Brazil's top court takes on regulation of social mediaChargers will be without running back J.K. Dobbins for at least a weekMark Goldbridge is eager for Manchester United to sign Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Matheus Cunha, who gave the Red Devils a torrid time on Boxing Day. The Brazilian forward is enjoying a stellar season, which has seen him bag 10 goals and four assists in 19 games across competitions. Cunha, 25, opened the scoring at Molineux with a goal straight from a corner which left Andre Onana dumbfounded. He then set Hwang Hee-chan up at the death as Wolves beat United 2-0 to pile the pressure on their new head coach, Ruben Amorim . It was perhaps an audition for Cunha against a club desperate for more firepower and creativity in attack. Marcus Rashford looks increasingly likely to leave Old Trafford . At the same time, Bruno Fernandes was sent off against Wolves, and Alejandro Garnacho struggled to impress on the left of Amorim's three-man attack. Goldbridge Wants Matheus Cunha at Man United Goldbridge watched United stumble against Wolves and Cunha was the star of the show. He not only grabbed a goal and assist but also ran the visitors ragged with his quick feet and instinctive movement on the counter-attack. The YouTuber wishes he was a Red Devil, posting on X: Cunha would (be) absolutely amazing for United Matheus Cunha vs Manchester United Goals 1 Assists 1 Shots On Target 2 Dribble Attempts (Successful) 6 (4) Touches 93 Accurate Passes 50/58 (86%) Key Passes 1 Crosses (Accurate) 2 (1) Long Balls (Accurate) 6 (4) Big Chances Created 1 Ground Duels (Won) 22 (13) Aerial Duels (Won) 1 (1) Amorim has reportedly requested Manchester United swoop for Cunha in the January transfer window. Interestingly, the Portuguese coach was seen speaking to the Wolves forward after his side's loss to Vitor Perreria's men. Cunha's versatility could be a massive benefit for the Red Devils, who head into January sitting 14th in the Premier League table. They are anticipated to be active in next month's window with a left-back and a midfielder on their radar . Arsenal could be United's main competition for the ex-Atletico Madrid man. The 26-year-old has just over two years left on his contract, and Wolves may be under no pressure to sell, but he recently liked a social media post saying 'Manchester United soon'. However, speculation continues to grow over Rashford, who said he was 'ready for a new challenge' after Amorim dropped him for a 2-1 win against Manchester City in the Manchester Derby (December 15). He's been absent from the squad since his interview. Wolves reportedly have no plans to part ways with the 26-year-old next month. All statistics courtesy of SofaScore - correct as of 28/12/2024.
Saturday, December 28, 2024 At least 100 passengers aboard IndiGo Flight 6E17, scheduled to travel from Mumbai (BOM) to Istanbul (IST), endured a 16-hour delay at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport due to a technical malfunction. The prolonged delay sparked widespread frustration, leading to passenger protests and a flood of complaints on social media platforms. IndiGo responded with an apology, emphasizing passenger safety as their top priority, and arranged an alternate aircraft for the rescheduled departure. However, repeated instances of boarding and deboarding throughout the day heightened tensions, leaving many travelers, particularly those with connecting flights, stranded and dissatisfied. Flight 6E17 was originally scheduled to depart Mumbai at 6:55 AM but faced multiple delays due to persistent technical issues. After numerous failed attempts to resolve the problem, the airline eventually canceled the flight and rescheduled it for an 11:00 PM departure using a different aircraft. The repeated lack of clear communication exacerbated the stress for passengers, including students and those with onward connections. Many travelers demanded refunds or alternative travel arrangements, expressing their frustration to airline staff and airing their grievances on social media. One passenger, highlighting her brother’s ordeal, criticized IndiGo for unprofessionalism and described staff behavior as “rude” and dismissive. Another traveler reported missing his connecting flight to Washington due to the delay, while others labeled the airline’s handling of the situation as “disorganized” and “pathetic.” The incident underscores the critical importance of clear communication during flight disruptions. While IndiGo reiterated its commitment to safety, passengers voiced dissatisfaction with the lack of timely