Few things feel as festive as elaborate Christmas decorations. People across the country compete to dress their homes in Christmas finery, often aiming to outdo the previous year. “This takes several weekends,” says one interviewee who goes all out every year.

Tomorrow, Sunday 21 December, at precisely 15:03:01, a moment many consider magical will arrive: the winter solstice.

Police in the capital area arrested three individuals in an operation last night on suspicion of organised theft, which police believe targeted both members of the public and retail stores across the Reykjavík area. Unnar Már Ástþórsson, chief superintendent with the Metropolitan Police, described the course of events to mbl.is.

Significant damage to Mjólkárlína 1 between Mjólkár and Geiradalur caused a power outage around midnight in the early hours of the day before yesterday in the Westfjords, and repairs have taken longer than initially expected. This was reported by Landsnet on its Facebook page and website.

With the rise of discount shopping days, Icelanders’ Christmas shopping has become far more spread out. This is reflected, among other things, in the fact that the capital area’s largest shopping centres, Kringlan and Smáralind, are starting their extended Christmas opening hours later than before. Despite the growing share of online shopping, foot traffic to shopping centres appears to be increasing.

The Mjólkár Line 1 went out just after midnight, causing a power outage across the Westfjords.

The Húnar search and rescue team in Hvammstangi received a request for assistance yesterday afternoon after a lamb got into trouble in Vesturárdalur. The Vesturá river flows into the Miðfjarðará south of Laugarbakki.

A yellow weather warning will take effect at noon today in the Westfjords and remain in force until 10 a.m. tomorrow.

The decision to push Fjarðarheiði Tunnel further down the government’s priority list has little impact on the operation of the ferry Norræna, which will continue to sail to Seyðisfjörður.

It is uncertain whether Guðmundur Ingi Kristinsson, Minister of Education and Children, will return to his ministry after the end of his sick leave.

The Federation of Icelandic Fishing Vessel Owners (SFS) has expressed strong disappointment with the new mackerel agreement, saying it significantly reduces Iceland’s share of the fishery. The organisation also points out that the agreement is only valid until 2028 and does not constitute a comprehensive coastal states agreement, as both Greenland and the European Union are excluded.

“The situation in Seyðisfjörður is manageable,” says Jón Kristinn Helgason, head of landslide and hazard assessment at the Icelandic Meteorological Office. He says it has helped that temperatures dropped on Saturday and that little to no precipitation has fallen since Friday evening.

It amounts to a state of emergency at the emergency department when patients have to be accommodated in the ambulance arrival area at the hospital. Increased dialogue between hospital management and Parliament is needed to resolve the situation.

The Jewish Community in Iceland held its annual Hanukkah candle-lighting ceremony on Laugavegur this evening, for the eighth year in a row.

Elizabeth Björk Ásgeirsdóttir had only recently left Bondi Beach in Sydney when the terrorist attacks at a Jewish gathering this afternoon killed twelve people.

Höskuldur Tryggvason is currently in Antarctica, where he aims to ski across the continent using a traction kite and a sled in tow. Höskuldur — known as Höddi — is travelling completely alone, and the expedition is entirely unassisted and non-motorised.

Landspítali University Hospital has set up temporary accommodation for patients in a parking garage on the ground floor of the hospital in Fossvogur. Rafn Benediktsson, director of the emergency department, says that infections and contagious illnesses have made it necessary to do everything possible to keep patients separated.

The location of the fault on the Neskaupstaður Line 1 has now been identified. It has proven difficult to access the site because of the heavy snow in the area.

Tilvera, the Icelandic infertility association, has issued a strong statement supporting international regulation that would limit the number of children who can be conceived from the same sperm or egg donor.

Sentiment in the Icelandic economy has taken a marked turn for the worse, according to the results of a regular survey conducted by Gallup for the Central Bank of Iceland and the Confederation of Icelandic Enterprise (SA). More than half — 54% of respondents — say economic conditions are poor.

The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service (RÚV) has decided not to take part in the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria, next year.

Opera singer Plácido Domingo will give a concert in Eldborg, Harpa, on 9 March next year, with ticket sales beginning on 16 December.

Several transmission towers collapsed on Fjarðarheiði during the night. Conditions on the heath are poor, and repairs will take some time.

Five Russian ships caught the attention of the Icelandic Coast Guard yesterday morning as they were fishing just outside Iceland’s exclusive economic zone.

Grímur Grímsson, MP for The Liberal Reform Party, says the high demand for narcotics in Icelandic society comes as no surprise. Government measures to respond to the situation are underway, and the MP says that several bills on Parliament’s agenda could help in the fight against drug smuggling.

A small Skaftá glacial outburst flood began during the night before Sunday. This is confirmed by Sigríður MagneaÓskarsdóttir, natural hazard specialist at the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO), in a conversation with mbl.is.

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.