ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – This week marks conference championship weekend in pro football. The KRQE team discussed both games including New England vs Denver and Los Angeles vs Seattle. Pro Football is the number one sport in the country, navigating the ins and outs can be difficult. That’s why Santa Ana is giving you an inside track. Welcome […]
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Pro Football Conference Championship Previews: Inside Sports Scoop
Japan’s Takaichi dissolves parliament after months in office, sets up snap election
TOKYO — Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi dissolved the lower house of Parliament on Friday, paving the way for a Feb. 8 snap election.
The move is an attempt to capitalize on her popularity to help governing party regain ground after major losses in recent years, but will delay parliamentary approval for a budget that aims at boosting a struggling economy and addressing soaring prices.
Elected in October as Japan’s first female leader, Takaichi has been in office only three months, but she has seen strong approval ratings of about 70%.
Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party could still face some challenges as it reels from a series of scandals about corruption and the party’s past ties to the controversial Unification Church. But it’s not clear if the new opposition Centrist Reform Alliance can attract moderate voters while opposition parties are still too splintered to a pose a serious threat to the LDP.
Takaichi is also seeing rising animosity with China since she made remarks that touched on Taiwan. And U.S. President Donald Trump wants her to spend more on weapons as Washington and Beijing pursue military superiority in the region.
The dissolution of the 465-member lower house paves the way for a 12-day campaign that officially starts Tuesday. When house speaker Fukushiro Nukaga declared the dissolution, the assembled parliamentarians stood up, shouted banzai — “long live” — three times and rushed out to prepare for the campaign.
Takaichi’s plan for an early election aims to capitalize on her popularity to win a governing majority in the lower house, the more powerful of Japan’s two-chamber Parliament.
The scandal-tainted LDP and its coalition had a slim majority in the more lower house after an election loss in 2024. The coalition lacks a majority in the upper house and relies on winning votes from opposition members to pass its agenda.
Opposition leaders criticized Takaichi for delaying passage of a budget needed to fund key economic measures.
“I believe that the only option is for the people, as sovereign citizens, to decide whether Sanae Takaichi should be prime minister,” she told a news conference Monday when announcing plans for the election. “I’m staking my career as prime minister” on it.
A hardline conservative, Takaichi wants to highlight differences with her centrist predecessor Shigeru Ishiba.
Takaichi stresses that voters need to judge her fiscal spending moves, further military buildup and tougher immigration policies to make Japan “strong and prosperous.”
While an upbeat and decisive image has earned her strong approval ratings and fans of her personal style, the LDP is not popular as it recovers from a political funds scandal. Many traditional LDP voters have shifted to emerging far-right populist opposition parties, such as the anti-globalist Sanseito.
Meanwhile, Japan faces escalating tensions with China after Takaichi made remarks suggesting that Japan could become involved if China takes military action against Taiwan, a self-governing island that Beijing claims as its own. A furious China has increased economic and diplomatic retribution.
Takaichi wants to push further a military buildup and spending increases, while Trump has pressured Japan to spend more on defense.
Takaichi says she needs a mandate to push policies she’s agreed on with her new coalition partner, the right-wing Japan Innovation Party. They struck a deal in October to pursue goals that include a stronger military, continuing male-only imperial succession, and accelerating the reactivation of offline nuclear reactors.
Takaichi struck a deal with the JIP after the LDP’s long-time ally Komeito, a Buddhist-backed centrist party, left the ruling bloc over her ideological views and reluctance to pursue anti-corruption measures. With the new partner’s help, she secured just enough votes to become prime minister.
Komeito turned to the main liberal-leaning opposition, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, to form the Centrist Reform Alliance just in time for the election.
“Now is our chance to start the centrist movement,” said Yoshihiko Noda, a former prime minister and leader of the Constitutional Democrats.
He said the new alliance seeks to achieve a diverse, gender equal and inclusive society with “people-first politics,” speaking at joint news conference with co-leader Tetsuo Saito, head of Komeito.
