15.5.2012

EU Will Ban Import Of Icelandic Seafood

10.5.2012

Asylum Seeker Waiting Period Too Long

The Directorate of Immigration admits that refugees wait far longer than they should have to for the processing of their cases, but that the office is overworked and understaffed.

10.5.2012

Iceland To Invite Afghani Refugees

4.5.2012

Morgunblaðið Publisher Defends Paper

In a recent interview, Morgunblaðið publisher Óskar Magnússon said he believes his paper was attacked for political reasons when Davíð Oddsson was hired as co-editor, and believes that the paper changed the outcome of the Icesave matter.

3.5.2012

Law On Religious Legislation To Be Changed

A new bill would change an existing law on how children are registered with religious organisations, but equal rights groups believes the changes do not go far enough.

3.5.2012

Huang Nubo To Lease Land

Chinese businessman Huang Nubo will be renting land in northeast Iceland for the next 40 years, and has already paid the full amount in advance.

3.5.2012

News Director Advises Impartiality

1.5.2012

Seagulls Terrorise Local Residents

Residents of Kópavogur have endured many sleepless nights due to a plague of seagulls in the town, caused by meat pellets strewn across a football field.

1.5.2012

Conflicting Reports On Laugavegur Closing

A merchant representative claims most business owners on Laugavegur are against partially closing the street this summer, and that last summer's closing hurt business - directly contradicting last year's data.

30.4.2012

Reykjavík Music Mess Returns

The music festival Reykjavík Music Mess is back, and a partial list of this year's line-up has been announced.

30.4.2012

Most Icelanders Against Joining EU

26.4.2012

New Bishop Will Maintain Status Quo On Gay Marriage

Agnes M. Sigurðardóttir, Iceland's new bishop and its first women to hold the office, has no intention of changing church policy when it comes to the question of gay marriage.

26.4.2012

Working On Labour Day Draws Criticism From Union

Employees having to work in shops in Kringlan and Smáralind on May 1 has sparked objections from the Icelandic Confederation of Labour Unions (ASÍ), with a call for a boycott on stores that remain open on this day.

18.4.2012

Grapevine Wants You, Probably!

Hi! Grapevine needs a journalist for the summer, maybe longer.

18.4.2012

PM Plastic Cup Purchase Angers Local Artists

A museum's purchase of a plastic cup Prime Minister Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir drank from has angered artists in the town, who say they have had great difficulty getting any money from the museum.

18.4.2012

Drug Law Reform Group Organises "Smoke Out"

A group that seeks changes in Iceland's existing drug laws with an emphasis on decriminalisation will be hosting a "smoke out" in front of parliament this Friday.

18.4.2012

Iceland's Internet Connection Not In Danger

Despite requiring financial assistance from the government, the company which manages Iceland's connection to the rest of the internet says there was no danger the country would have been cut off.

17.4.2012

KFC Apologises For Misleading Ad

KFC has apologised for unintentionally misleading people into thinking they would receive a recent offer as advertised in a photo made for it.

17.4.2012

Haarde Verdict This Monday

The verdict in the trial of former prime minister Geir H. Haarde will be made this Monday at 14:00.

17.4.2012

Doctor Advises Common Sense Regarding "Blood Tests"

A specialist in hematology told reporters that the public should be wary of companies offering "blood tests" to check overall health, as their methods have no basis in science.

17.4.2012

Foreign Minister Pledges To Discuss Human Rights With Chinese Premier

Minister of Foreign Affairs Össur Skarphéðinsson told parliament yesterday that he fully intends to discuss China's human rights policy when the country's premier, Wen Jiabao, visits later this week.

16.4.2012

Erotic Massage In Legal Grey Area

A journalist who ordered an "erotic massage" through a newspaper classified ad says that the legality of such services needs to be determined in court.

16.4.2012

New Poll Shows Great Upset For Government

The latest poll on party support shows the current government with the same approval ratings as the government that was forced out of office in 2009, and the conservatives holding a stronger position than ever.

16.4.2012

4G Coming To Iceland

4G service will open up in Iceland in early 2013 at the latest.

16.4.2012

Criticises Lack Of Training Of Personal Trainers

A professor of physical education at the University of Iceland says there are far too many personal trainers in Iceland with little to no education in their field.

13.4.2012

Cup PM Drank From Sells For 105,000 ISK

A plastic cup that Prime Minister Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir drank from was auctioned off and sold for 105,000 ISK, with all proceeds going to charity.

13.4.2012

New Sigur Rós Video Online

Emigration From Iceland Relatively Little

A new report shows that emigration from Iceland since the financial collapse has been relatively small compared to other times in the country's history of past economic troubles.

3.4.2012

Icelanders No Longer Happiest In The World

In breaking with a long-standing trend, Icelanders are no longer among the happiest people in the world, but other Scandinavian countries remain in the top of the list.

3.4.2012

Government Hits Near-Record Low In Support

The ruling coalition of Social Democrats and Leftist-Greens has reached a new low in terms of levels of support, while the Independence Party continues to grow.

3.4.2012

Black Death Beer Ban Overturned

The beer Black Death, previously banned for sale in Iceland by The State Alcohol and Tobacco Company of Iceland (ÁTVR), will be made available for sale after all.

3.4.2012

Bishop Election Needs To Be Held Again

29.3.2012

10,000 ISK Note On The Way

The Central Bank of Iceland plans to release a 10,000 ISK bill very soon, and have already revealed something about the design.

29.3.2012

Two Years For Causing Death Of Newborn Infant

A woman was sentenced to two years in prison yesterday for having killed her newborn child and disposing of it in a hotel dumpster last summer.

29.3.2012

Aldrei Fór Ég Suður Live And Online

The popular Icelandic music festival Aldrei Fór Ég Suður will again be streamed live this year, for people all over the world to enjoy.

29.3.2012

Police Close In On Whale Poachers

Police are currently following leads in tracking down those suspected of having poached the jaw and teeth from a beached sperm whale.

28.3.2012

Festival Organisers Taking Added Security Measures

Organisers of the Westman Islands bank holiday festival are instituting added security measures this year, including the parsing out of ferry tickets and providing gender-divided sleeping bag space.

28.3.2012

Icelanders Among Most Pessimistic About World Peace

Icelanders are among the most pessimistic people on the planet on the subject of world peace, while Africans are among the most optimistic and growing more so.

28.3.2012

In Hospital After Drunk Riding

A man was taken to the hospital after falling from a horse, and police report he was heavily intoxicated.

27.3.2012

Calling For Ethics Regulations For The President

Seven MPs from the ruling coalition have submitted a parliamentary proposal calling for the office of the Prime Minister, in cooperation with the office of the President, to create ethics regulations for the presidency.

27.3.2012

EasyJet Begins First Flight To Iceland Today

Budget airline easyJet took its first flight to Iceland today, and the director of the airline predicts Iceland will become a popular travel destination for their customers.

A local charity is encouraging people to buy an extra Easter egg this year, for donating to families unable to afford one.

23.3.2012

New Bishop Decided Today

21.3.2012

CCP To Premiere DUST 514 Tomorrow

CCP games will be premiering their new FPS, DUST 514, tomorrow at Harpa.

21.3.2012

Extensive Bike Path Coming To Reykjavík

Reykjavík city council has approved a measure to design and build a combined bike and walking path stretching 4.5 kilometres through the city.

21.3.2012

Defends Birth Control Pill Given By School Nurses

The head of The Icelandic Nurse's Association says that a new bill which would give school nurses the authority to write prescriptions for birth control pills is a necessary step in tackling a real health problem in Iceland.

20.3.2012

MP Says Jewelry Store Robbery Shows Iceland Should Leave Schengen

An MP for the Progressive Party told parliament this morning that an attempted smash-and-grab jewelry store robbery showed that Iceland should leave the Schengen Region, adding that eastern European nations posed a threat to the country.

20.3.2012

Icelandic Volcanoes On UK Government Risk Report

The British government has recently updated its National Risk Register of Civil Emergencies, adding volcanoes from Iceland to its guidelines in terms of the risk they pose to Britain, and what steps the government has taken to prepare for an eruption.

20.3.2012

Foreign Residents Nearly Double In Past Decade

The number of foreign nationals legally registered as living in Iceland has nearly doubled over the past ten years.

20.3.2012

EU Moving Forward With Mackerel Punishment

The European Union is expediting the process of punishing Iceland and the Faeroe Islands for going beyond the mackerel quota.

19.3.2012

Iceland's 2012 Eurovision Entry Video Is Very Dramatic

Iceland's entry to the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest, "Mundu eftir mér", has been translated into English and will be performed in that language at the main ESC event in Baku, Azerbaijan, two months from now. In its English-language incarnation, the song is titled "Never Forget"...

19.3.2012

Free Airwaves Concert

The organisers of Airwaves will be hosting a free concert at NASA this month, including a chance to win tickets to the festival later this year.

19.3.2012

British Designer Goes After Kaupthing

British designer Karen Millen lost millions in the Icelandic banking crash, and now she's filing legal claims against Kaupthing.

19.3.2012

Haarde Trial Wraps Up

With the main portion of the trial of former Prime Minister Geir H. Haarde concluded, Geir continues to maintain his innocence, and is confident he will be acquitted.

19.3.2012

Birth Control Bill Creates Doubts

A bill from the Ministry of Welfare submitted to parliament - which would give primary school nurses the authority to give birth control to students without parental approval - has aroused criticism. One parents group says parents need to take responsibility for their own children.

16.3.2012

Pascal Pinon To Start Tour Of Japan

Icelandic indie band Pascal Pinon will soon begin a tour in Japan, but not before holding a farewell concert on March 23.

16.3.2012

Icesave Cited To Block Iceland EU Membership

A member of the European parliament has cited Iceland's outstanding debt to the UK over Icesave as the reason why the country's impending membership in the EU should be blocked.

16.3.2012

School Nurses Permited To Give Birth Control Pill Without Parental Approval

Nurses working in primary school would be among those allowed to give minors birth control pills without being required to inform their parents if a new bill from the Ministry of Welfare passes.

16.3.2012

Government Considers Regulations On Electric Vespas

The Icelandic government is considering whether to require electric vespas to be registered, and to have their drivers take a course in driving them.

15.3.2012

Free Tax Service This Sunday

Law students at the University of Reykjavík will be offering free tax consultation this Sunday, and all are welcome to attend.

15.3.2012

US Wants Information From Iceland On Possible Terrorists

The Data Protection Authority of Iceland has been asked to offer its opinion on the Icelandic government giving the US government information on individuals suspected of being involved with, or seeking to be involved with, terrorist activity.

15.3.2012

Icelanders Should Consider Exporting Electricity

The national power company Landsvirkjun believes Icelanders should weigh the pros and cons of exporting electricity via undersea cable to other countries.

15.3.2012

Child Abuse Cases On The Rise

Cases of suspected child abuse have increased by about 30% between 2010 and 2011, although this is due in part to people being less afraid of taking such charges to the police, says the Government Agency for Child Protection.

