In Focus
In Focus: Samherji Scandal
One of the biggest news stories to break last year alleged that one of Iceland’s largest seafood companies, Samherji, had bribed Namibian government officials to gain access to lucrative fishing grounds, while also taking advantage of international loopholes to avoid taxes. The story was reported collaboratively by Kveikur, Stundin Newspaper, and Al Jazeera Investigates, after months of investigations sparked by the confessions of whistleblower Jóhannes Stefánsson, a former project manager for Samherji in Namibia. The following report is based on their extensive research.
In Focus: No Smoke Without Fireworks
Reykjavík’s New Year’s Eve fireworks tradition results in much pollution, yet it’s also the primary source of funding for the country’s search and rescue teams.
In Focus: Municipal Mergers
It’s Monday morning. Katrín wakes up and gets her daughter ready for school. After dropping her off, she heads to the local library, where she does freelance work. On her way there, she notices the progress in the apartment housing being built across the street: she’s renting now but has put a down payment on an apartment there. During her lunch break, Katrín drives out of town for a walk at her favourite hiking spot. Since it was designated as a protected area several years ago, it’s been getting more popular. She works until 5.00pm. Her daughter participates in an after-school program until then. After picking her up, they head to the local pool for a bit of fun before dinner. One organisation has had a hand in every aspect of Katrín’s day, as well as her daughter’s: her local council.
In Focus: Iceland and the Arctic
Powerful countries are showing increased interest in the Arctic – and Iceland.
In Focus: Proposed Sugar Tax
In an effort to improve public health, the Icelandic government plans to impose a sugar tax of 20% on products such as candy, chocolate, and sweetened soft drinks.
In Focus: Asylum Seeker Deportations
The impending deportations of two Afghan families seeking asylum in Iceland have been heavily criticised in recent weeks. The families in question are the Sarwary and Safari families, who have been granted international protection status in Greece.
In Focus: Dropping Fertility
Since the 1960s, Iceland’s fertility rate has been steadily dropping. Fertility rates in 2017 were the lowest recorded since record-taking began in 1853. It should
In Focus: Tourism Industry Strikes
Since the banking collapse just over ten years ago, Iceland has largely pulled itself back from the brink thanks to a tourism boom. So it’s
In Focus: The Klaustur Scandal
The nation reacted in shock when a recording of six MPs revealed them making sexist, ableist, and homophobic remarks about their colleagues at Klaustur Bar
In Focus: Wage War
The banking collapse of 2008 took its toll on the Icelandic nation, both financially and emotionally. Icelanders came together in protest, yet perhaps surprisingly, without
In Focus: Up in the Air
The world of Icelandic aviation has been showing signs of tremors recently. Even though the number of travellers in Iceland is at a high point,
In Focus: Whose Land Is It Anyway?
In 2011, a Chinese businessman named Huang Nubo tried to buy one of the largest farmlands in Iceland, Grímsstaðir á Fjöllum. Since Nubo was neither
