Oct 12, 2026, 10:00 PM UTC

Health authorities and meteorologists across Southern and Western Europe continue to report severe impacts from ongoing heatwaves.

Italy has placed all 27 of its major cities under red heat alerts as temperatures reach up to 40 degrees Celsius. Public health officials urged citizens to take precautions following four heat-related fatalities. In Austria, a national record temperature of 40.8 degrees Celsius was recorded near Vienna. Meanwhile, French health authorities confirmed over 7,300 excess deaths linked to 52 days of intense heat recorded since mid-June.

Forecasters warn that upcoming weather patterns could push temperatures back toward 40 degrees Celsius in France and the United Kingdom, compounding ongoing droughts and wildfire threats across Western Europe.

Sources: Aftenposten, Berlingske, DR, TV 2 Nyheter, VG

Norway's economic crime authority, Økokrim, maintains that its corruption investigation into former diplomats Mona Juul and Terje Rød-Larsen is significantly more extensive than defense claims suggest. First State Prosecutor Marianne Bender highlighted that the prolonged timeframe stems from high-priority international cooperation, including outstanding legal assistance requests submitted to United States authorities regarding connections to late financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Local inquiries are also focusing on an Oslo residential property tied to the couple. Juul has been charged with gross corruption, and Rød-Larsen faces complicity charges; both deny any criminal liability. Addressing his historical connection to the financier, Rød-Larsen stated, "Jeg beklager i dag dypt det forholdet jeg hadde til Epstein," expressing regret for failing to cut ties sooner.

Sources: Aftenposten, Dagens Næringsliv, Finansavisen, NRK, TV 2 Nyheter

Federal agents executed a judicially authorized search warrant at the Washington-area home of US Representative Ilhan Omar on Monday morning, the Department of Justice confirmed. Officials stated that the raid by Homeland Security Investigations forms part of an ongoing criminal investigation, though formal charges have not been announced. Reports indicate the inquiry may involve immigration paperwork submitted decades ago.

Omar, a Minnesota Democrat and prominent critic of President Donald Trump, denounced the action on social media. She characterized the raid as an attempt "to target political enemies and use federal law enforcement as a weapon" and stated she would not be silenced.

Sources: BBC News, Daily Sabah, France24, Sweden Herald, The Guardian

Anette Ringnes, daughter of Norwegian property investor Christian Ringnes, has publicly revealed her role as a whistleblower regarding ties between the International Peace Institute (IPI) and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

In a new book by journalist Gard Oterholm, Ringnes details her time working at the New York-based think tank from 2014 under its former leader, Terje Rød-Larsen. According to Ringnes, Rød-Larsen instructed her to search for digital traces connecting Epstein to the institute's office in Bahrain. Rød-Larsen's lawyer, John Christian Elden, has denied her account.

The publication also examines the broader impact of the scandal in Norway, including how prominent institutions and figures managed public communications following revelations of their past ties to Epstein.

Sources: Aftenposten, E24, TV 2 Nyheter, VG (Verdens Gang)