Ævar Pálmi Pálmason, deputy superintendent in the investigative division of the Capital Area Police, says it is thought-provoking how strong the demand for drugs such as cocaine has become in Icelandic society.

“This shows that we’ve become quite skilled at our work,” says Páll Svansson, deputy chief customs officer at the Icelandic Customs Service, following the announcement of two major drug seizures onboard the Norræna ferry last month.

A total of 347 thousand passengers flew with Icelandair in November, a 15% increase year-on-year. The strongest growth was among passengers departing Iceland and those transiting through the country on transatlantic journeys. Seat occupancy reached 83.5%, and the airline’s on-time performance was 88.8%.

Two earthquakes exceeding magnitude three occurred east of Hamar in Vatnajökull shortly after ten o’clock this morning.

A man in his thirties was arrested earlier this week in connection with the Capital Area Police investigation into a homicide in Kópavogur last weekend, when a man in his forties was found dead in a private residence in the town.

A new ultra-distance route will debut in this year’s edition of the The Rift cycling race, requiring competitors to ride a full 330 km through the Fjallabak region. Only 30 riders will be offered entry, and participation is limited to those with extensive experience and proven ability.

The first opening day of Hlíðarfjall in Akureyri was yesterday, with the lower part of the ski area open from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

“The community in Seyðisfjörður— and indeed across East Iceland — is devastated after the tragedy, the fatal accident that occurred on Fjarðarheiði,” says Reverend ÞorgeirArason, parish priest of the Egilsstaðir parish, in an interview with mbl.is. Local residents are mourning following the death of Jón Ármann Jónsson, an 87-year-old Seyðisfjörður resident, who died in the accident.

Hjalti Ólafsson, one of the authors of the social and economic analysis by the University of Akureyri Research Centre on tunnel options in East Iceland, states that the profitability of both the Fjarðarheiði Tunnel and the Fjarðagöng tunnels is very close to zero, despite both projects being extremely costly.

Minister of Education GuðmundurIngiKristinsson has decided to advertise the position of principal of Borgarholtsskóli as vacant, thereby allowing the current principal’s term to expire without extension — contrary to customary practice, unless special circumstances apply.

The executive council of Múlaþing expresses tremendous disappointment that the Fjarðarheiði Tunnel has been pushed further back in the queue of upcoming tunnel projects in Iceland, and has requested an urgent meeting with the constituency’s Members of Parliament.

The spirit of Christmas swept over the Reykjavík City Theatre yesterday when students from the dance school Óskandi performed the classic ballet The Nutcracker.

Guðmundur Ari Sigurjónsson, parliamentary group chair of the Social Democratic Alliance and member of the Parliament’s General and Educational Affairs Committee, says it has been difficult to watch the developments in the Icelandic media market in recent years.

Fljótagöng is now at the top of the government’s new transportation plan for tunnel projects. The Fjarðarheiði Tunnel does not appear on the priority list but remains under consideration, along with several other areas such as Reynisfjall, Hellisheiði, and Öxnadalsheiði, to name a few.

“I’m completely fine and there’s no need for anyone to worry about me,” says Dorrit Moussaieff in an interview with Atli Steinn Guðmundsson, a journalist for mbl.is, about the incident in London on Sunday, an incident that would have left many fully grown men still lying in bed, sucking both thumbs.

A serious traffic accident occurred on Suðurstrandarvegur, just east of the turnoff to Vigdísarvellir, at around eight o’clock this morning.

Technical investigators from the Capital Area Police were still on the scene yesterday after a report of a death in a small apartment building in Kópavogur on Sunday. The man who died was around forty years old and, according to Morgunblaðið’s sources, of Portuguese origin.

The Icelandic Journalists’ Union is increasingly concerned about the state of independent media in Iceland. Sýn’s decision to stop broadcasting weekend evening news — and the accompanying layoffs — is the latest example of a worsening operating environment, and both the government and the public must recognise the seriousness of the situation.

Minister for Foreign Affairs ÞorgerðurKatrínGunnarsdóttir is opening a new Icelandic embassy in Spain today.

The lights on the Oslo Tree were switched on at Austurvöllur yesterday in a festive ceremony attended by a large crowd, despite rather dreary weather.

A death that occurred in Kópavogur yesterday is under investigation by the Capital Area Police.

Preparations are well underway for Iceland Eclipse 2026, a four-day international culture and music festival to be held in Hellissandur from 12–15 August next year. The programme is complete, featuring both well-known Icelandic artists and major international names. Notably, at least two concerts will take place inside lava caves.

Headmaster Erla Ragnarsdóttir and Símon Jón Jóhannsson, editor of the new anniversary book for Flensborgarskólinn, sat down with a reporter to discuss the school’s history and the forthcoming publication, which will be released early next year. This year marks fifty years since the school’s first class of students graduated—a group of thirty. The book, richly illustrated with photographs from school life, traces the school’s development and features around twenty former students reminiscing fondly about their time there.

As of December 1, Síminn/Sýn will stop broadcasting evening news on weekends and public holidays. Evening news will therefore only air on weekdays. News services on Bylgjan radio and the website Vísir.is will remain unchanged.

The co-owner of the store Ljósmyndavörur is perplexed that the man who bought the cameras stolen from the shop in August will face no consequences. The cameras were recently recovered—all found in the same man’s home—after the store received an anonymous tip.

Plans are underway to expand NATO’s fuel storage facility in Helguvík, including construction of a new 390-metre quay and storage tanks for 25,000 cubic metres of marine fuel.

All NATO member states now stand on the front line when it comes to defending the security of the alliance.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir welcomed Mark Rutte, Secretary General of NATO, upon his arrival in the secure area at Keflavík Airport this morning.

The main road between Skaftafell and Jökulsárlón has been closed due to severe weather. The closure is expected to remain in effect until the evening. A yellow weather alert is in force for Southeast Iceland until 19:00. Snowfall is occurring in the area, with blowing snow in places, and strong northeasterly winds or gale conditions.

Police yesterday denied entry to three foreign nationals upon their arrival at Keflavík International Airport and ordered them to leave the country.

The emergency department at Landspítali has been under significant pressure in recent days due to ice-related accidents. The hospital urges the public to take great care and model their walking technique after penguins.

The board of the Westfjords Labour Union says a serious situation is looming for smaller fishing communities in the Westfjords if the planned abolition of longline discount and cuts to the regional quota go ahead.

Primary school children of foreign origin do not have the skills to work independently when they return to full-time instruction in their home schools after completing the city’s Icelandic-immersion programs.

It has been a quiet day so far for the staff of Árekstur.is, but in an early-morning note from a meteorologist at the Icelandic Met Office, it was mentioned that freezing rain was possible—something that could cause extremely slippery conditions.