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Provided by Iceland Review, Icenews and Reykjavík Grapevine“Silent Footsteps” on Display in Reykjavík Art Museum
The exhibition “Silent Footsteps” by Sigrid Valtingojer, who has been one of Iceland’s most prominent graphic artists for the past 30 years, is currently running at the ASÍ Art Museum in Reykjavík.
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Free Concert in Reykjavík Culture Center
Icelandic musician Egill Ólafsson and the Caput ensemble sinfonietta will perform in a free concert in the culture center Gerduberg in Reykjavík tomorrow at 2 pm. They will perform a composition based on A Giant Love Story by Gudrún Helgadóttir.
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Icesave causing Paris Club headaches
The Icesave issue has been discussed more than once by the Paris Club, an organisation more used to talking about the debt problems of third world nations. Individual financial officials in the ‘club’ expressed their deep concern that Iceland’s hard stance could set an unwelcome precedent. The Paris Club is an informal association of economic officials [...] More
Reykjavik
E5 4°C
| Akureyri |  |
SE2 | -1°C |
| Kirkjub.kl. | |
E8 | 1°C |
| Bol.vik | |
E5 | 1°C |
| Egilsst. | |
NE2 | -3°C |
| Stykkish. |  |
E7 | 2°C |
| Storhofdi | |
E23 | 3°C |
Exchange rates
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US dollar | USD | 126,5 kr. |
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Euro | EUR | 171,71 kr. |
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Pound sterling | GBP | 191,61 kr. |
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Canadian dollar | CAD | 124,28 kr. |
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Danish krona | DKK | 23,077 kr. |
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Norweigan krona | NOK | 21,549 kr. |
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Swedish krona | SEK | 17,745 kr. |
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Swiss franc | CHF | 119,75 kr. |
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Japanese yen | JPY | 1,398 kr. |
Pirate Bay blockade dropped by Norwegian copyright holders
Copyright holders have abandoned their legal battle to force the Norwegian Internet service provider Telenor into blocking the well-know file sharing website The Pirate Bay, according to one of the involved parties. The Norwegian performing rights society, TONO, led the copyright holder bid along with the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) Norway. The bid [...] More
Icelandic car company dreaming the recession away
Bilabud Benna, a Reykjavik car dealership, is today showcasing the brand new Porsche 911 Sport Classic. Only 250 of the new 911 are being made and one of them is on show in Iceland at the Bilabud Benna premises on Vagnhofdi. The Porsche 911 Sport Classic is a Porsche enthusiast’s dream, with a concerted effort to concentrate [...] More
The Spring Equinox Celebrated on Videy Island
Today, March 20, is the spring equinox, when the day and night are equally long. To celebrate the occasion, art historian Heidar Kári Rannversson will give visitors to Videy, off Reykjavík’s coast, a guided tour around the island.
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Icelandic Mother-of-Five Caught as Drug Mule in Peru
An Icelandic mother-of-five was arrested for attempting to smuggle two kilos of cocaine from Peru and is currently in custody in Lima. Her brother suspects she was working as a drug mule for a man in Norway who she met over the internet. More
Iceland’s Government Loses Support
Currently 38.9 percent of respondents in a new survey by Fréttabladid daily support the government of Iceland, while 61.1 percent of respondents don’t. Both coalition parties have lost significant support from the last survey and the Independence Party is by far the country’s largest political party.
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Iceland-Friendly Debt Expert a “Vulture”?
Alex Jurshevski, an expert on the debt problems of sovereign states who was interviewed on RÚV’s political chat program Silfur Egils on Sunday, said in an interview three years ago that he was hoping for a global economic crisis. If so, he could profit extensively from the undervaluation of assets.
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Bombs Placed in Reykjavík Telecommunications Masts
An attempt was made to paralyze an important part of the telecommunications system in Iceland’s capital on Wednesday night. It appears that three gas bombs were placed in telecommunications masts in Öskjuhlíd near the Icelandic Meteorological Office and that two went off. The third bomb was found intact. More
Tax Evasion at Icelandic Banks Before Collapse
The Icelandic banks avoided paying approximately ISK 100 billion in taxes for derivatives trading before their collapse in the autumn of 2008, according to an investigation undertaken on behalf of the Ministry of Finance.
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Finnish government to ban unsuitable students
The Finnish government is investigating ways in which to weed out what it determines are “unfit” students from educational areas where they could be considered harmful to fellow students or the profession. A new report has recommended that educational institutions be allowed to revoke students’ study privileges in instances of drug abuse, demonstrations of violent behaviour [...] More
Icelandic Bonus boss to open supermarkets in the UK?
