Iceland

Iceland's three-party coalition retains majority in parliament

With more than a third of votes counted, Left-Green Movement, the conservative Independence Party and the centre-right Progressive Party together credited with 41 of 63 seats in the parliament, up from the 33 seats they held previously.

World’s largest carbon capture plant opens amid scepticism

An installation named ‘Orca’ is able to filter 4,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. But some environmentalists doubt carbon capture is a climate solution.

Largest trial of reduced working week seen as 'overwhelming success'

Iceland is looking to change the world's working culture. The date is in, and the report's authors hail it as a blueprint for a better work-life balance which could see people working only four days.

US, Russia seek to ease tensions in first meeting since Biden took office

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov agree to work together despite differences as they held talks on the sidelines of an Arctic Council meeting in the Icelandic capital of Reykjavik.

Icelandic town rolls out red carpet in anticipation of Oscars glory

Schools and shops will close in the tiny fishing town of Husavik to give residents a chance to watch the Academy Awards show live.

Flights wont be affected following Iceland volcano eruption

The Icelandic Meteorological Office says the volcano eruption is “minor” and there were no signs of ash or dust that could disrupt aviation.

Denmark, Norway, Iceland halt AstraZeneca jab despite EU safety assurance

Six other European countries suspended use of specific AstraZeneca batches despite UK and EU drug regulators insisting reports of blood clotting in patients are unrelated to the vaccine and are within normal rates.

Icelanders are first to issue Covid-19 passports for international travel

The Health Ministry says the aim of the Covid passport is to facilitate the movement of people between countries so that the individuals can show a vaccination certificate during border checks.

Gene-mapping champion Iceland leads way in Covid sequencing

Scientists at deCODE Genetics' laboratory in Reykjavik have sequenced all of the around 6,000 coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic.

Iceland president Johannesson set for landslide election win

Gudni Johannesson faces a rare challenge at the end of his first term from Gudmundur Franklin Jonsson, a former Wall Street broker close to Icelandic nationalists. Opinion polls suggest that the rightwing challenger has little chance of winning.

WHO says Americas close to three million Covid-19 cases – latest updates

Novel coronavirus has infected more than 6.4 million people around the world. Here are pandemic-related updates for June 2:

Game of Thrones actor Hafthor Bjornsson sets new world record

Hafthor Bjornsson broke the record previously held by Briton Eddie Hall who in 2016 became the first man to lift 500 kg.