More than 30 people were killed and 169 injured in an explosion at a mosque in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, according to a city official, while senior US and Iranian officials held talks in Oman amid rising tensions. The blast occurred during Friday prayers in the Tarlai area, with a suicide bomber reportedly detonating a device after approaching the gates of the Shia mosque, as reported by BBC World. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the discussions in Oman as a "good beginning," according to the same source.
The opening ceremony for the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games is set to kick off at Milan's San Siro Stadium, marking the official start of the event, as detailed by CBS News. More than 2,900 athletes from 92 national Olympic committees will compete, with the United States having the largest presence, followed by Canada and host nation Italy. The ceremony will include the Parade of Nations and the lighting of the Olympic flame, with additional events around Milan and athlete parades in Predazzo, Livigno, and Cortina d'Ampezzo.
In other news, the Smithsonian Institution's Folklife Festival will not be held this summer on the National Mall, as it will be used for President Trump's Great American State Fair, according to the New York Times. Instead, the Smithsonian will take its festival on the road to communities across the country and in three U.S. territories to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence.
The talks in Oman between the US and Iran occurred as the US military builds up its presence in the Middle East, responding to Iran's violent repression of nationwide anti-government protests, as reported by BBC World. The US negotiators were led by special envoy Steve Witkoff, while the Iranian team was headed by Foreign Minister Araghchi.
In a separate development, members of the federal vaccine panel, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, are focusing on mRNA Covid shots and vaccines offered to pregnant women, according to the New York Times. Some panelists have expressed the belief that Covid shots are dangerous and should be removed from the market, contrary to scientific consensus. Dr. Robert Malone, a panelist, claimed that the Food and Drug Administration was withholding data on the risks of Covid vaccination.
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