Friday Briefing: Trump criticizes Europe

Also, the Oscar nominations.

View in browser|nytimes.com January 24, 2025 By Jonathan Wolfe and Emmett Lindner Good morning. We're covering Donald Trump's video address to the World Economic Forum and Hamas's show of strength in Gaza. Plus: The Oscar nominations. President Trump accused Europe of "unfair" trade practices in a video address to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, yesterday. Laurent Gillieron/EPA, via Shutterstock Trump criticized Europe and threatened tariffs President Trump criticized Europe yesterday over what he called "unfair" trade practices and regulations in a video address to the World Economic Forum in Davos. He said he would impose tariffs on companies that chose to produce outside the U.S. For months, Europe has been bracing for possible trade restrictions under a new Trump administration. But though Trump pledged across-the-board tariffs during his campaign, many economists and analysts have viewed those threats as more of a bargaining chip than a concrete plan. "They don't take our farm — essentially don't take our farm products," he said yesterday. "And they don't take our cars" and "make it very difficult to bring products into Europe," he added. (Europe does import both farm products and cars from the U.S., though it exports more.) At the start of his second term, Trump has positioned himself as the face of global hard-line conservative populism. He falls at the far end of the right-wing spectrum, promising changes — like deporting millions of undocumented immigrants — that many of his fans in Europe have stopped well short of. More on Trump A judge temporarily blocked Trump's plan to end automatic citizenship for babies born in the U.S., calling the executive order "blatantly unconstitutional." The Senate voted 51 to 49 to move Pete Hegseth's nomination as defense secretary to a confirmation vote, with only two Republicans opposed. The State Department abruptly canceled travel for thousands of refugees who had already been approved to fly to the U.S. Kash Patel, the president's pick to run the F.B.I., has made false claims about Russia, the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol and inquiries into Trump's handling of classified documents. Trump revoked security protection for his former secretary of state Mike Pompeo and others, despite warnings that they face threats from Iran. Trump issued an executive order to redesignate Yemen's Houthi rebels as a "foreign terrorist organization." The crown prince of Saudi Arabia told Trump that the kingdom would increase trade and investment with the U.S. by $600 billion. The Trump administration has temporarily silenced federal health officials, including those about to report on the nation's escalating bird flu crisis. A memorial park in Kursk, Russia, for soldiers killed in Ukraine. Nanna Heitmann for The New York Times Ukraine's losing fewer soldiers, but Russia's winning The nearly three-year war between Russia and Ukraine has killed far more Russian soldiers, but Russia is still winning. Russia has lost about twice as many men to death and serious injury as Ukraine has, according to some estimates. But a much larger population and more aggressive recruiting tactics have allowed Moscow to replace its losses at a higher speed. Russian forces have also been bolstered by North Korean troops. More than 400,000 Russians face about 250,000 Ukrainians, and the gap between the armies is growing. Related: President Volodymyr Zelensky's support has dipped badly. With Trump in the White House, he could face a tough re-election. Hamas militants paraded in Khan Younis in southern Gaza on Sunday. Mohammed Salem/Reuters Hamas flaunts its authority in Gaza Since the cease-fire with Israel started on Sunday, Hamas has been working to show it still controls Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has vowed to eliminate the militant group, but he has never come up with a plan for a realistic alternative that could govern Gaza. For many residents, the swift re-emergence of Hamas fighters was a surprise. Related: Israel's military said it killed two Palestinian militants as its operation in the West Bank continued. MORE TOP NEWS Moses Sawasawa/Associated Press Africa: Rebels backed by Rwanda have surrounded Goma in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. England: The teenager who killed three young girls in a knife attack at a dance class in Southport last summer was sentenced to life in prison. Storm Eowyn: Severe wind and heavy rain are expected in parts of Britain and Ireland today. Spain: To curb a growing housing crisis, the prime minister proposed a 100 percent tax on real-estate purchases by buyers outside the E.U. Travel: South Korea has told its low-cost carriers to prioritize safety over profit after the deadly crash of a Jeju Air plane last month. Longevity: Adults diagnosed with A.D.H.D., on average, die earlier than people without the disorder, a British study found. Prince Harry: He won an apology and damages from Rupert Murdoch's U.K. tabloids. The settlement might ease the tensions between the prince and his family. SPORTS NEWS Soccer: Norwegian clubs voted to end video-assistant refereeing in their domestic leagues after supporters protested. Tennis: Madison Keys upset Iga Swiatek to reach the Australian Open final against Aryna Sabalenka. Skiing: Mikaela Shiffrin, still recovering from injury, said she would be ready to return to World Cup skiing in two months. MORNING READ Vincent Kessler/Reuters During his decades in exile, the Dalai Lama has rarely delved extensively into raw politics. But in his book "Voice for the Voiceless: Over Seven Decades of Struggle With China for My Land and My People," which comes out in March, he offers his first detailed account of his fraught negotiations with a series of Chinese leaders. The book also describes his efforts to preserve Tibet's unique culture, religion and language. Nearing 90, he hopes to leave guidance for those who take up the Tibetan cause after his death, he writes. CONVERSATION STARTERS Paris's grandest opera house: The Palais Garnier, which is celebrating 150 years since its opening, has always been a place not just to see art but to be seen. Special occasions: Readers fight the decline of fine china by using their "good dishes" even for pizza and takeout. Too smart for us: The creators of a new test called Humanity's Last Exam say that once A.I. can pass it, we need to worry. ARTS AND IDEAS Karla Sofía Gascón, left, and Zoe Saldaña in a scene from "Emilia Pérez." Shanna Besson/Netflix, via Associated Press Progressive films dominated the Oscar nominations The Oscars handed out a slew of nominations for films rooted in progressive politics that were not widely seen. Karla Sofía Gascón, the star of "Emilia Pérez," a musical that explores trans identity and Mexico's drug wars, became the first openly trans actress to be nominated for best actress. That film led the pack with 13 nominations overall. "The Brutalist," a three-and-a-half-hour study of immigrant trauma, raked in 10 nominations. Demi Moore capped a career comeback with a nod for best actress in "The Substance." "It's an eclectic bunch," our awards season columnist, Kyle Buchanan, told us, referring to the nominees. "It also makes a lot of Oscar history." We hope you've enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times. RECOMMENDATIONS Christopher Testani for The New York Times Cook: This version of butter chicken was inspired by a young cook at a restaurant in Melbourne, Australia, who used to make it for the staff. Watch: The anime film "The Colors Within" centers on a friendship that blooms among three teenagers. Move: Focus on form, not speed, in this 10-minute Pilates routine you can do at home. Protect: Here are four easy ways to make sure no one can read your text messages. 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 on Monday. — Jonathan and Emmett Reach the team at briefing@nytimes.com. 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. 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