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NUUK, Greenland — U.S. President Donald Trump linked his aggressive stance on Greenland to last year’s decision not to award him the Nobel Peace Prize, telling Norway’s prime minister that he no longer felt “an obligation to think purely of Peace,” in a text message released on Monday. Trump’s message to Jonas Gahr Støre appears to ratchet up a standoff between Washington and its closest allies over his threats to take over Greenland, a self-governing territory of NATO member Denmark. On Saturday, Trump announced a 10% import tax starting in February on goods from eight nations that have rallied around Denmark and Greenland, including Norway. Those countries issued a forceful rebuke. Many longtime allies of the U.S. remained resolute that Greenland was not for sale but encouraged Washington to discuss solutions. In a statement on social media, the European Union’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc had “no interest to pick a fight” but would “hold our ground.” The White House has not ruled out taking control of the strategic Arctic island by force. Asked whether Trump could invade Greenland, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said on Monday that “you can’t leave anything out until the president himself has decided to leave anything out.” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also sought to de-escalate tensions on Monday. “I think this can be resolved and should be resolved through calm discussion,” he said, adding that he did not believe military action would occur. Strong opposition in Greenland to U.S. threats In a sign of how tensions have increased in recent days, thousands of Greenlanders marched over the weekend in protest of any effort to take over their island. Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said in a Facebook post Monday that the tariff threats would not change their stance. “We will not be pressured,” he wrote. Meanwhile, Naaja Nathanielsen, Greenland’s minister for business, minerals, energy, justice and equality, said that she was moved by the quick response of allies to the tariff threat and said it showed that countries realize “this is about more than Greenland.” “I think a lot of countries are afraid that if they let Greenland go, what would be next?” Trump cites Nobel in text to Norwegian leader Trump’s Sunday message to Gahr Støre, released by the Norwegian government, read in part: “Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace.” It concluded: “The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland.” The Norwegian leader said Trump’s message was a reply to an earlier missive sent on behalf of himself and Finnish President Alexander Stubb, in which they conveyed their opposition to the tariff announcement, pointed to a need to de-escalate, and proposed a telephone conversation among the three leaders. “Norway’s position on Greenland is clear. Greenland is a part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and Norway fully supports the Kingdom of Denmark on this matter,” the Norwegian leader said in a statement. “As regards the Nobel Peace Prize, I have clearly explained, including to President Trump what is well known, the prize is awarded by an independent Nobel Committee and not the Norwegian Government.” The Norwegian Nobel Committee is an independent body whose five members are appointed by the Norwegian Parliament. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended the president’s approach in Greenland during a brief Q&A with reporters in Davos, Switzerland, which is hosting the World Economic Forum meeting this week. “I think it’s a complete canard that the president would be doing this because of the Nobel,” Bessent said, immediately after saying he did not “know anything about the president’s letter to Norway.” Trump has openly coveted the peace prize, which the committee awarded to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado last year. Last…

The staff running the federal World Trade Center Health Program has been cut by 25% as the number of sick 9/11 survivors the group treats is expected to increase by 10,000 this year, the Daily News has learned. Survivor advocates are demanding U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. lift the agency’s hiring freeze and fully staff the program before the personnel shortfall adversely affects first responders and survivors seeking help. “Over the last 11 months, since you took over as secretary of Health and Human Services, you have ignored the program staffing needs, resulting in disrupting key WTC Health Program operations,” Benjamin Chevat, executive director of 9/11 Health Watch, wrote in a letter to Kennedy earlier this week that was acquired by The News. “Today the [program] is at risk because staffing and policy approvals have not kept up with the increased demand for services — necessary, often lifesaving services that exposed, ill members rely on.” Since