News from Iceland
'Not all routes into the country can be open'
The Minister of Justice says there are indications that foreign student permits at Icelandic universities are being misused, and that there is reason to intervene. Applications for students and their dependants from Ghana, Nigeria and Pakistan have doubled year-on-year. There are loopholes in the system that must be closed. Although it is right to welcome refugees (for example), not all entry routes can be kept open.
Similar challenges […] more
Three Nights of Sound | Your Guide to Iceland Airwaves 2025
Fishing boat takes on unusual advertising role
The small fishing boat Hvítá HF found itself in an unexpected role this summer — as a floating billboard. A 150-kilogram LED screen was mounted on its deck to promote Milt liquid detergent, catching the eye (and amusement) of passersby around Hafnarfjörður harbor.
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Too early for Jól joy?
The Christmas preparations have begun for some, even though November has only just started.
RÚV has been asking around, to see who has started decorating.
Some people have indeed taken an early start to the festive season and have already begun listening to Christmas songs.
Others, however, take a different view.
Ólöf Ásta Salmannsdóttir is firmly in […] more
Defend Iceland enters the Danish market
The Icelandic cybersecurity company Defend Iceland has announced the launch of its bug bounty platform in Denmark, where it will operate under the name Defend Denmark.
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Timing of inflation-measurement changes 'ill-advised'
The managing director of Samtök iðnaðarins (Federation of Icelandic Industries) says the most important thing to emerge from the discussion about inflation measurements is that everyone agrees inflation would be lower if Statistics Iceland were still using its former methods.
“We welcome that these parties have come forward and confirmed that inflation would indeed be lower if we were still relying on the old method,” says Sigurður […] more
Incentives needed to stop landlords accumulating housing stock
The chair of the Tenants’ Association says that a tax on capital gains will not reduce landlords’ incentives to accumulate housing. Reducing the tax exemption on capital gains for those who own multiple properties was among the measures announced by the government last week.
Guðmundur Hrafn Arngrímsson, chair of Samtök leigjenda á Íslandi (the Tenants’ Association), was speaking on Rás 2. He says the measures announced by the […] more
Capital has billions of ISK in surplus
Reykjavíkurborg (the City of Reykjavík) is expected to operate with a surplus of ISK 18.7 billion next year, according to the budget presented by the city's governing coalition. Projections for this year indicate a positive result of ISK 14.6 billion.
When the budget for this year was approved last December, a surplus of about ISK 1.3 billion was forecast.
Alongside the annual budget, a five-year plan extending […] more