updates, proactive support, and meaningful assistance. The situation is part of a broader pattern of operational challenges for IndiGo. Recently, nearly 400 passengers were stranded at Istanbul Airport due to multiple flight cancellations to Delhi and Mumbai, triggering intense backlash over the airline’s service standards. Affected travelers, such as Shubham Bansal, reported being stranded for over 24 hours without updates or support from the airline. Anushri Bhansali, another passenger, detailed her ordeal of successive delays and cancellations, culminating in a 12-hour rescheduling period without basic amenities like accommodation, meal vouchers, or on-ground assistance. Harsh weather conditions in Istanbul further complicated matters for stranded passengers. One traveler, Rohan Raja, shared that despite IndiGo’s claims of arranging accommodations, no transportation was provided to the designated facilities, leaving passengers to navigate the situation on their own. These incidents highlight the pressing need for airlines to prioritize effective communication, adequate compensation, and robust support systems to minimize passenger inconvenience during unforeseen disruptions.
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LSU vs. Baylor Texas Bowl Predictions & Picks: Odds, Moneyline, Spread – Tuesday, Dec. 31From revisiting the political scandal that sparked a cultural reckoning in Canberra to a rich-lister’s unravelling, there were no shortage of court battles being waged — or defended — by the top end of town in 2024. We revisit some of the cases that dominated headlines and left us shocked, perplexed, and — at times — even entertained. Brittany Higgins defended a defamation action launched by Senator Linda Reynolds. Credit: Composite image/Holly Thompson Villain or victim? Reynolds v Higgins It was a story of an alleged rape in the halls of Parliament House and a covert political cover-up, and like all “fairytales”, it needed a villain. That was how WA Senator Linda Reynolds’ lawyer Martin Bennett began the five-week-long trial in her defamation suit against former staffer Brittany Higgins and her husband David Sharaz, the most high-profile case to go before WA’s civil courts in 2024. The former defence minister sued Higgins over social media posts accusing her of mishandling the former staffer’s alleged rape by Bruce Lehrmann in March 2019 — a claim that was later aired by the media and created a storm that led to Reynolds’ political demise. Loading Higgins fiercely defended the action on the basis her posts were true, but opted against taking the stand at the eleventh hour amid concerns for her health. The trial, which the pair mortgaged and sold their homes to pursue, pored over the events of 2019 in excruciating detail, dragged in high-profile figures — from former prime minister Scott Morrison to broadcaster Peta Credlin — and threw private texts into the public arena we imagine the parties would have preferred to remain private.XRP Holders Await a Violent Move to $2 Soon, with a Final Target of $20; Ripple Killer Set to Mirror Its Gains
Participation in hockey in British Columbia was struggling in 2021 — the pandemic had dealt a heavy blow to player registrations, and numbers had already been flagging before COVID-19 arrived. “I think there were a lot of families that were impacted at that time,” said Pacific Coast Amateur Hockey Association president Melanie Earland, whose group governs minor hockey in B.C.’s Lower Mainland, including Metro Vancouver. “The world changed,” she said. Player participation had peaked in 2016-2017 with more than 62,000 registrations, Hockey Canada statistics for B.C. show, falling under 58,000 just before the pandemic began in 2020, then plummeting to 39,056 that season. Rising costs and growing competition from other sports had also been chipping away at youth hockey participation. But that is now changing, with registration for this season in B.C. surging past the 63,000 mark, a rebound that follows a concerted effort to make the game more accessible, especially to groups not traditionally linked to the sport such as new Canadians and Indigenous communities. Tom Oberti, president of the West Vancouver Minor Hockey Association, said his organization had seen record registrations this year, more than 8 per cent higher than last season. “We’re bursting at the seams,” Oberti said, noting the association has had to look outside West Vancouver to find ice time to fit all the players. “The reason why we’ve grown is because we’ve put a lot of effort into reaching out to new, non-traditional hockey demographics,” he