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Watch an audio slideshow of how traditional Icelandic rhubarb stew is made. Rhubarb is one of the few vegetables that grows effortlessly in Iceland and for that reason it used to be a highly-valued addition to the traditional diet of fish and lamb.
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Jón Ásgeir Jóhannesson purchased a 25 percent share in the British meat processing company Muddy Boots, his first investment in the British retail market since Icelandic investment company Baugur, of which he was CEO and later chair, was declared bankrupt in 2009.
According to The Telegraph, Muddy Boots is a Worcestershire-based premium burger business founded by husband and wife Roland and Miranda Ballard. Jón Ásgeir has also joined the company’s board as a non-executive director.
Mrs. Ballard confirmed the move: “We really wanted Jón on board. We had four firm offers of investment and we chose Jón. We trust him and we like him and we wanted someone with a bit of guts, as well as experience in retail.”
As reported last week, Jón Ásgeir and the other three defendants in the so-called Aurum case denied charges when it was filed at Reykjavík District Court.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor had earlier filed charges against Jón Ásgeir Jóhannesson, Lárus Welding, Magnús Arnar Arngrímsson and Bjarni Jóhannesson. Jón Ásgeir and Bjarni are facing charges as abettors in the breach of trust case and Lárus and Magnús as main defendants.
The defense attorneys objected to the 6,000 pages of evidence submitted by the Special Prosecutor on the grounds that the defendants and their attorneys had not had the opportunity to review the documentation.
The case was postponed until Wednesday.
Click here to read more about the court case and here for more on Jón Ásgeir’s ambitions of returning to the UK retail market.
ZR
The government of Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir will formally step down after a state council meeting with President of Iceland Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson at his residence Bessastaðir at 11 am today. At 3 pm, the new government of Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson will attend a state council meeting and afterwards formally take power.
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Air traffic was grounded at Keflavík International Airport for up to two hours this morning due to a failure in the flight data system. Due to the delay, many passengers missed their connecting flights.
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Prospective Prime Minister Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson, chair of the Progressive Party, and prospective Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs Bjarni Benediktsson, chair of the Independence Party, presented their government agreement at a press conference in the old district school at Laugarvatn in South Iceland today.
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On the way back to Reykjavík following this morning's news conference, at which the new government agreement was formally presented, the next Prime Minister of Iceland, Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson, and his assistant, Jóhannes Þór Skúlason, who was driving, were stopped for speeding.
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The 2013 April-May issue of Iceland Review & Atlantica has been released. Packed with informative and entertaining stories, highlights include an interview with outgoing Prime Minister Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir and the people who know her best, a photo essay of ice caves in Europe’s largest glacier and a colorful feature on life in the West Fjords.
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REVIEWS
The 11th Reykjavík Shorts & Docs. Catch it while it lasts!
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Artist couple Nína Ivanova and Ómar Smári Kristinsson explain why they decided to settle in the West Fjords’ capital.
Reykjavík Queer Choir’s annual spring concert takes place on Friday, May 24.
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