Author: Andie Sophia Fontaine - The Reykjavik Grapevine

Foreign Minister: “Dangerous” Of Russia To Fly Over Turkey

by

Russia is creating considerable “danger” by flying over a NATO country with military aircraft, Iceland’s Foreign Minister says. Minister of…

Pig Farmers React To Criticism

by

Icelandic pig farmers are reportedly “afraid” after public outcry recently arose over conditions and practices at some pig farms. The…

More Names Approved And Rejected

by

The Naming Committee has approved – and rejected – a new batch of names for public use. RÚV reports that…

Interior Minister Will Postpone Deportation Of Two Asylum Seekers

by

The Minister of the Interior told parliament she will tell authorities to postpone the scheduled deportation of two asylum seekers….

Pirate Party Lead Reflects “Dissatisfaction With Traditional Politics”

by

The Pirate Party has the most support of any party for six months running. An MP for the party says…

Arctic Circle Conference This Month

by

The third annual Arctic Circle conference will be held this month, with participants from over 50 countries to be attending….

BREAKING: Cops Love Donuts

by

The lines outside of Dunkin’ Donuts in Reykjavík have disappeared, save for one key demographic. For most of the general…

NOT SCARY: Meet The Icelandic Company Working On Artificial Intelligence

by

The Icelandic Institute for Intelligent Machines (IIIM) might be the next tech company to make international headlines. Boasting an impressive…

Interior Minister Will Re-Examine Deportation Case

by

Two asylum seekers face deportation to Italy, although the EU is trying to get refugees out of the country, the…

Section Of Berlin Wall Now In Reykjavík

by

A four-tonne piece of the Berlin Wall was unveiled in Reykjavík yesterday, commemorating the 25th anniversary of German reunification. RÚV…

Very Few Ministers Would Evoke “Freedom Of Conscience”

by

Only two ministers reached in a new poll said they would evoke the exemption to refuse to marry a same-sex…

Icelanders Spent 2.4 Billion ISK On KFC

by

The US-based fast food chain remains immensely popular with Icelanders, and their profits have grown over the years. In 2014,…

Icelandic Fishing And Shipping Companies Linked To Whaling

by

The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) and the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) have pointed out the involvement of two large companies,…

Pig Farms Under Scrutiny

by

Icelandic pig farms have been in the critical spotlight since photos were released showing pigs in cramped conditions. Farmers say…

Flood Waters Are Now Subsiding

by

Flood waters from the Eystri Skaftárketill caldera have begun to subside, and south Iceland’s bridges and roads have been spared…

What Happened With Reykjavík’s Ill-Fated Proposal To Ban Purchases From Israel

by

Last week, an outgoing Reykjavík City Councilperson for the Social Democrats, Björk Vilhelmsdottir, submitted a proposal to City Council that…

666 Registered Members Of The Jehovah’s Witnesses In Iceland

by

New figures on registration in Iceland’s religious institutions have yielded some interesting results. Vísir recently compiled data that they requested…

Prime Minister Finds Sweet (Illegal) Vinyl In Garbage

by

Prime Minister Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson found some Beatles and Led Zeppelin at Sorpa, but taking them home was apparently against…

Whale Freed From Net Doing Well, Has A Name

by

The humpback whale that was freed from tangled netting last August has apparently made a full recovery, and even has…

Foreign Workers Subjected To “Modern Slavery”

by

Some foreign workers in Iceland are being subjected to slavery conditions, says a union official, and the problem is nationwide….

Whale Hunting Season Is Over

by

The whale hunting season has officially concluded, with 184 whales in all harpooned in Icelandic waters. RÚV reports that 155…

NBC To Make QuizUp Game Show

by

NBC will be making an interactive game show using the app and televised contestants, with the potential to win “life-changing”…

Thousands Of Foreigners Still Needed For Tourism Jobs

by

Arion Bank estimates that “thousands” of foreign workers will be needed to work in the ever-growing tourist industry in Iceland….

Public Servants Union Vote To Strike

by

Workers in the Union of Public Servants (SFR) and the Paramedics Society of Iceland (SLFÍ) have voted to go on…

Glacial Flooding Has Begun

by

Glacial flooding has begun from the Eystri Skaftárketill caldera in the Vatnajökull glacier, and is expected to reach populated areas…