Bluefin tuna sells for record $3.2 million at year-opening auction at Tokyo fish market

TOKYO (AP) — A massive 243-kilogram (535-pound) bluefin tuna sold for a record 510 million yen ($3.2 million) at the first auction of 2026 at Tokyo's Toyosu fish market.

The top bidder for the prized tuna at the predawn auction on Monday was Kiyomura Corp., whose owner Kiyoshi Kimura runs the popular Sushi Zanmai chain. Kimura, who has won the annual action many times in the past, broke the previous record of 334 million yen ($2.1 million) he set in 2019.

Kimura later told reporters he was hoping to pay a bit less for it, but "the price shot up before you knew it."

The auction started when the bell rang, and the floor was filled with torpedo-shaped fish with their tails cut off so bidders could examine meat details such as color, texture and fattiness while walking around the rows of tuna.

The pricey fish was caught off the coast of Oma in northern Japan, a region widely regarded for producing some of the country's finest tuna, and costs 2.1 million yen ($13,360) per kilogram ($6,060 per pound).

"It's in part for good luck," Kimura said. "But when I see a good looking tuna, I cannot resist ... I haven't sampled it yet, but it's got to be delicious."

Hundreds of tuna are sold daily at the early morning auction, but prices are significantly higher than usual for the Oma tuna, especially at the celebratory New Year auction.

Due to the popularity of tuna for sushi and sashimi, Pacific bluefin tuna was previously a threatened species due to climate change and overfishing, but its stock is recovering following conservation efforts.

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Bluefin tuna sells for record $3.2 million at year-opening auction at Tokyo fish market

TOKYO (AP) — A massive 243-kilogram (535-pound) bluefin tuna sold for a record 510 million yen ($3.2 million) at the firs...

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Denmark's PM urges Trump to 'stop the threats' of annexing Greenland

The prime minister of Denmark called on President Donald Trump to "stop the threats" of the U.S. annexing Greenland. It comes after public comments from Trump and the wife of top adviser Stephen Miller garnered international attention.

"I have to say this very directly to the United States," Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen wrote in a statement on X on Sunday.

"It makes absolutely no sense to talk about the United States needing to take over Greenland. The U.S. has no right to annex one of the three countries in the Danish Kingdom.

Denmark doesn't 'appreciate the tone' of US Greenland remarks, minister says

Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen also released a statement, saying, "Our country is not an object of superpower rhetoric. We are a people. A country. A democracy. This has to be respected."

In an interview published inThe Atlanticon Sunday, Trump was asked about his repeated calls for the U.S. to annex Greenland in the name of national security, saying, "We do need Greenland, absolutely. We need it for defense."

On Saturday, Katie Miller, the wife of Trump's deputy chief of staff and homeland security adviser Stephen Miller, posted a picture onXof the American flag over the map of Greenland. She captioned the post, "SOON."

Prime Minister Nielsen referenced "disrespectful posts on social media" in his statement on Sunday.

"We are open to conversations. But it has to be through the right channels and with respect to international law. And the right channels are not random and disrespectful posts on social media," he said.

Speaking to reporters on Sunday night, Trump was asked about his comments on Greenland, to which he reiterated, "We need Greenland from a national security situation. It's so strategic right now, Greenland is covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place. We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security and Denmark is not going to be able to do it."

Asked how he'd justify taking the country, Trump claimed that it would be for national security and in the European Union's best interest, too.

"I just say this, we need Greenland, from the standpoint of national security, and the European Union needs us to have it, and they know that," he said.

Last month, Trump appointed Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry as his special envoy to Greenland, drawing contempt from Frederiksen and Nielsen.

"You cannot annex another country. Not even with an argument about international security," the leaders said in a joint statement at the time. "Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders and the U.S. shall not take over Greenland."

Greenland has been in the Danish Kingdom since the early 18th century, but was granted home rule in 1979.

Trump's special envoy to Greenland sparks backlash with comments about taking over the territory

In her statement on Sunday, Frederiksen noted that Denmark, and Greenland by extension, are NATO members, which makes them covered by the alliance's security guarantee.

