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Lost In Google Translation: Dude, Where’s My Carp?
Imagine you’re laid out, soaking up some rays in the lovely green area of Elliðaárdalur, living your absolute best life when, out of nowhere, the skies darken. You squint through your extended hand to see a large dark mass travelling across the…
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Perfect Day: Dr. Bryony Mathew
Dr. Bryony Mathew is the U.K.’s newest (and first female!) Ambassador to Iceland. She holds a PhD in Neuroscience from University College, London and has served under Her Majesty’s Diplomatic Service since 2005. Having just arrived in Reykjavík a few weeks ago,…
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From Afghanistan To Iceland: An Activist Seeks To Help His Homeland
Sign Sayed’s petition at change.org and learn more about his organisation, Samstaðan on Instagram. On the morning of August 19th, Sayed Khanoghli, an Afghan refugee and Chairman of the Youth at Amnesty International, watched a video from Afghanistan. It showed a young…
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Iceland To Work With EU On Emissions Targets
Iceland is working in collaboration with the European Union and Noway to reduce emissions in line with the goals set out in the Paris Agreement. Calculations of Iceland’s share of responsibility in lowering these emissions are beginning this month, reports Vísir. Calculating…
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More Summer Days In Akureyri Than Reykjavík This Year
This summer Akureyri has seen three times the amount of “summer days” than Reykjavík, according to the criteria of Hungurdiskar. The definition of a “summer day” according to Trausti Jónsson, who publishes the results, is a day where there’s no precipitation in…
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A Flood Has Started In Skaftá
The river Skaftá in Southern Iceland has been seeing changes in recent days indicating a flood has begun. Electrical conductivity in the river has increased steadily over the past two days, an indication that geothermal factors are involved. The water level has…
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Reykjavík Literary Festival To Take Place September 8th-11th
The Reykjavík International Literary Festival will take place from September 8th to 11th, after having been rescheduled due to COVID-19. The festival has been ongoing every two years since 1985 and is touted as “a meeting place for readers and authors”, according…
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Icelandic Astrophysicist Awarded In US
Icelandic astrophysicist Guðmundur Kári Stefánsson has been recognised in the United States for his work in helping develop a new technology that allows for more accurate measurements of distant planets from the ground, reports Vísir. Awarded for doctoral work The Pacific Astronomical…
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More Under Fire In KSÍ Controversy
The previous days have seen KSI’s Director, Guðni Bergsson as well as its board, deputies and regional representatives resign from their posts amid claims that reports of sexual assault perpetrated by its players were ignored or mishandled. Now, CEO Klara Bjartmarz is…
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Medical Associations Against Prosecution In Healthcare
Chairmen from three Icelandic medical associations have come together to take the stand that healthcare professionals should be protected from prosecution when serious incidents take place in the medical environment. Instead, they feel it important to focus on systematic failings, reports Vísir.…
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Horse Race Takes Place Over Highlands
The National Association of Horsemen (Landssamband hestamanna) put on a four-day endurance race over the highlands which ended yesterday. Having begun the journey in Skagafjörður, the riders traveled roughly 70 kilometres per day until they reached Þingvellir. Four participants, two Icelanders and…
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COVID Roundup: 80 Domestic Cases, 43 In Quarantine
80 new domestic cases of the coronavirus were detected yesterday, according to the latest data from covid.is. Of those, 43 were quarantined at the time of diagnosis. 11 people are currently hospitalised with the virus, with two in intensive care. 2,079 people…
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KSÍ Board Resigns Amid Controversy
The Icelandic Football Association (KSÍ) has been under massive public pressure due to mishandling and denial of sexual assault allegations among its footballers. Director Guðni Bergsson stepped down on August 29th. Now, KSÍ’s board, deputies and regional representatives have resigned as well,…
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Man Shot By Police Under Two Week Custody
The armed man police shot and wounded in Egilsstaðir last Thursday is being held in custody for two weeks in the interest of the police investigation and public safety. Violations being considered in this case include attempted murder, physical assault, making threats,…
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Police Report Less Theft In July
Crime in the Reykjavík area went down in the month of July when compared to statistics from the month prior. Overall, 895 criminal offences were registered in the capital area last month. This was stated in the monthly report from the Chief…
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Czech Artist Transforms Wheelhouse Into Cultural Centre
Monika Fryčová, a Czech artist disenchanted with sitting behind a computer during the pandemic, has taken on an interesting project—transforming the abandoned wheel room of a ship from 1969 into a cultural centre and restaurant called Kiosk 108. She hopes to make…
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Heat Record in Grímsey
The highest recorded temperature in Grímsey was measured yesterday where it reached 22.3°C between 10:00 and 11:00. Until then, July 27, 2011 was the hottest point on record when temperatures reached 21.7°C, reports Vísir. Temperatures are measured automatically on the island and…
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Highest Recorded Temperature In Thirteen Years
Iceland recorded its highest temperature in 13 years yesterday in Hallormsstaður, where it reached 29.3°C at 13:20, Fréttablaðið reports. This is in the hottest temperature in the country since the July 2008 heat wave. While most of the country was covered in…
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New Names Added To National Registry
The Icelandic Names Committee (Mannanafnanefnd) made 24 rulings on names on August 6th and 11th, as reported by Vísir. Among those approved were Svarthöfði, Bond, Appollo and Blár. Skylar was also approved as a gender-neutral name, adding to a growing list. In…
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Bar Closes Upon Learning COVID-Positive Patrons Plan To Attend
Plans for a karaoke night at Gaukurinn bar in downtown Reykjavík were quashed yesterday after management discovered that a number of known COVID-positive partiers planned to attend. Magnús Bjarni Gröndal, manager of Gaukurinn, shared with Vísir that they received tips from several sources…
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Air Traffic Controllers To Strike Next Week
The potential of a strike by air traffic controllers will become a reality on August 31st. RÚV reports. Negotiations between the Icelandic Air Traffic Controllers Association (FÍF) and management at Ísavia, the operators of Keflavík Airport have been ongoing. The crux of…
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US Air Force Training In Iceland
The US Air Force will be conducting training in Iceland over the next few days, according to Vísir. 200 airmen along with three Northrop B-2 Spirit aircraft, also known as Stealth bombers, will participate in the exercises. The purpose of the project…
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Fishing Artefacts Found In Seyðisfjörður
Remains of an old sea shop may have been uncovered during an archeological excavation in Seyðisfjörður over the summer, reports RÚV. 200-year old mills have also been discovered on the site, but the potential uncovering of a sea shop is much more…
