Standing back from a world map, the outline of land against water appears less well-defined than before. Some countries disintegrate into hundreds or even thousands of pieces, scattered like broken glass across vast expanses of ocean. Others sit almost entirely on a single group of rock but still qualify as island nations in their own right. There are places where distances between communities are measured in ferry hours rather than roads, and others where a capital city is closer to another continent than to its outer edges. worldatlas The report says that these countries are not sitting comfortably in one size. In a way, they flow across water that has long shaped the way people live within them.

10 Largest island countries by area

The world’s largest island countries

Indonesia

Indonesia sits in a long arc between Asia and Australia, divided into a group of islands that go on and on once you start counting. The spread is so wide that the country crosses different time zones without much effort. Some islands are densely populated and built up, other islands are quiet and forested, rarely mentioned on external maps.Java is home to a large number of people, while the shared parts of Sumatra and Borneo make the country feel unequally burdened. Farther east, the western part of New Guinea adds another layer of distance, making the country feel cohesive rather than holistic in the general sense. Traveling across it is less a journey within one place and more a sequence of different worlds connected by the sea.

madagascar

Madagascar is alone off the African coast, separated by a wide strip of ocean that has physically isolated it for millions of years. Most of the country lies on one large island, surrounded by a few smaller pieces that barely change its overall outline.That long isolation has shaped life there in unusual ways. Species evolved without much outside influence, which is why many of the plants and animals found there do not appear anywhere else. The landscape shifts from dense forest to arid fields with little transitions, giving the island a sense of internal contradiction that seems almost self-contained.

Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea occupies the eastern part of New Guinea and surrounding islands. The terrain is steep in places, densely forested in some places, and often cut off by natural barriers, making movement between communities difficult.Within that geography there is an extraordinary breadth of languages, hundreds of which are still in use. Many evolved in isolation across valleys and ranges, where contact between groups remained limited for generations. Nearby islands add another layer of isolation, making the country fragmented not only by water but also by land that resists easy travel.

Japan

Japan runs a narrow chain along the edge of East Asia that passes through cold northern waters and into subtropical regions. The main islands form a clear spine, but smaller surrounding islands complicate any simple picture of the country.At one point, official mapping suggested a fixed number of islands. Subsequent surveys, using improved methods, revised the figure sharply upward. Nothing changed about the land, yet the way it was counted changed. The coastline remains irregular due to volcanic activity and changing seas, giving the country a consistently measured, slightly uncertain geography.

malaysia

Malaysia exists in two distinct parts, divided by an expanse of ocean that keeps them physically separated. Half of it lies on the Malay Peninsula, which shares a land border with Thailand. The other is located on Indonesia and Brunei as well as Borneo.This dissociation affects daily activity in practical ways. Flights often replace overland travel, and national administrations extend open water intervals. Islands and coastal fringes add further fragmentation, although most of the population is concentrated in urban centers that support each half of the country.

philippines

The Philippines covers a wide part of the western Pacific, made up of thousands of islands of varying shapes and sizes. Some are so large that they can contain major cities and entire provinces, while others are little more than strips of land surrounded by rocks and deep water.Three broad regional groupings help to understand this, although they do not remove the feeling of fragmentation. Travel between islands often depends on weather and sea conditions, which can change quickly. The result is a country where distances are measured less in kilometers and more in terms of time taken to cross water.

new zealand

New Zealand is far from major landmasses, consisting primarily of two large islands and a long list of smaller islands. The South Island has mountains, rivers and wide open spaces, while the North Island contains most of the population and administrative centres.Despite its size, the country feels relatively limited, with most people living in coastal cities. Beyond those areas, the landscape opens up to increasingly less populated areas. The sea plays a continuing role in shaping that isolation, with even internal travel often involving long distances between settlements.

united kingdom

The United Kingdom is surrounded by Great Britain, a large island that holds England, Scotland, and Wales. Nearby there is another large territory shared with the Republic of Ireland, with Northern Ireland forming part of the political structure on its side.The surrounding waters have long influenced how the country connects internally and externally. Even within the main island the distances are so short that no point sits too far from the coast. Offshore areas and small islands extend the reach further, although the mainland remains firmly concentrated on a single stretch of land.