"I would therefore strongly urge the United States to stop the threats against a historically close ally and against another country and another people who have very clearly said that they are not for sale."

The discourse surrounding Greenland comes a day after the United States conducted land strikes on Venezuela and the country's president, Nicolas Maduro, and his wife werecaptured and arrested.

They were brought to New York City, where they face a 4-count superseding indictment that accuses them of conspiring with violent, dangerous drug traffickers for the last 25 years.

ABC News' Will Gretsky contributed to this report.

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Denmark's PM urges Trump to 'stop the threats' of annexing Greenland

The prime minister of Denmark called on President Donald Trump to "stop the threats" of the U.S. annexing Green...

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India's top court denies bail to 2 Muslim activists after 5 years in jail without trial

NEW DELHI (AP) — India's Supreme Court on Monday denied bail to two Muslim student activists who have spent years in detention without trial over a conspiracy case linked to one of the country'sdeadliest outbreaks of religious violence.

Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam were arrested five years ago under India's harsh state security law and accused of conspiring to incite the communal violence that swept parts of Delhi in February 2020. The riots left 53 people dead, most of them Muslims, and took place amid massive months-long protests against a controversial2019 citizenship lawthat critics said discriminated against Muslims.

While bail was granted to the other five accused in the same case, the court noted that Khalid and Imam had a "central role in the conspiracy." It also said that the delay in their trial was not a sufficient ground for granting them bail.

"Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam stand on a qualitatively different footing as compared to other accused," the Supreme Court said in its verdict, according to Bar and Bench, a legal news website.

The two student activists were a leading voice in nationwide protests against the citizenship law, which marked one of the most significant challenges to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist government. Their detention has been widely seen as emblematic of abroader crackdown on dissentunder Modi, drawing criticism from rights groups over the use of anti-terror laws against activists and student leaders.

In the months following the riots, police charged several activists and organizers, including Khalid and Imam, under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, that in the past was used only to quell violent insurgencies but under Modi has been largely used to silence political opposition. Activists and other dissenters targeted under the law can be held in pretrial detention almost indefinitely, often resulting in years of detention until the completion of trial.

Prosecutors representing the Delhi police had strongly opposed Khalid and Imam's bail request, arguing that the violence was not a spontaneous outbreak but a deliberate plot intended to tarnish India's global image, and that they made provocative speeches and instigated violence. Khalid and Imam's lawyers argue that there is no evidence linking them to the violence and deny the charges against them.

Dozens of other Muslims were also charged in similar cases related to the riots and held under prolonged detention. Some of those cases later unraveled because police were unable to provide evidence linking many detainees to the riots.

Last week, eight U.S. lawmakers wrote to India's ambassador in Washington expressing concern over Khalid's prolonged pretrial detention. They urged Indian authorities to grant him a fair and timely trial.

International human rights groups have also repeatedly urged Khalid and Imam's release, saying their detention suppresses dissent and breaches fundamental legal protections.

Amnesty International in a statement last year said Khalid's "imprisonment without trial exemplifies derailment of justice" and is "emblematic of a broader pattern of repression faced by those who dare to exercise their rights to freedom of expression."

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India's top court denies bail to 2 Muslim activists after 5 years in jail without trial

NEW DELHI (AP) — India's Supreme Court on Monday denied bail to two Muslim student activists who have spent years in ...

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Ravens have a long offseason to think about where to go next after stunning loss to Steelers

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Lamar Jackson thought it was over. That the Baltimore Ravens' unwieldy season would end up in a familiar spot: the playoffs.

Then, rookie kicker Tyler Loop's potential game-winning field goal from 44 yards out drifted a little right. And then a little further right. And then a little further right still.

By the time it fluttered well wide of the goalposts, the playoffs were gone. So was Jackson's certainty aftera 26-24 loss to Pittsburghon Sunday night sent the Ravens into what could be a turbulent offseason.

"I'm definitely stunned, man," Jackson said. "I thought we had it in the bag. ... I don't know what else we can do."

