Iceland Review

Norway Supports Iceland in Icesave Court Case

Wed, 16 May 2012 18:30:00 GMT

The Norwegian government supports many of Iceland’s arguments in the case of the EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) against Iceland in the Icesave dispute, which is currently before the EFTA Court, in their written remarks to the court.

Icelandic Elf School Principal Concerned for MP’s Health

Wed, 16 May 2012 15:35:50 GMT

Magnús Skarphéðinsson, principal of the Icelandic Elf School, has expressed his concern that Independence Party MP Árni Johnsen may be subject to an accident after relocating a boulder allegedly inhabited by elves to his home in the Westman Islands.

Reykjavík Live Music Festival Kicks Off

Wed, 16 May 2012 13:00:00 GMT

The first music festival this summer, Reykjavík Live, kicks off with concerts in the center of Iceland’s capital tonight and will carry on through May 20. The venues are Gamli Gaukurinn, Glaumbar, Prikið and Frú Berlaug.

Top Presidential Candidates Neck-on-Neck in Polls

Wed, 16 May 2012 11:33:57 GMT

President of Iceland Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson and his main rival for the presidential election on June 30, Þóra Arnórsdóttir, are supported by an almost equal number of voters, 41.3 and 43.4 percent, respectively, as indicated in a new survey.

The Color Palette of My Words (IRB)

Wed, 16 May 2012 11:09:42 GMT

We have a red day in Iceland tomorrow. Well some do, I have a glittery, purple, silvery, navy blue, dark-grey day.

Man Fined for Killing Dog in West Fjords

Wed, 16 May 2012 07:00:00 GMT

The West Fjords District Court ruled on Monday that a man found guilty of having drowned a Labrador by tying its front and hind legs, fastening it to car tires and throwing it in the ocean is to pay ISK 100,000 (USD 786, EUR 612) in fine.

President of Iceland Honored for Fight against Drugs

Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Icelandic President Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson received a lifetime achievement award for his fight against drugs and leading anti-drug campaigns at home and abroad at the ECAD (European Cities Against Drugs) convention in Ireland on Thursday.

Icelandic MP Moves Elves’ Boulder to His Home

Tue, 15 May 2012 16:30:00 GMT

MP for the Independence Party Árni Johnsen arranged for the relocation of a 30-ton boulder, which he believes is home to three generations of elves, from Sandskeið on Hellisheiði in southwest Iceland to his home Höfðaból in the Westman Islands today.

Series of Earthquakes Hit Northeast Iceland

Tue, 15 May 2012 14:00:00 GMT

A series of earthquakes began near Mt. Herðubreið in the northeastern highlands at noon yesterday and was still ongoing this morning. The largest quake measured 3.2 points on the Richter scale but most aftershocks, approximately 100, were below two points.

Tourists Trapped in North Iceland Cold Spell

Tue, 15 May 2012 12:30:00 GMT

A number of foreign tourists have run into difficulties in north and east Iceland due to the cold spell which hit the region on Sunday. Many of them are driving rental cars with summer tires not suited for slippery and snowy road conditions.

Movement Prepared to Defend Iceland’s Government

Tue, 15 May 2012 11:30:00 GMT

The three MPs of the political party The Movement have declared themselves prepared to defend the Social Democrat-Left-Green coalition against a vote of no confidence if agreements can be reached on certain issues that The Movement finds important.

Drink Away Our Sorrows (PS)

Tue, 15 May 2012 11:00:00 GMT

Football, the Faroe Islands and fertility rate.

Giant Monkfish Caught in Northeast Iceland

Tue, 15 May 2012 08:30:00 GMT

A giant monkfish got caught in the nets of lumpsucker fishing boat Hafaldan SI 7 three miles off Sauðanes in northeast Iceland on Saturday, at a depth of 30 fathoms. The fish was 126 centimeters long, 86 centimeters wide and weighed 26 kilos.

Gordon Ramsay Slammed for Eating Whale in Iceland

Tue, 15 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

UK celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay of Hell’s Kitchen fame was criticized by animal conservationists for eating minke whale at a restaurant in Iceland during a recent break in the country in The Scottish Sun.

Storm Whirls up Volcanic Ash in South Iceland

Mon, 14 May 2012 19:30:00 GMT

There was extensive ash in the air in south Iceland yesterday due to dry and stormy conditions, creating poor visibility on roads. The ash was emitted during the volcanic eruption in Eyjafjallajökull two years ago.

President Calls for Referendum on Fishing Quota

Mon, 14 May 2012 16:30:00 GMT

President of Iceland Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson said in an interview in the radio program Sprengisandur on Bylgjan yesterday that the government’s bill on amendments to the fishing quota system should go to a national referendum.

Re: "On Iceland's Beer"

Mon, 14 May 2012 16:16:14 GMT

Iceland Responds to the Reply to its Defense in Icesave

Mon, 14 May 2012 14:00:00 GMT

Iceland served the EFTA Court with its Rejoinder in the Icesave case on Friday. In the Rejoinder Iceland responds to the arguments put forward by the EFTA Surveillance Authority in its Reply to Iceland’s Statement of Defense, submitted to the Court in early March.

Event of the Week: House Project

Mon, 14 May 2012 11:49:07 GMT

“The House Project” currently on display in Hafnarborg, the Hafnarfjörður Centre of Culture and Fine Art, is a new artwork by Hreinn Friðfinnsson consisting of a photography series of the three houses. His work is described as “a poetic and philosophical exploration of every day human experience.”

Travelers Run into Trouble in Crazy May Weather

Mon, 14 May 2012 11:30:00 GMT

ICE-SAR search and rescue squads were busy assisting residents and travelers who ran into trouble in the stormy and snowy weather which hit Iceland yesterday. Their day began at Hvammstangi in the northwest at 9:30 am where trampolines and other loose objects were about to blow away.

Traitor behind the Enemy Line (JB)

Mon, 14 May 2012 11:19:31 GMT

Last Thursday, ÍA, my hometown football club, played its first match against KR, an old foe from Reykjavík in the Icelandic National Football League.

World’s Largest Crocodile Named after Icelander

Mon, 14 May 2012 07:00:00 GMT

Scientists recently confirmed that fossils that were excavated in Kenya in the 1960s and 70s were of a previously unknown prehistoric crocodile, the largest of its kind to have existed on earth. The species was named after John Thorbjarnarson, an American conservationist of Icelandic decent.

Documenting Iceland Trips: New Service for Tourists

Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Unnar Helgi Daníelsson Beck has founded a new tourism service company, Memo Iceland, which specializes in filming the adventures of travelers in the country and making short documentaries that they can show their friends and families.

Readings at Authors’ Homes at Reykjavík Arts Festival

Sun, 13 May 2012 15:30:00 GMT

The Reykjavík Arts Festival will take place between May 18 and June 3 in Iceland’s capital where a broad range of cultural events will be on offer. Among those are readings by Icelandic authors in their homes.

New Issue of Iceland Museum Guide Out Now

Sun, 13 May 2012 13:30:00 GMT

The Iceland Museum Guide, which contains information on museums, information centers, exhibitions, churches, national parks and selected buildings from the National Museum’s collection, has been released for the third time.