Cuba

Cuba is located at a point where several major bodies of water meet, giving it a long, narrow shape extending into the Caribbean. The main island dominates, with smaller surrounding islands adding texture to its outline without changing its overall appearance.Its position places it close to other major landmasses, yet clearly separated by water. Coastal areas vary between quiet stretches and more developed urban areas, while inland areas remain less densely populated. The island’s size makes travel across it relatively simple compared to the more fragmented archipelago.

iceland

Iceland is located in the North Atlantic, closer to the Arctic Circle than continental Europe. Most of the population is concentrated in a small part of the island, while large areas remain uninhabited due to the volcanic terrain and harsh weather.The land slowly continues to shift as tectonic forces push it apart. New structures appear over time, while others change shape under geothermal activity. Despite its size relative to the list, it stands as a single landmass, whose shape is caused by the movement of the sea beneath the surface and around it.

Before swearing in Karnataka, BJP shared AI video making fun of DK Shivakumar (Image- BJP Karnataka X)

ahead of congress leader DK ShivakumarAs the swearing in ceremony of Chief Minister of Karnataka BJP launched sharp attack on Wednesday congress government Through a series of posts on X, Criticism and allegations of failures in governance were made.In an AI-generated video shared late on Tuesday night, BJP Karnataka showed DK Shivakumar traveling in an SUV on water-logged roads.In another post, Karnataka BJP accused the Congress government of neglecting farmers ahead of the monsoon season. The party alleged that the state government has failed to ensure supply of adequate and quality seeds and fertilizers, while also not compensating farmers who faced crop loss due to rains.“The Congress government in the state has completely neglected the farmers. It has completely failed to provide adequate, quality seeds and fertilizers to farmers preparing for the monsoon,” the BJP said.It further reads, “For Congress, farmers are just garbage; until the government with such mentality is removed, farmers will not get peace.”The BJP also targeted the Congress government over the welfare of Dalits and alleged that it won votes from the community but failed to address their concerns after coming to power.BJP Karnataka accused the government of adopting “anti-Dalit” policies and neglecting infrastructure and development in Dalit communities, saying, “Coming to power by securing Dalit votes, only to push the same Dalit community into the most miserable condition is the hallmark of this Congress government.”DK Shivkumar will take oath as CM today64-year-old Congress leader DK Shivakumar will take oath as the Chief Minister of Karnataka today. The swearing-in ceremony will take place at around 4 pm in the Glass House of Lok Bhavan, where Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot will administer the oath of office and secrecy.A group of ministers along with Shivakumar are expected to take oath in the first phase of new cabinet formation.Shivakumar was elected Congress Legislature Party leader last week, days after outgoing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stepped down following instructions from the party high command.

Amid the ongoing talks on India-US trade deal, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has named India among the countries with unfair trade practices. Based on these findings, USTR has proposed imposing additional tariffs of 10% to 12.5% ​​on imports from the affected countries.USTR released the results of 60 investigations conducted under Section 301, in which India has been included among 54 economies that, according to its assessment, do not have adequate measures in place to restrict or effectively prevent the import of goods allegedly produced using forced labor. The development comes as senior trade officials from the US and India are engaged in three-day discussions in New Delhi with an aim to take forward a proposed bilateral trade agreement.Read this also ‘US-India trade talks now on comma and full stop’: Piyush Goyal

What has USTR said?

