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2025-01-10   

777bet casino The Seahawks made one move involving their 53-man roster Tuesday, claiming safety AJ Finley off waivers from the Chargers. Defensive lineman Myles Adams was waived to make room. The 6-foot, 188-pound Finley, who entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2023 out of Ole Miss, has played in 22 games the past two seasons, including 10 this year. He has seen most of his time on special teams and has 13 tackles in his career. Adams has been on and off the 53-man roster and practice squad since the 2020 season and has played in 25 games, three this year with three tackles. The Seahawks could look to re-sign him to the practice squad if he clears waivers. The Seahawks also released cornerback Faion Hicks and running back Brittain Brown off the practice squad and signed cornerback Ryan Cooper and receiver Cornell Powell to take their place. Cooper, a rookie, played at Oregon State and was most recently on the Ravens’ practice squad. Powell, from Clemson, was a fifth-round pick of the Chiefs in 2021 and has appeared in three NFL gamesFormer U.S. President Jimmy Carter has died. He was 100 years old and had spent more than a year in hospice care. The Georgia peanut farmer served one turbulent term in the White House before building a reputation as a global humanitarian and champion of democracy. He defeated President Gerald Ford in 1976 promising to restore trust in government but lost to Ronald Reagan four years later amid soaring inflation, gas station lines and the Iran hostage crisis. He and his wife, Rosalynn Carter, then formed The Carter Center, and he earned a Nobel Peace Prize while making himself the most active and internationally engaged of former presidents. The Carter Center said the former president died Sunday afternoon in Plains, Georgia.Lindsey Vonn takes another step in comeback at age 40, competes in a pair of downhills

How one of the world’s richest men could pull off a mega-tax dodgeInsurgents reach gates of Syria’s capital, threatening to upend decades of Assad rule BEIRUT (AP) — A Syrian opposition war monitor and a pro-government media outlet say government forces have withdrawn from much of the central city of Homs. The pro-government Sham FM reported that government forces took positions outside Syria’s third-largest city, without elaborating. Rami Abdurrahman who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said Syrian troops and members of different security agencies have withdrawn from the city, adding that rebels have entered parts of it. Losing Homs is a potentially crippling blow for Syria’s embattled leader, Bashar Assad. An archbishop's knock formally restores Notre Dame to life as winds howl and heads of state look on PARIS (AP) — France’s iconic Notre Dame Cathedral has formally reopened its doors for the first time since a devastating fire nearly destroyed the 861-year-old landmark in 2019. The five-year restoration is widely seen as a boost for French President Emmanuel Macron, who championed the ambitious timeline, and brings a welcome respite from his domestic political woes. World leaders, dignitaries, and worshippers gathered on Saturday evening for the celebrations under the cathedral's soaring arches. The celebration was attended by 1,500 dignitaries, including President-elect Donald Trump, Britain’s Prince William, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. For Catholics, Notre Dame’s rector said the cathedral “carries the enveloping presence of the Virgin Mary, a maternal and embracing presence.′′ Trump is welcomed by Macron to Paris with presidential pomp and joined by Zelenskyy for their talks PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron has welcomed Donald Trump to Paris with a full dose of presidential pomp. And they held a hastily arranged meeting with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy on a day that's mixing pageantry with attention to pressing global problems. The president-elect's visit to France is part of a global a celebration of the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral five years after a devastating fire. Macron and other European leaders are trying to win Trump’s favor and persuade him to maintain support for Ukraine in its defense against Russia’s invasion. Trump isn't back in office but he's already pushing his agenda and negotiating with world leaders NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump is making threats, traveling abroad, and negotiating with world leaders. He has more than a month-and-a-half to go before he’s sworn in for a second term. But the president-elect is already moving aggressively to not only fill his Cabinet and outline policy goals, but also to try to achieve his priorities. In recent days, Trump has threatened to impose a 25% tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico, two of the country’s largest trading partners. That led to emergency calls and a visit. And he's warned of “ALL HELL TO PAY” if Hamas doesn't release the hostages still being held captive in Gaza. South Korea's president avoids an impeachment attempt over short-lived martial law SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s embattled President Yoon Suk Yeol has avoided an opposition-led attempt to impeach him over his short-lived imposition of martial law. Most of Yoon's ruling party lawmakers boycotted a parliamentary vote Saturday to deny a two-thirds majority needed to suspend his presidential powers. The scrapping of the motion is expected to intensify protests calling for Yoon’s ouster and deepen political chaos in South Korea. A survey suggests a majority of South Koreans support the president’s impeachment. Yoon’s martial law declaration drew criticism from his own ruling conservative People Power Party. But the party also apparently fears losing the presidency to liberals. Days after gunman killed UnitedHealthcare's CEO, police push to ID him and FBI offers reward NEW YORK (AP) — Nearly four days after the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, police still do not know the gunman’s name or whereabouts or have a motive for the killing. But they have made some progress in their investigation into Wednesday's killing of the leader of the largest U.S. health insurer, including that the gunman likely left New York City on a bus soon after fleeing the scene. The also found that the gunman left something behind: a backpack that was discovered in Central Park. Police are working with the FBI, which on Friday night announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. UnitedHealthcare CEO's shooting opens a door for many to vent frustrations over insurance The fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare's CEO has opened the door for many people to vent their frustrations and anger over the insurance industry. The feelings of exasperation, anger, resentment, and helplessness toward insurers aren’t new. But the shooting and the headlines around it have unleashed a new wave of patients sharing such sentiments and personal stories of interactions with insurance companies. Conversations at dinner tables, office water coolers, social gatherings and on social media have pivoted to the topic. Many say they hope the new amplified voices can bring about change for companies often accused of valuing profits over people. 