Category: Politics and Society

Danish rabbi Jair Melchior (second from the right).

Rabbi criticises ban on circumcision bill at circumcision conference in Reykjavik

yesterday "The matter is not a medical one. It's about the relationship between a minority and a majority," said Melchior who added that only 35- 40 Jews live in Iceland.

Whaling vessels Hvalur 8 and Hvalur 9 docked at Reykjavik harbour.

Whaling in Iceland recommences and byproducts used for medical purposes

17 Apr Whaling has recommenced in Iceland and whaling company Hvalur hf has permission to hunt 161 fin whales this summer as well as using 20% of last year's quota. Hvalur hf. is working in cooperation with scientists at the Innovation Center in Iceland and the University of Iceland to use whale byproducts for medicinal use.

Dagur B.Eggertsson, Mayor of Reykjavik who is a member of the Alliance Party, Hildur Björnsdóttir of the Independence Party, Sanna Magdalena Mörtudóttir from the socialist party, Diljá Ámundadóttir of Viðreisn, the restoration party, andStefán Pálsson of VG, the Left Green Alliance.

Reykjavik municipal elections: Candidates agree that public transport needs improvement

15 Apr The different parties running for the upcoming Reykjavik city elections in May met to discuss traffic and public transport in the city centre yesterday at Austurbæjarskóli.

Brussels reluctant to use the EEA two pillar system

14 Apr Two things mainly threaten the EEA Agreement according to Iceland's Foreign Minister Guðlaugur Þór Þórðarson. First of all the European Union's reluctance to use the agreement's two pillar system and secondly attempts by proponents of EU membership to undermine the agreement.

Abrahim, Hanyie and their friend Guðmundur Karl were all smiles yesterday afternoon.

Twelve-year-old Afghan refugee in Iceland: "I feel so safe"

13 Apr Afghan father and daughter Abrahim and Hanyie Maleki officially received a status as refugees in Iceland yesterday at the Directorate of Immigration. Twelve-year-old Hanyie made world headlines when 300 Icelanders threw a birthday party for her to defy plans to deport her.

Silja Dögg Gunnarsdóttir, MP for the Progressive Party.

Leading Republican and Democrat house members urge Iceland to back down on circumcision ban

13 Apr The leading Republican and Democrat on the US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee have joined forces to urge Iceland to stand down from a proposed bill to ban circumcision. "Threats politely declined," says Icelandic MP Silja Dögg Gunnarsdóttir.

Biggest increase of Reykjavik population in 30 years

13 Apr The population of Reykjavik increased by 2.4 % last year which amounts to 3000 people. Most of the increase is in Úlfarsárdalur or around 38 % whereas the population was reduced by 0.34 % in the eastern part of the city known as Austurbær.

The Turks and their allies now control the district of Afrin in North-West Syria.

Family of Icelander thought killed in Syria want to search for him themselves

12 Apr The family and friends of Haukur Hilmarsson, an Icelandic activist believed to have fallen in Syria fighting with the Kurds, are unhappy with the answers they have received from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. They want to go to Syria to find out what happened to him.

Request a report on Iceland's EEA membership

2 Apr Thirteen Icelandic lawmakers have tabled a request in Iceland's parliament for a report from Foreign Minister Guðlaugur Þór Þórðarson on the pros and cons of the country's membership of the European Economic Area (EEA).

Anton Vasiliev, the Russian Ambassador to Iceland, leaving the Foreign Ministry yesterday.

Russian diplomats not to be expelled from Iceland

27 Mar The Icelandic government will not be taking part in the decision of Western allies to expel Russian diplomats. Icelandic officials will not, however, be attending the FIFA World Cup Championships this summer.

Red paint was splashed on the NATO statue and it was tarred and feathered.

Artwork in city centre vandalised in protest

25 Mar An artwork originally made to mark the Russia - Nato summit in 2002 was vandalized yesterday. The artist, Hulda Hákon will not be pressing charges.

A march in Reykjavik to support the marches across America against gun violence

25 Mar Around 100 people joined a march in downtown Reykjavik to show solidarity with the marches across the US against gun violence folowing the tragic attack in a Florida school in February when 17 people lost their lives.

Interview with Iraqi refugees who moved to the remote town of Ísafjörður

24 Mar Anwar Alsadon from Iraq came as a refugee to Ísafjörður, in the West Fjords of Iceland recently with her son, Sultan. Their new home is very different to their former home but they are thankful and happy.

Iceland's energy not for the EU to decide

22 Mar Finance Minister Bjarni Benediktsson says Iceland's energy matters are not an issue that Icelanders should have to discuss with the European Union in Brussels. The country's energy matter are simply not a "Single Market issue" he said in a debate in the Icelandic parliament this morning.

Haukur Hilmarsson speaking in a short video on YouTube saying he was fighting for the International Freedom Battalion.

Foreign Ministry prioritises case of Icelander missing in combat

22 Mar The matter of finding out whether Icelandic activist Haukur Hilmarsson died fighting with the Kurds in Syria in February has been prioritised by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs upon the request of his family on March 7th.