In a notification, USTR said countries that already implement restrictions on imports involving forced labor, have committed to introducing and enforcing such measures under reciprocal trade arrangements, or operate a partial framework that restricts the entry of certain goods produced through forced labor will face an additional tariff of 10%.For countries that do not meet these criteria, the proposed additional duty has been set at 12.5%. USTR has also suggested a separate mechanism for textiles and apparel that would allow a specified quantity of imports from selected economies to enter the US market at a reduced Section 301 tariff rate.The agency further indicated that it intends to pursue responsible trade actions based on the findings of these investigations.“The failure of our most important trading partners to address the import of goods made with forced labor is unacceptable. This creates a dynamic where American workers are forced to compete globally on an uneven playing field,” said Ambassador Jamieson Greer.According to USTR, the following 54 economies have failed to establish and effectively enforce restrictions on the import of goods produced with forced labor:Algeria; Angola; Argentina; Australia; Bahamas; Bahrain; Bangladesh; Brazil; Cambodia; Chile; China, People’s Republic; Colombia; Costa Rica; Dominican Republic; Egypt; El Salvador; Guatemala; Guyana; Honduras; Hong Kong, China; India; Iraq; Israel; Japan; Jordan; Kazakhstan; Kuwait; Libya; Malaysia; Morocco; New Zealand; Nicaragua; Nigeria; Norway; Oman; Peru; Philippines; Qatar; Russia; Saudi Arabia; Singapore; South Africa; South Korea; Sri Lanka; Switzerland; Taiwan; Thailand; Trinidad and Tobago; Turkiye; United Arab Emirates; United Kingdom; Uruguay; Venezuela; And Vietnam.These six economies have failed to effectively enforce bans on imports of goods produced with forced labour: Canada; Ecuador, European Union; Indonesia; Mexico; And Pakistan.

What is Section 301?

Section 301 is a provision of the US Trade Act of 1974 that gives the USTR the authority to investigate the trade practices, policies, and actions of foreign governments. Its purpose is to determine whether such measures are unfair, discriminatory, or impose an undue burden on U.S. trade and commercial interests.The provision gives the US administration the authority to take corrective action if the investigation concludes that a country has engaged in practices deemed harmful to US commerce. Such measures may include imposing higher tariffs, imposing trade restrictions, or adopting other measures designed to address identified concerns.

After unleashing ‘epic fury’ on Iran, the United States has launched another front to increase its pressure on the country. The United States on Tuesday sanctioned Iran’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, Nobitex, and several of its senior executives, accusing the platform of helping the Iranian government and sanctioned entities circumvent Western sanctions. The move, named ‘Economic Fury’, is part of the Trump administration’s efforts to increase economic pressure on Tehran amid the ongoing conflict between the US, Iran and Israel.According to the US Treasury Department, Nobitex processed more than half of Iran’s digital asset revenues last year and played a key role in the country’s sanctions evasion network. Treasury officials alleged that the exchange helped move assets and money out of Iran after the start of U.S. combat operations, allowing the regime to protect its funds despite Internet blackouts.Those sanctioned include Amir Hossein Raad, chairman and co-founder of Nobitex, the exchange’s chief executive officer, and brothers Syed Mohammed Ali Aghmir Mohammed Ali and Syed Mohammed Aghmir Mohammed Ali.

Iranian entities under sanctions

Several Iranian crypto exchanges and officials have been sanctioned by the US:Nobitex: Iran’s largest digital asset exchange, handling more than 50% of the country’s crypto flows in 2025. The US alleges that it facilitated transactions linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), helped it evade sanctions, and enabled regime insiders to access international crypto markets.Amir Hussain Raad: Chairman, co-founder and former CEO of Nobitex. The US says he helped restore the exchange’s operations after a major hack in June 2025 and sanctioned him for his leadership role in the company.Syed Mohammad Ali Aghmeer Mohammad Ali: Co-founder of Nobitex and member of the influential Kharrazi family. The US sanctioned him for allegedly supporting the exchange.Syed Mohammad Agmir Mohammad Ali: Co-founder and Head of Blockchain at Nobitex. He was approved for his senior role at the exchange.Syed Ali Khoi: Current CEO and former Product and Marketing Director of Nobitex. The US sanctioned him as a senior official of the company.Valeex: Iran’s second-largest crypto exchange is expected to account for about 12% of the country’s digital asset flows in 2025. The US alleges that it facilitated transactions involving the IRGC.Bitpin: An Iranian crypto exchange that received approximately 10% of Iran’s crypto flows in 2025. US officials say it processed transactions linked to the IRGC, while some investors are allegedly linked to sanctions-evasion efforts.Ramzinex: The Tehran-based crypto exchange was founded in 2018. It has processed more than $2.45 billion in transactions and has been accused by the US of handling transactions involving the IRGC and a government-backed financial institution, as well as facilitating sanctions evasion.

Why has the US imposed sanctions on Iranian crypto firms?

