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Icelanders: Not Optimistic, But Happy
A new Gallup poll shows that whilst the vast majority of Icelanders don’t see things getting better this year, over two-thirds identified as being happy with life in general. RÚV reports that Gallup has released the results of their global poll on…
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State Prosecutor Demands Answers From Interior Minister
The State Prosecutor has asked the Ministry of the Interior to account for a leaked memo that falsely impugned a deported asylum seeker last month. The weekly newspaper Reykjavík vikublað reports (.pdf file) that State Prosecutor Sigríður J. Friðjónsdóttir has asked Interior…
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Environmental Ministry Calls NYT Reporting “Contradictory And Wrong”
A statement from the Ministry for the Environment says that recent reporting on the Þjórsá river wetlands in the New York Times is “filled with inaccuracies”. A travel piece that appeared in the New York Times last Friday had the following to…
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Seven Charges Submitted To Police Against Interior Minister
The lawyer for an asylum seeker who was recently deported in the midst of controversy has submitted seven charges against Minister of the Interior Hanna Birna Kristjánsdóttir to the police, including breach of confidentiality and slander. DV reports that Stefán Karl Kristjánsson,…
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Pollution From Former NATO Base Reaches Danger Levels
Heavy metals and other toxins from the former NATO base in Keflavík are polluting groundwater, to where the Environmental Agency of Iceland has classified the pollution levels in the water as “in danger”. Vísir reports that pollutants have been steadily leaking from…
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Alcoa “Welcomes” Conclusion Of Bribery Case
A statement from the aluminium corporation cites the praise they received from investigators for their cooperation. Yesterday, Alcoa settled numerous criminal and civil charges concerning bribes made through a London-based consultant connected to Bahrain’s royal family. In a statement to the press…
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Possible Northern Lights Tonight!
The Icelandic Met Office follows more than just the weather, as they are predicting Northern Lights activity for different parts of the country. The forecast, which is valid until 4:00 tomorrow, predicts a high level of aurora activity: Forecast is powerful magnetic…
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City Rejects Parliament’s Charges
Reykjavík City Council rejects charges from the Parliamentary Presidential Committee that the city is violating the constitution with plans to build a hotel on Austurvöllur. In a statement (.pdf) for the city’s Environmental and Planning Committee, the city contends the Parliamentary Presidential…
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Alcoa Bribery Case Wraps Up
Aluminium giant Alcoa recently settled a major bribery case involving officials in Bahrain. CNN reports that Alcoa agreed to pay out a $384 million USD settlement on multiple civil and criminal charges levied against them by the US Department of Justice. The…
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Former Landsbanki Manager “Psychologically Tortured” By Government
The lawyer for former Landsbanki manager Sigurjón Þ. Árnason says that his client is being “psychologically tortured” by the state. In a column he wrote for Fréttablaðið, Sigurður G. Guðjónsson, Sigurjón’s lawyer, contends the government is needlessly prolonging the legal process in…
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Loaded E-Cigarettes To Remain Banned For Now
A representative of a pharmaceutical company says e-cigarettes have not yet proven themselves harmless, and this is why importing e-cigarettes loaded with nicotine is banned. Vísir spoke to Þorgerður Þráinsdóttir, the Director of Trade and Marketing at the pharmaceutical company Lyfja, who…
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Registering For Uni For The Playschool
Rumours abound that some people might be registering for the University of Iceland in order to take advantage of the playschool available for student parents. Rebekka Sigurðardóttir, a spokesperson for Icelandic Student Services, told Vísir, “After we heard rumours that people were…
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60 Minutes Covers Eyjafjallajökull
In a new episode of 60 Minutes, Eyjafjallajökull is paid a visit, and the drama was high. In the segment “Volcanoes”, the news discussion show visited three volcanoes, one of them Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull. Scott Pelley, who hosted the piece, struggled with the…
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Makers Of “Meatless Meat Pies” Say Testing Was Flawed
The owner of the food company that was found last year to be selling “meat pies” that contained no meat says he is “100% certain” that there was in fact meat present. Magnús Níelsson, the owner of food production company Kræsingar, told…
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Former University CFO Sentenced For Embezzlement
The former CFO of the University of Iceland was today sentenced to nine months in prison for embezzlement and fraud – six months of which are probationary. In the decision, published by the Reykjanes District Court today, the accused allegedly used the…
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“I Prepared To Be Beated To A Pulp”
An Icelander who took part in the Christmas festivities of Takanakuy, Peru recounted his experience for reporters. DV reports that footballer Marteinn Briem took part in Takanakuy’s most famous Christmas tradition: a group fist fight. Marteinn said that when it came his…
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Lost Three Fingers In Fireworks Explosion
New Year’s Eve in Iceland did have at least one injury, in a case that might involve a defective product. Vísir reports that the unnamed injured man was brought to the emergency room on New Year’s Eve. Injuries to his hand were…
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Man Who Shot Self In Leg 30 Years Ago Faces Amputation
A man who accidentally shot himself in the leg over 30 years ago can no longer bear the pain, and is seeking an amputation. Vísir (warning: graphic photos) reports that Konráð Ragnarsson (above, left) told reporters that the shotgun-induced injury was the…
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Westman Islands Mayor Wants Incinerators Back
The shutting down of toxin-emitting garbage incinerators has led to Westman Islands residents paying more to do away with their trash, and the mayor is having none of it. Westman Islands mayor Elliði Vignisson made his objections plain in an article whose…
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Environmental Minister To Change Protected Area
The Minister for the Environment intends to change the protected area around Þjórsá river, at the behest of the national power company Landsvirkjun. RÚV reports that the previous environmental minister, Svandís Svavarsdóttir, wanted to increase the protected area around the river. This…
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Wikileaks Spokesperson Scolded On CNN
Kristinn Hrafnsson of Wikileaks visited CNN yesterday, and was summarily scolded by Jeffrey Toobin for an analogy Kristinn drew between whistleblower Edward Snowden and “the Nuremberg principles”. Kristinn visited CNN’s “Situation Room” to discuss the subject of Edward Snowden being granted clemency…
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Class Action Suit Against Vodafone Possible
A group of Vodafone costumers whose personal data was compromised when the telecom company was hacked earlier last month are considering filing a joint lawsuit against Vodafone. Vísir reports that Vodafone Iceland managing director Hrannar Pétursson has confirmed that a number of…
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Meatless Meat Pie Company Changes Name
The company that was revealed earlier this year to be selling “meat pies” which did not actually contain any meat has changed its name. Skessuhorn reports that the food company formerly known as Gæðakokkar ehf. (“Quality Chefs”) is now known as Kræsingar…