14.3.2012

MP's Facebook Post Ends Parliamentary Session

12.3.2012

Icelandic Economist On Haarde Trial: The Blame Game

An Icelandic economist has pulled no punches in a column he wrote about the trial of former Prime Minister Geir H. Haarde, saying that all the witnesses are denying having had any power to stop the crash, while blaming others for it happening.

12.3.2012

Merlin Feasts On Small Bird

A merlin was spotted not too far from an Icelander's bedroom window, in the midst of helping himself to a small bird. This occurrence is apparently common this time of year.

12.3.2012

Wealthy Russians Examine Land For Possible Purchase

Four Russians were spotted in south Iceland, on a helicopter tour, apparently looking for land to buy in the area.

9.3.2012

Iceland Rejects ESA Charges

The Icelandic government has officially rejected charges from the European Free Trade Agreement's (EFTA) that Iceland broke international law in its handling of the Icesave crisis. The matter is expected to go to court this year.

9.3.2012

Illegal To Import Garbage

One American company's plans to export garbage to Iceland for disposal might be scrapped, on account of it being illegal for Iceland to import waste from abroad.

9.3.2012

Two Rolex Thieves To Be Extradited

Two of the four men suspected of having robbed the watch store Michelsen last year will be deported to Iceland. A third was sentenced yesterday, and the fourth remains at large.

9.3.2012

Percentage Of Women With Drinking Problems Rising

The percentage of women who seek help for alcohol addiction is growing, data shows, while the director of an addiction centre speculates gender equality as the cause.

8.3.2012

Former Kaupthing Director With Strong Words Over Testimony

Former Kaupthing director Hreiðar Már Sigurðsson took the stand today at the trial of former Prime Minister Geir H. Haarde, and objected to assertions made by former Central Bank chairman Davíð Oddsson the day previous.

8.3.2012

Psychologist Questions MP's Assertions

A psychologist has taken a member of parliament to task over an article he wrote contending that difficult economic times in Iceland have led to an increase in suicides, and could spur more violent crime. The psychologist says this argument is contradicted by actual data.

8.3.2012

Notorious Hacker Strikes Vodafone

The main page of Vodafone.is was briefly defaced by a hacker who has left their mark around the world.

8.3.2012

Government Ill-Prepared For Natural Disaster

The Icelandic government has few comprehensive plans of action in the event of a natural disaster, and Icelandic Civil Protection believes more needs to be done.

7.3.2012

Merchants Protest Further Laugavegur Closings

Despite last summer's success, a group of some 40 merchants issued a joint statement calling for city council to leave Laugavegur open this summer.

7.3.2012

Geir "Had No Options", Says Davíð

Former Central Bank chairman and current Morgunblaðið editor Davíð Oddsson said at the trial of Geir H. Haarde yesterday that Geir had few options at his disposal in terms of dealing with the banks.

A Progressive-led initiative for Iceland to take up the Canadian dollar as its currency has reportedly caused a minor diplomatic incident. The Progressives blame the ruling coalition for blocking proceedings.

5.3.2012

President Will Run Again, Maybe Not For Full Term

Icelandic president Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson has announced that he will run for president again this year. However, he added that he might end his term early, if elected.

5.3.2012

All Parties See Drop In Support

All of Iceland's political parties have seen a drop in support,while Samstaða (Solidarity) enjoys levels of support on par with the Leftist-Greens.

2.3.2012

State Broadcasting Responds To Simon Wiesenthal Institute

The director of the state broadcasting service (RÚV) has turned down a request that they not air the reading of Hallgrímur Pétursson's The Hymns of the Passion.

2.3.2012

Inside Trader Appealing To Human Rights Court

A former Ministry of Finance official convicted of insider trading has decided to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights. This appeal will not delay his going to prison.

2.3.2012

Canadian Dollars: The New Icelandic Currency?

The Canadian ambassador to Iceland has confirmed that his country's central bank is ready to start talks with Iceland about adopting the Canadian dollar as the national currency.

2.3.2012

National Church Demands Parliament Maintain State Support

The national church has sent a letter to every member of parliament and the Constitutional Committee to maintain the institution of a state-supported church in the constitution. But how strong is support for the national church within the government, and among the people themselves?

2.3.2012

Moustache March Begins

For the third year running, men in Iceland are encouraged to grow moustaches this March to raise awareness for the Icelandic Cancer Society.

1.3.2012

Haarde Trial Will Continue

Parliament voted today to dismiss a conservative-led proposal to end the trial of former Prime Minister Geir H. Haarde. Conservative chairman Bjarni Benediktsson called it "a defeat for fundamental human rights."

1.3.2012

Are We Being Cheated At The Grocery Store?

One resourceful Icelander has compared the advertised weight and the actual weight of several Icelandic and imported products, and found some pretty dramatic differences. UPDATE: The man has since issued a public statement saying that his scale was broken.

1.3.2012

Busy Day For Earthquakes

Two earthquakes struck close to the capital late last night, a couple hours after another hit the north of Iceland.

1.3.2012

Centre For Puppet Arts Announces Closing

The Centre for Puppet Arts in Borgarnes has announced that due to difficult economic times, they will have to shut down.

29.2.2012

Haarde Trial Will Likely Go On

The trial of former Prime Minister Geir H. Haarde will in all likelihood continue, as a parliamentary committee majority voted to reject a conservative proposal to stop the trial. Conservative chairman Bjarni Benediktsson said the ruling was "no surprise".

29.2.2012

Website Of Icelandic Movies Opens

A new website has opened that has archived information on about 1,200 movies made by Icelanders, or involving Iceland in some way.

29.2.2012

Real Estate Prices Increase In Iceland

Bucking a general trend across Europe, no where else on the continent are real estate prices proportionately higher than in Iceland.

28.2.2012

Carbon Recycling In Effect Near Blue Lagoon

A recycling plant which turns carbon dioxide into Renewable Methanol (RM) is in operation near the Blue Lagoon.

The director of the N1 chain of petrol stations told reporters that the recent discovery of signs of oil in Icelandic waters could mean the country becomes "the richest in the world within 12 years".

24.2.2012

Hymns Of The Passion Called Anti-Semitic

A letter from the Simon Wiesenthal Institute calls on the Icelandic state broadcasting service (RÚV) to not broadcast Hallgrímur Pétursson's Hymns of the Passion, due to the frequent disparaging remarks made about Jewish people in the hymns.

24.2.2012

11-Year-Old Saves Infant From Drowning

A quick-thinking young girl swimming at a public pool saved the life of a baby that had fallen in, and later downplayed the rescue to reporters.

24.2.2012

Signs Of Oil In Icelandic Territory Found

There is very strong evidence that there is indeed oil beneath the seabed in the Dragon Area, the northeast corner of Iceland's territorial waters, Norwegian and British prospectors have found.

Certain girls' costumes for Öskudagur sexualise children, contends the Feminist Society of Iceland. One store owner believes parents should decide for themselves which costumes are appropriate for their children.

22.2.2012

Iceland Close To Deadline On Icesave Defence

The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) has granted an extension to Iceland on the deadline to submit a defence over not paying back Icesave in a timely fashion.

21.2.2012

Child Assault Charges Dropped Against Man

A man who was originally charged with assault against a nine-year-old boy for repeated "ding dong dash" incidents has had those charges dropped in Reykjavík District Court today.

21.2.2012

Iceland Should Do More To Fight Racism, Says Report

A new report from the Council of Europe’s Anti-Racism Commission (ECRI) says that Iceland should be doing more to combat discrimination, in part by granting permission for Muslims to build a mosque and by filling in gaps in current immigration legislation.

21.2.2012

Women In Iceland Can Expect Long Lives

Women born in Iceland in recent years can expect to live a little over 83 years, surpassing their male counterparts by about four years.

21.2.2012

Immigration Directorate In Need Of More Funding

The Directorate of Immigration is understaffed, underpaid and overworked, says the director, and needs more funding from parliament to do its job effectively.

20.2.2012

Mayor Takes Out The Trash

Reykjavík mayor Jón Gnarr experienced firsthand today what it is to be a sanitation worker in the city.

20.2.2012

Iceland Safe To Invest In Again

An upgrade by Fitch Ratings has made the country officially "investment grade", for locals and foreigners alike.

20.2.2012

Mixed Feelings About Using Worm For Tourism

The potential tourist applications of the mythical Worm of Lagarfljót are many, says the director of an east Iceland tourist office, but some amount of respect for the creature makes many reluctant to go as far as conceivably possible.

20.2.2012

Parliamentarian Name Declared Legal

The Name Committee has rejected a name on the grounds that it was intended for the wrong gender, and the name of a member of parliament has finally been declared legal.

17.2.2012

Supreme Court Confirms First Insider Trading Sentence

The Supreme Court has confirmed the conviction of insider trading against a former Ministry of Finance official, making it the first such conviction of its kind in Icelandic history.

17.2.2012

Iceland Among World's Safest Countries

A company specialising in risk assessment has concluded that Iceland is among the safest countries in the world.

17.2.2012

Supreme Court: Not Sexual Harassment When Your Naked Boss Invites You In Hot Tub

The Supreme Court has denied the awarding of damages to an employee of Isavia, who did not consider what she went through at a summer cottage with her boss and fellow employees to be sexual harassment.

17.2.2012

Nose Thievery Strikes Again

Once again, the giant snowman built in Akureyri town square has been robbed of its nose. The town is appealing to the general public to help retrieve it.

16.2.2012

Iceland Sale Deal Made, Icesave Could Be Paid Off Before EFTA Trial

The resolution committee for the former Landsbanki has confirmed a deal for the sale of its stake in Iceland Foods, with revenue from it being able to more than cover the remaining debt owed from Icesave.

16.2.2012

Revenue From Creative Arts Equal To Aluminium Production

A report published yesterday showed that the creative arts in Iceland generated just as much revenue as aluminium production, and created about 10,000 jobs in the country.

16.2.2012

Iceland More Likely To Defy US Than Denmark

Iceland showed some interesting trends in terms of how it votes with or against different countries in the United Nations general assembly.

16.2.2012

Keflavík Airport Wins Top Award

14.2.2012

Nation Divided Over Haarde Trial

Icelanders appear to be almost evenly divided when it comes to whether or not the trial of former prime minister Geir H. Haarde should continue.

14.2.2012

Probation For Buying Sex From Child

A primary school teacher was sentenced to one year probation for having twice paid a 14-year-old boy for sex. The Government Agency for Child Protection said they find the sentence too light.

13.2.2012

Mother And Son Horse Meat Thieves Arrested

A daring mid-day robbery attempt of several kilos of horse meat was thwarted in part by a quick-thinking supermarket employee, and in part by the incompetence of the thieves in question.

13.2.2012

Icelandic Bomb Suspect Confesses, Explains

A man in his seventies arrested by police last Friday in connection with a bomb detonated near the Prime Minister's office has confessed, and explained his reasons for the act to police.

13.2.2012

Calls Motörhead Wine Ban A Violation Of Human Rights

The singer for Icelandic hard rock band Sólstafir believes that the ban on Motörhead shiraz violates basic human rights, saying that blaming music for behaviour is groundless.

13.2.2012

Dangerous To Stand On The Bus

The Road Traffic Directorate believes that it is dangerous for passengers to be standing in a bus when traveling outside of the capital, and have taken their concerns to the Ministry of the Interior.

