It’s possible that I shall make an ass of myself. But in that case one can always get out of it with a little dialectic. I have, of course, so worded my proposition as to be right either way (K.Marx, Letter to F.Engels on the Indian Mutiny)
Monday, February 10, 2025
Offshore Wind Lifts Taiwan's Wind Power Generation to Record Levels
Last week, Taiwan reported peak wind production levels with presence of a strong northeast monsoon off its coast. The state-owned utility company Taipower said that wind power generation started to rise on Thursday, surpassing 3.1 GW by early hours of Friday morning. This record output accounted to 10 percent of the total electricity generation in Taiwan.
The peak production is a positive outcome as Taiwan doubles-down on investments in the offshore wind sector. In January, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MoEA) issued an updated plan for the renewable energy, targeting to install 8.2 GW of solar and offshore wind by the end of 2026. This will see renewable energy account for 20 percent of electricity generation by 2026.
In addition, Taipower reported on the steady growth in Taiwan’s wind power generation. The output has rose from around 3 billion kilowatt-hours in 2022 reaching nearly 10 billion kWh last year. These levels of wind power are helping Taiwan meet peak electricity demand during the evening hours while solar power provides a stable output during the day.
One of Taiwan’s largest offshore wind farms, the Yunlin project, entered operation last week. The Yunlin wind farm is now producing clean energy at its design capacity of 640 MW. It is located in the Taiwan Strait, between 5 and 11 miles off the west coast of Taiwan, and comprises 80 wind turbines connected to two onshore substations in Yunlin County. The development and operation of the wind farm is led by a consortium comprising Skyborn Renewables, TotalEnergies, EGCO Group and Sojitz Corp.
“We are pleased with the completion of the Yunlin offshore wind farm. This project realized with our partners will help Taiwan reach its 2025 target of 5.7 GW of offshore wind power,” said Olivier Jouny, Senior Vice President Renewables at TotalEnergies.
Mitsubishi Takes $340M Impairment on its Offshore Wind Portfolio
In its latest quarterly report, Japanese industrial conglomerate Mitsubishi revealed that it is taking a $340 million hit in connection with the reduced prospects of its domestic offshore wind portfolio, which it has placed under review.
Mitsubishi Corporation has announced plans to restructure its offshore wind portfolio in Japan, citing disruptions in the macroeconomic environment. It will be reviewing the future of three projects, including the 480 MW Noshiro Mitane Oga project off Akita Prefecture, 820 MW Yurihonjo City Offshore wind farm off Akita Prefecture and the 400 MW Choshi City project off the coast of Chiba Prefecture.
Mitsubishi was selected the operator of these projects in December 2021, when Japan completed its first fixed-bottom wind auction.
“In the wake of the pandemic and the Ukraine crisis, the business environment for offshore wind power has significantly changed and is continuing to change worldwide due to factors such as inflation, the depreciation of the yen, tight supply chains and rising interest rates. We will consider the appropriate next steps after thoroughly examining the results of our review,” said Mitsubishi.
Across major markets, investments in offshore wind continue to face economic pressure, especially in Europe and the U.S. In Japan, there is also a noticeably bearish market sentiment on the profitability of offshore wind projects. In the third wind auction concluded in December, at least 15 companies in the sector, including Mitsubishi Corp. and Cosmo Energy Holdings, did not participate, according to Nikkei. This is despite some of these companies having conducted environmental assessments in readiness for the auction.
Japan heavily relies on energy imports for its electricity needs and is targeting offshore wind as a stable supply that can be tapped locally. The country’s goal is to install 10 GW by 2030 and 45 GW by 2040.
Meanwhile, the Japanese government has signaled raising the local content goal for offshore wind farms to 70 percent from the current 60 percent. Reportedly, the expert panel reviewing the local content rules begins meeting this month and is expected to finalize its findings by summer. Some of the issues to be deliberated include the necessary degree of government support to the wind sector.
The tightening of the local content rules is meant to reduce reliance on foreign companies, especially in the manufacturing of wind farm core components. Currently, Japan relies on imports of these components from western companies such as Siemens Gamesa and Vestas. Japanese firms are mainly concentrated in offering services like the installation and operation of offshore wind farms.
Report: Offshore Wind Energy Surpassed Installed Capacity of 80 GW in 2024
Denmark launched the first offshore wind farm in 1991 and now the industry exceeded 80 GW for the first time
While many critics continue to question the viability of offshore wind energy, the UK trade group RenewableUK is out with a new market analysis highlighting the “extraordinary speed” of growth for the sector. The report details that installed capacity grew by 15 percent in the past 12 months as leading countries accelerated installations and new countries also adopted the increasingly accepted source of renewable energy.
The report calls out several key firsts including that global capacity surpassed 80.9 GW, the first time it has been at that level coming from a base of 70.2 GW just a year earlier. Additional countries are also making process with the first projects including the introductory offshore wind projects in Indonesia, Chile, and Malta which were confirmed in 2024.
Recently, Greece mapped out its first project while on the other side of the globe, Australia finalized additional zones and reported progress with its likely first projects to win regulatory approval. The United States officially commissioned its first commercial-scale offshore wind farm in 2024 while others are proceeding in the construction phase.
“Our latest EnergyPulse Insights report shows that the global offshore wind market is continuing to grow at an extraordinary speed year after year, as more countries look to seize the industrial, economic, and environmental opportunities which the technology offers,” comments RenewableUK’s Chief Executive Dan McGrail.
The report however also shows a continued concentration among a few countries while others work to accelerate the next phase of growth. Two countries, China (adding 6.9 GW) and the Netherlands (adding 1.7 GW) accounted for 63 percent of the total capacity added in the offshore segment in 2024. Further, for the first time, a single country, China (41 GW installed) now accounts for more than half the industry’s current capacity.
