more likely to be diagnosed with depression—and 35% more likely to be diagnosed with anxiety after being infected. The good news: “Only between 4.4 percent and 5.6 percent of those in the study received diagnoses of depression, anxiety or stress and adjustment disorders.” (New York Times)

HIV variant: New research has confirmed the discovery of a new “highly virulent” variant of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)—which apparently has been circulating in the Netherlands for decades. Known as virulent subtype B (VB variant), it is more infectious, causes more severe disease—and infections can develop far more quickly. The good news: Existing HIV treatments are effective against the variant—and patients are just as likely to survive. But early diagnosis is key. (Health)

Climate change: A new report shows that the world spends $1.8 trillion—or 2% of global GDP—a year destroying our planet. The biggest chunk of this money—doled out in the form of subsidies—goes to the fossil fuel industry ($620 billion), followed by the agricultural sector ($520 billion), water ($320 billion) and forestry ($155 billion). Also this: “Last year, a UN report found almost 90% of subsidies given to farmers every year are harmful, damaging people’s health, fuelling the climate crisis, destroying nature and driving inequality by excluding smallholder farmers.” (The Guardian)

Wanna live in Disney’s world?

Disney is getting into the real estate business. Its Storyliving venture will build residential communities—starting with the first 618-acre project called Cotino in Coachella. Home buyers can choose from estates, single-family homes and condominiums. The development will include a 24-acre lagoon and club membership that gets you access to “a club-only beach area and… Disney programming, entertainment and activities throughout the year.” Also this: “Disney employees, whom the company calls ‘cast members,’ will manage the properties and curate programming and experiences for residents.” Aww, look! You can live in the Disney version of The Truman Show for the rest of your life. See an aerial rendering of Cotino below. (CNN or Wall Street Journal)

Meanwhile in the metaverse: The Facebook-hosted Foo Fighters concert was marred by multiple technical glitches–-which made it impossible for many to log in. Also annoying: cameramen walking around on stage to shoot footage for the 2D version. Facebook’s defence: We can’t help it if our event was such a big hit, saying “the demand was unprecedented.” The attendance estimate: a modest 7,000 to 12,000—which is tiny compared to some of Fortnite’s events. Meanwhile, Mark Zuckerberg has a new mantra for his employees: “Meta, Metamates, me.” Ok, millennial. (Futurism)

Two things to see

One: We couldn’t find the online version of the story attached to this picture that went viral on Twitter. It shows students from different religious communities walking together to a government college in Udupi.

Two: The Biden administration has hired non-binary drag queen Sam Brinton as deputy assistant secretary in the Department of Energy. And it is truly a heartening sight to see. (Yahoo News)