According to a wholesale data-centre hosting company, Verne Global, Iceland is the world’s number one location for cheap and environmentally sound energy, beating the United States. Read the full story

U.S nationals, in particular those who have a non-Western ethnic background, are the subject of calls for more stringent immigration procedures by Peter Skaarup, the Danish People’s Party Justice Spokesperson. Read the full story

Barack Obama, the President of the USA, will be formally invited for an official state visit to Iceland at the first possible opportunity, Foreign Minister Ossur Skarphedinsson said on RUV news yesterday. According to Skarphedinsson, the idea came from Obama himself. Read the full story

The Icelandic National League of North America (Thjodraeknisfelag Islendinga i Nordur-Amerika), also known as the INL of NA, has reacted to the financial crisis in Iceland and launched a collection to support Icelanders, MBL.is reports. Read the full story

PRESS RELEASE FROM KAUPTHING BANK:

Kaupthing Bank hf. (the “Bank”) has on 30 November 2008 filed a voluntary petition under Chapter 15 of the US Bankruptcy Code, in order to seek US recognition of the Bank’s moratorium, which has been Read the full story

New analytical and research and development laboratories were opened in a United States division of the international generic pharmaceutical company Actavis.

The labs help expand the research and development efforts for controlled release drugs and other technically difficult generic pharmaceutical products. Read the full story

As a result of the brief August war between Russia and Georgia, the US and Russia agreed to meet in Finland to try and find some common ground as the relationship between Russia and the West grows increasingly tense. With a US plan to place parts of its proposed missile shield in Eastern Europe, and Western nations’ disapproval of Russia’s conflict with Georgia, there was plenty to discuss. Read the full story

In an outspoken declaration from Horace Engdahl, the head of the Swedish Nobel Committee, American authors are culturally “ignorant” and lack the clout of their potential contribution to the world’s literary canon.

Now the competition for this year’s Nobel Prize for Literature has come to a close, it always seemed unlikely an American writer would Read the full story

A total of 22 Icelandic MPs have signed an Amnesty International letter to prohibit illegal custody and other human rights violations in the US “War on Terror”, reports Iceland Review.

The MPs represented every political party in Iceland, although 41 MPs did not sign.

Amnesty International released the following statement in the Icelandic paper Morgunbladid: “Amnesty International’s goal is to have 1,000 MPs from every corner of the world to support the plan. The support of the Icelandic MPs is therefore important in the fight against human rights violations in the ‘War on Terror’ and the Icelandic branch [of Amnesty International] is thankful for their support.”

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The Icelandic government has asked for an explanation from the US authorities about the treatment of Erla Ósk Lilliendahl, an Icelandic native that got roughed up by US customs at JFK airport in New York.

The International Herald Tribune reports, ‘Iceland’s government has asked the US ambassador to explain the treatment of an Icelandic tourist who says she was held in shackles before being deported from the United States.’

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