10.2.2012

Monster Filmer Denies It Was A Hoax

The Icelander who took the now-famous video of what could be the mythical Lagarfljóts Worm denies he created the footage or altered it in any way.

10.2.2012

New Party Polls Well

The newly formed party of former Leftist-Green Lilja Mósesdóttir has received considerably high levels of support, a new poll shows.

10.2.2012

Lawyer Criticises Decision To Ban Motörhead Wine

A lawyer commenting on the recent decision of the State Alcohol and Tobacco Company of Iceland (ÁTVR) to ban the sale of Motörhead shiraz said that there are clearly too many employees at the institution.

10.2.2012

The Prime Minister Does Speak English

Despite what the general public was led to believe a few years ago, it has come to light that Prime Minister Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir does, in fact, have a good command of the English language.

9.2.2012

Rubella Spotted In Iceland

The Directorate of Health has issued a statement encouraging people to continue vaccinating their children after two cases of rubella - also known as German measles - came to the attention of medical authorities in the past two weeks alone.

9.2.2012

State Broadcasting On The Fence About Eurovision Boycott

The director of RÚV, the state broadcasting service, said that he can see both pros and cons with boycotting Eurovision this year. Meanwhile, a reader poll at DV shows respondents overwhelmingly in favour of staying home this year.

9.2.2012

Motörhead Wine Rejected On Moral Grounds

The State Alcohol and Tobacco Company of Iceland (ÁTVR) has refused to sell Motörhead's red wine on the grounds that the name of the band itself promotes the use of amphetamines and leading an unhealthy lifestyle.

9.2.2012

Klapparstígur To Get Makeover

6.2.2012

Murder Suspect In Custody

Police report that they have in custody a man who turned himself in for murdering an acquaintance.

6.2.2012

Has The Worm Of Lagarfljót Been Spotted?

One of Iceland's most popular mythical beings - the Worm of Lagarfljót - may have been caught on video.

6.2.2012

Phone Book Offers Stickers To Cover Celeb Accused Of Rape

The editorial office of Já, the company that publishes the phone book, has offered its customers two types of stickers to cover the image of Egill "Gillz" Einarsson - who is being investigated for rape - on the cover of the phone book.

6.2.2012

Believes Perlan Should Be Museum; Not Hotel

2.2.2012

Late Reaction Of Police To Be Investigated

The late response of police to the scene where a homemade explosive was detonated behind the Prime Minister's office was likely due to police not understanding the seriousness of the situation, but will nonetheless be investigated.

2.2.2012

The Sun Rises In Ísafjörður

Residents of the northwestern town were pleased to see the sun make its first appearance in weeks, even if "officially" several days late.

1.2.2012

Westman Islands Consider Shipping Their Garbage Abroad

The impending shutting down of garbage incineration in the Westman Islands has prompted the idea of sending the garbage overseas to be burned instead.

1.2.2012

Cheaper To Toast Bread Vertically Thanks To Tolls

Magnús Orri Schram, an MP for the Social Democrats, believes a number of reforms need to be made to Iceland's laws on what items are charged how much in fees when imported into the country.

1.2.2012

Everyone Encouraged To Wear Neckties In February

A movement begins this month to encourage both men and women alike to wear neckties on a daily basis, in the hopes of increasing their use the rest of the year.

31.1.2012

Bomb Scare Behind Government Offices

At 9 o'clock this morning an object thought to be a bomb was discovered at Hverfisgata 4 behind the government offices.

31.1.2012

Bill Would Change Organ Donor Laws

A bill being introduced to parliament would make all Icelanders automatic organ donors, unless they specify otherwise before their deaths.

31.1.2012

Foreign Minister Assembles National Defence Team

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Össur Skarphéðinsson has assembled a workgroup to outline Iceland's national defence strategy - a task that will prove challenging with no standing military.

31.1.2012

Halibut And Guillemot Disappearing From Menus

With protections or bans on both animals, halibut is disappearing from Icelandic restaurants, and guillemot is on the wane.

30.1.2012

Police Take Action On Hate Site

Reykjavík police questioned a suspect and seized a computer in connection with a racist website aimed at Icelanders and written in Icelandic.

30.1.2012

Oliver Closes, But The Dude Abides

The café and club Oliver closed its doors for good last Tuesday, but will be replaced in a few weeks by a new place themed on The Big Lebowski.

30.1.2012

Houses For Sale In Raufarhöfn For As Little As Nothing

A number of houses are being sold off in the municipality of Raufarhöfn in far northeast Iceland, with one house sold so far for zero crowns.

30.1.2012

Icelandic Hate Site Might Be Illegal

A website written in Icelandic and aimed at native Icelanders espouses racial segregation and white supremacy. However, Iceland has some very specific laws regarding such speech.

27.1.2012

Impending Arrival Of H&M Turns Out To Be Student Project

A banner up in the window of an empty store on Laugavegur announcing the arrival of an H&M store turned out to be a university student project on the nature of happiness.

27.1.2012

Other Three Trawler Crew Members Still Not Found

The remaining crew of a trawler which sank near the coast of Norway on Wednesday have still not been found, and are presumed dead. The captain, who was rescued, managed to survive only because of the protective gear he was wearing.

27.1.2012

Former PM Contends He Could Have Had No Effect On Financial Collapse

Former Prime Minister Geir H. Haarde believes he could not have prevented the financial collapse of Iceland in 2008, and did not consider it his place to meddle in the affairs of private banks.

27.1.2012

Victim Of Human Trafficking Tells Her Story

A woman who was sold into prostitution in Iceland spoke with a reporter about her experience in coming to Iceland and her treatment here, candidly recounting her experience.

26.1.2012

Icelanders Drill 39 Wells In Namibia

A group devoted to working with developing countries has so far drilled 39 wells in the arid African nation of Namibia, providing water to thousands.

26.1.2012

Loophole Found For Huang Nubo

24.1.2012

Worst Grain Crop In A Decade

Farms across Iceland experienced the worst grain harvest in the past ten years, with shortages falling to less than half of the needed supply.

18.1.2012

Huang Nubo Still Waiting On Reply From Icelandic Authorities

City Withdraws Proposed Meal Fees For Disabled

The city council of Reykjavík has decided to withdraw their proposal to charge meal fees for disabled employees of two city occupational centres.

12.1.2012

President Refuses To Give Straight Answer On Candidacy

Icelandic president Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson has refused to answer direct questions from the press regarding whether or not he will run for office this year.

12.1.2012

French Begin Real-Time Monitoring Of Volcanic Ash

French scientists have developed technology which enable them to monitor the movements of volcanic ash from within the clouds themselves, using balloons.

11.1.2012

Copyright Holders Encourage National Firewall

Different copyright holder groups in Iceland are currently soliciting the government to create a national firewall which would block access to websites offering illegal downloads.

11.1.2012

City Council Criticised For Charging Disabled For Meals

City council recently passed a regulation that requires disabled people at two different occupational centres to pay for their meals, at a price higher than what city council members themselves pay for their lunches and dinners.

11.1.2012

Council For Icesave Case Chosen

Iceland will soon appear before the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) court over the Icesave matter, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs wasted no time finding a legal representative for the country.

10.1.2012

Government Will Assist With Breast Implant Removal

The Ministry of Welfare has announced that it will provide financial assistance to women seeking to have PIP breast implants removed.

10.1.2012

City Responds To "No Sand Nor Salt" Criticism

Mayor Jón Gnarr has responded to criticism from traffic officials and the general public over the decision not salt or sand roads and sidewalks last weekend, saying that it would have been pointless to do so. Clean-up crews were dispatched at about four o' clock this morning.

10.1.2012

Bus Fares To Rise

Bus fares will be on their way up again, although not for all rates. The bus company Strætó points out that their fares account for a lower percentage of their operational costs than bus fares in other countries do, and that the number of passengers has increased sharply in the past year.

10.1.2012

Weird Girls Project In China

6.1.2012

Most Want Icelandic President To Stay On

The majority of respondents to an online poll conducted by Vísir want current president Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson to stay on, to be the country's head of state for a solid 20 years.

6.1.2012

City Residents Will Have To Dispose Of Their Own Trees

This year, people living in Reykjavík will have to take their Christmas trees to the dump themselves - the city will not be doing it for them.

5.1.2012

No Dogs Allowed On Grímsey

The ban of dogs on the far north island of Grímsey stands, with canines forbidden from even visiting.

5.1.2012

Tainted Fertiliser Knowingly Sold

Chemical fertiliser containing levels of cadmium well over the safety mark was sold to distributors here in Iceland, and strewn over fields.The Minister of Agriculture says the matter is no cause for alarm. The Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority said it will review its procedures on imported products.

5.1.2012

Media In Speculation Mode Over Possible New Presidential Candidates

The Icelandic media has begun the process of seeking out possible candidates to run for president this year, and continue to solicit the opinions of readers over who should run.

5.1.2012

Unnamed Party To Announce Name Soon

The party formed by Guðmundur Steingrímsson, which is already a sister party of the Best Party, has published some of the names submitted for the organisation.

4.1.2012

Police Issue Icicle Warning

After receiving reports from locals, police in the capital are warning people to watch for falling icicles.

4.1.2012

Icelanders Among The Happiest People

A new global Gallup poll not only shows Icelanders as being among the happiest people in the world, but also happier than those who are doing better financially and are more optimistic about their respective countries' economic future.

4.1.2012

"Broad Alliance" To Form

A political party comprised of many smaller political parties appears to be approaching in the near future.

4.1.2012

Earthquake Felt In Reykjavík

2.1.2012

President Insinuates That He Will Not Run Again

In his New Year's address, Icelandic president Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson insinuated that, after 16 years in power, he did not intend to run for another term in office.

2.1.2012

Conservatives Still Going Strong

The Independence Party is still polling at pre-crash levels, according to the latest Gallup poll, with support rising for only one party: The Movement.

30.12.2011

Government To Change After New Year

Today it was announced that the government will be combining ministries again, and that two ministers will be leaving their posts.

30.12.2011

City Hall Seeking Polish Speaker

28.12.2011

Largest Portion Of Prisoners In For Drug-Related Offences

Statistics from prison officials show that of the 177 convicts currently behind bars, over one hundred of them are in for drug-related offences.

28.12.2011

Do Cops Need Guns?

While police are starting to express the desire to have guns on the job, the Minister of the Interior believes there is still no need for them.

28.12.2011

Citizens Speak Up Against GM Crops

A number of people in south Iceland have raised objections to the growing of genetically-modified (GM) crops in a greenhouse in the region.

28.12.2011

Haaretz Journalist Objects To Morgunblaðið Interview

A journalist for Haaretz, who recently wrote an article about Jews in Iceland, has objected strongly to an interview Morgunblaðið conducted with one of her interviewees.

27.12.2011

Playschool Fees Going Up In 2012

Every major municipality in Iceland will be raising playschool fees in 2012, and although Reykjavík will be making the largest rise proportionately, it will still remain the town with the cheapest playschools.