2 Pearl Harbor survivors, ages 104 and 102, return to Hawaii to honor those killed in 1941 attack PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (AP) — The bombing of Pearl Harbor 83 years ago launched the United States into World War II. Two survivors have returned to the Hawaii military base for a remembrance ceremony on the attack's anniversary. Both are over 100 years old. They joined active-duty troops, veterans and members of the public for an observance hosted by the Navy and the National Park Service. A third survivor was planning to join them but had to cancel due to health issues. The bombing killed more than 2,300 U.S. servicemen. An explosion destroys an apartment block in a Dutch city, killing at least 3 and injuring others THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — An explosion and fire has rocked a neighborhood in the Dutch city of The Hague, killing three people and injuring other people and destroying several apartments. The cause of the disaster is unclear. Emergency authorities said four people were rescued from the rubble and taken to the hospital. The mayor said rescuers were no longer looking for survivors but for eventual bodies, but could not specify how many people might still be unaccounted for. Residents of the northeastern neighborhood of Mariahoeve in The Hague heard a huge bang and screams before dawn. Dutch authorities have deployed a specialized urban search and rescue team to find victims. How 'Mufasa' rose with Aaron Pierre and Blue Ivy's voices along with new Lin-Manuel Miranda music SAN DIEGO (AP) — When Aaron Pierre was cast as Mufasa, the weight of following in the late James Earl Jones’ legendary footsteps was enough to rattle any actor. But instead of letting the pressure roar too loudly, he harnessed his nerves to breathe fresh life into his young lion character. Pierre found parallels between himself and his character while filming his leading role in “Mufasa: The Lion King,” which opens in theaters Dec. 20. He took the reigns as the new voice of Mufasa after Jones played the iconic King Mufasa in both the 1994 and 2019 versions of Disney’s “The Lion King.” The prequel offers a fresh exploration into Mufasa’s origin story.GTA 6 developer teases 'cutting-edge' tech, 'procedural generation' for objects, environments - TweakTown

WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers, meet your latest lobbyists: online influencers from TikTok. The platform is once again bringing influencers to Washington, this time to lobby members of Congress to reject a fast-moving bill that would force TikTok's Beijing-based parent company to sell or be banned in the United States. On Tuesday, some influencers began a two-day advocacy event in support of TikTok, which arranged their trip ahead of a House floor vote on the legislation on Wednesday. But unlike a similar lobbying event the company put together last March when talks of a TikTok ban reached a fever pitch, this year’s effort appeared more rushed as the company scrambles to counter the legislation, which advanced rapidly on Capitol Hill. Summer Lucille, a TikTok content creator with 1.4 million followers who is visiting Washington this week, said if TikTok is banned, she “don’t know what it will do” to her business, a plus-sized boutique in Charlotte, North Carolina. “It will be devastating,” Lucille said in an interview arranged by the platform. In an unusual showing of bipartisanship, a House panel unanimously approved the measure last week. President Joe Biden has said he will sign the legislation if lawmakers pass it. But it’s unclear what will happen in the Senate, where several bills aimed at banning TikTok have stalled. The legislation faces other roadblocks. Former president and current presidential candidate Donald Trump, who holds sway over both House and Senate Republicans, has voiced opposition to the bill, saying it would empower Meta-owned Facebook, which he continues to lambast over his 2020 election loss. The bill also faces pushback from some progressive lawmakers in the House as well as civil liberties groups who argue it infringes on the First Amendment. TikTok could be banned if ByteDance, the parent company, doesn’t sell its stakes in the platform and other applications it owns within six months of the bill’s enactment. The fight over the platform takes place as U.S.-China relations have shifted to that of strategic rivalry, especially in areas such as advanced technologies and data security, seen as essential to each country’s economic prowess and national security. The shift, which started during the Trump years and has continued under Biden, has placed restrictions on export of advanced technologies and outflow of U.S. monies to China, as well as access to the U.S. market by certain Chinese businesses. The Biden administration also has cited human rights concerns in blacklisting a number of Chinese companies accused of assisting the state surveillance campaign against ethnic minorities. TikTok isn’t short on lobbyists. Its Beijing-based parent company ByteDance has a strong lobbying apparatus in Washington that includes dozens of lobbyists from well-known consulting and legal firms as well as influential insiders, such as former members of Congress and ex-aides to powerful lawmakers, according to the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew will also be in Washington this week and plans to meet with lawmakers, according to a company spokesperson who said Chew’s visit was previously scheduled. But influencers, who have big followings on social media and can share personal stories of how the platform boosted their businesses — or simply gave them a voice — are still perhaps one of the most powerful tools the company has in its arsenal. A TikTok spokesperson said dozens of influencers will attend the two-day event, including some who came last year. The spokesperson did not immediately respond to questions about how many new people would be attending this year’s lobbying blitz. The company is briefing them ahead of meetings with their representatives and media interviews. Lucille, who runs the boutique in North Carolina, says has seen a substantial surge in revenue because of her TikTok page. The 34-year-old began making TikTok content focusing on plus-sized fashion in March 2022, more than a decade after she started her business. She quickly amassed thousands of followers after posting a nine-second video about her boutique. Because of her popularity on the platform, her business has more online exposure and customers, some of whom have visited from as far as Europe. She says she also routinely hears from followers who are finding support through her content about fashion and confidence. JT Laybourne, an influencer who also came to Washington, said he joined TikTok in early 2019 after getting some negative comments on videos he posted on Instagram while singing in the car with his children. Laybourne, who lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, said he was attracted to the short-form video platform because it was easy to create videos that contained music. Like Lucille, he quickly gained traction on the app. He says he also received more support from TikTok users, who reacted positively to content he produced on love and positivity. Laybourne says the community he built on the platform rallied around his family when he had to undergo heart surgery in 2020. Following the surgery, he said he used the platform to help raise $1 million for the American Heart Association in less than two years. His family now run an apparel company that gets most of its traffic from TikTok. “I will fight tooth-and-nail for this app,” he said. But whether the opposition the company is mounting through lobbyists or influencers will be enough to derail the bill is yet to be seen. On Tuesday, House lawmakers received a briefing on national security concerns regarding TikTok from the FBI, Justice Department and intelligence officials. AP Journalist Didi Tang contributed to this report. This story was originally published on March 12, 2024. It was updated on December 23, 2024 to clarify a quote by TikTok content creator Summer Lucille.Mr Carter, a former peanut farmer, served one term in the White House between 1977 and 1981, taking over in the wake of the Watergate scandal and the end of the Vietnam War. After his defeat by Ronald Reagan, he spent his post-presidency years as a global humanitarian, winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. His death on Sunday was announced by his family and came more than a year after he decided to enter hospice care. He was the longest-lived US president. Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia. pic.twitter.com/aqYmcE9tXi — The Carter Center (@CarterCenter) December 29, 2024 His son, Chip Carter, said: “My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights and unselfish love. “My brothers, sister and I shared him with the rest of the world through these common beliefs. “The world is our family because of the way he brought people together, and we thank you for honouring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs.” Mr Carter is expected to receive a state funeral featuring public observances in Atlanta and Washington DC before being buried in his home town of Plains, Georgia. A moderate democrat born in Plains in October 1924, Mr Carter’s political career took him from the Georgia state senate to the state governorship and finally the White House, where he took office as the 39th president. His presidency saw economic disruption amid volatile oil prices, along with social tensions at home and challenges abroad including the Iranian revolution that sparked a 444-day hostage crisis at the US embassy in Tehran. But he also brokered the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel, which led to a peace treaty between the two countries in 1979. After his defeat in the 1980 presidential election, he worked for more than four decades leading the Carter Centre, which he and his late wife Rosalynn co-founded in 1982 to “wage peace, fight disease, and build hope”. Mrs Carter, who died last year aged 96, had played a more active role in her husband’s presidency than previous first ladies, with Mr Carter saying she had been “my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished”. Earlier this year, on his 100th birthday, Mr Carter received a private congratulatory message from the King, expressing admiration for his life of public service.Leverkusen's touch of destiny remains after statement win over Inter in Champions League showdown

By TOM WITHERS Two days before recording another milestone, resume-building sack on Dec. 22 at Cincinnati, Myles Garrett delivered a jarring hit — on the Browns. In this case, any roughness could be deemed necessary. Garrett piled on to what has been a painful and puzzling season in Cleveland by saying he doesn’t have any interest in going through another rebuild and wants to know exactly what the organization’s offseason plans are to fix things. If that wasn’t enough, Garrett indicated for the first time that he would consider leaving the Browns if his vision doesn’t mesh with the team’s ambitions. “It’s a possibility,” he said of playing elsewhere. “But I want to be a Cleveland Brown. I want to play my career here.” It’s unclear how Garrett’s comments were received by owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam, who have plenty to consider as the Browns (3-12) head into the final two weeks of a season that began with playoff expectations and could be followed by upheaval. The Browns haven’t been this bad since going 0-16 in 2017. Garrett, who reached 100 career sacks by taking down Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow late in the first half of the 24-6 loss, may have either added to the Haslams’ long list of concerns — the Deshaun Watson contract situation is a priority — or brought them clarity. There’s no denying that Garrett’s remarks carry substantial weight, which is partly why he spoke up. He’s the Browns’ best player, a franchise cornerstone, a future Hall of Famer and arguably the most disruptive defensive force in the game today. He’s also leading with actions. Garrett showed extraordinary effort in chasing down and tackling Burrow before tumbling out of bounds and crashing into Cleveland’s bench and some portable heaters. He might be frustrated, but he’s not giving up. “A testament of who he is as a player and who he is as a person,” linebacker Jordan Hicks said. What the reigning Defensive Player of the Year says matters. It will be interesting to see if the Haslams listen. At this point, there are indications the Browns intend to stick with coach Kevin Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry, whose major misses in recent drafts have become more magnified with each loss. There will be changes; it’s just a matter of how drastic and if they’ll be enough to satisfy Garrett’s wishes. He turns 29 on Dec. 29 and has two years left on a $125 million contract extension. The All-Pro is in his prime and doesn’t want to waste another season in a pointless pursuit of a Super Bowl title. His goal is to win a championship with Cleveland — or someone. Garrett’s serious. He’s asking the Browns to show him they are, too. Cleveland’s defense is doing its part. For the second week in a row, the Browns contained one of the NFL’s most talented offenses, holding the Bengals and their top-ranked passing game below most of their season averages. Burrow did throw three TD passes — for the seventh game in a row — but Cincinnati scored fewer than 27 points for the first time in seven games. The Browns continue to beat themselves with turnovers, some more costly than others. They drove to the Cincinnati 1-yard line in the opening minutes only to have D’Onta Foreman fumble as he neared the goal line. The Bengals capitalized by driving 99 yards to take a 7-0 lead that could have been Cleveland’s. Running back Jerome Ford is making the most of a heavier workload and finishing strong. He ripped off a 66-yard run on the game’s first play and finished with 131 all-purpose yards, including 92 on 11 carries and scored Cleveland’s only TD. Ford’s emergence as a potential No. 1 back — Nick Chubb’s injuries have clouded his future — gives the team one less thing to worry about as it retools the roster. Kicker Dustin Hopkins hasn’t shaken a startling slump. After being benched for a week to work through his struggles, Hopkins missed his only kick, pushing an extra point to the right. Hopkins felt confident going in, but he’s back to trying to identify issues that could be equally mechanical and mental. He’s just 16 of 25 on field goals, 16 of 19 on PATs and the Browns’ decision to sign him to a three-year, $15.9 million extension this summer looks worse every week. QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson injured his calf early in the game, leaving his status in doubt for a second straight start this week. If Thompson-Robinson can’t go, the Browns could go back to Jameis Winston, but he’s dealing with a sore right shoulder. ... Tight end David Njoku is dealing with yet another injury after hurting his knee. The team is awaiting results on an MRI, perhaps a sign of the severity. Njoku has missed time with injuries all season. He finished with eight catches for 66 yards. 20 — Interceptions for the Browns this season. Thompson-Robinson’s two picks on Dec. 22 gave the team 10 in the last four games. Probably a half-empty stadium for a final home game on Dec. 29 against the Miami Dolphins, who are still in the hunt for a wild-card spot. When: 4:05 p.m., Dec. 29 Where: Huntington Bank Field Records: Dolphin 7-8, Browns 3-12 TV: WOIO Radio: WKRK-FM 92.3, WNCX-FM 98.5, WKNR-AM 850, WKKY-FM 104.7Preview: FC Twente vs. Union SG - prediction, team news, lineups

