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  • The Dark Web Beyond Stereotypes: Privacy, Crime and Regulation

    The Dark Web Beyond Stereotypes: Privacy, Crime and Regulation

    The Dark web is a deliberately hidden segment of the internet that is accessed daily via specialised anonymising software by millions of users, ranging from citizens seeking privacy to cybercriminals hiding illegal trade. While many see the Dark web merely as a space full of cybercrime and obscenity operating beyond the reach of law enforcement, experts maintain that this depiction fails to represent its full scope. A recent report by the cybersecurity research institution RAND Corporation noted that the Dark web “may be used for legitimate purposes as well as to conceal criminal or otherwise malicious activities.”

    Public attention toward the Dark web has grown in recent years because of increased ransomware attacks, along with ongoing discussions about digital privacy. Governments argue that “warrant-proof encryption” creates obstacles for police investigations, but digital rights organisations argue that strong encryption should be used to safeguard people’s right to private communication. For many internet users, the Dark web enters public discussion only when a major arrest, ransomware incident or large-scale data breach makes headlines.
    The takedown of major Dark web marketplaces such as Silk Road and AlphaBay has changed public perceptions of the Dark web as lawless.
    At the same time, these events have highlighted the Dark web’s growing political and technological importance by demonstrating how anonymising technologies can empower both illicit networks and activists seeking to bypass restrictive censorship. As governments expand online monitoring and civil society groups push back against censorship, the Dark web has increasingly become a subject of debate where issues of security, privacy, and control come into conflict.

    What is the Dark web?
    The internet is often explained using the iceberg theory, a popular visual metaphor that builds upon the work of computer scientist Michael K. Bergman. In his 2001 seminal white paper, “The Deep Web: Surfacing Hidden Value,” Bergman originally compared searching the internet to “dragging a net across the surface of the ocean,” noting that while much is caught in the net, a wealth of deep information is missed. This concept naturally evolved into the widely used iceberg analogy. Just like the tip of an iceberg, the surface web, which accounts for roughly 4–5 per cent of the internet, includes websites that can be accessed through regular search engines. Below this lies the deep web, which makes up most online content and includes private databases, academic portals, subscription platforms, and medical records.
    The Dark web is a smaller and deliberately hidden part of the deep web, accessible only through specialised software.
    Most of these hidden sites function through an anonymous network, which includes Tor (The Onion Router) and I2P. Tor, developed in the early 2000s with the support of the US Naval Research Agency, uses multiple layers of routing to hide a user’s identity and IP address. These tools are designed to provide anonymity. Usage data states that millions of people use Tor worldwide, with hundreds of thousands of daily users in the United States alone.

    Concerns and risks
    The Dark web is perhaps best known for its association with illegal activities. Dark web marketplaces have long been used to trade drugs, weapons, forged documents, stolen data, and malware. Furthermore, the network’s anonymity is notoriously exploited to facilitate severe human rights abuses, including human trafficking, sex rings, and the distribution of child exploitation material. International law enforcement agencies have conducted joint operations to eliminate major platforms, which resulted in both arrests and asset confiscation.
    Anonymity presents major challenges for investigators. Many transactions on the Dark web involve cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin or privacy-focused alternatives like Monero, making financial tracing difficult. Authorities argue that encrypted communication tools create a safe environment for organised crime. However, law enforcement agencies have developed new methods, including undercover operations and monitoring concealed platforms, to identify offenders.
    In recent years, hidden forums have increasingly supported wider cybercrime networks. Ransomware groups and fraud rings, together with data brokers, frequently use hidden platforms to plan their attacks and sell stolen information. Companies now depend on Dark web monitoring tools, which help them identify both leaked credentials and initial indicators of data breaches. However, the hidden sites still pose significant dangers to individual users because they use scams, malware and phishing attacks as their main methods of operation.

    Alternative uses
    Despite these risks, the Dark web also serves vital non-criminal purposes. In countries with restrictive media laws and widespread online monitoring, anonymising networks help activists and dissidents to bypass censorship and organise securely. Journalists use Dark web platforms to establish source communication, which protects their sources from potential backlash. Major news organisations operate .onion versions of their websites, which enable whistleblowers to submit information without revealing their identities.

    Government and expert responses
    At the policy level, responses remain divided. Proposals that would give governments special access to encrypted communications have faced strong opposition from technology companies and rights groups. The European Union and United Kingdom court systems, together with their data protection authorities, have issued warnings that any reduction of encryption strength will endanger both free speech rights and individual safety. Monitoring organisations such as Freedom House have observed a worldwide increase in governmental restrictions that control online anonymity, which they believe makes it harder for people to maintain their privacy and obtain information.
    Experts increasingly argue that large-scale monitoring measures are unlikely to eliminate Dark web activity and may instead weaken trust in digital systems. Many call for more targeted enforcement, improved technical capacity, and stronger international cooperation rather than blanket regulation.