Jackson, who never really seemed fully healthy during his eighth season as he battled one thing after another, did his part. The two-time NFL MVP passed for 238 yards and three touchdowns, including two long connections with Zay Flowers in the fourth quarter that put the Ravens (8-9) in front.

It just wasn't enough. Baltimore's defense, which played most of the second half without star safety Kyle Hamilton after Hamilton entered the concussion protocol, wilted against 42-year-old Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Rodgers passed for a season-high 294 yards, including a 26-yard flip to a wide-open Calvin Austin with 55 seconds to go after a defender slipped, symbolic of a season in which Baltimore's defense only occasionally found its form.

Still, the Ravens had a chance when Jackson found Isaiah Likely for a 28-yard gain on fourth down from midfield. A couple of snaps later, the 24-year-old Loop walked on to try to lift Baltimore to its third straight division title.

Instead, the rookie said he "mishit" it. Whatever it was, it never threatened to sneak between the goalposts.

"It's disappointing," Loop said.

Loop was talking about the game. He might as well have been talking about his team's season.

The Ravens began 1-5 as Jackson dealt with injuries and the defense struggled to get stops. Baltimore found a way to briefly tie the Steelers for first in late November, only to then split its next four games, including a home loss to Pittsburgh.

Still, when Jackson and the Ravens walked onto the Acrisure Stadium turf on Sunday night in the 272nd and final game of the NFL regular season, Baltimore was confident. The Ravens drilled Pittsburgh in the opening round of the playoffs a year ago behind the ever-churning legs of running back Derrick Henry.

When Henry ripped off a gain of 40-plus yards on the game's first offensive snap, it looked like it was going to be more of the same. While Henry did rush for 126 yards and joined Hall of Famer Barry Sanders as the only running backs in NFL history to have five 1,500-yard seasons, he was less effective in the second half.

Even that first run was telling of what night it was going to be, as an illegal block by wide receiver Zay Flowers cost Baltimore some field position. The Ravens ended up scoring on the drive anyway, thanks to a 38-yard fourth-down flip from Jackson to a wide-open Devontez Walker, but it started a pattern that was hard to shake as several steps forward were met with one step back on a night the Ravens finished with nine penalties for 78 yards.

"We were having a lot of penalties, which kept stopping drives," Jackson said. "But I'm proud of my guys because we kept overcoming. We kept overcoming adversity and situations like this. Divisional games (can) be like that sometimes."

Particularly when the Steelers are on the other side of the line of scrimmage. Pittsburgh has won 10 of the last 13 meetings. And while a handful of them have been in late-season matchups with the Ravens already assured of reaching the playoffs, the reality is the Steelers have been able to regularly do something that most others have not: found a way to beat Jackson.

"It comes down to situations like this," Jackson said. "Two-point conversion one year. Field goal another year. And again this year. Just got to find a way to get that win here."

And figure out who is going to be around to help get it.

Head coach John Harbaugh's 18th season in Baltimore ended with the Ravens missing the playoffs for just the second time in eight years. Jackson turns 29 this week and is still one of the most electric players in the league.

Yet Harbaugh and Jackson have yet to find a way to have that breakthrough season that Harbaugh enjoyed with Joe Flacco in 2013 when the Ravens won the Super Bowl.

There was hope when the season began that the roadblocks that have long been in the franchise's way — Kansas City and Patrick Mahomes chief among them — would be gone.

While the Ravens did get their way in a sense — theChiefswill watch the playoffs from afar for the first time in a decade after a nightmarish season of their own — it never all came together.

Jackson declined to endorse Harbaugh returning for a 19th season, saying the loss was still too fresh to zoom out on what it might mean for the franchise going forward.

Harbaugh, for his part, certainly seems up for running it back in the fall.

"I love these guys," he said afterward. "I love these guys."

AP NFL:https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

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Ravens have a long offseason to think about where to go next after stunning loss to Steelers

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Lamar Jackson thought it was over. That the Baltimore Ravens' unwieldy season would end up in a fam...

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Ka'imi Fairbairn's 6 FGs help Texans beat Colts, lock up No. 5 seed

Ka'imi Fairbairn kicked a career-best six field goals, including the go-ahead 43-yarder with 12 seconds remaining, as the host Houston Texans defeated the Indianapolis Colts 38-30 on Sunday afternoon.

