Islands

Nonstop quakes leave a Greek island empty and its residents on edge

Thousands of tremors, sometimes every few minutes, have jolted Santorini, about 150 miles southeast of Athens, and nearby islands since January 25

Surge in earthquake activity prompts emergency on Greek island of Santorini

Greece's government declared a state of emergency on Santorini on Thursday after hundreds of undersea earthquakes shook the resort island for nearly a week. The ministry of civil protection's announcement will provide authorities faster access to state resources. It follows a magnitude 5.2 tremor - the most powerful recorded since activity started on Jan. 31 - that struck late Wednesday. Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis confirmed that multiple emergency services were already mobilized to support the island. Fire departments, police, coast guard, armed forces, and emergency medical services have immediately reinforced Santorini and surrounding islands with additional personnel and specialized equipment, he told reporters. Despite causing minimal damage, the earthquake activity has prompted an exodus of thousands of residents and seasonal workers, mostly evacuating to the Greek mainland by ferry. Experts say the seismic activity is unrelated to volcanic activity in the Aegean S

Earthquake of magnitude 7.3 jolts Pacific island nation of Vanuatu

Vanuatu's vulnerability has consistently ranked it as the most at risk country globally under the UN's World Risk Index since the index was launched in 2011

How Mauritius is promoting top golf courses to attract high-end visitors

Tourism is Mauritius' main source of foreign currency. The sector was upended by Covid-19 lockdowns and travel bans, and visitor numbers are only expected to return to pre-pandemic levels this year

Climate change case to open at UN court as island nations fear rising seas

The top United Nations court will take up the largest case in its history on Monday, when it opens two weeks of hearings into what countries worldwide are legally required to do to combat climate change and help vulnerable nations fight its devastating impact. After years of lobbying by island nations who fear they could simply disappear under rising sea waters, the UN General Assembly asked the International Court of Justice last year for an opinion on the obligations of States in respect of climate change. We want the court to confirm that the conduct that has wrecked the climate is unlawful, Margaretha Wewerinke-Singh, who is leading the legal team for the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu, told The Associated Press. In the decade up to 2023, sea levels have risen by a global average of around 4.3 centimeters (1.7 inches), with parts of the Pacific rising higher still. The world has also warmed 1.3 degrees Celsius (2.3 Fahrenheit) since pre-industrial times because of the burning

Hawaii's Big Island under storm warning as Hone approaches with rain, wind

Tropical Storm Hone is expected to whip gusts and drop rain on the southern edges of Hawaii this weekend, potentially inflicting flooding and wind damage on the Big Island and raising the risk of wildfires on the drier sides of the islands. The National Weather Service has issued a tropical storm warning for Hawaii County, which includes all of the Big Island and a red flag warning for the leeward sides of all islands. Hone, which means sweet and soft in Hawaiian, will likely gradually strengthen and become a strong tropical storm as it passes south of the islands Saturday and Sunday, the National Weather Service said. It's expected to become a Category 1 hurricane for a 12-hour period on Sunday but will likely be past the Big Island by that point, said Laura Farris, a weather service meteorologist in Honolulu. The Hawaii Tourism Authority told travellers it's still safe to come to the islands but recommended that people postpone outdoor activities. We are not advising visitors to

Katchatheevu: Why getting Sri Lanka to see Indian POV may be an uphill task

BJP claims that the Congress government led by Indira Gandhi gave away Katchatheevu island to Sri Lanka in 1974

Before Katchatheevu, there was Bengal's Berubari: How a CM took on PM Nehru

The Berubari case went on to affect the Katchatheevu matter decades later, with opponents of the island's transfer to Sri Lanka citing it as a reason to reclaim the territory

New Delhi, Male review withdrawal of Indian military force from Maldives

India and the Maldives on Sunday reviewed the ongoing process of replacing Indian military personnel from the island nation with Male saying the second group will leave by April 10. The two sides held the third meeting of the bilateral high-level core group in Male, days after India withdrew the first team of military personnel that was operating an advanced light helicopter in the Indian Ocean archipelago. The military team has been replaced by civilian technical experts. The Indian personnel are operating three aviation platforms in the Maldives and New Delhi is now deploying civilian personnel to operate them. Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu had set March 10 as the deadline for the withdrawal of the first group of Indian military personnel from his country. "During the meeting, both sides reviewed the ongoing deputation of Indian technical personnel to enable continued operation of Indian aviation platforms that provide humanitarian and medvac (medical evacuation) services t

