News from Iceland
“It’s best for everyone that the truth comes out”
Guðmundur Ingi was one of the founders of Flokkur fólksins (People’s Party), served as its parliamentary group leader for many years and was its deputy leader when he resigned from the party in mid-April. He was Minister for Education and Children from March 2025 until January this year, when he resigned from office for health reasons.
He now sits in parliament as an independent MP and supports the government.
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Minority accused of populism in dispute over running Skarðsdalur ski area
In recent years, the Skarðsdalur ski area has been operated by L7 contractors in Siglufjörður. The municipality had an operating agreement with L7 that guaranteed a certain level of funding. That agreement expired in the spring and applications were invited to run the area. At a meeting of Fjallabyggð's Executive Committee last week, it was decided to reject all the applications and for the municipality to operate the area itself.
Tómas […] more
Twice as many receive grants for hearing aids
The number of people receiving grants from Sjúkratryggingar (Iceland Health Insurance) to buy hearing aids has more than doubled in around ten years.
In 2014, just under 1,100 people received such a grant, while last year the number had risen to around 2,300, and it looks likely to be even higher this year. At the same time, government expenditure has risen from around ISK 100 million - adjusted for inflation - to around ISK 270 […] more
Uncertain whether Tækniskólinn will be built in Hafnarfjörður
Hafnarfjarðarbær (Hafnarfjörður Municipality) failed to terminate a lease agreement, putting construction of a new college at Hafnarfjörður harbour in doubt. The municipality offered another site at Vellir, which the college turned down.
Plans to build the college at Flensborgarhöfn in Hafnarfjörður were first unveiled five years ago. Tækniskólinn, The Technical College, is the country's largest upper secondary school, with around […] more
Reykjavík city government at 100 days
Thursday marked 100 days since Hildur Björnsdóttir became Mayor of Reykjavík, when the majority formed by Sjálfstæðisflokkurinn (Independence Party), Viðreisn (Reform Party), and Framsóknarflokkurinn (Progressive Party) took office. The majority published a list of 31 tasks it intended to complete within 100 days.
The tasks vary widely and cover a range of areas. They include extending opening hours at after-school centres, an ISK […] more
Data Centres Account for 101 Billion ISK in Computer Imports
Honoured King Harald and set a record
“Events like these are organised over four or five days, and this time five days were set aside. The aim was to set two records in two different categories, one involving two separate formations in the same jump and the other three.”
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No longer insured for illness or accidents
Changes to the Health Insurance Act approved by Althingi on June 1 mean, among other things, that from January 1, individuals travelling to countries outside the EEA will no longer be insured for costs they may incur as a result of illness or accidents.
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