In a country that awards the Nobel Peace Prize each year and delights in its reputation for tolerance, the rebranding of Vikings from violent thugs to peaceable craftsmen is part of a broader resurgence of interest in a historical period previously embraced mostly by far-right nationalists.

A conference themed “Fight against the plundering of Syria’s cultural heritage” organised by the Norwegian Embassy to Bulgaria, was officially opened in the Bulgarian capital city Sofia on Wednesday. "Nowadays, more than ever, we need united and decisive measures to suspend what we call purposeful destruction of history, which we are currently witnessing,” the minister remarked.

Unspooling Aug. 6-10, and an initiative of the European Audiovisual Entrepreneurs (EAVE), a leading European training facility, the final leg of Puentes, a film development initiative, is also a showcase for fast emerging Latin American talent.

Romanian students from Babadag, Bistrita and Botosani visited Norway to showcase their successful advocacy campaigns and to see how democracy mechanism work in Norway. Nine students from Dimitrie Cantemir (Babadag), Colegiul National Liviu Rebreanu, Colegiul Tehnic Infoel (Bistrita) and Colegiul National Mihai Eminescu (Botosani), together with their teachers, made a study visit to Oslo in the period of 16-21 May, under a program designed to present their advocacy works, familiarize them with the rule of law, democracy and the mechanisms that ensure the functioning of good governance.

Norwegian Muslims plan to form a “ring of peace” around a synagogue in Oslo this Saturday as a gesture of solidarity with the Jewish community in the Scandinavian country.

The Kochi-Muziris Biennale-2014 stays clear of snob appeal, while its location is highly relevant and part of the success, according to Swiss Ambassador to India Dr Linus von Castelmur, who said that the 108-day festival was a perfect forum to foster cultural exchange between the two nations. Simultaneously, Norwegian Ambassador Eivind S Homme said, “the Biennale could be the beginning of another beginning. Spread across eight venues in the city, the event inspires us to think in new ways. We feel challenged,” he noted.