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nn777 games As Messi prepares to take to the pitch once again, the anticipation and excitement among Barcelona fans are palpable. With his return, Barcelona's fortunes are expected to take a positive turn, as they look to secure important wins and make their mark in domestic and international competitions. Messi's influence on the team is undeniable, and his presence will undoubtedly be a game-changer for Barcelona in the matches to come.PIAA Class 6A football: Parkland finds itself in a familiar place with a tremendous challenge

In the realm of innovative technology, Xiaomi has made a splash with the unveiling of its first SUV model, the YU7. The Chinese tech giant, known for its range of consumer electronics and smart devices, is expanding its portfolio into the automotive sector with this new offering. The YU7 boasts cutting-edge features, sleek design, and a focus on sustainability, positioning it as a contender in the competitive SUV market. Xiaomi's foray into the automobile industry marks a significant milestone in its diversification strategy and signals its ambition to disrupt traditional automotive markets.

Jimmy Carter, the peanut farmer who won the presidency in the wake of the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War, endured humbling defeat after one tumultuous term and then redefined life after the White House as a global humanitarian, has died. He was 100 years old. The longest-lived American president died on Sunday, more than a year after entering hospice care, at his home in the small town of Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died at 96 in November 2023, spent most of their lives, The Carter Center said. "Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia," the center said in posting about his death on the social media platform X. It added in a statement that he died peacefully, surrounded by his family. As reaction poured in from around the world, President Joe Biden mourned Carter's death, saying the world lost an "extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian" and he lost a dear friend. Biden cited Carter's compassion and moral clarity, his work to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless and advocacy for the disadvantaged as an example for others. "To all of the young people in this nation and for anyone in search of what it means to live a life of purpose and meaning - the good life - study Jimmy Carter, a man of principle, faith, and humility," Biden said in a statement. "He showed that we are a great nation because we are a good people - decent and honorable, courageous and compassionate, humble and strong." Biden said he is ordering a state funeral for Carter in Washington. Businessman, Navy officer, evangelist, politician, negotiator, author, woodworker, citizen of the world - Carter forged a path that still challenges political assumptions and stands out among the 45 men who reached the nation's highest office. The 39th president leveraged his ambition with a keen intellect, deep religious faith and prodigious work ethic, conducting diplomatic missions into his 80s and building houses for the poor well into his 90s. "My faith demands - this is not optional - my faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can, with whatever I have to try to make a difference," Carter once said. A moderate Democrat, Carter entered the 1976 presidential race as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad smile, outspoken Baptist mores and technocratic plans reflecting his education as an engineer. His no-frills campaign depended on public financing, and his promise not to deceive the American people resonated after Richard Nixon's disgrace and U.S. defeat in southeast Asia. "If I ever lie to you, if I ever make a misleading statement, don't vote for me. I would not deserve to be your president," Carter repeated before narrowly beating Republican incumbent Gerald Ford, who had lost popularity pardoning Nixon. Carter governed amid Cold War pressures, turbulent oil markets and social upheaval over racism, women's rights and America's global role. His most acclaimed achievement in office was a Mideast peace deal that he brokered by keeping Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin at the bargaining table for 13 days in 1978. That Camp David experience inspired the post-presidential center where Carter would establish so much of his legacy. Yet Carter's electoral coalition splintered under double-digit inflation, gasoline lines and the 444-day hostage crisis in Iran. His bleakest hour came when eight Americans died in a failed hostage rescue in April 1980, helping to ensure his landslide defeat to Republican Ronald Reagan. Carter acknowledged in his 2020 "White House Diary" that he could be "micromanaging" and "excessively autocratic," complicating dealings with Congress and the federal bureaucracy. He also turned a cold shoulder to Washington's news media and lobbyists, not fully appreciating their influence on his political fortunes. "It didn't take us long to realize that the underestimation existed, but by that time we were not able to repair the mistake," Carter told historians in 1982, suggesting that he had "an inherent incompatibility" with Washington insiders. Carter insisted his overall approach was sound and that he achieved his primary objectives - to "protect our nation's security and interests peacefully" and "enhance human rights here and abroad" - even if he fell spectacularly short of a second term. Ignominious defeat, though, allowed for renewal. The Carters founded The Carter Center in 1982 as a