said. “For example, we run ball hockey programs in elementary schools to introduce the sport, and we’ve done a lot to reach out to the Mandarin-speaking community, because it’s a growing segment of our community on the North Shore.” Oberti said the association has leveraged Mandarin- and Persian-speaking families already with kids in youth hockey, establishing links to new players through parent groups on social media platforms targeting specific communities such as WeChat and WhatsApp as well as word of mouth from schoolchildren who already play the game. Families new to Canada want to do things they consider Canadian, Oberti said, and they are embracing hockey. “Hockey has an advantage there,” he said. “There are a lot of families that do want to participate in the sport — or who are interested in the sport — because of the way it’s intertwined in the fabric of social life in Canada.” At the Richmond Jets Minor Hockey Association, vice-president Trent Gustafson said while his group has seen about a 15-to-20 per cent drop-off in participation from a peak in 2018-2019, registration is growing again, and players from non-traditional communities make up a big part of that rebound. “We’re up to around 915 to 920 kids playing hockey at Jets this year,” Gustafson said. “We don’t collect (data) in terms of the ethnicity of our members specifically, but I can safely say more than half are non-Caucasian members.” Just as important as getting children in these communities playing hockey, Gustafson said, is the fact that parents new to the game are also eager to volunteer. He said that is a vital contribution to the minor hockey system largely run by volunteers and parents in their spare time. “Those parents are, frankly, just as crazy hockey parents as you’re getting in some of the other cities and towns in not only British Columbia but across the country,” he said. “It’s interesting, the people it seems these days that are almost more willing to volunteer are some of the newer people to hockey. They’ve just fallen in love with the game.” Earland said other efforts to attract players include a try-hockey-for-free program in Cloverdale, B.C., for Indigenous youth, and they are trying to make the game more affordable through equipment programs and other initiatives. “Nobody in minor hockey wants to hear a family say, ‘We want to play but our kids can’t afford it or we can’t afford it,’” she said. She said she wants every child to have an opportunity to play hockey. “It’s a fabulous sport. It offers friendships and teamwork and camaraderie for all of our youth.” Chilliwack Minor Hockey Association president Lee McCaw said his group does not target any specific community for new players, but the province’s rapid population growth and its diversity means more kids being registered from every background. “I think our inclusion for everybody to be able to participate is huge,” McCaw said. “We have a huge First Nations population in our city, and there’s a lot of learn-to-skate programs that are specifically designed for every ethnicity group and everybody inclusively, together and within Chilliwack.” Nathan Bosa, the president of the Kamloops Minor Hockey Association, said even if there are no specific programs aimed at the diverse newcomer groups, sport could be an opportunity to support them. “We’re talking about this as a board a while ago, about having a program for new people coming into Canada and into Kamloops (to) give them a little bit of an instruction on how things work,” Bosa said. “It’s something that we’re going to be looking at in the new year. I think we’ve started to see that the influx is very noticeable, and it’s good. Getting children into sport, whether it’s hockey or something else, allows children and their parents to make friends and it brings them into the community, Bosa said. Bosa and McCaw also noted the impact of hockey exposure in the South Asian community as another factor in attracting new players, including Hockey Night in Canada’s Punjabi broadcast, and homegrown talent such as Arshdeep Bains from Surrey playing for the Vancouver Canucks in February. The Winnipeg Jets, meanwhile, signed forward Kevin He to a three-year entry-level deal this month, making him the first player born in China to ink an NHL deal. Scott Furman, Hockey Canada’s vice-president of growth and retention, said progress has also been made on other fronts, with the visibility of women’s hockey skyrocketing as the Professional Women’s Hockey League drives female player registration to a new high beyond 100,000 countrywide this season. Furman said