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Ex-Norwegian Leader Faces Corruption Charges Tied to Epstein Connection

Following the Council of Europe’s decision to remove his immunity, a charge was filed against him, an privilege he had held as the organization’s former secretary general.

Norwegian authorities have charged former Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland with "gross corruption" due to his connections with convicted US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to police.

Former Norwegian Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland dressed in a black suit jacket, white shirt and a purple tie, he looks off to the left, his mouth tilted down. His hair is grey and skin tanned. The background is blurred.
Thorbjørn Jagland's lawyer has previously said he denies criminal liability and is willing to cooperate

The charge was made possible after the Council of Europe waived Jagland's diplomatic immunity, which he held as a result of his previous diplomatic position. Jagland's lawyer states that he denies any criminal wrongdoing and is ready to cooperate with the investigation.

US government-released emails suggest that Jagland had planned to visit Epstein's residences in Paris, New York, and Palm Beach, both alone and with his family, following Epstein's conviction for a child sex offense.

As part of the investigation, Norway's crime unit Økokrim searched three properties belonging to Jagland, and he is expected to be questioned by authorities.

Jagland has held various prominent positions, including serving as Norway's prime minister from 1996 to 1997, heading the Norwegian Nobel Committee, and acting as secretary general of the Council of Europe for a decade.

During his tenure as secretary general of the Council of Europe from 2009 to 2019, Jagland held diplomatic immunity for any alleged actions committed during that period.

Økokrim requested that the Council of Europe lift Jagland's immunity after launching an investigation into allegations of gross corruption against him, which reportedly occurred between 2011 and 2018.

The so-called Epstein files appear to indicate that Epstein covered travel expenses for Jagland and his family to visit his properties on several occasions.

In 2014, Jagland had planned a family trip to Epstein's private Caribbean island, but it was cancelled due to Epstein's illness.

Jagland is also accused of seeking Epstein's assistance in obtaining a bank loan, although it is unclear if this ever came to fruition, as reported by Norwegian broadcaster NRK; it is not confirmed whether this allegation is part of the current corruption charge.

The mention of individuals in the Epstein files, released by the US Department of Justice, does not necessarily imply any wrongdoing on their part.

Jagland was seen leaving his Oslo home with his lawyer, one of three properties – including two in Risør and Rauland – that Økokrim confirmed had been searched.

The release of the Epstein files by the US Department of Justice has implicated numerous public figures, including politicians, celebrities, and royals, in the scandal surrounding the late sex offender, who died in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking charges.

Several Norwegian public figures have been drawn into the scandal, including Crown Princess Mette-Marit, diplomats Mona Juul and Terje Rød-Larsen, and World Economic Forum CEO Borge Brende.

Crown Princess Mette-Marit issued a public apology for her friendship with Epstein, which included a three-year exchange of messages.

Mona Juul and her husband Terje Rød-Larsen are under investigation by Økokrim for "aggravated corruption" following reports that each of Juul's children would receive $5 million from Epstein's will, allegedly signed just before his death.

Juul's lawyer has denied the accusations, stating that she does not recognize the allegations made against her, while Rød-Larsen's lawyer expressed confidence that the investigation would clear him of any wrongdoing.

The World Economic Forum has initiated an independent review into Borge Brende's interactions with Epstein, as Brende had previously served as Norway's foreign minister.

Brende acknowledged meeting Epstein on three occasions in 2018 and 2019 and exchanging emails and texts with him, but claimed he was unaware of Epstein's past criminal activities; he welcomes the World Economic Forum's decision to conduct a review.

Entertainment And Arts

Spielberg Contributes $25,000 to Van Der Beek’s $2 Million Crowdfunding Campaign

The relatives of the deceased actor, known for his role in Dawson’s Creek, have expressed gratitude to those who contributed to the $2m fund.

A donation of $25,000 (£21,000) has been made by film director Steven Spielberg and his wife, Kate Capshaw, to a GoFundMe campaign that has raised over $2m (£1.6m) for the family of late actor James Van Der Beek.

James Van Der Beek wearing a maroon dickie bow while smiling for the cameras on arrival at the 2019 Emmy Awards
James Van Der Beek's character Dawson was a famous fan of filmmaker Spielberg

Van Der Beek, who passed away at the age of 48, is survived by his wife Kimberly and their six children, and the crowdfunding effort to support his family has now exceeded its initial target of $2m.

Other notable donors include Oscar-winning actress Zoe Saldana, who contributed $2,500 (£2,108), and director Jon M Chu, who gave $10,000 (£8,432) to the cause.

A statement from the organizers of the fundraiser, Friends of the Van Der Beek family, expressed gratitude to all contributors, stating that their support is deeply appreciated.

The statement highlighted the significance of the donations, saying that the kindness shown by contributors is beyond words.

It also noted that the outpouring of support has been a source of comfort during a difficult time, serving as a reminder of the power of love, community, and the enduring legacy of James Van Der Beek.

