From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum (PDP-GF) has tasked the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) with ensuring that the National Executive Committee (NEC) meets in the first week of February 2025. The PDP-GF stated this in a communiqué issued at the end of its meeting in Jos, Plateau State, and signed by its chairman, Governor Bala Mohammed of Plateau State. The forum, while noting concerns about the “seeming” divisions within the opposition party, stated that it is constrained to accept the postponement of the NEC meeting, which was earlier scheduled for November 28. Recall that the PDP National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, last Thursday issued a notice postponing the NEC meeting. Anyanwu said the postponement was to enable party leaders to participate in the funeral of the wife of Akwa Ibom Governor, Umo Eno. Nevertheless, the governors charged the leadership of the party to use the period before the NEC meeting to resolve all issues in the party. Furthermore, the opposition governors charged President Bola Tinubu to review both the macroeconomic and fiscal policies of the federal government to address the welfare and well-being of Nigerians. The communiqué read: “The Forum notes the concerns of Nigerians, PDP founding fathers, elders, and members of our great party about the seeming divisions within the ranks and files. The Forum wishes to state categorically that it remains resolute in its determination to ensure unity and cohesion within this great party, which Nigerians have come to trust as the best platform for democratic governance. “The Forum is constrained to accept the latest postponement of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the Party in empathy with our colleague, H.E. Governor Eno Bassey, whose late dear wife will be buried on the same day originally scheduled for the NEC. Once again, the Forum wishes to commiserate with our colleague and prays that God will grant him and the family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss. “The Forum is strongly advising the NWC to call the NEC meeting at the latest by the first week of February 2025 to allow for elaborate consultations with critical stakeholders of the Party. The period between November and February should be used to address the existential problems confronting the Party, with a deliberate timeline of activities during this period to resolve issues of leadership and litigation confronting the Party. “The Forum empathizes with Nigerians who are groaning under the oppressive economic hardship foisted on the nation by the policies and decisions of the APC-led Federal Government.” It added: “The Forum notes with concern the rape of democracy in the Edo governorship election. It is clear to everyone with conscience that INEC manipulated results in favour of the APC candidate when, in fact, the majority of lawful votes were won by the PDP candidate, Mr. Asue Ighodalo. “Meanwhile, we are still examining the documents from the Ondo elections, where the APC manipulated results after openly buying votes. The Forum calls on the judiciary to save Nigerian democracy and the National Assembly to look into our electoral laws to make it difficult for institutional sabotage of the will of the people.”Tiger Woods has announced that he will not compete at the Hero World Challenge in December. Woods, who hosts the event in the Bahamas, has not played since The Open, more than four months ago. He underwent back surgery in September. “I am disappointed that I will not be able to compete this year at the Hero World Challenge, but always look forward to being tournament host,” Woods wrote on X. Woods said after The Open at Royal Troon that he intended to play, but it now looks to be too early for him during his recovery. The 15-time major winner underwent microdepression surgery of the lumbar spine for nerve impingement in the lower back. It was the latest of several back operations he has had during his career. Woods, meanwhile, said that three remaining places in the Hero Challenge field would be filled by Justin Thomas, Jason Day and Nick Dunlap.
NCAA basketball star and Bronx native Boogie Fland to play tournament at Madison Square GardenNEW YORK (AP) — Remember what you searched for in 2024? does. Google released its annual “Year in Search” on Tuesday, rounding up the top trending queries entered into its namesake search engine in 2024. The results show terms that saw the highest spike in traffic compared to last year — ranging from key news events, notably , to the most popular songs, athletes and unforgettable pop-culture moments that people looked up worldwide. Sports — particularly soccer and cricket — dominated Google’s overall trending searches in 2024. topped those search trends globally, followed by the and . Meanwhile, the led news-specific searches worldwide. Queries about and this year’s followed. U.S. President-elect topped searches in Google’s people category this year — followed by , U.S. Vice President and Algerian boxer , who also led athlete-specific searches. Meanwhile, the late , and led search trends among notable individuals who died in 