Insurgents reach gates of Syria’s capital, threatening to upend decades of Assad rule BEIRUT (AP) — A Syrian opposition war monitor and a pro-government media outlet say government forces have withdrawn from much of the central city of Homs. The pro-government Sham FM reported that government forces took positions outside Syria’s third-largest city, without elaborating. Rami Abdurrahman who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said Syrian troops and members of different security agencies have withdrawn from the city, adding that rebels have entered parts of it. Losing Homs is a potentially crippling blow for Syria’s embattled leader, Bashar Assad. An archbishop's knock formally restores Notre Dame to life as winds howl and heads of state look on PARIS (AP) — France’s iconic Notre Dame Cathedral has formally reopened its doors for the first time since a devastating fire nearly destroyed the 861-year-old landmark in 2019. The five-year restoration is widely seen as a boost for French President Emmanuel Macron, who championed the ambitious timeline, and brings a welcome respite from his domestic political woes. World leaders, dignitaries, and worshippers gathered on Saturday evening for the celebrations under the cathedral's soaring arches. The celebration was attended by 1,500 dignitaries, including President-elect Donald Trump, Britain’s Prince William, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. For Catholics, Notre Dame’s rector said the cathedral “carries the enveloping presence of the Virgin Mary, a maternal and embracing presence.′′ Trump is welcomed by Macron to Paris with presidential pomp and joined by Zelenskyy for their talks PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron has welcomed Donald Trump to Paris with a full dose of presidential pomp. And they held a hastily arranged meeting with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy on a day that's mixing pageantry with attention to pressing global problems. The president-elect's visit to France is part of a global a celebration of the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral five years after a devastating fire. Macron and other European leaders are trying to win Trump’s favor and persuade him to maintain support for Ukraine in its defense against Russia’s invasion. Trump isn't back in office but he's already pushing his agenda and negotiating with world leaders NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump is making threats, traveling abroad, and negotiating with world leaders. He has more than a month-and-a-half to go before he’s sworn in for a second term. But the president-elect is already moving aggressively to not only fill his Cabinet and outline policy goals, but also to try to achieve his priorities. In recent days, Trump has threatened to impose a 25% tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico, two of the country’s largest trading partners. That led to emergency calls and a visit. And he's warned of “ALL HELL TO PAY” if Hamas doesn't release the hostages still being held captive in Gaza. South Korea's president avoids an impeachment attempt over short-lived martial law SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s embattled President Yoon Suk Yeol has avoided an opposition-led attempt to impeach him over his short-lived imposition of martial law. Most of Yoon's ruling party lawmakers boycotted a parliamentary vote Saturday to deny a two-thirds majority needed to suspend his presidential powers. The scrapping of the motion is expected to intensify protests calling for Yoon’s ouster and deepen political chaos in South Korea. A survey suggests a majority of South Koreans support the president’s impeachment. Yoon’s martial law declaration drew criticism from his own ruling conservative People Power Party. But the party also apparently fears losing the presidency to liberals. Days after gunman killed UnitedHealthcare's CEO, police push to ID him and FBI offers reward NEW YORK (AP) — Nearly four days after the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, police still do not know the gunman’s name or whereabouts or have a motive for the killing. But they have made some progress in their investigation into Wednesday's killing of the leader of the largest U.S. health insurer, including that the gunman likely left New York City on a bus soon after fleeing the scene. The also found that the gunman left something behind: a backpack that was discovered in Central Park. Police are working with the FBI, which on Friday night announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. UnitedHealthcare CEO's shooting opens a door for many to vent frustrations over insurance The fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare's CEO has opened the door for many people to vent their frustrations and anger over the insurance industry. The feelings of exasperation, anger, resentment, and helplessness toward insurers aren’t new. But the shooting and the headlines around it have unleashed a new wave of patients sharing such sentiments and personal stories of interactions with insurance companies. Conversations at dinner tables, office water coolers, social gatherings and on social media have pivoted to the topic. Many say they hope the new amplified voices can bring about change for companies often accused of valuing profits over people. 2 Pearl Harbor survivors, ages 104 and 102, return to Hawaii to honor those killed in 1941 attack PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (AP) — The bombing of Pearl Harbor 83 years ago launched the United States into World War II. Two survivors have returned to the Hawaii military base for a remembrance ceremony on the attack's anniversary. Both are over 100 years old. They joined active-duty troops, veterans and members of the public for an observance hosted by the Navy and the National Park Service. A third survivor was planning to join them but had to cancel due to health issues. The bombing killed more than 2,300 U.S. servicemen. An explosion destroys an apartment block in a Dutch city, killing at least 3 and injuring others THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — An explosion and fire has rocked a neighborhood in the Dutch city of The Hague, killing three people and injuring other people and destroying several apartments. The cause of the disaster is unclear. Emergency authorities said four people were rescued from the rubble and taken to the hospital. The mayor said rescuers were no longer looking for survivors but for eventual bodies, but could not specify how many people might still be unaccounted for. Residents of the northeastern neighborhood of Mariahoeve in The Hague heard a huge bang and screams before dawn. Dutch authorities have deployed a specialized urban search and rescue team to find victims. How 'Mufasa' rose with Aaron Pierre and Blue Ivy's voices along with new Lin-Manuel Miranda music SAN DIEGO (AP) — When Aaron Pierre was cast as Mufasa, the weight of following in the late James Earl Jones’ legendary footsteps was enough to rattle any actor. But instead of letting the pressure roar too loudly, he harnessed his nerves to breathe fresh life into his young lion character. Pierre found parallels between himself and his character while filming his leading role in “Mufasa: The Lion King,” which opens in theaters Dec. 20. He took the reigns as the new voice of Mufasa after Jones played the iconic King Mufasa in both the 1994 and 2019 versions of Disney’s “The Lion King.” The prequel offers a fresh exploration into Mufasa’s origin story.WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers, meet your latest lobbyists: online influencers from TikTok. The platform is once again bringing influencers to Washington, this time to lobby members of Congress to reject a fast-moving bill that would force TikTok's Beijing-based parent company to sell or be banned in the United States. On Tuesday, some influencers began a two-day advocacy event in support of TikTok, which arranged their trip ahead of a House floor vote on the legislation on Wednesday. But unlike a similar lobbying event the company put together last March when talks of a TikTok ban reached a fever pitch, this year’s effort appeared more rushed as the company scrambles to counter the legislation, which advanced rapidly on Capitol Hill. Summer Lucille, a TikTok content creator with 1.4 million followers who is visiting Washington this week, said if TikTok is banned, she “don’t know what it will do” to her business, a plus-sized boutique in Charlotte, North Carolina. “It will be devastating,” Lucille said in an interview arranged by the platform. In an unusual showing of bipartisanship, a House panel unanimously approved the measure last week. President Joe Biden has said he will sign the legislation if lawmakers pass it. But it’s unclear what will happen in the Senate, where several bills aimed at banning TikTok have stalled. The legislation faces other roadblocks. Former president and current presidential candidate Donald Trump, who holds sway over both House and Senate Republicans, has voiced opposition to the bill, saying it would empower Meta-owned Facebook, which he continues to lambast over his 2020 election loss. The bill also faces pushback from some progressive lawmakers in the House as well as civil liberties groups who argue it infringes on the First Amendment. TikTok could be banned if ByteDance, the parent company, doesn’t sell its stakes in the platform and other applications it owns within six months of the bill’s enactment. The fight over the platform takes place as U.S.