Moody’s Iceland rating remains unchanged

The international credit ratings agency Moody’s has decided to keep Iceland’s rating unchanged, one level above ‘junk’ status. The news has been welcomed in Reykjavik after the company indicated that a ‘no’ vote in the recent Icesave referendum would likely result in a downgrade for the country.

Iceland’s Minister of Finance Steingrimur J. Sigfusson says he is satisfied with the outcome of last weekend’s meeting with Moody’s in Washington DC.

A statement from Moody’s explains the decision saying that it has now come to light that Britain and the Netherlands will get paid out from the estate of the

Iceland celebrates first day of summer

Not only is it Maundy Thursday, it is also the first day of summer in Iceland. Both are celebrated as public holidays each year — meaning that this year has one fewer holiday, as they both fall on the same day.

Sumardagurinn Fyrsti is what Icelanders call the first Thursday after the 18th April each year; and that means today is the first day of summer. Snow be damned!

Spring in Iceland has done its all-too-usual trick this year of appearing in early to mid April and then running and hiding again towards the end of the month as “summer”

Unemployment affects young the worst

The number of unemployed people in Iceland increased by around 200 in the first three months of the year compared to the first quarter of 2010. An average of 13,700 people were searching for work in January, February and March and unemployment measured 9.9 percent among men and 5.5 percent among women.

Unemployment is a more serious problem among the young, with 15.9 percent of 16-24 year-olds on the job market unemployed. The figure is 6.2 percent among 24-54 year-olds and 6.7 among the 55-74 age group. The figures cover those looking for work and do not cover people

Morgunbladid urged to apologise for controversial cartoon

A cartoon of Icelandic MP Siv Fridleifsdottir as a prostitute, which appeared in the Morgunbladid newspaper, has caused outrage within the party. The cartoonist has now apologised; but the newspaper has not.

Birkir Jon Jonsson, the Progressive Party deputy chairman, says the newspaper cartoon crossed all reasonable boundaries. The deputy chairman continued, saying that the unkind portrayal of Siv Fridleifsdottir was also undeserved.

The cartoonist has apologised; but Jonsson is also calling on Morgunbladid to do the same. Otherwise, he says, a new line has been drawn on the acceptable media treatment of politics.

Morgunbladid editor, David Oddsson, would not

A New Reign of Terror Over Iceland

A relatively new group of Vikings calling themselves, Skálmöld, plan to terrorize Tjarnarbíó with their big bad, Viking metal on February 24. The occasion? They're celebrating the release of their inaugural album, 'Baldur'. In Norse mythology, Baldur is the son of Odin, who is killed by his blind brother, Höður, who is tricked into the deed by Loki, who is the god of mischief. In fact, Skálmöld tell the whole story in their album. So, if you're fond of the idea of having a Viking saga belted at you, Skálmöld may be worth the gander. Also of note, Tjarnarbíó was

School’s fake rune stone makes media the fool

A Swedish school has admitted that a rune stone it advertised for sale last week – causing much media excitement – was faked as part of an exercise in source criticism. News of the apparently rare artefact spread rapidly across Swedish internet, TV and radio after the local media in Filipstad were first tipped off about the online advert.

The notice, which was deemed by onlookers not to be an April Fool's joke despite being posted on 1st April, gave a detailed history of the stone which lent credibility to its authenticity. It also, however, gave the impression that

Media law passed by Icelandic parliament

A new media control law has been accepted by the Icelandic parliament.

 

In the vote yesterday 30 MPs voted to support the bill, 14 against and 19 MPs did not vote. 13 of the votes against were from Independence Party members and the 14th was the Progressive Party’s Vigdis Hauksdottir.

 

The new law seeks to protect children from obscene content and to ensure freedom of speech. To uphold its goals a new media committee will be created to mediate between the media, the public and government.

 

The bill has honourable intentions, but it is still proving controversial — not