Jon Asgeir Johannesson, the former boss of now-bankrupt Baugur Group is preparing to open a three-store chain of low cost supermarkets in London. The stores are going to be called Best Price. According to Vidskiptabladid, a search is underway to find suitable retail space for the shops. The paper states that the idea is to build the [...] More
Danish MP challenges Turkey on Kurdish and women’s rights
In a week where Sweden has irked the Turkish government over genocide allegations, a Danish SF parliamentary member has made an address to the country’s political leaders urging them to adopt greater economic reforms. The Socialist People’s Party’s Ozelm Sara Cekic made her speech in Ankara where she also challenged Turkish political leaders over the issues [...] More
Private Military Company Given Green Light
ECA Program - a private company specializing in military consultancy with governments around the world - has apparently already been given the green light by the government to use the old base in Keflavík.
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Support for Ruling Coalition Drops
Support for the ruling coalition of the Social Democrats and Leftist-Greens took a significant hit in a recent poll, while support for the Independence Party - driven from power after months-long protests just over a year ago - has seen a huge boost in support.
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Housing Financing Fund Owns 570 Apartments
The state-run Housing Financing Fund (HFF) now owns 570 apartments, according to statistics compiled for the Althingi parliament’s Budget Committee this week. At the beginning of March, the HFF came into possession of 120 apartments in east Iceland.
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Swedish chair for new Arion Bank board
Press release: A new Board of Directors of Arion Bank was elected yesterday at a shareholders’ meeting of the Bank. At a board meeting held after the shareholders’ meeting, Monica Caneman was elected Chairwoman of the Board of Directors. The other board members are Gudrún Johnsen, Vice-Chairwoman, Kristján Jóhannsson, Steen Hemmingsen and Theodór S. Sigurbergsson. [...] More
Iceland Accused of Illegal Whale Meat Exports
The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) has accused Iceland of breaking an agreement on the exporting of whale meat.
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Marine Cable from Iceland to Scotland?
The main producers of marine electric cables believe it is viable to establish such a cable from Iceland to Scotland. The cost would probably be considerably lower than what it cost to construct the Kárahnjúkar dam and industrial companies in Europe would pay up to four times the price which large-scale industrial companies in Iceland pay for energy.
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Björk and Gondry to Collaborate on Music Project
Icelandic singer-songwriter Björk and French director Michel Gondry are working on a project which will be much more extensive than a conventional music video. Gondry has described the project as “very ambitious, like a sci-fi musical… maybe more suitable for museums. Like 40-minute IMAX in 3D.”
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Arsonist Responsible for Sandgerdi Fire?
Police suspect that someone set the old fishmeal factory in Sandgerdi, in Iceland’s southwestern region of Sudurnes, on fire on Tuesday night. The source of the fire remains unknown but police have ruled out common fire starters, such as electricity.
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Central Bank of Iceland Cuts Key Interest Rate
The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Iceland announced yesterday its decision to cut the key interest rate by 0.5 percent to 9 percent. The deposit rate (current account rate) will be lowered to 7.5 percent.
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Vandals cause Icelandic telelvison blackout
It is suspected that sabotage was the reason for the loss of power to a microwave communications centre in Reykjavik early this morning. The electricity supply was cut to satellite receivers at the Icelandic Meteorological Office which caused domestic digital-to-aerial television services to cut out at around 04.00. Fire fighters called to the scene found no evidence [...] More
New Plan to Tackle Household Debt in Iceland
Representatives of the Icelandic government, including Prime Minister Jóhanna Sigurdardóttir and Finance Minister Steingrímur J. Sigfússon, announced various new resources to solve the debt problems of households at a press conference in the Culture House yesterday.
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Icelandic government says it wants to help homeowners
A bill has been introduced by the Icelandic government aimed at helping the country’s householders and reducing the stockpile of repossessed housing currently in possession of the Housing Finance Fund. A new buying/rental system will be established at Iceland’s Housing Finance Fund as a means of getting rid of repossessed properties in its possession. People’s renting and [...] More
Swedish conflict with Turkey worsens following genocide classification
A widening rift is developing between the Swedish and Turkish governments in the wake of the Swedish parliament’s decision to recognise the 1915 mass killings of ethnic groups including Armenians as genocide. In Turkey, Christer Asp, the Swedish Ambassador, confirmed that protests had continued over the weekend in several cities, which followed the large demonstration that [...] More
Icelandic Moustache Web Crashes Due to Popularity
Last week the website karlmennogkrabbamein.is collapsed due to overload and had to be relocated to a new server for larger websites. A campaign called “Mottumars” (“Moustache March”)—where men are encouraged to grow moustaches and posts pictures of themselves on the website—is the reason for its popularity.
