Vue lecture

Iceland’s Murder Rate Is Off the Charts (in Its Books, at Least)

The Nordic nation has almost no homicides, yet crime fiction is its favorite literary genre. That means writers face a challenge: making murder feel believable.

© Sigga Ella for The New York Times

Crime novels on display in a bookstore in Reykjavik, Iceland.
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‘They’re Always Going to Be Polarizing’: Britons Split on Harry and Meghan’s Return

Recent surveys suggest the broader public views both of them negatively, especially in comparison to Harry’s brother, William, and his wife, Kate.

© William West/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Prince Harry and Meghan during a visit to Australia earlier this year.
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Queen Camilla Says It Was ‘Difficult’ to Keep Charles’s Cancer a Secret

“I was just longing to let it out,” Camilla said in rare public comments about the king’s 2024 diagnosis, which was not immediately revealed. “But obviously I couldn’t.”

© Pool photo by Paul Grover

Queen Camilla in 2024, visiting a London support center run by Maggie’s, a cancer charity where she serves as president.
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As Europe Gets Hotter, Its Transportation Systems Struggle to Cope

The continent’s railways and roads “were engineered for a climate that no longer exists,” one expert said.

© Christophe Archambault/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Commuters at a train station in Bordeaux, France, during a heat wave in July. Much of Europe’s infrastructure was not built to withstand scorching summer heat.
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How Nigel Farage Ended Up Running Against Count Binface in Clacton

Nigel Farage forced a new election in his parliamentary seat after coming under pressure over his finances. His main challenger is Count Binface, a novelty candidate.

© Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press

Count Binface, played by the comedian Jon Harvey, being interviewed at a studio in London last month.
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The Eclipse Is Coming, and Iceland Is Looking for a Break in the Clouds

Rooms were booked years ago, and officials have been making plans. But there’s no telling where, exactly, Icelanders might go to find the best possible view.

© Amelia Nierenberg/The New York Times

Cloudy skies along the road to the Latrabjarg cliffs, the place in Iceland where the total eclipse will last the longest on Wednesday.
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Finland Tries to Protect Children Against Deepfakes, With Russia in Mind

Finland, wary of misinformation from Moscow and beyond, has a leg up on other nations in spotting fake news. But A.I. is a whole new challenge.

© Meeri Koutaniemi for the New York Times

A class at the Helsinki Upper Secondary School of Media Arts. Educators in Finland teach students how to spot fake news.
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