The first offshore wind farm, Vindeby installed in Denmark, was commissioned in 1991. The UK entered the sector in 2003 and by 2008 had become the leader, a position it maintained till 2021. China took the lead in 2021 and two years later in 2023 was over 31 GW. The UK remains second but far behind with 14.7 GW installed and Germany is third at 8.5 GW.
The growth is set to continue predicts RenewableUK reporting that the number of projects in the global offshore wind pipeline has increased from 1,461 to 1,555 over the last twelve months. It notes that the number of countries involved in the sector is up from 41 to 44 as new markets continue to emerge.
The project pipeline they believe looks strong when considering offshore wind farms at all stages of development. The report reviews fully operational, under construction, consented, in the planning system, and early development projects.
China has the largest defined pipeline with 247 GW across 437 projects, while the UK remains in second place with 96 GW across 123 projects. The U.S. has significant potential according to the report with its 79 GW of defined projects placing it ahead of Germany which has 68 GW and Sweden which was reported with 55 GW. Sweden, however, recently blocked many of the projects due to concerns raised by the military for defense and of course, Donald Trump has taken steps since his inauguration to stop the progress in the U.S. industry.
RenewableUK also used the report to highlight the opportunities in the UK. It is urging the UK government to maximize its investment in new offshore wind capacity. Wind energy became the UK’s largest source of electricity surpassing gas in 2024. In the upcoming Allocation round 7, 13 UK offshore wind projects with a total capacity of 7.3 GW are eligible. The government received 72 responses during the consultation round and is expected to launch the next auction in March.
Supporting the growth are also developments in new technology. Media reports indicate Siemens Gamesahas received consent to proceed with the development of a prototype 21 MW offshore turbine that will rial the largest announced in China. RewnewableUK emphasizes a large potential saying the industry cold surpass 254 GW by the end of 2030 while expect the emerging floating offshore wind segment could have 3.9 GW installed by 2030.
Interior Department Cancels Wind Project Meetings Following Trump’s Order
Empire Wind is proceeding while BOEM canceled meetings to review the plan for Vineyard Mid-Atlantic (Equinor)
The first demonstration of the new Trump administration’s efforts to derail the offshore wind energy sector emerged as the Department of Interior began reversing steps taken in the last days of the Biden administration. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management canceled meetings for the review of an offshore wind project while the Department of the Interior highlighted that it was taking “steps to streamline processes that will enhance efficiency and innovation.”
BOEM announced it was canceling the virtual public meetings scheduled by the Biden administration to begin comments and review of the Construction and Operations Plan submitted by Vineyard Mid-Atlantic. The first meeting had been scheduled for February 6, followed by sessions on February 11 and 19 for comments on the plan. It, however, noted that written comments could still be submitted before the March 3 deadline.
The prior administration on January 14 launched the review process for the wind farm that would be developed by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners and be located approximately 20 miles offshore New York and 36 miles offshore New Jersey. The lease was awarded in 2022 as part of the auction for the New York Bight and the construction plan called for 2 GW of electricity from up to 117 wind turbines, enough to power more than 700,000 homes.
The Department of the Interior and BOEM said in announcing the cancellation that it is implementing President Trump’s memorandum temporarily halting offshore wind leasing on the Outer Continental Shelf. The memorandum also pauses new or renewed approvals, rights-of-way, permits, leases, or loans for offshore wind projects pending a review of federal wind leasing and permitting practices.
The new Secretary of the Interior, Doug Burgum, however during his first day in the position on February 3, signed measures to “immediately identify all emergency and legal authorities available to facilitate the identification, permitting, leasing, development, production, transportation, refining, distribution, exporting and generation of domestic energy resources and critical minerals,” and to “expedite the authorization” of key projects. Burgum said there would be an emphasis on deregulation and unlocking resources in Alaska following Trump’s directions.
Despite the new policies and move away from offshore wind energy, two projects highlighted that they are continuing to move forward. Equinor today, February 5, announced its year-end financial results and detailed its outlook including a continued commitment to the Empire Wind project. It completed the financing for the 800 MW project at the end of 2024 and highlights a low cost of entry as well as the utilization of project financing which along with future tax credits will cover the remaining CAPEX for Empire Wind. At the right time, it will also bring in a partner for the project which is due to be completed by 2027.
The commitment to Empire Wind comes as the company reported it is “high-grading its portfolio, reducing the investment outlook for renewables and low carbon solutions, and improving cost across the organization” as part of an effort to improve returns and free cash flow generation. Equinor said it was proceeding with Empire Wind, “a project in a challenging market with returns under pressure and uncertainty,” while reiterating that it will continue to deliver above 10 percent equity return on its current and renewable assets in operations.
Similarly, Dominion Energy highlighted its continued commitment and progress for its Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project. It reported yesterday that the installation has reached the halfway mark and that the offshore work remains on budget and on time. Due for completion at the end of 2026, the project with 176 wind turbines and a capacity of 2.6 GW, is slated to be the largest offshore wind farm in the United States.
Dominion holds rights for two other offshore wind projects in the mid-Atlantic region while Equinor has another one in New England and one in the mid-Atlantic. Those are listed as longer-term prospects, and likely to be delayed by the new Trump policies.
As the Paris AI Action Summit starts on February 10, 2025, the EU’s exemplary record on regulating AI and data protection must be taken as an aspirational standard by India.
