Capital city and county of Norway
Norway has laid to rest King Harald V after a 35-year reign. His son Haakon VIII has ascended the throne as the country mourns, while the royal family faces domestic scandals. International tributes accompanied a state funeral attended by dozens of heads of state and royalty in Oslo.
France 24 and other outlets show that AI-powered wearables are expanding, with millions sold and a growing backlash. Regulators across Europe are weighing limits on privacy features as Oslo and EU bodies consider bans or rules. Public debate centers on privacy, consent and data rights amid reports of misuse.
More than 700 shovel-ready clean energy projects have been offered grid connection dates in Great Britain, unlocking 37 GW of capacity and accelerating the path to a net-zero grid by 2030. The reforms end a backlog from speculative applications and set stricter criteria for future connections.
David Hockney has died at 88, ending a seven-decade career that reshaped portraiture, landscape and pop art. Born in Bradford, he moved to London and then Los Angeles, where his pool paintings defined a generation. He continued creating across formats, including iPad drawings, until late in life.
Oslo district court has convicted Marius Borg Høiby, 29, on two counts of rape and multiple other offences and has sentenced him to four years in prison. He has been acquitted on two other rape charges, has been in custody since February and will have the right to appeal. The case has intensified scrutiny of Crown Princess Mette‑Marit and reduced public trust in Norway's monarchy.
Norway plans a legislative package to ban trade in goods produced in Israeli settlements across the occupied Palestinian territories, including the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The bill also targets real estate and commercial activity linked to settlements, with consultations running for three months.
The Crown Princess has undergone a lung transplant following a diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis. She remains in hospital for recovery. Her son’s trial and Epstein-related scrutiny have intensified scrutiny of the royal family amid a broader crisis of public trust.
Across Africa, governments are prioritising domestic resources to fund infrastructure and social programmes, citing vast pension funds and private savings as untapped assets. Officials say aid reliance is declining, while long-term domestic capital will finance growth. The shift comes as aid falls and debt concerns rise.
The Guardian reports that Ireland has begun its rotating EU presidency with a ceremony at Dublin Castle attended by Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskiy and top EU figures. Leaders discuss Ukraine’s EU bid on a merit-based timeline and budget priorities, with emphasis on ending the war and shaping the next EU budget.
Dozens of international Santas, Mrs. Clauses and elves have gathered in Aalborg, Denmark for the World Santa Claus Congress. The four-day event, dating to 1957, moved from a Copenhagen amusement park to Aalborg two years ago and marks its 70th anniversary next year. Participants come from around the world to swap stories, compare beards and rehearse holiday performances.
Bank of America data show US host cities are seeing on-the-ground economic impact from the World Cup, with restaurants and bars leading spending gains and hotel revenues rising in several markets, though results vary by city and broader inflation weighs on sentiment.
The United States has launched a broad campaign to isolate the International Criminal Court, aiming to weaken its authority and deter investigations involving American personnel. Rubio argues the ICC threatens U.S. sovereignty, while allies face pressure to withdraw or face penalties. Several ICC officials have already faced sanctions.
The Norwegian Football Association has revealed demand for national team jerseys has surpassed all forecasts, with 250,000 kits ordered this year and outlets reporting long queues and sellouts. Nike says deliveries are imminent to improve availability as fans race to secure the red kit ahead of the quarter-final in Miami.
Norway has celebrated its World Cup run with a royal reception in Oslo after a 2-1 extra-time defeat to England. More than 100,000 fans line Karl Johans gate to welcome the team home, as players take part in an open-top bus parade despite minor delays from overhead cables.
Major European rivers are facing prolonged low water levels amid heatwaves. Danube and Rhine routes have reduced traffic and higher costs, with officials warning levels may rise next week as rain returns in parts of the region.
Pew Research Center has found that more people now view China more favourably than the United States in 25 of 36 countries surveyed. The poll of 42,151 people, conducted Feb.–May 2026, shows confidence in Chinese leader Xi Jinping has risen while confidence in U.S. President Donald Trump has fallen; the U.S. retains a lead on respecting personal freedoms.
Josh Kerr has broken Hicham El Guerrouj’s 27-year mile world record in London and now aims to win Commonwealth gold in Glasgow 2026 with the Commonwealth Mile, while the event shifts to a non-Olympic cycle. He is driving a data‑driven, bespoke kit program to chase 3:42 per mile at the Diamond League before the Games.
CPAC UK has opened in London with Liz Truss hosting a subdued, mostly empty event. Speakers echo debate-friendly lines; attendance lags far behind expectations as questions swirl over the conference’s relevance amid UK politics.
A major wildfire started in Drammen, 30 miles west of Oslo, on Friday afternoon and has forced hundreds to evacuate. Firefighters are fighting the blaze as it spreads toward nearby forests; weather conditions hinder containment efforts. No casualties or missing residents have been reported yet.