    The ongoing debate
    The ongoing Dark web debate shows how digital tensions between different forces in society create their own problems. Governments seek to protect national security while fighting crime, but civil society organisations emphasise the need for people to have the right to privacy and freely express themselves. Both sides continue to debate workable long-term solutions. In some cases, attempts to control the Dark web may push operations into more secretive areas, but the practice of unregulated anonymity creates dangerous situations.
    The Dark web functions as both a criminal space and a space that provides freedom to users. It has developed alongside the policies and technologies designed to regulate it. As surveillance capabilities expand and internet freedoms fluctuate worldwide, the Dark web is likely to remain both a refuge and a regulatory challenge.

    Image Credits: David Whelan/ Creative Commons Zero, Public Domain Dedication

  • The Threat of El Niño 2026

    The Threat of El Niño 2026

    A potentially historic “Super” El Niño is currently developing in the Pacific Ocean. The latest World Meteorological Organisation update suggests a high probability of El Niño conditions emerging between June and August 2026. According to the forecasts, this event could be very similar to the 1876–78 El Niño in terms of intensity, the strongest on record, which led to severe droughts and widespread famines across several affected regions.

    What is El Niño?

    El Niño is a natural phenomenon that affects the climate by increasing the temperature of the surface layer of the tropical Pacific Ocean along the equator. 

    This phenomenon occurs every 2 to 7 years, and causes a disruption of weather patterns globally. Despite having varying levels of intensity from year to year, El Niño has a widespread climate effect as it is commonly associated with warmer-than-average temperatures across the globe. Southeast Asian countries often suffer from decreased rainfall and droughts, whereas North and South American regions tend to have heavy rainfall that causes floods and landslides. 

     

    What Happens When a Natural Cycle Meets a Warming Planet

    Australia and Indonesia have drier climates that affect the availability of water resources and agriculture. In recent years, researchers have become increasingly concerned about the direct link of El Niño to the rapid change in climate. Though a natural phenomenon, human-induced climate change may have an inordinate impact on El Niño. For instance, if an El Niño event occurs during a period of already high global temperatures, it can further contribute to record-breaking heat, as experienced in 2026. 

    Climatologists point out that this rapidly growing phenomenon is causing unprecedented warming of the planet and putting the year among the hottest years ever recorded, while 2027 may see even higher temperatures.

    “El Niño conditions will pour fuel on the fire of a warming world.  Impacts will hit even harder, travel even farther, and cross borders with devastating speed.  The only effective response is climate action equal to the crisis – ending the addiction to fossil fuels, accelerating the shift to renewables, protecting the most vulnerable, and delivering early warning systems for all.”  warns UN Secretary-General António Guterres in his WMO press release.  

     

    To conclude, the emergence of El Niño serves as an alarming indicator that climate-related catastrophes are no longer distant possibilities. The scale of its impact on weather conditions highlights the urgent need for stronger mitigation measures and preparedness for the future. Ignoring these signals could leave communities increasingly exposed to possible climate extremes, making them more vulnerable to such future events.

  • Inside the SpaceX IPO: Who Really Benefits?

    Inside the SpaceX IPO: Who Really Benefits?

    On June 12, 2026, SpaceX went public on the Nasdaq under the ticker SPCX. Shares were priced at $135 each, valuing the company at $1.75 trillion and raising around $75 billion, making it the biggest IPO in stock market history, topping even Saudi Aramco’s 2019 listing. The IPO made founder Elon Musk the world’s first trillionaire. 

    The hype was massive. Over 125 analysts from 21 banks were brought in for the roadshow, and SpaceX hosted a special event for 1,500 retail investors days before pricing. Starlink, the satellite internet business that makes up the majority of SpaceX’s revenue, was the headline story driving the astronomical valuation.

    It looks thrilling on the surface. However, looking closer at how this deal was structured presents a different image; one where everyday investors are being handed the risk while insiders make a clean exit.

    In a typical IPO, regular people get around 5-10% of shares. SpaceX reportedly set aside up to 30% for retail investors three to six times the norm. Musk framed this as giving ordinary people a rare chance to invest in a world-changing company.

    But there’s a catch. At a $1.75 trillion valuation, SpaceX’s stock price already assumes everything goes right, Starlink keeps growing fast, Starship becomes a commercial success, and new ventures like xAI pay off. The company’s own filings disclose billions in ongoing losses. Insiders have known about that cash burn for years. Most retail buyers are learning about it in between breathless news headlines about a possible $5 trillion valuation.

    On top of that, the shares sold to the public are Class A which carry far less voting power than the Class B shares held by Musk and a few key insiders. Retail investors are being invited to fund the company’s future while being given almost no say in how it’s run. Calling that “inclusion” is a stretch.

    While retail buyers rush in, the people who were in early are rushing out  at extraordinary profit.

    In the year before the IPO, SpaceX ran private share sales for employees and insiders that valued the company at around $800 billion. That’s less than half the $1.75 trillion IPO price. Anyone who bought into those private sales and held to the public listing effectively doubled their money almost overnight.