2024. In the world of entertainment, Disney and Pixar’s was the top trending movie of the year, while Netflix’s led TV show trends. And Kendrick Lamar’s dominated song trends. That’s just the tip of the iceberg. Queries for the , made famous by Norwegian swimmer Henrik Christiansen over the summer games, led Google’s global recipe trends this year. The New York Times’ “Connections” puzzle topped game searches. And in the U.S., country-specific data shows, many people asked Google about like the word and “ .” You can find more country-specific lists, and trends , through Google’s . The California company said it collected 2024 search results from Jan. 1 through Nov. 23 of this year. Google isn’t the only one to publish an annual recap or top trends as 2024 draws to a close. , for example, as well as and words of the year, have offered additional reflections for 2024. The Associated Press
Insurgents reach gates of Syria’s capital, threatening to upend decades of Assad rulePrince William is all smiles as he welcomes Donald Trump to the British Embassy in Paris - as the US President-elect hails him as a 'good one' By SHANNON MCGUIGAN Published: 21:36, 7 December 2024 | Updated: 22:11, 7 December 2024 e-mail View comments Donald Trump has hailed Prince William a 'good man' and praised him for 'doing a fantastic job' after they met following the historic re-opening of the Notre-Dame. The Prince of Wales and US President-elect were all smiles when they met at the residence of the British ambassador in Paris tonight. Exchanging another warm handshake with William as he entered the foyer, Trump turned to reporters and said: 'Wow, what a nice group.' In what was US President elect's first meeting with a member of the Royal Family since his landslide election victory last month, he praised the Prince, quipping: 'Good man, this one.' The Prince of Wales asked Trump if he had warmed up to which the politician replied that he had, noting that the lavish event marking the re-opening of the 861-year-old cathedral 'was a beautiful ceremony'. The two men stood next to each other as the Republican pointed his thumb towards William before adding: 'He's doing a fantastic job'. During their 40-minute meeting, the pair discussed a range of global issues but focused on the importance of the relationship between the UK and the US, with the President-elect sharing fond memories of the late Queen, Kensington Palace said. Prince William expected to meet with Trump for half an hour prior to the glamorous ceremony at the Notre Dame tonight to discuss the US and UK's 'special relationship'. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump meets Britain's Prince William at the UK Ambassador's Residence in Paris The Prince of Wales and US President-elect Donal Trump were all smiles when they met at the residence of the British ambassador in Paris tonight Exchanging another warm handshake with William as he entered the foyer, the US President-elect turned to reporters and said 'wow, what a nice group' In what was Trump's first meeting with a member of the Royal Family since his landslide election victory last month, he praised the Prince, quipping: 'Good man, this one.' The Prince of Wales and US President-elect Donald Trump standing side by side at the foyer of the residence of the British ambassador in Paris But travel disruption caused by Storm Darragh, which has battered parts of the UK, meant the royal had to reschedule his meeting both with the once and future President as well as the current US First Lady Jill Biden . Instead of their originally planned private chat, the First Lady and William were going to have talk on the side-lines of the ceremony, Kensington Palace previously said. After speaking in the foyer of building on Saturday, Trump and Prince William walked upstairs to begin their discussions. Mr Trump and William sat on light-yellow sofas in the Salon Jaune room, which had gold-coloured patterned wallpaper, a Christmas tree in the corner and a chandelier overhead. Before the meeting began, William said: 'We can warm our toes up after the cathedral' to which Trump smiled and responded: 'Right, you're right'. The meeting between the US President-elect and the Prince of Wales concluded at around 10.20pm local time, after over half an hour of talks. Inside the 861-year-old cathedral - before what was its first opening since being devastated by an inferno in 2019 - the Prince of Wales shared a warm and firm handshake with Trump prior to their private meeting. During the brief exchange, Trump placed his hand on William's shoulder as the pair chatted ahead of the momentous occasion. The Prince of Wales shook hands with US President-elect Donald Trump who he will be having discussions with following the ceremony tonight The hirsuite Prince is all smiles ahead of the ceremony tonight President-elect Donald Trump greets Prince William, Prince of Wales during the ceremony to mark the reopening of Notre-Dame of Paris Cathedra Prince William and Jill Biden were expected to meet ahead of the ceremony but will now chat on the side-lines of the event due to delays in the William's travel due to Storm Darragh Guests stand as the