27.12.2011

Icelandic Doctor Researching New ADHD Drug

An Icelandic doctor working in the US is currently embarking on developing a new drug for ADHD, based in part on groundbreaking research his team did on the genetic aspects of the disorder.

27.12.2011

Interviewee Takes Issue With Article On Icelandic Jews

One of the people interviewed in a recently-published article in Haaretz on Jewish people in Iceland has described it as "full of inaccuracies."

27.12.2011

Still No Answers On CIA Spy Planes

A human rights group asking for information from various countries on the use of CIA "rendition" planes to transport terrorism suspects reports that some countries have been less forthcoming than others - Iceland among them.

26.12.2011

Public Workers' Union Criticise Parliamentary Salaries

The Federation of State and Municipal Employees (BSRB) has strongly criticised a government decision to stall on lowering the wages for MPs and ministers, while they have had to contend with lowered wages themselves.

26.12.2011

Years-Old Whale Meat Remains Unsold

The surplus of unsold whale meat in cold storage is growing exponentially and, according to Statistics Iceland, only 450 kilogrammes of whale meat have been exported since 2006.

26.12.2011

Moody's Keeping An Eye On Icesave

Economics analysts Moody's have kept Iceland's rating the same from last spring, giving mixed reviews of the state of the economy, while indicating that legal proceedings over Icesave could change the country's rating for better or worse.

24.12.2011

Here's Wishing Everyone A Merry Christmas!

Season greetings from Your Friends At The Reykjavík Grapevine!

22.12.2011

Mysterious Clicking Sound In House Costs Millions

A couple who sold a house have been sentenced in court to pay 8 million ISK to a woman who bought it, as the house emits a loud and persistent clicking sound of unknown origin.

22.12.2011

Many Refugees Still Waiting For An Answer

While there is cause for celebration that former refugee Medhi Kavyanpoor received citizenship, there are still many others waiting for years for an answer from the Icelandic government.

22.12.2011

Halibut Headed For The Black Market?

An upcoming ban on the sale of halibut does not necessarily mean that it will no longer be available.

22.12.2011

School Children Choose Charity Over Gifts

A group of young students in Bolungarvík have decided that they would donate money to charity rather than buy gifts for each other this year.

21.12.2011

Government Earmarks Millions For Sexual Violence Education

The Icelandic government has set aside millions to educate school children on the nature of sexual violence, in the hopes of reducing sexual violence among young people.

The European Union has run out of patience with regards to Iceland's mackerel fishing, which the organisation says is being conducted unsustainably.

While western media sources report that Chinese investor Huang Nubo is trying to find a way to buy land in Iceland, the Ministry of Industry denies that this is the case.

16.12.2011

Iceland Officially Recognises Palestine

Iceland and Palestine's foreign ministers met yesterday to formalise relations between their respective countries.

15.12.2011

Iranian Refugee Granted Citizenship

13.12.2011

Special Prosecutor Going On The Offensive

The office of the Special Prosecutor - charged with the task of investigating what illegal activities were involved in bringing about the 2008 financial collapse - has been stepping up its investigation, looking into money laundering at the country's top banks, and using wiretaps to gather information.

13.12.2011

Unemployment Outlook Negative In Short Term, Positive In Long Term

The latest unemployment figures, while not boding well in the immediate future, are still an improvement when looked at from a longer-term perspective.

13.12.2011

Man Claims Amnesia After Eating Mushrooms

A man taken into police custody in Selfoss says he remembers almost nothing of the 24 hours before his arrest, due to his eating Icelandic hallucinogenic mushrooms.

12.12.2011

Two-Thirds Of Icelanders Want To Finish EU Talks

9.12.2011

Is The Lupine Disappearing?

One of Iceland's most notorious invasive species could be on the wane, a geographer contends.

8.12.2011

As Yet Unnamed Party Announced

The political party founded by former Progressive Guðmundur Steingrímsson made its formal introduction to the public today, and is asking for help in coming up with a name.

8.12.2011

No Evidence Of Wrongdoing In US Embassy Surveillance Case

The state prosecutor's office has concluded that the US embassy in Iceland broke no Icelandic laws when conducting a Surveillance Detection Unit (SDU) that aroused controversy last year.

8.12.2011

Landsbanki Makes First Icesave Payment

Landsbanki has made its first payment to depositors in the now-defunct Icesave online bank, although it may be several years before the full amount is paid back.

8.12.2011

Gender Wage Gap Grows, PM Vows Action

The wage difference between the sexes has moved in opposite directions in at least one field, and the Prime Minister has promised that the government will respond.

7.12.2011

Price Of Drugs Decreasing

While the price of alcohol has raised over the past three years, street drugs have gotten cheaper, the National Centre of Addiction Medicine (SÁÁ) reports.

7.12.2011

Good Chances For A White Christmas

There is a very good possibility that Iceland will have a snowy Christmas, although some regions of the country have better chances than others.

7.12.2011

Banks Laying Off Employees Despite High Reported Profits

Iceland's major banks have been laying off employees in the hundreds, even though their profits can be measured in billions of crowns.

7.12.2011

Volcanoes Bad For Your Health

Results of research done in the wake of the Eyjafjallajökull eruption show that the effects of living near a volcano are damaging for both physical and mental health.

6.12.2011

Cold Spell One Of The Worst In Decades

The cold weather that has Iceland in its grip is breaking records across the country, in some places reaching temperatures not seen in decades.

6.12.2011

Corruption In Iceland Grows

Iceland's levels of corruption continue their upswing, according to the latest data from Transparency International (TI), and the hard data points mostly to distrust of Iceland's economic institutions.

6.12.2011

Could Huang Nubo Rent Land?

While the doors appear to be firmly shut on the prospect of Chinese investor Huang Nubo being able to buy land in Iceland to develop a luxury hotel and golf course, this does not mean that other options are unavailable to him.

6.12.2011

Germans Most Numerous Tourists

1.12.2011

No Running Of The Rams

The proposed "Reykjavík Ramathon", slated to be held this holiday season, will not go on as planned.

1.12.2011

Former Glitnir Director In Police Custody

Lárus Welding, the former director of Glitnir bank, is one of three men currently in police custody, at the bidding of the Office of the Special Prosecutor.

1.12.2011

Tickets Already On Sale For Airwaves 2012

If you enjoyed Airwaves 2011, or missed it due to last-minute planning, you now have plenty of time to get ready for the next one, as tickets for Iceland Airwaves 2012 are now on sale.

Cases of oral cancer are expected to rise as chewing tobacco usage increases around the country.

29.11.2011

Number Of Exceptions To Property Law In Iceland Granted

The Ministry of the Interior has granted twenty-four non-EEA foreign citizens the right to purchase property in Iceland over the last four years, according to Eyjan.

29.11.2011

Iceland To Export Dairy Products To Russia

Icelandic Minister for Foreign Affairs Össur Skarphéðinsson has made a deal with the Russian government to export dairy products to Russia. Iceland will soon export skyr, butter and milk powder to the largest country in the world.

29.11.2011

Christmas Beer Flying Off The Shelves

Two hundred and six thousand litres of Icelandic Christmas beer have been sold since November 15, according to mbl.is

28.11.2011

Huang Nubo Claims He Was Misinformed

Chinese businessman Huang Nubo claims that he was not fully aware of the laws pertaining to land purchase by foreign parties, according to RÚV

28.11.2011

Norwegian Hells Angel Arrested At Keflavik

Norwegian Hells Angel, Jan Anfinn Wahl, was arrested last night at Keflavík Airport for trying to enter the country to attend his hearing at the Reykjavík district court. The Icelandic chapter of Hells Angels was to receive him upon arrival, but Jan was not permitted entrance into Iceland, Vísir reports.

28.11.2011

300 To ER Due To Paracetemol Toxicity In Six Years

Three hundred people have been admitted to the Landspítalinn emergency room in the last six years due to paracetemol toxicity, according to research published this week by biomedical scientist Ingibjörg Kjartansdóttir.

25.11.2011

Huang Nubo Not Permitted To Purchase Land

Minister of the Interior Ögmundur Jónasson announced this morning that Huang Nubo would not be granted the right to purchase land in east Iceland.

25.11.2011

Majority Opposed To Legalising Marijuana

A recent poll reveals that the majority of Icelanders are against the legalisation of marijuana.

25.11.2011

Oslo Christmas Tree To Be Lit On Sunday

The Oslo Christmas tree has arrived and Reykjavík’s annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony will take place at Austurvöllur Square on Sunday, November 27, at 16:00.

24.11.2011

Half Nation Would Vote Ólafur in 2012

Over half of the nation would consider voting for President Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson if he runs in next year's election, according to an MMR poll conducted for Viðskiptablaðið.

24.11.2011

Reykjavik City Website Accessible To All

The Organization of Disabled in Iceland (ODI) certified the Reykjavík city website accessible to people with disabilities on Wednesday.

24.11.2011

Mayor Wants To Marry Couples

Reykjavík mayor Jón Gnarr has formally asked for an exception to the law, so that he may preside over marrying couples both gay and straight.

24.11.2011

Says EU Will Make No Comment On Whaling

Minister of Foreign Affairs Össur Skarphéðinsson told reporters that the European Union will not say anything about whaling when they go over the environmental agreement portion of accession talks.

23.11.2011

Wants Changes To Child Sex Crime Laws

Minister of the Interior Ögmundur Jónasson is proposing a bold change to sex crime laws in Iceland regarding children - one that child and sexual abuse experts have long called for.

23.11.2011

Iceland "No Tax Paradise For Polluters"

At least one heavy industry company in Iceland is outraged by a recent raise in "carbon dioxide tax", which they say will badly damage their business. Minister of Finance Steingrímur J. Sigfússon remains adamant that the taxes will rise to planned levels.

23.11.2011

Hostel Wins Innovation Award

A relatively new guest hostel in Reykjavík has won the Icelandic Travel Industry Association's (SAF) innovation award, and the winner will likely surprise few Grapevine readers.

22.11.2011

Unemployed To Receive December Bonus

Iceland's unemployed who meet the required pre-conditions will receive a generous bonus in time for the holidays.

22.11.2011

Drug Shortage Underlines Lack Of Competition

A shortage of Iceland's favourite painkiller - ibuprofen - is a symptom of a much larger problem, The Icelandic National Audit Office says: the lack of competition in the domestic market.

22.11.2011

Betri Reykjavík Website May Break Privacy Laws

A political scientist believes the format of the website Betri Reykjavík may violate Icelandic laws regarding individual privacy.

22.11.2011

Environmental Watchdog Site Hacked

The website of a local environmental watchdog group was hacked after they posted the results of their first meeting, in which they criticised the proposed expansion of the industrial area of Grundartangi.

21.11.2011

Icelander Using Medical Marijuana

An Icelander living in Akureyri is using marijuana for medical reasons, although there are no medical suppliers of the substance.

21.11.2011

Will The Next Bishop Be A Woman?

While the church struggles to re-invent itself after grossly mishandling a sex scandal within its walls, the demand for the next bishop of Iceland to be a woman appears to be stronger than ever.

21.11.2011

Just As Many Foreigners Coming To Iceland As Leaving

Despite a slowly recovering economy that still has a ways to go, the number of foreigners moving to Iceland is about equal to the number leaving.

