News from Iceland - NFI

News from Iceland - NFI News from Iceland, aka NFI, tells news from Iceland in English.

It is a service for people who don't speak the Icelandic tongue but wants to follow news from this island in the middle of nowhere.

03/06/2026

NFI - 3, June 2026

“I am no expert on surrealism.”

A group that includes academics, media professionals, artists, and church members has requested permission from the Thingvellir Committee to take samples from the remains of the national poet Jónas Hallgrimsson, who rest there in the national cemetery.

The People's Party is estimated to have four percent support according to Gallup's national pulse, and therefore if elections would be held the party would be outside parliament today.

Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson, the leader of the Centre Party, says he is more "cute" than Nigel Farage, leader of the British Reform Party. This was revealed in a light-hearted but sharp exchange on Spursmal (Questions), where the state of the old political parties, the development of the Independence Party and whether the Centre Party has a political counterpart in Britain were discussed.

Dagur B. Eggertsson, the former major of Reykjavik City and now a member of parliament for the Come Together Array, says that others than himself must run for the position of deputy chairman of the party. He did not raise the issue as the public's attitude towards him as the new deputy chairman is being examined.

Icelandic audiences will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in decades of great songs when the show Celebrating George Michael comes to Akureyri and Reykjavík later this year, performed by the amazing singer and a band that includes the original Wham! bassist.

Hildur Bjornsdóttir, leader of the Independence Party, was confirmed as the new mayor of Reykjavík at the first city council meeting of the election term this afternoon. "It suits me really well, it's beautiful weather and a good day for a new era in Reykjavík," Hildur said before the meeting when asked how her day was going.

01/06/2026

NFI - 1, June 2026

“A small nation, with a few tamed tongues.”

A man and woman who went out to enjoy the weather today at Reynisvatn in Grafarholt went to the emergency room after being bitten by loose dogs. The dogs were two Border Collies, but their owner had a third dog on a leash while walking by Reynisvatn in Grafarholt.

The board of directors of Brim hf. has agreed to purchase all shares in Lysi hf. The purchase price is ISK 20 billion, which is ISK ten billion less than Brim's purchase offer announced in September. Brim has also announced the sale of its shares in two companies.

Over the past decade, the proportion of students reading Brennu-Njals saga as part of their compulsory matriculation examination has plummeted. About half of upper secondary schools have removed the saga, long considered a staple of Icelandic literary heritage, from their reading lists, either in whole or in part.

Oculis' share price has fallen by more than half since the opening of the Stock Exchange following bad news about the company's drug development on Friday evening.

American scientists will use balloons to make NASA-funded measurements of the atmosphere over Iceland. The measurements will be carried out during the solar eclipse in August and will focus on studying the eclipse's effects on the lowest layer of the troposphere. The scientists have been assisted by the University of Iceland, Saevar Helgi Bragason and other experts in Iceland.

A sharp earthquake struck the southwestern corner of the country at 1:45 p.m. The earthquake originated at Mosfellsheiði, just north of the turnoff from Suðurlandsvegur to Threngslar.
The earthquake was about 4.5 in magnitude according to the first measurements by the Icelandic Meteorological Office. It is also believed to have occurred at a depth of about 4.5 kilometers.
A number of aftershocks have been recorded.

31/05/2026

NFI - 31, May 2026

"When everything is turned upside down, everything works out somehow, even if many doubt it for a while.”

Rental companies could swallow up the housing market in Iceland if nothing is done to improve the market situation, according to real estate agents. The proportion of apartments owned by individuals is rapidly declining.

Six Icelandair flights have been canceled today due to a shortage of flight crew in the cockpit, Asdis ÝY Petursdottir, Icelandair's head of communications, confirmed to the news agency.

A man held in Hólmsheidi prison died last night. The prison director Ragna Bjarnadóttir confirmed this to the press office but said she could not provide further details about the circumstances of the death or further information about the deceased.

The chairman of the Icelandic Teachers' Union welcomes a new report on stress and working conditions in primary schools. Calls for better support for teachers from municipalities need to be responded to, and demands for schools' involvement in raising children have increased.

Runners from 38 countries are now coming to the country to compete in one of the country's largest off-road races in Hveragerdi, "Hengill Ultra", with around a thousand runners expected to participate.

The Icelandic men's national football team narrowly lost to Japan, 1-0, in a friendly match in Tokyo today. Japan's winning goal came in the 87th minute.

30/05/2026

NFI - 30, May 2026

“Put the body in the freezer, Ebenezer”

Reverend Kristjan Bjornsson resigned as the ordination bishop in Skalholt after a woman with whom he is related filed a s*xual assault complaint with the South Iceland Police.

