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In the Legatum Institute’s 2012 Prosperity Index, a global inquiry into the wealth and wellbeing in 142 countries, Iceland places 15th with three other Nordic nations, Norway, Denmark and Sweden, being in the top three spots. Finland places seventh.
Series of protests outside Alþingi, the Icelandic parliament in 2008-2009. Photo: Geir Ólafsson/Iceland Review.
The economic factor is what prevents Iceland from being in the top ten; in that category Iceland is listed among upper-middle-ranking countries (31-71) at number 61.
Iceland scores among high-ranking countries (top 30) in the other categories: ninth in entrepreneurship and opportunity, 20th in governance, 13th in education, 13th in health, first in safety and security, tenth in personal freedom and 13th in social capital.
Apart from Australia ranking fourth, New Zealand fifth and Canada sixth, European nations dominate the top ten with the U.S. coming 12th.
The bottom three countries on the 2012 Prosperity Index are Afghanistan, the Republic of Congo and Central African Republic.
ESA
Iceland’s northernmost island is no longer one island. In a recent surveillance excursion to the Kolbeinsey, the Icelandic Coast Guard discovered that the island is now divided in two.
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Iceland is among the top five OECD-countries where immigrants help to boost the economy and increase nation-wide production by approximately 1 percent, according to a new report from the OECD.
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Neither Prime Minister of Iceland Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson nor Minister of the Interior Hanna Birna Kristjánsdóttir have responded to Edward Snowden’s request for a political asylum in Iceland, as spokesperson for Wikileaks Kristinn Hrafnsson wrote in a letter published in Fréttablaðið today.
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The first fin whale to be hunted in Iceland this season was killed by the crew of whaling vessel Hvalur 8 yesterday evening. The vessel, which set out yesterday along with Hvalur 9, is expected to unload the catch today.
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The 2013 June-July issue of Iceland Review is out. Themed ‘We Are Young’ the magazine celebrates the arrival of summer by interviewing young energetic Icelanders who excel in art, sports, business and politics—and Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson, the youngest PM in the republic’s history and the world’s youngest ruling state leader. Click here to take a look at a selection of the current issue and here to subscribe to the magazine.
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REVIEWS
amiina
The road to Höfn, a 1,690-person harbor town by the fjord Hornafjörður, is lined with reindeer. Whole herds of the wild horned animals rest peacefully on withered pastures, grace next to sheep and horses and bounce along the road. Soon, Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest glacier and the region’s biggest attraction, comes into view. Looming over Höfn, its outlet glaciers flow down from the mountains on which the bright white icecap rests.
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Sin Fang will celebrate the release of his third album with a release concert in Iðnó on June 12. Flowers was released in February by Morr Music and has been well received by music enthusiasts and critics alike. The concert will be supported by Vök, this year’s winners of the Icelandic Music Experiments.
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