Capital, municipality and county of Norway
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.
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, running 3:42.66 at the London Diamond League on July 18, 2026. He has positioned the result as part of “Project 222” and is now aiming to convert the form into Commonwealth gold at Glasgow 2026, where the Commonwealth Mile will feature as the athletics centrepiece.
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.
Iranians report rising prices and economic strain as the conflict with the United States intensifies. Reuters interviews show citizens grappling with internet cuts, debt, and uncertainty as the war expands across the region.
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 has seen a deep partial eclipse. Crowds and tourists have flocked to the path of totality, scientific teams have livestreamed observations, and Spain has reported heavy visitor numbers and local economic benefits.
Venezuela’s government and opposition are engaging in talks aimed at stabilizing the country, rebuilding institutions, and paving a path toward elections after recent earthquakes and political upheaval. Washington says it will facilitate rather than dictate the process, while opposition leaders push for reforms to the electoral council and judiciary.
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 Independent reports that the festival line-up is headlined by The Cure, with a night-time focus on goth and pop. Nick Cave delivers doom-laden sermons, while Blood Orange and Jalen Ngonda provide nocturnal, textured performances. The festival mood has cooled after earlier controversy surrounding ownership and funding.
King Harald V has died at Oslo University Hospital at 06:35 on Friday, Aug. 28, aged 89. His son, Crown Prince Haakon, has become King Haakon VIII and has given a televised address. Norway has declared a period of national mourning; tens of thousands have laid flowers at the Royal Palace and the new king will take the oath before parliament on Tuesday.
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.
Israeli strikes hit multiple Lebanese towns including Arab Salim and Nabatieh al-Fawqa, killing several civilians and injuring others. Israel maintains a self-declared security zone in southern Lebanon and has stated the strikes are in response to Hezbollah actions. Ceasefire tensions persist as clashes continue and regional leaders call for de-escalation.
King Harald V has died at 89. His son, Crown Prince Haakon, has become King Haakon VIII and will take the constitutional oath on Tuesday. Queen Mette-Marit and Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra have assumed their new roles. The royal family and Norway have entered official mourning; the funeral is set for Sept. 9.
The latest attacks across Ukraine and at border crossings have killed and wounded civilians, with strikes on Kyiv and other cities continuing as international efforts to broker peace face renewed strain. Reports cite casualties, damaged infrastructure, and ongoing drone activity.
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.
Meta is developing a camera-free variant of its Ray-Ban AI glasses to address privacy concerns while preserving AI chat features. The move follows sustained criticism of camera-enabled glasses and regulatory scrutiny in Europe and Norway. The company is pushing audio and AI capabilities with safeguards like an LED recording indicator and anti-tampering features.
Marlen Reusser has retained the women's world time‑trial title in Montreal, winning in 50:24.44 and beating Britain’s Zoe Backstedt by 40 seconds. Germany’s Franziska Koch has taken bronze. Backstedt, 21, has stepped up from under‑23 competition and finished strongly on a longer, windy technical course.
The Bab al-Mandeb strait is now under Houthi control, threatening Red Sea shipping and Egypt’s Suez Canal revenues. Egypt and Saudi Arabia are pursuing security cooperation while reaffirming commitment to safe navigation amid US-led regional dynamics.
Daisy Edgar-Jones says Sense and Sensibility remains timely as a new adaptation highlights the Dashwood sisters’ pursuit of love within strict social boundaries. Esmé Creed-Miles plays Marianne in the latest film, which honors Austen while offering a fresh, 2026 perspective.
Joachim Lanham, a 24-year-old rollerblader from Norway, has died after a crash near Salina, Kansas, while traveling from New York to Los Angeles. An 82-year-old SUV driver is being reviewed for potential charges. Lanham was on day 22 of a planned 2,000-mile journey.
Interim President Delcy Rodríguez has pledged elections while pursuing political dialogue and reform. Rights groups report hundreds of prisoners released in a broader bid to reconcile after Maduro’s removal, with disputes over pace and scope continuing.
The interim government has announced it will hold elections as part of a transition to full democracy, though no date has been set. The move follows a US-led raid on Caracas and Maduro's ouster, with international support and criticism from the opposition.
Cristiano Ronaldo has left the Portugal training camp in Copenhagen after a conversation between the coach Jorge Jesus and federation president Pedro Proenca. He is not in the starting XI for the Denmark match, with Goncalo Ramos set to start. Ronaldo has said he will tell the Portuguese people the truth about his departure in due course.
Nobel Prizes across medicine, physics, and chemistry have been announced, with the Medicine prize going to researchers mapping brain activity with light, the Physics prize advancing neutrino research, and Chemistry recognizing work on mirror-image molecules. The prize money remains 12 million Swedish kronor, with the Literature prize to be announced later this week and the Economics prize next week.
Cristiano Ronaldo has left Portugal’s national team camp amid ongoing tensions with coach Jorge Jesus over playing time. The federation has opened disciplinary proceedings and Ronaldo has apologised, acknowledging potential punishment. Portugal has won all Nations League games without him and remains on track for quarterfinals.
The Guardian reports that MP Blake Stephenson has claimed parts of Luton are no-go zones for white people, a barb echoed by far-right figures. Police dispute the claim, saying no such zones exist. The comments have intensified scrutiny of migration rhetoric and political framing.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee has awarded the 2026 Peace Prize to South African jurist Navi Pillay for her decades-long work enforcing international law, including leadership at the Rwanda tribunal, service on multiple international courts and chairing a UN inquiry that concluded Israel committed genocide in Gaza. Pillay received the news while attending a legal forum in Nuremberg.