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Por LORNE COOK BRUSELAS, Bélgica (AP) — “Intimidación”, “amenazas” y “chantaje” son solo algunos de los términos que utilizan los líderes de la Unión Europea para describir la advertencia del presidente de Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, de que impondrá nuevos aranceles a las naciones que se opongan al control estadounidense de Groenlandia. El lenguaje europeo se ha endurecido desde que Trump regresó a la Casa Blanca hace 12 meses. Ahora es en reacción a la idea previamente impensable de que el miembro más poderoso de la OTAN amenazaría con apoderarse del territorio de otro aliado. Es probable que haya represalias comerciales si Trump cumple con su anuncio de aranceles. Al cumplirse un año del segundo mandato de Trump, la fe de Europa en la fortaleza del vínculo transatlántico se está desvaneciendo rápidamente. Para algunos, ya ha desaparecido. La adulación de los meses pasados no ha funcionado y las tácticas están evolucionando mientras los europeos intentan gestionar las amenazas de un viejo aliado justo cuando enfrentan la amenaza de una Rusia cada vez más hostil. El primer mandato de Trump llevó a la OTAN al borde del colapso. Jens Stoltenberg, exsecretario general, escribió en sus recientes memorias: “Temía que la OTAN estuviera a punto de dejar de funcionar”, después de que el presidente de Estados Unidos amenazó con abandonar una cumbre en 2018. Ahora, la primera ministra danesa, Mette Frederiksen, advierte que si Trump intenta anexar Groenlandia, una parte semiautónoma de Dinamarca, “entonces todo se detiene… incluida nuestra OTAN”. “Estamos en la etapa muy temprana de una crisis político-militar bastante profunda”, dijo Maria Martisiute, analista del Centro de Política Europea. “Hay una mayor comprensión, aunque a los líderes políticos no les guste admitirlo, de que Estados Unidos ha abandonado la OTAN”. Leyendo la cartilla En enero de 2025, los aliados de Estados Unidos en la OTAN esperaban escuchar los planes de Trump para Ucrania. La mayor guerra de Europa en décadas estaba a punto de entrar cumplir tres años. Los europeos creían que el presidente Vladímir Putin representaría una amenaza existencial para su territorio si Rusia ganaba. Pocos pensaban que las políticas de la administración Biden continuarían. Pero en pocas semanas, cualquier esperanza persistente en el compromiso de Estados Unidos con Ucrania se desvaneció. Los suministros de armas y fondos estadounidenses comenzaron a agotarse. Europa tendría que llenar el vacío y pagar por la ayuda de Estados Unidos. En un discurso en la sede de la OTAN en febrero, el secretario de Defensa de Estados Unidos, Pete Hegseth, leyó la cartilla a los aliados europeos y Canadá. Estados Unidos tenía prioridades en otros lugares y Europa debía manejar la seguridad en su propio patio trasero. Ucrania no se uniría a la alianza. El territorio que le arrebató Rusia no sería devuelto. Los europeos podrían reunir una fuerza para ayudar a Kiev si lo deseaban, pero no recibirían ayuda de Estados Unidos si entraban en el país y eran atacados. Desde entonces, Trump ha culpado al presidente ucraniano Volodymyr Zelenskyy por la invasión, a pesar de las visitas con la realeza en el Reino Unido y Holanda destinadas a apaciguarlo. Días después, en febrero, en Múnich, el vicepresidente estadounidense JD Vance se reunió con el líder de un partido de extrema derecha durante la campaña electoral en Alemania. Afirmó que la principal amenaza de Europa era interna, no rusa. La libertad de expresión está “en retroceso” en todo el continente, advirtió Vance. Pero después de ganar las elecciones, el canciller Friedrich Merz dijo que “en vista de la creciente situación de amenaza”, Alemania y Europa “deben ahora muy rápidamente hacer grandes esfuerzos, muy rápidamente”, para fortalecer sus capacidades de defensa. Independencia de seguridad de Europa En el último año, los líderes europeos y Zelenskyy volaron a Washington para tratar de mantener a Trump de su lado. Un plan de 28 puntos para poner fin a…

During a surprise performance at a New Jersey benefit concert Saturday night, Bruce Springsteen dedicated a song to the late Renee Good and said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents should “get the f— out of Minneapolis.” In his lengthy introduction to “The Promised Land” — which he called “probably one of my greatest songs” and “an ode to American possibility” — Springsteen said we are living through incredibly critical times and that the country’s ideals and values of the past 250 years are being tested like never before. He asked the crowd if they believe democracy, liberty and truth are worth speaking out and fighting for and that “if you believe you don’t deserve to be murdered for exercising your American right to protest, then send a message to this president. And as the mayor of that city has said, ICE should get the f— out of Minneapolis. So this one is for you, and the memory of the mother of three and American citizen Renee Good.” The 37-year-old Good was fatally shot by ICE agent Jonathan Ross in Minneapolis on Jan. 7. Later that day, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called out Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s description of the incident as an “act of domestic terrorism,” saying it was “garbage” and “bull—-” before telling ICE to “get the f— out of