On February 2, 2025, the first set of rules under the Artificial Intelligence Act (‘AI Act’), which came into force on August 1, 2024, came into force. Some notable implications of these rules include a prohibition on the use of AI programmes that evaluate social behaviour, and a partial restriction on facial recognition in public spaces. With the AI Act, the European Union has set yet another example regarding how liberal democracies could be cognizant regarding their responsibility towards providing citizens certain implicit reservations of digital rights and their enforceability without demand. Previously, the General Data Protection Regulation (‘GDPR’) had stood ground as a model in this regard, in a changing, highly connected world.
“Data is a new currency,” “Data is a new corporate raw material,” and “Data is the most valuable thing on earth” – these are no longer prognoses. Data is a new war. It is not unlikely that in the near future, political parties across electoral constituencies would pitch data protection as a crucial agenda within their manifestos. This will be guided by two core objectives - self-preservation, and the positioning of data protection as ‘national interest’, even as the latter will likely be guided by the standing of corporate lobbies on the issue.
The European Union's AI Act is a pioneering effort to regulate artificial intelligence, categorizing AI systems based on risk levels and setting a global precedent for ethical AI governance.
Until July 2017, when Alphabay, Thailand’s largest Dark Net marketplace, was busted for distributing fake licenses, cocaine, guns and similar prohibited goods, the country had not felt the need to intervene into personal data policy.
Cybercriminals often choose jurisdictions where it is hard to track them, and the governments in jurisdictions that lack a legal framework to intervene on personal data are often complicit. As for Thailand, officials claimed that they were uninformed about what was happening on Alphabay until they received communication from the Federal Bureau of Investigations. Naturally, the push for a global movement to legislate on the digital space would have to come from honest bureaucratic engagements which are, at least to some extent, divorced from private interests, and guided by a principled conscience. This uninfluenced, principled consensus is what should drive conversations and discussions around security and inclusivity at the upcoming AI Action Summit in Paris, scheduled to take place on February 10 and 11.
Examining European Union’s new AI Act
EU’s AI Act is a pioneering effort at establishing a comprehensive regulatory framework around AI. Introduced by the European Commission on April 21, 2021, the Act aims to ensure that AI systems are developed and utilized to uphold fundamental rights and “European values”.
It seeks to create a uniform legal framework for AI across countries in the EU, promoting innovation while safeguarding public interests. It addresses various stakeholders, including developers, providers, and users of AI systems, and applies to both the public and private sectors. The regulation's primary objectives are firstly, to ensure that AI systems in the EU market as safe and compliant with fundamental rights and EU values, secondly, to facilitate the development of a single market for lawful, safe, and trustworthy AI applications, and thirdly, to enhance the legal certainty to foster investment and innovation in AI.
An important feature of the Act is its risk-based classification approach, categorizing AI systems into four levels of risk:
Unacceptable Risk: AI systems deemed a threat to safety or fundamental rights are prohibited.
High Risk: AI systems that significantly affect individuals' rights or safety.
Limited Risk: AI systems with specific transparency obligations.
Minimal or No Risk: The proposed regulation does not intervene here, as these systems represent minimal or no risk to citizens' rights or safety.
The initial requirements, including prohibitions on certain high-risk AI practices, were enacted on February 2, 2025.
With the AI Act, the EU is reinforcing its stance on digital rights, prohibiting AI-driven social scoring and partially restricting facial recognition in public spaces.
The European Commission is also developing guidance to assist organizations in aligning with the Act's requirements. This includes clarifying obligations for high-risk AI systems and establishing procedures for incident reporting. The Commission has also initiated the AI Pact, a framework to help AI providers and users comply with key obligations before mandatory enforcement dates.
Non-EU entities offering AI solutions within the EU must adhere to the Act's provisions, impacting international AI development and deployment practices. This extraterritorial reach underscores the EU's ambition to lead ethical AI governance at a global stage.
The AI Act proposes establishing a European Artificial Intelligence Board to facilitate the legislation's implementation and drive the development of harmonized standards for AI. It also outlines substantial penalties for non-compliance.
The Act has been adopted and implemented across EU Member States. The European Commission continues to develop guidance and secondary legislations to support its application. The Act represents a significant step in the EU's digital strategy, aiming to balance technological innovation with protecting fundamental rights and public interests.
Here’s what to expect at the Paris AI Action Summit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will co-chair the AI Action Summit alongside the French President Emmanual Macron. Earlier editions of the AI summit were held in the United Kingdom in November 2023 and South Korea in May 2024.
This Summit will be attended by Heads of State, leaders of international organizations, CEOs of small and large companies, academics, non-governmental organizations, artists, and civil society members. French officials said nearly 100 countries and over 1,000 private sector and civil society representatives worldwide will be represented to make this summit as inclusive as possible.
OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, and MistralAI boss Arthur Mensch are among the industry heavyweights expected to attend the summit. Demis Hassabis, a chemistry Nobel winner who heads Google's DeepMind AI subsidiary, and economists like Nobel laureate Daron Acemoglu are also likely to visit, as are business leaders from German AI startup Aleph Alpha, Accenture, Mozilla, and Signal.
This summit will focus on five “main pillars” forming the basis of the preparatory work. The first is “AI in the service of the general interest,” the second is “the integration of artificial intelligence is transforming labor markets, job content, tasks and ways of working,” the third is “boost technological excellence in the service of innovation and artistic creation,” and the fourth is “trusted artificial intelligence.” Finally, the fifth is “global governance of AI.”
The Paris Summit aims to define a “common ground for international AI governance” amid a “major risk of fragmentation.”
The Paris AI Action Summit will bring together global leaders, industry pioneers, and policymakers to shape the future of AI governance, with India actively participating in the discussions.
Where does India stand on the AI Action Summit?