the upheaval and change in management at Hockey Canada in recent years meant a new approach, bringing inclusion and more programs to help with the costs of the game. He said the rebound in B.C. is symbolic of this change. “Last season, for the first time, we hit 50,000 players that identified as black, Indigenous or people of colour, and that was an 8-per-cent increase on the previous season,” Furman said. “In B.C., I think about 19 per cent of players identify as black, Indigenous or people of colour, which is well above the national average. And the South Asian community represents 4.5 per cent of all players — a 46 per cent increase since the 2021 season. “It certainly is a positive trend, but nothing’s taken for granted. And we’ve got to continue to do the work to make sure that it continues in that fashion.”Paraguay, officially the Republic of Paraguay, is a landlocked country in the heart of South America, bordered by Brazil, Argentina, and Bolivia. Known for its vast plains, subtropical forests, and rich cultural heritage, the nation has history blends seamlessly with natural beauty. Asunción, its capital and largest city, serves as the political, economic, and cultural hub of the country. Paraguay’s economy is primarily based on agriculture, livestock farming, and hydroelectric energy. It is a leading exporter of soybeans and beef and shares control of the world’s largest hydroelectric dam, Itaipú, with Brazil. With a small, open economy and low taxes, the nation is increasingly attracting foreign investors and expats. Standard of Living in Paraguay Paraguay offers a moderate standard of living, characterized by affordability and simplicity. While economic inequality remains a challenge, the low cost of living makes it accessible for most residents and an attractive destination for expats. Personal Taxes in Paraguay Paraguay has a straightforward and competitive personal tax system designed to encourage economic participation: Corporate Taxes in Paraguay The nation’s corporate tax system is equally business-friendly, with attractive rates for companies operating within its borders: Major Industries in Paraguay Paraguay’s economy is supported by key industries that leverage its natural resources, strategic location, and growing domestic market. The following sectors play a significant role in the country’s economic landscape: Inflation and Cost of Living in Paraguay Housing: Rental prices for apartments in Asunción range from $200 to $500 per month, with lower costs in smaller towns. Food: Fresh produce and local goods are inexpensive, and dining out at local restaurants costs between $3 and $10 per meal. Utilities and Transportation: Utilities, including electricity and water, are affordable, and public transport costs around $0.30 per trip. While the cost of living is low, wages in Paraguay are modest, with the average monthly salary around $400 to $500, reflecting the need for further economic development. Property Tax, Services, and Sales Tax in Paraguay Standard Rate: 10% on most goods and services. Reduced Rate: 5% for essential items like medicines and basic food products. Types of Business Entities in Paraguay Entrepreneurs in Paraguay can choose from several types of business entities: Licenses to Start a Business in Paraguay Starting a business in Paraguay involves obtaining specific licenses and permits: Opportunities for Expats for Business Growth in Paraguay Paraguay offers numerous opportunities for expats seeking to start or expand businesses: Citizenship for Expats in Paraguay Expats looking to establish long-term residency or citizenship in Paraguay have several pathways: How to Register a Company in Paraguay The process of registering a business in Paraguay is straightforward, designed to encourage entrepreneurship and foreign investment. Cost to Register a Business in Paraguay Registering a company in Paraguay is relatively affordable, making it an appealing choice for entrepreneurs: Limited Liability Company (LLC): Minimum capital of Gs. 10,000,000 (approximately $1,400). Joint Stock Company (JSC): Higher capital requirements, typically Gs. 50,000,000 (approximately $7,000). Relation with Other Countries of Paraguay The nation maintains strong diplomatic and economic relations, fostering trade and investment with neighboring and global nations: Any Other Taxes in Paraguay The nation’s tax system is simple and business-friendly, with additional taxes including: Social Security in Paraguay Paraguay’s social security system plays a crucial role in ensuring the well-being of its citizens. The Instituto de Previsión Social (IPS) is the government body responsible for managing social security programs, covering healthcare , pensions, and unemployment benefits. Weather, Climate, and Regional Safety Summer (November to March): Hot and humid, with temperatures often exceeding 35°C (95°F). Winter (May to August): Mild, with temperatures ranging from 10°C to 20°C (50°F to 68°F). Rainfall: Rainfall is evenly distributed, although the eastern regions receive more precipitation than the western Chaco region, which is semi-arid. The government has increased efforts to improve public safety, including better law enforcement and international cooperation to combat organized crime. Expats and tourists generally find Paraguay welcoming, with a friendly and hospitable local population. Passport Power of Paraguay The Paraguayan passport provides its citizens with significant global mobility. As of 2024, it allows visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to over 140 countries, including: South America: Visa-free travel across Mercosur member states, including Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. Europe: Visa-free access to the Schengen Area, allowing short stays in most European Union countries. Asia and the Middle East: Simplified entry to nations like Turkey, Malaysia, and South Korea. Paraguay’s passport is considered strong in the region, offering broad access to international destinations and opportunities for global travel. Scope of Education, Growth, and Opportunities in Paraguay Vocational training and skill development programs are gaining prominence, preparing students for industries such as agriculture, manufacturing, and IT. The country’s low operational costs, abundant natural resources, and strategic location in South America make it an attractive destination for entrepreneurs and expats seeking business opportunities.
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BLOOMINGTON — 2024 may be at its end, but memories of this year will continue on. A Pantagraph reporter sought, via unplanned street interviews, standout experiences and favorite memories of the now-ending year. Whether it was trying new things, going new places or cherishing quality time with loved ones, the Twin Cities is going into 2025 with good things to remember. 'Wonderful parties' Joe Blaney, 59, of Bloomington said his favorite memory was seeing his grandchildren play their sports. He said he has a grandson playing baseball and a granddaughter playing soccer. “For me, there’s nothing more relaxing that sitting under a shady tree and watching kids play baseball,” he said. Teresa Carroll, 54 of Bloomington, is also thinking fondly of her children’s extracurricular accolades. She said her youngest daughter is part of the Bloomington High School Marching Raiders band, and “they had a really great year,” referring to the state championships held in October in Normal. BHS’ band placed 8th, she said. “There’s so many really good bands in Illinois,” said Carroll. She added her daughter plays five instruments, some of which include mellophone, French horn, piano and bass drum. “Band is a whole thing,” she said. Shown Dec. 19, 2024, are, from left, Teresa Carroll, and married couple Joe and Lauri Blaney during a pancake and sausage meal served at Epiphany Catholic Church by the Knights of Columbus in Normal. Joe Blaney’s wife, Lauri Blaney, 63, added there were several firsts in her family during 2024. First, she said there was a first communion, and then their son graduated from law school. Blaney also said they saw friends tie the knot at a beautiful wedding, and they also have “so many friends retiring.” “Those are wonderful parties,” she said. Carroll then said: “They give us hope.” Pam King is shown Dec. 18, 2024, at Eastland Mall in Bloomington. 'Tough stuff' Pam King said her favorite memory of the last year extends back to the 2023 holiday season. The Bloomington mother said she has two missionary kids in Ecuador, of four children she raised in Mackinaw. “Anytime I get together with family is a big moment,” King said, noting they don’t get all four kids together that often. She added her two children who are on mission trips just happened to be home on the same year and at the same time for Christmas 2023. King said they hadn’t all her children together for seven years. “This year, (Christmas plans are) really low-scale,” she said. “But we always start out with the ballet that’s done in uptown Normal with our grandchildren, and enjoy that.” She also said she drove two a hours away to attend a Christmas program. “When family’s not together, it’s tough stuff,” said