21.11.2011

Gender Wage Gap Still Profound

There remains a sizable difference in the average wages of men and women working the same jobs, according to the latest Gallup poll on the matter.

18.11.2011

Vasectomies More Popular Than Ever

Vasectomies have increased in popularity in Iceland to such a degree that at least one is performed every day.

18.11.2011

Top 5% Earners Own 17% Of Country's Assets

People in the top 5% of the highest income bracket have enough assets to equate to 17% of the national total, while the bottom 10% own about 4.7%.

The people of Siglufjörður bid farewell to the sun for the next 74 days, but will celebrate its return with a special holiday.

16.11.2011

MP Criticises Downsizing Of Icelandic Classes For Foreigners

14.11.2011

Inter-Parliamentary Union To Review Case Against Birgitta Jónsdóttir

The Human Rights Committee of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) has agreed to review the current injunction the US Department of Justice has launched against Icelandic MP Birgitta Jónsdóttir.

14.11.2011

Undercover Cop Claims International Operations

British undercover police officer Mark Kennedy - who worked for years under the alias Mark Stone while infiltrating environmentalist groups in Iceland - is now claiming a much broader base of operations, spanning Europe.

14.11.2011

Bishop Of Iceland To Step Down

The bishop of the national church of Iceland has called for early elections for a new bishop, and will not run again.

14.11.2011

EU Will Not Budge On Whaling Issue

An official for the European Union has made it clear, in no uncertain terms, that the EU will not grant Iceland any exceptions when it comes to whaling.

13.11.2011

Misleading Information In Huang Nubo Story

A highly circulated news story about the progress Chinese investor Huang Nubo is making in purchasing land in Iceland contains a false attribution to the Reykjavík Grapevine.

11.11.2011

Federal Court Rules On Icelandic MP's Twitter Case

A federal court has ruled that social networking site Twitter must allow the US Department of Justice to have full access to Birgitta Jónsdóttir's account.

11.11.2011

Phone Company Employee May Have Been Wiretapped

An employee for a phone company may have had their phone tapped by their former spouse. The case is now being investigated.

11.11.2011

Human Centipede 2 Icelandic Premiere Tonight; Director To Answer Audience Questions

The Human Centipede 2 will make its Icelandic premiere at Háskólabíó tonight, and the screening will be prefaced by an open Q&A session with director Tom Six.

11.11.2011

KFC Apparently Unattractive Job Prospect

Despite about 12,000 people being on the unemployment roles, only ten people sought two jobs advertised at KFC.

10.11.2011

Name Committee Member Speaks Out

A member of Iceland's Name Committee has gone public about the job they do and the public reaction they receive. Meanwhile, more names have been approved and rejected.

10.11.2011

Tom Cruise Coming To Iceland

Actor and noted Scientologist Tom Cruise will be coming to Iceland for a few weeks for the shooting of a new movie.

10.11.2011

Horses To Be Slaughtered Due To Lack Of Hay

Many Icelandic horses are on their way to becoming food, as an especially cold year has meant less food for them.

9.11.2011

Airline Competition Comes To Iceland

British airline easyJet has announced that they will begin flights to Iceland in March 2012.

9.11.2011

Aluminium Smelters Use Tremendous Amounts Of Electricity, Return Little

The smallest aluminium smelter in Iceland uses 50% more electricity than all of Iceland's households and businesses combined, while contributing very little to the country's GDP.

9.11.2011

Christmas Goat Felled By High Winds

The giant straw Christmas goat raised by IKEA in Garðabær was felled by heavy winds, but organisers have vowed to raise it again.

9.11.2011

Nature Conservation Bill Submitted To Parliament

The Minister for the Environment has submitted a bill to parliament increasing the protection of undeveloped land, which may have been inspired by a controversy arising from a tour bus company last summer.

8.11.2011

Icelandic Language Becoming More International

Icelandic is piquing the interest of people on a global scale, and being taught by about a hundred universities around the world.

8.11.2011

Watch Thief Accomplices Will Not Be Extradited

The remaining members of the crew who robbed upscale watch store Michelsen last month were apprehended in Poland, but will not be extradited to Iceland, due to Iceland's own extradition laws.

8.11.2011

Chain of Lightning Makes Its Way To Iceland

Satellite imagery has captured a series of lightning bursts extending up the Gulf Stream and over southwest Iceland.

8.11.2011

Icelandic Hostel Ranked Among Best In The World

A youth hostel in Reykjavík was ranked by Gadling in the top ten most eco-friendly hostels in the world.

7.11.2011

Jónsi Teams Up With Cameron Crowe

Jón Þór Birgisson, also known as the singer Jónsi from Sigur Rós, has joined forces with Cameron Crowe in composing a new song.

7.11.2011

Occupy Reykjavík Occupies Landsbanki

4.11.2011

Prison Sentence For Smuggling Legal Substance

An Icelander was sentenced to prison for smuggling what he thought was cocaine, but was actually a legal chemical.

4.11.2011

Most Priests Want Church Reform

A new study shows that the overwhelming majority of priests in the national church believes that reforms are needed in how the church is run.

3.11.2011

First Foreign-Born Woman In Parliament

Alternate MP for the Social Democrats Amal Tamimi became the first foreign-born woman in the history of the Icelandic parliament today.

3.11.2011

The Return of Kauphöll?

The famed - and notorious - Icelandic trading house Kauphöll may be on the verge of a renaissance, as companies are beginning to show a renewed interest in being listed on its exchange.

3.11.2011

Taxi Drivers Furious Over Snow Tire Ban

A city campaign launched to fight the use of spiked snow-and-ice tires has made some taxi drivers furious, as they view the tires as a necessity.

3.11.2011

Unregistered Labour Costs Billions

The societal cost of managers hiring employees without registering them with the tax office runs into the billions.

2.11.2011

Occupier Tents Taken Down; Live Stream Up

It turns out the Occupy Reykjavík protesters do not have a permit to have tents up in front of parliament. However, they do have a Livestream set up, and have told Grapevine that they are optimistic that they will eventually be allowed to stay.

2.11.2011

Legendary Viking "Sunstone" May Have Been Real

A newly released study has posited the theory that the "sunstone" often mentioned in Viking legends may not have been a myth; it may have been an actual device used for navigating the sea.

2.11.2011

Occupy Reykjavík May Have Tent Permits

Protesters taking part in the global Occupy movement in Reykjavík say they have permits to erect tents and camp in front of parliament.

2.11.2011

Best Party Keeps Promise To Break Promises

The Best Party has broken one of its campaign promises regarding city swimming pools, but has stood by its promise to break its campaign promises.

1.11.2011

Police Silent On Zombie Preparedness

In light of a possible zombie sighting in Reykjavík last night, Grapevine has learned that capital police are possibly not prepared at all for a potential zombie attack. An expert on the subject believes the answer may lie with a civilian militia.

1.11.2011

Reply Received From Huang Nubo

Chinese investor Huang Nubo has responded to the Ministry of the Interior's request for more information on the man and his intentions in Iceland. The next step in the process remains uncertain.

1.11.2011

Prejudice Is Learned At Home

A 17-year-old Polish Icelander eloquently describes his experience of confronting prejudice for the first time, and his struggle against it.

1.11.2011

Zombie Sighting In Grocery Store

A man bearing all the signs of being a zombie was spotted in a supermarket last night.

31.10.2011

Woman In Wheelchair Denied Haircut

A disabled woman was denied her haircut appointment at a salon she has been to four times before, on the grounds that her wheelchair is too large to be accommodated.

31.10.2011

Two MPs Leave Leftist-Greens; New Party Could Be Formed

Two MPs, who previously left the parliamentary party of the Leftist-Greens, completely left the party during this weekend's national convention. A new political party could be now in the works.

A music festival bringing together musicians from Seattle and Iceland celebrates its second year today.

27.10.2011

Jacob Appelbaum Detained At Keflavík Airport

Grapevine has learned that Tor Project member and one-time WikiLeaks representative Jacob Appelbaum has been detained at Keflavík International Airport.

27.10.2011

Green Map Of Reykjavík Launched

A map for environmentally-conscious tourists has been released for the city of Reykjavík, and is available for free.

27.10.2011

Whale Meat Being Sold To Tourists Under False Pretences

Whale meat is being sold to departing passengers at Keflavík International Airport, who are told the meat is perfectly legal to take abroad, when in fact people could face criminal charges for bringing it to other countries.

27.10.2011

Police Have Watch Thief Suspect In Custody

Police have in custody a suspect they believe was involved in last week's heist of expensive Rolex watches from a downtown store. Although the men who committed the actual robbery have already left the country, all the merchandise has been recovered and returned.

Police have come to the conclusion that they cannot legally use the names, e-mails and phone numbers culled by the group Big Sister in a sting operation used to attract men looking for prostitutes.

25.10.2011

ISFI Directors Ask To Be Fired

Directors of the Icelandic State Financial Investments (ISFI) have sent a letter to Minister of Finance Steingrímur J. Sigfússon asking that they be relieved of their duties, due to what they see as the "unacceptable" hiring of Páll Magnússon as the new chairman.

25.10.2011

WikiLeaks Shuts Down Due To Choked Cash

The globally recognised whistleblower site WikiLeaks will have to shut down operations due to severe restrictions placed on their cash flow, founder Julian Assange told reporters.

25.10.2011

Iceland Named One Of Best Travel Destinations In The World

National Geographic's Traveler has chosen some must-visit places from around the world, with Iceland included in that list.

24.10.2011

Iceland And Russia Sign Energy Agreement

Minister of Industry Katrín Júlíusdóttir and Russian Minister of Energy Sergey Shmatko signed an agreement between their respective countries regarding Iceland sharing geothermal technology and development in exchange for boosting tourism between the two, but one aspect of their previous discussions was conspicuously absent from media reports on the meeting: oil.

24.10.2011

President: Social Media Outgrowing Government

President Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, speaking at a tech conference in the US last Thursday, told the press that the believes social networking sites are making government institutions increasingly irrelevant in public discussions over the issues of the day.

24.10.2011

EU Sanctions Against Iceland "Vital"

Officials from Scotland, Ireland and the UK agreed last Friday that EU sanctions against Iceland and the Faeroe Islands over "reckless" mackerel fishing must be initiated as soon as possible.

24.10.2011

80% Of Icelanders Support An Independent Palestine

The results of the latest Gallup poll on the subject shows that the vast majority of Icelanders support total sovereignty for Palestine.

22.10.2011

Berlin Pirates Give Lecture in Reykjavík TODAY

Members of the recently victorious Berlin Pirate Party are giving a lecture at Reykjavík University today to introduce LiquidFeedback, a system of Democratic voting, which The Party uses to make its internal decisions.

18.10.2011

Iceland Wins Award For Exporting Democracy

The non-profit political action group Citizens Foundation became the first Icelanders to win the European World e-Democracy Awards.

18.10.2011

Proposed Aluminium Smelter Axed

Alcoa has officially scrapped plans to build a proposed aluminium smelter near Húsavík, citing a lack of will on behalf of different parties to complete the project.