As divisions and confrontations spread globally and economic disparity widens at home, the new group is promising a “realistic” security policy and efforts to achieve a nuclear weapons-free world.
Opposition groups in Japan are seen as too splintered to win an election, and so far, polling for the alliance is not promising. But Komeito’s ability to turn out votes from the Soka Gakkai sect makes it a force to be reckoned with.
Takaichi is focusing on the economy, looking to attract voters with measures to address rising prices and stagnant wages, as well as support for low-income households.
But the security hawk has also pledged to revise security and defense policies by December to further strengthen the military, and to eliminate arms export restrictions to allow more sales and develop the Japanese defense industry.
Her party is also vowing tougher immigration rules and restrictions on foreigners living in Japan to address growing anti-foreign sentiment. Earlier this week, the LDP proposed new immigration policies including tougher requirements for foreign property owners and a cap on the number of foreign residents in Japan.
MYRKUR Enters Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2026 With Dark Cinematic Ballad “Touch My Love And Die”
Hey look, Myrkur is back! Myrkur is now streaming her Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2026 entry, “Touch My Love And Die” – a dark, cinematic ballad that’s perfect for the freezing weather we’re all enduring.
Commissioned by Danish broadcaster DR, the track merges Myrkur‘s many artistic expressions into a singular whole. Drawing from metal, Nordic folk traditions, and film score aesthetics, the song was recorded in Dolby Atmos using exclusively real musicians.
The resulting soundscape is richly physical and human, featuring cello, a girls’ choir, ancient folk instruments, and drums captured with more than 40 microphones — an intentional counterpoint to an era increasingly shaped by speed, artificiality, and AI-driven creation.
Lyrically, “Touch My Love And Die” inhabits a supernatural and gothic realm. The song unfolds as a layered romance — a kiss of death, a warning, a spell — where love is portrayed as both liberation and danger. True to Myrkur‘s artistic philosophy, the lyrics are left open-ended, encouraging personal interpretation rather than fixed meaning.
The past year has brought significant personal and artistic change for Amalie Bruun, and the song stands as a culmination of that journey. Recorded in winter 2025 with Christopher Juul (Heilung), Myrkur describes the piece as one infused with “heart, soul, blood, and tears.” It is intended as an antidote to throwaway culture—a reminder of humanity’s roots, resilience, and shared spirit.
The winner of Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2026 will go on to represent Denmark at Eurovision 2026, set to take place in Vienna, Austria, this May.
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U.K. Retail Sales Rose Unexpectedly Over Christmas
Households might have enjoyed some relief after the budget in November, in which the government avoided raising income taxes and outlined plans to reduce household energy bills.
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NFL DFS picks, 2026 championship games: Sunday slate lineup advice for DraftKings and FanDuel
NFL DFS players will have their final multi-game slate of the year as Championship Sunday brings both the AFC Championship Game and the NFC Championship Game. The Broncos and Patriots play at 3 p.m. ET, followed by Seahawks vs. Rams at 6:30 p.m. ET. Injuries will play a big part in both matchups with Bo Nix (ankle) out for Denver and Zach Charbonnet (ACL) out for Seattle. Denver, especially, will have a new look on offense and daily Fantasy football players will have to craft a strategy around how to value backup Jarrett Stidham and the rest of the that offense without Nix. The latter’s absence could affect the likes of Courtland Sutton, Troy Franklin and Pat Bryant.
Who are the best NFL DFS picks for Sunday, and which sleepers can differentiate your NFL DFS lineups on sites like DraftKings and FanDuel? Before making any NFL daily Fantasy picks on Sunday, be sure to check out the NFL DFS advice, strategy and stacks from SportsLine daily Fantasy expert Mike McClure.
McClure is a legendary professional DFS player with more than $2 million in career winnings. He uses a powerful prediction model that simulates every snap of NFL action, taking factors such as matchups, statistical trends, and injuries into account. This allows him to find the best DFS values that he shares only with members at SportsLine. His methodology has led to enormous cashes on FanDuel and DraftKings. In 2023, he finished tied for first in the DraftKings Millionaire Maker twice and the FanDuel Million once. Anyone who has followed him could be way up.