    Board-level relationships raise further questions. SpaceX board member Antonio Gracias runs Valor Equity Partners, which owned about 7.3% of SpaceX shares going into the IPO. At the same time, SpaceX’s xAI subsidiary has leased equipment from Valor in deals worth over $20 billion. A board member’s firm profiting from both equity stakes and commercial contracts with a related company is exactly the kind of thing that should attract scrutiny from anyone buying shares.

    The IPO also appears designed to settle a web of insider deals. SpaceX’s filings describe a $60 billion acquisition of Cursor, with termination fees payable in SpaceX stock if the IPO hadn’t gone through. This was never just a fundraiser. It was a mechanism for converting years of private arrangements into public wealth quietly, and at the public’s expense.

    SpaceX might be the company to lead the human race into planetary colonization. Starlink may be a real business with real growth that provides a vital service to millions around the world, but it is clear that this IPO was structured to benefit insiders first and retail investors last. The record allocation to everyday buyers is not generosity, it’s a way to absorb risk and pass it on to your average retail investor.

  • Beating Bottomless Budgets

    Beating Bottomless Budgets

    Inflated company valuations and government budgets are not the only thing bogging us down in this economy; the problem has made its way through to the filmmaking industry as well, with production costs rising across genres and formats alarmingly.

    The recently announced Harry Potter TV series for HBO is a reminder of the precedent studios give to bigger projects with popular fan bases, as they funnel money like there is no tomorrow. Some reports have speculated on very high per-episode budgets, though while figures remain unconfirmed, some describe it as around $100 million per episode. To put that into perspective, the original eight-film series had combined production budgets estimated at around $1 billion. Even after considering inflation and the franchise’s popularity, a single season would rival the combined cost of the eight films, and the films themselves raked in more than $7 billion at the global box office, a scale of theatrical revenue that streaming platforms cannot promise.

    The global nature of content now calls for bigger budgets, and this trend now follows in the form of Amazon’s The Rings of Power, which is reported to have cost around half a billion dollars for its first season, making it one of the most expensive TV shows in history. In recent years, feature films have seen similar cost escalation. Reported and estimated budgets include Netflix’s The Electric State ($350 million), Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One (nearly $400 million), Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny ($300 million), and several large Marvel-related projects, like Deadpool & Wolverine (approximately $500 million). These big budgets are often a hit or a miss. 

    Here in India, many films find it difficult to manage the growing scale and ambition. A lack of well-planned production and operations is a major challenge, evident in the cases of Brahmastra and Adipurush, both of which exceeded their original budgets and faced audience dissatisfaction and weaker-than-expected revenue. Budgets also run deep for highly anticipated projects. Controversy aside, in the case of Don 3, Excel Entertainment reportedly incurred losses of around ₹45 crore in pre-production alone.

    A contributing factor is the growing share marketing and promotion occupy in the budget, a new requirement in an increasingly cluttered content landscape. Even indie and small-budget films have their own demons, the kind produced not for high viewership but for critical acclaim. For instance, Anora which won five Academy Awards in 2025, including Best Picture, had a production budget of $6 million but reportedly spent three times that amount on marketing, distribution, and awards campaigning.

    At the center of this problem are studios and streaming platforms. The booming streaming industry initially had the power to bid aggressively for content and drive up prices based on the criteria it set, helping in setting new industry standards. Today, streamers have the resources to produce like studios and create original content, the value of which is harder to determine because traditional metrics like box office revenue do not apply in the same way.

    As for studios, there persist unsustainable norms around blockbusters and how their grandeur is often linked to budgets allocated for locations, VFX, and talent. There is ongoing pressure to keep juicing franchises despite diminishing returns on sequels, like the Fast & Furious Franchise, which has reached narrative saturation but production scale and action sequences continue to grow.

    The days of bottle episodes feel rarer, when we were consuming exceptionally written shows that spanned multiple seasons with hour-long episodes. Now we may wait a year for 8 to 12 episodes only to have forgotten the plot or to find that the studio has canceled the show. Much of this is because it is getting harder to create memorable content and more expensive to increase engagement.

    Bigger budgets should translate to bigger responsibilities and higher standards of quality. The biggest asset we have as moviegoers and subscribers is to appreciate and pay for content that caters to deeper human conditions in contrast to the kind that only feeds off elaborate visuals.

  • A World Cup Under Scrutiny

    A World Cup Under Scrutiny

    The latest edition of the FIFA World Cup is being watched by billions of people across the globe not only for the football being played, but also for the various controversies surrounding the entirety of the tournament, with issues plaguing the event before it has even started. The tournament this year, being hosted across three countries: the United States, Mexico, and Canada, is the second time the World Cup is being hosted across multiple nations; the last time being in 2002, hosted across South Korea and Japan. However, current geopolitical tensions and conflicts have caused a plethora of problems for FIFA, the players, and the staff involved in the tournament.