While addressing the media about PM Modi's participation in the AI Action Summit, the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, stated that India is also developing its own AI program.,
"We have our program, and we want to develop that further, and in that regard, we are in touch with several of our partners with whom we engage on technology issues and collaboration, and we would like to strengthen them further.".
The Minister of Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw said the government will host Open-Source models like DeepSeek on Indian servers soon. "We are going to do this very soon,” he remarked,“The team has already determined the following: How many servers are required? How much capacity is required? All those details have been worked out. We will very soon be hosting those open-source models on Indian servers."
This development comes after the emergence of Chinese AI DeepSeek, which has demonstrated that large-scale AI models can be developed without extensive access to graphics processing units.
All eyes on EU at the Action Summit
The European Union's proactive stance in regulating data protection and artificial intelligence highlights its dedication to safeguarding individual rights in the digital era.
The GDPR has set a global benchmark for data privacy. Building upon this foundation, the AI Act aims to ensure that AI technologies are developed and deployed responsibly, aligning with ethical standards and mitigating potential risks.
As technology evolves, the EU's comprehensive regulatory frameworks serve as exemplars for nations worldwide, highlighting the importance of balancing innovation with protecting fundamental human rights.
The upcoming Paris AI Action Summit presents a pivotal opportunity for global leaders to collaborate and learn from the EU’s commitment to Data Protection and Artificial Intelligence, ensuring that the digital future is safe and inclusive.
Harsh Gour is studying law at NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad.
Black women workers in New York City led the struggle against the most isolating of Great Depression labor conditions—echoing the increasingly individualized labor conditions of today.
The cover of New York Amsterdam News – May 27, 1939
(Photo via the New York Public Library)
Following the Great Depression, Black working class women flocked to street corners in the Bronx, New York, forced to sell domestic labor for far below its value in order to make ends meet. “They come to the Bronx, not because of what it promises,” reads the renowned exposé by two Black radical activists, investigative journalist Marvel Cooke and civil rights leader Ella Baker. These informal domestic workers flocked to the infamous “Bronx Slave Market,” “largely in desperation,” Cooke and Baker wrote in 1935.
Desperation did indeed characterize the circumstances at the so-called slave markets, in which impoverished women braved the elements for hours, waiting to be exploited by wealthy families for a few cents and hour and risking all manner of dangerous working conditions and potential sexual abuse. 15 years after working on her exposé with Baker, Cooke went undercover as a domestic worker to pen “I Was Part of the Bronx Slave Market,” in which she connected the plight of women seeking employment on Bronx street corners to the enduring legacy of slavery.
“I was the slave traded for two truck horses on a Memphis street corner in 1849. I was the slave trading my brawn for a pittance on a Bronx street corner in 1949,” Cooke wrote. “As I stood there waiting to be bought, I lived through a century of indignity.” On the street corners, predominantly Black women waited to be hired by wealthier white families from around the greater New York area.
Workers come together against exploitation
But as with all stories of labor exploitation, desperation is half of the story—the other half is a rich history of resistance and the fighting spirit of the working class. In the face of super-exploitation by employers, women workers would band together on the street corners to demand a certain base pay. Others would refuse window washing, one of the most dangerous of tasks domestic workers were asked to do, requiring workers to risk their lives to hang outside of windows in multistory buildings—which reportedly even resulted in injury and even death. Others would resist by coming to work prepared with wristwatches in anticipation of employers setting their clocks back in their homes in order to gain free labor time.
Labor organizers and radical activists of the time identified unionization efforts as a key way to combat the super-exploitation of the Bronx slave markets. At the first convention of the National Negro Congress in Chicago in 1936, a resolution was adopted which included a commitment to the “organization of women domestic workers into trade unions of the American Federation of Labor.”
“The Bronx ‘slave market’ is a graphic monument to the bitter exploitation of this most exploited section of the American working population – the Negro women,” read an article by Black communist organizer Louise Thompson Patterson. According to Patterson, delegates at the inaugural National Negro Congress “urged the need for organization on all fronts” and “spoke of the severe exploitation of women workers by the rich families of Westchester [north of the Bronx, where many domestic workers found employment].”
In 1936, the Domestic Workers Union Local 149 (DWU) in New York launched a campaign to organize all domestic workers working in private homes.
An article from June 11, 1936 in the Communist Party newspaper The Daily Worker read, “The [DWU] pointed yesterday to a recent headline in the New York Times which stated: ‘Depression ends servant problem. Magazine finds that untrained maids can be hired for as low as $4 a month.’ The ‘servant problem,’ the union emphasized, means thousands of men and women working as cooks, butlers, maids, governesses, laundresses and handymen.”
“At the present time, this group is also excluded from most labor legislation such as social security, accident compensation, minimum wage and maximum hour laws, because of their lack of organization,” the article continues. According to the article, the DWU listed the following as “the domestic servants’ program of demands”: “We want wages raised, hours cut, one full day off a week. We want decent food and a decent room on sleep-in jobs. We demand laws to protect us: minimum wage and maximum hour laws, new accident compensation and social security laws which do not leave out domestics. We want projects under the WPA for domestics at trade union wages, so that not one of us will have to go to the Bronx slave market for room and board only in an ‘opportunity’ home.”
The DWU established a free employment center on 2561 White Plains Road in the Bronx, in order to aid in organization efforts and eliminate the need for workers to sell their labor on street corners. However, the DWU encountered significant obstacles to organizing workers who frequented the Bronx “slave markets,” namely that these domestic workers faced uniquely isolating and harsh conditions as they searched for employment on an individual basis on the street corners.
The difficulties faced by DWU in organizing the most super-exploited workers in their sectors, subject to poverty wages, dangerous conditions, and abuse, are mirrored today in some difficulties faced in organizing workers in sectors such as the sprawling “gig economy,” or organizing workers at giants such as Amazon, subject to high turnover and excessive workplace injuries.
