News from Iceland - NFI

25/06/2026

NFI - 25, June 2026

“Rarely is a single wave isolated.”

The Prime Minister, Kristrun Frostadottir, says he does not regret presenting the sledgehammer discussed in the run-up to the last parliamentary elections. It is a long-term project that will take time. She also says that it is ok that people joke about it.

The bottom of Vesturbaejarlaug (West End Swimming Pool) continues to peel and the pool has been closed for necessary maintenance. The manager says it is clear that the pool will be closed again next summer for an even longer period.

Cyclists are fed up with poorly maintained Hopp bikes (Scooters) on bike paths. They say the bikes have caused accidents and are calling for improvements.

A total of 41 percent of the Icelandic population are opposed to fin whale hunting and 26 percent are neither in favour nor opposed, according to a new poll conducted for the Icelandic Nature Conservation Association. The results also show that 33 percent are in favour of the hunt.

Bjarni Benediktsson, CEO of the Confederation of Icelandic Employers and a former Prime Minister says it is essential that an agreement is reached in the labor market on wage flexibility and wage drift. He is optimistic about the autumn, even though it looks like inflation will be higher than the assumptions of the collective agreements assume and they could therefore be released. He says it is a concern that not everyone is taking the situation with the same seriousness.

The artist couple Kolfinna Nikulasdóttir and Sigurbjartur Sturla Atlason have put their apartment on Myrargata up for sale. The apartment is 84 square meters and the couple is asking a modest 89.9 million ISK for it. Kolfinna has made a good name for herself as a director and Sigurbjartur both as an actor and as a musician, under the stage name Sturla Atlas.

24/06/2026

NFI - 24, June 2024

“A good verse is never recited too often.”

New Avalon saw the largest relative growth of any religious and philosophical organization in the country in the first half of the year. The number of registered members increased from four to 27 from December 1, 2025 to June 1, 2026. That's a 575 percent increase. The explanation, however, is more mundane than the percentage suggests. Eldey Huld Jónsdóttir, director of the New Avalon Center, says the increase is due to that “the Church of the Risen Life” was deregistered as a religious organization at the turn of the year.

The Centre Party has become a full member of the European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR). The ECR's website claims that Christians are the most persecuted of all religious groups and that the declining birth rate is preventing women from fulfilling their highest purpose: becoming mothers.

The Reykjanes District Court has sentenced a man to 22 months in prison for transporting about 1.7 kilograms of co***ne by air to the country last April. The man was charged with a major drug offense, having arrived by flight from Paris, France, to Keflavík Airport with the drugs hidden in his luggage.

María Greta Einarsdóttir, CEO of NTC, and Andrea Magnusdottir, fashion designer and owner of Andrea in Hafnarfjordur, have founded a company. The company is called Stílbrot slf. (Stylebreak) , or the same name as María Greta and Andrea's podcast that recently went on air. The purpose of the company is to manage the operation of the podcast.

Johannes Thor Skulason, CEO of the Icelandic Tourism Association, welcomes the government's new agreement with the Icelandic Tourism Agency on marketing Iceland as a destination. He calls the decision sensible, not least in light of the debate over increased tourism fees.

The representatives of the super mall Smaralind have decided to introduce a parking fee at the shopping centre, but development in the area and attendance at the building are among the factors that played into the decision-making process, according to Smaralind marketing manager.

23/06/2026

NFI - 23, June 2026

“All waters flow to the sea.”

Bjorg Eva Erlendsdottir, Director of Landvernd (Land Protection), says it is intolerable and unnecessary that foreign tourists are stuck driving off-road year after year. She says that the authority to impose penalties needs to be used better and that there needs to be a concerted effort by the government and tourism companies to ensure that everyone who visits the country, domestic and foreign, has a safe journey.

"I have long had the dream of doing a master's degree in nuclear engineering and France is one of the best places to study it," says 22-year-old Andrea Denisdottir, who recently graduated with a B.Sc. degree in energy engineering and is on her way to a great adventure. Andrea has had one foot in Paris, where her boyfriend Styrkar Davidsson lives, and she has now decided to make her dream come true and move abroad completely.