doors to Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral open during a ceremony to mark the re-opening William travelled to France by request of the Government for the event celebrating the £600 million restoration of the landmark cathedral following a devastating fire five years ago. The hirsute Prince wore a long formal dark navy coat whilst being welcomed by French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte ahead of the historic ceremony. Elsewhere inside the grandiose place of worship, a roaring applause erupted when Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky entered the building filled with 40 world leaders as well as several celebrities, including Elon Musk and Salma Hayek . Read More William and Trump meet at Notre Dame with warm handshake and embrace The beginning of the ceremony was confirmed with the ringing of the cathedral's iconic largest bell - the bourdon - which was created in 1683 and named Emmanuel by its godfather Louis XIV. The bell, which was heard ringing at an F sharp note, is believed to be one of the most beautiful in Europe, weighing at 13 tons and was the only one to evade being destroyed following the French Revolution. Before bells chimes rang throughout Paris, Donald Trump made his way to the ceremony, shortly after being welcomed by the Macron at The Élysée Presidential Palace in a meeting attended by Zelensky. President Emmanual Macron said it was a 'great honour' to host Donald Trump at the Élysée ahead of the ceremony at the Notre Dame. The pair were pictured embracing and shaking hands in what is the president-elect's first international trip since his victory against Kamala Harris in November. Prince William has arrived at the glamorous reopening of the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris alongside world leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron (Pictured with Brigitte Macron) Prior to the historic ceremony the Prince had a brief and friendly exchange with the Macrons The hirsute Prince wore a long formal dark navy coat whilst braving the Parisian cold weather this evening Donal Trump is greeted by President Emmanuel Macron and Brigitte Macron ahead of the ceremony The French and US world leader and Brigitte Macron stand side by side as guests fill the historic cathedral Macron and Brigitte watch Paris' archbishop Laurent Ulrich inaugurating the Notre Dame de Paris cathedral Guests stand as Church Banners are paraded through the cathedral ahead of the clergy entering The clergy make their way down the central isle of the Notre Dame cathedral in central Paris Firefighters, rescuers as well as builders involved in the restoration of the cathedral are applauded by guests An eruption of applause echoed throughout the cathedral for the brave firefighters and builders for their work in saving the historic building Guests and onlookers applauded for one minute in honour of the 160 firefighters (Pictured in Notre Dame) who played a key role in saving the cathedral from complete destruction Archbishop of Paris, Bishop Laurent Ulrich, (Pictured centre) closes his eyes in the Notre Dame Archbishop Ulrich reading at the beginning of the ceremony marking the Notre Dame's re-opening Archbishop Ulrich inaugurating the Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral by knocking on the doors during the reopening ceremony Emotional locals outside the Notre Dame to witness tonight's historic event A roaring applause could be heard in the cathedral as the President of Ukraine - Volodymyr Zelensky - entered Donald Trump firmly shakes the hand of Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelesnky inside the Notre Dame Elon Musk arriving at the ceremony at the centuries old cathedral tonight in Paris The entrepreneur and the US President elect share an exchange at the historic event Trump and Macron sit next to one another during the ceremony at Notre Dame tonight Macron points as he talks with the US President-elect and his wife Brigitte inside the Notre Dame Donald Trump has been welcomed by President Macron as he arrived at for the re-opening ceremony of the Notre Dame cathedral The pair were pictured embracing and shaking hands in what is the president-elect's first international trip since his landslide victory last month Emmanuel Macron welcomes US president-elect Donald Trump before a meeting at he Elysee Presidential Palace in Paris Post-talks the three world leaders were seen pictured alongside one another before heading to the Notre Dame, as Macron posed a thumbs up for the camera A photo shows the facade of the Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral, ahead of its official reopening ceremony The US president-elect said the pair would be discussing a world that's gone 'a little crazy' in their meeting, where Ukraine 's Zelenksy also attended. Read More Prince William will meet Trump and discuss UK-US 'special relationship' at Notre Dame reopening Zelenksy was seen firmly shaking the hand of the Élysée's director of protocol Frederic Billet before entering trilateral talks with the once and future US President as well as Macron. The surprise meeting was of significant importance, as