Iran has executed multiple men convicted over killings during January’s nationwide protests, including two public hangings in Isfahan’s Alikhani (Malekshahr) Square on 28 July. Videos and witnesses have shown residents chanting and trying to block the executions before security forces dispersed the crowd. Rights groups report a wider surge in executions and hunger strikes at Ghezel Hesar prison.
From The Guardian and Times of Israel reports, civilians in Iranian port towns face daily bombardments, power cuts, and water shortages as US strikes widen. Residents describe a “new normal” of fear while economic stress and internet blackouts hamper daily life amid ongoing hostilities. The broader picture shows hopes for ceasefire dimming as attacks escalate.
Prisoners at Ghezel Hesar have begun a hunger strike two weeks ago after six inmates were transferred to solitary confinement; dozens are seen in videos demanding an end to executions. Iran has stepped up executions this year, with hundreds on death row and several hangings linked to January protests.
A total solar eclipse has swept from the Arctic through Greenland and Iceland to parts of Spain and a sliver of Portugal, while much of western Europe, Canada and the northern US has seen a dramatic partial eclipse. Crowds have flocked to Spain and Iceland for minutes of totality; scientists and space agencies have run live coverage and field experiments.
A framework for talks between Venezuela’s government and opposition has been agreed, focusing on reforming the judiciary, transparency in the use of frozen assets, and a potential path to elections. High-level discussions include bringing in reforms to the Supreme Tribunal of Justice and the National Electoral Council, while addressing post-earthquake relief and disaster recovery.
Residents in Masafer Yatta and West Bank villages have reported repeated settler attacks, property damage and soldiers escorting or standing by during incidents. Witnesses have described settlers grazing livestock in homes' gardens, arson, and assaults near mosques. Humanitarian groups have recorded high demolition and displacement rates since October 2023.
Norway’s sovereign wealth fund has posted a record first-half profit of about $185 billion as markets rally in tech names. It has disclosed a 0.05% stake in SpaceX, valuing the position at just over $1.2 billion, while its larger holdings include Nvidia, Apple and Microsoft. NBIM says the fund remains globally diversified and long-term oriented.
The DRC has recorded the largest-ever Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak, with more than 5,600 confirmed cases and over 2,700 deaths, and international agencies are racing to respond. WHO and partners have allocated 70,000 Ervebo doses—20,000 for a Phase III trial and 50,000 for frontline workers—while CEPI has awarded up to $16.5m to advance a Minapharm Bundibugyo vaccine into early human trials. Uganda has received MBP134 antibody vials as a precautionary measure.
King Harald has died at 89, and Crown Prince Haakon has become King Haakon VIII, pledging to uphold Norway’s constitutional monarchy and rule of law. The nation mourns as Haakon outlines a vision of democracy, inclusivity, and unity, with the oath in parliament looming and a cautious transition underway.
The 89-year-old monarch has been admitted to hospital with haemolytic anaemia and is under cortisone treatment. Crown Prince Haakon serves as regent while the king remains on leave. Family members are at Oslo University Hospital as officials say his condition is extremely serious.
The Edinburgh Summer Sessions showcase a mix of classic acts and bold new sounds. The Cure deliver a sprawling two-and-a-half-hour set, weaving goth and pop into a cathartic performance, while Biffy Clyro bring emotional textures and a dynamic stage presence. The city’s skyline, fireworks, and airport lights frame a night of expansive live music.
King Harald V has died at Oslo University Hospital at 06:35 on Friday, Aug. 28, aged 89. Crown Prince Haakon has become King Haakon VIII and will take the oath before parliament on Tuesday. Norway has declared national mourning; tens of thousands have left tributes at the royal palace and a funeral date is set for Sept. 9.
King Harald V has died at 89. Crown Prince Haakon has become King Haakon VIII, pledging the motto “All for Norway.” Mourners gather at Slottsplassen as the royal household enters a period of mourning; a state funeral date has not yet been announced, and Haakon is set to address the nation in coming days.
King Haakon has taken an oath before Norway’s parliament after the death of King Harald V, pledging to govern in line with the constitution and laws. Queen Mette-Marit remains under medical observation after a June lung transplant. Harald’s funeral is set for Sept. 9, with public visits to the late king’s coffin continuing until Sept. 8.
Israel maintains a presence in southern Lebanon and says it has cleared tunnels beneath the Ali al-Taher ridge. Hezbollah has not commented on the claim. The ridge overlooks a wide area and sits near Nabatieh; clashes persist despite a US-brokered ceasefire framework.
Zelensky’s Moldova-to-Oslo journey for the king’s funeral is interrupted by drone threats. Oslo meetings focus on air defense and civilian aid; eight deaths reported in Ukrainian attacks elsewhere as the travel highlight shifts to security concerns.
Zelenskiy’s flight has been delayed after a Russian drone entered Moldova’s airspace and later exploded 160 km from Chişinău. Moldova has lifted the restriction; Zelenskiy remains in Europe for talks on military aid and defense co-operation.