The actress Hildur Vala Baldursdottir is one of the brightest stars in theatre at the moment. Hildur Vala has now founded a company. It is called Orkubolti slf. (Power Ball) and she is the chairman of the board. The purpose of the company is acting, artistic creation and other related activities. Also buying and selling real estate and its operation, lending activities and necessary activities in this regard.

NATO's research and testing vessel, NRV Alliance, is currently docked in Reykjavík, Iceland, where it has arrived to participate in a military exercise that will test the ability of unmanned aerial vehicles to monitor enemy movements at sea. The ship sailed to Iceland from La Spezia, Italy, and is manned by the Italian Navy.
A money laundering case involving a number of young people being recruited to exchange Icelandic kronas for euros is still being processed by the District Attorney's Office. The case is referred to as Operation Raccoon in a promotional video by Israeli technology company Cellebrite, in which employees of the District Attorney's Office describe how the company's digital evidence and analytical technology were used in the investigation.

The entrepreneurial couple Sandra Bjorg Helgadottir and Hilmar Arnarson have put a charming detached house in Vesturbaer (West End)up for sale. The property is 201.3 square meters and has an asking price of almost 180 million icel/krona.

22/06/2026

NFI - 22, June 2026

“The child grows but the pants don’t”

Saevar Gudmundsson, chief of police at Station 2, Hafnarfjordur police station, says it is difficult and disgusting that apartments for the elderly were broken into and jewelry was stolen. The theft was reported in the police diary this morning.

The District Attorney has charged three men with attempted murder in a parking garage at Hofdatorg in Reykjavík on the night of March 17. The victim of the attack is seeking 10 million kronas in damages.

"I just panicked and didn't know what to say to him. He's a complete doll," says influencer and show host Gudrun Svava, better known as Gugga in dinghy, about the rapper Kanye West, Gugga in dinghy was a guest at his birthday party in the Netherlands recently. Kanye's party featured fast food from McDonalds and KFC and birthday cake.

There is no new news that there is a cooling in the economy in Iceland. There have been reports of layoffs and many workplaces are preparing for layoffs. Naturally, this raises fears. On top of that, revolutions in artificial intelligence and automation are being announced, and everyone admits they don't quite know what they will entail.

Among the guests at the Kaleo concert last weekend were the President of Iceland, Halla Tomasdóttir, and the First Man, Bjorn Skulason. They posed with Jokull, the main guy in Kaleo and his new girlfriend, Brazilian sports journalist and model Bruna Ludmila.

One person was taken to the emergency room following a fight between two guys in Kópavogur last night. Heimir Rikhardsson, station commander at Police Station 3 in Kópavogur, says the fight took place outside a house. However, it is not the men's home.

A large and strong contingent of Icelandic bridge players is heading out this week; three teams will travel to participate in the European Bridge Championships to be held in Riga, Latvia.

21/06/2026

NFI - 21, June 2026

“A good verse is never recited too often.”

The police in the capital area are investigating the case of a man who harassed female runners in central Reykjavík today. The man approached on a scooter and either grabbed or slapped their buttocks.

The Althingi agreed this week to appoint an executive committee to prepare for an anniversary celebration to mark the 1100th anniversary of the Althingi in 2030. The cost of the celebrations is expected to be 800 million, and the Speaker of the Althingi says it is a major milestone.

There's a lot going on at First Water in Olfus, not far from Thorlakshofn, because giant tanks are being built there for the land farm, and the slaughtering of five-kilogram salmon has already begun, and the export of the salmon is going well.

West End residents said a sad farewell to the Kjotborg (Meat Hall) store when the store's doors closed yesterday for the last time after decades of operation. There was a good atmosphere in the store on its last day, and music was played outside in the good weather.

Five organizations will protest whaling at Reykjavik Harbor today. The chairman of Friends of the Whales says he expects some events or speeches but does not want to reveal their nature.

