Monday Briefing: Hostage talks in Cairo

Plus, Ron DeSantis drops out of the race.
Continue reading the main story
Ad
Morning Briefing: Europe Edition

January 22, 2024

Good morning. We're covering the latest from the war in Gaza and an end to Ron DeSantis's presidential bid.

Plus: Deadly winter weather in the U.S.

People gather at night, holding up signs of a young woman who was taken hostage. The signs say,
Family members of hostages and their supporters in Tel Aviv on Saturday. Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters

U.S. official heads to Middle East for hostage talks

Brett McGurk, President Biden's Middle East coordinator at the White House, departed for Cairo yesterday for talks aimed at the release of more hostages held by Hamas in exchange for a pause in Israel's military campaign in the Gaza Strip, U.S. officials said.

Egypt and Qatar helped broker a cease-fire in November during which Hamas released more than 100 people from captivity. The hope is that another such deal can be arranged. But U.S. officials have said that a new hostage release has been complicated by Hamas's evident desire for a permanent cease-fire.

The trip comes as Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, reiterated that he would not withdraw Israeli forces and remained opposed to the two-state solution backed by the U.S. and other allies. Divisions have emerged in Israel over the path forward, including over whether military action can achieve the hostages' safe return.

In other news from the war:

Ron DeSantis looking downward, his face serious.
Ron DeSantis, who endorsed Donald Trump on Sunday. Jordan Gale for The New York Times

DeSantis dropped out of the race for president

Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida suspended his campaign for U.S. president and endorsed Donald Trump, less than 48 hours before the primary race in New Hampshire. The move cements the Republican contest as a two-person race between the former president and Nikki Haley, the former governor of South Carolina.

The Trump campaign said in a statement that it was "honored" by DeSantis's endorsement and once again criticized Haley, who served as U.N. ambassador during the Trump presidency, as being too liberal to win the Republican nomination. It remains to be seen whether DeSantis's departure will help her, or whether more of his supporters will migrate to Trump.

Even before DeSantis dropped out, Haley and Trump were locked in an increasingly intense and personal battle in New Hampshire, where Trump has a significant lead in polls.

A pickup truck navigates an icy road with downed trees.
Creswell, Ore., last week.  Jamie Kenworthy, via Associated Press

Dozens killed in severe winter in the U.S.

At least 70 people across the U.S. have died from weather-related causes after more than a week of frigid winter storms and brutally cold temperatures. That number is likely to grow.

Traffic accidents — often caused by cars spinning out of control on icy, snowy roads — are among the most common causes of death during cold snaps. Hypothermia is another threat, especially for people who do not have access to shelter or heat, and downed power lines can raise the risk of fire or electrocution.

Continue reading the main story

ADVERTISEMENT

Ad

THE LATEST NEWS

Around the World

Boxes of fruit and other items lie scattered in a partly covered market area in eastern Ukraine.
Alessandro Guerra/EPA, via Shutterstock

Other Big Stories

A very long white pipe snakes along the grass on a mountainside as workers dig the ground with a tractor to bury it.
George Steinmetz for The New York Times

From Opinion

A Morning Read

A photo illustration of Jeremy Allen White in Calvin Klein underwear on a billboard and a collage of his body.
Photo illustration by Tom Hodgkinson

In the latest commercial for Calvin Klein's men's underwear, Jeremy Allen White rolls down a Manhattan street, pops up to a rooftop and strips down, muscles bulging, before lolling on an ugly orange couch.

These lascivious, louche ads date back to 1982, years before White was even born. Then as now, our critic writes, they seduce us with what we are ashamed to want.

Lives Lived

Lev Rubinstein, a Russian poet, essayist and political dissident during both the Soviet and Putin eras, died this month at 76.

SPORTS NEWS

Coco Gauff: Under the radar at the Australian Open.

A rising star: Until recently, few had ever heard of the tennis player Mirra Andreeva, 16. She's now the talk of Melbourne.

Sports Illustrated: The venerable publication announced mass layoffs on Friday.

Kelce brothers: Their former college football teammates share stories from their days together.

We hope you've enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times.

ARTS AND IDEAS

A photo illustration shows three hand fans, with popsicle stick handles and the same black-and-white image of Princess Diana, who is wearing a tiara. The background of the illustration is pink.
Tyler Comrie

Portraying a princess

More than 25 years after her death, Princess Diana is ever-present in our culture, appearing in numerous movies, television shows and even a Broadway musical. The former Princess of Wales is entertainment gold, Times critic Jesse Green writes,: "The perfect combo of stardom, tragedy and unanswerability."

A woman whose bereaved children are still living is not primarily an artistic, let alone a financial, opportunity, Jesse argues, and she deserves more time to rest in peace. "She is still too blazingly alive to be dragooned into trauma porn," he writes, "mauled with the excuse of reincarnating her."

Read his essay.

Continue reading the main story

ADVERTISEMENT

Ad

RECOMMENDATIONS

A fork and spoon rest in a blue bowl with pasta and Bolognese sauce.
Jim Wilson/The New York Times

Cook: Make Marcella Hazan's classic, unbeatable Bolognese.

Ease: Work in comfort with an ergonomic seat cushion.

Watch: In "The Crime is Mine," a showbiz screwball, two broke ingénues spin a murder accusation into a shot at fame.

Wear: How the ultrarich dress for a trip to the grocery store.

Listen: Our critic reviews Kali Uchis's "delightful" fourth album.

Play the Spelling Bee. And here are today's Mini Crossword and Wordle. You can find all our puzzles here.

That's it for today's briefing. See you tomorrow. — Natasha

You can reach Natasha and the team at briefing@nytimes.com.

Continue reading the main story

Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance.

You received this email because you signed up for Morning Briefing: Europe Edition from The New York Times.

To stop receiving Morning Briefing: Europe Edition, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request.

Subscribe to The Times

Connect with us on:

facebooktwitterinstagram

Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices

LiveIntent LogoAdChoices Logo

The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018

HOY EN ALBANIA