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Police Refuse To Investigate Charges Against Gay Pride
Reykjavík area police refused to investigate charges filed by musician Gylfi Ægisson against last summer’s Gay Pride. Vísir reports that the police sent their announcement to Gylfi today, simply informing him that they received his request to investigate, but determined that there…
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Kaffibarinn More Popular Than Prime Minister
A new poll conducted by a music exporter shows some interesting results about what people around the world look for in Iceland. RÚV reports that, according to the findings of music exporter Kjartan Guðbergsson, “Of Monsters And Men” was Googled about 823,000…
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State Broadcasting Fires 60 Employees
The national broadcasting service, RÚV, fired 60 employees yesterday, sparking public protest directed both at broadcasting management and parliament. According to a press release from RÚV, the firings were prompted by a bill from the parliamentary Budget Committee, which proposes cutting funding…
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Human Rights Court To Review Former PM’s Case
The European Human Rights Court (ECHR) has decided that it will review former Prime Minister Geir H. Haarde’s case against the Icelandic government. Vísir reports that the Ministry of the Interior was informed of the court’s decision today. The Icelandic government has…
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Raven Teases Eagle, Survives
A raven was recorded on video teasing an eagle, but the confrontation fortunately did not escalate. Búðardalur.is, a news website covering northwest Iceland, reports that the stand-off took place on the farm Spágilsstaðir, located in Laxárdal. A large eagle, sitting on its…
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No New Money For Ministers
The Central Bank of Iceland has decided to end a practice that goes back to the 1950s: dibs on low-digit monetary notes for ministers and bankers. DV reports that the decision was made after the Central Bank received complaints from money collectors…
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Ministry Not Responding To Lawyers
The Interior Ministry has yet to deliver the “unofficial documents” that were leaked to some members of the press concerning a Nigeria asylum seeker. Stefán Karl Kristjánsson, the lawyer for Nigerian asylum seeker Tony Omos, told DV that, despite filing a formal…
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Champagne Club Re-Opens
One of Reykjavík’s “champagne clubs”, Strawberries, has re-opened, after being shut down by police. RÚV reports that Strawberries is back in business after being shut down for about a month. While police have seized the club’s assets, worth tens of millions of…
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Snuff’s Ingredients A Mystery
No one seems to know what is in snuff, and the law does not require that the ingredients be printed on the packaging. Vísir reports that the actual ingredients in snuff are neither displayed on its packaging, nor are available on the…
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Questions Arise Over Interior Ministry’s Announcement
Both legal experts and former government employees have raised questions about an announcement from the ministry over a recent leak concerning an asylum seeker facing deportation. As reported, Nigerian asylum seeker Tony Omos is facing deportation, and is currently in hiding from…
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Prime Minister Warns Supporters: The Opposition Are Liars
Prime Minister Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson, speaking candidly with his supporters, warned them that the opposition are “brazen liars” and sore losers. RÚV reports that the Prime Minister met with the Progressive Party’s central committee over the weekend in preparation for the party’s…
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Support For Joining EU Increases
A new Gallup poll shows support for Iceland joining the European Union increasing, while opposition is decreasing. Vísir reports that, according to a new Gallup poll conducted on the behest of Já Ísland – a group that supports Iceland joining the EU…
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Interior Minister To Answer To Committee
Minister of the Interior Hanna Birna Kristjánsdóttir has been asked to appear before the Constitutional and Supervisory Committee to answer for a leak within her ministry about an asylum seeker. DV reports that both she and ministerial director Ragnhildur Hjaltadóttir have been…
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Management Opposed To More Official Days Off
A proposal from Bright Future to re-organise official holidays to grant more days off has been criticised by management officials as being costly to them. As reported, the proposal suggests that some official holidays – especially those around Easter and Christmas –…
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Parliament Lodges Legal Complaint Against City
The Parliamentary Presidential Committee has lodged a formal complaint against the city of Reykjavík. RÚV reports that the committee believes that the city’s plans for the Kvosin district – a six-story hotel and a revamped NASA night club on the edge of…
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Interior Minister Responsible, Says International Law Expert
Minister of the Interior Hanna Birna Kristjánsdóttir bears ultimate responsibility for misinformation leaked from her ministry to the press, an expert on international law contends. As reported, Nigerian asylum seeker Tony Omos is facing deportation, and is currently in hiding from the…
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Pirates In City Council?
According to a new survey from the University of Iceland, the Pirate Party would have a seat on Reykjavík City Council if elections were held today. The poll, conducted by the Social Sciences office at the University of Iceland, shows that Bright…
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Leak Within Ministry?
The story of missing asylum seeker Tony Omos – and the Ministry of the Interior’s treatment of his case – has taken a curious turn. Tony Omos, an asylum seeker from Nigeria, is facing deportation from Iceland, but is currently in hiding.…
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Believes Lack Of Clock-Changing Contributes To Depression
The chairperson of an Icelandic health organisation contends that a lack of Daylight Saving Time in Iceland contributes to depression in Icelanders. Vísir reports that Guðmundur Löve, the managing director of The Icelandic Association of Tuberculosis and Chest Patients (SÍBS), had some…
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Unions Accuse Management Of Misinformation
The Icelandic Confederation of Labour Unions (ASÍ) has accused the Confederation of Icelandic Employers (SA) of engaging in a misinformation campaign during a sensitive time in collective bargaining negotiations. A recent television public service announcement from SA contends that Iceland’s rate of…
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Conflicting Reports About Asylum Seeker Facing Deportation
The Ministry of the Interior claims an asylum seeker from Nigeria facing deportation has connections to human trafficking in Iceland, and is not the father of his girlfriend’s expected child. His girlfriend tells a different story. DV reports that, in response to…
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Government Divided Over Capital Airport
While the Minister of the Interior insists that part of the Reykjavík Domestic Airport is closing, the Prime Minister says it is staying where it is. Vísir reports that Minister of the Interior Hanna Birna Kristjánsdóttir is convinced that the smallest of…
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Man Juggles Around Iceland
A man who recorded himself juggling at various locations around Iceland has found himself achieving some internet fame. Chris Smith visited Iceland earlier this year, and decided to make a video compilation of him juggling at different spots of around the country.…
