BBC News Briefing

10 March, 2025

Sofia has long brown hair and brown eyes and is wearing a green top.

Sofia Lotto Persio

Hello. As the US and Ukraine prepare to hold talks in Saudi Arabia, our Kyiv-based correspondent James Waterhouse explains why this is a crucial week for Ukraine's future. In Greenland, we take a look at how the issue of independence is weighing heavily on voters' minds as they head to the polls in a parliamentary election. And finally, we survey the damage of downgraded tropical cyclone Alfred on Australia's Gold Coast.

TOP OF THE AGENDA

Ukraine to push for aerial and naval truce

Marco Rubio has black hair and brown eyes. He is wearing a navy blue suit, a white shirt and a light blue tie with a US flag pinned on his lapel. He is speaking to a crowd of journalists who are holding out their phones to record him. They are on board an airplane.

For the US team, key topics of discussions will be security protocols for the Ukrainians and territorial issues. Credit: Getty Images

A US delegation led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio has landed in Saudi Arabia ahead of Tuesday's talks with their Ukrainian counterparts. Kyiv is expected to push for an aerial and naval truce with Russia. Rubio told reporters the talks would be key to end the pause in military aid the US imposed on Ukraine. A multi-billion dollar minerals deal could also be agreed, but what is in it for Ukraine is as yet unclear, says James Waterhouse. The talks come amid growing tensions. On Sunday, Rubio and Elon Musk clashed with Poland's foreign minister over the use of the tech billionaire's Starlink system in Ukraine.

Watch James's report

GET UP TO SPEED

A large oil tanker seen from side on is burnt out and black. A smaller vessel in front of it blasts water at the burning boat, which is surrounded by black smoke

Jet fuel spills into North Sea after tanker collision

The US-flagged Stena Immaculate appeared to have been hit while at anchor by a Portuguese-flagged container.

What we know >

Calin Georgescu has short white hair and brown eyes. He is wearing a white polo shirt and a blue jacket. He is surrounded by a crowd of people.

Romanian far-right populist appeals poll ban

Calin Georgescu has appealed against a decision to bar him from participating in May's presidential election.

Read more >

Doug Ford seated before a microphone at a press conference. He has white-blond hair and blue eyes. He is wearing a blue suit, white shirt and a blue tie.

Ontario to add surcharge on US-bound electricity

The Canadian province is slapping a retaliatory 25% surcharge on electricity in response to President Trump's tariffs.

Who is affected >

AT THE SCENE

Copenaghen, Denmark

Key vote for Greenland independence

Five out of six parties on the ballot favour Greenland's independence from Denmark. Credit: Getty Images

President Trump's repeated interest in acquiring Greenland, a self-governing territory of Denmark, has fuelled the longstanding debate on the island's future ties with Copenhagen. With Greenland holding parliamentary elections on Tuesday, much of the debate focused on when – not if – the process of independence should begin.

Adrienne Murray, BBC News

Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA), the party of Prime Minister Mute Egede, favours gradual steps towards autonomy. "Citizens must feel secure," he told local media. Arctic expert Martin Breum says Egede's handling of the challenge from Trump and strong words against Denmark over past colonial wrongdoings "will give him a lot of votes".

‌

Smaller rivals could also gain ground and potentially shake up alliances. Opposition party Naleraq wants to immediately kick-off divorce proceedings from Copenhagen and have closer defence dealings with Washington. Pointing to Greenland's EU departure and Brexit, party leader Pele Broberg has said that Greenland could be "out of the Danish kingdom in three years".

Keep reading

Explainer: Though Trump's rhetoric may seem unusual, a succession of US presidents have tried to gain control of Greenland for more than a century.

Listen now: The Global Story podcast discusses the likelihood of an independent Greenland.

A man wearing a green top and glasses holds an old-fashioned black alarm clock in his hands. There are house plants in the background

SOMETHING DIFFERENT

Time-based conundrums

As the clocks change, challenge yourself with puzzles based on ancient calendars.

Have a go

And finally... in Australia

A famous Australian beach looks strikingly different after ex-tropical cyclone Alfred pounded the country's east coast over the weekend, eroding huge chunks of sand at the Gold Coast's Surfers Paradise. Footage also shows the extent of the damage to cars and homes.

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– Sofia

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