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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — When the Chicago Bears were busy keeping Justin Jefferson quiet last month, the Minnesota Vikings put Jordan Addison to work. With the way Sam Darnold has been throwing the ball, the difficult task of defending this passing attack has become quite the chore. The Bears will be retesting on Monday night in Minnesota. “We always say that we’re the best duo in the entire league,” Jefferson said after he and his sidekick reached a new height in the rich history of Vikings receivers last week in a 42-21 victory over Atlanta that served as a breakthrough of sorts for an offense that hadn't yet hit its highest gear. Jefferson and Addison in that game became the first pair of players in the franchise's 64 seasons to each record at least 100 yards receiving and two touchdown catches. Addison scored three times, giving him 17 touchdowns in just 28 career games. Only Randy Moss (28), Rob Gronkowski (27), Ja'Marr Chase (22), Odell Beckham Jr. (19) and Larry Fitzgerald Jr. (18) scored more before turning 23. Addison, the team's first-round draft pick last year, has had a rocky start to his career off the field with a couple of driving incidents that could still lead to punishment from the NFL . After a contrite arrival at training camp and a slow start to this season as he worked through a severe ankle sprain to make the opener and then suffered another one on the opposite foot, Addison has caught stride along with Darnold as the revitalized quarterback keeps delivering game-winning performances for the Vikings (11-2). Addison has 23 catches for 410 yards and five scores over the last four games, helping the Vikings stretch their winning streak to six despite a constant effort by opponents to send safeties toward Jefferson for double or sometimes triple coverage. “Especially with how Justin gets defended, normally the player that’s defending Jordan or even if it’s within zone coverages, these guys know that they’re being told this guy will be wide open if you don’t get your hands on him, and that couldn’t be more true," Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell said. “Now, he’s actually proven that he can play through that contact and play down the field through contact.” Addison's catch early in the third quarter at Chicago on Nov. 24 was a prime example of that ability to maintain balance and control despite his smaller stature at 5-foot-11 and 175 pounds. Darnold dropped a perfectly placed ball into the space in the zone coverage between linebacker T.J. Edwards and safety Jonathan Owens, whose shoulder-first attempt to knock Addison down near the sideline failed badly during a 69-yard catch and run . “That’s all part of what we projected with Jordan, knowing he had elite quickness, separation skills, fantastic hands and ball tracking,” O'Connell said. “As he’s gotten stronger, he’s put a lot of work in. It’s showing up with his play style.” Jefferson, who is five years into a spectacular career of rewriting the NFL receiving record books, had just two receptions for 27 yards in that 30-27 overtime win over the Bears in Week 12. But Addison had eight catches for 162 yards, tight end T.J. Hockenson had seven receptions for 114 yards and Aaron Jones rushed for a season-high 106 yards that afternoon. “We assume that they’re going to come out and try to stop Justin, but we could get there and it could be something completely different, so everybody just has to be ready to roll at all times,” Jones said. “I feel like we have one of the best skill groups in the league now.” Darnold was serenaded with some “MVP” chants late in the game last week as the Vikings pulled away with three fourth-quarter touchdowns. He has completed 68% of his passes over the last four games for 1,158 yards and 11 touchdowns without an interception. “I think the biggest thing for me is just continuing to make good decisions and being able to, when I do let the ball rip, let it rip with confidence,” Darnold said. Bears tight end Cole Kmet acknowledged the mental toll this season has taken on him, with the team on a seven-game losing streak. A recent pep talk from his father, Frank, who starred as a defensive lineman at Purdue, helped him find perspective. “He was saying he’d give anything to go back and just to play one more game, to be in the shape that I’m in right now and to go out and play football. I think that’s kind of the perspective that I want to have going forward," Kmet said. “It’s a hard deal, for sure. I just have to keep the type of mindset that this type of adversity will only make me stronger going forward.” The first game with defensive coordinator Eric Washington calling the plays instead of coach Matt Eberflus, who was fired on Nov. 29 , didn't go well. The Bears gave up a season-most 38 points and matched their second-worst total by allowing 452 yards in a loss to San Francisco. Interim coach Thomas Brown said communication issues contributed to breakdowns in coverage. “I wouldn’t say it’s anything with a new play caller because we still have the same defense. We’ve all been with each other since the spring. The plays are the same. It’s just different flows,” Owens said. "It just comes down to us communicating and us executing it. After playing last week in all purple, the Vikings will don their “ Winter Warrior ” look with not only white jerseys and pants but the first usage of a white helmet in franchise history. “The helmet’s already insane,” outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard said. “I feel like I might go to sleep in it. I’m excited to put it on.” