Iceland News & Current Events

Ash Plume Wreaks Havoc on Air Travel

In late March 2010, the Eyjafjallajokull volcano erupted. The event produced minimal seismic activity, but an explosion on April 14 resulted in a volcanic ash plume in the atmosphere over northern and central Europe. Air travel in the region was halted for several days, causing the cancellation of several thousand flights and disrupting the travel plans of millions of people.

In a bit of an anticlimax, the former Icelandic prime minister, Geir Haarde, was acquitted of charges of negligence stemming from the 2008 financial crisis. He was found guilty of not holding enough cabinet meetings, but the verdict carried no sentence.

The June 2012 presidential election saw the reelection of Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson with 52.8% of the vote. The other candidates included Thóra Arnórsdóttir and Ari Trausti Gudmundsson who polled 33.2% and 8.6% respectively. Turnout was 69.2%.

Iceland not Enthusiastic About Joining the EU

In April 2013's legislative elections, Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson's center-right Progressive party and the Independence party made significant inroads against the incumbent Social Democrats. As the new prime minister of the new coalition government, Gunnlaugsson announced a suspension of EU membership talks, and called for a referendum to gauge public opinion on future EU membership.

See also Encyclopedia: Iceland .

U.S. State Dept. Country Notes: Iceland

Statistics Iceland http://www.hagstofa.is/template40.asp?PageID=261 .