The victory was the ninth in a row for Houston (12-5), which will be the No. 5 seed in the AFC and will visit the fourth-seeded Pittsburgh Steelers in the wild-card round on Jan. 12.

The loss was the seventh straight for the Colts (8-9). Blake Grupe kicked a 22-yard field goal with 2:39 remaining to give Indianapolis a 30-29 lead.

Houston was in the running for the AFC South crown, but the Jacksonville Jaguars pounded the Tennessee Titans 41-7 to win the title.

With the Jaguars well ahead in their game, the Texans rested several starters in the second half, including C.J. Stroud, who completed 14 of 23 passes for 169 yards and one touchdown in the first half. Davis Mills was 3-of-9 passing for 36 yards in the second half.

"Of course, I saw the score of the game and Jacksonville was up," DeMeco Ryans said of Houston pulling some starters in the second half. "We got a few guys out, I guess. That's the whole thing about... Everybody talking about resting starters. It's hard to take everybody out. You only get 48 guys to go play on game day, so it's hard to take everybody out. But when we saw where they (the Jaguars) were in that game and they were up and had a pretty big lead. So, I pulled out selected guys when I could."

Jayden Higgins caught a touchdown pass for Houston. Tommy Togiai scored on a 17-yard fumble to end the game when Indianapolis' lateral-fest backfired. It was Togiai's first career touchdown.

Riley Leonard completed 21 of 34 passes for 270 yards, two touchdowns and one interception for the Colts in his first NFL start. Colts coach Shane Steichen said Leonard "did some good things," but the end result sparked a familiar feeling in the postgame locker room.

"It was frustrating. Yeah, the last half of the season for sure, that's what it's been," Steichen said. "Not finding ways to finish. We have to work tirelessly to get that fixed."

Alec Pierce caught four passes for 132 yards and two touchdowns before being ejected late in the third quarter for making contact with an official.

"He was just talking to the official, they said he bumped into him and that was a call," Steichen said. "Obviously, Alec did not mean to do that. Alec's character is top of the line, one of the best dudes on our team. Just an unfortunate situation."

Leonard scored on a 1-yard run on the Colts' drive to open the third quarter as his team took a 24-23 lead. Fairbairn kicked a 43-yard field goal to put Houston ahead with 6:53 left before Grupe booted a 39-yard field goal for a 27-26 Colts edge with 1:42 left.

An interception by Alijah Huzzie gave Houston great field position at the Colts' 33-yard line but the Texans settled for Fairbairn's 44-yard field goal and a two-point lead with 11:15 left in the game.

Stroud accounted for two touchdowns in the first half as the Texans led 23-17 at the break.

On his first pass attempt of the day, Leonard fired a 66-yard touchdown pass to Pierce between Fairbairn field goals of 51 and 48 yards. Grupe kicked a 50-yard field goal to give the Colts a 10-6 lead with 34 seconds left in the first quarter.

Stroud threw an 11-yard scoring pass to Higgins to give the Texans the lead with 9:34 left in the first half.

Houston's Danielle Hunter sacked Leonard and forced a fumble that Henry To'oTo'o recovered at the Indianapolis 2-yard line. Stroud scored on the next play to make it 20-10 with 8:32 remaining.

Leonard hit Pierce on an 8-yard scoring pass with 1:25 left before Fairbairn booted a 29-yard field goal on the final play of the half.

--Field Level Media

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Ka'imi Fairbairn's 6 FGs help Texans beat Colts, lock up No. 5 seed

Ka'imi Fairbairn kicked a career-best six field goals, including the go-ahead 43-yarder with 12 seconds remaining,...

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NFL wild-card preview: Which 6 teams have the most juice heading into their Round 1 matchup?

The NFL postseason is upon us.

While the No. 1 seeded Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos each get to kick back and relax this coming weekend, 12 other teams will battle in the wild-card round.