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Private Army Sets Sights on Iceland
A private company offering military support has expressed interest in working with the Icelandic government. Many Icelanders are strongly opposed to the idea.
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"Sensible" to Ban Products of Child Labor, Says Business Minister
Minister of Business Gylfi Magnússon told reporters that he believes it sensible to institute a ban on importing products made from child labor.
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Majority Polled Oppose State Artist Stipends
The majority of Icelanders are against any sort of state stipends or grants for artists, a poll by MMR that was published yesterday reveals. More
Private Dutch Military Company Interested in Iceland
The private Dutch company E.C.A. Program is awaiting a decision from Icelandic authorities on whether it can register its airplane fleet in Iceland. The company is intending to rent airplanes for military practices.
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Peaches to Play at Reykjavík Fashion Festival
Canadian electro-pop star and performance artist Peaches will play at Reykjavík club NASA during the 2010 Reykjavík Fashion Festival (RFF) next weekend along with a number of other bands and musicians.
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Cross-Country Skier Ends Trip Due to Lack of Snow
Einar Stefánsson, who was planning to ski across Iceland from the east to the west, cut his journey short after 15 days in the highlands due to lack of snow yesterday. He began at the mountain road Öxi near Egilsstadir and had planned to ski onwards to the fjord Hrafnsfjördur in the West Fjords in three weeks.
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Iceland Symphony Orchestra Celebrates 60th Anniversary
The Iceland Symphony Orchestra is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year—the first concert was held in March 1950. Tomorrow, March 18, the event will be remembered with a concert performed by not just a big, but a huge band.
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Iceland Crisis Report Expected Around Easter
The report conducted by an investigation committee of the Icelandic parliament, Althingi—which publication has repeatedly been postponed—is expected to be released around Easter in early April. The committee has investigated the events leading up to the banking collapse of October 2008 and the report will name the people involved.
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Population Declines for First Time in Over 100 Years
The latest figures from Statistics Iceland show that the Icelandic population has declined for the first time since the late 19th century.
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Iceland's Debt 78% of GDP
Iceland's debt is equal to 78% of its GDP, according to a press release from the Ministry of Finance.
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Iceland Could Become One Single Voting District
A bill has been submitted to parliament that, if passed, would combine all voting districts in the country into one.
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Iceland on the International Front
The Minister of Foreign Affairs reports that the ruling coalition is in agreement when it comes to joining the European Union. The British and Dutch have said they are willing to go back to the table over Icesave.
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Russian Military Loves Icelandic Airspace
The Russian air force can't seem to get enough of Iceland's skies, it seems, as RÚV reports their military aircraft have buzzed us 62 times in the past four years.
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Icelanders With Fewest Food Allergies
Icelanders have the fewest food allergies and intolerances of any other European people, according to new research from Imperial University in London.
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Debt Analyst Calls Foreign Loans "Kiss of Death"
Alex Jurshevski, of the company Recovery Partners, spoke very frankly on the news discussion show Silfur Egils yesterday, saying Iceland is making a big mistake in taking out foreign loans to pay down its debt.
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EU Foreign Affairs Committee Says Icesave Will Have No Effect On Talks
The EU Foreign Affairs Committee wants admittance talks with Iceland to begin as soon as possible, and does not want Icesave to stand in the way.
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Finance Minister Calls Criticism "Nonsense"
Minister of Finance Steingrímur J. Sigfússon responded to criticism that the government isn't doing enough to develop jobs, calling it "nonsense".
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President of Maldives Visits Iceland Today
Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed will visit Iceland today and Saturday.
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Björgólfur Thor Off the Forbes List
Björgólfur Thor Björgólfsson, one of Iceland's richest men and one of the more famous examples of the country's venture capitalists, has fallen off the Forbes list of the world's richest people, for the first time in five years.
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Leftist-Greens Will Not Change Ministers, Says Minister
Minister of Health Álfheiður Ingadóttir - who replaced Ögmundur Jónasson when he resigned from the position last September - told RÚV that there will be no change in ministers, despite rumors to the contrary.
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Leftist-Greens Likely to Change Ministers
In an effort to ease tensions within the party, sources close to Vísir are reporting that former Minister of Health Ögmundur Jónasson - who resigned last September over disagreements about Icesave - is likely to be brought back in to a ministerial position. More
Icelanders' Cultural Consumption
The Social Sciences Department of the University of Iceland has released the results of a survey it conducted for the Minstry of Education and Cultural Affairs, regarding what cultural activities Icelanders most enjoy. More