Capital and largest city of Iceland
The Bank of England has kept the base rate at 3.75% amid ongoing uncertainty from the Iran war and soft UK growth. Governor Bailey has signalled tolerance for inflation running above target in the near term to support the economy, but warns this will weaken if second‑round effects emerge.
Readers are confronted with firsthand accounts of travel mishaps from the Independent and The Guardian, detailing family trips that spiral from ordinary to chaotic, and a New York City escape that turns into a hospital odyssey.
A total solar eclipse has swept from the Arctic through Greenland and Iceland to parts of Spain and a sliver of Portugal, while much of western Europe, Canada and the northern US has seen a dramatic partial eclipse. Crowds have flocked to Spain and Iceland for minutes of totality; scientists and space agencies have run live coverage and field experiments.
A new opera by Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek, staged by Tom Morris for Scottish Opera and Opera Ventures, uses Kafka’s fable to explore how a carnival’s ‘galloping cure’ exposes a town to pain’s true cost. Cast features Daniela Mack, Justin Austin, and Susan Bullock; staging blends spectacle with biting social critique.
A band of Europe witnesses a rare solar eclipse, with totality across parts of Spain, Iceland and Portugal. The event is being observed with safety warnings as millions prepare to view the sky-darkening phenomenon; high public interest is accompanied by safety campaigns and warnings about eye damage.
The solar eclipse has triggered a surge in travel demand across Europe as destinations within the path of totality experience record room rates and bookings. Reykjavik, A Coruño, Bilbao and Santiago de Compostela report sharp price increases, while authorities warn of heat and fire risks and a spike in road traffic. NASA and local observatories will live-stream the event to millions.
Voters in Iceland are weighing whether to resume accession negotiations with the EU. The referendum, prompted by geopolitical tensions and domestic economic concerns, is not a final decision on membership. A yes would kickstart talks; a no would pause proceedings. Results are emerging as ballots are tallied.
Iceland has voted on whether to resume EU accession talks; early results show a knife-edge contest with a second referendum possible if talks advance. Polls show split opinions as voters weigh inflation, sovereignty, and fisheries against potential economic stability.