The seismic activity around Eyjafjallajökull glacier in south Iceland, which is on top of an active volcano, remains stable but the earthquakes have decreased in strength. Around 300 smaller quakes were measured in the area last night. Archive for the ‘Iceland’ Category
South Iceland Earthquakes Decrease in Strength
Thursday, March 11th, 2010 (1 hour ago)The seismic activity around Eyjafjallajökull glacier in south Iceland, which is on top of an active volcano, remains stable but the earthquakes have decreased in strength. Around 300 smaller quakes were measured in the area last night. Norway Considers Loan to Iceland Despite Icesave
Thursday, March 11th, 2010 (3 hours ago)
Foreign Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr Stoere has loosened his demands towards Iceland and is considering the possibility of disbursing a loan to the Icelandic state through the International Monetary Fund without a solution to the Icesave dispute. A Bad Day For Billionaires
Thursday, March 11th, 2010 (4 hours ago)Bjorgolfur Thor is no longer on the Forbes billionaire list.
And Hannes Smarason of FL Group fame personal debts to Landsbankinn amount to half the IceSave amount owed to the Brits and the Dutch according to the latest calculations. Of course without proper collateral or what?
Related posts:
The Dutch Get Tough on Icesave
Thursday, March 11th, 2010 (4 hours ago)
The Icesave dispute was discussed at the Dutch parliament yesterday, during which Minister of Finance Jan Kees de Jager indicated that the next step was in the hands of Iceland. Other parliamentarians called for blocking Iceland’s loan from the IMF. Nordic tax fraud probe stretches to Bahamas
Thursday, March 11th, 2010 (5 hours ago)
An information sharing contract has been signed between the Nordic nations and the Bahamas, intended to hinder Nordic tax evasion.
The contract signed yesterday allows Nordic tax authorities access to information on taxes paid and deposits made by Nordic citizens in the Bahamas and will help them track and assess those trying to hide taxable assets overseas.
The contract is the latest in a joint Nordic campaign against tax fraud and was signed at the Danish Embassy in Paris yesterday.
The project has been enthusiastically endorsed by the OECD and has strengthened the position of the Nordic nations on the world stage, RUV reports.
Since project negotiations began in 2007, similar contracts have come into force with Aruba, Andorra, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, the Antilles, the Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Turks and Caicos Islands, Gibraltar, the Cook Islands, Samoa and San Marino.
Denmark has also independently signed similar contracts with St. Lucia, St. Vincent and Grenadine, St. Kitts and Nevis and Antigua and Barbuda.
Pirates seize Norwegian tanker
Thursday, March 11th, 2010 (6 hours ago)
The Norwegian-owned UBT Ocean oil-product tanker, along with its 21-member crew, has been captured by Somali pirates in the waters of the Indian Ocean. The incident took place late last week, and to date the vessel is still believed to be sailing towards Somali waters.
The UBT Ocean sails under the flag of the Marshall Islands, but is owned by Broevigtank in Norway. At the time of its capture, the vessel, whose crew are all of Burmese origin, was transporting oil to Tanzania from the United Arab Emirates. The boarding of the ship took place off the East African coast outside of the Seychelles archipelago, near Madagascar. According to Broevigtank the UBT Ocean had been sailing a course well to the south of the area where Somali pirates are known to operate. Greater naval patrols around the Gulf of Aden are believed to be forcing Somali pirates further south.
Norway Post reveals that no reports have been received of any injury or harm to the crew, and the pirates have not made any ransom claims as yet. Managing Director and CEO of Broevigtank, Svenn Pedersen confirmed that the hijacking took place around 300 miles (500km) from the ship’s intended destination. “The captain made contact saying pirates were on board and then the contact was cut off. Nothing has been heard from the ship since then,” said Pedersen.
Edward Ion, a spokesperson for the 9,000 tonne ship’s technical manager, Singapore-based Ship Management Associates, said attempts to re-establish contact with the UBT Ocean have been unsuccessful.
