The Icelandic Ministry of Education, Science and Culture awards annually a number of scholarships to foreign students for study of the Icelandic language, literature and history at the University of Iceland, Reykjavík.

A new Cabinet was unveiled in Iceland on 31 December. During the reshuffle former finance minister Mr Steingrímur J. Sigfússon was named Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture as well as Minister of Economic Affairs. Mrs Oddný G. Harðardóttur was promoted into Cabinet as Minister of Finance. Mr Jón Bjarnason, Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture, and Mr Árni Páll Árnason, Minister of Economic Affairs, stepped down from the Cabinet. Other ministers retained their posts.

Encouraging a nation-wide participation, The President of Iceland, Olafur Ragnar Grimsson has invited tourists to enjoy pancakes at his home in an effort to make tourists feel welcome in Iceland.

The 3rd EU-Iceland JPC (Joint Parliamentary Committee) took place on October 5th in Brussels.