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Uncertainty Ahead Over Collective Bargaining Agreement
Whilst most labour unions rejected a collective bargaining agreement made between the Icelandic Confederation of Labour Unions (ASÍ) and the Confederation of Icelandic Employers (SA), there is a significant rift between the unions who voted Yes and No. As reported, 17 labour…
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Ministers Asked To Boycott Winter Olympics
A member of parliament has called upon both the Minister of Culture and Education and the Minister of Social Affairs to boycott the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Vísir reports that Social Democrat MP Sigríður Ingibjörg Ingadóttir has called upon Iceland’s political…
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Protester Convictions Overturned
29 environmental activists had their convictions overturned when it came to light that Mark Kennedy – a British cop who also infiltrated Kárahnjúkar dam protests in Iceland – was amongst those involved. The Guardian reports that the protesters, who were convicted in…
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Most Unions Vote No On Collective Bargaining Agreement
At the time of this writing, the majority of labour unions within the Icelandic Confederation of Labour Unions (ASÍ) have rejected the collective bargaining agreement that ASÍ made with the Confederation of Icelandic Employers (SA) last month. According to the latest results…
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Interior Minister Responds To State Prosecutor
The Ministry of the Interior has responded to a formal request from the State Prosecutor’s office for any and all documents related to a leaked memo on an asylum seeker. The statement from the ministry says that whilst they have responded, the…
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Limited Tourist Buses Downtown
A proposal to prohibit tour buses over a certain size from a portion of downtown Reykjavík was approved by the city’s Environmental and Planning Committee last week. RÚV reports that buses longer than eight metres will be prohibited from traveling from within…
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NATO Air Force Meeting Next Week
Military aircraft and personnel from numerous NATO countries will be visiting Iceland as a part of “Iceland Air Meet 2014”. In a statement from NATO itself, it is reported that the even will be “an air-defence flying training event for pilots and…
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Human Rights Court Rejects Inside Trader’s Appeal
The European Court of Human Rights has rejected an appeal from a former Ministry of Finance official convicted of insider trading in 2012. RÚV reports that Karl Axelsson, the lawyer of Baldur Guðlaugsson, has confirmed that the European Court of Human Rights…
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Handballers Respond To Nazi Simile
The European Handball Federation, the Austrian Handball Federation and the Icelandic Handball Federation have issued a joint statement regarding last Friday’s remarks from an Icelandic broadcaster who favourably compared the country’s handball team to the Nazis. In the statement, Jean Brihault, President…
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Icelanders’ Weight Problem Has Slowed To A Stop
New data shows that overweight Icelanders are, in general, no longer increasing in number. Vísir reports that, according to data from the Icelandic Heart Association (IHA), the average BMI of adult Icelanders had increased from 1967 onwards until 2007. At that point,…
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Flooding Of Skaftá River Has Begun
The Icelandic Met Office has announced that the Skaftá River has begun flooding. Their announcement to the general public is as follows: Within the past 24 hours, the level of the Skaftá river at Sveinstindur has risen. Additionally electrical conductivity readings from…
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Reykjavík International Film Festival: On Thin Ice?
The city of Reykjavík has decided not to fund RIFF this year, leaving the future of the film festival uncertain. MBL reports that Reykajvík City Council – specifically, every party except the Independence Party, who abstained – recently voted in favour of…
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Minister Allegedly Scolded MPs, Pressured Journalists Over Leak Coverage
Minister of the Interior Hanna Birna Kristjánsdóttir is alleged to have pressured MPs to not publicly question her over a leaked memo regarding an asylum seeker. The editor of an Icelandic magazine also contends he has been called many times by the…
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Charges Filed Against Gálgahraun Protester
One of the leading protesters against planned road construction through a protected lava field was formally charged with refusing to obey police orders today. DV reports that Ragnhildur Jónsdóttir, who sits in the directorship of Lava Friends, has been charged with refusing…
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Eyjafjallajökull: The RomCom
Possibly the world’s first romantic comedy with an Icelandic volcano as a central character will be shown at the French Film Festival in Reykjavík. RÚV reports that the movie, entitled Eyjafjallajökull, tells the story of a divorced couple who plan to attend…
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Parliamentary President Compares Nigerian Newspaper To 419 Scam
Parliamentary President Einar K. Guðfinnsson has reportedly ignored an MP’s request to take up a parliamentary discussion on a leaked memo about an asylum seeker. His own response to the breaking story has been called “prejudiced” by the journalist who wrote the…
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Fluoride Levels In Sheep “Worrying”
Levels of fluoride in sheep being raised near an aluminium smelter are just under the “danger mark”, which an expert at the Environmental Agency says is cause for “worry”. RÚV reports that, according to a new report from an environmental study conducted…
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Police Officers To Increase
A multipartisan budget proposal to give the police 500 million ISK and increase their numbers was approved by the Minister of the Interior today. In a statement from the ministry, it is reported that 44 new police officers will be added to…
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Foreign Minister “Should Apologise”
The chairperson of pro-EU group Já Ísland believes Minister of Foreign Affairs Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson should apologise for remarks he made about the “promotion” of the EU. Vísir reports that the minister was a guest on the news discussion show Kastljósið last…
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Katla Calming Down, Hekla Heating Up
Although Katla was once the favourite in terms of Icelandic volcanoes set to erupt, it has since calmed down – but another contender could be on the horizon. Vísir reports that Katla has calmed down a lot since 2010, when President Ólafur…
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Elliðaey Island: No Better Place To Survive The Zombie Apocalypse
A tiny island off of Iceland’s south coast has been receiving attention lately as an ideal location for escaping hordes of the undead. ViralNova, a web aggregate site, today included a pictorial article on Elliðaey, a small island within the Westman Islands…
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State Prosecutor Requests Ministry Documents
The office of the State Prosecutor has asked for any Ministry of the Interior documents regarding a leaked memo about an asylum seeker. The Ministry’s explanation contradicts previous ministry statements and available evidence on the matter. The State Prosecutor’s office published a…
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“Whale Beer” Production Stopped
Brewing and production of Hvalbjór, an Icelandic beer containing powdered whale bones, has been shut down barely a week after production began. RÚV reports that about one kilo of whale bone meal was used in every 2,000 litres of the beer, making…