18.10.2011

EIA Urges Halt To Fin Whale Meat Sale

The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), confirming more meat from endangered fin whales has been exported from Iceland to Japan, have called upon global retailer Yahoo! to prohibit the sale of the meat.

18.10.2011

Referendum On NATO Membership Proposed

The Leftist-Greens have submitted a parliamentary proposal calling for a public referendum on whether or not Iceland should remain a part of NATO.

17.10.2011

Meat Of Abused Animals Sold In Stores

A lawyer dedicated to animal rights in Iceland has disclosed that meat sold in shops often comes from animals who have not only been factory farmed, but faced additional abuse as well.

17.10.2011

Iceland's Defence Issues "Third Crisis"

A new report released by the Swedish army expresses some grave concerns over Iceland's security situation, calling it the "third crisis", and in need of immediate attention.

17.10.2011

Pay Toilets Praised, Entrance Fees Dismissed

The use of pay toilets at Þingvellir National Park was praised by the committee in charge of the area, while the concept of charging admission fees at some of Iceland's more famous locations was dismissed.

17.10.2011

Unregistered Work More Widespread Than Thought

While long suspected to be on the rise in the workforce, unregistered employees are actually more commonplace than initially suspected.

14.10.2011

Young Progressives Propose Lowering Price Of Condoms

A statement from the Young Progressives proposes lowering the tax on condoms, in response to numerous health problems related to unprotected sex that have recently arisen.

14.10.2011

Journalist Sentenced To Pay Fine For Quoting Public Records

A journalist for DV was found guilty of defamation of character for publishing publicly available information on one of the subjects of an article.

14.10.2011

Finance Minister Justifies ISFI Hire

Despite great public unpopularity with the decision, Minister of Finance Steingrímur J. Sigfússon has defended the decision to hire Páll Magnússon as the new director of the Icelandic State Financial Investments (ISFI).

14.10.2011

Informant Naming Sparks Row Between Feds And Newspaper

The FBI has disavowed having revealed the identity of the Icelander who helped bring down wanted gangster James "Whitey" Bulger, while the Boston Globe - who broke the story - claims the FBI's silence over the reveal was a form of consent.

13.10.2011

Katla's Activity Worrying Scientists

Recent seismic activity around Katla has civil authorities meeting with scientists on a regular basis, and has attracted the attention of the global media.

13.10.2011

Blogger Exposes Unpopularity Of Finance Hire

A blogger who repeatedly criticised a controversial hire to a powerful finance position reporting to the Ministry of Finance has paid out of pocket to conduct a formal survey on the hire, and showed some remarkable results.

13.10.2011

Finance Minister Appears On BBC

Minister of Finance Steingrímur J. Sigfússon appeared on the BBC to explain where Iceland went wrong, financially, and where it is going next.

13.10.2011

Penis Museum Back In Reykjavík

7.10.2011

FANCY BB&BLAKE VIDEO PREMIERE

We, your friends at Reykjavík Grapevine, are proud to present this fancy new video from local erotico-electro act BB&BLAKE. The 'Good or Bad' video was directed by BB&BLAKE's better half, Vera Sölvadóttir, and combines scenes from Poppoli Pictures' upcoming thriller 'City State' with some highly stylized shots of the band being all mysterious and stuff (there is also a nipple!).

7.10.2011

Harpa Defends Symphony Orchestra

In the wake of young conservatives calling for state funding to be cut, Harpa Music Hall has issued a public statement defending the support of the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra.

7.10.2011

Controversial Bill Introduced To Parliament

A new bill introduced to parliament would give police the right to investigate anyone, regardless of whether or not they had committed a crime or were even suspected of doing so.

7.10.2011

Jón Ásgeir: "I Don't Want That Life Back"

Former tycoon Jón Ásgeir Jóhannesson told DV that far from being upset about his current financial situation, he is happier now than before, and doesn't miss his old lifestyle.

7.10.2011

Parking Metre Attendants Often Threatened

A man who was recently sentenced to two months in jail for numerous threats he made against a metre attendant for writing him a 5,000 ISK ticket is not the first incident of its kind in Iceland.

6.10.2011

Progressive Chairman Draws Criticism From Progressive Women

The rift between the Progressive chairman and his own members of parliament appears to be growing, with a new conflict brewing between party leadership and their most experienced MP, Siv Friðleifsdóttir.

6.10.2011

Wants To Sue Britain For Damages

Members of the opposition parties in parliament want to file a lawsuit against the UK for the use of anti-terrorist legislation to freeze Landsbanki's assets in October 2008.

6.10.2011

Kofi Annan Coming To Iceland Today

4.10.2011

Loud But Peaceful Protests As Parliament Convenes

Some 1,500 gathered on Austurvöllur yesterday evening to voice their concerns about the state of the Icelandic economy. Inside parliament, party leaders attempted to deflect public anger away from their own parties.

4.10.2011

One Way Ticket Traps Traveller In Iceland

An Italian man who was stopped on his way to the US for not having a return ticket is now stuck in Iceland, and is asking for help.

4.10.2011

More Names Approved

29.9.2011

Newspaper Editor Defends "Massage" Ads

The editor of Fréttablaðið has responded to allegations that his paper prints advertisements for prostitution by saying that it is not illegal to advertise massages. Meanwhile, Stígamót has confirmed that the ads are, in fact, for prostitutes.

29.9.2011

Police To Hold Protest Demonstration

City police will be holding a demonstration march downtown today to bring more attention to their labour demands. The capital area riot police, the majority of whom voted to walk yesterday, are now understaffed and unable to function.

28.9.2011

Suspects Prostitution Is Being Advertised In Newspapers

Rape crisis prevention centre Stígamót believes there is a strong suspicion that prostitution services are being offered for sale in the classified ads of newspapers.

28.9.2011

Police Unsatisfied With Government Response

Icelandic police do not believe it is impossible to find the money for rises to their salaries, and have vowed to work to find a solution.

28.9.2011

Parliamentary Resolution To Support Palestinian Statehood Very Likely To Pass

Legislation that would officially recognise Palestine as a sovereign nation is expected to easily pass parliament, due in large part to very recent developments.

28.9.2011

Slaughterhouse Breaks Record

A slaughterhouse in Blönduós has broken all records in terms of sheer volume of meat culled, and other slaughterhouses around the country didn't fare so bad, either.

27.9.2011

Police In Crisis

Unhappy with low pay and few benefits, Iceland's police force now faces a crisis, as the government says it cannot raise their salaries. Some members of the riot squad have already walked, and the police are planning further cuts to parliamentary services.

27.9.2011

Iceland Supports Palestinian Statehood At The UN

Foreign Minister Össur Skarphéðinsson, at a speech he delivered at the United Nations yesterday, expressed the support of the Icelandic government of the proposal to grant Palestine statehood.

27.9.2011

Business Representative Harshly Criticises Tolls and Customs

The chairman of one of the largest commerce organisation in the country had some strong words for Iceland's customs and tolls, comparing the current system to "barbarism".

27.9.2011

Foreign Student Sent Out Of Iceland Due To Age

A Canadian student at the University of Iceland has been deported, due to the fact that he is under 18 years old.

26.9.2011

City Official Posts "Jewnited States" On Facebook

The chairperson of Reykjavík's welfare committee made a Facebook post which had a number of people scratching their heads, but was in response to the US blocking Palestinian statehood in the United Nations.

26.9.2011

Cambridge Releases Film: Landscapes Of Icelandic Sagas

Dr. Emily Lethbridge from Cambridge University is traveling around Iceland in a decommissioned Land Rover ambulance to research the settings of Iceland’s Sagas.

26.9.2011

Icelanders Thirst For Vengeance, Says Former Tycoon

Björgólfur Thór Björgólfsson told a Norwegian business newspaper that Icelanders in the wake of the area of "outvasion vikings" have sought vengeance against the rich. He also expressed regrets about buying Landsbanki.

26.9.2011

Minister Claims He Was Misquoted By EU MP

Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture Jón Bjarnason denies he told a Romanian EMP that he intended to prevent Iceland from joining the European Union.

26.9.2011

Tourism Booming Industry This Year

Revenue generated by tourism has been approximately five times the amount invested into it, showing returns like no other business in Iceland.

23.9.2011

Government To Put 10 Billion Into Mass Transit

The government has agreed to invest 10 billion ISK over a period of ten years in the mass transit system, citing the fact that transportation is the third greatest expense in an Icelandic household.

23.9.2011

Denied Overdraft Due To Nationality

A woman from the Faroe Islands was denied a 50,000 ISK overdraft on her account with Arion Banki on the grounds that she is a foreigner. Her boyfriend recorded a conversation he had with a bank employee which confirms this policy.

23.9.2011

Huang Nubo Was Invited To Invest

Chinese businessman Huang Nubo, who is looking to buy a large tract of land in northeast Iceland, told Danish radio that he was invited to come to Iceland and invest.

23.9.2011

Residents Fear Pollution From Proposed Factory

People living in Hvalfjörður have concerns about a proposed plant for manufacturing sodium chlorite, a toxin used in making paper. The Icelandic National Planning Agency says there is no need to conduct an environmental assessment.

22.9.2011

Icelandic President Meets With Putin

President Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson met with Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin this morning to discuss matters of mutual interest in the region.

22.9.2011

Pastor Faces Backlash For Article Defending Homophobia

The pastor of a church who wrote an article saying that homophobes are discriminated against for their beliefs appears to have written his article after being denied city funding for his church, and public reaction to the piece has been strong.

22.9.2011

Male Cashier Unhappy With Discount For Women

A 20-year-old male cashier at Hagkaup in Akureyri has filed discrimination charges against the VR trade union and Hagkaup, on the grounds that their 10% discount offer for women is sexist.

22.9.2011

Pink Iceland Lauded In International Gay Press

Iceland's first travel office for the LGBT community, Pink Iceland, has been making a splash in the international gay press and bringing more attention to Iceland as a gay-friendly travel destination.

21.9.2011

EIA: Iceland "Not Off The Hook" For Fin Whaling

The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) contends that just because the US did not impose trade sanctions on Iceland for fin whaling, the country is not escaping the consequences.

21.9.2011

Former Progressive To Join Forces With Best Party

An MP who recently left the Progressive Party has officially announced that he is starting his own political party, and that it will ally itself with the Best Party.

21.9.2011

Protester Facing Trespass Charges Gets Support

A protester facing conviction in court for standing on the sidewalk in front of the US embassy has been getting support from other activist groups in Reykjavík, who have followed his example.

21.9.2011

23% Of The Country Ill Last Week

Nearly a fourth of the nation was laid up with some sort of illness, according to the results of a new Capacent poll. This is the highest recorded simultaneous bug in Iceland since it began to be measured.

Iceland's top veterinarian has publicly called for the police to thoroughly investigate instances of animal abuse, saying that he is worried about the number of abused horses being brought to his attention.

16.9.2011

Twenty Percent Would Vote Best Party To Alþingi

Twenty percent would vote for The Best Party in parliamentary elections, according to a poll conducted by Market and Media Research (MMR).

16.9.2011

Obama Takes Diplomatic Measures Against Iceland

President Obama decided yesterday to take diplomatic measures against Iceland due to its practice of whaling. Iceland's Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture says US action is unjustified.