Minneapolis.” As was first reported by NJArts.net, a nonprofit media outlet in the Garden State, Springsteen performed an unannounced but not entirely unexpected 75-minute set at the Light of Day festival, which benefits research for Parkinson’s disease. He was backed by his friend Joe Grushecky’s Houserockers during an evening that also included guest turns from Gary U.S. Bonds, Willie Nile, Goo Goo Dolls’ Johnny Rzeznik and Low Cut Connie’s Adam Weiner. Springsteen had previously appeared at 13 Light of Day festivals in the organization’s 26-year history. While his lyrics have often touched on political themes, Springsteen took a more public stance when he performed during the Vote for Change tour in 2004. Presented by moveon.org, the tour was held in swing states and was designed to encourage people to register and vote. Springsteen performed at the former Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul as well as at tour stops in Philadelphia, Cleveland, Detroit, Orlando, Fla., East Rutherford, N.J., and Washington, D.C. In 2008, Springsteen endorsed Barack Obama’s presidential campaign and appeared at several rallies. He’s also been a vocal critic of Donald Trump. In 2016, he told Rolling Stone that “the republic is under siege by a moron, basically. The whole thing is tragic. Without overstating it, it’s a tragedy for our democracy. … The ideas he’s moving to the mainstream are all very dangerous ideas — white nationalism and the alt-right movement.” During a May 2025 concert in England, Springsteen called Trump’s administration “corrupt, incompetent and treasonous.” That prompted the president to respond, via social media, that “this dried out prune of a rocker (his skin is all atrophied) ought to KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT until he gets back in the Country.” “The Promised Land” has been a staple of Springsteen concerts for decades and, according to setlist.fm, stands as his third-most performed song. He often uses the song when he wants to speak out on stage, said Caryn Rose, a Detroit-based freelancer who publishes the Springsteen newsletter “Radio Nowhere” and has written extensively about him since 1980. “I’m not surprised he had something to say but I wish he’d just say it with the same deliberation that he did the anti-Trump remarks last summer in Europe,” Rose said. Related Articles 2026 Oscar nominations: Expert’s predictions in 11 key categories The tragic fall from fame and grisly death of Nickelodeon star Kianna Underwood Green Day to open 60th Super Bowl with anniversary ceremony celebrating generations of MVPs Milan Fashion Week: Five trends and buzzwords from menswear previews for next winter Amanda Seyfried makes her move in ‘The Testament of Ann Lee’

By Alan Greenblatt, KFF Health News When one of Adam Burkhammer’s foster children struggled with hyperactivity, the West Virginia legislator and his wife decided to alter their diet and remove any foods that contained synthetic dyes. “We saw a turnaround in his behavior, and our other children,” said Burkhammer, who has adopted or fostered 10 kids with his wife. “There are real impacts on real kids.” The Republican turned his experience into legislation, sponsoring a bill to ban seven dyes from food sold in the state. It became law in March, making West Virginia the first state to institute such a ban from all food products. The bill was among a slew of state efforts to regulate synthetic dyes. In 2025, roughly 75 bills aimed at food dyes were introduced in 37 states, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Related Articles Bruce Springsteen dedicates song to Renee Good and says ICE should ‘get the f— out of Minneapolis’ Vance and Rubio set to attend Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Italy. Trump isn’t on the list US Catholic cardinals urge Trump administration to embrace a moral compass in foreign policy ICE Boston arrests former professional baseball player on fentanyl trafficking charges Hawaii’s strict gun law faces Supreme Court scrutiny in landmark case Chemical dyes and nutrition are just part of the broader “Make America Healthy Again” agenda. Promoted by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., MAHA ideas have made their deepest inroads at the state level, with strong support from Republicans — and in some places, from Democrats. The $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program — created last year as part of the GOP’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act to expand health care access in rural areas — offers incentives to states that implement MAHA policies. Federal and state officials are seeking a broad swath of health policy changes, including rolling back routine vaccinations and expanding the use of drugs such as ivermectin for treatments beyond their approved use. State lawmakers have introduced dozens of bills targeting vaccines, fluoridated water, and PFAS, a group of compounds known as “forever chemicals” that have been linked to cancer and other health problems. In addition to West Virginia, six other states have targeted food dyes with new laws or executive orders, requiring warning labels on food with certain dyes or banning the sale of such products in schools. California has had a law regulating food dyes since 2023. Most synthetic dyes used to color food have been around for decades. Some clinical studies have found a