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Illegal Lasers Stopped At Customs
Lasers far too powerful to be allowed by Icelandic law were recently stopped by customs. Vísir reports that 120 laser pointers from Thailand were seized by customs officials. According to regulations set down by the Icelandic Radiation Safety Authority (GR), laser pointers may…
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Conservative Chair: Referendum “Unrealistic”
Independence Party chairperson Bjarni Benediktsson says holding a referendum on whether or not to continue European Union accession talks is “unrealistic”. However, lower levels of public support prompted the Icesave referendum in 2011. RÚV reports that Bjarni does not believe there is much…
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Foreign Minister Accuses State Broadcasting Of Bias
Minister of Foreign Affairs Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson has responded on why he will only speak with RÚV under his conditions. Vísir reports that Gunnar is not satisfied with how RÚV reported on him last Friday. In particular, he says that a key point…
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Kringlan Sets Up Smokers’ Box
Smokers who go to the mall will have a new surprise waiting for them at Kringlan: a sealed glass room. Vísir reports that the smokers’ shelter – located outside the first floor entrance of Kringlan – is both heated and well-lit. It also…
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Foreign Minister Sets Conditions For Interviews
Minister of Foreign Affairs Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson told state broadcasting service RÚV that he will not grant any interviews with them, unless certain conditions are met. RÚV reports that the news station tried to get a comment from the minister on the situation…
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MP Will Not Respond To “Old News” – From Last Week
Progressive MP Vigdís Hauksdóttir has refused to comment on her encouraging a boycott of a newspaper last week, saying that the matter was “old news.” RÚV reports that reporters have been trying to contact Vigdís over the past week to respond to a…
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Minister Makes False Statement In Parliament
Minister of the Interior Hanna Birna Kristjánsdóttir made claims about the leaked memo on Nigerian asylum seeker Tony Omos which have proved false. DV reports that the minister, addressing parliament on January 27, told her colleagues, “The memo that has been appearing from…
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About 8,000 Attend Referendum Protests
A “togetherness rally” in front of parliament yesterday attracted over 8,000 protestors, gathered around the theme of holding the ruling coalition to their pre-election promise of a public referendum on whether or not to continue European Union accession talks. At this, the…
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Former Independence Party Vice Chair Harshly Criticises Party
Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, the former vice chairperson of the Independence Party, pulled no punches in an interview this morning. DV reports that Þorgerður was a guest on Sunnudagsmorgun (Sunday Morning), hosted by former Independence Party city councilperson Gísili Marteinn Baldursson. Amongst other topics…
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Overwhelming Majority Want Referendum, Foreign Minister Says “Out Of The Question”
A new poll shows a growing majority of Icelanders from every party want a referendum on whether or not to continue EU accession talks, but Minister of Foreign Affairs Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson says a referendum is “out of the question”, and blamed…
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Government Sentenced To Award Asylum Seeker Damages
Reykjavík District Court has ruled that the Icelandic government must pay an asylum seeker over 2 million ISK in damages for false detention and deportation without properly hearing his case. In the court’s opinion, the Icelandic government must pay Atila Askarpour 2,350,000 ISK…
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Teachers Vote Yes To Strike
The votes are in, and Iceland’s secondary school teachers will go on strike March 17 if a new collective bargaining agreement is not reached. RÚV reports that voter participation on the strike question was 86.9% of The Icelandic Teachers’ Unions and The Association…
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MP Encourages Business To Boycott Newspaper
Progressive MP Vigdís Hauksdóttir called for a boycott of ads in a newspaper which spoke poorly of her, prompting the Journalists Union of Iceland (BÍ) to condemn “attempts to suppress freedom of expression.” Vísir reports that Vigdís has been less than happy with…
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Nearly 40,000 Sign Petition On EU Referendum
Just under 40,000 Icelanders have signed a petition calling upon the Icelandic government to put forward a referendum on whether or not to continue accession talks with the EU, as they promised before elections. The petition has gathered the signatures of over 15% of…
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Leaked Memo Created Within Ministry, Sources Contend
Sources within the Ministry of the Interior contend that a memo which leaked to select members of the press and impugned a Nigerian asylum seeker was, in fact, created within the ministry. DV reports that sources they spoke to say that the now-infamous…
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“Nature Pass” To Be Submitted To Parliament
The Minister of Industry will soon submit to parliament a bill on a proposed “nature pass”, which would direct funds from tourists to the care and upkeep of some of Iceland’s most heavily trafficked natural wonders. Vísir reports that the bill will be…
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Conservatives Lead In City Election Poll
According to a new poll from the Social Sciences Department of the University of Iceland, the Independence Party currently has the greatest support for upcoming municipal elections. MBL reports that 28.4% of respondents said they would vote for the Independence Party if city…
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Most Icelanders Want To Vote On EU Talks
Most Icelanders – from every political party – want to vote on whether or not to complete accession talks with the European Union. The ruling coalition’s decision to end talks also contradicts promises they made before elections to put the matter up…
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Says MP Being “Bullied”
Independence Party MP Elín Hirst told parliament she believes Progressive MP Vigdís Hauksdóttir is the victim of “bullying” by her colleagues and the media. Vísir reports that Elín addressed parliament on the subject of Vigdís, saying, “People are always making fun of what…
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Spilled Fish Cover Highway
Traffic on the Reykjanesbraut highway was delayed yesterday due to vast quantities of fish which fell off of a truck. Vísir reports that capital area police were called to the scene, where traffic had been slowed due to piles of redfish and cod…
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Neknomination For Charity
The Children’s Hospital has reportedly raised 1.7 million ISK through a “neknominate” campaign on Facebook. Vísir reports that Icelanders have been challenging each other through Facebook to chug a half litre of beer, record it on video, and then upload it. Those who…
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Protestors Want New Prosecutor
The nine protestors charged with disobeying police orders at the Gálgahraun lava field last October have asked that a new prosecutor be appointed, as he will also be called upon to be a witness in the trial. RÚV reports that the trial of…
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Most Icelanders Believe Officials Were Right To Attend Winter Olympics
A new poll from Market and Media Research (MMR) shows that most Icelanders agreed that the government officials who attended the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia were right to do so. Vísir reports that 55.1% felt President Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson was right to…