16.9.2011

Vísir: Ben Stiller Drank A Maccchiato on Skólavörðustígur

Vísir reported yesterday that actor Ben Stiller was seen drinking a macchiato at Café Babalú on Tuesday.

The Ministry of Industry is looking into the idea of founding a state oil company for the purposes of oil exploration in the “Dragon Zone” off the northeast shores of Iceland.

13.9.2011

Prime Minister Did Not Put In Earplugs

DV reported yesterday that Prime Minister Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir put in earplugs when Independence Party Chair Bjarni Benediktsson began speaking during the parliamentary session on the status of discussions with the EU in regards to fisheries and agriculture.

13.9.2011

Canadians To Retrace Viking Route Back To Iceland

Descendants of Jóhann Elíasson Straumfjörð, who sailed from Iceland to Canada in 1874 with hundreds of Icelanders that went on to settle in Manitoba, are now organising a voyage back to Iceland in the spring and summer of 2013.

13.9.2011

Reykjavík Energy Creates Earthquakes

The Icelandic Met Office recorded three hundred earthquakes last night from the Hellisheiði area, which turned out to be the doings of Reykjavík Energy.

12.9.2011

Kárahnjúkar Impact Report To Be Investigated

Minister for the Environment Svandís Svavarsdóttir said she is going to launch a thorough investigation into the Ministry’s conclusions in 2001 that the Kárahnjúkar plant would not have ill effects on marine life in the Lagarfljót lake.

12.9.2011

Icelanders Buying New Cars Again

Fifty five percent more cars were registered in Iceland during the first eight months of the year compared to the same time period last year, according to mbl.is.

12.9.2011

Naming Committee Approves New Names

The Icelandic Naming Committee announced a new set of approved names this morning.

12.9.2011

Katla Continues To Quake

Roughly twenty earthquakes were detected last night in Mýrdalsjökull glacier where the volcano Katla resides. The largest one measured 2,7 strong and one kilometre deep.

9.9.2011

Large-Scale Moonshine Factory Raided

A lab capable of producing hundreds of litres of moonshine was shut down today in Kópavogur.

9.9.2011

Mayor Offers Asylum To Famous Author

Mayor of Reykjavík Jón Gnarr has offered asylum to an internationally known author facing persecution in their home country, but he isn't saying who the author is, for security reasons.

9.9.2011

Sanctions Against Iceland Encouraged

A number of environmentalist groups are calling upon the Obama administration to exercise sanctions against Iceland for the practice of commercial whaling.

9.9.2011

Most Icelanders Favour Land Sale

Most Icelanders support letting Chinese businessman Huang Nubo purchase the land he seeks in Iceland.

8.9.2011

US Ambassador Shares Thoughts on 9/11

US Ambassador to Iceland Luis Arreaga, at a seminar looking back over the ten years that have passed since the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, gave a speech on his impressions. The full text can be read after the jump.

8.9.2011

Investigation Into Previous Environmental Ministry Demanded

The Icelandic Environment Association is calling for an investigation into how the Ministry for the Environmental could have grossly miscalculated the effects of the Kárahnjúkar dam project on the surrounding wildlife.

8.9.2011

Best Party Officially Examining Parliamentary Run

Officials within the Best Party are now seriously looking at their options for a parliamentary bid, and the party could prove a real contender.

Despite there being hundreds of decently-paying jobs available, very few people are applying for them.

6.9.2011

Famous Lake Decaying

Lagarfljót, a lake near Egilsstaðir in northeast Iceland, appears to be cloudying up with sediment, and the number of fish in it may be in decline.

5.9.2011

Debate Over Chinese Investor Gets Heated

Iceland's politicians cannot seem to agree on how to respond to Huang Nubo, a Chinese businessman who wants to buy land in Iceland for building a luxury hotel.

5.9.2011

High Demand For Prostitutes In Iceland

A sting operation conducted by news roundtable discussion show Kastljósið showed that demand for prostitutes in Iceland is quite high.

5.9.2011

Leader Of Young Progressives Resigns

The chairman of the Young Progressives has resigned over what be believes to be a "troubling nationalism" growing within the party.

2.9.2011

Taxes Significantly Lowered On E-Books And Music

Iceland could be just days away from lowering the taxes on e-books and music sold online.

2.9.2011

Landsbanki Has More Than Enough To Cover Icesave

Landsbanki has come to the conclusion that their assets more than cover the Icesave debt.

2.9.2011

Third Of Voters Support Government

One-third of the electorate supports the ruling coalition, according to a new poll from Gallup, while support for the Leftist-Greens has declined.

2.9.2011

Iceland Sets Record For Marijuana Use

Iceland has set a new Scandinavian record for cannabis use, as part of a trend whose roots go back to the bank collapse.

1.9.2011

Activist Group Temporarily Prevents Eviction

A group of activists temporarily delayed the eviction of a woman who had been living in her home without paying her mortgage in over three years. Video of a scuffle between activists and police was caught on video.

1.9.2011

Iceland May Ask For Extension Of Icesave Deadline

As the 10 September deadline looms ever nearer to pay up the 670 billion ISK Iceland owes over Icesave, government officials are considering asking for a postponement.

1.9.2011

Change In Student Loan Law Affects Students Studying Abroad

A new change to the regulations surrounding student loans could make it difficult for Icelanders living abroad to study.

1.9.2011

Police Concerned About Vespa Use

The use of electric Vespas is growing more popular in Reykjavík, and this has police concerned about public safety.

31.8.2011

Who Is Huang Nubo?

The Chinese businessman who wants to buy land in Iceland has been facing his share of critics and defenders. So what do we know about him?

31.8.2011

Prime Minister: Don't Fear The Foreigners

Prime Minister Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir cautioned people to trust the system to ensure that foreign investors in Iceland operate fairly and with the interests of the nation at heart.

31.8.2011

Icelander Arrested For Khat Smuggling

An Icelander has been arrested in Norway for attempting to smuggle 17 kilogrammes of khat into the country.

31.8.2011

Pessimism Growing Amongst Icelanders

Despite decreasing unemployment and a recovering economy, Icelanders are growing increasingly pessimistic about the near future of their country.

30.8.2011

Soap Thief On The Loose

Soap is disappearing from the capital's swimming pools, and this has at least one pool director concerned enough to call for a concerted action.

30.8.2011

Activists Face Court Again Over Same Charges

Two activists who in the summer of 2008 tried to stop the deportation of Kenyan refugee Paul Ramses will once again appear in court to face the same charges they had been tried for already.

30.8.2011

Leftist-Greens Call For Investigation Of NATO Attack On Libya

Members of the Leftist-Green Party voted last weekend to call for an investigative committee to examine what led to Iceland's support of the NATO raids on Libya.

After nearly three years together, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Iceland will now be parting ways, hopefully forever.

26.8.2011

Unregistered Work On The Rise

The tax office has reason to believe that unregistered employees are not only numerous, but increasing.

26.8.2011

Dragonfly Spotted In Iceland

A dragonfly - a species not native to Iceland - has been spotted in the capital area.

26.8.2011

Child's Coat Ruined By Vandals

A mother in Ísafjörður has issued the general public a warning in light of a recent crime that took place in her town.

25.8.2011

Immigration Authorities Lack Funds For Asylum Seekers

The Directorate of Immigration claims it does not have the funds needed to thoroughly investigate and process every application for political asylum it receives, and may soon make cuts not to staff or salaries, but to the basic services they provide refugees.

25.8.2011

Mayor Does Not Feel School Should Be Mandatory

Mayor of Reykjavík Jón Gnarr does not believe that school attendance should be mandatory, and is proposing that laws requiring children to attend school be repealed.

25.8.2011

New Findings In Climate Change Found North Of Iceland

A deep sea current flowing just north of Iceland could change the way we think about climate change.

A dance performance by Snædís Lilja Ingadóttir has been chosen to take part in Sweden's Stockholm Fringe Fest.

19.8.2011

RÚV Nominated For Emmy

17.8.2011

Employers Opposed To Raising Taxes

The Confederation of Icelandic Employers strongly oppose a proposed tax increase on heavy industry, fishing and the banks, saying that the tax rate is already as high as it should be. A look at the actual data for the rest of Europe tells a different story.

17.8.2011

Playschool Teachers' Strike Pending

12.8.2011

Czech Tour Company Responds To Criticism

Adventura, the Czech tour company that contracts Tatrabus for tours in Iceland, has responded to criticism the company has received in the wake of an accident which caused environmental damage.

10.8.2011

Tour Company Goes On The Defensive

A tour company that has come under attention for reckless driving and causing environmental damage has gone on the defensive, pulling their videos and arguing with users on Facebook.

10.8.2011

Budget Hangs In The Balance

The government budget proposal for the next fiscal year hangs by the proverbial thread, hinged on a film school and a single MP.

10.8.2011

Silver Being Stolen From Mine

Visitors to an abandoned silver mine in Iceland are apparently stealing ore with impunity, despite the taking of silver being strictly forbidden.

10.8.2011

Portion Of Downtown Street Temporarily Pedestrian Only

In response to demands from local merchants, Skólavörðustígur will be partially closed to car traffic for a few days.

9.8.2011

Foreign Law Enforcement Wants Icelandic Drug Dogs

Law enforcement officials from abroad have sought to buy Icelandic drug dogs, but Icelandic authorities say they are already crucially needed here.

9.8.2011

Bus Accident Likely Caused By Reckless Driving

A bus that flipped completely over and sank into a lake with 22 passengers on board may have been the result of reckless driving, as the tour group running the bus has a long history of such, if their own video promotional material is anything to go by.

9.8.2011

Icelander Arrested For Child Endangerment

An Icelander was arrested in New Jersey for leaving his two-year-old daughter in his car on a summer day while he and the rest of his family went shopping.

9.8.2011

Part Of Old Bomb Found In Lake

The bomb squad of the Icelandic Coast Guard was called out yesterday to retrieve what appears to be part of a bomb, possibly from the Second World War.

8.8.2011

Páll Óskar With Choice Words On Gay Pride

Remarks made by singer Páll Óskar during Gay Pride celebrations have been spreading like wildfire across Iceland.

8.8.2011

Expecting 90% Of Icesave Money Returned

Local authorities in the UK are due to receive 90% or more of the money they deposited into Icesave before its collapse in the autumn of 2008.

8.8.2011

E. Coli Outbreak In Laugarvatn

People are prohibited from swimming in Laugarvatn until the presence of E. coli bacteria in the water has been eliminated.

5.8.2011

Google Chrome: Most Popular Browser In Iceland

Google Chrome has now surpassed Firefox as the most popular browser of choice in Iceland.

5.8.2011

Festival Organiser Considering Changing His Mind On Security Measures

Páll Scheving Ingvarsson - the director of the Merchants' Holiday Festival in the Westman Islands, who famously stated that he did not want rape crisis prevention groups at the event - told reporters that he is considering taking extra security measures after six rapes were reported at last weekend's festival.

5.8.2011

Wants To Ban Certain Breeds Of Dogs

In light of an attack on a 12-year-old girl that injured her badly, a proposal from the Dog Owner's Society of Iceland calls for a ban on two more breeds of dogs.