first-of-its-kind base of operations, asserting themselves as international peacemakers and champions of democracy, public health and human rights. "I was not interested in just building a museum or storing my White House records and memorabilia," Carter wrote in a memoir published after his 90th birthday. "I wanted a place where we could work." That work included easing nuclear tensions in North and South Korea, helping to avert a U.S. invasion of Haiti and negotiating cease-fires in Bosnia and Sudan. By 2022, The Carter Center had declared at least 113 elections in Latin America, Asia and Africa to be free or fraudulent. Recently, the center began monitoring U.S. elections as well. Carter's stubborn self-assuredness and even self-righteousness proved effective once he was unencumbered by the Washington order, sometimes to the point of frustrating his successors. He went "where others are not treading," he said, to places like Ethiopia, Liberia and North Korea, where he secured the release of an American who had wandered across the border in 2010. "I can say what I like. I can meet whom I want. I can take on projects that please me and reject the ones that don't," Carter said. He announced an arms-reduction-for-aid deal with North Korea without clearing the details with Bill Clinton's White House. He openly criticized President George W. Bush for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He also criticized America's approach to Israel with his 2006 book "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid." And he repeatedly countered U.S. administrations by insisting North Korea should be included in international affairs, a position that most aligned Carter with Republican President Donald Trump. Among the center's many public health initiatives, Carter vowed to eradicate the guinea worm parasite during his lifetime, and nearly achieved it: Cases dropped from millions in the 1980s to nearly a handful. With hardhats and hammers, the Carters also built homes with Habitat for Humanity. The Nobel committee's 2002 Peace Prize cites his "untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development." Carter should have won it alongside Sadat and Begin in 1978, the chairman added. Carter accepted the recognition saying there was more work to be done. "The world is now, in many ways, a more dangerous place," he said. "The greater ease of travel and communication has not been matched by equal understanding and mutual respect." Carter's globetrotting took him to remote villages where he met little "Jimmy Carters," so named by admiring parents. But he spent most of his days in the same one-story Plains house - expanded and guarded by Secret Service agents - where they lived before he became governor. He regularly taught Sunday School lessons at Maranatha Baptist Church until his mobility declined and the coronavirus pandemic raged. Those sessions drew visitors from around the world to the small sanctuary where Carter will receive his final send-off after a state funeral at Washington's National Cathedral. The common assessment that he was a better ex-president than president rankled Carter and his allies. His prolific post-presidency gave him a brand above politics, particularly for Americans too young to witness him in office. But Carter also lived long enough to see biographers and historians reassess his White House years more generously. His record includes the deregulation of key industries, reduction of U.S. dependence on foreign oil, cautious management of the national debt and notable legislation on the environment, education and mental health. He focused on human rights in foreign policy, pressuring dictators to release thousands of political prisoners. He acknowledged America's historical imperialism, pardoned Vietnam War draft evaders and relinquished control of the Panama Canal. He normalized relations with China. "I am not nominating Jimmy Carter for a place on Mount Rushmore," Stuart Eizenstat, Carter's domestic policy director, wrote in a 2018 book. "He was not a great president" but also not the "hapless and weak" caricature voters rejected in 1980, Eizenstat said. Rather, Carter was "good and productive" and "delivered results, many of which were realized only after he left office." Madeleine Albright, a national security staffer for Carter and Clinton's secretary of state, wrote in Eizenstat's forward that Carter was "consequential and successful" and expressed hope that "perceptions will continue to evolve" about his presidency. "Our country was lucky to have him as our leader," said Albright, who died in 2022. Jonathan Alter, who penned a comprehensive Carter biography published in 2020, said in an interview that Carter should be remembered for "an epic American life" spanning from a humble start in a home with no electricity or indoor plumbing through decades on the world stage across two centuries. "He will likely go down as one of the most misunderstood and underestimated figures in American history," Alter told The Associated Press. James Earl Carter Jr. was born Oct. 1, 1924, in Plains and spent his early years in nearby Archery. His family was a minority in the mostly Black community, decades before the civil rights movement played out at the dawn of Carter's political career. Carter, who campaigned as a moderate on race relations but governed more progressively, talked often of the influence of his Black caregivers and playmates but also noted his advantages: His land-owning father sat atop Archery's tenant-farming system and owned a main street grocery. His mother, Lillian, would become a staple of his political campaigns. Seeking to