Indian users, especially women, are required to curate profiles that align with both modern ideals of individuality and traditional values of respectability.
Image Courtesy: PxHer
"February isn't just a month; it's a heartbeat—each day pulsing closer to Valentine's week, where love writes its own story in the language of roses and whispers."
Sounds too flowery? Well, it’s not that flowery. Recall the 2024 sales during Valentine’s week was double the usual days -- of roses, gifts, chocolates, the list goes on. In the race of fitting into these capitalist-made norms that yearn for material things, we are somewhere failing to recognise our emotional bonds.
Valentine’s Week is known for its ‘celebration of love’, but it also creates social and cultural pressures by promoting the idea that love must be expressed through material gifts or elaborate gestures. Marketing, social media, and entertainment create expectations that participation in these norms is necessary to validate relationships. This often leads to stress in romantic partnerships, as people feel obligated to meet societal standards or compete with other’s celebrations online.
The emphasis on visible displays often overshadows genuine emotional connection. Additionally, it marginalises those who are single, financially constrained, or value non-material expressions of love, reinforcing consumer-driven norms at the expense of authenticity and inclusivity. Facing emotional pressure, several people may feel obligated to partake in these consumer rituals to avoid disappointing their partners or to maintain their image on social media. As a result, the sincerity of the emotion often tends to become secondary to the act of giving or receiving gifts.
This is not the only channel for commercialisation of love. How can we forget the modern method of “finding love” via dating apps, which has significantly altered the landscape of romantic relationships globally, and India is no exception. With a rapidly digitising society, platforms like Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge have gained immense popularity in urban and semi urban areas. The revenue of the online dating market in India is projected to reach $68.41million in 2025, as per one estimate.
Dating platforms, once seen as niche tools for meeting new people, have now become an integral part of how individuals form, navigate, and maintain relationships. This approach to dating, often dominated by algorithms and data-driven matching, encourages users to treat emotional connections as marketable goods. The experience of love, attraction, and intimacy becomes increasingly mediated by technology, where algorithms—designed to predict compatibility based on data points—decide who meets whom, and how.
In this endeavour, users engage in a constant cycle of swiping, matching, and evaluating potential partners, often reducing complex human emotions to a series of choices made in a matter of seconds. While these platforms promise the ideal of "true love" or a “compatible partner”, they simultaneously foster an environment where emotional value is commodified, packaged, and sold to users, based on consumerist principles.
Dating platforms like Tinder and Bumble use AI (artificial intelligence) and machine learning to analyse user data for compatibility, relying on algorithms, like Tinder's "Elo-based" system, which ranks users' desirability, or Bumble's behavioural metrics. However, these globally developed systems often reflect Western ideals of attractiveness and compatibility.
As per a survey by Carolyn Lauckner, many participants reported negative experiences while using dating apps, specifically mentioning instances of deception or catfishing and race discrimination. It is widely seen that preferences and systemic biases embedded in these algorithms can perpetuate exclusion, with several studies revealing that lighter-skinned women receive more attention.
On dating apps, the emotional labour is both internal and external. Users swipe profiles, select the most flattering photos, and strategise responses to appeal to an audience. That leads users to curate an ideal self for presentation, whichdiminish their self-esteem in the long run. The issue here is that it creates an echo chamber of opinions, never allowing exposure topeople with diverse characteristics. This inevitably results in discrimination against minorities and marginalised groups, reinforcing existing biases and deepening social divisions.
The ‘premium’ model of dating apps offers advanced features through paid subscription creating a digital divide. Paid features enhance visibility and matching success, commodifying romance and sidelining economically disadvantaged groups. Social hierarchies persist as users infer caste and religion through profiles, leading to discrimination and echo chambers, while rural and non-English-speaking users remain marginalised. These platforms, while expanding romantic opportunities, often reinforce societal inequalities
Tinder’s swipe-based system reduces human interactions to transactions, leading to feelings of objectification and dehumanisation. It also fosters instant gratification, contributing to ghosting, anxiety, and reduced trust in relationships, while its algorithmic filtering reinforces biases and limits meaningful connections. This digital reflection of cultural norms raises concerns about fairness, diversity, and inclusivity, impacting user experiences and societal dynamics. Understanding these challenges is crucial to addressing the intersection of technology, culture, and relationships in modern India.
In India, the emotional labour demanded by dating apps is shaped by unique cultural and societal pressures. Users are required to curate profiles that align with both modern ideals of individuality and traditional values of respectability. This dual burden is particularly pronounced for women, who must strike a balance between projecting independence and adhering to familial expectations. For example, a woman showcasing her professional achievements might also emphasise her traditional values in subtle ways, such as mentioning family or cultural interests. This constant self-monitoring and curation reflect sociologist Arlie Russell Hochschild’s concept of "deep acting," where users internalise the emotional labour required to reconcile these conflicting demands.
To democratise dating in India, culturally sensitive algorithms and inclusive practices are essential, addressing the complex interplay of technology, culture, and relationships.
In India, gender dynamics on dating apps are shaped by patriarchal norms, with male users outnumbering females (62:38 ratios on Tinder), leading to harassment and unsolicited messages. A 2020 Bumble survey found 83% of Indian women experienced inappropriate behaviour.
The algorithms also favour Eurocentric beauty standards, side-lining Indian skin tones and body types, reinforcing biases linked to media and advertising. The swiping culture prioritises physical appearance over deeper compatibility, marginalising those who don't meet idealised beauty standards. This superficial approach overlooks cultural values and familial expectations.