Van Der Beek was perhaps best known for his starring role in the popular US teen drama series Dawson's Creek, which aired from 1998 to 2003, although he remained associated with the show until 2023.

Although Van Der Beek and Spielberg never collaborated on a project, the late actor's character in Dawson's Creek was a fan of Spielberg's work, with posters of films like ET and Schindler's List featured in his bedroom.

At a Dawson's Creek cast reunion event last year, Spielberg paid tribute to Van Der Beek by sending a video message.

In the message, Spielberg said, "Dawson, you made it," and jokingly added that he hoped to one day have a room like Dawson's, filled with memorabilia from his films.

Van Der Beek passed away on Wednesday after a battle with bowel cancer.

Steven Spielberg arrives for the 98th Oscars Nominees Luncheon at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, USA, 10 February 2026
Spielberg made a surprise video appearance at last year's Dawson's Creek reunion

He had been dealing with the diagnosis since August 2023 and publicly disclosed his condition in November 2024.

The GoFundMe campaign was launched to help the family with medical expenses, which had depleted their funds.

The statement from the organizers concluded by saying that the family is currently taking time to grieve and be together, and thanked everyone for their compassionate and generous support in honoring James Van Der Beek's life.

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Zimbabwe Shocks Australia with Muzarabani’s Exceptional Performance

Zimbabwe secured a stunning 23-run victory over Australia in the T20 World Cup, with Blessing Muzarabani playing a key role by taking 4-17.

In the current T20 world rankings, Zimbabwe occupies the 12th position.

The Men's T20 World Cup is underway in Group B at Colombo.

Zimbabwe's innings concluded at 169-2 after 20 overs, with Bennett scoring an unbeaten 64 off 56 deliveries, while Green claimed 1-6.

Australia's reply ended at 146 after 19.3 overs, as Renshaw top-scored with 65 off 44 balls, and Muzarabani took 4-17.

The match resulted in a 23-run victory for Zimbabwe.

A standout performance from Blessing Muzarabani, who took 4-17, helped Zimbabwe secure a thrilling 23-run win over Australia in the T20 World Cup.

After being set a target of 170, Australia found themselves in trouble at 29-4, but a 77-run partnership between Matthew Renshaw and Glenn Maxwell for the fifth wicket gave them hope.

With 34 runs needed from the last two overs, Renshaw's dismissal for 65, caught off Muzarabani with eight balls remaining, essentially sealed the game's outcome.

The result has left Group B finely balanced after two matches each, with Australia trailing Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka by two points, ahead of their meeting with Sri Lanka on Monday.

Initially, Zimbabwe's approach to batting first at the R. Premadasa Stadium appeared overly cautious.

Brian Bennett's innings of 64 not out from 56 balls, including seven fours, was played at a strike rate of 114.28, as he anchored the Zimbabwean batting.

In contrast, Tadiwanashe Marumani and Ryan Burl adopted a more aggressive approach, scoring 35 off 21 and 30 balls, respectively.

A late surge from Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza, who scored 25 off 13 balls, including the team's only six on the final ball, provided a boost to their total.

Australia's target seemed achievable, given their total of 182-6 in their previous win against Ireland.

However, the Australian batting line-up was severely dented by the loss of key wickets, including Josh Inglis, Travis Head, Cameron Green, and Tim David, courtesy of Muzarabani and Brad Evans.

A partnership between Renshaw and Maxwell offered some respite, but when Maxwell fell for 31, dragged on to Burl, the pressure mounted on Australia.

Muzarabani's return to bowl the penultimate over proved decisive, as he removed Renshaw, and Zimbabwe subsequently wrapped up the win.

There are calls for the ICC to review the rules regarding 12th men.

For more information, including notifications and social media updates, visit BBC Sport.

A blogger who participates in the FPL is also competing in the T20 World Cup.

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FA Cup Finalists Outside the Big Six Since 2008

As the FA Cup resumes this weekend, assess your understanding of past finalists that have competed from beyond the Premier League’s top six clubs.

This weekend, the FA Cup resumes with 32 teams remaining in contention for the historic trophy, which has been awarded for 155 years and will be presented to the winner in May.

Historically, the Premier League's top six clubs – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham – have dominated the FA Cup, claiming 32 titles out of the last 37.

However, in recent years, teams outside of this elite group have experienced some notable victories in the competition.

Since 2008, 10 teams from outside the traditional 'big six' have advanced to the FA Cup final – can you identify all of them?

For more quizzes, visit our Football Quizzes and Sports Quizzes sections, where you can also subscribe to receive the latest quizzes directly on your device.

We have a quiz question tailored to each Premier League team – test your knowledge and see how you score.

Can you recall every team that has won the Women's Champions League?

Which players have made the most appearances in the Premier League – can you name them all?

Explore our Sports Quizzes page for a wide range of challenging and engaging quizzes.

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