-China relations have shifted to that of strategic rivalry, especially in areas such as advanced technologies and data security, seen as essential to each country’s economic prowess and national security. The shift, which started during the Trump years and has continued under Biden, has placed restrictions on export of advanced technologies and outflow of U.S. monies to China, as well as access to the U.S. market by certain Chinese businesses. The Biden administration also has cited human rights concerns in blacklisting a number of Chinese companies accused of assisting the state surveillance campaign against ethnic minorities. TikTok isn’t short on lobbyists. Its Beijing-based parent company ByteDance has a strong lobbying apparatus in Washington that includes dozens of lobbyists from well-known consulting and legal firms as well as influential insiders, such as former members of Congress and ex-aides to powerful lawmakers, according to the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew will also be in Washington this week and plans to meet with lawmakers, according to a company spokesperson who said Chew’s visit was previously scheduled. But influencers, who have big followings on social media and can share personal stories of how the platform boosted their businesses — or simply gave them a voice — are still perhaps one of the most powerful tools the company has in its arsenal. A TikTok spokesperson said dozens of influencers will attend the two-day event, including some who came last year. The spokesperson did not immediately respond to questions about how many new people would be attending this year’s lobbying blitz. The company is briefing them ahead of meetings with their representatives and media interviews. Lucille, who runs the boutique in North Carolina, says has seen a substantial surge in revenue because of her TikTok page. The 34-year-old began making TikTok content focusing on plus-sized fashion in March 2022, more than a decade after she started her business. She quickly amassed thousands of followers after posting a nine-second video about her boutique. Because of her popularity on the platform, her business has more online exposure and customers, some of whom have visited from as far as Europe. She says she also routinely hears from followers who are finding support through her content about fashion and confidence. JT Laybourne, an influencer who also came to Washington, said he joined TikTok in early 2019 after getting some negative comments on videos he posted on Instagram while singing in the car with his children. Laybourne, who lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, said he was attracted to the short-form video platform because it was easy to create videos that contained music. Like Lucille, he quickly gained traction on the app. He says he also received more support from TikTok users, who reacted positively to content he produced on love and positivity. Laybourne says the community he built on the platform rallied around his family when he had to undergo heart surgery in 2020. Following the surgery, he said he used the platform to help raise $1 million for the American Heart Association in less than two years. His family now run an apparel company that gets most of its traffic from TikTok. “I will fight tooth-and-nail for this app,” he said. But whether the opposition the company is mounting through lobbyists or influencers will be enough to derail the bill is yet to be seen. On Tuesday, House lawmakers received a briefing on national security concerns regarding TikTok from the FBI, Justice Department and intelligence officials. AP Journalist Didi Tang contributed to this report. This story was originally published on March 12, 2024. It was updated on December 23, 2024 to clarify a quote by TikTok content creator Summer Lucille.This handout photograph taken and released by the Ukrainian Presidential press service on December 7, 2024, shows France’s President Emmanuel Macron (C), US President-elect Donald Trump (L), and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky posing before a meeting at The Elysee Presidential Palace in Paris on December 7, 2024. – Trump makes his first international trip since his election win, preparing for a day of intense diplomacy before attending the reopening ceremony for the Notre Dame Cathedral restored after the 2019 fire. (Photo by HANDOUT / UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE / AFP) WASHINGTON, United States — The United States on Saturday announced a new $988 million security assistance package for Ukraine as Washington races to provide aid to Kyiv before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. Trump’s November election victory has cast doubt on the future of American aid for Ukraine, providing a limited window for billions of dollars in already authorized assistance to be provided before he is sworn in next month. The package features drones, ammunition for precision HIMARS rocket launchers, and equipment and spare parts for artillery systems, tanks and armored vehicles, the Pentagon said in a statement. The aid will be funded via the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, under which military equipment is procured from the defense industry or partners rather than drawn from American stocks, meaning it will not immediately arrive on the battlefield. It follows a $725 million package announced on Monday that included a second tranche of landmines as well as anti-air and anti-armor weapons. The outgoing US administration is working to get as much aid as possible to Ukraine before Trump — who has repeatedly criticized US assistance for Kyiv and claimed he could secure a ceasefire within hours — takes over. Trump’s comments have triggered fears in Kyiv and Europe about the future of US aid, and Ukraine’s ability to withstand Russian attacks in the absence of further American support. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Saturday warned that failing to keep opposing Russia’s actions would have dire consequences. “We can continue to stand up to the Kremlin. Or we can let (Russian President Vladimir) Putin have his way — and condemn our children and grandchildren to live in a world of chaos and conflict,” Austin told the Reagan National Defense Forum in California. “This administration has made its choice. And so has a bipartisan coalition in Congress. The next administration must make its own choice.” The defense chief also emphasized the importance of US allies and partners in his remarks — a contrast to Trump’s go-it-alone “America first” worldview. “Here is the stark military fact: our allies and partners are huge force multipliers,” Austin said. “Ultimately, America is weaker when it stands alone. And America is smaller when it stands apart,” he said. “There is no such thing as a safe retreat from today’s interwoven world.” The United States has spearheaded the push for international support for Ukraine, quickly forging a coalition to back Kyiv after Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022 and coordinating aid from dozens of countries. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . Ukraine’s international supporters have since then provided tens of billions of dollars in weapons, ammunition, training, and other security aid that has been key to helping Kyiv resist Russian forces.

