Iceland

Boss Richard Walker is ‘proud to be backing Britain’ with a store in the capital, StanleyBusiness live – latest updatesThe supermarket chain Iceland has said it will open a shop on the Falkland Islands in early December.The shop, to be launched in partnership with a local retailer, Kelper Stores, will be the first UK high street brand to have a presence in the British territory and will be in the capital, Stanley. Continue reading...

• Canada, the UK, France, and 9 other nations issued a joint statement today confirming their intent to restrict trade in goods from settlements illegal under international law. • The UK, France, and Canada specifically pledged to introduce national measures to ban trade in settlement goods, following similar actions already taken by Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Norway, and Belgium. • These restrictions target the economic viability of illegal settlements to push for a two-state solution in the region.

• Iceland held a referendum regarding EU membership, resulting in a "snub" that signals the limits of the bloc's current appeal. • Icelandic Foreign Minister Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir noted that the global landscape has shifted drastically over the last decade, impacting the decision. • The outcome suggests that while security and solidarity attract poorer eastern states like Ukraine and Moldova, they are insufficient to lure wealthy, integrated nations like Iceland, Norway, or Switzerland.

• Iceland has opted not to hold a referendum on joining the European Union, a decision that differs fundamentally from the UK's Brexit-style rejection. • Because Iceland is already a member of the European Economic Area (EEA), it already enjoys unrestricted access to the EU's trading bloc and freedom of movement for its citizens. • The decision matters because while a "yes" vote would have provided a political boost to Brussels, the lack of a vote does not signal a desire for isolation.

• Iceland held a referendum in which 52.8% of voters rejected the proposal to resume accession talks with the European Union. • The EU maintained a largely silent stance throughout the campaign, a strategy that mirrors its muted response during the UK's Brexit vote a decade ago. • This result signifies a continued lack of appetite within Iceland to join the bloc, reinforcing the country's current independent status.

A yes to membership would have given Brussels a boost but Icelanders have not voted to isolate themselves Iceland’s 52.8% to 47.2% vote against reopening EU accession talks is, undeniably, a blow for Brussels. But claiming it as a Brexit-style victory for “national sovereignty” or evidence of broad rejection of the EU misrepresents the reality of the island’s relationship with the bloc.For the EU, Iceland was a dream candidate: small, stable, prosperous and strategically located in an increasingly contested Arctic. Eager as it is to wield more geopolitical clout and revive flagging momentum around enlargement, a vote in favour would have given Brussels a very welcome boost. Continue reading...

The no campaign was well-funded and accused of scaremongering, but the wording of the question may also have made a differenceIt was always going to be a close contest. But on the night, the figures showed just how divided Iceland was on the issue of whether or not to restart negotiations with the European Union.After a nail-biting overnight count, the well-funded no campaign rejoiced on Sunday morning as the broadcaster RUV declared it the winner with about 52.8% of the vote. Given the size of Iceland’s population- barely 400,000 – the margins were tiny. Continue reading...

No camp looks to have prevailed, holding 52.5% of votes with only a few left to be counted, says public broadcasterIceland appears to have ⁠rejected ⁠the government’s proposal ​to hold ⁠accession talks with ⁠the ​European Union, ‌the public ‌broadcaster RUV has ‌reported, with only a small ‌number of votes ​left to count.The no camp had 52.5% of votes and the yes camp 47.5%, with only a few ballots left to be counted in one of Iceland’s six voting districts, which was already leaning toward no, online ballot counting on RUV showed on Sunday.Reuters and Agence France-Presse contributed to this story. Continue reading...

Eclipse to be witnessed by tens of millions across western Europe as enthusiasts gather along path of totalityNicola Davis and Oliver HolmesA wide band of north and central Spain, plus a sliver of Portugal and parts of Greenland and Iceland will experience a rare total eclipse. Continue reading...

• Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Austria, and other Schengen allies are implementing a new EU digital Entry/Exit System (EES) for non-EU nationals. • The rollout of these biometric checks has triggered massive airport delays and travel chaos across Europe, prompting an urgent security overhaul of Schengen zones. • This disruption is particularly critical as it coincides with rising summer travel pressure, threatening widespread transit instability.

• Disney+ announced on July 2 that it has secured an exclusive four-year agreement to live-stream Spain's LaLiga soccer league. • The deal covers 380 matches per season and will be available to viewers in Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland. • This move is part of Disney's aggressive strategy to expand its global streaming footprint and acquire high-value European sports rights.

In this week’s newsletter: After Trump’s interventions over Greenland, there are many in Iceland who believe they would be stronger in the EU. But will its recent history of independence win out?• Don’t get This Is Europe delivered to your inbox? Sign up hereAs the UK marks the tenth anniversary of its fateful Brexit referendum next Tuesday, Iceland is fast approaching its moment of truth about the EU – albeit from the opposite direction.On 29 August, Icelanders will be asked whether or not to they want to come back to the table with Brussels for negotiations about joining the EU. Iceland originally applied in 2009 after the financial crash, but pulled out of talks in 2013 saying it couldn’t go any further without a referendum. Continue reading...

Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir accuses opponents of fearmongering amid warnings over misinformation and AIIceland’s foreign minister has said she fears her country faces a “Brexit moment” in its looming EU referendum amid warnings over misinformation, foreign interference and AI.With just over three months to go until Iceland votes on whether or not to continue accession talks with the EU, developments are being closely watched by Washington, Moscow and Brussels. Continue reading...

ASA rules ads on Instagram and Daily Mail website broke ban on promoting items high in fat, salt and sugarLidl and Iceland have become the first companies to have ads banned after the introduction of rules cracking down on the marketing of junk food in the UK.The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has been policing the ban on ads featuring junk food on TV before 9pm, and in paid online advertising at any time of the day, since 5 January. Continue reading...

Lord Richard Walker, Iceland’s chair, says Walker Smith is ‘welcome to a job with us’ as public fundraiser hits £7,500Keir Starmer’s cost of living tsar, who is the chair of Iceland, has offered a job to a worker who was sacked from Waitrose after trying to stop a shoplifter.Waitrose faced public outcry over its treatment of Walker Smith, who was fired two days after he stopped the shoplifter taking items from the Easter egg display, including Lindt chocolate bunnies. Continue reading...

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced last week Spain would refuse US access to naval and air bases in southern Spain for strikes on Iran. Iceland and the Netherlands joined South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. These developments occur amid US-led coalition actions in the Middle East. The moves signal growing international divisions over the escalating conflicts.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced Spain will deny the US access to naval and air bases in southern Spain for strikes on Iran. Iceland and the Netherlands joined South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. These developments signal growing allied resistance amid the escalating US-Iran conflict. Diplomatic rifts widen as global forums see increased participation against Israeli actions in Lebanon.