broaden his world beyond Plains and its population of fewer than 1,000 - then and now - Carter won an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating in 1946. That same year he married Rosalynn Smith, another Plains native, a decision he considered more important than any he made as head of state. She shared his desire to see the world, sacrificing college to support his Navy career. Carter climbed in rank to lieutenant, but then his father was diagnosed with cancer, so the submarine officer set aside his ambitions of admiralty and moved the family back to Plains. His decision angered Rosalynn, even as she dived into the peanut business alongside her husband. Carter again failed to talk with his wife before his first run for office - he later called it "inconceivable" not to have consulted her on such major life decisions - but this time, she was on board. "My wife is much more political," Carter told the AP in 2021. He won a state Senate seat in 1962 but wasn't long for the General Assembly and its back-slapping, deal-cutting ways. He ran for governor in 1966 - losing to arch-segregationist Lester Maddox - and then immediately focused on the next campaign. Carter had spoken out against church segregation as a Baptist deacon and opposed racist "Dixiecrats" as a state senator. Yet as a local school board leader in the 1950s he had not pushed to end school segregation even after the Supreme Court's Brown v. Board of Education decision, despite his private support for integration. And in 1970, Carter ran for governor again as the more conservative Democrat against Carl Sanders, a wealthy businessman Carter mocked as "Cufflinks Carl." Sanders never forgave him for anonymous, race-baiting flyers, which Carter disavowed. Ultimately, Carter won his races by attracting both Black voters and culturally conservative whites. Once in office, he was more direct. "I say to you quite frankly that the time for racial discrimination is over," he declared in his 1971 inaugural address, setting a new standard for Southern governors that landed him on the cover of Time magazine. His statehouse initiatives included environmental protection, boosting rural education and overhauling antiquated executive branch structures. He proclaimed Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the slain civil rights leader's home state. And he decided, as he received presidential candidates in 1972, that they were no more talented than he was. In 1974, he ran Democrats' national campaign arm. Then he declared his own candidacy for 1976. An Atlanta newspaper responded with the headline: "Jimmy Who?" The Carters and a "Peanut Brigade" of family members and Georgia supporters camped out in Iowa and New Hampshire, establishing both states as presidential proving grounds. His first Senate endorsement: a young first-termer from Delaware named Joe Biden. Yet it was Carter's ability to navigate America's complex racial and rural politics that cemented the nomination. He swept the Deep South that November, the last Democrat to do so, as many white Southerners shifted to Republicans in response to civil rights initiatives. A self-declared "born-again Christian," Carter drew snickers by referring to Scripture in a Playboy magazine interview, saying he "had looked on many women with lust. I've committed adultery in my heart many times." The remarks gave Ford a new foothold and television comedians pounced - including NBC's new "Saturday Night Live" show. But voters weary of cynicism in politics found it endearing. Carter chose Minnesota Sen. Walter "Fritz" Mondale as his running mate on a "Grits and Fritz" ticket. In office, he elevated the vice presidency and the first lady's office. Mondale's governing partnership was a model for influential successors Al Gore, Dick Cheney and Biden. Rosalynn Carter was one of the most involved presidential spouses in history, welcomed into Cabinet meetings and huddles with lawmakers and top aides. The Carters presided with uncommon informality: He used his nickname "Jimmy" even when taking the oath of office, carried his own luggage and tried to silence the Marine Band's "Hail to the Chief." They bought their clothes off the rack. Carter wore a cardigan for a White House address, urging Americans to conserve energy by turning down their thermostats. Amy, the youngest of four children, attended District of Columbia public school. Washington's social and media elite scorned their style. But the larger concern was that "he hated politics," according to Eizenstat, leaving him nowhere to turn politically once economic turmoil and foreign policy challenges took their toll. Carter partially deregulated the airline, railroad and trucking industries and established the departments of Education and Energy, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He designated millions of acres of Alaska as national parks or wildlife refuges. He appointed a then-record number of women and nonwhite people to federal posts. He never had a Supreme Court nomination, but he elevated civil rights attorney Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the nation's second highest court, positioning her for a promotion in 1993. He appointed Paul Volker, the Federal Reserve chairman whose policies would help the economy boom in the 1980s - after Carter left office. He built on Nixon's opening with China, and though he tolerated autocrats in Asia, pushed Latin America from dictatorships to democracy. But he couldn't immediately tame inflation or the related energy crisis. And then came Iran. After he admitted the exiled Shah of Iran to the U.S. for medical treatment, the American Embassy