Here's a look at the six games, which includes: a team that backslid into the postseason despite not hitting the .500 mark; a hot NFC North rivalry; the emergence of a former No. 1 NFL Draft pick; the defending Super Bowl champion showing vulnerability; an MVP candidate in only his second season and jaw-dropping magic from Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers.

(5) Los Angeles Rams at (4) Carolina Panthers

Why the Panthers can win

Week 13 of the regular season, thePanthers beat this Rams team 31-28 in Charlotte. So why not again? The key will be getting Los Angeles quarterback Matthew Stafford off his game again, which is what Carolina did in the first match. In that one, Stafford uncharacteristically turned the ball over three times, including a first-quarter pick 6 that was ultimately the difference in the loss. Carolina quarterback Bryce Young was also efficient and opportunistic, and hit the big fourth-quarter pass when it mattered on a game-deciding, 43-yard touchdown to rookie Tetairoa McMillan.

Why the Rams can win

Wideout Davante Adams could be back in the lineup and that would make the Rams an extremely difficult team to boat race between Adams, receiver Puka Nacua, the very effective two-headed running back rotation of Kyren Williams and Blake Corum, and Stafford coming off a nice four-touchdown pass game in theregular-season finale win over the Arizona Cardinals. Safety Quentin Lake returning to the lineup for the playoffs is also a massive development. L.A.'s defense was playing some of its best football into mid-November when he went down, and he was sorely missed in multiple big games down the stretch. He missed the first matchup with the Panthers and will absolutely make a difference in this one.

Who has the juice going in

Without question, the Rams are feeling much better after getting their offense on track in the season-ending win over the Cardinals and a defensive performance that produced six sacks of Jacoby Brissett from five different players. Yes, it was against the Cardinals, but the Rams had something to play for and they showed it. They also know their defense is getting Lake back this week. There are a lot of positive feelings in Los Angeles. The Panthers backed into the playoffs, falling in their regular-season finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and then needed help from the Atlanta Falcons to get in. Carolina is also 8-9 and its offense has been a roller coaster. The Panthers are at home, but it's hard to know what Panthers team you're going to get.

(7) Green Bay Packers at (2) Chicago Bears

Why the Packers can win

Quarterback Jordan Love will be back from a concussion and was playing some of his best football of the season before thePackers' loss to Denver on Dec. 14. Green Bay is also facing a feast-or-famine Chicago defense that has been too reliant on turnovers over the course of the season and is struggling to get to the quarterback over the past month while giving up massive amounts of yardage.

Why the Bears can win

Despitelosing the season finale to the Detroit Lions, Chicago's offense has some intriguing young talent that is blossoming at the right time. Tight end Colston Loveland is a significant matchup problem and wideout Luther Burden III is versatile and more comfortable than ever in his role. The Bears also may get wideout Rome Odunze back from lingering foot issues.

Who has the juice going in

The Bears, only because the Packers have absolutely fallen flat on their face over the past month. They've lost four straight games to end the season, lost Micah Parsons to a season-ending injury and have Love banged up to close the season. Chicago has lost three of its past five, but the Bears' offense has shown signs of life and the ability to be balanced. Chicago also gets the benefit of playing in front of a home crowd that hasn't been this excited about its team since the 2018 season.

(6) Buffalo Bills at (3) Jacksonville Jaguars

Why the Jaguars can win

Trevor Lawrence is on an absolute heater over his past six games. He has 19 total touchdowns in a corner-turning run inside head coach Liam Coen's offense. Granted, a lot of the sparks have come against some bad teams, but it also included one of the biggest regular-season wins of Lawrence's career in a34-20 road victory over the Denver Broncos on Dec. 21. It feels like an arrival of sorts for Lawrence — including a bit of playing with some arrogance (in a good way) — although there is still going to be suspicion about whether it can be replicated in the postseason. If the Bronco buster Lawrence is the real Trevor, the Jaguars can play with anyone in the postseason.

