Category: News - Iceland Monitor

Hildur Björnsdóttir is the lead candidate for the Independence Party in Reykjavík.

Independence Party now largest in Reykjavík

11:51 GMT The Independence Party is currently polling as the largest party in Reykjavík’s city council, according to a new Borgarviti survey by Maskína, with 29.2% support. This marks an increase of nearly four percentage points since the last poll in June, when support was roughly the same as in the previous election.

Tara Polar Station sailing through a channel in the ice.

Strange vessel arrives in Iceland

yesterday An unusual ship has docked in Ísafjörður: the floating research station Tara Polar Station, which has been undergoing trials in the Arctic Ocean, arrived on Saturday. Ísafjörður residents will not be the only ones to see the odd-looking vessel; according to a written statement from the Tara Ocean Foundation, which operates the station, Tara Polar Station is scheduled to arrive in Reykjavík on the morning of September 3. It will remain there until October 20 before setting sail for Finland.

Stefán Blackburn on his way into the courtroom this morning.

Main proceedings in the Gufunes case begin

yesterday The courtroom of the South Iceland District Court is packed this morning as the main proceedings in the so-called Gufunes case began at 9:15. The defendants are gradually arriving at the courthouse.

Remnants of hurricane Erin to reach Iceland tomorrow

24 Aug A high-pressure system is over the North Sea, while a low lies to the west and southwest of Iceland, steering warm and humid air toward the country today.

Record crowds at Culture Night — Police report calm atmosphere

24 Aug Culture Night was officially opened at noon yesterday. Reykjavík was full of life, with Arnarhóll turning into the biggest dance floor in the country.

Participants in the Íslandsbanki Reykjavík Marathon this year come from 97 countries. Most of the foreign runners are from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Poland.

Reykjavík Marathon set to break fundraising record

23 Aug The Reykjavík Marathon’s fundraising record is expected to be broken today, with around 250 million ISK already collected for charity.

Þórhildur Ólöf Helgadóttir, CEO of Iceland Post, says it is unbelievable that rules like those now being imposed by U.S. authorities on European postal services can even be issued.

“Everyone is stunned by these decisions”

22 Aug “We are looking at every possible way to keep this open, but I am not optimistic,” says Þórhildur Ólöf Helgadóttir, CEO of Iceland Post, in an interview with mbl.is about the difficulties and uncertainty now facing parcel deliveries to the United States.

Map from the Icelandic Met Office at 3 p.m. today.

Temperatures rising above 20 degrees C

22 Aug The best weather today will be in North and East Iceland, where skies will be mostly clear and temperatures could reach up to 21°C. In the west, it will be cloudy with light showers in some areas. Temperatures nationwide will range between 13 and 21°C.

The Czech Ivan Burkert on his unusual mount, cycling across countries to support children with cancer.

Czech visitor on a rare steed

21 Aug “Ivan Burkert has cycled from Hradec Králové in the Czech Republic, where he set off on July 25, riding through Poland, Germany, and Denmark,” Jirka Hynek told mbl.is. Hynek is Burkert’s assistant and press officer. Burkert is currently touring Europe and Iceland on a so-called penny-farthing bicycle.

The amount stolen runs into millions of ISK.

Police request footage in connection with ATM theft

21 Aug A man in his fifties was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of involvement in the theft of an ATM in Mosfellsbær, in which heavy machinery was used to carry out the crime.

The mayor at a press conference about Culture Night earlier today.

Minute of silence and guests encouraged to wear pink

20 Aug A one-minute silence will be held during the Tónaflóð concert on Culture Night to honor Bryndís Klara Birgisdóttir, who was fatally stabbed at the festival last year. Guests are also encouraged to wear pink, Bryndís’ favorite color, in her memory.