taking over HHS and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Kennedy has authorized drastic cuts to the WTC Health Program personnel, as well as the firing of program head Dr. John Howard, which was reversed last year after lawmakers from both sides of the aisle sounded the alarm. The rare reversal from the Trump administration saw Kennedy restore two research grants and the jobs of 16 employees. When Kennedy testified before Congress last year and was questioned about his decisions he admitted the firings were “a mistake.” Yet while the WTC Health Program is budgeted for 120 staffers, it currently has only 84, Chevat said. “After the dust cleared from your waves of firings and rehirings, the program now has fewer staff members than when you took over in February,” Chevat says in his letter. “That means there are 36 vacancies, more than 25% of the 120 staff, the required minimum needed to ensure medical monitoring and treatment for the responders and survivors enrolled in the program.” Rescue workers are pictured after the terror attacks on the World Trade Center in Manhattan, New York, on Sept. 12, 2001. (Todd Maisel / New York Daily News) Enrollment in the program over the last two years has grown by 20,000, Chevat said. An additional 10,000 people are expected to enroll in the program this year. “You have created a 25% staff shortfall in the face of a 25% increase in members,” Chevat wrote, adding that the reduced staff has caused slower treatment approvals, backlogged research grant authorizations, and inadequate supervision over cases. In his letter, Chevat notes that Jan. 2 marked the 15-year anniversary of when the Zadroga Act, which created the WTC Health Program, was signed into law. “You cannot run a program with more responders and survivors needing services with less staff and expect care not to suffer — especially a program that depends on so many vendors and contractors who need supervision. But that is what is happening,” Chevat wrote. “But despite the growing numbers of responders and survivors needing services, the program cannot hire the staff to meet that need because of the ongoing CDC-wide hiring freeze.” More than 140,000 first responders and survivors rely on the WTC Health Program to get treatment and medication and monitor injuries and illnesses caused by the toxins kicked up into the air on 9/11 and the weeks that followed. Since Kennedy took over HHS, 9/11 advocate groups haven’t been able to officially speak with anyone to learn if the WTC Health Program has verified any of the new medical conditions linked to the toxins that swirled above Ground Zero following the terror attacks or if any studies are being conducted on new maladies 9/11 sufferers are facing. A steering committee had met nearly every month for 24 years to discuss health issues facing 9/11 responders and survivors until Kennedy took over, Chevat said. Invitations to WTC Health Program members to attend the meetings have been met with…

It’s always right about now when the intensity in Hockeyland really starts to dial up. Contenders with fresh faces in big roles have largely figured out their identity and know what it’s going to take to build momentum heading into the state tournament. Wins matter even more now that we’re a couple of weeks into the power rankings and teams vie for higher seeding. And for many, league/conference title races are heating up. We aren’t in the high-magnitude portion of regular-season schedules yet, but this week is a shift toward it. Hopefully, the crystal ball can keep up its own hot start — coming off a 10-6 week with four overtime selections. Here are the matchups we’re looking closely at. Reminder, no team is selected twice in one week. LAST WEEK’S RECORD: 10-6 OVERALL RECORD: 50-22-6 (.679) AVERAGE MARGIN: 2.15 goals **WINNERS in ALL-CAPS** BOYS MONDAY TEWKSBURY at Billerica, 7 p.m. – An intense rivalry that burned hot in last year’s Div. 2 state semifinal thriller, which had an unforgettable finish. Tewksbury tied the score with 0.9 seconds left to force overtime, and star forward Tyler Bourgea hit the post to nearly steal a trip to TD Garden. Shortly after, Billerica potted the OT winner en route to the state title. Expect plenty of fire in the rematch from the Redmen (9-0), who have been unsolvable so far. WEDNESDAY St. John’s (S) at CATHOLIC MEMORIAL, 7 p.m. – A rematch of CM’s (10-1-1) only loss thus far – which St. John’s took by scoring twice in the third period for a 3-2 win. Both have looked worthy of a return trip to TD Garden thus far, though the Pioneers (8-3) have struggled with discipline in a couple of penalty-ridden losses. A top-5 matchup between two strong defensive juggernauts. Winner takes sole lead in the Catholic Conference title race. BURLINGTON at Woburn, 7 p.m. – Burlington’s realignment into Div. 2 adds a buzz to this Middlesex League crossover tilt. Chance for the Red Devils (9-1) to prove their strength as a top-5 team in Div. 2. Woburn (5-3) likely looking for a statement of its own as No. 11 in Friday’s MIAA Div. 2 power rankings. Biggest challenge for Burlington since a 3-1 loss to Arlington in its second game – which is its only loss yet. Bishop Stang at MIDDLEBORO/CARVER/WAREHAM, 8 p.m. – Entering Monday, Middleboro/Carver/Wareham (6-1) has just one loss, and it was a 4-3 finish against Bishop Stang (7-2-2). Both rank in the middle of the pack in Friday’s MIAA Div. 3 power rankings update, so it’s a chance for either of them to rise above the rest of that crowd a bit. Edge to the home team on a five-game win streak. THURSDAY King Philip at CANTON, 4 p.m. – A battle between top-10 teams in Div. 2, both with only one loss so far. The Warriors (9-1) face their biggest challenge yet in the Bulldogs (9-1), who will likely be on a mission for a big week after dropping an upset loss to Bishop Feehan on Saturday. SATURDAY St. Mary’s (L) at ARLINGTON CATHOLIC, 12:40 p.m. – With losses from St. John’s (S) and Waltham over the weekend, and a thrilling comeback win of its own over Framingham, Arlington Catholic (9-2) has the longest active win streak (eight games) in Div. 1 entering Monday. This is the end to a big week for St. Mary’s (6-4), which gets stalwarts Hingham on Monday and Tewksbury on Wednesday, in what’s been a gauntlet of a schedule so far. First meeting of the year between the Catholic Central League foes. Spartans already have a loss in the title race (Archies). Cougars are 2-0. MILTON at Framingham, 6 p.m. – A Bay State Conference crossover matchup to monitor. Milton (6-2-1) has shown flashes of what could be a deep run in Div. 2, most recently bouncing back from a loss to Needham with a tie against Div. 3 juggernaut Nauset. Framingham (6-5) has been up-and-down, but has big finishes over Weymouth and Marshfield, and nearly ended Arlington Catholic’s Div. 1-best win streak. SUNDAY Ed Burns Coffee Pot Tournament — The matchups won’t be official until the middle of the week, but 16 of the…

Por GIOVANNA DELL’ORTO Varios líderes religiosos hicieron un llamado urgente para proteger los derechos de los feligreses al tiempo que expresaron su compasión por los migrantes, después de que manifestantes contra las redadas migratorias interrumpieron una misa en una iglesia Bautista del Sur en Minnesota. Alrededor de 30 manifestantes ingresaron a la Iglesia Cities, en St. Paul, durante el servicio dominical, incluidos algunos que se dirigieron directamente al púlpito mientras otros gritaban consignas de “Fuera ICE” y “Renee Good”, en referencia a una mujer que fue asesinada a disparos el pasado 7 de enero por un agente del Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas (ICE por sus iniciales en inglés) durante una redada migratoria en Minneapolis. Uno de los pastores de la iglesia, David Easterwood, es director de la oficina local del ICE. Una de las organizadoras de la protesta, la destacada activista local Nekima Levy Armstrong, dijo que también es reverenda ordenada. La Convención Bautista de Minnesota-Wisconsin señaló en un comunicado que lo sucedido fue “un trauma inaceptable”. “Creo que debemos ser firmes en dos áreas: alentar a nuestras iglesias a brindar atención pastoral compasiva a estas familias (migrantes) y mantenernos firmes en la santidad de nuestras casas de culto”, escribió Trey Turner, líder de la convención, a The Associated Press el lunes. La Iglesia Cities pertenece a la convención. “La interferencia fue tan significativa que los servicios se vieron obligados a terminar prematuramente. Las imágenes de video capturadas por los propios manifestantes y otras personas muestran cómo gritaban insultos y acusaciones a jóvenes, niños y familias”, añadió el comunicado. El Departamento de Justicia de Estados Unidos anunció el domingo el inicio de una investigación de derechos civiles. El reciente aumento de operativos migratorios en Minnesota incluye a más de 2.000 agentes federales, que se han enfrentado a una red de activistas comunitarios y manifestantes. El gobierno del presidente Donald Trump y funcionarios de Minnesota han intercambiado acusaciones debido a las crecientes tensiones. “Ninguna causa, política o de otro tipo, justifica la profanación de un espacio sagrado o la intimidación y el trauma infligido a las familias reunidas pacíficamente en la casa de Dios”, dijo Kevin Ezell, presidente de la Junta de Misiones de América del Norte, en un comunicado. “Lo que ocurrió no fue una protesta; fue un acoso sin ley”. Ezell afirmó que su organización apoya plenamente a Jonathan Parnell, el pastor que oficiaba durante la misa que fue interrumpida. Parnell es un misionero del grupo de Ezell y trabaja para decenas de iglesias Bautistas del Sur en el área. La Iglesia Cities no respondió a las solicitudes de comentarios de la AP. Redadas migratorias dividen a los cristianos en EE.UU. Votantes cristianos y líderes religiosos del país están divididos en torno a los dilemas morales y legales que plantea la inmigración, incluida la