5.8.2011

Icelander Sets World Record

Skater Hlynur Gunnarsson received recognition from the Guinness Book of World Records for maintaining his balance on two wheels of a skateboard longer than anyone else.

4.8.2011

Ellen DeGeneres Sighting Turns Out To Be German Tourist

For a few hours yesterday, it was reported that comedienne and actress Ellen DeGeneres was in Iceland. Closer investigation later revealed that the person in question was just a German tourist who bears a strong resemblance to her.

4.8.2011

No Lamb Shortage, Say Producers

Despite complaints from buyers, Iceland's lamb producers say there is no shortage of lamb for the domestic market. However, the purchase price for domestic lamb has increased significantly.

4.8.2011

Foreign Students On The Rise In The Westfjords

Students from abroad have been on the rise in Iceland, with ever-increasing numbers in the Westfjords.

Assistance that Iceland has given to southern Somalia has already saved the lives of thousands, UNICEF reports.

2.8.2011

Icelandic Fish And Candy To Be Kosher

Rabbis have recently been invited to Iceland for the purpose of ensuring that certain Icelandic products, such as fish and chocolate, can be certified kosher.

2.8.2011

National Park Expanded

The Ministry for the Environment has announced that Vatnajökull National Park - already the largest national park in Europe - is going to get even bigger.

29.7.2011

Constitution To Be Up For Referendum

The draft of Iceland's new constitution was officially submitted to parliament today, and will soon be up for vote by public referendum.

29.7.2011

Cakegate: Health Authorities Respond

Health authorities have responded to criticism regarding a law that forbids the sale of baked goods made in a private home by offering a solution of their own.

29.7.2011

Wants To Build Luxury Hotel At Þingvellir

An entrepreneur from India is hoping to build a luxury hotel and theme park at Þingvellir National Park.

29.7.2011

Refused To Pay Speeding Ticket Due To Icesave

A traffic cop in the countryside was met with an unusual counterargument when he pulled over a tourist for speeding.

28.7.2011

Norwegians Begin Oil Exploration In Icelandic Waters

Norwegian oil exploration has begun in the northeastern point of Icelandic territorial waters, and there are indications that there is oil to be found there.

28.7.2011

Constitution Draft Submitted

The Constitutional Committee completed its task of creating a draft for Iceland's new constitution yesterday, and will soon be submitted to parliament.

28.7.2011

Cakegate: Women's Group, Parliamentarian Respond To Bake Sale Ban

A law which prevents the sale of desserts baked in a private home has caused outrage that has reached as high as the house of parliament.

28.7.2011

Rape Prevention Group Not Invited To Festival

A grassroots organisation that seeks to educate men on rape has not been invited to the national festival held at the Westman Islands.

27.7.2011

Iceland Increased Military Spending While Cutting Social System

A comparison between the 2009 and 2010 budget has shown that the Icelandic government raised spending on its military personnel while making cuts to the domestic social welfare system.

27.7.2011

Changes To Election System Proposed

The Constitutional Committee approved a few changes to Icelandic election law, to be detailed in a draft of the new constitution.

27.7.2011

Minister Of Interior Considering Changes To Weapons Law

In the wake of last week's terrorist attack in Oslo, the Minister of the Interior said he may consider recommending changes to Iceland's weapons law.

27.7.2011

Public Warned To Be Wary Of Flying Trampolines

Advisories from numerous sources have cautioned people to watch out for flying trampolines, and trampoline owners are asked to bring them inside.

26.7.2011

Facebook Argument Boils Over Into Real Life

A man was arrested early this morning, charged with assault, in an incident that started as a comment war on Facebook.

26.7.2011

Former Justice Minister Raises Secret Service Idea Again

Former Minister of Justice Björn Bjarnason believes that in light of recent events in Oslo, Iceland needs to establish a secret service agency.

26.7.2011

Protest In Front Of PM's Office Over Escaped Slave

A demonstration protesting the possible deportation of an escaped slave from Mauritania will be held in front of the Prime Minister's office on Lækjargata today.

26.7.2011

Selling Home-Baked Desserts Illegal

A group of mothers hoping to sell muffins for charity were asked to cease operations, as it violates the law.

25.7.2011

Minister Of Interior Supports Deportation For Escaped Slave

Minister of the Interior Ögmundur Jónasson has said that he stands by the decision of the Directorate of Immigration to deport an asylum seeker from Mauritania.

25.7.2011

Iceland Extends Sympathies To Norway

In the wake of last Friday's terrorist attack in Oslo and the surrounding area, Icelanders have shown an outpouring of support for Norway.

25.7.2011

Against On-The-Spot Fining For Littering

The Minister of the Interior opposes a proposal from Reykjavík city council that would give police the authority to issue fines on the spot for littering.

25.7.2011

Finance Minister Not Worried About Sanctions

Minister of Finance Steingrímur J. Sigfússon told reporters that he is not concerned over the possibility of the US imposing sanctions against Iceland for hunting endangered fin whales.

22.7.2011

Gay And Transgender Rights Groups Protest Constitutional Committee Ruling

Gay and transgender rights advocacy groups have protested a recent decision made by the constitutional committee to exclude sexual orientation and sex identity from an equal rights article of the draft for the new constitution.

22.7.2011

Whale Watching Groups Oppose Possible Sanctions

Whale watching groups in Iceland disagree with the idea of imposing sanctions against Iceland, due to its hunting of endangered fin whales, as sources indicate the US might do.

22.7.2011

Meat Turned To Petrol

A new operation has opened up that will convert offal into biofuel for cars and trucks.

22.7.2011

Extra Björk Concerts Announced

If you missed your chance to buy tickets for any of Björk's concerts at this fall, don't despair - two new extra performances by the artist have been added to the roster.

21.7.2011

American Company Might Buy Lazytown

An American broadcast company is offering to buy up Latibær, known to many outside of Iceland as Lazytown.

21.7.2011

US Considering Sanctions Against Iceland Over Whaling

The US government is considering imposing sanctions on Iceland for the practice of hunting endangered fin whales. Ministers within the Icelandic government - and even within the same party - have mixed reactions.

With an overtime ban already in effect, pilots and Icelandair managed to reach a collective bargaining agreement last night.

19.7.2011

Asylum Seeker Faces Life Of Slavery

Torture, slavery and possibly execution await an asylum seeker in Iceland who faces deportation. No Borders Reykjavík strongly oppose the decision and call on the Minister of the Interior to step in.

19.7.2011

Another New Single From Björk Online Now

Arist Björk Guðmundsdóttir has released another single from her upcoming album Biophilia, available for listening online.

19.7.2011

Closing of Laugavegur Successful

The city of Reykjavík has announced that by all accounts, the closing of the main shopping street Laugavegur has been a success, and will likely be repeated next summer.

19.7.2011

Foreign Minister And Iceland Accused Of Being "Arrogant" Towards Israel

An opinion piece published in Ynetnews - the English-language website of newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth - contends that Iceland is hostile towards Israel, and that its foreign minister displays "egotism" with regards to how it relates to the country.

18.7.2011

Iceland Faces Serious Lamb Shortage

Iceland is facing a shortage of lamb so severe that there have been calls to begin importing lamb from other countries.

18.7.2011

Tourist Joys, Tourist Woes

The bridge over the glacial river Múlakvísl, which was wiped out in a flood over a week ago, has been officially reconstructed and is open to the public again. However, worries for the tourist industry are far from over.

18.7.2011

Priests Want To Meet With Bishop

The Society of Icelandic Priests have decided that the time has come to meet with the Bishop of Iceland and discuss the future of the national church.

18.7.2011

Police Buy Themselves iPads

Reykjavík police have purchased nearly a dozen iPads for the force, so that officers can better update their Facebook page.

15.7.2011

Believes Libel Suit Will Be Good For Book Sales

Former Minister of Justice Björn Bjarnason appears to be unfazed about being sued for libel by former tycoon Jón Ásgeir Jóhannesson, believing that the publicity will be great for sales.

15.7.2011

Former Tycoon To Sue Former Justice Minister

Jón Ásgeir Jóhannesson, perhaps best known as the former director of former corporate giant Baugur Group, is planning to sue former Minister of Justice Björn Bjarnason, over his book about the history of Baugur in Iceland.

15.7.2011

Tourist Industry Fear Losses

It has been estimated that Iceland's tourist industry could lose up to 1 billion ISK if repairs are not made to the damaged bridge over the Múlakvísl glacial river, which was wiped out by a flood last weekend. Construction efforts are nonetheless moving at an almost rushed pace.

15.7.2011

Iceland Helps Block Whale "Safe Area" Proposal

Iceland, along with Japan and Norway, walked out of an International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting, effectively killing a proposal that would have established a safe area for whales in the South Atlantic.

14.7.2011

Radical Summer College Offers Free Classes

An event billing itself as "The Radical Summer University" is offering free courses on a variety of subjects pertaining to political and sociological thought.

14.7.2011

Things Returning To Normal In Flood Area

Everyday life in the flooded area in south Iceland appears to be quickly returning to normal by all accounts.

14.7.2011

Blood Bank Needs Donations Badly

The Blood Bank has run into an unusually large shortage of blood, and is appealing to the general public for help.

14.7.2011

Tickets For Björk Airwaves Shows On Sale Now

Tickets for the performances Björk will give at Airwaves are now on sale, and very limited.

13.7.2011

BREAKING NEWS: New Glacial Flood Has Started

Another glacial flood, this time coming from under Vatnajökull, has begun.

13.7.2011

Iceland Calls Sea Shepherd Terrorist Organisation

11.7.2011

Wikileaks Receives Visa Payments, Loses Them Again

Wikileaks briefly began receiving payments again through Visa, who had blocked payments to the website last fall, only to have Visa shut the transfers down again. Meanwhile, a lawyer for Wikileaks pointed out an interesting inconsistency in Visa's company policy.

11.7.2011

Not An Eruption, But A Flood

The flash flooding which descended from Mýrdalsjökull and partially destroyed Route 1 was not caused by an eruption, scientists now say. Activity in the region also appears to be calming down.

11.7.2011

Singer Calls Women At Festival "Whores"

The lead singer of pop band Í svörtum fötum addressed attendees at the Best Festival by calling the women at the show "whores", and saying he would not take off his shirt until a woman came on stage bare-chested. He has since apologised for this behaviour.

11.7.2011

Another Polar Bear Attacked

Another stuffed polar bear was attacked on Laugavegur, this time by a Rottweiler. Police are searching for the dog and its owner.

9.7.2011

JÖKULHLAUP PHOTOS

The Ring Road will be closed for the next two to three weeks due to the glacial flooding that destroyed the bridge over Múlakvísl river, according to Vísir. Scientists have yet to confirm whether or not it was caused by an eruption.

9.7.2011

Possible Eruption Under Glacier Causes Flooding, Road Closing

A small eruption under the Mýrdalsjökull glacier may have caused flooding that has shut down Route 1 in the southern part of Iceland. No deaths or injuries have been reported. Damage to property has not yet been fully estimated, but the main highway has been heavily damaged.

8.7.2011

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