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    The broader political landscape has caused a lot of geopolitical clashes with countries that are participating in the World Cup. Iran had its participation under doubt due to its current relationship with the United States amidst their recent conflicts. The refusal from FIFA to relocate all matches with Iran to Mexico did not help in ensuring participation. President Trump’s comment on how it would not be “appropriate” for the Iranian national team to attend the World Cup “for their own health and safety” caused the Iranian government to call out the United States to lose its hosting rights. The Iranian players, who have recently completed a match against New Zealand, were forced to head back to their Mexico base immediately rather than being allowed to stay in the US.  

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    There has been a string of visa and immigration issues plaguing the players, the staff, and the fans alike. The travel ban enacted by the Trump administration has affected fans from various countries and restricted official staff from entering the United States. According to the Iranian government, around 15 Iranian officials have been refused entry to the United States, and various Iraqi and Iranian players were subjected to invasive searches at the border. Visa bonds were made necessary for fans from Algeria, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, and Tunisia, where they were required to deposit $15,000 in order to gain a visitor visa, a requirement that was later dropped by the US government, as long as the fans had a World Cup ticket.

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    A case that garnered attention was that of the Somalian referee, Omar Artan, who was denied entry into the United States “due to vetting concerns”, which resulted in his denial gaining widespread media attention, resulting in him receiving a hero’s welcome back in Mogadishu. The White House has also not ruled out ICE raids during World Cup games, as the head of the White House World Cup Task Force said, “If you are a potential threat, you’re not going to get approved,” leading to speculation on possible ICE raids in the near future.

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    FIFA also received criticism as it introduced dynamic pricing for the first time in a World Cup, which led to the prices of the tickets surging far beyond what the average fan could afford. Tickets for the final at MetLife Stadium hit around $11,000 each, leading to criticism from US lawmakers and fan groups. FIFA has also reportedly profited from every ticket that was ever resold, with FIFA taking a 15% fee from both the seller and the buyer, with the majority of the sellers being people who have boycotted the tournament, leading FIFA to benefit from the outrage from its own controversial policies.​

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    The newest addition to the rules has been that of “hydration breaks”, a mandatory three-minute break in each half, which were created as a respite from the growing humidity and heat that is prevalent in the United States, Mexico, and Canada around this time of the year. While this move was welcomed by some players, questions were raised about whether these hydration breaks were required in climate-controlled indoor stadiums. FIFA also used these breaks to insert more commercials and generate revenue within those three minutes. It has also raised concerns about breaking the match’s momentum, an important factor in football that is played at such a high level.

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    FIFA also faced difficulties in gaining broadcasters for India, as it eventually sought a $100 million bid, but received only an offer of $20 million from Disney Star, India’s largest media company. The lack of a broadcasting deal leading up to the week before the World Cup led to speculation about whether or not India would actually receive the World Cup for its audience, with concerns over the difference in time zones leading to a lack of a proper audience. However, just nine days before the World Cup, the Zee Media Group struck a last-minute $40 million deal with FIFA, finally ending the standoff over who would broadcast the World Cup in the country. However, there have been complaints from viewers about the lack of 4K in the broadcast, predatory subscription tactics, and subpar streaming quality.

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    This edition of the World Cup has been under tremendous media scrutiny and attention, and deservedly so, as many aspects of the handling of the World Cup have seen no transparency and a lack of accountability from both FIFA and the host country of the United States. While the games have been thrilling and entertaining, the story behind the scenes is much more filled with problems, problems that have a chance of arising and ruining the games that are being played. Fans across the globe hope that these issues will be resolved and that the World Cup will function in a smooth and civilized manner, something that is worthy of the title of the “World’s Greatest Game”.

  • Who Gets to be Seen?

    Who Gets to be Seen?

    What does it mean to be recognised? At first the answer seems simple. It means feeling seen and valued. Today recognition means a lot more than just that. For communities recognition is about being visible and having a place in public life. It is about being able to preserve their history and assert their presence onto society. 

    In June 2026 some states in the United States led by Republicans started celebrating months. For example, Indiana and Tennessee said June is “Nuclear Family Month” while Arkansas and Utah said it is akin to “Fidelity Month”. The people who support these festivals say they are all about family, faith, commitment and traditional values. However LGBTQ+ advocates say that having these celebrations during Pride Month makes it harder for LGBTQ+ people to be seen.

    This is not just about what to call a month. It is about who gets to be part of life. The debate about Pride Month depicts the same. The people who support Nuclear Family Month and Fidelity Month say that values like family and faith should be recognised. Alternatively, the people who do not support them say that this is just a way to counter Pride Month and make LGBTQ+ people less visible. Consequently, this is not just about the month of June but about identities and values of people who associate them with that. Pride Month is about LGBTQ+ people. It is about equality and acceptance.

    To understand why Pride Month is important we need to take a look at its history. It started because of the Stonewall uprising in June 1969. This was the time when people at the Stonewall Inn, in New York City stood up against a police raid that targeted people of LGBTQ+ community. This event was a notable moment in the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. The first Pride march happened this year and over time Pride Month became a staged event. Moreover, it was about celebration, remembrance and advocacy. Pride Month is a time when LGBTQ+ people are able to come together and celebrate their identities.