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFLBoth Oklahoma and Providence are hoping they'll have key pieces back in place when the two undefeated teams square off in the first round of the Battle 4 Atlantis on Wednesday in Paradise Island, Bahamas. The Friars (5-0) are expected to have Bryce Hopkins available, according to a report from Field of 68. Hopkins was averaging 15.5 points and 8.6 rebounds last season before suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament Jan. 3. He returned to full-go practices last week, and Tuesday, Providence coach Kim English said Hopkins would be a "game-time decision" against the Sooners. "It's been a process," English said. "We're not rushing it." But English praised Hopkins' progress since the Friars' last game, Nov. 19, when Hopkins went through pregame warmups. "I thought he looked better than I remembered," English said. "He's been in our system for the past year. His patience, his understanding, his versatility on offense and defense ... it's been great to see him in practice." The Sooners (4-0) are hopeful that they'll get Brycen Goodine back. Goodine played for the Friars for two seasons from 2020-22 before transferring to Fairfield for two seasons and then to Oklahoma this offseason. Goodine suffered an ankle injury in the Sooners' opener Nov. 4 and has not played since. "He's a really tough kid and trying to push through it," Oklahoma coach Porter Moser said. "It will truly be one of those game-time decisions. He hasn't gone a full practice yet, just been pieces of practices." Playing with Goodine and Jadon Jones, expected to be two of the Sooners' top outside shooters, Moser said he's learned plenty about his team's offense. "When you're down those shooters, it's really a great weapon to know that a lot of other guys can knock down the open shot," Moser said. "It's been a huge takeaway." The Sooners have been led by Jalon Moore, who is averaging 18.8 points per game, and freshman Jeremiah Fears, who is averaging 15.5. Providence has been led by senior guard Bensley Joseph, who is averaging 11.8 points and 4.0 assists per game. Oklahoma has not played a game closer than 16 points yet this season, with an average margin of victory of 24 points. Providence has won its five games by an average of nearly 17 points per game. The teams will square off against either Davidson or No. 24 Arizona in the second round Thursday, with the winners playing each other in one semifinal while the losers play in a consolation semifinal. --Field Level Media

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When you buy a new TV, I always recommend getting a soundbar too, as most flatscreens have subpar sound . Certainly if it's free, the decision is a no-brainer. And now, Best Buy is giving you a free Samsung soundbar and subwoofer combo when you buy the 75-inch Samsung DU6950 Crystal Smart TV . You'll also get a $50 Best Buy gift card and a one-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate pass. Total cost: $549.99 (the TV alone retails for $200 more, and the freebies are a $329.99 value). This TV came out this year, and offers some nice features. You'll get Samsung's Crystal Processor 4K, which offers sharper images and more vibrant colors. It also has PurColor technology, which widens the color spectrum beyond traditional RGB models. It also has "Mega Contrast," which automatically tunes brightness and contrast in every frame. Because you'll be getting the Samsung B series 2.1 ch., DTS Virtual:X Soundbar, you'll be able to use the TV's Q Symphony feature, which provides a more immersive audio experience by seamlessly syncing the TV speakers and soundbar. The included subwoofer will kick in when you need stronger bass. This is a smart TV with Samsung's Tizen OS, so you'll get the usual streaming apps, games, and anything you can cast from your phone. Tizen also has Samsung TV Plus, which offers some free live TV channels via WiFi. You can use the $50 gift card online or at a Best Buy store. The one-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership lets you stream Xbox games from the Microsoft cloud.German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is poised to seek a second term in the approaching snap elections. This decision emerged after his Defense Minister, Boris Pistorius, a favored potential replacement, announced on Thursday that he would not be entering the race. This announcement comes as a relief following weeks of uncertainty regarding Pistorius's candidacy, mere months before the elections on February 23. The Social Democrats (SPD), however, are left with Scholz, Germany's least popular chancellor to date, as their candidate. The SPD trails in third place, below the conservative opposition and the far-right. Although Pistorius, Germany's most popular politician since his appointment two years ago, declined to run, he pledged full support to Scholz, whom he praised as an "outstanding federal chancellor." (With inputs from agencies.)