A man and a woman were taken away in handcuffs in a police operation in Skipholt, Reykjavík, just after noon today. A number of police officers and special forces were at the scene.

National Park Ranger says Kaleo's big concert last night went like a fairytale. The organizers have taken good care of themselves. Traditional activities will now resume."Yes, we are here, the national park staff returned to the game after about two or three hours of sleep. It was a long night for us, but then the evacuation of the area here went incredibly well. It was really just like a fairytale how the evacuation went," says National Park Ranger Einar A. E. Saemundssen.

20/06/2026

19/06/2026

NFI - 19, June 2026

"Their deceit is evil, their justice is worse.”“Behind all joy lies the fear of losing it.”

The last day of the parliament before adjournment has arrived, that is, if nothing unexpected happens. Gudmundur Ari Sigurjonsson, parliamentary party leader of the Come Together Array Party, says he is satisfied with the parliamentary winter and says there is no need for a so-called parliamentary shutdown in late summer.

Inga Saeland, Minister of Education and Children's Affairs, met with representatives of the Chinese social media platform Tiktok about raising the age limit on social media in Iceland. Representatives are not said to have opposed such ideas.

Olafur Þ. Hardarson, professor emeritus, is shocked. He is a great flag fan and enjoys his flag collection. Now one of his neighbours has accused Ólafur of not having the decency to fly the Icelandic flag on June 17th. Ólafur is shocked.

Halla Tmasdottir aka Hall Tom, President of Iceland, and Björn Skúlason, the President's husband, will pay an official visit to the Faroe Islands from June 22 to 24.

The police chief violated the principle of proportionality when he transferred Margeir Sveinsson, an assistant police chief, to a new position following complaints from a subordinate. The Country Court has upheld the Reykjavík District Court's ruling, but the state attorney appealed the ruling. The state must pay Margeir two million in compensation and one and a half million in legal costs.

Magnus Thor Jonsson, chairman of the Icelandic Teachers' Union, says there are many more pressing issues in the school system today than setting rules about phone use and that conversations between students and teachers about their environment are always more intelligent than centralized rules that can create unnecessary problems between them. According to the regulation, lockers should be installed, but it is not clear who should monitor them or whether the child should return the phone there.

18/06/2026

NFI - 18, June 2026

“Care should be taken in the presence of a soul.”

A fight broke out between two drivers at around 4:00 p.m. today after a traffic accident. The accident occurred on the approach to Reykjanesbraut, from the Lindahverfin district in Kopavogur.

The Icelandic real estate market is still in an adjustment phase with real price declines and slower sales. The advertising period for apartments has increased considerably recently, with almost a quarter of all apartments advertised for sale at the beginning of June having been on the market for more than twelve months, compared to around 16 percent at the same time last year. Real estate agents believe the market is still developing towards becoming more of a buyers' market.

The Ministry of Justice advertised on June 15th the position of Information Officer in the Office of the Ministry's Executive Board. Not long ago, Freyr Gigja Gunnarsson, a former journalist at RUV, the government own broadcast giant, was hired for the position temporarily for one year without advertising. At that time, it was announced that the position would be advertised soon. However, the position was not advertised until after Nanna Gunnlaugsdottir, a member of parliament for the Centre Party, pointed out in the Althingi (Parliament) that it had not yet been done. It is not clear whether the timing of the advertisement is a coincidence or whether Nanna's comments have sparked movement on the matter.

The whaling ship Hvalur 9 has sailed from port, but Holmsteinn Hardarson is now sitting in the mast barrel to protest whaling. He said earlier today that he was not going down voluntarily, but that he had a limited supply of food, some water and a low battery on his phone.

A couple was arrested on Thursday in Seydisfjordur as they were leaving the country on the Norraena, suspected of attempting to smuggle over a hundred bird eggs. A post on the East Iceland Police page says that after a search of the couple's car in Seydisfjordur, customs and police found over a hundred eggs of wild Icelandic bird species, stored in specially designed thermal bags. They also had five live Eurasian hawk chicks in their possession. Partridge eggs, eider and pelican eggs, eider and pelican eggs, gannet, gannet and duck eggs were among the eggs found in the couple's car.