    This incident from history helps us comprehend the importance of visibility, and how LGBTQ+ people’s recognition is not about celebration but being acknowledged by the society and its people where they have often been treated unfairly over time. When people are not represented correctly they can feel alone and unseen. Research has shown that social support and visibility brings fulfillment. The Trevor Project found out that LGBTQ+ people who have support from family are less likely to attempt suicide. While visibility is not enough to fix all the problems, it makes sure that recognition helps in creating an environment where people can be supported and accepted.

    The other June observances caused reactions. LGBTQ+ advocates say that visibility shows whether politicians and institutions care about their communities or otherwise. Josh Coleman, the president of Central Alabama Pride says that LGBTQ+ people notice when politicians do not acknowledge their lives and histories. For the people who support Pride Month visibility is not just symbolic but it is a way to show that they are included in life. Recognition is about being part of life.

    The people who support such proclamations have views. Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders says that Fidelity Month is a chance to renew commitments to God, family, community and country. Indiana Governor Mike Braun states that the nuclear family is part of the society. From this perspective the observances recognise values that support stability and civic life. These values are of utmost importance to people.

    All these views show why recognition can be debatable. Public recognition is not about what is being honoured but about what societies choose to prioritise. When governments make proclamations they send signals about which histories, communities and values are essential key factors. This is why recognition can cause disagreements even when people are advocating for important things. Recognition does not have to be a competition. Some LGBTQ+ advocates express that values like family, faith and Pride are not mutually exclusive. LGBTQ+ people can value family and faith like anyone else. This means that identities and values can coexist together, rather than competing for recognition.

    In the end the debates about June 2026 show us something about culture. Recognition is not about naming a month or choosing one. It shapes visibility, belonging and experiences that are being acknowledged in life. The fight over Pride Month and alternative observances illustrates that recognition matters. It helps us determine who feels visible, valued and included in the story a society tells about itself. Pride Month and the alternatives observances are about values. These values do not have to be in opposition to each other. They can both be part of the story a society tells about itself.

     

    Image Credits: Wikimedia Commons

  • The Virus That Will Not Go Away: DRC’s Outbreak of Ebola

    The Virus That Will Not Go Away: DRC’s Outbreak of Ebola

    On 5 May 2026, World Health Organization (WHO) received reports of an outbreak of an unknown disease in Mongbwalu Health Zone, Ituri Province, in the Democratic republic of Congo causing high mortality, including among health workers. These patients showed symptoms common in Ebola viruses. Ten days later on 15 May scientists at the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale in Kinshasa confirmed that 13 blood samples were positive for Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD). 

     

    Ebola Bundibugyo Virus Disease is a very rare and severe variant of Ebola virus disease, also known as viral haemorrhagic fever. It is a zoonotic disease ,with fruit bats suspected to be the natural reservoir. Human infection is attributed to direct exposure to blood or other body fluids from infected wild animals (such as bats or non-human primates) and then to direct contact with the blood, other body fluids, organs or contaminated surfaces or items from infected humans. A vaccine or specific therapeutics for Bundibugyo virus is not available. The Virus therefore presents a significant threat to the potential widespread international spread.

     

    In response to the outbreak, the DRC Ministry of Public Health declared an Ebola outbreak on May 15. By the next day there were confirmed cases of BVD in Kampala, the capital of neighboring country Uganda. They were attributed to travel from the Congo into Uganda. On May 17, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. The highest alert given by WHO, it seeks coordinated international funding and response mechanisms. 

     

    As of June 17 the DRC’s total number of confirmed cases was 837 and the total number of confirmed deaths was 196, with sixteen health workers confirmed infected. The International Council of Nurses (ICN) reported that the health care workers in DRC were reporting shortages in PPE and testing kits leading to high points of exposure to the disease.

    There are a number of problems that are slowing down the response to the outbreak. In eastern DRC conflict amongst various militant and ethnic groups is an obstacle in providing medical care. Large amounts of the population in disease stricken regions such as Ituri are displaced. Estimates put the number of displaced populations at over 990,000.

     

    Out of a $319 million response budget, $2,87 million still remains unsecured. With the cutting of USAID by the Trump administration and the exit of the United States from the WHO, raising funding still remains to be a big issue in combating the epidemic.

     

    There have also been multiple instances of people not cooperating with health workers and clashing with police and authorities over the deceased bodies of family members. Multiple suspected Ebola patients have run away from their medical centers where they were kept for observation.

     

    Eastern DRC borders 9 countries and is a crossroads of trade, mining and industry. The region also has frequent movement of refugees due to various conflicts leading to a high risk of transmission that might affect trade and commerce around the world. Unlike Mongbwalu , Kampala is a capital city. The international airport in Kampala has routes to other parts of Africa along with several intercontinental destinations. Transmission could soon leave Africa and trouble the rest of the world.