presencia de alrededor de 11 millones de personas que están en el país sin autorización legal y el aumento de cruces ilegales de fronteras y solicitudes de asilo durante el gobierno del presidente Joe Biden. Existen opiniones divergentes entre y dentro de las denominaciones cristianas sobre si el imperativo es cuidar del extranjero y el vecino o cumplir con las leyes y enfatizar la seguridad. En términos generales, las iglesias evangélicas blancas han apoyado una aplicación más estricta, mientras que la jerarquía católica ha hablado enérgicamente a favor de los derechos de los migrantes. La Convención Bautista del Sur es la denominación protestante más grande en Estados Unidos y tiene una teología evangélica conservadora. Miles Mullin, quien encabeza a la Comisión de Ética y Libertad Religiosa de la Convención Bautista del Sur, afirmó que los líderes religiosos pueden y a menudo han liderado protestas sobre temas sociales, pero exige que se trace una firme “línea roja” en cuanto a las…

Por CIARÁN FAHEY RABAT, Marruecos (AP) — El ensayo de Marruecos como coanfitrión de la Copa del Mundo 2030 difícilmente pudo haber salido peor con la caótica final de la Copa Africana de Naciones. La final se vio empañada el domingo por enfrentamientos entre aficionados y la seguridad en el campo y la retirada del equipo de Senegal, que sintió que se había cometido una grave injusticia después de que se anulara un gol en el tiempo de descuento antes de que al anfitrión Marruecos se le concediera un penal. Los indignados seguidores senegaleses saltaron las barricadas y se colocaron en las posiciones de los fotógrafos detrás de una de los arcos, donde lanzaron sillas al campo y se enfrentaron a la seguridad antes de que llegara la policía para intentar restablecer el orden. Mientras tanto, los jugadores rivales se encararon en la línea de banda con Walid Regragui, el técnico de Marruecos, involucrado en la refriega, posiblemente para calmar las tensiones. Los ánimos también se encendieron en la tribuna de prensa. El presidente de la FIFA, Gianni Infantino, condenó las “escenas inaceptables” y criticó a los jugadores senegaleses por abandonar el campo después de que el árbitro congoleño Jean-Jacques Ndala pitara un penal a favor de Marruecos. La gresca continuó incluso mientras se reanudaba el partido para que el atacante marroquí Brahim Díaz ejecutara una fallida definición a lo Panenka, picando el balón directo al arquero. Pape Gueye anotó en el tiempo extra para que Senegal ganara la final 1-0. La conferencia de prensa posterior al partido del entrenador de Senegal, Pape Thiaw, fue cancelada después de que llegara sonriendo para responder a las preguntas de los periodistas cuando fue abucheado, presumiblemente por periodistas marroquíes, y se produjeron discusiones entre los medios acreditados. Fallos de seguridad y toallas Además de los fallos de seguridad que permitieron a los aficionados llegar al campo de juego durante la final, hubo otros incidentes que reflejaron mal en Marruecos como anfitrión, incluyendo el tira y afloja constante con Yéhvann Diouf, el arquero suplente de Senegal al intentar evitar que los recogepelotas marroquíes robaran las toallas del titular Édouard Mendy durante el partido. A Stanley Nwabali, arquerro de Nigeria, también le robaron su toalla antes de la tanda de penales contra Marruecos en la semifinal. Marruecos también pareció beneficiarse de un arbitraje favorable durante todo el torneo, mientras que su imagen como buen anfitrión se vio algo empañada por los ensordecedores silbidos que los equipos rivales enfrentaron por parte de los aficionados marroquíes en el Estadio Príncipe Moulay Abdellah, con capacidad para 69.500 personas, donde el equipo local jugó todos sus partidos. Antes de la final, la federación de Senegal condenó enérgicamente a las autoridades locales por el trato que recibió su equipo a su llegada a Rabat para el partido. Aspectos positivos fuera del campo Marruecos será coanfitrión principal del Mundial 2030 junto con España y Portugal. El torneo arrancará con partidos en Argentina, Paraguay y Uruguay al celebrarse el centenario del torneo. Los marroquíes cifran esperanzas de albergar la final en el Estadio Hassan II, actualmente en construcción, que se espera sea el estadio de fútbol más grande del mundo con una capacidad de 115.000 personas tras su finalización prevista en 2028. Las conexiones ferroviarias que llevan a los aficionados de Rabat a los estadios en Tánger, Marrakech, Casablanca, Agadir y Fez son excelentes, mientras que la aplicación de boletos de la red ferroviaria nacional ONCF está disponible en inglés, francés o árabe y es fácil de usar para los aficionados extranjeros. Las autopistas entre las principales ciudades también son excelentes y fueron elogiadas por los periodistas que llegaron de otros países africanos. Marruecos ya ha invertido mucho en infraestructura e instalaciones en su intento por convertirse en una superpotencia del fútbol, y aún no ha…