King. Camped out When asked for his favorite memory, Camden Pyfer, of Normal, said it will be spending his second Christmas with his girlfriend. About a week before the holiday, Pyfer said he’s planning on spending Christmas with his big family, too. Camden Pyfer is shown Dec. 19, 2024, in Bloomington. The 23-year-old said another good memory this year was camping with his girlfriend in Woodford County. “It was just before fall, so it was really nice. We got to camp on this secluded site,” said Pyfer. “It was just one campsite, so just us on a farm.” He said they found the campsite on a mobile app for camping that’s similar to Airbnb. Seeing dad Another Bloomington resident looking back on time with family is Tony Chen. The 51-year-old restaurant manager said he traveled to China in October to visit his dad, go sightseeing and spend time with other parts of his family. Chen said he makes a visit every one or two years, and that his dad is proud of his work in the U.S. He added that restaurants are very busy during the holidays, but he still looks forward to having his family get together for Thanksgiving, Christmas and the new year. "He's just happy to see me," Chen said of his father. "Obviously, it's far away, you don't see (family) very often." Step by step During a stroll in downtown Bloomington, a Pantagraph reporter wandered into Threshold to Hope’s Christmas party, uninvited. Several members of the organization, which seeks to use the power of art to provide hope and healing to people who can least afford it, were willing to share their top memories of the year. One was Karla Timm, who recalled traveling north to Lake Geneva and Sheboygan in Wisconsin. Timm said she saw a production of the “Mary Poppins” musical. Shown on Dec. 19, 2024, are, from left, Heather Baade and Karla Timm. Threshold to Hope Director Nora Zaring said her favorite memory was going to Hawaii. “Can’t get much better than that,” she said. Nora Zaring is shown Dec. 19, 2024 in Bloomington. For Heather Baade, it was passing a statistics class. Baade is working toward a degree in the fields of teaching, social work or success coach. Baade said the stats class was extremely tough, “but with the help and support of Threshold to Hope, all these people praying and being there to cheer me on, there’s been moments where it’s like ‘I can’t do this...' “They’re like, ‘No, one step at a time.’” She said she also painted mountains and beaches. Stephen Hart is show Dec. 19, 2024, in Bloomington. Stephen Hart, 60, of Bloomington, said his favorite, standout memory was teaching his first painting class in March. He said he ran a course about creating a mountain scene with a starry space background. Hart said the class was great, and everyone had a good time. Around 15 attended the class, and he said he plans to teach again. Vivian Kong Doctora talks about how to order at Kobe Revolving Sushi Bar Contact Brendan Denison at (309) 820-3238. Follow Brendan Denison on Twitter: @BrendanDenison Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Breaking News Reporter {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.Ange Postecoglou searching for answers over Tottenham’s injury crisis
Arne Slot 'keeping an eye on' three players as Liverpool face difficult decisionHarvey Arcangeletti of Sault Ste. Marie has been honoured with the Dr. Frank Hayden Athlete Lifetime Achievement Award from Special Olympics Canada for his many accomplishments as a competitor in numerous sports over the course of nearly five decades. The award is bestowed upon an athlete who has “best exemplified the spirit, philosophy and goals of the Special Olympics movement over the course of their career,” according to the Special Olympics Canada website. Arcangeletti was presented with the award during a ceremony held in Toronto Oct. 29. “It was pretty exciting,” he told SooToday during a recent interview. “The medals come second — the skill and the hard work is the goal of it.” The Sault native is a decorated athlete who has earned 105 medals in Special Olympics action — which has seen Arcangeletti compete in swimming, baseball, track, floor hockey and bowling events — since he began participating back in 1976 as a 16-year-old. He has represented Special Olympics Canada at World Games in Baton Rouge (1983), Minneapolis (1991), New Haven (1995), North Carolina (1999) and Japan (2005), and was also a member of Team Ontario at the National Games in Halifax (1994). Outside of competing, Arcangeletti has represented Special Olympics Ontario at the final leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run for