in Tehran was overrun in 1979 by followers of the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Negotiations to free the hostages broke down repeatedly ahead of the failed rescue attempt. The same year, Carter signed SALT II, the new strategic arms treaty with Leonid Brezhnev of the Soviet Union, only to pull it back, impose trade sanctions and order a U.S. boycott of the Moscow Olympics after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan. Hoping to instill optimism, he delivered what the media dubbed his "malaise" speech, although he didn't use that word. He declared the nation was suffering "a crisis of confidence." By then, many Americans had lost confidence in the president, not themselves. Carter campaigned sparingly for reelection because of the hostage crisis, instead sending Rosalynn as Sen. Edward M. Kennedy challenged him for the Democratic nomination. Carter famously said he'd "kick his ass," but was hobbled by Kennedy as Reagan rallied a broad coalition with "make America great again" appeals and asking voters whether they were "better off than you were four years ago." Reagan further capitalized on Carter's lecturing tone, eviscerating him in their lone fall debate with the quip: "There you go again." Carter lost all but six states and Republicans rolled to a new Senate majority. Carter successfully negotiated the hostages' freedom after the election, but in one final, bitter turn of events, Tehran waited until hours after Carter left office to let them walk free. At 56, Carter returned to Georgia with "no idea what I would do with the rest of my life." Four decades after launching The Carter Center, he still talked of unfinished business. "I thought when we got into politics we would have resolved everything," Carter told the AP in 2021. "But it's turned out to be much more long-lasting and insidious than I had thought it was. I think in general, the world itself is much more divided than in previous years." Still, he affirmed what he said when he underwent treatment for a cancer diagnosis in his 10th decade of life. "I'm perfectly at ease with whatever comes," he said in 2015. "I've had a wonderful life. I've had thousands of friends, I've had an exciting, adventurous and gratifying existence."

NoneLooking ahead, the "Spring Dawn Plan" is poised to reshape the landscape of the industrial belt economy and drive sustainable growth for merchants in the digital era. By embracing innovation, collaboration, and data-driven strategies, industrial belt merchants can harness the power of e-commerce and new business models to thrive in the competitive market environment. With the continued support and implementation of the "Spring Dawn Plan", industrial belt merchants are well-positioned to achieve their business goals and unlock new opportunities for success.

One of the most alarming aspects of this latest escalation is the indiscriminate nature of the attacks. Civilian areas have been heavily hit, resulting in a significant loss of civilian lives and infrastructure. Hospitals, schools, and residential neighborhoods have all been targeted, leaving a trail of devastation in their wake. The targeting of civilian populations is not only a violation of international law but also a tragic reminder of the human cost of conflict in the region.

The reality is that sleep is not a luxury; it is a basic human need, just like food and water. When we deprive ourselves of sleep, our bodies start to sound alarms in the form of various warning signals. Unfortunately, instead of heeding these warnings, we often ignore them, attributing our fatigue and other symptoms to stress or lack of time.

Overall, the anticipated arrival of the new cold front and the drop in temperatures it brings offer a welcome change for residents of Southern China. The cooling effects of the cool air shipment will provide relief from the oppressive summer heat, benefiting various aspects of life in the region. As people prepare to welcome the cooler weather, they can look forward to enjoying a more comfortable and pleasant environment as autumn approaches.Former Kentucky WR Dane Key set for transfer to Nebraska

The (4-11) will face the Seattle Seahawks (8-7) in Week 16, where Chicago is looking to snap a nine-game losing streak. The Bears are coming off a 34-17 loss to the Detroit Lions, where Chicago strung together another uninspired performance where they were outcoached, outplayed and continued to make the self-inflicted mistakes that have defined their 2024 season. The Bears offense strung together four miserable drives to start the game before Caleb Williams and co. finally found a rhythm with back-to-back touchdown drives in the second quarter. Meanwhile, the defense was abysmal, including allowing an 82-yard touchdown, allowing 30-plus points in their third straight game. With Week 17 on deck, how do the Bears compare to the rest of the NFL this season? Looking at the major metrics (courtesy of , , and ), here is where Chicago ranked following Week 16: 26th 18.9 ppg 27th 191.3 ypg 25th 103.2 ypg 31st 294.5 ypg 31st 31.68% 6th 62.86% 2nd 60 4th 13 13th 22.8 ppg 23rd 225.2 ypg 26th 134.1 ypg 26th 359.3 ypg 13th 37.89% 3rd 47.46% 19th 34 10th 21Royal Caribbean works on fixing another passenger pain pointIn addition to its search and organization features, Exa prioritizes user privacy and data security. With robust encryption protocols and stringent data protection measures, Exa ensures that users' personal information and curated collections remain secure and confidential. This commitment to privacy and security gives users peace of mind knowing that their data is safe and protected.

