Japan aims to dig deep-sea rare earths to reduce China dependence
| | TOKYO, Japan, 12 January 2026 (AFP) - A Japanese research vessel on Monday began a historic voyage to attempt to dig deep-sea rare earths at a depth of 6,000 metres to curb dependence on China. Scientific drilling boat called the Chikyu left Shimizu Port in Shizuoka for the remote island of Minami Torishima in the Pacific, where surrounding waters are believed to contain a rich trove of valuable minerals. |
Saving the Falklands: The fight to reclaim a lost ecosystem
| | HONG KONG, 12 January 2026 (Earth.Org) - Falklands Conservation is leading an ambitious restoration project on New Island, one of the region’s wildest western outposts. The goal is to remove invasive predators - rats, mice, cats, and rabbits - that have put the island’s native species at risk. If successful, New Island could become a model for large-scale ecosystem recovery across the Falklands, where less than 0.15% of pristine habitat remains. |
3D map of Easter Island takes you places visitors aren’t allowed
| | NEW YORK, US, 11 January 2026 (PS) - As you might expect, visiting Easter Island isn’t easy. To combat overtourism to the small island, only a limited number of flights travel to Rapa Nui each week. That means flights can book up quickly, especially during the busy season between December and March. But now, thanks to the work of an intrepid team of geographers and researchers, you can view the impressive moai statues from the comfort of home. |
Chagos deal to go ahead despite protests
| | LONDON, UK, 11 January 2026 (Guardian) - There will be no change in policy over the UK's decision to hand the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, a government minister has said. In May 2025 the British government agreed to give sovereignty over Chagos to Mauritius and lease back a key military base on the island of Diego Garcia for £101m a year. London-based Chagossians have protested against the plan, saying they are being shut out of decisions about the future of their homeland. |
Trump tells Cuba to 'make a deal' or face the consequences
| | LONDON, UK, 11 January 2026 (Guardian) - Donald Trump has told Cuba to “make a deal” or face unspecified consequences, adding that no more Venezuelan oil or money would flow to the communist-run Caribbean island that has been a US foe for decades. |
Cuba edges closer to collapse amid mass exodus
| | HAVANA, Cuba, 10 January 2026 (Guardian) - Disillusioned with the revolution after 68 years of US sanctions and a shattered economy, one in four Cubans have left in four years. Can the regime, and country, survive the engulfing ‘polycrisis’? |
|
 |
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 |
|