the 2001 World Winter Games in Anchorage, Alaska. He was also given the nod as male athlete of the year for Special Olympics Canada in 1996, and was officially inducted into the Sault Ste. Marie Sports Hall of Fame in 2007. Although numerous medals, ribbons and trophies adorn his home in the Sault, Arcangeletti remains adamant that all of the awards he’s won over the years are secondary in nature. “The accomplishments are your skills, your goals, the hard work you put into it,” he said.Disclaimer: The author of this piece was born and raised in Chicago. That means he is a disgruntled football fan. In the past three meetings between the Bears and Vikings, Chicago has scored 12, 13 and 13 points. That trend of feeble offense will continue Sunday in Soldier Field, as the Vikings ease their way to a double-digit victory and a 9-2 record. The Vikings are in an excellent position to profit off a Bears team that wins ugly and loses dramatically. The Bears are banged up and undermanned on the offensive line and have mismanaged games when they are leading. Their season has been defined by a Hail Mary loss at Washington and a blocked kick as time expired last week at home vs. Green Bay. (The Packers committed a leverage penalty during the block that wasn’t called but, hey, I’m not a complainer). It’s not always who you play but when you play them. The Vikings are catching a Bears team that is on a four-game losing streak and recently canned its offensive coordinator and is too timid to do it to the head coach in-season. Kevin O’Connell and the Bears’ Matt Eberflus were hired within a month of each other. In year three of their tenures, KOC is 28-16, Eberflus is 14-30. The reasons why will be laid out Sunday in Chicago for all to see. Much has been made of how efficient the Bears offense was last Sunday with replacement coordinator Thomas Brown calling the plays. It looked that way, as Caleb Williams’ release time was the quickest of the season and several of his receivers got touches. This new and improved version of the offense exploded for 19 points vs. the Packers. The Packers defense isn’t shabby, but the Vikings defense breathes fire when everyone is healthy. The Bears offensive line has suffered breakdowns throughout the season. Brown’s play calling last week took pressure off the line while protecting Williams. But here comes the diabolical Brian Flores and his blitz-intensive scheme. The man dialed up a corner blitz on Tennessee’s first offensive play last week. Who does that? “He’s the king of cover zero blitz and finding a bunch of different ways to do it,” Williams said of Flores. The Bears know what’s coming. But you can’t stop what you don’t see. And Vikings defenders will be coming from everywhere. They enter the game fourth in sacks and have held opposing quarterbacks to a 79.4 passer rating. The Chicago offense is at its best when there’s a complimentary running game. But the Vikings have the best run defense in the NFL, averaging 74.4 yards a game, with Harrison Phillips and Blake Cashman playing very well. Bears running back D’Andre Swift has been nursing a sore groin muscle and won’t be 100%. Another matchup that favors the Purple. The only way the Vikings can screw this up is if their turnover-prone quarterback, Sam Darnold, throws the game away. But the Vikings don’t have to throw a lot to win this game. Aaron Jones should spend the afternoon getting to the second level of the Bears defense because run-stopper Andrew Billings is out for the season. Safety play is a problem, too, as Jaquan Brisker is out with a concussion and backup Elijah Hicks is banged up, forcing Chicago to sign a safety off the street during the week. Everyone is looking forward to the battle between wide receiver Justin Jefferson and Jaylon Johnson, who has become one of the best cornerbacks in the league. But Jordan Addison should be started in most fantasy leagues this week because Tyrique Stevenson, when he’s not jawing with fans during a Hail Mary, has become one of the most picked-on corners in the NFL. Teams have found advantages there. With Montez Sweat playing on one leg, Chicago’s pass rush has suffered. Vikings skill position players can thrive Sunday. The Vikings are winning games they could have lost (Jacksonville). The Bears had a 71.3% win probability against Green Bay and more than 90% in the fourth quarter against Washington — and lost both. It won’t be that favorable on Sunday against the Vikings. If the Vikings don’t win by at least 10 points they should be forced to spend an extra week in the Windy City, watching Bulls and Blackhawks games.