US President Donald Trump’s suggestion that the US could “take over” Gaza has drawn international criticism. Germany, Saudi Arabia, and China have rejected the remarks, while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio supported Trump’s stance, stating, “Make Gaza Beautiful Again.” Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas condemned any attempt to resettle Palestinians outside Gaza, emphasizing it as an integral part of Palestinian statehood. Arab nations, including Egypt and Jordan, have backed Palestine’s sovereignty. Abbas urged the UN to safeguard Palestinian rights and end Israeli occupation, stressing the need for an independent Palestinian decision on its future.
GREENLAND BLOCKS FOREIGN DONATIONS
Greenland has enacted a law banning foreign political donations, a move seen as a response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s renewed interest in acquiring the Arctic territory. The law aims to safeguard Greenland’s political integrity amid geopolitical tensions. It also limits domestic donations, capping individual contributions to 20,000 Danish kroner (€1,717). Trump’s previous comments, including a suggestion of force, have heightened concerns. Greenland’s Prime Minister Múte Egrede reaffirmed that Greenland, despite its ties to Denmark, is not for sale. Recent polls indicate that 85% of Greenlanders oppose joining the U.S. as elections approach on March 11.
RUSSIA REVIVES INTERVISION CONTEST RIVALRY
Russia is set to relaunch the Intervision Song Contest in Moscow, decades after its last edition, under President Vladimir Putin’s directive. Intended as an ideological rival to Eurovision, the revived contest will emphasize “traditional values” over the inclusivity Eurovision celebrates. The Kremlin claims nearly 20 countries, including China, India, and Brazil, are interested. Originally a Soviet alternative to Eurovision, Intervision was last held in 1980. Putin previously attempted a revival in 2014, but it failed to materialize. The upcoming event is expected to reinforce Russia’s cultural positioning amid its geopolitical tensions with the West.
CIA OFFERS ‘BUYOUT’ TO ENTIRE WORKFORCE
The CIA has become the first major national security agency to offer buyouts to its entire workforce as part of President Donald Trump’s efforts to shrink the federal government. Employees who accept will receive around eight months of pay and benefits. The move, directed by CIA Director John Ratcliffe, is framed as an effort to align the agency with Trump’s national security agenda. Critics see it as a political purge, while Trump allies argue it refocuses the agency on covert operations. The mass layoffs, expected soon, have caused unrest within the intelligence community.
RUSSIA CAPTURES UKRAINE VILLAGES
As the war nears its third anniversary, Russia has seized two more villages—Novomlynsk in Kharkiv and Baranivka near Ocheretyne—marking continued advances in eastern Ukraine. Meanwhile, reports suggest the U.S. under President Donald Trump is considering providing military aid to Kyiv in exchange for access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals. With Ukraine holding an estimated $14.8 trillion worth of resources, concerns are rising over Russia’s strategic push toward mineral-rich regions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Western intelligence claim Moscow aims to control Ukraine’s mineral wealth as part of its war strategy.