Why the Bills can win

In Josh Allen, the Bills have got the best veteran quarterback in the AFC playoff field and he's in his prime. He's also a pain to bring down and is going against a Jaguars defense that can pressure quarterbacks but is in the league's bottom five in sacks. And now Allen has a legitimate partner in the backfield to carry the playoff load in James Cook, who put up some big games against three AFC playoff teams (the Houston Texans, Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots) since November. The 13-12 clunker defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 17 wasn't inspiring, but it's better that Buffalo got that wakeup call in late December than January.

Who has the juice going in

The Jaguars have it, winning eight straight and nine of 10 games since their bye week. And the lone loss came on the road against a Houston Texans team that rounded into a high-end defense and playoff team down the stretch. Lawrence hitting another level as a quarterback might have the fan base as excited as it has ever been, and that will show up in the home-field advantage. On the other side of the ledger, it's hard for the Bills since their last full-strength impression was that loss to the Eagles where Allen was sacked five times. Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott being 0-5 in playoff road games is also concerning.

(6) San Francisco 49ers at (3) Philadelphia Eagles

Why the 49ers can win

If San Francisco — and this is an overwhelming "if" — has its full suit of offensive players for this game, the Niners can challenge the Eagles' defense. But afterseeing the 49ers' struggles against a similarly talented (and well-coached) Seattle Seahawks defensein the 13-3 loss in Week 18, it's clear offensive tackle Trent Williams and wideout Ricky Pearsall really need to be back up and running for this game. Running back Christian McCaffrey missed that tandem in the Seahawks' loss. While we won't know the update on that pair until midweek, that seems like a stretch right now.

Why the Eagles can win

Their offense is inconsistent and frustrating and there's no certainty that the running game will show up consistently in the postseason, but this defense has the elite talent to drag out wins. When defensive coordinator Vic Fangio put together a game plan that battered Josh Allen andheld the Buffalo Bills to 12 points in Week 17, it showcased at least half of a Super Bowl-worthy team. Conversely, the 49ers' pass rush has had issues getting to quarterbacks, which should make life for Jalen Hurts — and the performance of his uncharacteristically unpredictable offensive line — a bit easier.

Who has the juice going in

Oddly, even banged up and losing the regular-season finale to Seattle and getting sent on the road in the wild card, the 49ers had their chances against the Seahawks … and both quarterback Brock Purdy and the offense were smoking hot going into that game. Meanwhile, theEagles rested their starters and lost out on the No. 2 seed in the NFC in the process, which was deflating and left the lasting memory of their offense being a putrid second half against the Bills. And frankly, between head coaches Kyle Shanahan and Nick Sirainni, it's Shanahan who has put together a masterpiece this season despite playing in a brutal NFC West.

(7) Los Angeles Chargers at (2) New England Patriots

Why the Patriots can win

Quarterback Drake Maye turned a runaway MVP race into an absolute photo finish — and he did it by stressing defenses with his accuracy, deep-ball wizardry, ability to scramble and a poise that made him look like a 10-year veteran this season. He's going to give the Chargers problems. And now he has a very potent two-headed running attack backing him up with TreVeyon Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson really coming together over the past month of the season. Defensive tackle Milton Williams and offensive tackle Will Campbell are also back in the fold right when New England needs them most. That's a lot of up arrows.

Why the Chargers can win

The New England run defense has had its issues down the stretch and the Chargers continually remixed offensive line could absolutely use the help. The return of Milton Williams will certainly help the Patriots, but you can't count on consistent betterment in the front seven until you see it materialize. That said, QB Justin Herbert getting a running game out of Omarion Hampton — combined with Herbert's own ability to scramble or create in designed runs — can certainly hurt New England. Especially in the rare occasions Herbert hasn't gotten beaten up by the pass rush.

Who has the juice going in

The Patriots are flying right now and are only a terrible second half against the Buffalo Bills from going into the playoffs on a 14-game winning streak. They'll have to settle for being 13-1 in their last 14, but they obliterated  the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins in their past two games. Yes, they've feasted on a lot of non-playoff teams down the stretch, but good teams should beat and at times dominate bad teams, and that's what New England did. The Chargers have lost their last two. And while Week 18 was a rest game for their starters, Herbert absorbed 16 sacks in three of his four games in December. He's getting hit too much and still has an injured non-throwing hand. That's concerning.