Johannes Thor Skulason aka John the Baptist, CEO of the Icelandic Tourism Association, says the good situation within the industry over the summer and the solar eclipse on August 12th are a great boon. However, uncertainty will prevail in the fall.

In a statement issued by Islandsbanki (Bank of Iceland), people are warned about fraudsters who have recently sent out emails in the bank's name. They trick people into logging in with electronic credentials and providing security codes.

Dadi Már Kristofersson, Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, agrees with the words of Bjarni Benediktsson, CEO of the Confederation of Icelandic Employers, in an interview with Morgunblaðid (Morning Paper)yesterday that the Icelandic economy has become unbalanced.

“Astin er” (Love is) won most Eddas’ (Icelandic Oscar) on the award festival last evening.

Today the forecast is 5-13 m/s from the northeast and east, but 10-18 on the southeast coast. Rain with patches. The Meteorological Office's meteorologist's thoughts say that the cold from the last few days is still lingering in the east of Iceland and there is a chance of sleet with snowfall in the mountains.

29/05/2026

NFI - 29, May 2026

“Whoever doesn't live in poetry cannot survive here on earth.”

The caravan park that has been located at Saevarhofði for two years is set to move to Gufunes. The City of Reykjavík and representatives of an unincorporated association, the Association of Caravan Parks, have signed a user agreement to this effect.

The AIR store, which specializes in Nike shoes and sportswear, will close in Kringlan.

Inflation was 5.1 percent in May, down from 5.2 percent in April. A larger decline in inflation was expected. The VAT cut had a 0.32 percentage point downward impact on the consumer price index.

Layoffs have taken place at the Blue Lagoon. 29 full-time positions will be eliminated and 55 employees will be transferred between departments. The company's CEO says the goal is to sharpen the role of the lagoon's parent company.

A writer and librarian harshly criticizes the plans of the National Library's management to hire security guards instead of librarians who are supposed to man the third and fourth floors of the National Library on evenings and weekends this fall. Kamilla Einarsdottir is this person.

The product designer Sesselja Thorberg lost her job, but after that she found success with both her product design and interior design. The loss of her job allowed her to make her dreams come true.

Inga Saeland, Minister of Education and Children's Affairs and chairwoman of the People's Party, has gone on temporary sick leave.

28/05/2026

NFI - 28, May 2026

“Whoever doesn't live in poetry cannot survive here on earth.”

Hildur Bjornsdóttir, leader of the Independence Party, will become mayor of Reykjavík, Einar Þorsteinsson, leader of the Progressive Party, will become chairman of the city council, and Björg Magnusdottir, leader of The Reform Party, will become president of the city council. Hildur announced this at a meeting in Videy where the majority partnership between the three parties was announced.

The lawyer and former Supreme Court judge Jón Steinar Gunnlaugsson is, to say the least, dissatisfied with the decision of Hildur Björnsdóttir, leader of the Independence Party in Reykjavík, to form a majority with the Reform Party and the Progressive Party and not the Centre Party, and says it is a betrayal.

The gunshot that struck a man in an apartment on Hafnarbraut in Karsnes Kopavogur on Sunday is believed to have passed through his right forearm and ended up in his left shoulder. It appears that the same bullet caused injuries in more than one place on the man's body. He was taken to hospital after the attack but was not considered to be in a life-threatening condition.

Minister of Health Alma Moller has temporarily appointed Thorarna Gro to the position of Director General of the East Iceland Health Institute (HSA) as of June 1st, when Guðjón Hauksson steps down and takes over as Director General of Akureyri Hospital.

Katrín Júlíusdóttir, former vice-chair of the Come Together Array, does not intend to run for office again. She denies that Dagur B. Eggertsson is a supporting actor in the party, despite claims to the contrary by his chair, Kristrún Frostadottir.

27/05/2026

NFI - 27, May 2026

“The life of man is so short that ordinary people simply cannot afford to be born”

Ingolfur Gretarsson, better known as Goi sports stripe and Tinna Björk Kristinsdottir have put their detached house at Birkimork 10 in Hveragerdi up for sale with an asking price of 87.5 million krónur. Gói and Tinna called it quits with the podcast series “Must It Always Be a Joke?” last fall after seven years.

The King of Fish has made his fish store in Sogavegur much bigger. He held an opening party there last Saturday. Nobody can held a party like The King of Fish.

