Iceland 

Applications for admission to Icelandic University of Arts have nearly doubled since last year; in February the university announced the abolition of tuition fees as independent universities would receive full state funding if they eliminated tuition

Iceland's "pool culture" could be added to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list after Minister of Culture and Economy confirmed Iceland's first independent application to the list

A revised amendment to the Agricultural Products Act (búvörulög) passed despite opposition from various stakeholders, paving the way for a potential monopoly in the agricultural processing sector

Asylum applications dropped by 56% in the first two months of 2024 compared to the same period last year, with only 410 applications, compared to 925 in the same months of 2023

Iceland's only whaling company has been fined 400.000 Icelandic kroner ($2.900) for violating animal welfare laws by delaying a necessary inspection operation on a whale in September 2023

The president of the Grindavík Workers' Union criticised the reopening of Grindavík, citing inadequate infrastructure and safety problems and calling for legislative changes to improve conditions for residents by focusing on equity and financial security

Bus routes will undergo major changes in the coming months due to construction work at Hlemmur, the main bus terminal in the centre of Reykjavík

Birnir was the most popular name given to newborns in Iceland in 2023 (30 male babies), while Emilía was the most popular name given to baby girls, according to data published by Registers Iceland

The new mayor of Reykjavík, Einar Þorsteinsson, defended the right of Palestinian protesters to gather in Austurvöllur Square, in front of the Alþingi, the Icelandic parliament, adding that the protest was peaceful and the cause is sympathetic to everyone

Displaced residents of Grindavík gathered at the Laugardalshöll sports facility in Reykjavík to discuss the future of the city and demand intervention by the authorities, with government ministers, scientists and civil servants also participating

Experts agree that volcanic activity on the Reykjanes Peninsula has ceased, although an official statement marking the end of the eruption is still awaited