As US loses its edge, game of cyber chicken could have deadly consequences
World

As US loses its edge, game of cyber chicken could have deadly consequences

Cybersecurity threats are emerging as one of the most serious challenges of the 21st century. The US and its NATO allies have turned down every attempt within the UN framework for banning cyber weapons

Prabir Purkayastha
March 27, 2021
Vaccine wars, ASEAN and the Quad
World

Vaccine wars, ASEAN and the Quad

The COVID-19 pandemic demands that all nations cooperate to vaccinate the entire global population. The usual rules of which countries win and which ones lose do not operate in this civilizational crisis

Prabir Purkayastha
March 21, 2021
Texas grid failure: Electricity obeys laws of physics, not the market
United States

Texas grid failure: Electricity obeys laws of physics, not the market

The recent grid failure in Texas and the catastrophe that followed reveals the risks of de-regulation in the power sector which is a philosophy that has been adopted across the world

Prabir Purkayastha
March 6, 2021
IMF and big business for universal vaccination: Better red than dead
World

IMF and big business for universal vaccination: Better red than dead

The me-first policy on vaccine sharing will bring losses of $203 billion to $5 trillion to rich countries, while the returns are the highest if they support global universal vaccination

Prabir Purkayastha
January 31, 2021
The ugly truth of WhatsApp’s user data privacy
India World

The ugly truth of WhatsApp’s user data privacy

Facebook’s meteoric rise as one of the biggest global monopolies has been accompanied by continuous weakening of its user privacy. With WhatsApp users voting with their feet, has Facebook’s past finally caught up with it?

Sasank and Prabir Purkayastha
January 16, 2021
In India, pseudo-nationalism trumps science in vaccine clearance
India

In India, pseudo-nationalism trumps science in vaccine clearance

The recent regulatory clearance given to an indigenous developed vaccine candidate in India is an example of vaccine nationalism at its worst and jettisoning of all the principles of an evidence-based, scientific approach

Prabir Purkayastha
January 9, 2021
Elsevier and Wiley declare war on research community in India
India

Elsevier and Wiley declare war on research community in India

Without access to the journals available on websites like Sci-Hub and Libgen, against which the copyright holders have filed a case in the Delhi High Court, it is almost impossible to do quality research

Prabir Purkayastha
December 26, 2020
Vaccine rollout battle: First past the post may win major market share
World

Vaccine rollout battle: First past the post may win major market share

India’s mass vaccination plans may fail if it does not hold open discussions on its plans with health professionals and the people

Prabir Purkayastha
December 11, 2020