The swiping culture on dating apps in India also creates addictive, dopamine-driven cycles that prioritise instant gratification and superficial connections, often leading to low self-esteem, especially among marginalised groups. The emphasis on appearance over deeper compatibility, coupled with societal pressures, exacerbates mental health challenges.
To address these issues, platforms should prioritise algorithmic transparency, inclusive design, and localised features, such as caste-neutral filters and enhanced safety for women and LGBTQ+ users.
Affordable access and community engagement are also key to ensuring these platforms are equitable. Promoting meaningful interactions and educating users about shared values can reduce the emotional toll and encourage more genuine connections.
The writer is pursuing Masters in Political Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi. The views are personal.
Kashmir: For Tribal Women, Winter is All About ‘Wood, Water, Worries’
With no labour work in the harsh weather, most of them also complain of little help from menfolk, adding to their burden of fetching firewood, water and caring for family.
A group of tribal women gather in a traditional house in the village of Doodhmarg in Tral, amidst the tranquil atmosphere of their rural community Picture Credit: Raihana Maqbool
Tral, Kashmir: In freezing winters, Phula Jan sits near the traditional mud stove, locally known as chulla, blowing into it to light up the wood and prepare dinner for her family. Her kids, sitting beside her, wait patiently for supper to get ready and keep close to the chulla to stay warm. Firewood is the only source of warmth available to the family during the harsh winters.
Life is tough for tribal women living in the far-flung villages of Kashmir and winters only bring in more challenges, especially when menfolk refuse to help in any way and, according to the women here, sit lazily in the house draped in thick blankets sipping tea all day long, while women walk the difficult, slippery and rough paths to arrange for firewood and drinking water for the family.
Jan lives in the village of Gundtal Doodhmarg in the district of Pulwama, 54 kilometers from the capital city of Srinagar. The village is located on a hilltop with a narrow, zigzag road and several narrow pathways, one of them leading to Jan’s house. She lives here with her husband and two kids aged four and two. Jan’s husband is a labourer.
“The winter months are tough, with nearly six feet of snow and temperatures dropping to minus 12 degrees. Our workload includes arranging firewood for cooking and keeping ourselves warm. It is even more daunting given that the men hardly help, feeling that they have done their duty by making arrangements and stocking food during the summer,” says Jan, mentioning that in addition to the household chores, she also has to take care of her kids.
Winters in this Himalayan region of Kashmir begin in late November and continue till March, when the days start getting slightly warm. There is a 40-day harsh period, locally known as ‘Chillai-e-Kalan, during which temperatures drop drastically. For the people living in the mountain regions of Kashmir, the winter months are extremely harsh, especially for the women, who have to bear the burden of household as well as outside work.
“My day starts with arranging firewood for the chulla from the nearby forest. I walk with the women in my community for at least two hours in the snow to get firewood, which is our fuel for cooking as well as to keep ourselves warm,” Jan explains. According to the 2011 Census, the Gujjar and Bakarwal tribal communities represent the third largest ethnic group in Jammu and Kashmir, constituting more than 11.9% of the total population of the state.
In the freezing winter temperatures of Kashmir, a tribal woman washes utensils outside, grappling with the lack of water supply caused by frozen pipes in local households Picture Credit: Raihana Maqbool
Women in these communities often have limited decision-making powers in the households. As per a research study titled ‘Autonomy and Decision-making Ability among Gujjar Women of Kashmir’ “the role of the women in decision-making is restricted to making decisions related to minor domestic matters with men independently making significant decisions.”
A deeper look by the research reveals that a vast majority of women report being denied equal opportunities to voice their opinions or contribute to important decisions, with many asserting that men often make choices independently.
The research emphasises the crucial role of Gujjar women as essential contributors both at home and in the workforce. However, it points out that their empowerment in asserting themselves during decision-making remains alarmingly low.
"The authoritarian male-dominated nature of the family necessarily invests decision-making powers in the male members," the study concludes, highlighting the systemic barriers that hinder women's voices from being heard in their communities.
Another study by the University of Jammu indicates that Gujjar and Bakerwal women are not aware of their rights and schemes launched by the government for their education, health, and social uplift as they live in far-flung and difficult areas and are nomads. Living in faraway places in remote areas, they hardly get any information regarding such schemes.
Echoing Jan’s sentiments, Mansha Jan, another woman from the community describes the innumerable challenges women face during winter.
“Women in our communities have to be exceptional to endure these winter months. I rarely get any help from my husband and most of the time he just passes orders. Finding firewood in the forests, cooking, and caring for kids and cattle is overwhelming. But we have no choice; we must walk through frozen, slippery paths to fetch water, sometimes twice a day,” she says.
For the women, the tasks are relentless and exhausting keeping them busy all day.
“The winters here get harsher each year and weather patterns are also changing. If we do not gather firewood, our families will starve. The men rarely do any work in winter. We get stuck in our homes. Even getting essentials like groceries from the markets is difficult because we have to walk for several kilometers. Sometimes we store essentials for winters, but we run out of them most of the time,” she says.
Hashima Begum, an elderly woman and a mother of eight, remarks on the irony of enjoying the first snowfall. “For us, it’s also a warning that hard days lie ahead.”
Another woman, Shareefa Jan, stresses the issue of electricity during winter, apart from the lack of basic amenities—including firewood, and water, and the indifference from men— that add to their difficulties.
According to the 2020 Economic Survey of Jammu and Kashmir, more than 42% of the population of Scheduled Tribes, of which the majority are Gujjars and Bakarwals, lived below the poverty line. Many in the village struggle continue to live in dire conditions. Unequal Distribution of Work In tribal communities, men typically do not help with household chores, leaving the burden entirely on women.