The sanctions were imposed following an investigation that identified Nobitex as a key hub in a parallel financial system used to process millions of dollars for Iran’s central bank and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The report also found that the exchange continued to operate during a government-imposed internet shutdown, facilitating transactions worth millions of dollars.In a statement, Treasury Secretary Scott Besant said, “While Iran’s economy remains in rapid decline, the regime has chosen to co-opt digital asset technologies for its own corrupt agenda, including evading sanctions and moving funds out of the country.”The Treasury Department said that Nobitex had provided “significant support” to the Iranian government and facilitated a “significant number” of digital transactions involving both the IRGC and Iran’s central bank.“After the start of U.S. combat operations in Iran, Nobitex played a role in moving assets and funds out of Iran to protect the regime’s assets despite Internet blackouts,” the department said.US officials have repeatedly argued that Iran relies heavily on cryptocurrencies and other digital assets to avoid sanctions. Speaking at the Reagan National Economic Forum earlier this month, Besant said, “We have seized almost a billion dollars of their cryptocurrency.”The latest sanctions are part of a broader economic pressure campaign against Iran. The administration has also imposed secondary sanctions on countries doing business with individuals, companies and vessels under Iranian control, including both allies and rivals. Banks have also been warned about handling Iranian funds.Meanwhile, Tehran has halted communications with mediators regarding a possible extension of the ceasefire in the conflict with the US and Israel. However, US President Donald Trump disputed the report and said discussions were ongoing.

In a rare act of generosity within Bollywood, the actor john abraham Assigned a registered film title to Kangana Ranaut Without charging even a single rupee. The title in question, ‘Bharat Bhagya Vidhaata’, is now the name of his upcoming film about the heroic nurses of Mumbai’s Cama Hospital during the 26/11 terrorist attacks. The actress made the revelation at the film’s trailer launch, and described John’s gesture as truly unusual in the industry.

Kangana Ranaut revealed that John Abraham gave her the title without charging any fee

Kangana Ranaut shared that ‘Bharat Bhagya Vidhaata’ was not always the title of the film, reports NDTV. He said it was originally called ‘Nurses of Cama’, a direct reference to its theme. However, as the project took shape, the team felt the title needed to better reflect the film’s larger message and emotional core.At the trailer launch event, Kangana revealed that the title had already been registered and belonged to John Abraham. The actress said, “The film was earlier titled ‘Nurses of Kama’. We wanted to change it to ‘Bharat Bhagya Vidhaata’. When we thought of this title, we realized it was already registered. But when we requested John Abraham, who had the title, he gave it to us within a day. Usually, people don’t give up the title, but he did it without charging us for it. So, I am very grateful to him.”

Kangana Ranaut talks about the title change

Changing the name of the film was not a cosmetic decision for Kangana. The actress said she believes ‘Bharat Bhagya Vidhaata’ reflects the spirit of ordinary people performing extraordinary acts of courage. In this case, the story is about nurses who saved nearly 400 lives during one of India’s darkest nights.The film sheds light on an often overlooked chapter of the 26/11 attacks, honoring the bravery of the nursing staff at Cama Hospital who put themselves in harm’s way to protect the people in their care.

More information about ‘Bharat Bhagya Vidhaata’

director -Manoj TapadiaThe film stars Kangana Ranaut, Girija Oak and Smita Tambe. This film will be released in theaters on June 12, 2026.

The remains of one of medieval Europe’s most influential queens have been examined for the first time in nearly 700 years, after archaeologists opened her tomb in the royal monastery of Santa Maria de Pedralbes in Barcelona. Queen Elisenda of Montcada, a powerful royal figure who helped shape medieval Catalonia, was buried in an elaborate monument after her death in 1364. Recent investigations conducted as part of the monastery’s 700th anniversary celebrations revealed his skeletal remains, fragments of magnificent textiles, and new details about his life and burial. Researchers say the discovery offers a rare glimpse of female power, religious devotion and aristocratic life in 14th-century Spain.