Man City stumble again while Arsenal and Bayern Munich earn dominant wins

Vikings' passing attack is as potent as ever with Addison's surge as Bears prepare for a rematch

As of midnight on Monday, the immigration practice known as ‘ flagpoling ’ was officially ended, the Canada Border Services Agency said in a press release. According to the CBSA, flagpoling occurs when foreign nationals who hold temporary resident status in Canada leave the country and, after a visit to the United States or St. Pierre and Miquelon, re-enter to access immigration services at a port of entry. The agency said work and study permits will no longer be provided to flagpolers at a port of entry, effective Dec. 23 at 11:59 p.m. eastern. “This practice has taken up significant resources at the border, diverting Canadian and American officers away from important enforcement activities and has contributed to wait times for cross-border travellers,” the CBSA press release said. Manan Gupta, a regulated Canadian immigration consultant based in Brampton, Ont., said that “this has become a very popular trend in recent years.” This generally happens when someone needs a visa or an extension on short notice. “If someone gets a job offer and they have to start soon, they often resort to flagpoling to get same-day visa services,” he said. Essentially , when flagpoling, a person exits Canada and reports to U.S. border officials, indicating that they intend to return to Canada and not to remain in the United States. Upon reaching the Canadian point of entry, the CBSA can then consider the person’s application for the immigration service they are looking to receive. “They can simply tell the U.S. border agent that you don’t have a U.S. visa and they will turn you around before you can enter the U.S. You could then enter Canada, where CBSA agents would process your application,” Gupta said. “You can imagine why this was an irritant for the U.S. when the flow of goods and people was held up in border traffic.” In May this year, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called on the Canadian government to end the practice on its side of the border. Gupta said applicants turn to flagpoling as a “last resort” owing to high wait times for visa processing in Canada. As of Dec. 17, the average processing time for a work permit in Canada was 170 days, while the average wait time for a student permit was nine weeks. “There was nothing illegal about this practice (before Tuesday), but it shows the system wasn’t working well when wait times were so long,” Gupta said. Applicants who attempt to flagpole for a work or study permit at the Canada-U.S. border will be asked to submit their application to immigration officials. Gupta welcomed the government’s decision to end the move. “This was creating a two-tiered immigration system. Why should wait times be different for different people?” Each year, thousands of people flagpole at the Canadian entry points and since 2021, there has been a year-over-year increase, according to CBSA statistics shared with Global News . As of June 2, a total of 32,410 people had flagpoled. Last year, 61,561 used this tactic, which represented a 90 per cent jump from 2022, when 32,394 people flagpoled at the U.S.-Canada borders. In 2021, flagpoling dipped by 34 per cent as non-essential travel across the U.S.-Canada border was restricted amid the COVID-19 pandemic.None

New York City mayor meets with Trump's 'border czar' to discuss how to go after 'violent' criminalsTORONTO — Broad-based gains led Canada’s main stock index to close higher in the shortened Christmas Eve trading session, while U.S. stock markets also rose. The S&P/TSX composite index ended up 97.84 points at 24,846.82, as most sectors rose other than telecoms and health care. In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 390.08 points at 43,297.03. The S&P 500 index was up 65.97 points at 6,040.04, while the Nasdaq composite was up 266.24 points at 20,031.13. The gains added to increases in recent days to help offset the drop in markets last week after the U.S. Federal Reserve released its latest outlook. The climb however was more likely related to year-end balancing than any change in sentiment, said Dustin Reid, chief fixed income strategist at Mackenzie Investments. “I think it’s mostly just year-end flows that are driving it. I don’t think there’s anything that’s particularly reversed in terms of sentiments since the Fed meeting,” said Reid. There’s reallocation by geography, moving asset classes and other adjustments to align portfolios that is likely affecting markets, he said. “I find that price action around month end, quarter end, and year-end, you shouldn’t try and ascribe a ton of fundamental cause as to why things are moving, because there’s a lot of flows happening below the surface that are probably driving the price action that are not necessarily fundamentally based.” The U.S. Fed guided