The Country Court has sentenced Sindri Snaer Birgisson to 18 months in prison and Isidor Nathansson to 15 months in prison for weapons violations. They were also charged with violating the Terrorism Act, but the Country Court acquitted them of that charge today.

17/06/2026

NFI - 17, June 2026

“It's howling, it's raining, but it always slows down and calms down.”

Today is 17, June all over Iceland. It is the national independence day. In every town and village is some kind of celebration going on. Entertainers has a lot to do.

The actress and singer Elin Sif Halldorsdottir is this year's Mountain Woman. The Republic of Iceland turns eighty-two today, and celebrations were held across the country, including in Reykjavík. There was a lot of secrecy surrounding who would play the role of the Mountain Woman until she walked out of the Parliament building wearing her shot uniform.

Elementary school students in Reykjavík will not be allowed to use mobile phones or similar smart devices during school hours next fall after the city council approved a phone holiday in schools. Parents are welcoming the move, but teachers are concerned about the implementation.

The Reykjanesbaer municipal council has asked all institutions in the town to fly the Icelandic national flag 24 hours a day this summer, which is now permitted under new flag laws. In addition, the flag has been hoisted at all entrances to the town.

The sports couple Kristofer Acox and Guðrún Elisabet Bjorgvinsdottir have become parents after having a baby boy last Friday.

Freyr Alexandersson has been appointed as the new coach of the Norwegian powerhouse Rosenborg, but not everyone seems convinced that he is the right man to raise the club from the ashes.

US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio congratulated Icelanders on their 82nd National Day.
This year marks 75 years of defense cooperation between Iceland and the United States.
“For three quarters of a century, this partnership has maintained stability throughout the North Atlantic and the Arctic,” Rubio said in his announcement. He added that the United States is now celebrating 250 years of independence and is committed to continuing to support this shared security alliance.

16/06/2026

NFI - 16, June 2026

“There's no map to human behaviour.”

A woman born in 1974 has been charged with a particularly dangerous physical assault that occurred on the night of Saturday, September 7, 2024, at the Ranin restaurant in Reykjanesbaer. The defendant is accused of throwing a glass bottle into the face of a woman born in 1998, resulting in a cut on the lower lip and two broken teeth in the upper palate.

Inga Saeland, Minister of Children and Education, has returned from eighteen days of sick leave. She says she had the flu. Inga, who is the chairwoman of the People's Party, announces her return in a video on Facebook. “Now the chick is on her way to a government meeting, having recovered from this boring flu that I have been struggling with, like so many other people in Iceland – a boring cough, a cold and a feeling of discomfort,” Inga says in the video. “But that doesn’t change the fact that even we elected representatives, it can get us, the virus,” Inga adds. “We are not robots.”

Two people have been remanded in custody in connection with a serious assault that took place in Reykjanesbaer last night. Three were arrested on Valhallarbraut after a stabbing attack and one was taken to hospital with a stab wound. A special unit assisted the police in the operation.

The joy of color and glamour comes to life in the summer in Iceland, and it seems more people are daring to take risks when the sun shines. New trends emerge, which are more often than not old and recycled, as fashion is known for going in circles. The colour blue is extremely popular this summer, as it has always been in all its varied shades, whether it's in clothing, jewelry, bags, shoes or everything in between, and it livens up parties. The turquoise-blue colour was particularly prominent on the catwalks this spring and is seen on the catwalks of various stars.

Milla Osk Magnusdottir, a producer at ACT4, plans to run for president of the Icelandic Film Producers' Association. She says it has never been more important for the Icelandic film industry to have a strong spokesperson who can engage in good dialogue with the government. Milla is married to Einar Thorsteinsson the leader of the Progressive Party in Reykjavik City.

The Blue Lagoon has acquired the tourism company Arctic Adventures and plans are underway to merge the companies. The Blue Lagoon has also begun formal preparations for the company's listing on the Icelandic stock market.