Greenland’s party leaders have rejected President Donald Trump’s calls for the U.S. to take control of the island. They insist that Greenland’s future must be decided by its people. Trump said on Friday he wants to acquire Greenland, a semiautonomous region of Denmark, to prevent Russia or China from taking it. He mentioned doing it “the easy way” or “the hard way” without explaining further. The White House is considering options, including military force. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned that an American takeover could end NATO. Officials from Denmark, Greenland, and the U.S. met Thursday to discuss the issue.

Prisoners are now taking regular trips to far-flung, exotic locales such as Thailand. No passport required, just a virtual reality headset. A Los Angeles-based nonprofit is bringing the technology to California lockups with the goal of providing inmates a brief escape and, more importantly, exposure to real world scenarios that will prepare them to reenter society. During a weeklong program last month, incarcerated men at Valley State Prison near Fresno strapped on VR goggles. Some saw the sights on the other side of the globe, including Bangkok, while others experienced more practical scenes, such as job interviews.

Nearly 50 years after the 1979 Islamic Revolution overthrew his father, exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi has spurred demonstrators onto the streets in a massive escalation of the protests sweeping Iran. But Pahlavi’s call, rebroadcast by Farsi-language satellite news channels and websites abroad, raises questions about both his influence and the ultimate aim of the demonstrators in the streets. Iranian state media has for years mocked the 65-year-old Pahlavi, who lives in exile in the United States, as being out of touch and corrupt. President Donald Trump and other world leaders have been hesitant to embrace him.

A Philippine official says rescuers have detected signs of life in an avalanche of garbage that killed at least four workers and left more than 30 others missing. The official says the search will be intensified at the landfill in the central Philippines. Twelve workers have been retrieved alive from the huge mound of garbage that collapsed Thursday afternoon. The collapse happened among low-slung buildings of a waste management facility in Binaliw village in Cebu City. Mayor Nestor Archival says authorities confirmed the presence of signs of life in specific areas that require careful excavation and a more advanced crane

Giannis Antetokounmpo blocked a shot by LeBron James and stole the ball from him on consecutive possessions in the final minute, and the Milwaukee Bucks blew a fourth-quarter lead before rallying for a 105-101 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. Kevin Porter Jr. scored 22 points, and he hit two free throws to break a tie after Antetokounmpo blocked a driving layup attempt by James with 39 seconds left. Antetokounmpo then knocked the ball out of James’ hands from behind with 2 seconds left, and Porter hit two more free throws to seal Milwaukee’s fifth win in seven games. Luka Doncic had 24 points for the Lakers.

Indiana is headed to its first national championship game after beating Oregon 56-22 in the Peach Bowl. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza has been a key player in a historic season for Indiana. The team is set to face Miami at Hard Rock Stadium. The game will be a homecoming for Mendoza, who grew up in Miami and attended high school 30 minutes south of the stadium.

U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened Greenland and says Washington must take control of the strategically located island. The White House says military options are being considered. But Denmark's prime minister warns that would spell the end of NATO. Greenlanders oppose becoming part of the U.S. The United States already has a military base there under a 1951 defense agreement. Trump says control is needed for security against Russian and Chinese threats. But Greenlanders say they want independence and not U.S. annexation.

Authorities in New Mexico have issued an arrest warrant for director and Emmy Award-winning actor Timothy Busfield to face a child sex abuse charge. An investigator with the Albuquerque Police Department said in a criminal complaint Friday that the child reported that Busfield touched him inappropriately. The acts allegedly occurred on the set of “The Cleaning Lady,” a TV series Busfield directed and acted in. The complaint says the child’s mother told Child Protective Services the abuse occurred between November 2022 and spring 2024. Busfield’s attorney and agent did not immediately respond to email messages seeking comment late Friday.

The Washington National Opera is moving performances away from the Kennedy Center. The decision follows President Donald Trump's takeover of the venue and its rebranding as the Trump-Kennedy Center. A statement from the opera says it can't function under financial constraints imposed by the Trump-appointed board of the Kennedy Center. The opera will reduce its spring season and move performances to other venues. Francesca Zambello, the opera's artistic director, vows to continue offering a variety of shows.

The Trump administration has tried to freeze funds for programs including child care subsidies and cash assistance and job training for poor families with children. The administration says it's rooting out fraud, but some state leaders say the motivation is political, with five Democratic-led states a special focus of attention. Money had been on hold for California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and New York. Those states sued to challenge the demands and a federal judge on Friday halted it for at least two weeks while arguments are presented in court. The administration asked the state to produce personal data on program recipients.

A federal judge on Friday blocked President Donald Trump’s administration from enforcing most of his executive order on elections against the vote-by-mail states Washington and Oregon, in the latest blow to Trump’s efforts to require documentary proof of citizenship to vote and to require that all ballots be received by Election Day. U.S. District Judge John H. Chun found that those requirements exceeded the president’s authority, following similar rulings in a Massachusetts case brought by 19 states and in a Washington, D.C., case by Democratic and civil rights groups.

Jon-Eric Sullivan has agreed join the Miami Dolphins as their general manager. The former Green Bay Packers executive is the first key piece in Miami’s organizational reboot. Sullivan was previously the Packers’ vice president of player personnel. He completed an in-person interview this week with the Dolphins. Miami was expected to move swiftly in hiring a new general manager after parting ways with longtime GM Chris Grier during the season. Sullivan's first major task will be hiring a head coach after Mike McDaniel was fired Thursday. ESPN first reported the deal.

A rare copy of the comic book that introduced the world to Superman and also was once stolen from the home of actor Nicolas Cage has been sold for a record $15 million. The private deal for “Action Comics No. 1” was announced Friday. It eclipses the previous record set last November when a copy of “Superman No. 1″ was sold at auction for $9.12 million. The Action Comics sale was negotiated by Manhattan-based Metropolis Collectibles/Comic Connect, which said the comic book’s owner and the buyer wished to remain anonymous. The comic sold for 10 cents when it came out in 1938 and marks the beginning of the superhero genre.

The Minneapolis school system will offer families the option of remote learning for a month. Officials made the announcement Friday in response to concerns that children might feel unsafe venturing out in the city. Tensions are high in Minneapolis over federal immigration enforcement. Parents and educators say such enforcement in cities around the U.S. has led to dips in attendance. Under the temporary plan, teachers will simultaneously deliver lessons from their classrooms to students in the classroom and at home. It's similar to the way many did during the COVID-19 pandemic. The district says the virtual option will be available until Feb. 12.

The NCAA has denied Mississippi’s request to extend the eligibility of Trinidad Chambliss. The Rebels star quarterback finished his fifth year of college football in a 31-27 loss to Miami in the College Football Playoff semifinals on Thursday night. He had planned to return to Ole Miss for one more year. Ole Miss will appeal the decision. Chambliss took a redshirt his first season at Ferris State in 2021-22 and was held out his second season for medical reasons. He played two more seasons at the Division II school, and then transferred to Ole Miss. The Rebels filed the waiver request with the NCAA in November.