Because of Crimbo, I have decided to double up posts, as I want a couple of days away from the “One Eyed Slave Master”.
So here is the latest from -IcelandReview
Unemployment Rate in Iceland up to 5.4 Percent
Yep, unemployment has reached the staggering figure of 8,935, due mainly to the collapse of the three banks, Glitnir, Landsbanki and Kaupthing
Unemployment in Iceland increased by 75 percent between October and November of this year, which translates to 2,339 individuals losing their jobs. In December 2007, the unemployment rate only measured 0.8 percent, Morgunbladid reports.
No Comment.
Ministers Prevented from Entering Cabinet House
Demonstrators surrounded Rádherrabústadurinn, the cabinet house on Tjarnargata in Reykjavík, yesterday, trying to prevent ministers from entering the building. Police assisted the ministers with entering the cabinet house through the back door.
Around 100 people participated in the protests, shouting that the government was unfit to rule. At least 50 police officers were called to the scene, Fréttabladid reports.
Only 100? Mind you I don’t expect you could get 60 Million outside the Houses of Parliament (who by the way keep hitting the Angus blog, if you want something just ask!) and do we really want them to leave the building?
Bank of Joy Founded in North Iceland
Almost 70 people became shareholders in a new type of bank, the Bank of Joy, when it was established in the village of Skagaströnd in north Iceland this week. Shareholders accepted the bank’s charter with applause.
The Skagaströnd Bank of Joy can never go bankrupt and its initial capitalization is roughly 70,000 smiles. At the launch of the bank’s operations, each founding member acquired shares worth 1,000 smiles which they paid for with only one, Morgunbladid reports.
What a great idea, maybe we should open a branch.
Patients in Iceland to Pay for Hospital Admissions?
Director of Iceland’s Landspítali National Hospital Hulda Gunnarsdóttir said patients may soon have to pay for hospital admissions if a proposal on new sources of income for hospitals will be accepted.
According to the new budget bill, the state will contribute ISK 1.7 billion (USD 14 million, EUR 11 million) less to Landspítali’s operations in 2009 than originally planned in October this year, Morgunbladid reports.
To counteract lower funds, a committee report proposed changes to charges for hospital services, for example for food served to those admitted to hospital.
However, Minister of Health Gudlaugur Thór Thórdarson said such charges will not be implemented for the time being.
We may complain about our revered old lady, well, I certainly do, but it is a wonderful institution.
New Bill in Violation of Human Rights?
The Lawyers’ Association of Iceland’s (LMFÍ) law committee believes basic human rights, such as privacy, are in danger if Iceland’s parliament accepts a new bill, presented on November 27, on the investigation of the collapse of the bank system.
In its report on the bill, the law committee points out that the investigation committee should be confidential in its work. However, according to the bill, the committee will have extensive rights to publish information on the investigation if deemed necessary, Morgunbladid reports.
The law committee warns against giving the investigators permission to publish information on personal matters, even if they believe that the public interests involved are greater than the interests of the individual in question.
“What public interests could be at hand that are of such great importance that violating privacy rights is justified?” the law committee asks in its report, pointing out that laws on the rights to privacy are bound by law both in Iceland’s constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights.
Furthermore, the law committee’s report points out a provision in the bill, according to which people are obligated to submit information requested by the investigation committee, such as reports, registries, notes, bookings and contracts. This obligation is meant to overrule confidentiality.
The law committee criticizes this provision harshly, again arguing that confidentiality is bound by law in Iceland’s constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights. “By abolishing confidentiality without exception and in all cases it is certain that if accepted, the bill violates provisions of the constitution.”
The bill has been discussed by the Althingi parliament’s general committee since December 4.
Now, that sounds familiar.
Angus
So here is the latest from -IcelandReview
Unemployment Rate in Iceland up to 5.4 Percent
Yep, unemployment has reached the staggering figure of 8,935, due mainly to the collapse of the three banks, Glitnir, Landsbanki and Kaupthing
Unemployment in Iceland increased by 75 percent between October and November of this year, which translates to 2,339 individuals losing their jobs. In December 2007, the unemployment rate only measured 0.8 percent, Morgunbladid reports.
No Comment.
Ministers Prevented from Entering Cabinet House
Demonstrators surrounded Rádherrabústadurinn, the cabinet house on Tjarnargata in Reykjavík, yesterday, trying to prevent ministers from entering the building. Police assisted the ministers with entering the cabinet house through the back door.
Around 100 people participated in the protests, shouting that the government was unfit to rule. At least 50 police officers were called to the scene, Fréttabladid reports.
Only 100? Mind you I don’t expect you could get 60 Million outside the Houses of Parliament (who by the way keep hitting the Angus blog, if you want something just ask!) and do we really want them to leave the building?
Bank of Joy Founded in North Iceland
Almost 70 people became shareholders in a new type of bank, the Bank of Joy, when it was established in the village of Skagaströnd in north Iceland this week. Shareholders accepted the bank’s charter with applause.
The Skagaströnd Bank of Joy can never go bankrupt and its initial capitalization is roughly 70,000 smiles. At the launch of the bank’s operations, each founding member acquired shares worth 1,000 smiles which they paid for with only one, Morgunbladid reports.
What a great idea, maybe we should open a branch.
Patients in Iceland to Pay for Hospital Admissions?
Director of Iceland’s Landspítali National Hospital Hulda Gunnarsdóttir said patients may soon have to pay for hospital admissions if a proposal on new sources of income for hospitals will be accepted.
According to the new budget bill, the state will contribute ISK 1.7 billion (USD 14 million, EUR 11 million) less to Landspítali’s operations in 2009 than originally planned in October this year, Morgunbladid reports.
To counteract lower funds, a committee report proposed changes to charges for hospital services, for example for food served to those admitted to hospital.
However, Minister of Health Gudlaugur Thór Thórdarson said such charges will not be implemented for the time being.
We may complain about our revered old lady, well, I certainly do, but it is a wonderful institution.
New Bill in Violation of Human Rights?
The Lawyers’ Association of Iceland’s (LMFÍ) law committee believes basic human rights, such as privacy, are in danger if Iceland’s parliament accepts a new bill, presented on November 27, on the investigation of the collapse of the bank system.
In its report on the bill, the law committee points out that the investigation committee should be confidential in its work. However, according to the bill, the committee will have extensive rights to publish information on the investigation if deemed necessary, Morgunbladid reports.
The law committee warns against giving the investigators permission to publish information on personal matters, even if they believe that the public interests involved are greater than the interests of the individual in question.
“What public interests could be at hand that are of such great importance that violating privacy rights is justified?” the law committee asks in its report, pointing out that laws on the rights to privacy are bound by law both in Iceland’s constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights.
Furthermore, the law committee’s report points out a provision in the bill, according to which people are obligated to submit information requested by the investigation committee, such as reports, registries, notes, bookings and contracts. This obligation is meant to overrule confidentiality.
The law committee criticizes this provision harshly, again arguing that confidentiality is bound by law in Iceland’s constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights. “By abolishing confidentiality without exception and in all cases it is certain that if accepted, the bill violates provisions of the constitution.”
The bill has been discussed by the Althingi parliament’s general committee since December 4.
Now, that sounds familiar.
Angus
1 comment:
Interesting that you access the Iceland Review. Look at my very first post. Great minds ...
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