Phula Jan, sits by the traditional mud stove, known as a chulla, blowing into it to ignite the wood for dinner. Her kids are beside her, and firewood is their only source of warmth during the harsh winters. Picture Credit: Raihana Maqbool
"We work and earn for the family. Women working at home is an age-old tradition here and we can't do that work. Sometimes I do help in some outside world like cutting firewood. But helping with kitchen chores isn’t for me,” says Shabir Khatana, adding that “as men, our main job is to provide livelihood to our family.”
While women complain that men rarely go out to work in the winter months and sit at home idle, Khatana claims winter months significantly reduce labour opportunities, forcing men to remain at home.
“I work as a labourer and getting a job in winter is sometimes difficult. What can I do about that?” he says.
Javaid Rahi, a tribal activist, whose work focuses on research and advocacy for tribal societies in Kashmir, explaining the unique dynamics of work and gender roles within tribal communities, specifically among the Gujjars, said, “In tribal society, there is a concept of equality. However, this equality manifests in distinct roles: men prioritise their work while women manage household responsibilities. For example, a woman's role encompasses household chores, fetching water, and washing clothes, which they view as their responsibility.”
Rahi says distribution of labour is essential for the functioning of these communities: “The man’s job is to earn and engage in agricultural work. Society depends on this division of labour, and since it is not an urbanised society, men and women do not typically interfere with each other’s domains.”
He adds, “The tribal society has been traditionally shaped in this manner, with defined roles existing in an equal context for decades. There is no pressure on women; they embrace their tasks as responsibilities.”
In these communities, agricultural work and access to grazing land are of utmost priority, followed by the availability of water.
“In many tribal villages, the distribution of water is not as organised as in more urban areas, leading to significant challenges. Tribal people often live in remote areas, which means that government schemes frequently do not reach them. Water access is a critical issue, particularly during winter months,” Rahi says.
Winter exacerbates the burden on women, as many men leave their homes in search of work in warmer locations.
“During this time, women are left to shoulder the entire load of domestic responsibilities, facing increased pressures in the absence of their male counterparts. The health of women in the tribal regions is not prioritised; they rarely focus on their health and well-being,” Rahi says.
The Days Don’t End for Women
For tribal women, the day does not end.
"We have to walk four to five km into the to collect firewood. After we collect the wood, we bind it carry it back on our heads. The wood is heavier in winter due to water absorption, and can be anything between 10-15," says Gulzara Akhtar.
"I feel that we keep working throughout the day. I get up early in the morning to prepare breakfast for everyone while getting the kangri—earthen pots filled with coal to provide warmth during the winter—ready for my family. After serving breakfast, I head out to fetch water,” she says.
Akhtar's experiences highlight the demanding routines women face in these communities, illustrating their integral roles in sustaining households and coping with the adverse effects of weather conditions.
Asked if men could help the women in any household work, Aisha giggles.
"We have never seen them do any household work. If they could help, I would at least get to rest for some time. I love to knit and would love to do that in my free time," she adds.
This story is supported by a grant from the Pulitzer Centre for Crisis Reporting. The writer is an independent journalist based in Kashmir.
Port workers in Kenya have continued their struggle for fair wages amid heavy suppression by police and hired goons.
CPM-K members with port workers in Kenya. Photo: CPMK
Kenya’s private port workers, also called Bangaizas, in the coastal city of Mombasa are fighting against severe exploitation and oppressive working conditions despite their critical role in the supply chain. In recent weeks, these workers have been organizing to demand that employers and industry brokers comply with the 2023 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) which sets rates for daily labor, overtime, Sunday work, and waiting hours.
In the last week of January, thousands of private port workers at the Changamwe and Shimanzi warehouses staged mass protests to demand employers pay them at agreed upon rates in compliance with the CBA. However, workers were violently repressed by the Kenyan police who were reportedly deployed at the request of warehouse owners and contractors. The police presence was seemingly intended to suppress their industrial action, with officers intimidating workers and preventing those dissatisfied with their pay from approaching the premises. This crackdown has been accompanied by violent attacks on workers by hired goons, further entrenching fear and impunity within the industry.
Bangaizas: undervalued, overworked
As per the CBA which took effect on February 1, 2023, daily labor rates are Ksh 883 (USD 6.8) for an eight-hour shift, increasing to Ksh 918 (USD 7.1) in 2024. Prior attempts by workers to demand compliance with the agreement have been met with threats of job loss, while efforts to organize industrial action have been systematically suppressed through court indictments on fabricated charges such as illegal assembly, trespassing, and incitement to violence.
Kenya’s port workers, engaged in docking support services and warehouse operations, primarily rely on daily contracts or piece-rate wages, despite being essential to the smooth functioning of the port and the broader logistics industry.
Most of these workers are employed by companies in shipping, clearing and forwarding, freight, logistics, and warehousing, but earn meager wages that barely sustain them, leaving no opportunity to save and experience economic stability. The companies that profit from their labor through marine pilotage, tugboat assistance, stevedoring, cargo surveying, waste management, tally clerking, bulking, blending, sorting, loading, and offloading continue to exploit them while disregarding their basic labor rights.
Worker solidarity
Following the police repression of the workers’ mobilization, the Communist Party Marxist Kenya (CPM-K) issued a strong statement condemning the brutal attack on warehouse workers, which they allege was orchestrated with the complicity of both employers and the state. The party denounced the use of armed thugs to suppress workers’ resistance, describing it as a direct assault on the fundamental right to organize and demand fair remuneration.
“We demand that the police stop acting as mercenaries for exploiters & instead uphold the law by taking immediate action against those responsible for violence against workers!” the CPM-K said in a statement.