who was the most powerful queen of Europe elisenda

Born around 1292 into the influential House of Montcada, Queen Elisenda belonged to one of the most powerful aristocratic families of medieval Catalonia. Her marriage to King James II of Aragon linked her to one of the major political powers of the western Mediterranean, whose territory extended into present-day eastern Spain and beyond.Yet Elisenda’s influence did not end with her husband’s death in 1327. While many royal widows of the time retreated from public life, she established herself in a palace next to the monastery she had founded and wielded social, political and economic authority for the next 37 years.Historical records show that he acquired extensive lands, privileges, and financial resources for the royal monastery of Santa María de Pedralbes, helping to transform it into one of the most prestigious religious institutions in medieval Catalonia. They acted as its patrons, protectors, and benefactors, overseeing its development while maintaining close ties with the royal court and regional elite.Her influence was so significant that she became one of the few medieval women able to exercise power independently of a reigning king. Historians consider her one of the most prominent female patrons of medieval Catalonia, the monastery she founded remains one of the best-preserved Gothic sites in the region.By the time of her death in 1364, Elisenda had spent nearly four decades shaping religious, political, and charitable life in Catalonia, and left behind one of the most enduring examples of women’s rights in medieval Europe.

Remarkable discovery inside his tomb

Archaeologists from the Barcelona Institute of Culture opened Elisenda’s tomb as part of a project to mark the 700th anniversary of the monastery’s founding.Inside, they found a wooden box containing his skeletal remains. Analysis revealed that the Queen was around 70 years old when she died and had likely suffered from osteoarthritis in her later years.Researchers also discovered gold-embroidered silk garments and traces of aromatic herbs along with the remains. Although Elisenda was buried under a simple religious habit, the luxurious clothing suggests that elements of her royal status were still incorporated into the burial.The findings provide rare physical evidence of how elite women were commemorated in medieval Catalonia and provide new insights into elite funerary customs.

Wooden box containing the skeleton of Queen Elisenda.

Why is his grave different from any other?

One of the most extraordinary aspects of the discovery is the unique double tomb of Elisenda, which has fascinated historians for centuries.From inside the church, visitors see her presenting herself as a queen. She wears royal garb, displays the coat of arms of the Crown of Aragon and is accompanied by symbols of authority. Two small dogs appear near his feet, representing loyalty and faithfulness.However, from the cloister of the monastery, she appears as a modest religious woman dressed in simple clothes, with no outward signs of royal power.Recent investigations revealed that the monument is actually composed of two separate burial chambers divided by a wall. Historians previously believed that it was a single coffin protruding through the church wall.Researchers say this unusual arrangement was deliberately created to express her dual identity as both a sovereign ruler and a devout widow.

Find more below the monastery

The project extended beyond the queen’s tomb and included the investigation of eight medieval tombs within the monastery complex.Archaeologists recovered the remains of 25 individuals, including a grave of nine people. Among the discoveries were men who appeared to have died from knife wounds and a woman who probably died during pregnancy.One of the most remarkable discoveries was a woman’s preserved braid which was still attached to her skull centuries after burial. Researchers also recovered fragments of parchment, written documents and medieval sheet music from the tombs.These discoveries provide an unusually detailed glimpse of the lives and deaths of people associated with the monastery during the Middle Ages.

What scientists hope to learn next

Researchers are now analyzing DNA of bone and tooth samples collected from the burial.The goals are to confirm the identities of the individuals, determine whether familial relationships existed between them, and better understand their ancestry, health, and lifestyle.Scientists believe the results could help reconstruct the social network that surrounded Queen Elisenda and provide one of the most detailed biological pictures of a medieval religious community in Catalonia.The team hopes the research will reveal not only who these people were, but also how they lived, how they died and how they are remembered.The opening of Queen Elisenda’s tomb provides historians with rare physical evidence of the role of elite women in shaping medieval royal burial practices and religious institutions. The excavations have also revealed new information about life at the Monastery of Pedralbes, including the people who lived, worked and were buried there.In addition to the queen, the project also uncovered evidence of medieval health conditions, violence, pregnancy, literacy and religious life. Combined with ongoing DNA analysis, the discovery could help researchers reconstruct one of the most detailed pictures yet of the 14th-century Catalan community.For archaeologists, the discovery presents a unique opportunity to study a remarkably well-preserved royal burial while gaining fresh insight into one of the most impressive monasteries of medieval Spain.