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Protecting Sources Called Into Question
Whether and when a media outlet may reveal the source of their information has been brought into question lately, in particular regarding the investigation of the Interior Minister. DV reports that media analyst Egill Helgason wrote on the leaked memo regarding Nigerian asylum…
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MP Speculates On State Broadcasting’s News
Progressive MP Vigdís Hauksdóttir openly speculated whether or not state broadcasting service RÚV’s news will have to be “censored”. DV reports that the MP’s remarks were in response to a blog post from Heimssýn, a self-described “No to EU movement”. The blog post pointed out that…
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Taxi Drivers Unhappy With “Freelancers”
Numerous anonymous taxi drivers are unhappy with a Facebook group, wherein people offer and ask for rides at pre-determined rates. Vísir reports that, according to one anonymous source, “every taxi company has filed charges with the Icelandic Transport Authority (ICETRA),” and at least…
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US Company Wants To Build Solar Silicon Plant
The American company Silicor Materials (SM) hopes to build a plant which could produce thousands of tons of silicon, whilst creating up to 400 jobs. RÚV reports that SM has requested a plot in Grundartangi on which to build the plant. It is estimated that…
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When Solidarity Happens
Right now, it’s pretty safe to say there is a kind of class war taking place in Iceland, and it’s one management is waging against the working class. About a week ago at the time of this writing, Iceland’s unions got the…
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Ragnar Kjartansson Sells The Visitors
Icelandic artist Ragnar Kjartansson sold six copies of his video installation piece, The Visitors. Viðskiptablaðið reports that among the buyers were the Museum of Modern Art and the Migros Museum in Zurich, Switzerland. The copy which is currently showing at the gallery…
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Asylum Seekers To File Charges Against Police
Three asylum seekers plan to file charges against the police in the wake of a raid in Kópavogur. Last month, dozens of police raided a building in Kópavogur, using battering rams and drug dogs. The residents of the building, most of them…
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Norway To Receive Oil Licence
Norwegian officials are on their way to Iceland to sign an agreement which would give them permission to drill for oil in Icelandic waters. As reported, the Dragon Area, located in the northeast corner of Iceland’s territorial waters, has long been suspected…
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Some Ministers Concerned About Oil Rush
Two government ministers have expressed caution and strong environmental concerns about a possible drilling for oil in Icelandic waters. As reported, the Dragon Area, located in the northeast corner of Iceland’s territorial waters, is suspected to be rich in oil and natural…
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Icelandic Oil Rush Begins
As international interest in Iceland’s oil potential grows, foreign companies are taking a closer look and buying drilling licences. The Dragon Area, located in the northeast corner of Iceland’s territorial waters, has long been suspected to be rich in oil and natural…
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Science Magazine Praises Björk
The Scientific American offered praise for artist Björk Guðmundsdóttir, in particular for her new music video. In the article, appearing on the blog of the Scientific American, they begin by explaining Iceland’s volatile geological nature, resting as it does on top of…
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Lýsi Gets Failing Grade
Icelandic cod liver oil – or lýsi – came out last in a Danish research project on the freshness of various fish liver oils purported to be high in Omega-3. One of Iceland’s most famed products is lýsi, a cod liver oil…
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Catholic Church Investigation Releases Findings
The committee organised to investigate allegations and handling of sexual abuse within the Catholic church have released their findings. Please be advised: some readers may find the details very disturbing. The investigations began in June 2011, when Catholic Bishop of Iceland Pétur…
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Police Break Up Cat Party
Police in Suðurnes were, for possibly the first time in the history of the region, called out to break up a party being held by cats. Morgunblaðið reports that residents living around a house known to be unoccupied for some time noticed…
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Iceland Says Yes To New Constitution
With all votes now counted from last Saturday’s referendum, the majority of Icelanders have voted in favour of having a new constitution, including a number of significant changes. Iceland’s original constitution is more or less borrowed from the Danes. In the wake…
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Capital Area Proposed To Merge Into Single Town
A Kópavogur town councilperson the Grapevine spoke to has submitted a proposal to investigate the idea of merging Kópavogur, Garðabær, Álftanes and Hafnarfjörður into a single town, tentatively named Heiðmörk. The proposal in question, submitted by Lefitst-Green councilperson Ólafur Þór Gunnarsson, seeks…
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Woman Takes Part In Search For Herself
A tourist who was declared missing and the subject of an intense police search had no idea she was missing, and in fact took part in the search itself. The story began on Saturday, Morgunblaðið reports, when a woman who was described…
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Still Waters And Colourful Jellyfish: Kayaking In Hvalfjörður
When I was asked if I would be up for some kayaking, the image that immediately sprang to mind was plunging down frothing, rocky rapids, doing barrel rolls through deadly currents as I swatted aside electric eels and manta rays before rocketing…
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DataCell Wins Case Against Valitor
Reykjavík District Court ruled yesterday that Valitor – the company which manages Master Card and Visa in Iceland – must open payments from its costumers to DataCell, the company which manages donations to Wikileaks. As reported, Wikileaks faced a number of financial…
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Icelandic Comedy Gets Existential
The Icelandic self-image has changed dramatically since the crash. Before October 2008, Icelanders could attribute their keen business acumen to their Viking heritage (or so the President Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson liked to say), and anyone who expressed doubts was just jealous. Foreign…
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Wikileaks Court Case Begins Today
The company which handles financial transactions for whistleblower website Wikileaks promised to take credit card companies in Iceland to court, and today, the trial begins. As reported, Wikileaks faced a number of financial obstacles in 2010. When Master Card and other companies…
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Icelandic Company Fishing Off Namibian Coast
Samherji, a major Icelandic fishing company, secured a hefty fishing quota off the coast of Namibia, but is also engaged in illegal fishing elsewhere near Africa. DV reports that Samherji bought a quota of 30,000 tonnes of mackerel off the coast of…
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Canadian Dollar Speculation Continues
Despite solid denials from the Icelandic government that it will adopt the Canadian dollar, Icelandic economists are insisting that the move would be good for Iceland, and could even be done without Canada’s permission. Last March, a “diplomatic embarrassment” ensued when Canadian…
