King Haakon VIII takes oath of loyalty after the death of his father King Harald V last week

Over in Brussels, the European Commission is just starting its first midday briefing of the autumn.

It opens with an announcement that Commission president Ursula von der Leyen will receive Nato’s Mark Rutte tomorrow. This comes amid growing scrutiny of Russia’s activities on the eastern flank.

Continue reading...

© Photograph: Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty Images

Police responding to explosives reported in Turnow-Preilack, near the coal-fired Jänschwalde power plant

Over in Brussels, the European Commission is just starting its first midday briefing of the autumn.

It opens with an announcement that Commission president Ursula von der Leyen will receive Nato’s Mark Rutte tomorrow. This comes amid growing scrutiny of Russia’s activities on the eastern flank.

Continue reading...

© Photograph: John MacDougall/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: John MacDougall/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: John MacDougall/AFP/Getty Images

Grammy award-winning American artist selected as 13th person to submit written work to Oslo-based project

The next manuscript by the American artist Laurie Anderson will remain unseen for 88 years, as she becomes the 13th figure to contribute to the Future Library project.

Anderson joins Margaret Atwood, Han Kang, Ocean Vuong and other prominent authors who have written secret manuscripts, which have been locked away until 2114.

Continue reading...

© Photograph: Wolfgang Tillmans

© Photograph: Wolfgang Tillmans

© Photograph: Wolfgang Tillmans

Grammy award-winning American artist selected as 13th person to submit written work to Oslo-based project

The next manuscript by the American artist Laurie Anderson will remain unseen for 88 years, as she becomes the 13th figure to contribute to the Future Library project.

Anderson joins Margaret Atwood, Han Kang, Ocean Vuong and other prominent authors who have written secret manuscripts, which have been locked away until 2114.

Continue reading...

© Photograph: Wolfgang Tillmans

© Photograph: Wolfgang Tillmans

© Photograph: Wolfgang Tillmans

Crown Prince Haakon, 53, became King Haakon VIII when his father, Harald V, died Friday at 89. Haakon adopted the motto, "All for Norway," that dates back to his great-grandfather.

Crown Prince Haakon, the only son of King Harald V, will become monarch, a largely ceremonial and symbolic role.

© Lise Aserud/Agence France-Presse, via NTB

Norwegians gather to remember monarch whose death comes amid scandal over links between crown princess and Jeffrey Epstein

Norwegians have gathered in their thousands to pay their respects to King Harald V, Europe’s oldest reigning monarch, who has died, aged 89, in Oslo. He was succeeded immediately by his son, King Haakon VIII.

The new king thanked “the government and Norwegian people for their support and sympathy for the royal family at this time”. A period of national mourning was announced as crowds left wreaths and messages outside the royal palace in Oslo.

Continue reading...

© Photograph: Terje Bendiksby/NTB/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Terje Bendiksby/NTB/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Terje Bendiksby/NTB/AFP/Getty Images

His 35-year reign opened an ancient monarchy to marriages with so-called commoners and to an incendiary association with Jeffrey Epstein.

© Inge Gjellesvik/NTB, via Agence France-Presse — Getty Images