Category: News - Iceland Monitor

Ian Stephen is an author from Scotland. He had long dreamed of sailing to Iceland and decided last year to make it happen with his son.

Father and son's dream becomes reality

yesterday, 13:10 GMT Scottish author and poet Ian Stephen made a long-held dream come true this summer when he sailed to Iceland on the sailing yacht Silver Moon, accompanied by his son Sean and two others. They set off from Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland about two weeks ago, and the journey has gone better than expected. The crew is currently in Húsavík, the main destination of the voyage, but they hope to sail around the entire country if conditions allow.

Daði Már Kristófersson, Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs.

Fiscal plan approved: “Good God almighty”

yesterday, 10:00 GMT The government's fiscal plan for the years 2026–2030 has been approved by Alþingi with the support of the ruling coalition. A government MP described the plan as a "navigation chart" for the parliamentary term, while an opposition MP warned that the government is headed for shipwreck.

Hanna Katrín Friðriksson, Minister of Economic Affairs.

Fishing Fee Bill approved

two days ago Minister of Economic Affairs Hanna Katrín Friðriksson’s bill to increase fishing fees has been passed by Alþingi (the Icelandic Parliament).

There seems to be no end to the good weather, if the temperatures are anything to go by.

Temperature reaches 26.5°C in South Iceland

two days ago The temperature has just reached 26.5°C according to measurements from the Icelandic Meteorological Office's weather station at Árnes. Later today, temperatures could climb as high as 29°C, according to a meteorologist’s forecast.

Hér er myndin sem umræðir sem birtist á Facebook-hópnum Bakland Ferðaþjónustunnar.

"This is unequivocally illegal"

two days ago Daníel Freyr Sigurbjarnarson, regional specialist at the Environment Agency of Iceland, is urging motorcyclists to stop driving off-road.

In Hrísey – The knitting men in their new sweaters, from left: Narfi Freyr Narfason, Noël Legatelois, Almar Björnsson, Sigfús Páll Sigfússon, Narfi Björgvinsson, Gestur Leó Gíslason, and Guðmundur Stefánsson.

Proud knitting men wiser for the experience

13 Jul Six men in Hrísey began a knitting course with retired textile teacher Svanhildur Daníelsdóttir on February 1st—and a seventh joined later. The project: to knit a traditional Icelandic lopapeysa sweater for themselves. They completed the task this week. “It went wonderfully, and they’ve learned a great deal,” she says.

Temperatures are expected to rise well above twenty degrees Celcius tomorrow.

Heatwave expected tomorrow

13 Jul A heatwave is expected across much of the country tomorrow, according to Haraldur Eiríksson, meteorologist at the Icelandic Meteorological Office, who says temperatures could exceed 20°C in all regions.

Shots fired inside hotel room in Reykjavík

12 Jul A firearm was discharged inside a hotel room in Reykjavík last night.

Parliament adjournment confirmed

12 Jul An agreement has been reached on the official adjournment of Parliament, according to Þórunn Sveinbjarnardóttir, Speaker of Alþingi. The final parliamentary session before the summer recess will take place on Monday, July 14.

Andrea Kolbeinsdóttir was the first woman to cross the finish line for the fifth year in a row.

Andrea wins for the fifth time – Þorsteinn defends his title

12 Jul Þorsteinn Roy Halldórsson successfully defended his title, winning the Laugavegur Ultra Marathon for the second year in a row. Andrea Kolbeinsdóttir claimed victory in the women’s category for the fifth consecutive year.

Guðrún Hafsteinsdóttir views the conduct of the governing coalition parties as a serious matter.

Grave concerns over request for Parliamentary memo

12 Jul Guðrún Hafsteinsdóttir, chair of the Independence Party, says she views it as extremely serious that the People's Party requested a memo from the parliamentary office concerning the origin and use of Article 71 of the parliamentary rules more than two months ago.

The Reykjavík Metropolitan Police, Suðurnes Police, the Office of the National Commissioner of Police, and the Customs Authority participated in the operation.

Extensive police operation: 36 human trafficking victims identified

11 Jul The Icelandic police conducted searches at over twenty homes and locations, checking on approximately 250 individuals, as part of international operations targeting human trafficking earlier last month. A total of 36 people were identified as potential victims and were all offered appropriate assistance.

Þórunn Sveinbjarnardóttir, Speaker of Alþingi, has activated the so-called nuclear option.

Parliament speaker invokes "Nuclear option"

11 Jul Þórunn Sveinbjarnardóttir, Speaker of Parliament, has just invoked Article 71 of the Parliamentary Procedures Act, calling for an immediate vote to end debate on a bill and move directly to a vote on the matter.

Guðrún Gígja Sigurðardóttir had every reason to smile at her graduation in the U.S., as her academic performance was outstanding.

Icelander graduates top of class at Columbia

10 Jul Lawyer Guðrún Gígja Sigurðardóttir recently graduated with a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree from Columbia Law School in New York. Morgunblaðið received a tip that Guðrún had not only completed the program but had graduated at the top of her class. Columbia Law School is one of the most prestigious law schools in the United States.

Floods like this are known to occur in various rivers around Mýrdalsjökull.

Glacial outburst flood from Mýrdalsjökull in Leirá Syðri and Skálm

10 Jul Electrical conductivity and water levels have risen in Leirá Syðri in recent days, according to measurements from a recently installed monitoring station near Sandfellsjökull. Increased conductivity and water levels have also been detected in readings at the bridge over Skálm on Route 1.