Now, McClure has turned his attention to the NFL Championship Sunday DFS slate and just locked in his top daily Fantasy football picks. You can only see his picks and analysis at SportsLine.
Top NFL DFS picks for Sunday
One of McClure’s top NFL DFS picks for Sunday is Rams receiver Puka Nacua. He’s been a daily Fantasy stalwart all season with a massive 129-1,715-10 receiving line. He hasn’t slowed much in the NFL playoffs, turning 28 targets into 15 catches for 167 yards and a score through two games. A new wrinkle has been using him as a runner. He’s now had three straight weeks with multiple carries, giving him even more daily Fantasy value. The Seahawks are tough defensively, but he sliced them up for 12 catches, 225 yards and two touchdowns in Week 16. See who else to roster at SportsLine, and new users can target the DraftKings promo code, which offers $300 in bonus bets if your bet wins, and bet Nacua Over 92.5 receiving yards at DraftKings:
McClure is also building his NFL DFS strategy around Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III. He should see an already heavy workload expand against the Rams with Charbonnet done for the year. Walker’s track record against the Rams this year was already strong as he totaled 275 scrimmage yards and two scores against them in their two matchups in the regular season. The Rams have also allowed 160-plus rushing yards in three of their last five games after doing so just twice over their first 14 games. See who else to roster at SportsLine, and bet Walker to go Over 86.5 rushing yards at DraftKings:
How to set Sunday NFL DFS lineups
McClure is targeting an undervalued player who could explode for huge numbers on Sunday. This pick could be the difference between winning your tournaments and cash games or going home with nothing. You can only see who it is, and the rest of McClure’s NFL DFS picks, at SportsLine.
So who is Mike McClure including in his optimal NFL DFS lineups for Sunday, and which under-the-radar player offers huge value? Visit SportsLine now to see optimal NFL DFS picks, NFL DFS rankings, NFL DFS advice and NFL DFS stacks, all from a daily Fantasy expert with more than $2 million in winnings, and find out.
Juvenile hospitalized after crash in northeast Albuquerque
Police are responding to a vehicle crash involving a juvenile motorcycle driver who was hospitalized.The juvenile is in critical condition, according to the Albuquerque Police Department. A police spokesperson described the juvenile’s vehicle as a ‘small minibike’ after the crash happened near the intersection of Edith Boulevard and La Donna Lane NE.Police said an investigation found two juveniles were traveling south on Edith on minibikes. One was traveling south in a northbound lane with the other going the same direction while on the dirt shoulder near the traffic lanes, according to police.The driver on the shoulder then moved into the oncoming traffic lane and a head-on crash happened. The juvenile was ejected from the bike.The APD Fatal Crash Unit has responded to investigate the crash.Stay updated on the latest news with the KOAT app. You can download it here.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —
Police are responding to a vehicle crash involving a juvenile motorcycle driver who was hospitalized.
The juvenile is in critical condition, according to the Albuquerque Police Department. A police spokesperson described the juvenile’s vehicle as a ‘small minibike’ after the crash happened near the intersection of Edith Boulevard and La Donna Lane NE.
Police said an investigation found two juveniles were traveling south on Edith on minibikes. One was traveling south in a northbound lane with the other going the same direction while on the dirt shoulder near the traffic lanes, according to police.
The driver on the shoulder then moved into the oncoming traffic lane and a head-on crash happened. The juvenile was ejected from the bike.
The APD Fatal Crash Unit has responded to investigate the crash.
Stay updated on the latest news with the KOAT app. You can download it here.
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The Gut-Wrenching Inspiration for Stephen Wilson Jr.’s ‘Gary’
Stephen Wilson Jr. joined me on Taste of Country Nights where we got to talking about his first major send to country radio, his new song called “Gary.”
“Gary” is a dramatic blue collar anthem that is poised to take over country radio with its dramatic storytelling that is infused with Wilson Jr.’s one-of-a-kind voice and unique perspective.
