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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 Grapevine’s Editor-in-Chief Bart Cameron, and Grapevine friend and contributor Sindri Eldon to roundup the stories making headlines in recent weeks. On the docket this week are:

The Russian Spying Vessel Yuri Ivanov Within Iceland’s Exclusive Economic Zone
Since a Nato exercise in the North-Atlantic in May, the Russian spying vessel Yuri Ivanov has been sailing within Iceland’s 200 mile Oceanic Exlusive Economic Zone, and is now west of Iceland, which is highly unusual. The Icelandic coastguard has been watching the vessel and the Icelandic Foreign Ministry says it poses no threat.

Around 70-80% Of Iceland’s Farmsteads Do Not Engage In Traditional Farming
The Agriculture University of Iceland held a seminar to discuss a new report on who owns farmland in Iceland. Around 600 farms are owned by estates of deceased farmer, and 13% of farms in Iceland are not in any use, while between 70-80% of farmland is generally not used for traditional farming. The report also points out that around 40 farms are owned by two foreign billionaires, one of which Jim Ratcliffe, is also the fourth largest holder of farmland in Iceland, behind the Icelandic state, municipalities and the Icelandic church. The report creates questions about whether or not current laws in Iceland on farms need modifications to deal with a changed reality in the use or - as in this case - the non-use, of farmland, and does actually suggest that changes should be made to the law to deal with specific aspects, such as unclear ownership, unclear use, foreign ownership, and better data collection with regards to use and ownership, citing numerous cases where such changes have been made in recent years in neighboring countries.

Dettifoss Side Hiking Route Closed
New research has revealed numerous fissures under one of the popular hiking routes from the west towards Iceland’s (and the whole of Europe’s) most powerful waterfall Dettifoss. Dettifoss is located in North-East Iceland, and is a popular tourist destination, made famous by its prominence in the opening sequence of Ridley Scott’s 2012 film Prometheus. New research has revealed that the area is a fissure zone under a hiking route called Fosshvammur, and the route has been permanently closed. Other hiking routes on the west side of the river in which the waterfall is located are safe, and so is the viewing platform on that side of the river.

Two Tourists On Bikes Rescued By SARS Teams In The Highlands
Tow tourists who were attempting to bike a well known highland road in the southern highlands of Iceland had to be rescued by SARS teams, when snowmelts got the better of them.

The Federation of Icelandic Industries Warns Of Increased Indebtedness In The Construction Industry
Not only that, the chair of the Icelandic Housing and Construction Authority  says that apartments and neighborhoods have been planned for people that don’t exist. Housing prices have fallen in real terms, the number of apartments for sale has increased, and it is taking longer to sell properties, especially new apartments. The outlook is dire.

Bubbi Morthens 70th Birthday Concert Last Weekend
Bubbi played two shows for more than 10.000 people total in Laugardalshöll stadium this weekend. He dropped some comments between songs on inflation and said it was time to say either “yes” or “no”. While Bubbi didn’t explicitly mention the upcoming referendum on restarting negotiations with the EU on accession, the crowd non the less booed his statement. A few songs later he talked about his dismay about the importation of politics to Iceland that targeted minorities, before launching into his 1984 hit “Strákarnir á Borginni”, and important song for championing gay rights in Iceland in the 1980s. No booing was heard following the latter statement. 

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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. 

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