Deep North: Stories from Iceland

Iceland News Review: A Powerful Volcanic Eruption and a Heated Presidential Race

In this episode of Iceland News Review, the still-ongoing volcanic eruption on Reykjanes peninsula, a hotly contested presidential race, a bird's incredible return to East Iceland, and much more.Iceland News Review brings you all of Iceland's top stories, every week, with the context and background you need. Be sure to like, follow and subscribe so you don't miss a single episode!

Skeletons in the Closet

Many might know the story of how Iceland was affected by the Second World War, but the story of many Icelandic ex-Nazis remains untold. We take a look at the life of Björn Sv. Björnsson - an Icelander and member of the Waffen SS.
 
Correction: In the discussion after the article, Björn Sv. Björnsson is mistakenly referred to as Sveinn Björn Sveinsson.

Iceland News Review: Drama in the East and Joyful Reunions

In this episode of Iceland News Review, political intrigue in the east of Iceland, the economy looking bright as wage agreements are signed, Palestinian families reunited at last, an effort to bring our folk tales home, and much more.Iceland News Review brings you all of Iceland's top stories, every week, with the context and background you need. Be sure to like, follow and subscribe so you don't miss a single episode!

Point of Sale

Online retail and COVID were supposed to have killed the shopping centre, but they're alive and well in Iceland. We take a look at the history of urban development in Reykjavík to find out why.

Iceland News Review: Music in the Countryside, Saving Our Sheep

In this episode of Iceland News Review, a very special music festival is coming your way, more Palestinians with Icelandic residence permits have been rescued from Gaza, possibly the largest police sting operation in Icelandic history, how we may save our sheep from scrapie, and much more.Iceland News Review brings you all of Iceland's top stories, every week, with the context and background you need. Be sure to like, follow and subscribe so you don't miss a single episode!

Wall of Fire

In early November, when it became clear that magma was collecting below Svartsengi, the government approved the building of lava barriers on the Reykjanes peninsula to protect crucial infrastructure.
 
On January 14, not even four weeks after the last volcanic eruption – the earth began trembling again and opened up once more, this time just meters away from Grindavík. On February 8, the third eruption within three months occurred close to Sýlingarfell and subsided after only one day.
 
We spoke to civil engineer Ari Guðmundsson, who was planning the construction of the lava barriers. Have they succeeded in their mission?

Iceland News Review: Eruption in Reykjanes Imminent

In this episode of Iceland News Review, it may have already happened: yet another eruption in Reykjanes. If so, this will mark the fourth one since last December. What will this mean for visitors to Iceland, or moreover, the people of Grindavík?Also, an Icelandic company is set to take over the US market, a new app may save lives, a surprising number of Icelanders live abroad--but where?--and lots more.Iceland News Review brings you all of Iceland's top stories, every week, with the context and background you need. Be sure to like, follow and subscribe so you don't miss a single episode!

In Pursuit of Ptarmigan

We accompanied hunter Kristján Andri Einarsson on his annual quest for the bird, and talked to ornithologist Ólafur Nielsen and Áki Ármann Jónsson, president of the Icelandic Hunting Association, about the uncertain future of the rock ptarmigan in Iceland.

Iceland News Review: To Move, Or Not To Move, Back To Grindavík

In this episode of Iceland News Review, business leaders and union officials have some very different ideas about whether or not to move back to Grindavík, where earthquakes and eruptions have done substantial damage to the town--and are very likely not done with the town yet.Meanwhile, the Icelandic government is also pushing for new measures regarding asylum seekers and expanded police powers; parliamentarians want the Turkish Abductions investigated, genetically; a new app is here for learning Icelandic, and lots more.NOTE: You can get the app, BÍN-kjarninn, on both the Apple App Store and Google Play. It is referred to as the DMII Core in this podcast, on account of the English name used for it on the Árnastofnun website.Iceland News Review brings you all of Iceland's top stories, every week, with the context and background you need. Be sure to like, follow and subscribe so you don't miss a single episode!

We All Protest

In one of the world's happiest nations, why do people protest? We take a look at civil disobedience in Iceland and talk about the most recent demonstrations on Austurvöllur square.