I was shocked by the answer I was given by Wilson Jr. when I asked what was the inspiration for the new song.
Warning: It involves mention of the death of a child under 18.
“Well, it was inspired and started with a tragedy, really,” he said. “I was driving down a highway and I saw this memorial billboard on the side of the highway it said ‘In Memory of Gary.'”
Wilson continued explaining the exact visual he saw that day. “It had a picture of a young man that was probably in high school, maybe 16 years-old, who most likely died on that highway.”
He continued, “It broke my heart to see it, there were trees growing all around it, it had this strong visual impact on me and I couldn’t help but say out loud, ‘There ain’t a lot of boys named Gary these days.'”
Read More: [EXCLUSIVE]: Stephen Wilson Jr. Reveals The Hearty Advice Eric Church Gave Him
Wilson, a “recovering microbiologist,” as he says, who has basically a 5.8 liter V10 supercharged brain, continued with the meaning of his new track, “Gary.”
“You never see any 16 year-old Gary’s,” he repeats. “I was like ‘Man, I bet that kid could fix anything because every Gary I know back home, they are just good at fixing stuff, I don’t know why, it kind of comes from the name.'”
From that, the song came to fruition.
Who is Stephen Wilson Jr.?
Stephen Wilson Jr. had his breakout moment in country music at the 2025 CMA Awards where he gave a jaw-dropping performance of “Stand By Me” that had us all talking for days after.
He is signed to Big Loud records as his primary recording label. He signed with Big Loud in 2023, releasing his debut double album Søn of Dad through them and continuing to put out his music under that label.
Let’s take a look at what some of your favorite country artists require backstage when on the road.
Wildest Country Music Tour Rider Requests
Country artists reveal secrets when they submit a tour rider. Here are the wildest requests from nearly a dozen superstars, including Jelly Roll, Tim McGraw, Hank Williams Jr. and more!
Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes
14 Country Stars Who’ve Quit Touring + 4 Tried But Couldn’t
Life on the road was just too much for these 17 country stars.
You’ll find several legends in perfectly good health as well as at least two young (relatively) hitmakers on this list of stars who quit touring. You’ll also find four artists who pulled a Tom Brady — they tried to retire, but life at home just wasn’t what they longed for.
Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes
BASF Shares Drop After Earnings Miss Guidance
Shares fell after the chemical group prereleased earnings that fell short of both its guidance and consensus expectations.
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Transfer rumors, news: Saudi league eyes Salah, Vinícius Jr. plus 50 more
The Saudi Pro League has big plans to sign Liverpool‘s Mohamed Salah and Real Madrid‘s Vinícius Júnior, while Arsenal and Chelsea have held talks about a potential move for Atlético Madrid striker Julián Álvarez. Join us for the latest transfer news and rumors from around the globe.
Transfers home page | Men’s winter grades | Women’s grades
TRANSFERS TO WATCH
TRENDING RUMORS
– The Saudi Pro League (SPL) wants to focus on signing Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah and Real Madrid winger Vinícius Júnior this summer, according to The Daily Telegraph. Meanwhile, TalkSPORT claims they have plans to bring in 50 “peak-age foreign players” and a host of older players as well. The report names Salah and Vinicius Jr. as well as Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski, and Manchester United midfielders Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro. Al Ittihad could be one club in particular that is set for a major revamp with star players N’Golo Kanté, Fabinho and Karim Benzema potentially leaving.
– Arsenal and Chelsea have held talks about a potential move for Atletico Madrid striker Julián Álvarez, according to TEAMtalk, with the 25-year-old growing increasingly frustrated by life at the Metropolitano Stadium. Alvarez’s preferred option would be to join Barcelona, and the Catalan club admire him, but their financial situation would complicate any potential deal. Paris Saint-Germain also like the Argentina international and are aware of his situation, while if Alvarez were to consider a move to the Premier League it would only be for a club based in London.
