Iceland 

Favorable spring weather has led to potato gardens being plowed up to three weeks earlier than usual in parts of North Iceland. In areas like Skagafjörður and Húsavík, planting has already begun, marking a shift from the typical agricultural calendar

Cannabis is the first drug many Icelandic teens try, often before alcohol, leading to social isolation and school dropping; the alarm is sounded by one of the support center for families dealing with substance use that warns its dangers are underestimated

One of the oldest known photographs from Iceland—a rare 19th-century image of Reykjavík harbor—has been lost while in the care of the Stockholms Auktionsverk auction house, shortly after being sold to the highest bidder

The education system is not yielding the expected results according to OECD, which conducts the PISA assessments; Icelandic students receive high grades that don't accurately reflect performance, raising concerns about the country’s academic standards

Photographer Pétur Thomsen has been named Artist Of The Year At Icelandic Art Prize 2025, the 8th edition, for his exhibition Settlement at Hafnarborg, based on a long-term project in which Pétur examines the coexistence of humanity and nature

Icelandic teachers voted to approve a new four-year salary agreement, with 93% of votes in favour of the agreement that includes a 24,5% salary increase

The draft of a new bill by the Ministry of Housing and Social Affairs would make significant extensions to the Icelandic parental leave system, particularly with regard to twin births or illnesses resulting from childbirth

The Kindergarten Teachers' Association has announced an indefinite strike in all 22 kindergartens in Kópavogur starting 3 March

The use of tanning beds has steadily decreased: only 5% of people said they had used them in the past 12 months, compared to over 30% in 2004; the number of tanning beds has also decreased, with 86 beds in 2023, compared to 97 in 2020

Fermented shark, an Icelandic delicacy, may become increasingly difficult to find due to a number of factors, including declining interest in the industry and rising costs

The Kennel Club will officially recognise the Icelandic sheepdog as a purebred breed in April 2025; the Icelandic sheepdog can trace its roots back some 1.000 years and was even mentioned in a play by William Shakespeare

The new Icelandic government that took office on Saturday has made it part of its programme to organise a referendum on EU membership by 2027, giving substance to a debate that is rather heated in the country