there are fears Trump, who previously bragged he could end the Russo-Ukraine conflict in less than 24, could try and force them to accept peace terms favourable to Russia. Post-talks the three world leaders were seen posing alongside one another, with Macron putting a thumbs up to the camera, before heading to the 861-year-old cathedral for its first official reopening since 2019. Zelensky has since confirmed that the discussions between the three world leaders were 'good and productive'. He wrote on X: 'We all want this war to end as soon as possible and in a just way. We spoke about our people, the situation on the ground, and a just peace.' Coupled with a picture of the three world leaders, Macron wrote on the social media platform: 'United States, Ukraine, and France. Together on this historic day. Gathered for Notre-Dame. Let us continue our joint efforts for peace and security.' Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky arrives for a meeting with France's President at The Elysee Presidential Palace in Paris Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky shakes hands with The Elysee's director of protocol Frederic Billet Zelensky is welcomed by Billet before meeting with Macron on December 7 Macron poses with US President Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky before a trilateral meeting at the Elysse Palace in Paris French President Emmanuel Macron and US President-elect Donald Trump attend a meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris French Prime Minister Michel Barnier attending the welcome ceremony of Notre Dame Cathedral Paris Images shared to social media revealed that Macron and Trump is sitting side by side at the historic event, whilst Zelensky was nearby to their right. Macron, who has had an up-and-down relationship with Trump, has made a point of cultivating a relationship with the President-elect since he defeated Kamala Harris in the US election last month. But his office nonetheless played down the significance of the invitation, saying that other politicians who do not currently hold office had been invited as well. Read More Bizarre detail in photo of Trump greeting French president Macron as he arrives in Paris Elsewhere outside the Notre Dame, a small group of Americans gathered in protest against Trump, according to AP. The protesters held a banner which read 'Paris Against Trump' slamming Macron for inviting the US President-elect. 'We find this a bit shameful and sad that Trump is invited here, especially since he has gone against everything the Church stands for,' said Ehlyr O'Rourke, 34, a spokesperson for the association. 'We don't understand why a criminal, a sex offender, a felon can actually be invited in here.' During the re-opening of the Notre Dame, Macron thanked the 'brotherhood' from all continents across the globe for their help in what he described as a 'leap of faith' to rebuild the Notre Dame, which originally took nearly two centuries to build, in only five years. 'Brotherhood from all continents, from all religions, from all walks of life, all united in hope,' he said. Concluding his speech to a standing ovation, Macron added: 'Notre-Dame de Paris has been returned to you, you have made this possible. 'Long live Notre-Dame de Paris, long live the Republic, long live France.' Macron also extended his gratitude to the French people regarding the restoration of the iconic cathedral. He added: 'We must treasure this lesson of fragility, humility and will, and never forget how much each person counts, and how the greatness of this cathedral is inseparable from the work of all.' Guests and onlookers also applauded for one minute in honour of the 160 firefighters who played a key role in saving the cathedral from complete destruction. Read More The Notre-Don: Trump arrives at reopening ceremony where Prince William is also on guest list The word 'Merci' was projected onto the side of the building in a display of gratitude dedicated to the emergency responders. Pope Francis - who was absent from the ceremony - said that he hoped the 'rebirth' of the iconic cathedral 'would constitute a prophetic sign of the renewal of the Church in France'. The head of the Catholic Church called for entry into the Notre Dame to remain free as the place of worship opens its doors once more. The cathedral renovation chief, Philippe Jost said he hoped the Notre Dame's re-opening would be a 'great moment of unity' for France and the entire world. 