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Norway Crown Princess Speaks on Epstein Amid Son’s Trial

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Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway has recorded an interview with NRK TV addressing her past contacts with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The interview, conducted with Crown Prince Haakon at their Skaugum residence, comes as her son Marius Borg Høiby’s seven-week rape trial in Oslo nears its conclusion. The crown princess has previously apologized for exercising “poor judgement” and now aims to clarify her involvement in the Epstein files.

Høiby, 29, faces 40 charges including rape, serious assault, drug offenses, and traffic violations. While denying the most severe accusations, his defense has argued for a reduced sentence of 18 months for admitted offenses. Prosecutors have requested a sentence of over seven years, with a verdict expected in June. The trial has intensified scrutiny on the royal family, marking one of the most significant scandals they have faced in recent years.

The emergence of hundreds of emails from 2011–2014 linking Mette-Marit to Epstein further fueled public criticism. These messages revealed she visited Epstein’s Palm Beach residence and was aware of his criminal past. Meanwhile, her health has been declining due to pulmonary fibrosis, and the royal household has announced she may not attend upcoming state visits. An independent parliamentary inquiry into Epstein connections in Norway has also been approved to safeguard public trust.

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Russian Blogger Detained After Criticizing Putin

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Ilya Remeslo, a Russian pro-Kremlin blogger, has been admitted to St. Petersburg’s Psychiatric Hospital No. 3 after posting a viral manifesto denouncing President Vladimir Putin and the war in Ukraine. Remeslo, previously known for attacking Putin’s critics, called for the president’s resignation and trial as a war criminal, citing the conflict’s human and economic toll.

His sudden turn against Putin shocked both pro-war bloggers and the exiled opposition community. In his Telegram post, Remeslo criticized Putin for prosecuting a “failing war” that has killed millions and severely harmed Russia’s economy and citizens’ welfare.

The hospital confirmed his admission but provided no details about the reason or timing. The 42-year-old lawyer and former member of a Kremlin advisory council had previously been a harsh critic of Alexei Navalny, the late opposition leader who died in a penal colony in 2024.

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Woman Killed in Swiss Ski Gondola Crash

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A 61-year-old woman has died after a ski gondola detached from its cable and crashed down a mountainside at the Engelberg ski resort in the Swiss Alps. The incident occurred late Wednesday morning as the gondola was ascending near the Trübsee station on Mount Titlis. Authorities said the cause of the detachment remains unclear and is under investigation.

Witnesses described strong winds battering the area at the time, with gusts reportedly exceeding 80 km/h—well above the usual safety threshold for gondola operations. Videos circulating online show the cabin tumbling down the snowy slope before coming to a stop. Emergency responders, including air rescue teams and police, were quickly deployed to the scene.

The accident prompted the suspension of gondola services, and between 100 and 200 passengers were safely evacuated from other cabins. Resort officials expressed shock over the incident and extended condolences to the victim’s family, as investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the fatal crash.

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Prosecutors Seek Long Jail Term in Norway Royal-Linked Trial

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Norwegian prosecutors have called for a prison sentence of seven years and seven months for Marius Borg Høiby, who is on trial over multiple serious charges including rape and assault. They argued he should be convicted on 39 out of 40 charges, stressing the gravity of the allegations. Høiby denies the most serious accusations, maintaining that all sexual encounters were consensual.

The case, heard at the Oslo district court, has drawn intense public and media attention due to Høiby’s connection to the royal family through Mette-Marit. While he is not a formal royal, he grew up within the royal household. During the trial, he admitted to some lesser offences such as drug possession, traffic violations, and breaching a restraining order, but rejected key accusations including multiple rape charges.

Prosecutors emphasized that several alleged victims were asleep or otherwise unable to consent, and said prior consensual relations were irrelevant to the charges. The defence is expected to argue against the most serious claims, with a verdict pending after judges review the case. The trial has lasted several weeks and is expected to conclude shortly.

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Sadiq Khan Urges Labour to Back EU Rejoin

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London Mayor Sadiq Khan has called on the Labour Party to commit to rejoining the European Union in its next general election manifesto. In an interview, he described Brexit as damaging economically, socially, and culturally, and said returning to the EU was “inevitable.” He also urged the government to first rejoin the customs union and single market before the expected 2029 election.

The UK government, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, has repeatedly ruled out rejoining those structures. The Conservatives criticized Khan’s remarks, suggesting they reveal divisions within Labour leadership. Meanwhile, Khan hinted that rejoining the EU might not necessarily require another referendum, though he did not explicitly confirm this.

