Europe

Norway held a minute of silence during King Harald V’s funeral, attended by European royals and global leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Britain’s Prince William. This event concludes 13 days of national mourning for the 89-year-old monarch, who died on 28 August.

US forces destroyed five Iranian oil tankers on Tuesday after a series of missile attacks on American warships, according to US Central Command. In response, Iran launched missiles at US targets in Jordan, though Jordan reported no casualties from intercepted threats. The conflict escalates amid ongoing hostilities.

The Sweden Democrats (SD), previously a far-right pariah, have emerged as a key political player, now the nation’s second-largest party. Following shifts in alliances post-2018 elections, SD’s influence on immigration and criminal justice policies has been increasingly normalised within the government, reflecting a significant political transformation.

At least 58 states and territories are affected by anti-personnel mines, according to UN rights chief Volker Türk. The report highlights significant civilian casualties, with approximately 90% of victims in 2024 being civilians, primarily in Myanmar, Syria, and Afghanistan. Recommitment to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty is urged.

French President Emmanuel Macron is hosting his final G7 summit, addressing key issues including Russia’s war on Ukraine, the Middle East conflict, Chinese competition, AI, and online child safety. This summit marks a significant moment as Macron prepares to leave office next year.

Pope Leo XIV departed the Canary Islands for Rome on Friday aboard a Falcon plane provided by King Felipe VI, following a technical fault with his original aircraft. The flight, delayed by half an hour, took off shortly after 6:00 pm and is expected to arrive by 11:00 pm.

From our sponsors
Advertisement
Advertisement