Government To Change After New Year
Today it was announced that the government will be combining ministries again, and that two ministers will be leaving their posts. As reported earlier today, both the Social Democr
City Hall Seeking Polish Speaker
ReykjavÃk city hall is currently looking to hire a Polish speaker to work as a councilor for immigrants. According to the ad, the Human Rights Committee approved the hiring of [&h
New Names Added To The Approval List
The Name Committee has approved a whole new batch of names. The Name Committee, which falls under the authority of the Ministry of the Interior, is in charge of deciding […]
Changes To Government Coming?
A meeting has been called by both the Social Democrats and the Leftist-Greens concerning the shape of the government, including who will be keeping their ministerial position, and
“Volcano” Cannot Be Copyrighted
The Consumer Agency has ruled that the word “volcano” cannot be copyrighted by any Icelandic company, as volcanoes are characteristic of the country itself. The dispute
Interior Minister Calls Immigration Law “Absurd”
Minister of the Interior Ögmundur Jónasson described an aspect of immigration law which denies residence permits to the children of students as “absurd”. RÚV reports
Study On Icelandic Attitudes On Social Injustice
A recent study conducted in Iceland reveals some interesting findings about the way the average Icelander views the structure, and the future, of their society. The study (.pdf fil
New Year’s Bonfires Highly Polluting
The bonfires lit on New Year’s Eve account for half of all the dioxin present in Icelandic soil and water for the entire year, an environmental expert says. New Year’s
Largest Portion Of Prisoners In For Drug-Related Offences
Statistics from prison officials show that of the 177 convicts currently behind bars, over one hundred of them are in for drug-related offences. Erlend Baldursson, a criminologist
Do Cops Need Guns?
While police are starting to express the desire to have guns on the job, the Minister of the Interior believes there is still no need for them. Iceland is known […]
Citizens Speak Up Against GM Crops
A number of people in south Iceland have raised objections to the growing of genetically-modified (GM) crops in a greenhouse in the region. The Agricultural University of Iceland&#
Haaretz Journalist Objects To Morgunblaðið Interview
A journalist for Haaretz, who recently wrote an article about Jews in Iceland, has objected strongly to an interview Morgunblaðið conducted with one of her interviewees. Judy Mal
Playschool Fees Going Up In 2012
Every major municipality in Iceland will be raising playschool fees in 2012, and although ReykjavÃk will be making the largest rise proportionately, it will still remain the town
Icelandic Doctor Researching New ADHD Drug
An Icelandic doctor working in the US is currently embarking on developing a new drug for ADHD, based in part on groundbreaking research his team did on the genetic aspects [&helli
Interviewee Takes Issue With Article On Icelandic Jews
One of the people interviewed in a recently-published article in Haaretz on Jewish people in Iceland has described it as “full of inaccuracies.” The article in question
Still No Answers On CIA Spy Planes
A human rights group asking for information from various countries on the use of CIA “rendition” planes to transport terrorism suspects reports that some countries have
Public Workers’ Union Criticise Parliamentary Salaries
The Federation of State and Municipal Employees (BSRB) has strongly criticised a government decision to stall on lowering the wages for MPs and ministers, while they have had to co
Years-Old Whale Meat Remains Unsold
The surplus of unsold whale meat in cold storage is growing exponentially and, according to Statistics Iceland, only 450 kilogrammes of whale meat have been exported since 2006. Kr
Moody’s Keeping An Eye On Icesave
Economics analysts Moody’s have kept Iceland’s rating the same from last spring, giving mixed reviews of the state of the economy, while indicating that legal proceedin
Here’s Wishing Everyone A Merry Christmas!
Season greetings from Your Friends At The ReykjavÃk Grapevine! To quote our ‘Encyclopaedia of Icelandic Holidays‘: “December 24th, Aðfangadagur, is the day Icel
Mysterious Clicking Sound In House Costs Millions
A couple who sold a house have been sentenced in court to pay 8 million ISK to a woman who bought it, as the house emits a loud and persistent […]