The comments have added to broader political debate, with figures like Angela Rayner raising concerns about immigration policies, and former Prime Minister John Major warning that Brexit has harmed trade and economic stability. Other parties remain split, with some supporting closer EU ties while others strongly oppose any move to rejoin.

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Russia Warns of Threat to Gas Pipelines

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Russia has raised concerns over what it describes as a surge in Ukrainian attacks on key gas infrastructure, particularly compressor stations operated by Gazprom. According to Moscow, these facilities support the TurkStream and Blue Stream pipelines, which transport natural gas across the Black Sea to Turkey and onward to parts of Europe. While recent attacks were reportedly repelled, officials say their increasing frequency poses risks to critical energy routes.

The pipelines in question are among Russia’s last operational gas links to Europe, supplying countries such as Hungary, Slovakia, and Serbia. The warning comes at a time when global energy markets are already under strain due to geopolitical tensions, including conflict in the Middle East that has driven gas prices higher.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the attacks threaten both infrastructure and broader energy stability, calling them destabilizing during an already volatile period. Ukraine has not commented on the claims, though it has previously targeted Russian energy assets as part of its strategy, while Russia continues strikes on Ukraine’s power grid.

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Spain Seeks $208M Fine on BBVA Over Spying

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Spain’s anti-corruption prosecutor has called for BBVA to be fined 181.8 million euros ($208.16 million) over allegations that the bank hired a private investigation agency to conduct illegal spying between 2004 and 2016. The case is part of a broader inquiry into several Spanish companies using the agency run by former police commissioner Jose Manuel Villarejo.

BBVA has acknowledged hiring the agency but denied any evidence of spying, stating in its 2025 annual report that the facts under investigation do not imply criminal liability. The probe has involved some former executives, while no current board member is implicated. The scandal has caused reputational concerns but limited direct business impact since the investigation began in 2019.

The prosecutor is also seeking up to 173 years in prison for BBVA’s former chairman Francisco Gonzalez, though Spanish law caps his potential sentence at 15 years. Gonzalez, who stepped down in March 2019 as honorary chairman to protect the bank’s reputation, denies wrongdoing. Spain’s High Court has yet to formally open the trial, marking a potential first for former top corporate executives facing such charges.

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Poland to Ban Phones in Schools

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Poland plans to introduce a nationwide ban on mobile phone use for students under 16 in schools starting September 1, 2026, the country’s education minister said. The move is part of a broader legislative change aimed at improving classroom focus and reducing digital dependency among children aged 7 to 15 in primary education.

Education Minister Barbara Nowacka said the government is finalizing the law, stressing that phone use in schools “cannot be the norm” due to growing concerns over children’s reliance on the internet. The proposal also follows earlier discussions about restricting social media access for children under 15.

Poland joins countries like the Netherlands, South Korea, and Italy that have already imposed similar restrictions. These measures reflect a global trend to limit screen time and address its impact on students’ concentration, behavior, and overall well-being.

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Pope Leo Declares Universal Healthcare a Moral Imperative

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Pope Leo XIV has called on nations to ensure universal healthcare access, describing it as a “moral imperative” for any just society. Speaking at a healthcare conference in Vatican City, he emphasized that access to medical services is essential to human dignity and social justice.

The pope stressed that healthcare must not become a privilege for a few, urging governments to prioritize the needs of vulnerable populations. He warned that inequality in access to healthcare could lead to broader social injustices and even conflict if left unaddressed.

Building on the stance of his predecessor Pope Francis, Leo highlighted the importance of solidarity and collective responsibility in building inclusive healthcare systems. He encouraged global cooperation to create systems that ensure care for all, reinforcing the idea that health is a fundamental right, not a luxury.

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Cattle Disease Outbreak Spreads Across Russia Amid Doubts Over Diagnosis

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A cattle disease outbreak has spread across at least 10 regions in Russia, with authorities identifying cases as pasteurellosis or rabies. Quarantine measures have been imposed in affected areas, including Chuvashia, while a state of emergency has been declared in Novosibirsk as officials attempt to contain the situation.

However, farmers and veterinary experts have raised concerns over the diagnosis, arguing that pasteurellosis is treatable and should not require mass culling. Critics say authorities are acting hastily by destroying livestock without confirmed test results, sparking protests and growing distrust among farmers, particularly in heavily affected regions.

A government commission has been deployed to investigate the response, as the outbreak threatens Russia’s agricultural ambitions, including export growth to Asian markets like China. The situation could impact the country’s efforts to expand its livestock industry and maintain global veterinary standards.

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