Japan and Finland agreed during their summit Tuesday to start negotiations on a pact to allow the transfer of defense equipment, citing the increasingly interconnected security environments of Europe and the Indo-Pacific region. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and his Finnish counterpart, Petteri Orpo, opposed any unilateral attempts to change the status quo, the government said, in an apparent reference to Russia, China and North Korea, which has boosted military cooperation with Moscow. In their first meeting as premiers, Ishiba noted that the bond between Japan and Finland, now a NATO member, has strengthened amid the "severe" state of global affairs, expressing hope for a further deepening of bilateral security ties. Finland joined the NATO military alliance in April 2023 after its neighbor, Russia, invaded Ukraine a year earlier. Ishiba has raised concerns about the war's implications for the Indo-Pacific region, where tensions are high between China and Taiwan. Ishiba told Orpo, who described Japan as an important partner, that Tokyo seeks to bolster cooperation with Finland in cutting-edge technologies such as 6G mobile networks and supercomputing, the Japanese government said.2. Curbing Speculation: To prevent speculative activities that can lead to excessive price fluctuations, the government will implement stricter regulations on property transactions. Measures such as limits on multiple property purchases and increased oversight of real estate transactions aim to deter speculative behavior and promote a more stable market environment.AT&T and Verizon were targeted by China-backed hacking group Salt Typhoon, but their networks are now secure, the telecommunications companies said on Saturday in their first acknowledgement of the hacking. Meanwhile, Lumen Technologies, which owns CenturyLink, said on Sunday that it has no evidence of Chinese actors in its network. Verizon said in a statement to The Epoch Times that it has notified “a small number of high-profile customers in government and politics” who were targeted by the hackers. The company said it has contained the threat, and that “an independent and highly respected cyber security firm” had confirmed the containment. “Immediately upon learning of this incident, Verizon took several key actions to protect its customers and its network including partnering with federal law enforcement and national security agencies, industry partners, and private cybersecurity firms,” Verizon’s Chief Legal Officer Vandana Venkatesh said in a statement. “We have not detected threat actor activity in Verizon’s network for some time, and after considerable work addressing this incident, we can report that Verizon has contained the activities associated with this particular incident.” On Saturday, an AT&T spokesperson told Reuters the company detected “no activity by nation-state actors in our networks at this time.” “Based on our current investigation of this attack, the People’s Republic of China targeted a small number of individuals of foreign intelligence interest,” the spokesperson said. While only a few cases of compromised information were identified, AT&T was monitoring and remediating its networks to protect customers’ data and continues to work with authorities to assess and mitigate the threat, the spokesperson said. A spokesperson for Lumen Technologies told The Epoch Times there’s no evidence of Chinese actors in its network. “An independent forensics firm has confirmed Salt Typhoon is no longer in our network. In addition, our federal partners have not shared any information that would suggest otherwise. To date, there is no evidence that customer data was accessed on our network,” the spokesperson said in a statement. Government officials have previously said Salt Typhoon targeted a limited number of high-profile officials and politicians over a long time. Simon said that is “not the case at T-Mobile.” Chinese officials have previously described the allegations as disinformation and said Beijing “firmly opposes and combats cyber attacks and cyber theft in all forms.” On Friday, Neuberger said it’s believed the hackers geolocated a large number of individuals in the Washington DC, Virginia area, and targeted “probably less than 100 on the actual individuals.” Earlier this month, the CISA issued a guidance for “highly targeted” senior government officials and politicians, urging them to “use only end-to-end encrypted communications” and to adopt other measures to mitigate risks posed by Chinese hackers.

