Author: John Pearson - The Reykjavik Grapevine

Author: John Pearson

Bears, Shrinks and Umbrellas—Reykjavík’s French Film Festival

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Reykjavík’s annual French Film Festival, which is currently running at Bíó Paradis, ends on St. Valentine’s Day. So if you’re…

Shed Load On Southern Road

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A vehicle shed its load on a road in south Iceland yesterday evening. The load—a wooden shed—was discovered by local…

Domestic Pandemic Restrictions Relaxed

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The Minister of Health today announced a relaxation of domestic pandemic measures in Iceland, following advice from the nation’s chief…

Hold My Skyr: American Consumers Start Legal Fight Over Yankee Yogurt

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A storm in a skyr pot is brewing over the authenticity of an American version of Iceland’s traditional yogurt-esque foodstuff,…

Mask Wearing Simply A Matter Of Respect For Others

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Iceland’s head of civil defence issued a reminder yesterday that overcoming the pandemic requires all Icelanders to show consideration and…

Cannabis Farm Probable Source Of Major Fire

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A major fire in a Reykjavík house earlier this week probably started where cannabis was being cultivated, preliminary investigations have…

Iceland’s US Embassy Under New Management

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A new deputy ambassador was appointed last week as interim head of the US embassy in Iceland, following the recent…

Reykjavík Calls Again To Ban Studded Tyres

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The city of Reykjavík yesterday repeated its call for more powers to control air pollution in the capital, singling out…

Customs Charges On Birthday Food Parcel Cancelled

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A Spanish resident of Iceland has enforced her right to avoid import duties on a package of food sent as…

Boy Alerts Village To Avalanche Danger

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Last night a young boy in northwest Iceland discovered a large fissure in the snow above the village of Hofsós,…

Icelandic Economic Forecast Downgraded

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A leading bank has downgraded its forecasts for levels of Icelandic unemployment and public investment, although its prediction of national…

Reykjavík Police Raid Illegal Party

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Last night police broke up a party in central Reykjavík, charging revellers and the managers of a local business with…

Number Of Foreign Icelandic Residents Remains Unchanged

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New figures published by the National Registry of Iceland show that the number of foreign residents in Iceland is roughly…

Insufficient Supply of New Coronavirus Vaccine

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A new source of Covid-19 vaccine will become available to Icelanders next month, but amounts initially delivered will not be…

Tourist Board Cautiously Optimistic About The Summer

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The head of the Icelandic Tourist Board has sounded a note of cautious optimism regarding foreign tourism in Iceland this…

Minister of Finance May Escape Legal Action After Covid Breach

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Prosecutions are imminent for recent breaches of COVID regulations in which Minister of Finance Bjarni Benediktsson was implicated. However it…

Legal Sanctions Possible Over Border Test Refusal

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Foreigners who refuse a coronavirus test at the border could be denied entry to Iceland, the National Commissioner of Police…

Previous Gunshot Attacks On Party Offices Emerge

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This morning what are suspected to be bullet holes were discovered in the windows of the Reykjavík offices of Samfylkingin,…

Kanye Believe It? West Reykjavík Considers Rapper Statue

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There is a proposal to erect a statue of musician Kanye West in Reykjavík, following a local public consultation exercise….

Parliament Considers More Liberal Sprinkling Of Ashes

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The Icelandic parliament is considering a proposal which would remove restrictions on the scattering of human ashes at tourist sites….

Violence Against Disabled Icelanders A “Black Spot On Society”

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The Icelandic government has recognised that disabled victims of violence across the country receive inadequate support. The government-convened Action Team…

Icelandic Government Proposes Drug Decriminalisation

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The Icelandic government has proposed the decriminalisation of drugs for personal use by adults, and this week launched a consultation…

Quarantine Travel Regulations To Be Reviewed

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Following Saturday’s fatal road traffic accident in the Westfjords, Icelandic Civil Protection authorities will review the quarantine rules for arriving…

Avalanches Close Roads In North Iceland, Met Office Issues Warning

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Avalanches on the Tröllaskagi peninsula in northern Iceland closed roads yesterday, but there were no reports of injury or damage to…

Chief Epidemiologist Sticks With EU Vaccines

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Iceland’s Chief Epidemiologist Þórólfur Guðnason yesterday dismissed the idea of buying coronavirus vaccines from outside the EU, Vísir reports. Despite…