     

    The DRC has successfully contained Ebola outbreaks before. There are numerous international organizations and institutions set in place to fight back against the virus. At the forefront of response is the development of a vaccine. The coalition of Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) has announced funding to fast track 3 vaccine candidates that can counter BVD. The vaccines are being developed by IAVI, Moderna and the University of Oxford. According to health officials the outbreak needs to be fought on a global level with various nations providing financial, logistical and medical support. The next few months are critical in the fight against the outbreak and is a test of not only DRC’s medical safeguards but the world’s.

    Image Credits: Wikimedia Commons

  • FIFA 2026 and the Indian Dilemma: Why Cricket Still Prevails

    FIFA 2026 and the Indian Dilemma: Why Cricket Still Prevails

    With a grand opening ceremony held separately at three different venues, the FIFA World Cup began on 12 June. Except for not holding it twice, when the world was at war in 1942 and 1946, the mega sports extravaganza has been consistently held every four years since 1930, and is now in its 23rd edition.
    The Indian sports enthusiast is viewed as a consumer of sports rather than being physically on the ground (India, ranked third in the world, has a considerable adult and children population that is classified as obese), and is now all geared up for FIFA26. From which OTT or subscription channels are live-telecasting the FIFA matches, to which matches to view and which players not to be missed, while in action, all these calculations were clearly mapped by the Indian television audience much in advance and even before the games kicked off.

    Whenever football is discussed, it inevitably brings the game into question, in contrast to the most popular game in India, cricket. No one would disagree with this choice. Despite the spirit of shrugging off colonial baggage and the decolonisation of various spheres of knowledge and ways of life, the game of cricket, handed down to Indians by the colonisers, still seamlessly sneaks into conversations people wish to have at typical social gatherings.

    With the addition of the glamour quotient from Bollywood, which is a strong allyship to the game (cricketers’ affairs/marriages with Bollywood cine idols) and, in some instances, partnerships in the ownership of IPL teams (Periti Zinta, Shah Rukh Khan, Juhi Chawla), as well as ownership of teams, has helped draw more viewers and spectators to the game.

    Cricket is always regarded as a religion in India, and its demigods are followed by millions. Not long ago, the celebrations (victory parade) that culminated at the Chinnaswamy stadium left 11 people (RCB Fans) killed in a stampede. Just for argument’s sake, in India, is cricket and a cricketer worth dying for? This is altogether taking a different trajectory from the present argument. Though India has never played in FIFA, hopes are always high that cricket is one such game where both the men’s and women’s teams are sure to bring laurels.

    The likes of Baichung Bhutia and Sunil Chhetri (called in after he retired from active participation) are among the very few men’s football players in the country whose names people usually drop. It would take some effort and would not immediately strike one’s mind to shout out a few more names. Though, for commercial interests, the Indian Super League (ISL) did generate some interest in Football amongst the TV viewers in India, it failed to be an economically viable proposition, muddled with bureaucratic hurdles. ISL failed to exist this year.

    Which game has a longer historical past? The obvious answer is football. The modern game of football originated from the Chinese game of tsu chu (also known as cuju), which was played around 2500 BC. Tsu chu, which translates to ’kicking the leather ball with feet’, was part of physical instruction for troops during the Tsin Dynasty. The game has unquestionably grown to be the most popular, played, and watched game in the entire World, as it has spread to all corners of the globe over time. According to FIFA, more than 250 million people play Football across more than 200 Nations. Cricket is predominantly patronised by countries that were once British colonies. No wonder there is a strong lobby pushing to make cricket a permanent sports event at the Commonwealth Games.

    When it comes to the nuances of both games, there are far too many rules that govern the game of cricket than football. Can anyone explain to someone without throwing them into a state of confusion about the DLS rule (Duckworth-Lewis-Stern) in cricket? The rule (which involves a lot of calculations) is applied when a game of cricket is interrupted by conditions not suitable for playing. Football, however, is considered an all-weather game with fewer rules compared to cricket. No disruption to the game from rain or slight snow. Moreover, the equipment for the game of cricket is far larger in comparison to football, where 22 people huddle in and play with a leather ball. The UN has a special mention of the game and its power for global peace and solidarity. May 25 is designated as World Football Day by the UN. Except for offside, Football is simple to understand, follow, and play.

    Cricket continues to attract viewership irrespective of the formats. May it be 20-20, IPL, Legends (players from yesteryears), Women’s IPL, or the extended version of a 5-day test series. An average Indian, on any given day, can double up as an expert in the game. From choosing the playing eleven to the role of winning the toss and making the right choices. The well-informed audience is aware of the pitch condition 22 yards pitch. How overcast weather can actually help the seamers, and the dew that makes the ball grip difficult.

    Most discussions, predominantly on football, frequently start and end with the goal scores of teams. Not much discussion thereafter is sustained. Unless a first-world nation and a few look out to watch for players in this World Cup edition, or the underdog team becomes part of social interactions.
    An extended game (soccer as in America and Football for the rest of the dwellers on the planet) lasts at least 90 minutes. With no result from the designated time, an extra 30 minutes is granted, and even when the result is a draw, it would be decided by penalty shootouts. Despite all this, at times the final score may be read as a draw. The predictability of the match is difficult because if the ball is found inside the net, the game would have been in the last few minutes/seconds before the final whistle is blown three times) Indicating the game headed towards its conclusion. Well, in a typical 20-20, each ball seems to be far more exciting. Even a dot ball leads to the planting of trees.

