Fifty-three people are dead or missing after a migrant boat capsized in the Mediterranean Sea off the Libyan coast, the UN migration agency reported on Monday. The tragedy, which occurred north of Zuwara on Friday, left only two survivors. This incident is the latest in a string of deaths this year, as hundreds of migrants and asylum seekers have perished attempting to cross the central Mediterranean route, according to the International Organization for Migration.
In other international news, French President Emmanuel Macron urged Europe to assert itself on the world stage, stating it is time to start acting like a "power." Speaking to a group of European newspapers, Macron warned that the continent faces a "wake-up call" due to growing threats from China, Russia, and the US. He emphasized the need for Europe to strengthen its economy, finance, defense, security, and democratic systems. Macron is expected to reiterate his call for action at an EU summit in Brussels later this week.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin shows no desire to end the nearly four-year-old invasion of Ukraine, according to a senior European intelligence official. Kaupo Rosin, the head of Estonia's foreign intelligence service, told The Associated Press that Putin believes he can outsmart the United States during talks about ending the war. Rosin indicated that Moscow is playing for time in the discussions with Washington, and there is no genuine effort to cooperate meaningfully with the US.
In the realm of sports, the United States is fielding its largest-ever Winter Olympics team for the 2026 Games. According to CBS News, 232 athletes are competing for gold. Skier Breezy Johnson won America's first gold medal in women's downhill, and U.S. figure skaters secured gold in the team competition. Ben Ogden earned a silver medal in the sprint, becoming the first American man to win an Olympic medal in cross-country skiing since 1976. Alex Hall took silver in the freestyle ski, while Jackie Wiles and Paula Moltzan won bronze in the team downhill event.
In business news, Novo Nordisk, the maker of Ozempic and Wegovy, is suing a rival firm over what it calls "unsafe, knock-off" versions of its weight-loss drugs. The Danish company filed a lawsuit in US courts on Monday, seeking to ban Hims & Hers' range of weight-loss pills and injections, which Novo Nordisk claims are not approved by US authorities and infringe on its patent. The legal action began after Hims & Hers launched a new weight-loss pill, prompting an initial threat from Novo Nordisk. Hims & Hers has since said it would stop selling the pill, and its share price slumped after Novo Nordisk decided to proceed with the lawsuit.
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