The EFTA Court ruling on Icesave rejected all claims by the EFTA Surveillance Authority that Iceland should be declared in breach of the EEA Agreement. The Court rejected the claim that Iceland has breached the Deposit Guarantee Directive or has discriminated against depositors contrary to EEA law. It is a considerable satisfaction that Iceland´s defence has won the day in the Icesave case; the EFTA Court ruling brings to a close an important stage in a long saga.

The board of the Egill Skallagrimsson Fund recently decided to change the rules governing the awarding of grants from the fund.

The Icelandic artist Katrin Fridriks will have a solo show during the Art13 London this spring. Her work will be displayed in the Circle Culture Gallery at the Olympia Grand Hall, 1-3 March 2013.

The year 2013 is off to a great start with some great gigs lined up in the UK, including Sigur Rós, Of Monsters and Men, Mugison, Lay Low, Retro Stefson and many more!

On 19 December 2012 the Icelandic Althingi agreed to amend Act no. 136/1998 on Passports. As of 1 March 2013, new Icelandic passports will be valid for 10 years. The validity of passports issued for children under the age of 18 will remain five years.

Icelandic mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Gunnar Nelson will be up against Justin “Fast Eddy” Edwards in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in MMA at the Wembley Arena on 16 February 2013. Since 2007, Nelson has fought 10 MMA pro fights without a single loss. In his UFC debut in Nottingham in September 2012, he defeated American DaMarques Johnson in the first round (1:34).

The annual Christmas service and Christmas dance of the Icelandic Society and the Icelandic Church in London will be held this Sunday 9th December at 15:00 at the Swedish Church.

Award winning pianist and a graduate of Julliard, Vikingur Heidar Olafsson, will perform with clarinettist and composer Mark Simpson at a Philharmonia Orchestra MMSF recital on Saturday 8 December at 6pm.

Catch some of the best films from Iceland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Finland at the Nordic Film Festival in London on 30 November - 5 December.

Icelandic nationals, who are going to Iceland for Christmas and need to renew their passports, are kindly reminded to do so in a timely manner.

An exhibition showcasing new works by Icelandic artist Þorlákur Morthens (Tolli) will open at the Embassy on 23 November 2012.

Icelandic illustrator and author Birgitta Sif launches her first children's book "Oliver" at the Heffers Bookshop in Cambridge today from 6-8 pm, as part of the Cambridge Festival of Illustration 2012.

Get into the festive spirit at an Icelandic Christmas concert by candlelight, which will be held on 4 December 2012 in Christ Church in London!

Award-winning poet and novelist Gerdur Kristny read from her book Bloodhoof (is. Blóðhófnir) at the Embassy yesterday evening, following its recent release in English in the UK.

We draw your attention to the photographic exhibition "Iceland, Unsmiling Beauty" by Alice Gur-Arie. It will run from Friday 2 November til Sunday 4 November:

Members of the Icelandic Association of Women Entrepreneurs (FKA) visited the UK recently where they met with their counterparts in the London. The FKA was founded in 1999 and serves as a support network for Icelandic women in business where they can promote and exchange ideas.

The Embassy will extend its opening hours on Tuesday 16 October until 19:00 due to absentee voting for the advisory referendum on the proposals of the Icelandic Constitutional Council.

Össur Skarphéðinsson, Icelandic Minister for Foreign Affairs, called for reform of the United Nations Security Council in his address to the UN General Assembly this weekend.

Voters are reminded of the advisory referendum on the proposals submitted by the Constitutional Council for a new Icelandic Constitution. The referendum will take place in Iceland on 20 October 2012 and absentee voting has already started and Embassies and Consulates abroad.