Latest news - Iceland Monitor

Þorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Increased emphasis on dialogue on defense

yesterday Both the Foreign Minister and the Prime Minister said that the government is in close contact with other Nordic countries on security and defense issues, although ministers do not have the opportunity to attend all meetings. There is no need to fear that this issue is being neglected; on the contrary, the current government is not afraid to discuss openly the issues that were not the case with the previous government.

The state mediator, Ástráður Haraldsson, submitted an internal proposal in the teachers' pay dispute on Thursday.

Media was made to leave

yesterday People from the media were recently made to leave the offices of the State Conciliation and Mediation, called the Karphús. The reason given was that negotiations were at a sensitive point, but the negotiating committees of the Icelandic Teachers' Union and the Association of Icelandic Local Authorities are now meeting there.

Advises people against unnecessary travel to Grindavík

31 Jan The police in Suðurnes advise people against unnecessary travel to Grindavík.

Maronsson says that if someone believes he has violated the code of conduct, it is natural for the matter to take its course and be resolved.

"It is my primary duty to take care of my children "

31 Jan Members of the Skagafjörður Preschool Teachers' Association and the Skagafjörður Preschool Administrators' Association believe that the chairman of the Skagafjörður Education Committee has violated the code of conduct for elected representatives by participating in a class action lawsuit by parents against the Icelandic Teachers' Union, due to the implementation of strike action in a few selected schools. In doing so, he has chosen personal interests over public interest. Members also believe that he has violated the trust that has been built up over the past few years.

A picture from the last eruption, which began on November 21, 2024.

It is a concern if eruption starts in bad weather

31 Jan "I think we have to start preparing for another eruption," says Benedikt Ófeigsson, head of deformation measurements at the Icelandic Meteorological Office.

Magnús Þór Jónsson, chairman of the Icelandic Teachers' Union, attended the main hearing yesterday.

The main hearing has started

30 Jan The main hearing in the case of parents of preschool children against the Icelandic Teachers' Union regarding the implementation of strike action began at 3 pm yesterday in the Reykjavík District Court.

It only takes one stuck car to create a long line in traffic. It's important to show patience and help your neighbor to make life easier.

Did not give up this morning

30 Jan Many places in the capital area can make life difficult for drivers in traffic this morning.

Rescue ship Björg called out on the highest priority

29 Jan Just after 5 am last night, the Coast Guard control center called out the crew of the rescue ship Björg on Rif on the highest priority due to a fishing boat with two people on board that had lost its rudder and was drifting close to land.

Inga Sæland, the leader of the People's Party.

Says she did not mention the police

29 Jan Inga Sæland, Minister of Social Affairs and Housing, says in an interview with mbl.is after a government meeting yesterday that she did not mention the police or her position in society in a phone call with Ársæll Guðmundsson, headmaster of Borgarholt School.

Guðrún Hafsteinsdóttir, Inga Sæland and Sigríður Andersen.

Major abuse of ministerial power

28 Jan “I find this news very concerning if it is true. If Inga [Sæland] has become a minister at this time, then this is a major abuse of ministerial power, which I would say is very serious.”

There is a warning of avalanche danger on the road through Súðavíkurhlíð.

It takes little to get the snow moving

28 Jan A few avalanches fell over roads in the Westfjords last night, and the Icelandic Meteorological Office's avalanche watch is monitoring the situation closely due to the avalanche risk.

There will be widespread snowfall or hail in the country today.

Widespread snowfall but will ease up in the south of the country

28 Jan There will be widespread snowfall or sleet in the country today in an easterly or variable direction 3-10 m/s. The wind will be more northerly in the afternoon and it will reduce the wind and ease in the south of the country. Frost will be between 1 and 10 degrees.

Pálmi Jónsson recently gave a talk at the Doctors' Day in Harpa, discussing chronic illnesses in older people.

Call for a complete change in the healthcare system

27 Jan A change in the healthcare system needs to be viewed in the same light as the new construction of Landspítali National Hospital, it is a similarly extensive project but no such work is underway. Elderly patients with chronic diseases often receive a lot of medication that can have serious side effects. Then gender differences can arise in the excretion of drugs.

A Cessna aircraft, TF-FFL, skidded off the runway during landing today.

Airplane skids off runway during landing

27 Jan A runway at Reykjavík Airport had to be closed an hour ago due to an accident. A plane skidded off the runway during landing. Guðjón Helgason, Isavia's public relations officer, confirms that no one was injured.

The State Mediator believes that the government is working to find a solution to the dispute.

"There is a risk that such disputes will become more intense"

27 Jan "As always, there are all kinds of conversations between the parties and they are continuing. We are actively looking for ways to resolve this dispute. But no decision has been made to convene a formal meeting," says Ástráður Haraldsson, the state mediator, in an interview with mbl.is, about the wage dispute between teachers, the state, and municipalities.