'Notre Dame de Paris unites. There are so many divisive factors. An event like this must unite, must help concord and peace to grow throughout the world,' he said. World leaders, dignitaries, and worshippers also gathered to mark the occasion, led by Archbishop Laurent Ulrich. Arnault family arrive inside Notre Dame Cathedral ahead of a ceremony to mark the re-opening of the landmark cathedral today Actress Salma Hayek and her husband CEO of Kering Francois-Henri Pinault sit inside Notre Dame Cathedral ahead of the ceremony Salma Hayek videos the ceremony at Notre Dame tonight as the 861-year-old building opens its doors once again Elon Musk sat a couple of rows in front of Salma Hayek and her husband Henri Pinault at tonight's ceremony Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife French-Italian singer and model Carla Bruni-Sarkozy Former French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal talks with other guests inside Notre Dame Cathedral ahead of the ceremony Guests arriving at landmark French cathedral as it prepares to formally reopen its doors for the first time since a devastating fire nearly destroyed it in 2019 Due to poor weather, the entire opening ceremony for 1,500 guests were held inside the cathedral itself, the French presidential palace and Paris diocese confirmed. This morning, organisers said 50mph gusts of wind and heavy downpours would disrupt the evening ceremony. Notre Dame's rector, Rev. Olivier Ribadeau Dumas, said the cathedral is 'more than just a French monument' and is a beloved treasure of world's cultural heritage. 'The cathedral is a magnificent symbol of unity,' the rector said. 'A sign of hope, because what seemed impossible has become possible.' Saturday's events blended solemn religious tradition with cultural grandeur, starting with Ulrich symbolically reopening Notre Dame's grand wooden doors. Tapping them three times with a staff crafted from charred wood salvaged from the cathedral's fire-ravaged roof, the Archbishop officially declared the cathedral open for worship once more. Psalms, prayers, and hymns filled cavernous space as the cathedral's thunderous 8,000 pipe organ, silenced since by the fire, rang out again, as four organists performed an improvised interplay of melodies. Security was tighter than usual outside the US Embassy and other sites around Paris for the Notre Dame reopening, where dozens of international VIPs were expected. Photo shows the inside of the Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral, ahead of its official reopening ceremony Millions watched on in horror as an inferno ravaged Notre Dame in April 2019 Prince William (right) accepted an invitation from French President Emmanuel Macron (left) to attend Notre Dame's grand re-opening, on Saturday A view inside Notre-Dame of Paris Cathedral before its reopening on December 6 More than 20 French government security agents have been helping ensure Trump's safety alongside the Secret Service, according to French national police. A special French police van was providing anti-drone protection for Trump's convoy. There are 6,000 police officers, gendarmes and military personnel in the area, which includes members of the SAS-style GIGN, the National Gendarmerie Intervention Group, who will provide everything from rooftop snipers to helicopter-borne rapid intervention teams. Read More EXCLUSIVE Trump set for high-stakes talks with world leaeders at Notre Dame in Paris Mobile weapons systems in the area include Crotale New Generation short-range air defence units. Groups such as Al-Qaeda and Isis, who have brought terror to the streets of Paris over the past decade, have threatened the Notre Dame opening, meaning 'the terrorist threat is at its highest,' said Paris police prefect, Laurence Nuñez. The reopening of Notre Dame comes at a time of profound global unrest, with wars raging in Ukraine and the Middle East. Security is understood to be tight throughout the weekend, echoing measures taken during the Paris Olympics earlier this year. The Île de la Cité - the small island in the River Seine that is home to Notre Dame - will be closed to tourists and non-residents, with access restricted to invitees and those who live on the island. Public viewing areas along the Seine's southern bank will accommodate 40,000 spectators, who can follow the celebrations on large screens. Smoke billows as flames burn through the roof of the Notre-Dame cathedral on April 15, 2019 A tourist boat cruises on the Seine river in front of Notre-Dame on the eve of its reopening After five years of restoration, on Saturday, the Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral will reopen its doors to the world in the presence of Emmanuel Macron and around 50 heads of state A light show is projected on the facade of Notre-Dame on the eve of its reopening to the public French Police officers perform security checks on members of the public near the Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral, on December 7 Notre-Dame Cathedral is set to re-open early December 2024, with a weekend of ceremonies on December 7 and 8, 2024 The star-studded concert took centre stage inside the cathedral in tribute to its resurrection and to those who laboured to restore it, offering a universal message of harmony. Pianist Lang Lang, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, and soprano Pretty Yende were among the world-famous artists who performed . On Sunday, Ulrich will lead the inaugural Mass and consecrate the cathedral's new altar, designed by contemporary artist Guillaume Bardet to replace the one crushed beneath the flaming spire in the blaze. Read More Macron says 'nightmare is over' as Notre Dame's £600m restoration unveiled All tickets sold out within 25 minutes of being offered to Catholics online. Nearly 170 bishops from France and abroad will attend, alongside priests from all 113 parishes of the Paris diocese. For Catholics, Notre Dame's rector said the cathedral 'carries the enveloping presence of the Virgin Mary, a maternal and embracing presence.' 