Are you enjoying this? Are you not? Tell us what to do more of, and what you'd like to hear less of.

The Reykjavík Grapevine's Iceland Roundup brings you the top news with a healthy dash of local views. In this episode, Grapevine publisher Jón Trausti Sigurðarson is joined by Heimildin journalist Aðalsteinn Kjartansson, and Grapevine friend and contributor Sindri Eldon to roundup the stories making headlines in recent weeks. On the docket this week are: 

✨ Migratory criminal birds

On Saturday night, the police and their special forces arrested three persons at a Hells Angels party in Kópavogur. A Hells Angel was first spotted in Iceland in 2009 and the police worry that this special kind of criminal migratory bird, might start taking up wintering grounds in Iceland, or god forbid; breeding grounds.

✨No football for air traffic controllers on shift 

Isavia, a public company responsible for managing and servicing Icelandic airports, has changed their rules to make sure air traffic controllers can not watch football games while on the job. Subsequent to an air traffic incident in February 2024, when two airplanes almost collided near Reykjavík airport – it came to light that the air traffic controllers on shift during the incident were busy watching a Premier League game between Liverpool and Chelsea. The changed rules state that air traffic controllers are prohibited from using "an electronic device through which material intended for entertainment is transmitted” while on shift.

✨ Douglas Dakota revisited

Man who crash-landed the most famous airplane hulk in Iceland, revisits site of crash. Gregh Fletcher, who crash-landed a Douglas Dakota DC-3 C-47 on Sólheimasandur back in 1973, came back to visit the site of the crash. The landing, which was skillfully conducted by Fletcher, saving himself and his crew of 6. Greg also got to meet the President of Iceland.

✨ Alþingi is back from vacation!

Alþingi convened again after summer on Tuesday. President of Iceland, Halla Tómasdóttir, addressed the parliament during the opening ceremony. 

✨ And more stuff

Where we also discuss the identity crisis of the Independence Party, the fact that the chairman of the Center Party is the only Icelandic political figure to bring up Charlie Kirk publicly. We discuss the history of political assassinations in Iceland (the last one was in 1550) and how so many trends on show up in Iceland, years or decades after they do in the rest of the world.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SHOW SUPPORT

Support the Grapevine's reporting by becoming a member of our High Five Club: https://steadyhq.com/en/rvkgrapevine/

You can also support the Grapevine by shopping in our online store: https://shop.grapevine.is

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast.
The Reykjavík Grapevine is a free alternative magazine in English published 18 times per year, biweekly during the spring and summer, and monthly during the autumn and winter.

The magazine covers everything Iceland-related, with a special focus culture, music, food and travel. The Reykjavík Grapevine’s goal is to serve as a trustworthy and reliable source of information for those living in Iceland, visiting Iceland or interested in Iceland. Thanks to our dedicated readership and excellent distribution network, the Reykjavík Grapevine is Iceland’s most read English-language publication.

You may not agree with what we write or publish, but at least it’s not sponsored content.
www.grapevine.is