UPSC Current Affairs Pointers of the past week | October 20 to October 26, 2025

Every Monday, we bring you UPSC Current Affairs Pointers—a concise, exam-focused guide to help you stay ahead in your Prelims and Mains preparation. Report (FYI: The data provided in these reports can be used to substantiate your Mains answer and...

VPN in UAE: 6 million downloads in half a year; Dh2 million fine for misuse

The UAE has recorded the highest adoption of virtual private network (VPN) applications globally over the past five and a half years. According to Cybernews, the VPN adoption rate in UAE was 65.78 per cent during 2020 to first half of 2025,...

UAE tops the world with over 6 million VPN downloads: But is it legal?

In the first half of 2025, UAE residents downloaded over 6.1 million VPN apps, maintaining the highest global adoption rate/ Image: TechRadar How the UAE became the world’s top adopter of VPN technology The United Arab Emirates has emerged as the...

In the depths of the ocean, a new contest between the US and China emerges

Deep below the surface of the Pacific Ocean, the seafloor is dotted with clusters of brown and black rocks, each containing valuable metals. The rocks, known as polymetallic nodules, hold reserves of critical minerals that could be used to power...

Covid-free Pacific islands look to rejoin the world

Two of the last four remaining Covid-free nations in the world are preparing to open their borders to re-join the Covid world. The Federated States of Micronesia has announced its plan to open its borders without quarantine beginning 01 August....

Meet the retiree activists on a mission to tidy the 'mess' of their generation

Retirement for senior citizens like Marie looks a little different to what you might expect. Sure, there are games of Bridge and spending time with the grandchildren, but there are also weekly protests to attend and, for some, even the occasional...

Papua New Guinea approves contentious defence treaty with Australia: PM

Papua New Guinea approves contentious defence treaty with Australia: PM by AFP Staff Writers Sydney (AFP) Oct 2, 2025 Papua New Guinea's cabinet has approved a contentious mutual defence treaty with Australia, the Pacific country's prime minister...

Using local advantage: how small forces can overcome insurmountable odds

Picture yourself on a battlefield. It’s cold, the snow covers the ground, yet the sun shines brightly overhead. You gaze over the landscape and at your fellow soldiers. The prospects for the future seem grim. Your enemy outnumbers you in troops...

Designing a Resilient and Data-Driven FinCrime Function in the Age of AI

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The mice that roared: how eight tiny countries took on foreign fishing fleets

By Christopher Pala It has been described as “the most remarkable achievement of the Pacific island countries in the last 50 years”. In 1982, eight, mostly minuscule Pacific island countries in whose waters much of the world’s skipjack tuna was...

Pacific Islands News Roundup – October 17 – 23, 2025

Political Leadership and Regionalism, Peace and Security Outspoken Former Malaita Premier Daniel Suidani Passes Away (In-depth Solomons) New Caledonia: FLNKS concerned about the postponement of provincial elections, “satisfied” with the green...

Ranked: The World’s Largest Economies in 2026

Ranked: The World’s Largest Economies in 2026 See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources. Key...

Women break maritime barriers

Marshallese Lina Harry and Raelin T. Bing are in Busan, Republic of Korea to participate in the 2025 IMO-ITCP Global Onboard Training Program. Lina graduated with a Certificate of Completion Rating Forming Part of a Navigation Watch in May 2025...

A Record Bitcoin Haul & Crypto Comes to the Pitcairn Islands

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about the U.K.’s seizure of 69,000 bitcoins (that’s worth around $7.7 billion) from a Chinese fraudster, and gave the impression it was a pretty big deal. But then, rather in the manner of Crocodile Dundee and knives,...

Netanyahu praises Papua New Guinea with ‘deep gratitude’ for backing Israel

Asia Pacific Report Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed “deep gratitude” for Papua New Guinea’s support to his country over many years and during the Middle East conflict. Prime Minister James Marape was given the message...

World Statistics Day in the Pacific: Driving change with quality statistics and data for everyone

The Pacific is leading the global community in marking the fourth-ever World Statistics Day this 20 October, celebrating the critical role of quality statistics and data in driving change for everyone. Established by the United Nations and...

Digital ID Black Pill Moment?

Authored by Patti Johnson via The Burning Platform blog, For those unclear on what a Black Pill Moment means, I’ll share my take on the definition: Black Pill Moment: A “Black Pill Moment” is when someone grasps a harsh, pessimistic truth about...

Reimagining Commercial Underwriting in the Age of AI

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Deep-Sea Mining Could Push Sharks And Rays Closer To Extinction

France's President Emmanuel Macron gestures as he speaks during a round table with oceans' specialists at the Lisbon Oceanarium, in Lisbon on June 30, 2022, as part of the UN Ocean Conference. A major UN conference on how to restore the faltering...

A war without war: China’s gray zone activity

[Ryan Robertson] THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA REALLY DOESN’T WANT THE UNITED STATES, OR ITS INFLUENCE, IN THE INDO-PACIFIC ANYMORE. IN FACT, THE PRC WANTS TO MAKE SURE IT’S THE DOMINANT FORCE IN THE REGION REGARDLESS OF WHAT THAT MEANS FOR...