North Icelandic Poet’s Harmonica Retrieved
A harmonica belonging to the poet Davíd Stefánsson (1895-1964) from the farm Fagriskógur near Akureyri in north Iceland was recovered earlier this month. It was brought to the poet’s home-turned-museum in Akureyri by Jón B. Gudlaugsson.

US Ambassador-Designate to Iceland Praises Rescue Service
Luis Arreaga, US President Barack Obama’s nominee to serve as the US Ambassador to Iceland, praised the Icelandic emergency services in his testimony before the US Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee last week.

More than 1,000 Seals Spotted in North Iceland Bay
The Icelandic Seal Center organized a seal counting initiative in the inner Húnaflói bay in northwest Iceland last weekend. A total of 1,054 seals were counted, compared to 1,019 last year.

Icelandic Hi-Tech Company Posts Sky-High Profits
Icelandic orthopedics producer Össur posted profits of ISK 1.7 billion in Q2, which is seven times higher than its profits during the same period last year, ISK 240 million. CEO of Össur Jón Sigurdsson said all of the company's main products demonstrated growth.

Foreign Tourists Complete Trek Across Iceland
The most difficult and longest trek available for tourists at the Icelandic Mountain Guides took place for the third time this year. The 30-day trek takes hikers almost 500 kilometers across the country from the north to the south. Of the seven tourists who embarked on the journey, five completed it this week.

Moody’s Changes Iceland’s Credit Rating to Negative
Credit rating agency Moody’s has lowered Iceland’s credit rating to negative. Iceland is currently rated in the category Baa3, which is only one level above junk. The decision is based on the uncertainty of the country’s financial system created by the Supreme Court’s ruling on foreign currency loans.

Many Regions in Iceland Suffer from Drought
Droughts have been reported widely around Iceland, especially in the western part of the country. Water levels in the rivers are low compared to an average summer, except for glacial rivers which carry more water than usual.

Iceland’s PM Travels to US and Canada
Prime Minister of Iceland Jóhanna Sigurdardóttir travels to Canada today. She will travel around Canada and the US until Monday and participate in the Icelandic Festivals held by the Icelandic communities in both countries.

Curious Skeletons Excavated in East Iceland
A skeleton from a person who suffered from the Paget’s disease of bone was unearthed this week during an archeological excavation project at Skriduklaustur in east Iceland, where a monastery was once operated.

Humans on Display for the First Time at Reykjavík Zoo
The human being will be on display for the first time in its natural environment in the Reykjavík Family Park and Zoo next weekend. Visitors can observe three men and one woman in a cage after 10 am on Saturday and Sunday.