After last year’s special Guest of Honour presence, when in honour of Hungary’s EU presidency, as the first among international book fairs, Hungary invited the other 26 member states of the European Union besides Hungary, their belles-lettres book publishing and one author from each country, this year the Guest of Honour will not be a single country either, but the cultural region of the Scandinavian countries, Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, joined by Finland under the name Nordic Countries.

One of the most important parts of the REMAKE project is the final international exhibition of new media art REMAKEs at the House of Arts in Brno, Czech republic.

The Icelandic Ministry of Education, Science and Culture awards annually a number of scholarships to foreign students for study of the Icelandic language, literature and history at the University of Iceland, Reykjavík.

A new Cabinet was unveiled in Iceland on 31 December. During the reshuffle former finance minister Mr Steingrímur J. Sigfússon was named Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture as well as Minister of Economic Affairs. Mrs Oddný G. Harðardóttur was promoted into Cabinet as Minister of Finance. Mr Jón Bjarnason, Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture, and Mr Árni Páll Árnason, Minister of Economic Affairs, stepped down from the Cabinet. Other ministers retained their posts.

Encouraging a nation-wide participation, The President of Iceland, Olafur Ragnar Grimsson has invited tourists to enjoy pancakes at his home in an effort to make tourists feel welcome in Iceland.

Keilir Aviation Academy announces "The first Winter Operation Forum", presented in partnership with AirTransportNews, ACI, AEA, SITA, Icelandair and the Ministry of Interior and Transport in Iceland.

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) completed and approved on Friday the sixth and final review of Iceland's Economic Recovery Programme, supported by a Stand-By Arrangement, making the country the first to complete such a program following the international financial recession. The objectives have been met and the successful collaboration between Iceland and the IMF has drawn considerable attention.

An exciting programme in Harpa on August 20th from 13 until midnight culminating in the lighting of the glass facade by artist Ólafur Elíasson thirty minutes before the firework display.

The Snorri Sturluson Icelandic Fellowships are granted to writers, translators and scholars (not students) in the field of humanities from outside Iceland, to enable them to stay in Iceland for a period of at least three months, in order to improve their knowledge of the Icelandic language, culture and society. Application information.

Iceland is the world's most peaceful country according to the Global Peace Index 2011. There is minimum risk in almost all categories, including the one addressing the degree to which political instituions are sufficiently stable to support the needs of its citizens, businesses and overseas investors.

The Department of Civil Protection has abated emergency levels to normal. Volcanologist Steinunn Jakobsdóttir at the University of Iceland, told AFP News, that no volcanic activity has been detected since 28 May.

Activity in the volcanic eruption in Grimsvotn in southern Iceland is significantly reduced and the volcano is reduced to emitting mostly low steam, 100-200 meters. Small explosions can still be expected, according to information from the Icelandic Met Office. Travellers are advised not to go closer to the eruption than 6 km, due to these explosions.

Under the slogan "The magic gaits", the World Championships of Icelandic Horses 2011 from 1st to 7th of August 2011 in St. Radegund, Upper Austria, at the “Islandpferde Reithof Piber” will be staged.

A volcanic eruption began in the Grimsvotn underneath the Vatnajökull glacier in South-East Iceland on Saturday 21 May. Due to airborn ash concentration resulting from the eruption plume, aviation safety measures have been in effect and domestic and international air traffic was closed for Sunday 22 May.

The rooftops of Linz are 2011 again the scene of a spectacular exhibition.

Where the eye usually just finds chaos and destruction, Thelma discovered fragile beauty at the edge of volcano Eyjafjallajökull.

The exhibition runs from May 6 to June 26, 2011.

The Vienna Urania dedicates its 18th Nordic film festival 2011 to the subject "The North - completely crazy!" in co-operation with the Embassies of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.

Inspired by Iceland will be streaming the celebrated music festival Aldrei fór ég suður live April 22 & 23 from Ísafjörður on the West Fjords AND YOU’RE INVITED! The festival is unlike any other!

Reykjavík Arts Festival 2011 will be held from May 20 - June 5 and is a feast of all art forms: music, theatre, dance, literature and the visual arts.