Norway's King Harald dies aged 89

King Harald V of Norway died at 89 on Friday at 06:35 local time (04:35 GMT) after being taken to hospital last week for treatment of a rare blood condition, the palace in Oslo said. He passed away peacefully at the national hospital. The royal flag at the palace was lowered to half-mast, and in the 24 hours before his death, members of the royal family visited him. Harald, Norway’s first king born in the country since the 14th century, was succeeded by his son Haakon. Across his 35-year reign, he was seen as popular and reforming, modernizing the monarchy, marrying a commoner, and promoting unity during Norway’s toughest moments, including the 2011 attacks.