– Chelsea are considering a move to sign Juventus midfielder Douglas Luiz on loan for the rest of the season, says The Athletic. Luiz, 27, is currently on loan at Nottingham Forest and, despite not being a regular starter at the City Ground, the Brazil international is viewed as a player who can add quality and depth to the Chelsea midfield. Luiz’s loan at Forest includes a conditional obligation to sign him permanently based on a set number of appearances and a €30 million option if that number isn’t hit.
– Following Manchester United’s announcement that Casemiro will leave Old Trafford when his contract expires this summer, The Daily Mail has reported that LA Galaxy is one of the clubs to have shown an interest in signing the midfielder. The 33-year-old reportedly has interest from the Saudi Pro League, Brazilian Serie A and MLS, but his preference is to remain in Brazil, according to ESPN Brasil. Sources have also told ESPN that Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson, Crystal Palace‘s Adam Wharton and Brighton & Hove Albion‘s Carlos Baleba are three of United’s options to replace him.
– Liverpool see Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton as an option for the summer transfer window if he becomes available, according to The Daily Mail. The 21-year-old could be the Eagles’ next big departure, after captain Marc Guéhi‘s £20 million move to Manchester City and the fact sources have told ESPN that star striker Jean-Philippe Mateta wants to leave. Even so, Liverpool will face competition from Real Madrid, Man United and a host of other top clubs for Wharton and will have to meet a valuation of around £80 million.
DONE DEALS
To follow…
EXPERT TAKE
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The ESPN ‘FC TV’ crew breakdown the reasons why Erling Haaland is struggling to score for Manchester City.
OTHER RUMORS
– Corinthians defender Iago Machado, 16, is being tracked by Arsenal. (Globo)
– A final decision regarding Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee is expected soon, with Roma among the clubs still wanting to sign the 24-year-old on loan. (Florian Plettenberg)
– Internazionale see Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario as the perfect replacement for Yann Sommer. (Gazzetta dello Sport)
– Fenerbahce have given the green light for Juventus to sign Youssef En-Nesyri on loan with an option to make the deal permanent. The package is worth €25 million plus bonuses and Juve are now in advanced talks with the striker. (Nicolo Schira)
– Juve haven’t given up on Jean-Philippe Mateta but have informed Crystal Palace that they won’t offer above €33 million for the striker. The proposal is a loan with an obligation to make the deal permanent if they qualify for the Champions League. (Nicolo Schira)
– PSV Eindhoven are reluctant to let winger Ivan Perisic join Internazionale, but the Nerazzurri‘s chances of completing a deal could improve if PSV don’t reach the Champions League playoffs. (Gazzetta dello Sport)
– Roma have made an offer to sign Al Shabab winger Yannick Carrasco on loan with an option to make the deal permanent. The 32-year-old would like to return to Europe but his wages could be an issue. (Gazzetta dello Sport)
– Bayer Leverkusen want to replace goalkeeper Mark Flekken, and the options being considered are Manchester City pair James Trafford and Stefan Ortega, plus Chelsea’s Filip Jorgensen. (Kicker)
– Crvena Zvezda midfielder Vasilije Kostov, 17, is being tracked by Arsenal in addition to receiving interest from Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. (Mirror)
– Barcelona have finalized a deal for 18-year-old Al Ahly striker Hamza Abdelkarim, with it being a loan with the option to sign him for up to €3m while that figure could rise to €5m due to performance-related bonuses. (Mundo Deportivo)
– Juventus view Sevilla full back Juanlu Sanchez as a back-up to Pierre Kalulu if the club are open to a loan with an option to make the deal permanent. (Sky Sports Italia)
– Toulouse have rejected Wolfsburg’s raised offer of €23 million to sign defender Charlie Cresswell as they want over €30 million. (Athletic)
– Roma, Nice and Marseille have asked for information about 18-year-old Chelsea full back Genesis Antwi. (TEAMtalk)
– Nottingham Forest have agreed a loan deal with Napoli for 6-foot-7 striker Lorenzo Lucca, which includes an option to make the deal permanent for around €40m. (Athletic)
– Cruzeiro winger Kaua Prates, 17, has reached an agreement in principle with Borussia Dortmund. (Nicolo Schira)