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Shares of Google parent Alphabet rose about 5% on Tuesday after it unveiled a new generation chip that the company said helped overcome a key challenge in quantum computing. Google on Monday introduced a new chip called Willow, which solved in five minutes a computing problem that would take a classical computer more time than the history of the universe. Tech companies are chasing quantum computing in hopes of developing systems that perform at speeds far faster than traditional silicon-based computers. The building blocks of quantum computers, called "qubits", while being fast, are error-prone, making it hard to ensure quantum computers are reliable and commercially viable. The more qubits used in quantum computing, the more errors typically occur. But Google said on Monday it found a way to string together qubits in the Willow chip so that error rates decline as the number of qubits rise, adding that it can also correct errors in real time. Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI for Everyone: Understanding and Applying the Basics on Artificial Intelligence By - Ritesh Vajariya, Generative AI Expert View Program Web Development Java 21 Essentials for Beginners: Build Strong Programming Foundations By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development JavaScript Essentials: Unlock AI-Driven Insights with ChatGPT By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI-Powered Python Mastery with Tabnine: Boost Your Coding Skills By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Collaborative AI Foundations: Working Smarter with Machines By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program Web Development Master RESTful APIs with Python and Django REST Framework: Web API Development By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Neil Patel By - Neil Patel, Co-Founder and Author at Neil Patel Digital Digital Marketing Guru View Program Web Development Intermediate C++ Skills: Master Pointers, Structures and File Stream By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Entrepreneurship Building Your Winning Startup Team: Key Strategies for Success By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Strategy Succession Planning Masterclass By - Nigel Penny, Global Strategy Advisor: NSP Strategy Facilitation Ltd. View Program Data Science SQL for Data Science along with Data Analytics and Data Visualization By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital marketing - Wordpress Website Development By - Shraddha Somani, Digital Marketing Trainer, Consultant, Strategiest and Subject Matter expert View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) ChatGPT Mastery from Zero to Hero: The Complete AI Course By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Performance Marketing for eCommerce Brands By - Zafer Mukeri, Founder- Inara Marketers View Program Web Development 12-Factor App Methodology: Principles and Guidelines By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program Web Development Maximizing Developer Productivity: The Pomodoro Technique in Practice By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program Finance A2Z Of Money By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Office Productivity Mastering Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and 365 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development Mastering Full Stack Development: From Frontend to Backend Excellence By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development A Comprehensive ASP.NET Core MVC 6 Project Guide for 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program "While (there are) no current uses, (Willow) will have major implications in science, medicine and finance. Willow reduces errors exponentially and could lead to major breakthroughs and discoveries across industries," said Thomas Hayes, chairman and managing member at Great Hill Capital. Discover the stories of your interest Blockchain 5 Stories Cyber-safety 7 Stories Fintech 9 Stories E-comm 9 Stories ML 8 Stories Edtech 6 Stories Alphabet's shares were on track for their best day since late April. The stock has risen 25% so far this year, as of Monday's close. The company's shares trade at a 12-month forward price-to-earnings ratio of 19.58, compared with Microsoft's 32.03 and Amazon's 36.79, according to data compiled by LSEG. Earlier this year, Microsoft and quantum computing firm Quantinuum said they achieved a key step in making quantum computers a commercial reality by making them more reliable.BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Freshman wide receiver George Dimopoulos threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Dane Pardridge on the first play of double overtime and Jordan Hansen ended the game on a fourth-down sack to give Northern Illinois a 28-20 victory over Fresno State on Monday in the Idaho Potato Bowl. Dimopoulos, who played quarterback in high school, also converted the two-point conversion when he passed it to quarterback Josh Holst for his second completion of the season. Holst, a freshman walk-on, was making just his third start at quarterback as NIU was without starter Ethan Hampton, who entered with 1,600 yards and 12 touchdowns to go with six interceptions. Holst completed 18 of 30 passes for 182 and two touchdowns for Northern Illinois (8-5). He was also intercepted on the first play of the game. Both teams missed a 35-yard field goal in the final three minutes of regulation, including Dylan Lynch's third miss of the game on the final play to send it to overtime. Fresno State started overtime with a touchdown when Bryson Donelson was left wide open out of the backfield to haul in a 9-yard touchdown pass. NIU needed five plays, and a defensive holding penalty, to score as Holst found Grayson Barnes for a 3-yard touchdown. Donelson finished with 15 carries for 82 yards and a touchdown for Fresno State (6-7). He added three catches for 28 yards and another score. Dual-threat quarterback Joshua Wood was 16 of 23 for 180 yards and a touchdown. Mac Dalena made six catches for 118 yards to help go over 1,000 yards for the season. Fresno State was without 14 players, including starting quarterback Mikey Keene after he transferred to Michigan. Two top-three receivers, Jalen Moss and Raylen Sharpe, also did not play as the Bulldogs were forced to use five new starters. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballAccording to the 34-point agreement which President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, AKD for short, had with Prime Minister Narendra Modi or simply Modi, the two countries have agreed to promote, among others, trade and investment between them1. There are three agreements that are strikingly prominent and promising. One is that they have agreed to continue discussion on economic and technological agreement, shortened as ETCA, which is now in an abortive state. Another is the direct use of Indian Rupee or INR and Sri Lanka Rupee or LKR for transactions thereby avoiding the intermediate exchange currency, the US dollar. The third is for India to invest in sectors that will increase Sri Lanka’s export potential. All these are interrelated and should naturally form the core of any ETCA to be negotiated. But this is not an easy task for AKD, given that the political force behind him, namely, Janata Vimukthi Peramuna or JVP, had taken an anti-ETCA stand in the past2. Speaking at an anti-ETCA seminar hosted by JVP in January 2016, AKD, while appreciating the beneficial impact for Sri Lanka from globalised economic relations with other countries, is reported to have objected to the proposed ETCA with India. He had pronounced at this seminar: “Our opposition depends on whether such an agreement is advantageous to the country or not.”3 He is reported to have further elaborated on this point relating to ETCA with India: “There is a political gamble here. India is trying to intervene in