link between their use and hyperactivity in children. And in early 2025, in the last days of President Joe Biden’s term, the Food and Drug Administration outlawed the use of a dye known as Red No. 3. Major food companies including Nestle, Hershey, and PepsiCo have gotten on board, pledging to eliminate at least some color additives from food products over the next year or two. “We anticipate that the momentum we saw in 2025 will continue into 2026, with a particular focus on ingredient safety and transparency,” said John Hewitt, the senior vice president of state affairs for the Consumer Brands Association, a trade group for food manufacturers. This past summer, the group called on its members to voluntarily eliminate federally certified artificial dyes from their products by the end of 2027. “The state laws are really what’s motivating companies to get rid of dyes,” said Jensen Jose, regulatory counsel for the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a nonprofit health advocacy group. Andy Baker-White, the senior director of state health policy for the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, said the bipartisan support for bills targeting food dyes and ultraprocessed food struck him as unusual. Several red states have proposed legislation modeled on California’s 2023 law, which bans four food additives. “It’s not very often you see states…

By HILLEL ITALIE, Associated Press National Writer NEW YORK (AP) — After her best friend died on the day Rachel Eliza Griffiths married Salman Rushdie and her husband was nearly stabbed to death a year later, the author and multimedia artist was left with no choice over what she would write about next. American poet, novelist and visual artist, Rachel Eliza Griffiths, poses for a photograph on Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki) “I think there was a struggle when I tried not to put it into words, when I tried to avoid it, when I thought, ‘All of these life events have happened to me, but now I’m going to think about my next novel and my next collection of poetry,’” says Griffiths, whose memoir “The Flower Bearers” releases Tuesday. She ultimately conceded, “You cannot pass through these kinds of personal life events and ask your brain and your being to go back to who you were because you’re not the same.” “The Flower Bearers” comes out nearly two years after “Knife,” Rushdie’s account of the 2022 assault that hospitalized him and blinded him in one eye. Griffiths’ book is framed around Rushdie and her close bond with poet Kamilah Aisha Moon, whose death is ever entwined with her wedding, an “uncanny Janus coin.” As she writes in “The Flower Bearers,” Griffiths and Rushdie met at a PEN America event in May 2017, a relationship sealed out of a mishap that seems comic compared to what happened later: As they were stepping out onto a terrace, Rushdie banged into a plate glass door and fell, bleeding. He was embarrassed and in pain and wanted to leave. She offered to ride home with him and ice the wounds on his head and nose. “We talked and laughed for hours,” she wrote. She well knew Rushdie’s history, the 1989 fatwa from Iran’s Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini that called for the author’s death because of the alleged blasphemy of his novel “The Satanic Verses.” But she, and Rushdie, thought his days of fearing for his life were well behind him — until Aug. 12, 2022. She was alone in her living room, drinking coffee, when a friend called and told her that Rushdie had been “hurt.” Rushdie was preparing to deliver a lecture at the Chautauqua Institution, in western New York, when a man rushed to the stage and stabbed him repeatedly. (The assailant, Hadi Matar, has since been sentenced by a state judge to 25 years in prison for assault and attempted murder.) “Please don’t take him away from me yet,” Griffiths remembers thinking. “Please don’t let Salman die.” A prizewinning poet, novelist, photographer and filmmaker, the 47-year-old Griffiths is a graduate from the creative writing program at Sarah Lawrence College, where Moon was a fellow student. Before Griffiths met Rushdie or Moon, she had endured grief and trauma and the fear of a loved one being in peril. Her beloved mother had suffered from poor health since Griffiths was a girl and died in 2014, at 59. Griffiths is also a survivor of sexual violence who has struggled with mental health issues and says she deals with PTSD on a daily basis. Her book echoes Rushdie’s beyond their memories of each other. Rushdie, who last year published the story collection “The Eleventh Hour,” told The Associated Press at the time that he couldn’t get back to other kinds of writing until he completed his memoir. And, like “Knife,” Griffiths’ memoir is a story of improbable resilience, what she calls the discovery of grace in the midst and aftermath of malicious violence and cruel luck. “I can kind of look back and think, ‘Wow, that woman, she was tough as nails,’” she says. “I’m very different than the Rachel Eliza who wrote this book, and the Rachel Eliza who was living through all of these experiences. In the moment, people would say, ‘Be strong, be strong.’ And I’m like, well, ‘I am strong.’” Griffiths spoke with the AP about Rushdie, Moon, the writing of her book and her feelings of gratitude. The interview has been edited for clarity and brevity. American poet, novelist and visual…