-
MP Raises Questions About CIA Activity
According to a report in Fréttablaðið, it has recently come to light that the Danish military’s intelligence service has given the CIA access to the country’s fibre optic network, which the Americans are using to spy on Denmark and other countries. A…
-
Prime Minister Says There Is Urgent Need For A New Hospital
Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir has spoken out about the Landakot group infection case, saying that the outbreak has made it clear that there is enormous need for a new hospital, Vísir reports. Landspítali’s preliminary report on the group infection at Landakot showed…
-
Icelandic Teen Making Waves On The Music Scene
A nineteen year old from Sauðárkrókur is establishing himself as a rising star, with over 1 million monthly listeners on Spotify, RÚV reports. Ásgeir Bragi Ægisson, or Ouse, as he calls himself, makes music in the basement of his house, and his…
-
GRECO: More Needs To Be Done To Combat Corruption In Iceland
The Icelandic government has been given 18 months to make further improvements to measures put in place to combat corruption. According to an article on RÚV, only four of the 18 suggested improvements have been made so far. The proposals for improvement…
-
Hospital Denies Bad Management Led To Group Infection
Már Kristjánsson, chairman of Landspítali´s epidemic committee, says that he does not see where mistakes were made in the hospital’s management that could be linked to the group infection at Landakot, RÚV reports. On Friday, Landspítali presented a preliminary report on the…
-
Two Conservative MPs Disagree Over Abortion Issue
Minister of Justice Áslaug Arna Sigurbjörnsdóttir says that she disagrees with her party colleague, Ásmundur Friðriksson, who says too many abortions are being carried out in Iceland. Vísir reports. A heated debate arose in Parliament on the parliamentary proposal, submitted by Rósa…
-
Earthquakes Linked To Power Plant Activity
About ten earthquakes of magnitude 2 and over have been detected in the Hengill area over night. The largest of the quakes, which occurred at around 7pm, measured 3.3. RUV reports. An announcement made by ON Power states that the earthquakes occurred…
-
MP Wants To Allow Fur Farmers To Quit With A Grant
Ágúst Ólafur Ágústsson, Member of Parliament for the Social Democrats, wants the government to allow mink fur farmers to quit with a grant, according to a report by RÚV. Ágúst said in Parliament on Friday that the breeding of mink for their…
-
Some Kind Of Peace In A Chaotic World: Ólafur Arnalds On His Most Intimate Album Yet
Sometimes an album or a song comes along at a point where it feels like it’s exactly what the world needed. Ólafur Arnalds’ latest offering, ‘Some Kind of Peace’, is one of those albums. Described as his most intimate album yet, ‘Some…
-
Ólafur Arnalds Album Reaches Number 17 On UK Charts
Grapevine favourite, Ólafur Arnalds has started making quite the name for himself in England over the last few years. But it seems his latest album, ‘Some Kind Of Peace’ has launched him higher still, reaching an impressive number 17 in the UK’s…
-
William Hurt To Star In New Grímur Hákonarson Film
Hollywood stars are joining the cast of Icelandic director Grímur Hákonarson’s new film The Fence, according to reports from American film news site Deadline. The film, starring Miles Teller (Whiplash), Golden Globe nominee Shailene Woodley (Big Little Lies) and Oscar winner William Hurt…
-
Reykjavík Is Alive With The Sound Of Music
The biggest names in Icelandic music gather this weekend for Iceland Airwaves’ Live From Reykjavík Festival. The pandemic may have put a stop to live music, but the people behind the festival say that the show must go on! The incredible line…
-
Damning Report Describes Terrible Conditions In Care Home
A damning report has come out describing the terrible conditions residents were kept in at the Arnarholt shelter in Kjalarnes, Vísir reports. Staff talked in detail on RUV last night, about how the shelter was run in the past, describing how very…
-
40 Billion ISK Funding Secured For New Luxury Hotel
Malaysian businessman Tan Sri Vincent Tan has secured 40 billion ISK in funding to build a 5-star luxury hotel at the Reykjavík harbour, MBL reports. It’s been two years since Vincent Tan bought the buildings in order to build a hotel and,…
-
Seven Arrested On Suspicion Of Embezzlement
An extensive police investigation is being carried out in the capital area, after seven foreign nationals were arrested on suspicion of embezzlement and counterfeiting, Fréttablaðið reports. The police statement said: “It is suspected that the group has presented counterfeit bank notes on…
-
Five Men Now Sit On UN Women’s Youth Council
Bergþóra Harpa Stefánsdóttir, media representative and treasurer of the UN Women’s Youth Council, has announced that five men now join the six women who currently sit on the council. Stundin reports. The council, which has only ever been composed of women between…
-
New Colour System To Help Track Infection Risk
A colour coding system is to be implemented to track the spread of COVID-19 in Iceland, and act as a warning system to show where there is increased risk of infection, Vísir reports. Civil Protection and the Chief Epidemiologist have worked together…
-
Record Number Of Icelandic Books Being Translated
This year has seen a record number of applications and grants towards translating Icelandic literature into other languages, RÚV reports. The Icelandic Literature Center has provided grants for 111 translations from Icelandic into 28 languages, from 147 applications. Most grants were for…
-
Vegans Call For The End Of the Mink Fur Industry
The chairman of the Icelandic Vegan Society has stated that she does not understand why Iceland still allows mink fur farming, Fréttablaðið reports. Valgerður Árnardóttir says that the industry is dangerous and should be shut down. These comments come in the wake…
-
Coast Guard Helicopter Mechanics Go On Strike
Today marks the start of an indefinite strike by aircraft mechanics working for the Coast Guard. As reported by Vísir, the strike, which is being held in response to wage disagreements, was originally set to start on October 28, but was postponed.…
-
COVID-19 Screening To Be Carried Out On Mink
The Icelandic Food and Veterinary Administration (MAST) will start to carry out COVID-19 screenings on Iceland’s mink farms, in light of a mutation of the virus in Denmark, Vísir reports. Sigríður Gísladóttir, a specialist vet at MAST, says there is no reason…
-
Police In Hafnarfjörður Accused Of Assault
Eyewitnesses have come forward claiming that police officers who made an arrest at Hvaleyrarholt in Hafnarfjörður assaulted the detainee, Vísir reports. The witnesses claim that one of the four police officers involved repeatedly hit the man that they were arresting with a…
-
Yellow Storm Warnings Across Nearly The Whole Country
The Icelandic Met Office has issued yellow storm warnings across nearly the whole country, which will be in effect from this afternoon until early tomorrow morning. Warnings have been issued for Suðurland, Faxaflói, Breiðafjörður, the Westfjords, the North, the Southwest, and the…