Who Is Dion Dawkins’ Girlfriend, Daiyaana Muhammad & What Is Her Instagram?The impact of these airstrikes goes beyond the immediate physical destruction. The psychological toll on the affected populations, as well as the broader Middle East community, cannot be overstated. Fear, uncertainty, and anger now grip the region as people grapple with the aftermath of yet another wave of violence. The already fragile peace and stability in the Middle East have been further jeopardized, leaving many to wonder what the future holds for the region.

Support Independent Arts Journalism As an independent publication, we rely on readers like you to fund our journalism. If you value our coverage and want to support more of it, consider becoming a member today . Already a member? Sign in here. Support Hyperallergic’s independent arts journalism for as little as $8 per month. Become a Member When I walked into the Soho Rep on Wednesday, November 6, the day after the election, I wasn’t entirely sure I was up for seeing a play. Even as someone whose life is wrapped up in the arts and who cares deeply for the meaning and solace they can provide, I find myself wary of the platitudes that tell us art will somehow save us. I’ll grant that the arts can contribute, but so many other very concrete things need to happen in order for us to stop destroying ourselves and the intertwined ecosystems we rely on for survival. That said, I do love Soho Rep, a small, almost 50-year-old theater company based in Lower Manhattan that I can always trust to produce strong and provocative work. Throughout my nearly two decades in New York, I’ve been seeing their productions, but this would be the last time I’d get to watch one of their shows in the little black box theater in Tribeca where they’ve been located for over 30 years. The current show, Give Me Carmelita Tropicana! , written by Alina Troyano and Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, and directed by Eric Ting, will be the company’s final production in that space. Starting in February 2025, they will begin a residency of at least two years in the 128-seat Sharp Theater at Playwright’s Horizons, which will nearly double Soho Rep’s seating capacity and bring their shows into a fully accessible space. Get the latest art news, reviews and opinions from Hyperallergic. Daily Weekly Opportunities And so, after chatting with the front-of-house staff and perusing the books on offer — Soho Rep has also long made a point of putting theatrical and performance texts into print, no small feat for a US theater — I settled into my seat in the second row and tried to open up to whatever was about to unfold. For those who don’t know Carmelita Tropicana, she is the creation and alter-ego of Alina Troyano, a Cuban-born force of nature in New York City’s avant-garde theater and performance world, and a fixture in the Lower East Side neighborhood she has long called home. Troyano’s first full production featuring Carmelita Tropicana was Chicken Sushi (1987), which she toured to numerous locations in Germany and also performed at the WOW Café Theatre in New York City, the space where she first developed the character and found an artistic home in the early 1980s. Carmelita is an exaggerated camp queer entertainer and Cubana living in the Lower East Side. Through her performances, she expresses both critique of and love for the overlapping worlds she occupies. Notably Carmelita is deeply entwined with Troyano’s own life and identity — a point relevant to the play. Many people know Troyano primarily as Carmelita Tropicana, myself included. It’s the name she has often used when teaching, presenting at museums, publishing essays in academic journals, walking down the street, and on and on. The result is a built-in tension between the two identities: Where does one start and the other end? Can they even be separated? And if so, how? In the world of the play, Troyano is engaged in the quintessentially American activity of dreaming up new ways to make money. She lands on the idea of selling off the character/persona/intellectual property that is Carmelita Tropicana. The reasons she needs the money? Partly because capitalism is failing us all, even as it constantly presents as the solution to that failure, and partly because of Troyano’s decades spent making theater and performance art (career paths not known for being lucrative). She also serves as the superintendent in the building she co-owns with her sister and frequent artistic collaborator, filmmaker Ela Troyano, but this line of work also hasn’t made her rich. Troyano manages to find a possible buyer for Carmelita in the form of her former student, the playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins (played by actor Ugo Chukwu). From this opening premise, the play explodes. At various moments Troyano and the character of Jacobs-Jenkins become inhabited or possessed by Carmelita. Other characters Troyano created in her past work also enter the world of the play, we travel across time and space, and even seem to exit them entirely at a few points. The sets change with the drawing of a curtain or the spin of a piece of scenery: We move from a bland office to a photographic facsimile of Troyano’s apartment to a neon cavern made of cardboard to a nightclub somewhere in a mirage of Cuba — and at one point we find