Imagine you live in a self-governing territory territory that’s governed by another country, and many residents want independence.

Would you take it? 👇🏼

Unsurprisingly, Russia’s Foreign Ministry just rejected the new U.S.-E.U.-backed 20-point peace plan to end the Russia–Ukraine war.

Why? They argue that it’s designed to keep Ukraine armed and Russia constrained.

Statement. Today, Moscow said the proposal is "extremely far from a peace settlement" and called it "a true axis of war," claiming it is designed for escalation, not stability.

Force. Russia zeroed in on the plan’s core idea of deploying a "multinational force" on Ukrainian territory after hostilities stop, alongside efforts to rebuild Ukraine’s armed forces and "support deterrence."

Envoys. The rejection lands days after Trump’s peace envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, signed a separate five-point security-guarantees plan with European leaders in Paris on Jan. 6, 2026.

Arming. Moscow also attacked Trump’s PURL initiative (Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List), which lets Europe buy U.S.-made weapons for Ukraine, and said the documents deepen Ukraine-NATO defense-industrial integration.

White House officials are reportedly floating the idea of paying lump-sum payments to Greenlanders as part of a plan to nudge the island toward breaking from Denmark and potentially joining the United States.

How much? $10,000-$100,000 per person. At the high end, that’s nearly a $6 billion buyout.

Idea. The pitch is direct cash to Greenland’s roughly 57,000 residents, framed as an alternative way to "buy" the island, even as Denmark keeps insisting it’s not for sale.

Backlash. Greenland’s Prime Minister Nielsen publicly shut down the whole concept of the U.S. acquiring Greenland, writing, "Enough is enough ... No more fantasies about annexation."

Paths. Beyond cash, aides have floated a Compact of Free Association style deal, like U.S. arrangements with Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau, which typically trades U.S. support and services for broad U.S. defense access.

Venezuela began freeing jailed opposition figures, activists, journalists, and foreigners days after its notorious dictator Nicolás Maduro was captured by U.S. forces and flown to face drug-trafficking charges.

Blockade working? Trump says the U.S. requested the releases, and he praised the interim government now led by acting President Delcy Rodríguez for cooperating.

Announcement. National Assembly chief Jorge Rodríguez (Delcy’s brother) promised a "significant number" of releases as a government "gesture" to "seek peace," but even late Thursday it was still murky who was getting out and how many.

Names. Foro Penal, the Caracas-based prisoners’ advocacy group, reported high-profile releases including:

Foreigners. Spain said five Spanish citizens were freed, including Venezuelan-Spanish human rights lawyer Rocío San Miguel, with Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares naming the others as Andrés Martínez, José María Basoa, Ernesto Gorbe, and Miguel Moreno.

Context. Martínez and Basoa were arrested in September 2024, accused by Venezuelan authorities of operating as Spanish spies.

Waiting. Across sites like Rodeo I prison in Guatire and the intelligence complex El Helicoide, families sprinted to gates, held their breath for hours, and broke into chants of "Libertad!" as scattered releases were confirmed.

Pressure. Officially, Venezuela’s government denies holding political prisoners.

Iran plunged into a near-total internet blackout Thursday night as protests over living costs spread nationwide.

There are even unconfirmed social media reports floating around about Iranian police shooting protestors with a machine gun mounted on a vehicle.

Shutdown. NetBlocks flagged major outages earlier in the day in Kermanshah, then the country reportedly went dark online nationwide that night, a familiar tactic Iranian authorities have used during protest waves.

Crackdown. Iran Human Rights (IHR), a Norway-based NGO, said security forces have killed at least 45 protesters, including eight children, since demonstrations began in late December, with Wednesday described as the bloodiest day so far with 13 confirmed killed. IHR also reported hundreds wounded and more than 2,000 arrests.

Politics. Iranian President Pezeshkian urged restraint and “utmost restraint,” calling for “dialogue, engagement and listening to the people’s demands,” even as authorities framed protesters as “rioters” and warned of foreign-backed sabotage.