Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday condoled the death of Norway’s King Harald V, who passed away at the age of 89.

In a post on X, PM Modi said he was deeply saddened by the death of the Norwegian monarch and recalled meeting him during his visit to Norway earlier this year.

PM Modi remembers King Harald V

PM Modi said his interaction with King Harald V left a lasting impression, particularly because of the monarch’s warmth and dedication to his country.

He extended his condolences to the Norwegian Royal Family as well as the people of Norway following the King’s death.

King Harald V was Europe’s oldest monarch at the time of his death. He had served as Norway’s king since 1991 and was known for modernising the country’s royal institution while maintaining a strong connection with the Norwegian people.

The Norwegian monarch also spent part of his childhood in exile in the United States during the Nazi occupation of Norway.

King Harald V’s death has prompted tributes from leaders and royal families around the world. His son, Crown Prince Haakon, has succeeded him following his death.

Nepal has temporarily halted rescue operations after authorities received information that a water barrier on the Tibetan side of the border had breached, raising the risk of further flooding in the Himalayan region.

Police warned security personnel, rescue workers and members of the public involved in relief operations to remain alert and immediately move to safer locations.

The warning came two days after a glacial collapse triggered deadly flash flooding in Nepal, killing 469 people. Around 1,400 people are still missing, including hundreds of foreigners, according to the information provided by authorities.

Nepalese authorities stopped rescue operations for 90 minutes amid concerns that another wave of flooding could hit the area within hours.

Narendra Pariyar, the senior bureaucrat of Nepal’s Rasuwa district, said the water level in the river was rising. Helicopter rescue operations were also suspended, while residents were seen moving towards higher ground.

China pauses rescue operations in Tibet

China also suspended rescue operations in the affected area, citing the risk of renewed flooding.

A lake had formed near the China-Nepal border after large amounts of mud and debris accumulated following a mudslide. The lake began overflowing towards areas where rescue teams had been working.

Chinese authorities ordered rescue teams to remain on standby and withdraw one kilometre from the affected area as a precaution.

The developments came as hundreds of people remained missing in Tibet following the deadly mudslide.

Barrier lake raises fresh flood fears

The barrier lake formed after mud and debris hit the Gyirong border hub in Tibet on Wednesday. Aerial footage captured by a Chinese rescue team on Thursday showed brown water accumulating in a basin with no visible outlet.

The water had already covered bushes and trees and was pressing against a barrier made of debris and stones.

Earlier, rescuers and residents on the lower banks in Nepal had been advised to move to higher ground. Chinese personnel and vehicles were also moved away from the area as concerns grew over the possibility of the lake bursting.

Authorities were also concerned about potential secondary disasters, including mountain collapses and avalanches.

The renewed warning has added to the challenges facing rescue teams as Nepal continues efforts to locate those still missing after the devastating flash floods.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has rejected US President Donald Trump’s decision to rename Lake Ontario as “Lake America”, saying Canadians will continue to use the lake’s historic name.

Trump signed an executive order on Thursday changing the name for US federal usage. However, the order does not determine what Canada, international organisations or other authorities call the lake.

Carney said the name Lake Ontario predates both Canada and the United States as modern nations. He stressed that Canadians would continue to recognise the lake by its existing name.

“Canadians also know that naming reality means calling it Lake Ontario — then, now and always,” Carney said in a social media post.

Why Trump renamed Lake Ontario

Trump announced that the lake would be renamed “Lake America” during remarks at the White House. The US president said the change would take effect immediately.

The move comes amid strained relations between Washington and Ottawa, including an ongoing dispute over trade and tariffs.

Lake Ontario is one of North America’s five Great Lakes and is shared by Canada and the United States. About 52 per cent of its surface area lies in Canada, while the remainder is in New York state.

Carney highlights Lake Ontario’s history

Carney also pointed to the Indigenous origins of the name Lake Ontario. The name is derived from the Wendat language and has been used for more than 400 years, predating the establishment of both countries in their present forms.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul also indicated that the state would continue referring to the body of water as Lake Ontario, highlighting that Trump’s order is limited to US federal usage.

The dispute over the name adds another symbolic point of friction to already tense US-Canada relations.