'It is a magnificent symbol of unity, a sign of hope,' Dumas said. The range of dignitaries coming to Paris from Africa to the Mideast and the U.S. underline the cathedral's significance as a symbol of shared heritage and peace. The ambitious five-year restoration timeline, was announced just a day after the 2019 fire, had seemed improbable to many. It comes as Macron's presidency faces its gravest crisis after the government's collapse this week in a historic no-confidence vote that toppled Prime Minister Michel Barnier. The vote followed months of political gridlock after snap elections, with calls from opposition forces now growing louder for Macron to resign. But he vowed in an address to the nation on Thursday to remain in office until the end of his term in 2027, and said he'll name a new prime minister within days. General view inside Notre-Dame of Paris Cathedral before its reopening A light show is projected on the facade of the cathedral on December 6 A woman takes a video of the Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral during the final preparations for its reopening A view taken from the rooftop of the Hotel Paradiso shows the Eiffel Tower and the Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral, five-and-a-half years after a fire ravaged the Gothic masterpiece, on the eve of reopening ceremonies, in Paris, France, December 6 General view outside Notre-Dame of Paris Cathedral before its reopening, on December 6 As France struggles with economic woes and mounting social unrest, Notre Dame's rebirth celebrations form a stark contrast to the crisis. For many, Notre Dame's rebirth is not just a French achievement but a global one - after the reopening, the cathedral is set to welcome 15 million visitors annually, up from 12 million before the fire. Following the 2019 fire, nearly $1 billion in donations quickly poured in from around the world, testifying to Notre Dame's universal appeal. Visitors can now book free tickets to visit the Notre Dame via its website, with the cathedral open to attendees from December 8. During its first week, the cathedral will be open until 10pm but will then return to normal opening hours. Group pilgrimages will be welcome from February 2025, with groups of tourist able to book a tour at the historic cathedral from June 9. Paris Ukraine Donald Trump France Madonna Share or comment on this article: Prince William is all smiles as he welcomes Donald Trump to the British Embassy in Paris - as the US President-elect hails him as a 'good one' e-mail Add commentParty’s over, let’s get down to business, Soludo urges APGA executivesGary Neville has questioned whether Manchester City are a team in decline after saying Pep Guardiola 's side currently look 'as bad as he's ever seen them'. The Premier League champions fell to a fifth consecutive defeat on Saturday evening as they were thrashed 4-0 by Tottenham at The Etihad . City could find themselves eight points behind league leaders Liverpool when they meet in a huge title showdown next week - and Neville feels the champions' issues run deep . "We've seen City lose the odd game here, but we've very rarely seen them outplayed in every department, but that's what we're watching," he told Sky Sports . "They look well short. As short as I've seen them since Pep's first season. I've not seen them as bad as this, how they've been in the last few weeks." The fact that City have been unable to arrest their slide after the international break will only spark further questions about their title hopes, which appear bleaker by the week. Neville continued: "[Guardiola] will have wanted that international break to come, thinking it would be a reset moment. But now here, it further entrenches the opinion this is a City side currently in decline. Join the debate! Do you think Man City can still win the title? Let us know here "It seems madness, when you think about what they've achieved. They're easy to play against and teams are encouraged when playing them. The vulnerabilities are clear for everyone to see." Guardiola looked glum on the sidelines as his team were taken to the cleaners by Spurs, who moved into the top-six after ending City's 52-match unbeaten home run. The Manchester City boss admitted his team were fragile defensively post-match and they have been far poor without Rodri , who sustained a serious injury earlier in the campaign. But Neville tore into Kyle Walker after the Spurs match, saying the veteran defender has been miles off it. "Goodness gracious me," he said after Walker was beaten by Timo Werner for Tottenham's fourth goal. "You don't see that very often, but we've seen it a few times in the last couple of weeks. Vinicius Junior, Mbappe, he's handled them all, Walker, but he's struggling at this moment in time." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Sky has slashed the price of its Sky Sports, Sky Stream, Sky TV and Netflix bundle in an unbeatable new deal that saves £240 and includes 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