ourselves nowhere at all, listening to a meandering and quite moving monologue by an ever-growing goldfish that Branden Jacobs-Jenkins once used in a harrowing performance art piece during a class he took with Troyano/Carmelita, back before he became a Tony and MacArthur Award-winning writer, back when he thought he might follow in Troyano/Carmelita’s footsteps as a performance artist. Even the iconic Cuban-American playwright María Irene Fornés, who was once Troyano’s teacher, makes an appearance (played by Octavia Chavez-Richmond). The play is a sometimes poignant, gloriously absurd, uncontainable ride that I was grateful to be on that night. At turns it asks what lineage could be, from artistic lineages to lineages for queer people who don’t procreate; what’s for sale; who gets access to information and how; who gets to say what, particularly when it comes to race and ethnicity; the what and why of theater; and, as is common in much of Troyano’s work, what is this idea or mythology of the Latinidad all about, and what is its utility. Troyano has always pushed against being contained, against easy legibility, and in so doing, she refuses the kind of market and social enclosure for which identity markers are so often used. This work with Jacobs-Jenkins carries that impulse into the present in a way that feels both strategic and instructive. To simultaneously claim, break, and refuse identities is to force people to reckon with your full humanity, while turning their desires and expectations of who you should be back on them. At a time when identity-based scapegoating is about to once again be the law of the land, it’s worth all of us borrowing from Troyano/Carmelita’s playbook to turn that impulse back on itself as often as we possibly can. Give Me Carmelita Tropicana! continues at Soho Rep (46 Walker Street, Tribeca, Manhattan) through December 22. The show was written by Alina Troyano and Branden Jacobs-Jenkins and directed by Eric Ting . We hope you enjoyed this article! Before you keep reading, please consider supporting Hyperallergic ’s journalism during a time when independent, critical reporting is increasingly scarce. Unlike many in the art world, we are not beholden to large corporations or billionaires. Our journalism is funded by readers like you , ensuring integrity and independence in our coverage. We strive to offer trustworthy perspectives on everything from art history to contemporary art. We spotlight artist-led social movements, uncover overlooked stories, and challenge established norms to make art more inclusive and accessible. With your support, we can continue to provide global coverage without the elitism often found in art journalism. If you can, please join us as a member today . Millions rely on Hyperallergic for free, reliable information. By becoming a member, you help keep our journalism free, independent, and accessible to all. Thank you for reading. Share Copied to clipboard Mail Bluesky Threads LinkedIn Facebook

After months of relentless promotion (remember ?), “Wicked” has finally landed in theaters, delivering a lavish and stealthily political adaptation of the beloved musical. Yet beyond hoping to defy the box office gravity of the streaming era, the film’s brightly colored explosion of pink and green makes it the movie a lot of people can surely use right now: buoyant escapism from a bruising election cycle and the uncertain future left in its wake, with a whole lot of heart — and not incidentally, a message. Movies take years to produce (director Jon M. Chu told NBC’s “TODAY” show during the process of making the film), so they’re a highly imperfect instrument to address, or divine, public moods. Still, “Wicked’s” arrival, along with sequels to “Gladiator” and the animated “Moana,” could tell us quite a bit about how festive the holidays will be for Hollywood as well as how eager Americans are to embrace distractions in this moment. Like “ ” (which also featured lots of pink and earned a whole lot of green), “Wicked” is a showcase for its female leads, Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, she who will become the Wicked Witch of the West in the Oz story; and Glinda (Ariana Grande), the popular fashion plate. Initially defined by hostility — or loathing, as the song goes — their relationship serves as the backbone of the film as they gradually and sweetly bond, until Elphaba’s opportunity to meet the legendary Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum, the one questionable casting choice) sets them on very different paths. Much of the audience will surely know most of the songs by heart, but as with any musical translated to the screen, film allows Chu to expand upon the scope of the visuals in dazzling ways. The two-part format also enables this first chapter to probe Elphaba and Glinda’s characters more deeply, although at two hours and 40 minutes, the length and more leisurely pace might be the most obvious quibble. (The distributor of the film is Universal Pictures, like MSNBC, a unit of NBCUniversal.) On its face, “Wicked” serves as a character-driven leap into a fantasy grounded by friendship and female empowerment, as the shy, disrespected Elphaba finds her voice (and then some, thanks to Erivo) and sense of purpose. While it’s hard to match the theatrical experience, don’t be surprised if opening-weekend audiences