(5) Houston Texans at (4) Pittsburgh Steelers

Why the Steelers can win

If ever there was an emotional high and some magical dust sprinkled onto a team in its regular-season finale,Pittsburgh got it with its 26-24 win over the Baltimore Ravens to get into the postseason. But it wasn't a fluke. After the Ravens took a 17-13 lead midway through the fourth quarter, Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the surrounding offense went blow-for-blow the rest of the way — and did it without DK Metcalf, who was in the final game of his suspension. Yes, it took a horribly missed field goal by the Ravens to win and get into the playoffs. But everything is a new lease now. The all-in gamble on making Rodgers work got the Steelers back into the postseason on an emotional high.

Why the Texans can win

Houston started 0-3 but leaned on a hellacious defense to finish the season on 12-2 run that has seen its offense show signs of life down the stretch. That includes a 9-0 run to end the season. Aside from the Indianapolis Colts putting up a fight in Week 18 against the Texans (who began sitting starters as the game went on), this defense does not give up points to opponents. Houston also throttled a very mobile Justin Herbert in Week 17 with five sacks and will be staring at Rodgers like he's a potted plant in this one. Among the playoff quarterbacks in the AFC field, the Texans beat Herbert, Trevor Lawrence and Josh Allen during their 9-0 run. That speaks loudly.

Who has the juice going in

This might be a coin flip, but for somewhat different reasons. Houston gets the edge via a 9-0 run, but the Steelers got the gift of playoff life when it looked like the postseason had been extinguished in their regular-season finale. That gift and playing at home gives Pittsburgh plenty of juice. But the Texans get the overall edge because of the aforementioned AFC playoff quarterbacks they've cut down on their way into the postseason. And the Steelers' elation to have won their finale could turn out to be more relief than confidence. We will see.

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NFL wild-card preview: Which 6 teams have the most juice heading into their Round 1 matchup?

The NFL postseason is upon us. While the No. 1 seeded Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos each get to kick back ...

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Paris court to rule in case involving alleged cyberbullying of Brigitte Macron

PARIS (AP) — A Paris court is to rule on Monday in a case involving10 people accused of cyberbullyingFrench first ladyBrigitte Macronby spreading false online claims about her gender and sexuality, allegations her daughter said damaged her health and family life.

The defendants, eight men and two women aged 41 to 60, are accused of posting "numerous malicious comments" falsely claiming that PresidentEmmanuel Macron's wife was born a man and linking the 24-year age gap with her husband to pedophilia. Some of the posts were viewed tens of thousands of times.

Brigitte Macron did not attend the two-day trial in October.

Her daughter,Tiphaine Auzière, testifiedabout what she described as the "deterioration" of her mother's life since the online harassment intensified. "She cannot ignore the horrible things said about her," Auzière told the court. She said the impact has extended to the entire family, including Macron's grandchildren.

Defendant Delphine Jegousse, 51, who is known as Amandine Roy and describes herself as a medium and an author, is considered as having played a major role in spreading the rumor after she released a four-hour video on her YouTube channel in 2021.

The X account of Aurélien Poirson-Atlan, 41, known as Zoé Sagan on social media, was suspended in 2024 after his name was cited in several judicial investigations.

Other defendants include an elected official, a teacher and a computer scientist. Several told the court their comments were intended as humor or satire and said they did not understand why they were being prosecuted. They face up to two years in prison if convicted.

The case follows years of conspiracy theories falsely alleging that Brigitte Macron was born under the name Jean-Michel Trogneux, which is actually the name of her brother. The Macrons have alsofiled a defamation suitin the United States against conservative influencerCandace Owens.

The Macrons, who have beenmarried since 2007, first met at the high school where he was a student and she was a teacher. Brigitte Macron, 24 years her husband's senior, was then called Brigitte Auzière, a married mother of three.

Emmanuel Macron, 48, has been France's president since 2017.

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Paris court to rule in case involving alleged cyberbullying of Brigitte Macron

PARIS (AP) — A Paris court is to rule on Monday in a case involving10 people accused of cyberbullyingFrench first ladyBri...

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