politics in our country. Already, there are many RAW spies in Jaffna. Before our country is made a political play-ground India wants to gobble our economy. Already India has a monopoly in the vehicle, medicine and construction sectors. Already, they are controlling our economy. Through that they manipulate politics in our country. It is this political need that jumps out of Ranil’s mouth. We would never allow this agreement to be signed,”4. Eight years after this public denouncement of India and its ETCA, pragmatic AKD has realised that India is indeed a friend, not a rival, and a force to be reckoned with. The political transformation of a leader in this manner considering the best interest for his people is a salutary development. But to make this agreement a reality, AKD should now field a competent team from Sri Lanka to negotiate with their Indian counterparts on an equal footing so that those so-called dangerous components will not penetrate the final version of ETCA. The announcement in the joint press statement drew praises as well as brickbats for AKD immediately. Ex-President Ranil Wickremesinghe who had made two abortive attempts at upgrading Indo-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement or ISLFTA to a comprehensive economic partnership agreement or CEPA in 2004 and rebranding the same as an economic and technological cooperation agreement or ETCA in 2017 had praised AKD for his bold stand on a new ETCA5. Meanwhile, those who had got their political training through hard JVP ideology have been up in arms against any attempt at rescuing ETCA by AKD. Former student leader Wasantha Mudalige who struggled against Wickremesinghe government has told a media briefing that if ETCA is allowed, about a half a million unemployed doctors from India may invade Sri Lanka drawing on its adverse consequences6. Critics are reported to have informed a national newspaper that the proposed move will adversely affect the country’s small and medium enterprises and its services sector, implying that both these sectors are still unable to compete with more advanced Indian counterparts7. Taking cue from the critics, foreign minister Vijitha Herath is said to have denied that Sri Lanka has either signed or implemented an ETCA with India8. This is a ‘move for neutralising political opponents’, but it does not augur well for the country intending to enter into an important trade and investment agreement with another country. It seems that AKD’s political backers, namely, National People’s Power or NPP, is buying time. Sri Lanka and India being close neighbours, it is natural that both these nations should have a vibrant trade relation with each other. In early days, merchants from Far East visited South Indian ports to buy export goods from Sri Lanka9. But during the latter part of the first millennium, this entrepot trade shifted from south Indian ports to ports in Sri Lanka making it an important trading centre along the East-West marine route10. Sri Lankan numismatist, Osmund Bopearachchi has established through archaeological findings the presence of Sri Lankan traders in South India and Tamil traders in Sri Lanka11. Hence, historical evidence has revealed that, as in under trade agreements, it has been a two-way traffic and not trade from India to Sri Lanka alone or vice versa. Both the previous CEPA and ETCA had elaboratively identified these goods to be traded between the two countries under duty-free conditions. But this list may need further updating today and it is the responsibility of the ETCA negotiators from each country to make a hard negotiation of same. Sri Lanka has only a four-and-a-half-decade experience of trade with India under trade agreements. The first Indo-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement or ISLFTA, signed in December 1998, was in effect since January 2000. This trade agreement covers only the visible merchandise goods and not services. But why should Sri Lanka go for a free trade agreement with India when the global trade has become almost free with the average global tariff rate has fallen to 2% by 2022? Several reasons. The global trade as a share of the world gross domestic product or GDP has increased from 20% in 2000 to 29% in 2022. But Sri Lanka’s share of exports in the world’s GDP has declined by about 38% during this period and it has remained even less than 0.1% over these years. In contrast, India’s share has increased by about 176% from 0.7% to 1.8% during this period12. Given this perilous state, Sri Lanka should naturally jump the bandwagon of India and seek to harness the positive outcomes that would emanate from that relationship. What this means is that though the global tariff rates have declined, Sri Lanka had not been able to benefit from it by competing independently with its competitors. Hence, the support which it can marshal from a dynamic and expanding nation like India is to be utilised fully by developing bilateral trade relations. The purpose of trade agreements is to promote trade, both imports and exports. It will therefore enable the two agreeing nations to exchange the surplus goods, while filling shortages at zero or preferential tariff rates. This is true for ISLFTA too. But there are two objections to bilateral trade relations. One relates to the big-small country syndrome like India is big and Sri Lanka is small and, therefore the two countries cannot do trading on an equal footing. This objection is based on unfounded logic since trade takes place not with countries but with individuals or firms. If the big-small logic is valid, a small nation like Singapore can never have trade relations with a giant like USA. But Singapore does trade with USA well because the firms which do trading are guided not by the size but by the quality, price, and the mutual satisfaction. The other objection relates to the superior competitive advantage which one party may have over the other. In the case of ISLFTA, India is viewed as an economy with higher competitive advantage over those in Sri Lanka. Hence, Indian competition is feared by Sri Lankan counterparts because they, still being infants in business, cannot successfully compete with Indian products. As a result, it is feared that Indian goods will flood the market displacing Sri Lankan producers. This fear has an element of validity, but it had been successfully addressed in ISLFTA by having a list of goods which do not come within the agreement. This list, known as negative list, is longer in the case of Indian goods coming to Sri Lanka containing 1,180 goods and shorter in the case of Sri Lankan goods going to India covering only 429 goods13. This negative list does not enjoy tariff relief and, hence, should be traded under normal trading conditions. According to EDB, on average, about 70% of Sri Lanka’s exports to India during 2000-13 had been made under ISLFTA, while Indian products coming to Sri Lanka under the agreement had been only 17%14. Hence, the fear that ISLFTA has caused a free flow of Indian goods to Sri Lanka is not warranted. These negative lists were introduced to ISLFTA to protect domestic industries and thereby allay the fears of local producers. However, an economic analyst has found that the list has negatively contributed to the growth of the protected industries harnessing both the comparative and competitive advantages and preventing both countries to get the maximum benefit from trade liberalisation initiative15. What is suggested here is that countries should expose themselves to free trade arrangements without prohibitive strings attached to them. It is in this background that both India and Sri Lanka planned to graduate themselves to the next stage of economic relations by commencing negotiations for a wider trade agreement in the style of a comprehensive economic partnership in early 2000s. These negotiations produced a basic document for sanctioning by both countries by 2004. However, the change in the Government in Sri Lanka