occasionally erupt in spontaneous applause. Again like “Barbie,” with its resonant feminist message, “Wicked” will surely provoke political conversations the wholly escape-minded might wish to avoid. Because by Gregory Maguire (while taking certain liberties), the story incorporates “a powerful allegory of how societies can sleepwalk into fascism,” , where a disenfranchised group gets exploited to achieve those ends. That includes, in the most chilling line, the observation that if the goal is to bring folks together, “give them a real good enemy.” Some of that nuance might get overlooked when Erivo (whose stage credits include a Tony Award for “The Color Purple”) unleashes that Broadway belt, but “Wicked’s” wickedly clever approach to turning the classic story on its head, making us question what we think we know about good and evil, and the origins of these characters, feels both timeless and inordinately timely. For Elphaba, that includes taking a principled stand, even if that means challenging authority and personal sacrifice. It’s a classic hero’s journey, but again, has undercurrents that won’t be lost on anyone who has spent the last two weeks doomscrolling headlines. Although the movie , a known title and a marketing onslaught, some have sought to replicate that strange summer of “Barbenheimer” magic by touting “Wicked” and “Gladiator” as an unlikely double feature (“ ,” as Variety put it). The pairing actually seems unlikely, even a bit lazy, since the two seem particularly well matched, demographically, to complement each other. Where director Ridley Scott’s long-delayed Roman Empire sequel revels in visceral thrills, the musical, while offering epic qualities, strikes other emotional nerves. In her show-stopping number, Elphaba famously notes, “Everyone deserves the chance to fly.” Whether viewed as a flight of fancy or something deeper, “Wicked” deserves the chance to be seen and shared, which, given the film’s charms and the current cultural moment, could leave the holiday season’s other box office hopefuls feeling green with envy.Sir Keir Starmer has led a host of tributes to former US president Jimmy Carter, saying he “redefined the post-presidency with a remarkable commitment to social justice and human rights at home and abroad”. The Prime Minister said Mr Carter, who died aged 100, will be remembered for the Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt, as well as his “decades of selfless public service”. He added that it was the Democrat’s “lifelong dedication to peace” that led to him receiving the Nobel Peace prize in 2002. Very sorry to hear of President Carter’s passing. I pay tribute to his decades of selfless public service. My thoughts are with his family and friends at this time. pic.twitter.com/IaKmZcteb1 — Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) December 29, 2024 Sir Keir was joined in paying tribute to the 39th president by other leaders including the King, current President Joe Biden, Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey and former PM Tony Blair. The King remembered former US president Jimmy Carter’s 1977 visit to the UK with “great fondness” and praised his “dedication and humility”. In a message to Mr Biden and the American people, Charles said: “It was with great sadness that I learned of the death of President Carter. “He was a committed public servant, and devoted his life to promoting peace and human rights. “His dedication and humility served as an inspiration to many, and I remember with great fondness his visit to the United Kingdom in 1977. “My thoughts and prayers are with President Carter’s family and the American people at this time.” Mr Biden said that Mr Carter was an “extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian”. He said his fellow Democrat was a “dear friend”, as he announced that he will order a state funeral to be held for him in Washington DC. “Today, America and the world lost an extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian,” he said. “Over six decades, we had the honour of calling Jimmy Carter a dear friend. But, what’s extraordinary about Jimmy Carter though is that millions of people throughout America and the world who never met him thought of him as a dear friend as well. “With his compassion and moral clarity, he worked to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil rights and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless, and always advocate for the least among us. He saved, lifted and changed the lives of people all across the globe. “He was a man of great character and courage, hope and optimism.” Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey said Mr Carter “will be remembered for generations”. “Jimmy Carter was an inspiration,” Mr Davey wrote on X. “He led a truly remarkable life dedicated to public service with a genuine care for people. “My thoughts are with his family, friends and all those who loved him. He will be remembered for generations.” Mr Blair said: “Jimmy Carter’s life was a testament to public service; from his time in office, and the Camp David Accords, to his remarkable commitment to the cause of people and peace round the world over the past 40 years,” he said. “I always had the greatest respect for him, his spirit and his dedication. He fundamentally cared and consistently toiled to help those in need.”