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Norway is mourning the death of King Harald V, who passed away on Friday at the age of 89 after more than three decades on the throne. The Norwegian royal palace said Harald died peacefully at Oslo University Hospital at 6:35am local time. He had been receiving treatment after being hospitalised earlier this month with a serious illness and a bacterial infection in his blood. Harald’s death brings an end to a 35-year reign during which he became one of Norway’s most respected and popular public figures. He was widely regarded as a modernising monarch who helped make the royal institution more open, accessible and closely connected with ordinary citizens. His son, Crown Prince Haakon, immediately became king following his father’s death. Haakon, 53, is expected to formally address the government and parliament as Norway begins the transition to a new reign. Born on February 21, 1937, Harald was the first Norwegian-born heir to the throne in almost six centuries. His childhood was shaped by the Second World War. When Nazi Germany invaded Norway in 1940, the young prince left the country with his mother and sisters. The family spent time in Sweden before travelling to the United States, where they lived during the war. Harald returned to Norway after the war and later completed his education and military service. He studied social sciences, history and economics at Oxford University before becoming increasingly involved in royal duties. One of the defining moments of his personal life came in 1968, when he married Sonja Haraldsen, the daughter of a businessman. The marriage broke with royal tradition because Sonja was a commoner. Harald had reportedly waited years for permission to marry her and eventually made clear that he would rather remain unmarried than give her up. Queen Sonja remained his partner throughout his nearly six decades of marriage and his entire reign. Harald became king in January 1991 following the death of his father, King Olav V. Over time, he developed a reputation for showing emotion and speaking openly on issues affecting Norwegian society. His role as a national unifier became particularly important after the 2011 terrorist attacks in Oslo and on Utøya, in which 77 people were killed. Harald’s public response focused on solidarity, compassion and rejecting fear. He also became known for advocating tolerance and diversity. In a widely remembered speech in 2016, he emphasised that Norway was home to people of different nationalities, religions and sexual orientations. Outside his official duties, Harald was a passionate sailor and represented Norway at three Olympic Games. He was also interested in environmental conservation and supported efforts to protect nature. His later years were marked by repeated health problems. In 2024, he was hospitalised while visiting Malaysia and later received a pacemaker. He subsequently reduced his public engagements but rejected calls for abdication, maintaining that his commitment to the throne was lifelong. Harald’s death also comes at a difficult time for Norway’s royal family. Crown Princess Mette-Marit has faced scrutiny over her past contacts with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, while her son Marius Borg Høiby was convicted this year of rape and domestic violence. Mette-Marit has also undergone a lung transplant after suffering from a serious pulmonary condition. Despite the controversies surrounding members of his family, Harald himself retained strong personal popularity among Norwegians. Tributes have poured in from European leaders and fellow monarchs. Britain’s King Charles III described Harald as a much-loved relative and friend, while Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf remembered him as a close friend of his family and Sweden.

Seven emergency personnel were killed after a firefighting helicopter crashed in Argentina’s western San Juan province while responding to a forest fire, authorities said. The Bell 412 helicopter had been deployed for wildfire response operations and was travelling to neighbouring La Rioja province to assist in controlling a major forest fire when the accident occurred. Officials said the aircraft lost contact with its base shortly after take-off on Wednesday morning, prompting an emergency response. San Juan Governor Marcelo Orrego confirmed that all seven people on board lost their lives in the crash. The victims included members of the civil protection department, firefighters and senior police officials who were involved in emergency response operations. The governor expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and extended condolences to the families of those who died while serving in the line of duty. Emergency teams were dispatched to the crash site, while authorities secured the area and began recovery operations. Officials have launched an investigation to determine what caused the helicopter to crash. No official findings have yet been released. The Bell 412 helicopter was part of the province’s aerial firefighting fleet and was regularly used to support operations against wildfires in the region. The incident has shocked emergency services across Argentina, with tributes pouring in for the personnel who lost their lives during the mission.

The head of the US National Transportation Safety Board has urged Congress to end months of legislative delays and pass a major aviation safety package aimed at reducing the risk of deadly midair collisions. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said lawmakers already have clear recommendations from investigators and should move quickly to turn them into law. Homendy said the agency has provided Congress with a detailed plan to strengthen aviation safety and prevent another disaster like the one that claimed dozens of lives near Washington last year. She stressed that the necessary reforms have been discussed for months and that it is now time for lawmakers to take action. Her appeal comes after the January 2025 collision between an American Airlines regional passenger jet and a US Army helicopter near Washington, DC. The crash killed 67 people and became the deadliest aviation accident in the United States since 2001. Following the tragedy, the House of Representatives approved a broad aviation safety bill in April with overwhelming bipartisan support in a 396 to 10 vote. The legislation includes dozens of recommendations made by investigators after the crash. The Senate had earlier passed its own proposal, known as the ROTOR Act, but the measure failed to secure enough support in the House under fast track voting procedures, leaving the reforms stalled. According to the NTSB, the collision could have been prevented if both aircraft had been equipped with Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast technology, commonly known as ADS-B. The system allows aircraft to continuously share their position with air traffic controllers and nearby aircraft, improving awareness in busy airspace and reducing the risk of collisions. Earlier this year, the NTSB concluded that failures within the Federal Aviation Administration contributed to the fatal accident. Investigators found that the FAA had allowed helicopters to operate too close to commercial flight paths near Washington’s airport without maintaining adequate separation. The agency was also criticized for failing to properly review safety data and for not acting on earlier recommendations to redirect helicopter traffic away from the area. The House approved legislation would require most US military aircraft to be fitted with collision prevention technology by 2031. Fighter jets, bombers and drones would be exempt from the requirement. The bill also introduces new standards for collision mitigation systems on civilian airplanes and helicopters to improve safety across the aviation sector. Lawmakers from both chambers are continuing negotiations to resolve differences between the House and Senate versions of the legislation before a final bill can be approved. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford recently said the agency has been providing technical guidance to Congress throughout the legislative process. He noted that the FAA has the authority to expand the use of ADS-B technology without waiting for new legislation but said clear direction from Congress would provide a stronger framework for implementing long term safety improvements. The NTSB believes the proposed reforms would significantly strengthen aviation safety and reduce the chances of another catastrophic midair collision. With negotiations continuing in Congress, transportation officials are urging lawmakers to finalize the legislation as soon as possible to better protect passengers, flight crews and military personnel.