The Milan-Cortina Winter Olympic Games officially commenced with a vibrant opening ceremony held across multiple locations, while diplomatic developments and severe weather events also dominated headlines. The opening ceremony, which featured performances by Mariah Carey and Andrea Bocelli, took place in Milan's San Siro stadium, as well as in Cortina, Livigno, and Predazzo, according to BBC World. Meanwhile, China overturned the death sentence of Canadian Robert Lloyd Schellenberg, a move potentially signaling a diplomatic thaw, as reported by The Guardian. Elsewhere, Canada and France opened consulates in Greenland, demonstrating support for Denmark, also according to The Guardian.
The opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics, despite logistical challenges of its multi-location format, was an impressive production, according to BBC World. Two Olympic cauldrons were lit, one in Milan and the other in Cortina, with Andrea Bocelli's rendition of "Nessun Dorma" adding to the spectacle.
In other international news, China's decision to overturn Schellenberg's death sentence was announced on Friday, as reported by The Guardian. Schellenberg was detained on drug charges in 2014, and the move comes as Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney seeks to boost trade ties with Beijing, according to the same source.
Simultaneously, Canada and France opened diplomatic consulates in Nuuk, Greenland, in a show of support for Denmark, as reported by The Guardian. This move follows previous efforts by the US to secure control of the Arctic island. Canada had promised to open a consulate in Nuuk in 2024, according to the same source.
In other news, Spain and Portugal were hit with torrential rain and strong winds as Storm Leonardo continued to batter the Iberian peninsula, according to The Guardian. Spain's state meteorological agency issued its highest red alert for heavy rainfall in Cádiz and parts of Málaga. Flash floods in Morocco forced more than 100,000 people to evacuate, according to the same source.
Finally, in Lahore, Pakistan, the Basant kite-flying festival was celebrated, marking the first time in nearly two decades that the event was able to take place, according to Al Jazeera. The festival's return was met with jubilation, as crowds gathered to celebrate the event.
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