-
Asylum Seeker Facing Deportation, Separation From Expected Child
An asylum seeker from Nigeria is facing deportation from Iceland, while his girlfriend is due to give birth to their child this January. Lawyers who spoke with reporters contend this violates international agreements to which Iceland belongs. DV reports that the Directorate…
-
Central Bank And Prime Minister At Odds Over Debt Relief
The Central Bank of Iceland believes Iceland’s economy could be greatly damaged if the bank is required to fund government debt relief plans. Prime Minister Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson dismissed the objections as politically related. Vísir reports that Már Guðmundsson, the chairperson of…
-
Iceland In First Place Regarding Environment And Gender
Iceland ranked in first place ahead of 72 other countries on the Environment and Gender Index (EGI), which was revealed in Warsaw, Poland today. The EGI seeks to study and measure how well – or poorly – nations are doing as they…
-
Champagne Club Accuses Police Of Entrapment
A lawyer for VIP Club claims that undercover police offered employees money and cocaine in exchange for sex. Vilhjálmur H. Vilhjálmsson, a lawyer for the owners of VIP Club, claims that undercover officers engaged in entrapment, yet were unable to convince any…
-
The Movement Ceases
Political party The Movement has officially shut down, which a founding member attributes to “The Four Parties”. Vísir reports that the decision was made last Saturday in accordance with one of The Movement’s primary policies: “When the goals of The Movement are…
-
Reported Sexual Assaults On The Rise
Data compiled from police statistics shows that all categories of reported sexual assault are on the rise. RÚV reports that 575 sexual assaults were reported to police in the first nine months of September – 200 more than were reported in all…
-
Another Champagne Club Shut Down By Police
VIP Club has been closed by capital area police, under suspicion of providing prostitution to its clients. RÚV reports that just over 20 police officers raided the club on Friday night. Law enforcement suspects the establishment may have served as a “middle-man”…
-
“Geirvarta” Ugliest Word In Icelandic
The results of the Ugliest Word In Icelandic contest are in, and geirvarta – nipple – is the definitive winner. The contest offered 15 finalist words to choose from in a Facebook gallery, with voting counted based on the number of Likes…
-
Police Produce Map Of Free Parking Spaces
Capital area police are preparing for tonight’s football match between Iceland and Croatia, amongst other ways, by distributing a map of free parking spaces near the Laugardalsvöllur national stadium. Iceland is only one game away from qualifying for the World Cup, as…
-
MP Accepts Flautist’s Invitation To Coffee
A conservative MP, who was called out by a flautist for the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra, has accepted her offer to meet and learn “how the music world works.” Vísir reports that Independence Party MP Vilhjálmur Árnason has accepted flautist Melkorka Ólafdóttir’s invitation…
-
Feminist Society Praises Toys ‘R’ Us
The Feminist Society of Iceland praised Toys ‘R’ Us for a new advertising leaflet that they say defies gender stereotypes. Vísir reports that the leaflet features boys and girls playing with kitchen sets, dinosaurs, dolls and toy carpentry sets, without pairing the…
-
Flautist Offers To School MP On How Orchestras Work
In the wake of a conservative MP’s remarks on the salaries of symphony members, a flautist from the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra hopes to set the record straight for him over coffee. Independence Party MP Vilhjálmur Árnason, addressing parliament yesterday on the subject…
-
Not Enough Money To Clean Graffiti
The cost involved in removing graffiti and chewing gum from Reykjavík’s walls and sidewalks goes beyond available revenue. RÚV reports that the Independence Party recently submitted a proposal to the city’s Office of Management and Care calling for a “crusade” against graffiti…
-
Alcohol Now For Sale At Nursing Home
At long last, the nursing home Hrafnista in Hafnarfjörður has begun selling beer and wine to its residents. RÚV reports that Hrafnista’s coffee shop, Kaffihornið, has begun selling beer, wine, and “other light refreshments”. The first glass of red wine was sold…
-
Time To Pick The Ugliest Word In Icelandic
The contest for the Most Beautiful Word in Icelandic might be over, but the fun still continues. A new contest is on to choose the ugliest word in Icelandic. The contest concludes this Saturday, when the winner will be announced and a…
-
Wants Free Parking Downtown
A group representing some business and property owners on Laugavegur recommend that downtown parking metres be removed, and replaced with “disc parking.” The group, the Federation of Merchants and Property Owners On Laugavegur, published the proposal on their website yesterday. They contend…
-
Government With “Christmas Gift” For Charities
The Icelandic government announced that it will be donating 8 million ISK to ten different charities in Iceland. The office of the Prime Minister announced that the donations are being made in the spirit of Christmas – although they will be made…
-
Interior Minister Dismisses Accusations Of Human Rights Abuses
Minister of the Interior Hanna Birna Kristjánsdóttir dismissed concerns that Iceland’s policy towards asylum seekers is illegal and violates human rights. Pirate Party MP Birgitta Jónsdóttir addressed the minister in parliament today, referring to a raid last September in which dozens of…
-
Foreign Aid To Be Cut
According to recommendations made by the Governmental Budget Optimisation Group, foreign aid from Iceland to developing countries will be reduced. As reported, this committee has been tasked with trying to find areas where Iceland could make cuts to its budget. Amongst the…
-
Couples Of Mixed Background 6% Of Nation
A great number of couples in Iceland are comprised of one Icelander and one foreigner, new research shows. Vísir reports that Árdís Kristín Ingvarsdóttir, who is completing her master’s degree in anthropology, has been doing extensive research into foreign men who father…
-
The Pheasant Returns!
Eggert the Pheasant, who has been missing for most of 2013, has finally returned to his owner. RÚV reports that Eggert had made his way into a barn in the hamlet of Ytra Gili, just outside of Akureyri, where Eggert is from.…
-
Kid’s Yogurt Called “Garbage”
A former Social Democrat politician has some choice words about the “kid’s yogurt” being sold in Icelandic stores. Vísir reports that Teitur Atlason – at one time a parliamentary candidate for the Social Democrats and now one of Iceland’s best-known bloggers –…
-
Budget Cut Round-Up
Iceland’s government is getting ready to tighten its belt again. So whose facing the chopping block? The Governmental Budget Optimisation Group (Hagræðingarhópur ríkisstjórnarinnar), a committee with representatives from every party in parliament, has for the past few months been reviewing where the…