New Legislation to Ban Use of Sunbeds for Children
Thursday, March 11th, 2010 (6 hours ago)
Minister of Health Álfheidur Ingadóttir will submit a bill to parliament next week on an age limit of 18 for tanning salons. She is thereby following the advice of the Icelandic Radiation Safety Authority, which proposed the ban in November. Cabinet reshuffle on the way for Icelandic government?
Thursday, March 11th, 2010 (7 hours ago)
Some argue the Icelandic government has been weakened by Saturday’s massive ‘no’vote in the Icesave referendum and nobody believes its domestic position was improved by it. As a result, members are calling for something to be done.
Social Democrat and Left Green sources contacted by Frettabladid believe the easiest way to reinforce the government is to get Ogmundur Jonasson back into the cabinet.
Jonasson resigned from the position of Minister for Health last year as he felt unable to support his party’s line on Icesave; but as the issue has since changed so dramatically, sources claim his return to government is already in the works and could happen shortly after Easter. Aside from the Icesave issue, Jonasson has remained a loyal, and outspoken, Left Green Movement member and an MP.
According to Frettabladid, Social Democrats within government are also enthusiastic about the move because Jonasson is a unifying force within the Green Party that some currently see as two separate parties in all but name.
The paper reports that Jonasson himself has not been pushing to return; but if the expected cabinet reshuffle happens, Jonasson’s place in it, once again as health minister, seems likely. Another possible option is for the two unelected cabinet members drafted in during the crisis to be replaced by Jonasson and a Social Democrat.
Ogmundur Jonasson became Minister for Health in the minority caretaker government from 1st February last year and kept his post after the election in April, but resigned on 20th September. Despite publicly having resigned his position, he told media at the time that it felt more as if he had been forced out.
First Human Trafficking Conviction in Iceland
Thursday, March 11th, 2010 (15 hours ago)Village Profile: Akureyri - " Bustling with Life Akureyri promises visitors a lively stay with its many art galleries and museums, outdoor recreation in summer and winter, an awakening of the taste buds at the town's gourmet restaurants and breathtaking views of natural sites around the corner.
Landsvirkjun opens the books
Wednesday, March 10th, 2010FM Belfast @ Home Plugged, Brussels 28. February 2010
Wednesday, March 10th, 2010S&P does not change Iceland’s Credit Rating after Icesave Referendum
Wednesday, March 10th, 2010
The credit rating agency Standard and Poor's has decided not to change Iceland's credit rating. "In our view, the referendum outcome does not constitute an outright repudiation of Iceland's international obligations," S&P said in a statement. Police in Iceland Protest Delay of Wage Contracts
Wednesday, March 10th, 2010
Police officers in Iceland gathered outside the facilities of the State Mediator yesterday to show unity with their negotiators at the meeting that was about to begin in the wage dispute between the Police Federation of Iceland and the state. Former Health Minister to Rejoin Iceland’s Cabinet?
Wednesday, March 10th, 2010
There are rumors circling that Ögmundur Jónasson, an MP for the Left-Greens, who resigned from his post as minister of health last year due to a disagreement with the government leaders on Icesave, might rejoin the cabinet. More Tremors Below South Iceland Volcano
Wednesday, March 10th, 2010The seismic activity in the area around Eyjafjallajökull glacier in south Iceland, which covers an active volcano, increased again last night with a series of smaller earthquakes measured between 3:40 and 5:20 am. The largest quake was 2.6 on the Richter scale. Of human trafficking in the Land of the Nice
Wednesday, March 10th, 2010Icesave Talks: No Meetings Scheduled
Wednesday, March 10th, 2010No negotiation meetings are scheduled with the UK and the Netherlands on the Icesave loan terms this week, according to chairman of the Independence Party Bjarni Benediktsson. However, the Icelandic committee is reviewing certain legal issues. Air Traffic Controllers on Strike in Iceland
Wednesday, March 10th, 2010
A four-hour strike by air traffic controllers in Iceland began today at 7 am, which is causing delay to all scheduled flights to and from the country, as well as domestic flights. Five airplanes were supposed to depart from Keflavík International Airport between 7 and 11 am.