12:20 GMTNumerous insect species have made an earlier-than-usual appearance this summer in Iceland, with the warm and favorable weather likely driving the early emergence.
yesterdayA resident in the old Vesturbær neighborhood of Reykjavík says he’s had enough after being repeatedly fined for parking in his own private driveway. Despite the space being clearly on his property, the Parking Fund has declined to cancel the tickets.
yesterdayAn explosion in an apartment building on Hjarðarhagi in Vesturbær triggered a major emergency response this afternoon. Heavy smoke and fire poured from the ground floor of the building following the blast. The cause of the explosion is still unknown, according to the capital area Fire Department.
21 MayFavorable spring weather has led to potato gardens being plowed up to three weeks earlier than usual in parts of North Iceland. In areas like Skagafjörður and Húsavík, planting has already begun, marking a significant shift from the typical agricultural calendar.
21 MayThe Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Iceland has lowered the bank’s key interest rate by 0.25 percentage points, setting the seven-day term deposit rate at 7.50%. This marks the fourth consecutive rate cut, with unanimous support from all committee members.
20 May“I was fascinated by being in this beautiful place, being outside and meeting people. That’s why I’m here,” says Guðni Th. Jóhannesson, former President of Iceland, who began his new role as a summer guide at Þingvellir National Park today.
20 MayA passenger boat carrying 47 people lost engine power and drifted onto a sandy beach near Ögur in Ísafjarðardjúp around noon today. A mass casualty response plan was activated following the incident, though there have been no reports of injuries or leaks.
20 MayPrime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir stated yesterday that achieving the government's goal of a balanced budget by 2027 will require "difficult measures on both the expenditure and revenue sides" of the treasury.
19 MayThe Landsbjörg rescue teams have responded to five separate calls since midnight—an unusually high number in such a short period. Remarkably, four rescue vessels were operating at sea simultaneously, each assisting vessels in distress.
19 MaySeismic activity near Grímsey has decreased significantly, though small earthquakes continue to be recorded. In the past 24 hours alone, approximately 130 tremors were measured in the area, according to Steinunn Helgadóttir, a natural hazard specialist at the Icelandic Meteorological Office.
19 MayDirector Hlynur Pálmason premiered his latest film Ástin sem eftir er (The Love That Remains) at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival on Sunday, May 18.
17 MayAlthough May is only halfway through, Reykjavík has already seen temperatures surpass last summer’s highest reading. Last year was notably cooler, with the capital’s peak temperature reaching just 17.4°C. Yesterday, however, the mercury climbed to 19°C, setting a new early-season high.
16 MayThe public showed strong interest in the recent sale of Íslandsbanki shares, with over 31,000 individuals participating in the government’s auction, which concluded yesterday. According to a statement from the Ministry of Finance, nearly all the shares offered by the state were subscribed to by the public.
/frimg/1/36/75/1367519.jpg)
/frimg/1/50/74/1507471.jpg)
/frimg/1/36/75/1367519.jpg)
