The Milan-Cortina Winter Olympic Games officially commenced on February 6, 2026, with a vibrant opening ceremony held across four locations, including Milan's San Siro stadium, according to BBC Sport. The event featured performances by Mariah Carey and Andrea Bocelli, who sang "Nessun Dorma" as the Olympic torch entered the stadium.
The opening ceremony, despite logistical concerns due to its multi-location format, was an impressive production that went off without a hitch, BBC World reported. Two Olympic cauldrons were lit, one in Milan and the other in Cortina.
In other international news, China overturned the death sentence of Canadian Robert Lloyd Schellenberg, a Canadian official confirmed on Friday, as reported by The Guardian. This decision is seen as a potential sign of a diplomatic thaw, coinciding with Prime Minister Mark Carney's efforts to boost trade ties with Beijing. Schellenberg was initially detained on drug charges in 2014, before Canada-China relations soured in 2018.
Also, Canada and France are set to open diplomatic consulates in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, on Friday, demonstrating support for their NATO ally Denmark and the Arctic island, The Guardian reported. This move follows US efforts to secure control of the semi-autonomous Danish territory. Canada had previously promised to open a consulate in Nuuk in 2024.
Meanwhile, Japan is heading to the polls for its second general election in as many years, according to BBC World. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Japan's first female leader, is betting on her personal popularity to secure a public mandate for the long-ruling but unpopular Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). This snap election has caught the ruling party, the opposition, and much of the electorate off guard.
Finally, Storm Leonardo continues to batter Europe and northern Africa, with Spain's state meteorological agency issuing its highest red alert for heavy rainfall in Cádiz and parts of Málaga, The Guardian reported. The slow-moving system has brought torrential rain and strong winds to the Iberian peninsula since Tuesday, leading to flash floods in Morocco that forced over 100,000 people to evacuate.
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