Malta's mysterious 'fat ladies' lure a new generation of pilgrims
| | WASHINGTON, US, 24 November 2025 (Nat.Geog) - Long before Stonehenge or the pyramids, the people of Malta carved elaborate, free-standing structures from the sun-baked stone. Across the archipelago they hauled massive stone slabs, some weighing more than 50 tons. Dating from roughly 3800 to 2400 B.C.E., Malta’s temple culture ranks among the world’s earliest examples of monumental architecture. |
A South Atlantic marine treasure in need of protection
| | SAN FRANCISCO, US, 24 November 2025 (Mongabay) - Located off the south coast of Bahia state and the north coast of Espírito Santo state in Brazil, the Abrolhos Seascape is known for its rich concentration of marine biodiversity, which is among the largest in the southern Atlantic. But the long-term well-being of this natural heritage may be at risk if gaps in the legal protection of its main ecosystems are not addressed. These are the conclusions of a recent study identifying the region’s biodiversity hotspots and highlighting the need to protect them. |
Andaman and Nicobar Islands record major tourism surge
| | NEW YORK, US, 24 November 2025 (TTW) - The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are undergoing a significant shift in how tourism is developed and managed. Long admired for their calm lagoons, white-sand beaches, dense tropical forests and rich marine ecosystems, the islands are now receiving unprecedented attention from domestic travelers. |
How the US pressure campaign against Venezuela has unfolded
| | LONDON, UK, 24 November 2025 (Guardian) - Amid growing tensions between Washington and Caracas, the US has gathered its largest military presence in the Caribbean since the 1989 invasion of Panama. Donald Trump’s administration has steadily increased pressure on Venezuela’s leader, Nicolas Maduro, accusing him of running the “Cartel of the Suns” drug-trafficking organization, and placing a $50m bounty on his head. |
The geopolitics rattling a tiny Pacific nation
| | KOROR, Palau, 24 November 2025 (BBC) - The air above Palau's pristine waters smells of salt and breadfruit, and on calm mornings in Koror, Palau's commercial centre, the whirr of dive boat engines echoes across the bay. A few years ago, those boats were filled with tourists – many from China – drawn to Palau's lagoons and limestone caves. Hotels were full, restaurants bustling, and fishermen could barely keep up with demand. But that is no more. |
Japan's high-stakes gamble to turn island into global chip hub
| | HOKKAIDO, Japan, 23 November 2025 (BBC) - The island of Hokkaido has long been an agricultural powerhouse – now Japan is investing billions to turn it into a global hub for advanced semiconductors. More than half of Japan's dairy produce comes from Hokkaido, the northernmost of its main islands. In winter, it's a wonderland of ski resorts and ice-sculpture festivals; in summer, fields bloom with bands of lavender, poppies and sunflowers. |
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SIDS |
 | | 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States 27-30 May 2024, Antigua and Barbuda |
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NAF |
| | North Atlantic Forum bi-annual international conference 17-21 June, 2024, Connemara, Ireland, |
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IWRA |
| | 1st Islands Water Congress 4-6 Sept, 2024, Torshavn, Faroe Islands |
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ANATOMY OF ISLANDS |
| | 12th Anatomy of Islands symposium 26-28 Sept, 2024, Jelsa, Hvar Island, Croatia |
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CIS |
| | Critical Island Studies 4th international conference 3-4 Oct, 2024, Manila, Philippines |
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CBD |
| | COP16 21 Oct-1 Nov, 2024, Cali, Colombia |
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UNFCCC |
| | COP29 11-22 November, 2024, Baku, Azerbaijan |
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ISLAND DYNAMICS |
| | DARKNESS II conference, 20-23 January 2025, Nuuk, Greenland |
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JICAS |
| | Islands And Island Studies conference 3-7 June, 2025, Jersey, Channel Islands |
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UNITED NATIONS |
| | UN Ocean Conference 9-13 June, 2025, Nice, France |
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UPEI |
| | 3rd international conference on SIS and SNIJs 16-20 June, 2025, Charlottetown, PEI |
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ISISA |
| | 20th Islands of the World Conference 7-11 July 2026, Shinan County, Jeollanam-do, South Korea |
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