Aug 28, 2026, 09:00 AM UTC

Norway's King Harald V has died at the age of 89, the royal palace in Oslo announced. The monarch passed away peacefully on Friday morning at Rikshospitalet after being hospitalized for a rare blood condition, hemolytic anemia, which had failed to respond to medical treatment.

Harald ascended the throne in January 1991 following the death of his father, King Olav V, leading the nation for more than three decades under the royal motto "Alt for Norge" (All for Norway). Following his death, the throne immediately passed to his son, Crown Prince Haakon, 53. Formal succession steps, including a cabinet meeting and an oath of allegiance before the Storting, will officially confirm the new king.

Tributes have poured in from neighboring leaders and international figures, while citizens gathered outside the palace as royal flags were lowered to half-mast.

Sources: BBC News, The Local Sweden, France24, Sweden Herald, Le Soir

Bulgaria's Ministry of Defence has provided updated details regarding a drone that crashed on its territory, confirming the aircraft is a type widely used by Ukrainian armed forces. Defense officials stressed that initial investigations show no evidence of an intentional attack on Bulgarian territory.

Military specialists are continuing to inspect the wreckage to evaluate potential causes, including mechanical failure, human error, or electronic interference. The incident resulted in no casualties or damage to local infrastructure.

Authorities in Sofia stated they are keeping NATO allies informed while technical evaluations remain ongoing to determine the flight path and precise origin of the device.

Sources: Le Monde

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has officially proposed appointing former secret service chief Yevhen Khmara as Defence Minister, with a parliamentary confirmation vote scheduled for Wednesday. Lawmakers in the Verkhovna Rada are also set to vote on Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha following recent leadership reshuffles.

The nomination comes after former Defence Minister Mychajlo Fedorov was dismissed following his public criticism of wartime corruption and calls for national elections. Meanwhile, newly appointed commander-in-chief Mychajlo Drapatyj has assumed military leadership, succeeding Oleksandr Syrskyj. Drapatyj has initiated reforms targeting internal patronage networks and structural inefficiencies within the armed forces' command hierarchy.

Sources: Ekonomický deník, Hospodářské noviny, iROZHLAS, Respect, Seznam Zprávy

Russian forces carried out nearly 60 attacks across five districts in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region over a 24-hour period, according to local emergency services. The bombardments resulted in at least five deaths and left 16 people injured.

The heaviest casualties occurred in the Kamianske district, where three residents died and five sustained injuries. In the Pavlohrad district, strikes killed two individuals and wounded seven others. Additional attacks using artillery and drones targeted the Nikopol district, causing further injuries and damaging civilian infrastructure. Emergency crews responded to extinguish fires, clear rubble, and provide assistance while local officials continued evaluating the overall destruction.

Sources: Ziarul de Gardă