for only two rate cuts in 2025 at its Dec. 18 meeting, which pushed down markets for the day. But Reid said the guidance was largely in line with expectations, and the strong U.S. economy has likely since helped boost markets. The Canadian market, meanwhile, might be benefiting a little from the expectations of even more rate cuts needed here than expected as the economy is showing softness. On Monday, Statistics Canada said its early estimate for November suggests real GDP for the month edged 0.1 per cent lower for the first drop this year. “The negative flash print for November really suggests that the bank is going to have a fair bit more work to do,” said Reid. “I think that the market is not pricing in enough easing for calendar ’25 for the Bank of Canada.” There was no economic data releases Tuesday to sway markets, he said. The Canadian dollar traded for 69.51 cents US compared with 69.47 cents US on Monday. The February crude oil contract was up 86 cents at US$70.10 per barrel and the February natural gas contract was up 16 cents at US$3.50 per mmBTU. The February gold contract ended up US$7.30 at US$2,635.50 an ounce and the March copper contract was up two cents at US$4.11 a pound.Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh Reaffirms NPP’s Commitment to Revitalizing Agricultural CollegesUtah’s liquor commission approved liquor licenses for 10 restaurants Thursday, and also announced early success with its statewide program to support homeless services. Starting Tuesday, state liquor stores began offering customers the option to “round up” their purchase to the nearest dollar and donate that money to the Pamela Atkinson Homeless Account. In Thursday’s meeting, Tiffany Clason, director of the Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services (DABS), announced that in the two days the program had been active, liquor stores had already raised $12,631. “We’re obviously very excited to play a small role in what is a really big and really significant effort to provide services to our unhomed population,” Clason said. Utahns can also donate to the Pamela Atkinson Homeless Account via QR codes in liquor stores, and by visiting jobs.utah.gov/htf/ . The Utah Legislature created the initiative earlier this year, under House Bill 548. The funds are distributed to homeless services providers across Utah to provide unhoused individuals with temporary shelters, case management, meal services and housing, a news release stated. The only bar license awarded Thursday was to the Salt Lake City LGBTQ bar Club Try-Angles , which is surrendering its current bar license. The new license will replace the old license, as the bar goes through a change in ownership. Campfire Lounge — which has been closed since April as the owners remodel it into a tiki bar called Remora — had requested an extended closure until the commission meeting on March 31, 2025. All of the commission members voted to approve the closure, except for commissioner Tara Thue, who said, “I feel like we’re getting to a point where we’re going to run out of licenses again, and we need to be judicious in how we are granting extended closures.” “It’s nothing against the business,” Thue continued. “It’s nothing about the management or progress that has been made or not made. I just think that we are being put in a position where we’re dealing with scarcity, and we need to start considering our options yet again until the quota issue is truly fixed by our legislature.” Snowmobile Pizza , which has been closed since August for a remodel, also requested an extended closure, until the commission’s meeting in January. The commission also approved that closure. After Thursday’s meeting, the commission has four bar licenses available to award (that number will go up to five in December), and 67 full-service restaurant licenses. Restaurants that received liquor licenses • Yoko Taco , 285 W. 800 South, Salt Lake City. This restaurant, which serves Mexican food with an Asian twist, originally got its liquor license in October 2023 . But this year, ownership missed the annual renewal period, so they reapplied for a new license, which was approved at Thursday’s meeting, said DABS spokesperson Michelle Schmitt. • Yoko Ramen , 473 E. 300 South, Salt Lake City. • Main Street Grill , 9027 W. Main St., Magna. • Nacho House , 15 US-89, North Salt Lake (conditional). • The Social , 65 N. University Ave., downstairs Suite 2, Provo (conditional). • Ganesh Indian Cuisine , 1811 Sidewinder Drive, Park City (conditional). • Le Depot , 660 Main St., Park City (conditional) (projected opening Dec. 1). • Squatters Corner Pub , 3555 Constitution Blvd., West Valley City (conditional) (projected opening date Dec. 27). • Hearth and Hill , 2188 Highland Drive, Salt Lake City (conditional) (projected opening date Jan. 14, 2025). • Purple Sky Winery , 2809 N. 1600 West, Pleasant View (conditional) (projected opening date Jan. 15, 2025).