It's been a season of ups and downs for the Seahawks' offense. At times, they've looked like an offense that can keep up in track meets with other potent offenses. In other games, it's looked like it's been a real struggle for Geno Smith and company to put up 20 points. Thankfully, their defense has gelled in recent weeks and Seattle is currently atop the NFC West. Seattle's running back, Kenneth Walker, has followed a similar up-and-down trend this season. Last week was one of his tougher outings, racking up just 46 yards from scrimmage on 18 touches. This marked the third time in five games that he was held to fewer than 60 yards from scrimmage. Unfortunately, Walker may be unable to have a bounce-back game this week. He is dealing with ankle and calf injuries that have put his status in doubt ahead of Seattle's matchup with the Cardinals . Let's check in on his latest injury update. WEEK 14 FANTASY FOOTBALL RANKINGS QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/ST | Kickers Will Kenneth Walker play this week? Injury update on Seahawks' RB Walker has been trending in the wrong direction over the course of the week. He was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday, but he failed to appear on the practice field on Thursday and Friday. After this spotty practice participation, Walker is questionable for Sunday's game. The game statuses for Sunday at Arizona. #GoHawks x @VMFHealth pic.twitter.com/cuDWsp9YMc After two straight missed practices, Walker seems to be truly questionable and could even be closer to doubtful. It's a toss-up as to whether he'll be able to play and we may not get word of his availability until inactives are made public on Sunday afternoon. Check back here often, where we'll be providing updates on Walker's status as they become available. Seahawks' RB Depth Chart: Who is Kenneth Walker's Backup? If Walker is unable to play, expect to see plenty of second-year back Zach Charbonnet against the Cardinals. When Walker missed Weeks 2 & 3 earlier this year, Charbonnet played at least 85 percent of snaps in both contests. He will likely act as a bell cow back once again if Walker can't suit up. Charbonnet will play the vast majority of snaps, but Kenny McIntosh will be the back who comes on the field to spell Charbonnet at times. He may get a couple of touches while playing a handful of snaps this week. WEEK 14 FANTASY FOOTBALL ROSTER MANAGEMENT Lessons Learned | Stock Watch | Sleepers | Busts | Start 'Em, Sit 'Em | Usage Report | Weather Kenneth Walker fantasy outlook Week 14 Walker's fantasy production has been creeping down in recent weeks, failing to clear 14.0 PPR points since Week 7. However, Walker is one of those backs who is a big play waiting to happen and can generate 10-plus fantasy points on just one long touchdown scamper. He's a low-end RB1 this week if he plays and belongs in fantasy lineups everywhere. Considering Walker's availability is up in the air, fantasy managers should be prepared with a backup plan in case he doesn't play. Charbonnet is a strong replacement and would be a volume-based RB2 if Walker is sidelined. If you were unable to handcuff Walker with Charbonnet, be sure to check out the Sporting News' RB rankings and sleepers to find a strong replacement.
Breaking Boundaries in Microbiology and Business: An Interview with Dr. Saloni SharmaA STONE coffin believed to be that of the original 'Santa Claus' has been unearthed by archaeologists. The St Nicholas Church in Demre, Antalya, Turkey, has been an excavation site for researchers since 1989. It is believed to be the final resting place of the Christian bishop Saint Nicholas of Myra (now known as Demre) who died in 343 AD. The Greek bishop was the inspiration for the figures of both Santa Clause and Sinterklaas. He was a devoted Christian dedicated to helping those in need and he even spent his inheritance on the cause. Saint Nick was particularly known for his secret gift-giving and gained a reputation for leaving coins in people’s shoes. Now, archaeologists exploring the church's two-story annexe have located a limestone sarcophagus that could belong to Saint Nicholas. The five-foot deep and six-foot-long coffin with a raised lid was located at the burial site of the seventh-century church in the dig led by Associate Professor Ebru Fatma Findik from Hatay Mustafa Kemal University. Researchers who are taking part in the "Legacy for the Future Project" at the site revealed that the stone coffin was about six feet underground. They only realised they were working on a burial site when the researchers started finding animal bones and parts of clay lamps, Findik explained to Turkiye Today . The saint who died in the fourth century was buried at the site of his church and hundreds of years later, at the request of Byzantine Emperor Theodosius II, a grand church was built in his honour at the same site. His remains were moved into a sarcophagus which was buried at the new church. But, it is not yet guaranteed that the stone coffin belongs to the devout Christian saint celebrated every December. The location of the Bishop's tomb has long