230 people are rescued as flash flooding hits Hawaii
| | HONOLULU, Hawaii, 21 March 2026 (AP) - Muddy floodwaters from severe rains inundated streets, pushed homes off their foundations, swallowed vehicles and prompted evacuation orders for thousands of residents in towns north of Honolulu on Friday as officials warned of the possible failure of a 120-year-old dam. |
How the Cayman Islands became the largest holder of U.S. debt
| | WASHINGTON, US, 21 March 2026 (ER) - China, which was the largest holder of U.S. government debt as recently as 2019, has cut its holdings to the lowest level since 2008, driven by changing trade patterns, geopolitical concerns, and domestic economic pressures. The Cayman Islands has emerged as an unlikely place to fill the gap. This small British overseas territory held $427 billion in U.S. Treasuries as of November 2025, making it the sixth-largest foreign holder. But a 2025 Federal Reserve analysis revealed that the total figure was actually closer to $1.4 trillion by the end of 2024—with some estimates reaching as high as $1.85 trillion—after nearly 40 percent of new treasury notes and bonds were purchased in the Cayman Islands after 2022. |
Iran reportedly fires missiles towards UK-US base on Diego Garcia
| | LONDON, UK, 21 March 2026 (Guardian) - Iran has reportedly fired missiles towards a joint US-UK base on the island of Diego Garcia after warning that British lives were “in danger” after Keir Starmer backed the US to carry out further strikes from British bases. |
Military ruler decrees that ministers must pass lie detector tests
| | JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, 20 March 2026 (Guardian) - Madagascar’s military president has said new ministers will have to pass lie detector tests to root out corrupt candidates, after he dismissed the prime minister and cabinet without explanation earlier this month. |
Pacific islands appeal for help as oil prices surge
| | PORT MORESBY, PNG, 20 March 2026 (Guardian) - The leaders of some Pacific countries have appealed for help with oil supplies while others urge against “panic buying” as the import-reliant nations grapple with fears over possible fuel shortages and escalating costs caused by war in the Middle East. Oil prices have surged to nearly $110 a barrel after strikes against energy infrastructure in the Gulf states. |
U.S. says Cuba is prohibited from taking Russian oilÂ
| | LONDON, UK, 20 March 2026 (CNBC) - The U.S. Treasury Department has made clear that Cuba is not allowed to take delivery of Russian crude. The warning comes at a time when two tankers carrying Russian oil and gas are thought to be on their way to Havana. The fuel-starved Caribbean island is facing its biggest test since the collapse of the Soviet Union under a U.S. oil blockade. |
|
 |
SIDS |
 | | 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States 27-30 May 2024, Antigua and Barbuda |
|
NAF |
| | North Atlantic Forum bi-annual international conference 17-21 June, 2024, Connemara, Ireland, |
|
IWRA |
| | 1st Islands Water Congress 4-6 Sept, 2024, Torshavn, Faroe Islands |
|
ANATOMY OF ISLANDS |
| | 12th Anatomy of Islands symposium 26-28 Sept, 2024, Jelsa, Hvar Island, Croatia |
|
CIS |
| | Critical Island Studies 4th international conference 3-4 Oct, 2024, Manila, Philippines |
|
CBD |
| | COP16 21 Oct-1 Nov, 2024, Cali, Colombia |
|
UNFCCC |
| | COP29 11-22 November, 2024, Baku, Azerbaijan |
|
ISLAND DYNAMICS |
| | DARKNESS II conference, 20-23 January 2025, Nuuk, Greenland |
|
JICAS |
| | Islands And Island Studies conference 3-7 June, 2025, Jersey, Channel Islands |
|
UNITED NATIONS |
| | UN Ocean Conference 9-13 June, 2025, Nice, France |
|
UPEI |
| | 3rd international conference on SIS and SNIJs 16-20 June, 2025, Charlottetown, PEI |
|
ISISA |
| | 20th Islands of the World Conference 7-11 July 2026, Shinan County, Jeollanam-do, South Korea |
|