A well-known multinational payment card service just joined forces with BitcoinIndian Railways, the backbone of the nation’s transportation system, serves millions of passengers daily with its extensive network. However, unexpected changes in travel plans, such as the need to alter passenger details or reschedule journey dates, are not uncommon. To accommodate such scenarios, Indian Railways has provisions for modifying names and journey dates on confirmed tickets. Whether booked online through IRCTC or offline at reservation counters, passengers can follow specific procedures to make changes. Here you can check the eligibility criteria, step-by-step processes, and essential conditions for making these modifications seamlessly. Change name in a booked train ticket Indian Railways permits passengers to transfer their confirmed tickets to another person under certain conditions, but this facility is restricted to offline tickets booked at railway reservation counters. Eligibility criteria for name change in booked train ticket The ticket can only be transferred to a close family member, including father, mother, brother, sister, son, daughter, husband, or wife. For group bookings made by government officials, students on educational tours, or similar cases, tickets can be transferred within the group. Change name in booked train ticket; offline tickets only Visit a reservation office : Go to the nearest railway reservation office at least 24 hours before the train’s departure. Written request : Submit a written application requesting the name change. Proof of identity : Provide valid ID proofs for both the original ticket holder and the new passenger. Submission : Hand over the required documents to the railway authorities, who will process the request. Important rules and conditions Name changes are allowed only once per ticket. The facility is not available for online tickets booked via the IRCTC platform. The process must be completed within the stipulated timeline, failing which the request will be denied. Change journey date in a booked train ticket Passengers can modify the journey date of their train ticket s under certain conditions. This facility is available for both online and offline tickets, but the process differs based on the mode of booking. Change journey date for offline train tickets (counter bookings) Visit the reservation office : Approach the nearest railway reservation office at least 48 hours before the train’s departure. Provide original ticket : Carry the original ticket and submit a request to either: Postpone : Shift the journey to a date later than the original travel date. Prepone : Shift the journey to a date earlier than the original travel date. Select an alternative date : Choose a new journey date within the ticket’s validity period. Change journey date for online train tickets (booked via IRCTC) Currently, date modification is not supported for online tickets. Passengers must cancel their existing ticket and book a new one for the desired date. Standard cancellation charges will apply as per Indian Railways’ rules. Key conditions for journey date change on booked train tickets Date modification is available only for confirmed or RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation) tickets. Tatkal and waitlisted tickets are ineligible for date changes. Modifications are subject to seat availability on the new travel date. Changes can be made only once per ticket, and valid ID proof must be provided. Important points to remember Ensure all modifications are requested well within the stipulated timelines (24 hours for name changes and 48 hours for date changes). Name changes are limited to tickets booked at reservation counters and cannot be made online. Date modifications for online tickets require cancellation and rebooking, with applicable charges. Always carry a valid ID proof while submitting modification requests. Also read | What should you do with Aadhaar, PAN, Voter ID, and Passport after a family member's demise?