been under speculation but the coffin being found so close to the church has given researchers hope. "Some sources suggest that St. Nicholas was buried near the sacred area of the city of Myra," Findik explained. "The fact that we have found a sarcophagus near the church, which is thought to house his tomb, may indicate that this is indeed the sacred area we have been searching for." "This is a significant archaeological confirmation of historical sources regarding the burial place of St. Nicholas," Findik added. In 1087, some bones were taken from his sarcophagus by Italian thieves from Bari who took them back to their hometown. Sailors from Venice later took the remaining bones during the First Crusade. In 1953, researchers confirmed that both sets of bones found in Bari and in Venice were from the same person, but it is not known if it is Saint Nicholas, according to Heritage Daily. Only the lid has so far been fully unearthed, with only a tiny section of the burial chamber currently visible as researchers hope to soon find a big clue as to its contents. "Our biggest hope is to find an inscription on the sarcophagus," Findik said. "This would help clarify the burial contents and allow us to determine the exact period it dates to." The lead researcher said that further details about the sarcophagus are expected over the next few months. Another group of researchers have managed to rebuild the face of Saint Nicholas after 1,700 years. To create the face, Cicero Moraes and his team used data collected in the 1950s by Luigi Martino, with permission from the Centro Studi Nicolaiani. He said: “We initially reconstructed the skull in 3D using this data. “We then traced the profile of the face using statistical projections. “We supplemented this with the anatomical deformation technique, in which the tomography of a living person's head is adjusted so that the virtual donor's skull matches that of the saint. “The final face is an interpolation of all this information, seeking anatomical and statistical coherence.” The result is two sets of images: one objective in greyscale, and one more artistic – adding features like a beard and clothes, inspired by the iconography of Saint Nicholas. SAINT Nicholas, the historical figure who inspired the modern-day Santa Claus, is a beloved saint in Christian tradition. He was a 4th-century bishop of Myra (modern-day Demre in Turkey) and is known for his generosity, miracles, and compassionate spirit. Saint Nicholas was born around 270 AD in the Roman province of Lycia, in the town of Patara (present-day Turkey). Raised in a wealthy Christian family, he lost his parents at a young age and inherited a substantial fortune. Rather than keeping the wealth for himself, Nicholas dedicated his life to serving others, living out his faith through acts of charity. Several stories about Saint Nicholas emphasise his generosity and miraculous deeds. Some of the most well-known include: The Dowries for the Three Sisters : A poor man in Myra had three daughters but could not afford dowries for them, leaving them at risk of being sold into slavery or forced into lives of destitution. According to legend, Saint Nicholas secretly provided dowries by throwing bags of gold through their window at night. Some versions of the story say he dropped the gold down the chimney, where it landed in stockings hanging by the fire to dry—a detail that inspired the Christmas stocking tradition. Saving sailors at sea : Saint Nicholas is also revered as the patron saint of sailors. One legend recounts that he calmed a fierce storm while on a voyage, saving the ship and its crew through his prayers. This story spread widely among seafarers, and they began to invoke his protection during their journeys. The resurrected children: Another famous tale tells of Saint Nicholas resurrecting three children who had been murdered by a butcher during a famine. In this story, the children had been dismembered and hidden in barrels, but Saint Nicholas miraculously restored them to life. This narrative contributed to his reputation as a protector of children. Saint Nicholas was known for his habit of secretly leaving gifts for the poor.His generosity earned him widespread admiration, and he became a symbol of selfless giving. After his death on December 6 (the year is uncertain but believed to be between 343–352 AD), Saint Nicholas's feast day became widely celebrated in Europe. Over the centuries, his legend grew, blending with local customs.In the Netherlands, Saint Nicholas became known as Sinterklaas, a figure celebrated on December 5 or 6. Dutch settlers brought the tradition of Sinterklaas to America, where it evolved into the modern Santa Claus, further shaped by cultural influences such as Clement Clarke Moore’s poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas” and Coca-Cola’s iconic 20th-century advertisements. Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of numerous groups, including children, sailors, merchants, the innocent, and the wrongfully accused. Icons of Saint Nicholas often depict him as a bishop holding a staff, with gold coins, children, or ships symbolising his miracles and patronage.
