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Track by Track: “Ox” by Gyða
Gyða’s latest album, “Ox,” has been garnering accolades the world over lately, as the artist continues to exceed expectations. But what was the inspiration, the stories, the processes behind the songs on the album? Gyða breaks it down for us, track by…
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Get Your Summer Read On
The books to read while travelling around Iceland Moonstone: The Boy Who Never Was Author: SJÓN Sjón is hands down the king of Scandinavian magic realism. He has also written scripts for films like the Northman directed by Robert Eggers, and the…
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Icelanders Too Impatient With Accented Icelandic, Professor Of Icelandic Says
Eiríkur Rögnvaldsson, a professor of Icelandic who has been very outspoken on how inclusive the language needs to be, told the radio station Bylgjan yesterday morning what many foreigners living in Iceland can likely attest to: Icelanders need to be more patient…
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Whaling Is Hurting Tourism, Industry Leaders Say
With the resumption of whaling five days ago after a four-year hiatus, and the landing of the first fin whale of the season last Friday, tourism industry workers in Iceland are less than pleased. [su_pullquote]Summer Sale on T-Shirts in the Grapevine shop!…
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Icelandic State To Pay Damages To Woman Who Was Deported While Nine Months Pregnant
The Icelandic government has admitted liability in the deporting of an Albanian woman in 2019 who was nine months pregnant at the time, despite medical personnel advising against her being deported in her condition, Vísir reports. [su_pullquote]Summer Sale on T-Shirts in the…
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Labour, Management & Central Bank Square Off Over Inflation–And How To Stop It
There is no disputing that Iceland’s inflation rate has been steadily rising–from 4.3% in July 2021 to 7.6% in April 2022. The real question is what to do about it, and the Central Bank, business leaders, and union representatives all have different…
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Asylum Seeker Bill Withdrawn (Again), No Mass Deportations Yet, Refugee Work Permit Bill Fails To Pass
Legislation and other government action regarding asylum seekers and refugees has, in recent days, been significant because of what has not happened. [su_pullquote]Summer Sale on T-Shirts in the Grapevine shop! We only have a chance to wear a T-shirt outdoors for about…
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MP Offended By Sculpture In Front Of Parliament, Wants It Moved Elsewhere
Since 2012, Spanish artist Santiago Sierra’s ‘The Black Cone, Monument To Civil Disobedience’ has stood in front of Parliament, a gift from the artist to Iceland in honour of the 2008-2009 protests. Ten years later, one member of Parliament says that the…
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What’s Next For Reynisfjara?
Following last Friday’s death at Reynisfjara beach, the fifth such death in the past seven years, discussion has renewed over whether to close Reynisfjara completely, partially, or try another strategy. [su_pullquote]Who better to ask what’s best in Reykjavík than the people who…
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The Equaliser: Haraldur Þorleifsson On Power, Misinformation, And Leveling The Playing Field
Haraldur Ingi Þorleifsson wears many hats. While ostensibly an entrepreneur and businessman who founded the creative technology services company Ueno in 2014 (which was subsequently acquired by Twitter in January 2021), he has also made a name for himself in Iceland for…
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Property Values Take Biggest Jump Since Financial Crash
The National Registry has issued its report on property valuation for 2023, and it does not bode well for those hoping to buy an apartment or house in the coming year. [su_pullquote]If you are coming to Iceland check out our goodie bags…
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Government Still Preparing To Deport About 200 People, Including Families & Wheelchair User
While the government has reduced its numbers of planned deportations from about 300 to 200, many of them are still intended to be sent to Greece, Iraq, and Nigeria, including families and at least one man who uses a wheelchair. [su_pullquote]If you…
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Deportations To Greece In Contravention Of Law, Red Cross Says
The Icelandic Red Cross has issued a detailed report (.pdf) citing numerous sources that concludes, as has been done many times before, that deporting people to Greece, and children in particular, will send them to a life lived on the street with…
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Government Divided Over Mass Deportations, Bishop Publicly Opposes Them
The planned mass deportation of nearly 300 people, many of whom have been living in Iceland for two years or longer, is not only being criticised by human rights groups, activists, the parliamentary opposition and numerous others–it has also drawn criticism from…
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Nothing Stopping Government From Granting People International Protection
Intense debate is still ongoing in Parliament following recent news that Iceland plans to deport some 300 people from the country. Minister of Justice Jón Gunnarsson has repeatedly stated that the government is only following the law but, as many have pointed…
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Progressives Begin Formal Talks With Social Dems, Pirates & Reform Party For Reykjavík City Council Majority
At a press conference held just moments ago, representatives of the Progressive Party, the Reform Party, the Social Democrats and the Pirate Party announced that they would now begin formal talks with one another for the formation of a new city council…
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City Hall 2022: Progressives In Reykjavík To Meet This Evening
Þórdís Lóa Þórhallsdóttir, the head of the list for the Reform Party in Reykjavík, posted on Facebook yesterday that her party will not only ally with her compatriots in the previous majority–the Social Democrats and the Pirate Party–she is also inviting the…
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Numerous Objections Raised As Iceland Prepares To Deport Hundreds
The Icelandic government is preparing to deport some 300 people from the country who applied for international protection in Iceland over two years ago. A great many of these of these people will be sent to Greece on spurious grounds and with…
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Magma Collecting, Increased Earthquakes At Reykjanes
There is an increasing amount of magma collecting just northwest of Mt Þorbjörn in Reykjanes, RÚV reports. [su_pullquote]Are you going to Iceland in the near future? Check out all the trips you can order from us! We handpick tours from local companies…
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Directorate Of Health Announces “Widespread Immunity” Against COVID, But Reinfection Still A Risk
A new report issued by the Directorate of Health concludes that “widespread immunity against COVID-19 has been achieved in society”, but it bears mentioning that the risk of reinfection still remains. [su_pullquote]Are you going to Iceland in the near future? Check out…
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Ukrainian Asylum Seekers Offered Benefits Not Afforded To Other Nationalities
The Icelandic government has been diligent in supporting asylum seekers from Ukraine, both adults and children alike, but this includes affording them benefits not granted to asylum seekers from other countries. An official from the Red Cross tells Vísir he has difficulty…
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Clearer Picture Of Possible Reykjavík City Council Majority Forming
Following last Sunday’s elections results for Reykjavík City Council, a clearer picture is beginning to form regarding what the next majority may be. Who the mayor might be, however, is still very much an open question. [su_pullquote]Are you going to Iceland in…
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“Cat Party” Fails To Win Seat On Akureyri Town Council
While a lot of the focus of last Saturday’s municipal elections has been on Reykjavík’s uncertain future, some striking elections results happened in many other towns and villages across Iceland, too. [su_pullquote]Are you going to Iceland in the near future? Check out…