aborted that attempt. CEPA has been India’s style of developing economic relations with the rest of the world which it says is being done with all the countries in the world. So far India has signed comprehensive or enhanced trade partnership agreements with UAE, Australia, Canada, Israel, UK, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Nepal, Bhutan, Mauritius, covering the entire world16. Sri Lanka remaining outside this net has been a loser in the trade. The Ranil Wickremesinghe Government of 2015-9 sought to correct the situation by rebranding the previous CEPA as an economic and technological cooperation agreement or ETCA in 2015. When there was growing opposition to ETCA, I clarified the position in a five-part article series in this column17. I argued in this series that the wrong perception about ISLFTA has been misconceived since the outcome has been for the country’s benefit. The Government should place the ETCA plan before the people so that the critics can be argued out in intellectual forums and not in streets. The fear that Indian professionals in IT, Law, Medicine, and Engineering will flood Sri Lanka is not based on actual inflows but on the fear to face competition. The Government should break the silence on the entire ETCA affair and subject itself to review by people, a good practice under the democratic economic governance. Sri Lanka should link its products to global markets through supply chains developed with Indian counterparts. Sri Lanka will benefit by opening its services sector, especially, education, healthcare, and ICT, to Indian partners. ETCA is a way forward for Sri Lanka to harness the benefits of international trade for creating prosperity to Sri Lankans. It is this aborted ETCA which has resurfaced in the joint statement by the Indian and Sri Lankan leaders after they met in December 2024. In my view, AKD should not treat ETCA as a trap but an immense opportunity for Sri Lanka to get out of the current problems in the medium to long run. In that context, the previous ETCA should be expanded further by incorporating educational affiliations by local universities with those high-ranking Indian counterparts. It will pave way for Sri Lankan universities to improve the academic standards as well as research capabilities. India is expanding its investments heavily in technology and Sri Lanka should seek to harness benefits out of those tech advancements. Hence, AKD should immediately set to business by setting up a competent negotiation team to negotiate, finalise and implement ETCA as early as possible. 1https://mfa.gov.lk/india-sri-lanka-joint-statement/ 2https://www.jvpsrilanka.com/english/jvp-would-not-allow-ranil-to-subdue-mass-struggles-with-his-arrogance/ 3Ibid. 4Ibid. 5https://www.ft.lk/front-page/Ranil-praises-AKD-for-advancing-ETCA-with-India/44-770633 6https://www.thecolombopost.org/2024/12/5-lakh-indian-doctors-to-sri-lanka-with-etca-agreement/ 7https://www.sundaytimes.lk/241222/business-times/indo-lanka-etca-talks-revived-after-presidents-indian-visit-581107.html 8https://srilankamirror.com/news/vijitha-clarifies-govts-stance-on-etca/ 9De Silva, K M, 2005, A History of Sri Lanka, Vijitha Yapa, Colombo p 45. 10Siriweera, W I, 1994, A Study of the Economic History of Pre-modern Sri Lanka, Vikas, Delhi, p 133. 11https://books.openedition.org/ifp/7871#:~:text=Tamil%20Nadu%20and%20Sri%20Lanka,a%20different%20and%20important%20context. 12https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/share-of-global-merchandise-exports?tab=table&time=earliest..latest&country=Africa+%28UN%29~Asia+%28UN%29~Europe+%28UN%29~Northern+America+%28UN%29~Latin+America+and+the+Caribbean+%28UN%29~Developing+regions~Least+Developed+Countries+%28LDCs%29~Northern+Africa+%28UN%29~Sub-Saharan+Africa+%28UN%29~Oceania+%28UN%29~LKA~IND 13EDB, 2014, Indo-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement, unpublished mimeograph, Colombo. 14Ibid. p 5. 15Perera, M S S, 2008, Impact of the Indo-Lanka Free Trade Agreement on the Sri Lankan Economy: A Computable General Equilibrium Analysis, South Asia Economic Journal, 9:1, p 1-50. 16https://pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1781867 17They can be accessed at: https://www.ft.lk/columns/sri-lanka-faces-crucial-tests-ahead-with-growing-opposition-to-etca/4-525181 ; https://www.ft.lk/columns/etca-is-not-cepa-in-all-respects-but-it-should-be-made-public-to-allay-fears/4-526676 ; https://www.ft.lk/columns/management-of-economic-policy-3-sri-lanka-should-tap-global-unbundling-opportunities-of-services-und/4-527941 ; https://www.ft.lk/columns/padeniya-chinthana-on-etca-govt-should-fight-it-in-intellectual-forums-not-in-the-streets/4-529777 ; and https://www.ft.lk/columns/etca-or-any-other-policy-is-destined-to-fail-if-not-properly-managed/4-530899 .See the list of airlines with the most delays and flight cancellations in Nigeria

Now, in a promenade staging at Museum of Literature Ireland , Landmark and Anu have elected to wrap the tragicomedy around attendees and allow them to physically brush up against the beloved characters. As directed by Louise Lowe , it is a largely successful enterprise. The audience – sometimes partygoers, eventually just an audience – get a real flavour of Christmas among early-20th-century Dubliners. Now and then we find ourselves a victim of the logistics – placed, for example, in a holding area for supplementary entertainment while waiting to ascend for the final scene in the Gresham Hotel. At such times Gabriel Conroy’s confusion about his wife Gretta’s unexpected emotional convulsion, the kernel of the story, seems a long way off. All the more so as the site doesn’t allow the image of Gretta poised on the stair, partly visible, listening distraught to Bartell D’Arcy flute his sad ballad. Instead the scene happens in the corner of the diningroom, its focus more diffuse. [ The Dead brought to life: how James Joyce’s celebrated short story is being re-created as immersive theatre Opens in new window ] This remains a hugely engaging and immensely accomplished evening. We arrive at the museum, on St Stephen’s Green, and, attended politely by a maid, await the entry of the principals. Úna Kavanagh bustles in as the abrasive Molly Ivors. Marie Mullen and Bairbre Ní Chaoimh justify their standing as theatrical royalty with charming performances as the two sisters hosting this annual epiphany event. Marty Rea and Maeve Fitzgerald , as Gabriel and Gretta, catch a class of gentle bickering that has remained unaltered over a century. Their mutual complaints about preparations for the evening would play just as believably if they’d just piled out of their Volkswagen ID.4 rather than a horse-drawn carriage. We are then walked next door to Newman House (a building Joyce knew as part of University College Dublin ) for chat and dancing in the livingroom, toasts and speeches in the diningroom and, after that peculiar interregnum of song and dance, elevation to a top-floor room standing in for the Gresham. A gentle warning. Those who, like this writer, dread audience participation as they dread chemical warfare may find themselves forced to engage in the odd nodding exchange with an actor, but there is little here to chill bones of any but the most self-conscious theatregoer. The nature of the staging does, however, emphasise comedy – of which there is much in the source – over the story’s more sinewy emotions. The final confrontation between husband and wife feels like an addendum to the busy production rather than a natural consequence of what has gone before. This is to take nothing away from the sombre sweetness Rea brings to those indestructible closing words. A singular achievement. The Dead is at Museum of Literature Ireland, Dublin 2, until Sunday, January 12th, 2025 Donald Clarke, a contributor to The Irish Times, is Chief Film Correspondent and a regular columnistThe Latest: Former President Jimmy Carter is Dead at age 100

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