    Sport and Geopolitics

    People who prefer following and commenting on geopolitics will be much more interested in watching Iran and the US face off on the pitch and in the field. Remember, during the Cold War, the Olympics were one of the battlefields to show superiority beyond military accomplishments and technological advancements. Sports, as one of the tools for the exhibition of soft power, may gather some traction in high-brow people’s gatherings. The ongoing war between the US and Iran (15 weeks since it began) is still dictating the world economy, grabbing headlines in the media, and competing for the Cup. With Iran and the US playing in different groups (Iran in G and the US in D), there is no immediate chance to play each other. However, the possibility may not be ruled out completely as the progress beyond the Group stage. Depending on the performances of both teams in the group stage and the various qualification permutations, an Iran–United States clash in the knockout rounds would not come as a surprise to either football fans or geopolitical observers.

    This year will see a total of 6 women referees officiating in the FIFA tournament. Have we ever, by chance, witnessed women umpires in men’s cricket matches? Well, football has set the precedent of inclusivity in sports. The ever-encountering discourses in academia strongly speak about how to break away from Eurocentrism. Third-world nations, particularly Latin American countries, have so far won 10 FIFA World Cups. This is very close to the European countries’ tally of 13 wins. One can clearly place football as a sport that has come close to breaking away from Eurocentrism.

    Fouls and rule-breaking are celebrated and fresh in the memories. The controversial ‘hand of gold’ (Maradona) statues are installed at various places. So is head-butted by Zidane. As a tribute to yesteryear football players who were legends in the game, roses were given their names. David Beckham is one of them. There are some streets and roadways named after football players for their contributions. Naming of food and drinks in celebration of a football player is not a new phenomenon. One of the primary sources of fashion is diffused through football. Inking of the body(tattoos), styling of the mane, wearing the wrong color shoes and socks.

    Catching up about the highlights is another way to take part in those office conversations about last night’s game/games. This year’s tournament has a tri-nation fixture with the US, Canada, and Mexico hosting FIFA 2026. 48 teams from nations with populations as small as 5 lakh people (There are 46 cities in India with a population of 10 lakh and above) make the cut for the most-watched sport on the planet. Cabo Verde qualified for the present World Cup for the first time along with three more nations.
    The question then pops up, which leads to what the youth of the country are doing and what the country is doing for sport. With over 350 million youth population, what has India’s contribution been in football? Does the game demand more endurance? Team camaraderie. A batsman or a bowler can decide the fate of the result in cricket. Football required more than a bit of anticipation, collaborative efforts expected from the playing 11. Can India, with its social hierarchies and favoritism exhibited on all fronts, be a good team? Well, the glories brought by hockey to the country stand as testimony to a team sport on display. What then is holding back football in India? Like all arguments and suggestions point out, at the end is the lack of proper infrastructure, nutrition, professionalism, and the incapacity of political offices and administration in encouraging and promoting sports culture. As a career, sports is always a second option. Gopichand, the all England badminton winner, cautioned the Indian middle class to keep their options open before choosing sports as a career.

    The question of which nation will emerge as the best among the 48 competing teams will be answered in a month’s time. The experience is a sort of rarity, as the next edition will take place only in 2030. Till 19 July, happy owl-viewing for people who go by the IST.

  • Cockroaches in Politics: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

    Cockroaches in Politics: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

    Recently, a new party has become the topic of many conversations. The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), is a youth-centered party that was born as a satirical movement, quickly gaining momentum and virality. Though it’s more of a protest collective than a registered official party, it seems that the youth is using this space to voice their concerns about the undemocratic practices that are plaguing India right now. 

    The CJP emerged in May 2026 after a remark by Chief Justice Surya Kant sparked a lot of controversy. He allegedly had compared the unemployed youth who turn to journalism and activism with cockroaches saying, “There are youngsters like cockroaches, who don’t get any employment or have any place in the profession. Some of them become media, some of them become social media, RTI activists and other activists and they start attacking everyone.” Later on, he clarified that his statement was targeted towards those who get bogus, fake degrees and was blown out of proportion. But the comments had already begun to make its rounds over X and other social media sites. As a response to this, Abhijeet Dipke, a 24 year old Indian student in Boston posted a tweet announcing the nascency of a political platform “for all the cockroaches”, with an enrolment Google Form. The popularity of this platform was unseen with 46,000 people signing up in a few hours and 100,100 people, a website and a party anthem emerging within 28 hours. In less than three days, the party had gained nearly 3 million followers across all social media platforms. The reason for this huge surge in their popularity was the criteria required to be part of the party: being unemployed, lazy, chronically online, and able to rant professionally. The youth of India identified with these traits and related to them, and may even have planted the sapling of hope for change amid the current scenario of unemployment, limited opportunities, and constant bureaucratic failures.

