Reykjavík Human Rights Shake-Up: Reykjavík Mayor Hildur Björnsdóttir defended closing the city’s Human Rights Office and Human Rights Council, saying responsibilities were redistributed and savings came mainly from the office closure, despite criticism that a new council costs the same while covering fewer issues. Child Support Funding Clash: Reykjavík faces a potential ISK 1 billion annual hit after 57 children were excluded from a new state eligibility definition for complex support, leaving the city to fund services for those cases. Homelessness and Health Pressure: A new report says homelessness is driving costly emergency department use, with emergency visits and admissions linked to people in shelters costing about ISK 4.6 billion from 2020–2024, pointing to gaps in housing and coordinated support. Education Attendance Standards: The Ministry of Education and Children will trial nationwide school attendance standards for 2026–2027 to tackle persistent absenteeism with consistent recording and responses. Digital Infrastructure Push: Iceland’s data centre industry is urging investment and clearer rules, while the telecom regulator Fjarskiptastofa sent a draft decision on Míla’s wholesale optical wavelength pricing analysis to ESA. Crime Crackdown: Police increased patrols at busy tourist spots after reports of organised pickpocketing targeting foreign visitors, and investigators say specific intelligence helped uncover a record 106kg cocaine seizure. Energy Contract: Ístak won a contract for the Sigalda hydropower expansion, boosting capacity from 150MW to 215MW, with construction starting late summer 2026 and completion expected in 2029. Politics Watch: The Independence Party hit its highest Gallup support since 2020, narrowing the gap with the governing Social Democratic Alliance to within the margin of error.