India will withdraw its troops from island nation by May 10: Maldives

India will replace its military personnel operating the three aviation platforms by the date, with the first phase of the withdrawal concluding by March 10

Out-of-control wildfire scorches Spain's Canary island, affecting thousands

An out-of-control wildfire on the Spanish Canary island of Tenerife has burned thousands of acres and affected some 7,600 people who are either evacuated or confined, Regional President Fernando Clavijo said Thursday. He said some 250 firefighters and members of the Spanish army are tackling the blaze, located in the north of the island. Clavijo said the fire had a nearly 30-km-long (19-mile) perimeter. This is probably the most complicated blaze we have had on the Canary Islands, if not ever, at least in the last 40 years, Clavijo told reporters. Extreme temperatures in the island, he said, added to specific meteorological conditions caused by the fire that turned the area into a virtual oven. The seven-island archipelago is located off the northwest coast of Africa and southwest of mainland Spain. Spanish authorities said their main goal is to contain the fire and prevent it from reaching more populated areas. The island's main town, Santa Cruz, is 20 km (12 miles) away from the

Why are South African expats flocking to this tiny island in the Irish Sea?

The island of 85,000 people is seeking skilled professionals in finance, insurance, technology and gaming to help bolster its economy. It is part of a drive to increase population to 100,000 by 2027

'India first country to name islands after soldiers', says Amit Shah

Shah said that it is an important day for the three wings of the Indian military

Strong earthquake shakes Indonesia's main island; no tsunami alert

A strong earthquake shook parts of Indonesia's main island of Java on Saturday, causing panic and sending people into the streets, but there were no immediate reports of casualties. Officials said there was no danger of a tsunami. The U.S. Geological Survey measured the quake at magnitude 5.7 and said it was centred about 18 kilometers southeast of Banjar, a city between West Java and Central Java provinces, at a depth of 112 kilometers. A magnitude 5.6 earthquake on Nov. 21 killed at least 331 people and injured nearly 600 in West Java's Cianjur city. It was the deadliest quake in Indonesia since a 2018 quake and tsunami in Sulawesi killed about 4,340 people. Dwikorita Karnawati, head of Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency, said there was no danger of a tsunami but warned of possible aftershocks. The agency put a preliminary magnitude at 6.4. Variations in early measurements are common. High-rises in Jakarta, the capital, swayed for more than 10 seconds

Solomon Islands restricts ships' arrival amid concerns over security pact

The Solomon Islands on Wednesday asked countries to not send naval vessels to the South Pacific nation until approval processes are overhauled, amid concerns over a new security pact between the Solomons and China. The government made the request after the US Coast Guard cutter Oliver Henry and the British navy patrol boat HMS Spey cancelled planned port calls last week due to bureaucratic delays. The United States and Britain are among countries concerned that a new security pact with Beijing could lead to a Chinese naval base being constructed less than 2,000 kilometres (1,200 miles) off Australia's northeast coast. Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said the Oliver Henry crew had failed to provide required information in time for his office to approve the visit. The Oliver Henry refuelled at Papua New Guinea instead. The HMS Spey withdrew its application to visit, Sogavare said. The delay in these approvals demonstrate the need for the government to review and refine its approval

Exotic inflation: Price no worry for Indian collectors to get status pets

The prices are no deterrent for those eager to be 'different' or seeking exotic pets as status symbols.

How scientists prevented an island in the Gulf of Mannar from disappearing

Scientists have been trying to stop Vaan Island in the Gulf of Mannar from disappearing. Their success means hope for other such threatened islands.

Indonesia's Gili Islands are an underwater museum of art and marine life

Bit by bit, these sculptures are becoming home to soft corals and sponges. Soon, they will form coral reefs

Spending the weekend dancing to tunes of indie music on a private island

Tycoons, listen up. James Tarmy has a list of perfect private islands for long-term getaways

PM Modi directs speedy development of islands; 26 identified

These islands are located along different parts of India's coastline, including some in the Andamans and Lakshadweep