    The party labelled itself as “apolitical” and “spontaneous” but political experts have found deep political connections fabricating the CJP network and thus started the suspicion of apparent opposition backing of the party. Abhijeet previously was a part of AAP’s communication team and spokesperson Saurav Das’s opinions have resurfaced online where he backed Umar Khalid and opposed Article 370 and the Ayodhya – Ram Mandir verdict. CJP also garnered celebrity endorsements with Anurag Kashyao and Sonam Wangchuk supporting the party. Some speculate that the movement might be orchestrated by opposition while some might argue that CJP has a varied base. 

    CJP’s manifesto, named the “The Swarm Manifesto” lists five non-negotiable demands from the government regarding judicial reforms, youth representation, media and democratic accountability and electoral rectifications. The party seeks to address issues that get lost or ignored by mainstream media and politics. Dipke has stated that he would not engage with “Godi media” and even passed comments like “Why is the government so scared of cockroaches?” after CJP’s website and certain social media accounts were blocked on national security grounds. 

    Recently, CJP has evolved from AI generated content and online memes to physical protests across the nation. The protestors in Delhi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Pune all demanded the resignation of Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan and warned against an indefinite sit-in if their stipulations were not attended. Due to the gravitas of their demands and protests, critics have started to consider CJP more than just a Gen-Z trend or viral bandwagon with actual concerns being vociferated by the party. 

    The hopes raised by the party are the silent dreams and aspirations that get clouded by identity and power politics and seldom find any outlet. Countless count upon the party to get a flicker of the light at the end of the tunnel and hopefully the party can render these expectations successfully.

    Image Credits: Wikimedia Commons

  • Namo Oxygen Parks or Court-Mandated Afforestation? Investigating Delhi’s Green Branding Claim

    Namo Oxygen Parks or Court-Mandated Afforestation? Investigating Delhi’s Green Branding Claim

    On World Environment Day, June 5, Delhi’s Chief Minister Rekha Gupta inaugurated “Namo Oxygen Parks” at Maidangarhi. A total of 185.5 acres of land throughout 18 parks are covered under this initiative, where they will be developed as green zones and a place where indigenous, environmentally beneficial species such as peepal, banyan, jamun and mango trees will be planted.

    “The Delhi government has set an ambitious target of planting 70 lakh trees and saplings this year. The objective is not merely plantation but ensuring 100% survival through geo-tagging and proper maintenance.” Rekha Gupta said. However, questions have emerged over whether the initiative is entirely new or largely overlaps with a court-mandated afforestation programme.

    The controversy can be traced back to the Delhi Ridge tree-felling case dating to May 2024, which came before the Supreme Court after around 1,100 trees were allegedly felled in the Southern Ridge area, which serves as  the ultimate environmental lifeline for the National Capital Region (NCR) and Delhi. The felling was for a road-widening project linked to the Central Armed Police Forces Institute of Medical Sciences (CAPFIMS). The Court found that the felling had taken place without obtaining the necessary permissions and initiated contempt proceedings against officials of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA). In its judgment dated 28 May 2025, the Supreme Court held DDA officials guilty of contempt and directed extensive compensatory afforestation measures to restore the ecological damage caused by the tree loss. 

    According to the Supreme Court judgment, the restoration exercise was to be carried out under judicial supervision through a large-scale plantation programme. Subsequent DDA status reports filed before the Court proposed afforestation across 18 land parcels covering nearly 185 acres, with approximately 1.67 lakh saplings to be planted. The Court later approved the afforestation plan and sought periodic compliance reports from the DDA and the Delhi Forest Department. 

    The overlap between the court-approved afforestation plan and the Namo Oxygen Parks initiative has raised questions among journalists and environmental activists. Both programmes involve 18 sites spread across roughly 185 acres. Media Reports done by PeekTV and Times Of India examining DDA filings and court records found that several of the locations inaugurated as Namo Oxygen Parks correspond with land parcels identified for compensatory afforestation in the aftermath of the Supreme Court proceedings. The connection became more apparent after a DDA status report referred to the plantation exercise as part of compliance with the Court’s directions.

    Environmental activist Bhavreen Kandhari, who was among the first to publicly raise questions about the project, argued that the branding of the parks obscures their origins. “Calling these parks a new environmental achievement is misleading. This was a penalty and a restoration measure,” she said.

    Government officials, however, maintain that the initiative forms part of a broader environmental agenda. At the inauguration event, CM Gupta said the previous government had not shown the required rigour in addressing the growing pollution problem over the years, whereas the present government has placed environmental protection among its highest priorities. 

    Field biologists note that while newly planted saplings begin producing oxygen within weeks, they may take between two and five years, depending on the species, to deliver broader ecological benefits such as temperature regulation, biodiversity support and a meaningful increase in green cover.

    This leaves a question about the initiative, whether trees are being planted as an independent program or compensatory afforestation mandated by the Supreme Court. The extent of overlap between the two programmes will remain a matter of public interest and scrutiny until further reports from the supreme court proceedings become public and an on ground report of  reviewing the 18 zones with the court assigned areas are done.