The Speaker of the Althingi says there appears to be agreement among parliamentary party leaders to conclude the debate on the planned referendum on EU accession negotiations. It therefore looks likely that the vote will take place on August 29th.

Outgoing mayor Heida Björg Hilmisdottir has received death threats and increased security since taking office. She says a lot has happened and says she is thinking about how elected representatives are spoken of in this country.

A meeting has been called in the wage dispute between Icelandair and the Icelandic Commercial Pilots' Association (FÍA) at the state mediator's office at 10 a.m.. He is far from done and has directed the parties to refrain from commenting on the subject of the negotiations to the media.

Bifrost University staff have adopted a communication charter after a turbulent period in the university's history. It stipulates undesirable behavior in the workplace and that employees should not "disparage the feelings or achievements of colleagues, discuss sensitive issues in front of others, or bypass established communication channels." The rector says the charter is an important step forward.

26/05/2026

NFI - 26, May 2026

“A free man can live on fish. Independence is better than meat”

The Independence Party, Reform and the Come Together Array have reached an agreement on a majority partnership in Hafnarfjordur (Harbour Fjord). The parties' majority agreement is to be presented at their party meetings tomorrow. Following this, the leaders plan to sign the agreement and present its contents at a press conference in Hamranes.

A single-family home in Karsnes, Kópavogur, was broken into over the weekend and various valuables were stolen. The homeowners say they have suffered significant financial and emotional damage and are not hopeful of recovering the stolen items. The work was done with care and the criminals bypassed the building's security system.

The hotel manager of Hotel Djupavík (Deep Inlet) has had his fill of what he considers apathy on the part of the Icelandic Road Administration towards the roads of Arneshreppur in Strandir. The hotel manager, Magnús Karl Petursson, says he has to provide a kind of shock care to the hotel's guests almost every day after they have driven along the gravel road that leads to the hotel.

The gold plating of European regulations when it comes to car dealers, agricultural equipment sellers, credit brokers and other parties is both burdensome and costly for them.

Hotel Flatey has been a definite center of life in Flatey in Breidafjordur during the summer. However, there are now signs of trouble and uncertainty about whether the hotel will be open at all this summer is likely to have a significant impact on the cultural scene in this renowned destination.

24/05/2026

NFI - 24, May 2026

“The life of man is so short that ordinary people simply cannot afford to be born”

An earthquake swarm began on the Reykjanes Ridge around 9pm last night, just under 10 kilometres west of Reykjanesta. Over 120 earthquakes have been recorded since then, the largest measuring 3.5 just after 5am this morning.

The powerlifter Hafthor Júlíus Björnsson aka The Mountain has been using illegal performance-enhancing drugs since he was 19 years old, but took a break twice to get his wife pregnant.

The man wanted by the police in the capital area last night has been found.

An unscrupulous individual stole Beatles photos that accompanied the famous White Album and tried to take them away from Oli's Record Store. Oli caught the thief red-handed as the photos were about to fall on him.

An Icelander who went to an Oasis concert in Manchester on an Icelandair package tour is not entitled to a refund, even though the concert ticket was delivered later than expected. The airline offered the concertgoer a credit for compensation, but that offer was not responded to.

FH has never started a top division season as badly as this year. The team lost 5-0 to Víkingur last night and only has two points after eight rounds.

22/05/2026

NFI - 22, May 2026

"To him I was worst, whom I loved the most.”

All employees at Hilton Nordica and Natura hotels will be laid off on Tuesday next week. Hilton Nordica staff were called to a meeting at 2 pm where the collective layoffs were announced. The hotels are now part of the Iceland Hotel Collection by Berjaya chain, but the layoffs are part of the transfer of the two hotels to Icelandic Hotels.

It looks like over one thousand Icelandic high school students will be on the Greek island of Crete in early June. Getting everyone to and from the island is a big task, and charter flights will have to be used to ferry the crew.

Atli Heidar Gunnlaugsson has come forward as a "notorious father" who requested that his child be exempted from s*x education at Vesturbaejarskóli (Western Town School).

Football stars make a fortune on ni****ne patches. The wholesaler Kansler ehf. made a profit of sixty million kronur on the sale of ni****ne patches last year. The company is owned by football stars Solvi Geir Ottesen, coach of Vikingur, and Ragnar Bragi Sveinsson, captain of Fylkir.

Margrét Helga Erlingsdóttir has been hired as a program director at Kastljós Spotlight), the government own TV news show. The position was advertised at the end of March. Margrét Helga will start working at the Icelandic National Broadcasting Corporation in the autumn and will continue working at Syn's newsroom until then.

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