Hired goons violently disrupted a meeting convened by CPM-K’s National Chairperson, Mwaivu Kaluka, on January 29 of workers and supporters. Shillingi Shevo, Chairperson of the Warehouses Committee, along with two other workers, were singled out and brutally assaulted by these thugs, who they allege were acting on behalf of exploitative warehouse owners. This violent crackdown on labor organizing comes just days after the Registrar of Trade Unions denied waterfront workers the right to form an independent union, an outright declaration of war against the working class, CPMK stated.
The CPM-K National Chairperson based in Mombasa told Peoples Dispatch, “The recent events at the Coastal Kenya is a direct attack on the rights of workers, existing Trade Unions have been silent on the matter which has given some unscrupulous individual an opportunity to doctor a fake Collective Bargaining Agreement to replace the existing one which is against the procedures set out by law in creating a CBA. The issue of remuneration is just one among many other issues that affect these workers who work under unhealthy and unsafe conditions.”
The plight of port workers is part of a broader systemic failure to protect labor rights in the country. The complicity of employers, state institutions, and even mainstream trade unions has left them without a shield against exploitation. If this situation persists, it will push more workers into cycles of poverty. The fight for fair wages, safe working conditions, and the right to organize remains an urgent and necessary struggle, one that demands immediate action from all progressive forces in Kenya.
Scholz criticizes Trump's Gaza plan as 'scandal' in TV debate
Xinhua | Updated: 2025-02-10
This snapshot from a livestream by German state-owned international broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW) on Feb 9, 2025, showed German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in his first televised debate with Friedrich Merz, leader of the opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU), ahead of Bundestag elections on Feb 23.
[Photo/Xinhua]
BERLIN - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Sunday evening criticized US President Donald Trump's plan to relocate Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, calling it "a scandal".
Scholz and Friedrich Merz, leader of the opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU), engaged in the first televised debate ahead of Bundestag elections on Feb 23.
One of the key topics discussed was how Germany should engage with the United States under Trump's administration. Addressing the Middle East issue, Scholz reaffirmed his opposition to Trump's Gaza proposal.
Speaking at a campaign event on Friday, Scholz had voiced his disapproval, stating, "We must not resettle the population of Gaza to Egypt," and expressing his "complete rejection" of the plan.
During Sunday's debate, Scholz described his strategy for dealing with Trump as involving "clear words and friendly conversations". Merz, while also expressed concerns over Trump's proposal, described it as "part of a series of irritating proposals from the American Administration". However, he suggested that Germany should wait to see which plans the US government intends to pursue "seriously".
On the issue of potential US tariffs, Scholz affirmed that the European Union is prepared to "act within an hour" if necessary.
Merz, meanwhile, emphasized the importance of European unity, including cooperation with Britain despite Brexit, called for "a common European strategy" to tackle challenges.
Their debate also covered key domestic issues, including the economy, immigration, and the impact of ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The upcoming snap elections are seen as a crucial test for Scholz's Social Democratic Party (SPD), which currently polls at 16 percent. The conservative CDU and its Bavarian sister party, Christian Social Union (CSU), lead the polls with stable support of around 30 percent.
SOLIDARITY TOURISM
More Chinese tourists eyed as Sri Lanka deepens ties
LEFT WING GOVERNMENT IN SRI LANKA
By XU WEIWEI in Hong Kong | China Daily Global | Updated: 2025-02-10
This photo taken on Oct 26, 2024 shows a view of Port City Colombo, Sri Lanka. [Photo/Port City Colombo/Handout via Xinhua]
Sri Lanka has high expectations from China's vast outbound tourism market, industry insiders say.
Following Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's visit to China last month, bilateral ties have reached a new high, they added, highlighting Sri Lanka's manifold strengths as an outbound destination.
"President Dissanayake's visit underscores Sri Lanka's commitment to fostering robust ties with China, a partner that has consistently supported Sri Lanka's developmental aspirations," said Ananda Goonatilleke, president of Sri Lanka-China Friendship Association.
Prasad Wijesuriya, the association's general secretary, said the visit has laid a robust foundation for boosting Sri Lanka's tourism sector through improved connectivity, infrastructure development and cultural exchanges. With these factors in place, Sri Lanka is well positioned to attract a growing number of Chinese travelers in 2025 and beyond, he said.
The signing of 15 cooperation documents during Dissanayake's visit reflects a deepened bilateral relationship, he added, which is expected to drive joint tourism promotion efforts, showcasing Sri Lanka's rich cultural heritage and natural beauty to the Chinese market.
"Additionally, they focus on high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and projects like the Colombo Port City and Hambantota Port. Integrated development can enhance infrastructure and create new attraction for tours," Wijesuriya said.
Cementing partnership
Priantha Fernando, former chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, said Dissanayake's visit to China could cement a long-lasting partnership, benefiting multiple sectors of Sri Lanka's economy.
"Tourism will be at the forefront, delivering rapid, sustainable benefits," Fernando said. "We are confident that the visit will usher economic affluence to the Sri Lankan economy."
The country is confident the president's visit will help it meet its target of 325,000 Chinese tourist arrivals this year, serving as a stepping stone for even greater inflows by 2030.
Last month, the country recorded 252,761 tourist arrivals — the highest ever for January — according to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority.
Alex Lee Chun-ting of Miramar Travel in Hong Kong said travelers from his city and the broader Asia-Pacific region are increasingly drawn to low-carbon tourism, making Sri Lanka a highly popular destination.
Wijesuriya echoed this view, highlighting Sri Lanka's appeal to Chinese visitors. "Sri Lanka is a year-round travel destination that provides warm and pleasant weather throughout the year."
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