Monday Briefing: An ‘aggressive’ trip to Greenland

Plus, Israel seized more territory in Gaza

View in browser|nytimes.com March 24, 2025 By Natasha Frost Good morning. We're covering fury in Greenland over a Trump delegation and the latest from the war in Gaza. Plus: Britain's unexpected wartime leader. "What is the national security adviser doing in Greenland?" said the island's prime minister, Mute Egede, referring to an upcoming visit by Michael Waltz and other U.S. officials. Ivor Prickett for The New York Times A 'highly aggressive' trip to Greenland Relations between Greenland and the U.S. deteriorated further yesterday as Mute Egede, the island's prime minister, erupted over what he called a "highly aggressive" delegation of senior officials that the Trump administration plans to send there this week. Greenlanders' effort to be diplomatic just "bounces off Donald Trump and his administration in their mission to own and control Greenland," Egede said. He singled out the involvement of Michael Waltz, the national security adviser, saying his presence would serve only "to demonstrate power over us." Usha Vance, the second lady, is also set to go to Greenland. President Trump has vowed to make Greenland part of the U.S. "one way or the other," and its people have become increasingly wary of his intentions. Until now, most Greenlandic officials have walked a fine line, trying to assert their sovereignty without antagonizing Trump. Response: The Trump administration has presented the visit as friendly, saying in a statement that Vance would travel with one of her children and attend a national dog sled race. More on the Trump administration Elon Musk's position in the Trump administration will allow him to make billions off new government contracts. Venezuela said it would resume accepting U.S. deportation flights. "Where am I going to go?" We spoke to 25 migrants from around the world who were deported from the U.S. and are now stranded in Panama. The Trump administration has accused a detained Columbia University protest leader of having withheld information when he applied for permanent residency status. As Trump promotes renewed business ties with Russia, an American investor who was jailed in Moscow in 2019 has a warning: Anyone there can become a pawn. Track Trump's actions since he took office. A camp for displaced Palestinians in Gaza City on Friday.  Saher Alghorra for The New York Times Israel seized more territory in Gaza Israeli forces were expanding their offensive in the Gaza Strip's north and south, taking control of more territory and issuing evacuation orders for people who'd only recently returned home. Israel's military said it had carried out airstrikes against Hamas targets and infrastructure. The Palestinian Civil Defense in Gaza warned of "imminent danger threatening the lives" of tens of thousands in the city of Rafah. The death toll in Gaza since the war began has now surpassed 50,000, the local health ministry said, including 39 people killed in Israeli bombardments over the past day. Political turmoil: Israel's cabinet passed a no-confidence motion against the country's attorney general, beginning the process of dismissing her. She said the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has accused her of undermining him, sought to put itself "above the law." Ramadan among the ruins: After long months of death, destruction and deprivation, many Gazans gathered to celebrate a time of fasting and prayer. Here are photos of how they've navigated a holiday of heartbreak. A building in the Ukrainian city of Sloviansk after a Russian drone strike last week. Nicole Tung for The New York Times Ukrainian and U.S. officials met in Saudi Arabia Ukrainian officials met with U.S. envoys yesterday in Saudi Arabia to discuss the possibility of a limited cease-fire in the war with Russia. Russian and U.S. representatives are scheduled to hold talks there today. Here's what to know. The talks, in Riyadh, were expected to focus on ironing out the details of a temporary halt to strikes on energy infrastructure, which both sides agreed to last week, and on security for shipping in the Black Sea. A Ukrainian official said the Kyiv delegation might hold additional discussions with U.S. officials today. What's next: The path to a truce has been shaky, with both sides ready to continue fighting. Moscow continues to insist on maximalist positions; it has sought to assert territorial control and ensure that Ukraine never joins NATO. Kyiv has refused Russia's demands and accused its president, Vladimir Putin, of stalling for time. Attacks continue: At least three people were killed in a large Russian drone attack on Kyiv, officials said. In recent months, Russia has intensified strikes on the capital. MORE TOP NEWS Blair Gable/Reuters Canada: Prime Minister Mark Carney called for a federal election to be held on April 28. He was sworn in just 10 days ago. South Korea: Prime Minister Han Duck-soo was restored to office as acting president​, after the country's Constitutional Court overturned his impeachment. Vatican: A frail-looking Pope Francis appeared briefly on the balcony of a Rome hospital, greeting hundreds of people who'd gathered outside. Turkey: Istanbul's mayor, the main rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was jailed and removed from office, hobbling his expected presidential bid. Sudan: Times reporters got inside the lair of a Sudanese Army sniper, in a once-luxurious riverside building in Khartoum. Travel: Britain ordered an urgent investigation into how a fire crippled Heathrow Airport on Friday. Movies: Disney's latest "Snow White" remake had a sleepy opening weekend at the box office. SPORTS NEWS Formula 1: Oscar Piastri delivered a commanding performance at the Chinese Grand Prix, leading his teammate Lando Norris to a McLaren 1-2 finish. Soccer: Erling Haaland, Martin Odegaard and Norway's desperate quest to end decades in the wilderness. Performance: The fascination with an aesthetically perfect form is misguided. Just take a look at the record-breaking runner Quincy Wilson. MORNING READ Andrew Testa for The New York Times Keir Starmer, the British prime minister, swept into power eight months ago on a tide of discontent about the cost of living. He now finds himself fighting to avert a rupture of the post-World War II alliance between Europe and the U.S. Speaking to our London bureau chief, Starmer said the tectonic shifts in America's dynamics with Europe and Russia had to be a "galvanizing moment." Read takeaways from their conversations. Lives lived: Max Frankel, who fled Nazi Germany as a boy, became a Pulitzer Prize-winning correspondent for The Times and led the paper as its executive editor, died at 94. CONVERSATION STARTERS On the road again: With limited resources and an uncertain future, a couple built a tiny home that can go wherever life takes them. Crisis on Sesame Street: Big Bird is looking sadder than ever. Galaxy brain: The second season of the series "Severance" has ended. Which fan theories were correct? Work it out: Millennials and Gen Z are fighting again. This time, it's about gym clothes. ARTS AND IDEAS Nata Metlukh A toast to the wedding speech Bad toasts have become a popular comic trope for a reason: Who among us can't remember cringing at misplaced anecdotes or dismally wrongheaded performances from boozy bridesmaids and graceless groomsmen? My colleague Jason Zinoman, a critic at large for The Times, makes the case for more — not fewer — of these howlers. "The reality about bad toasts is that most of them are not disasters, just merely forgettable," he writes. "And the best ones are a little messy." Ideally, according to Jason, you make the target squirm — but not too much. Read more tips for a successful toast. We hope you've enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times. RECOMMENDATIONS Andrew Scrivani for The New York Times Cook: This delicious Greek-inspired stew can be served warm or at room temperature. Move: Exercise may help you fight chronic inflammation. Read: A new Yoko Ono biography presents her as an avant-garde artist with world-class sass. 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 Reach Natasha and 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. 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 TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018