Pope Leo XIV called for nations to pause military conflict during the opening of the Winter Olympics in northern Italy on Friday, as the Games overlapped with escalating geopolitical tensions around the globe. The Pope's call, issued in a papal letter, emphasized the value of sports as a symbol of a reconciled world, contrasting it with the refusal to cooperate that leads to war, according to the New York Times.
The opening ceremonies of the Milan-Cortina Games coincided with a period of significant global unrest. Conflicts were raging, national leaders were threatening violence, and alliances were strained, as reported by the NY Times.
Meanwhile, in other international developments, senior US and Iranian officials were set to continue discussions after talks in Oman, according to the BBC World. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the mediated discussions as a "good beginning" and "exclusively nuclear," stating that negotiators would return to their capitals for consultations. US officials had indicated they also wanted to discuss Iran's ballistic missiles and its support for regional armed groups, as per the BBC World.
In Pakistan, an explosion at a mosque during Friday prayers in Islamabad resulted in at least 31 deaths and 169 injuries, officials said, according to the BBC World. A suicide bomber detonated a device after approaching the gates of the Shia mosque in the Tarlai area, with eyewitnesses reporting gunfire preceding the blast. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the incident and called for a thorough investigation, the BBC World reported.
Elsewhere, Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit issued a "profound apology" to Norwegians for her friendship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after facing mounting pressure, the BBC World reported. She stated, "I also apologise for the situation in which I have placed the Royal House, especially the King and Queen," according to a palace statement.
In Australia, the Royal Australian Mint released commemorative coins featuring a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, which drew criticism for its lack of resemblance to the late monarch, the BBC World reported. The 5 and 50 cent silver coins were created to mark the centenary of the Queen's birth. One online commenter stated, "That's got to be the most unpleasant portrait on a coin." The Royal Australian Mint defended the portrait, saying, "Our coin images don't always capture the full beauty of a [person]," according to the BBC World.
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