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swertres 4d Stojakovic, Wilkinson lead short-handed Cal past Sacramento State, 83-77 in Cal ClassicPhiladelphia takes on Vegas after overtime winA fast-moving winter storm will head eastward across the Great Lakes, central Appalachians and the Northeast on Wednesday and Thursday, bringing a powerful arctic cold front with strong bursts of snow and forceful gusts of wind to millions of Americans. The storm, known as an “Alberta Clipper” due to the origin of these kinds of storms in the Canadian province of Alberta, is a low pressure system that moved across southeastern Canada and hit the Northern Plains and the Great Lakes region Wednesday before it spreads to the central Appalachians, the Northeast and the Mid-Atlantic on Thursday, according to a social media post from the National Weather Service Prediction Center. Dangerous travel conditions, power outages, fallen tree branches and whiteouts are projected, with 50 mph winds and the typically light and fluffy snow of a clipper storm, which makes it prone to drifting and difficult to clear, contributing to hazardous conditions. READ: Here’s what to know about the winter storm: States from the Dakotas to New England may feel the effects of the Alberta Clipper, as wind and winter storm advisories and warnings have been issued from the Great Lakes to the Northeast. Snow in North Dakota, northern Minnesota, Michigan, New York, northern Pennsylvania and New England is predicted by the National Weather Service . Conditions include snow squalls, warnings about which were in effect Wednesday morning in eastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota, according to a social media post from the National Weather Service Prediction Center. Lake-effect snow is also expected in northeast Ohio, northwestern Pennsylvania and western New York, with snowfall ranging from approximately 6 to 20 inches, adding to the snow that already fell in these states around the Thanksgiving holiday. Similarly, the National Weather Service warned about blizzard conditions in Maryland’s Garrett County and West Virginia’s Grant and Western Pendleton counties for late Wednesday until mid-afternoon Thursday, with wind gusts as high as 60 mph and 3 to 9 inches of snow expected. According to the National Weather Service , the lake effect occurs when cold air moves over the open waters of the Great Lakes and gathers moisture and warmth from the relatively warmer, unfrozen lakes. As the air rises, clouds begin to form and expand into a narrow band that drops snow downwind of the lake. But because the bands are narrow, they can produce heavy snowfall in specific areas depending on where the wind takes them, which means that snow could be falling in one place and the sun could be shining not too far away. Associated Press Dec. 2, 2024 Snow squalls are short-lived snow events that usually only last an hour, according to the National Weather Service . Despite their quick nature, snow squalls are intense due to their moderate to heavy snowfalls and strong winds that can result in whiteout conditions, which greatly reduce visibility and create unsafe travel conditions for motorists.

Crystal Palace attacker Eddie Nketiah closing in on hamstring recoveryPolls close in Uruguay’s election, with ruling coalition and opposition headed for photo finish

Subscribe to our newsletter Privacy Policy Success! Your account was created and you’re signed in. Please visit My Account to verify and manage your account. An account was already registered with this email. Please check your inbox for an authentication link. 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. We rely on readers like you to fund our journalism. If you value our coverage and want to support more of it, please join us as a member . New York is rife with great art right now, of all genres and styles, but if the shows below share anything, it’s an explosion of color. Maybe artists and institutions are responding to the dull, gray surroundings — weather-related and otherwise — or maybe we’re drawn to it at the moment, but our list is filled with multi-hued, multimedia maximalism, ranging from Anne Samat’s grand sculptures incorporating everyday items to the captivating hand-dyed textiles in the group show The Lady and The Unicorn: New Tapestry to the seven stunning abstract paintings at Bienvenu Steinberg & C, to Jerome Baja’s tiny glitter-and nail polish paintings. Big names like Simone Leigh and Bill Viola also offer dazzling visuals in their own distinctive idioms. For a more solemn experience, but one hinting at human presence and connection, check out Tsohil Bhatia’s solo exhibition This Fire That Warms You at the CUE Art Foundation, just extended through December 14. — Natalie Haddad, Reviews Editor Abstract Expressions: 7 Paintings by 7 Painters Bienvenu Steinberg & C , 35 Walker Street, Tribeca, Manhattan Through December 14 I love to see galleries offer their spaces to artists who can show us what they got, and this exhibition is a nice celebration of seven painters who feel connected to the legacy of the New York School and its taste for large gestural paintings that are more event than object. Each artist brings their own visual vocabulary to the walls, from Andrea Belag’s luscious translucency to Stephen Pusey’s webs of radiant energy, and they all offer us insight into the artistic gardens they actively cultivate in their studios. You can feel the respect in the room among the artists, all of whom confidently showcase their very individualist styles. A nice tour of some artists who continue to challenge what the legacy of New York abstraction is today. — Hrag Vartanian Get the latest art news, reviews and opinions from Hyperallergic. Daily Weekly Opportunities Your Patience Is Appreciated: An Inaugural Show Marian Goodman Gallery , 385 Broadway, Tribeca, Manhattan Through December 14 This is your last chance to see the inaugural exhibition at Marian Goodman’s new large three-story gallery space. This is the latest proof that Tribeca has cemented its reputation as the city’s premiere art gallery hub — sorry, Chelsea, but you were always a terrible place to see art. Upon entering you’re greeted by a large cheesy Maurizio Cattelan “I Love NY” artwork, while works by Pierre Huyghe, Julie Mehretu, Nairy Baghramian, Marcel Broodthaers, Steve McQueen, Louise Lawler, Robert Smitson, Danh Vo, Giuseppe Penone, and so, so many others can be found in one of the 16 — if you include the stairwell — spaces. There’s even someone to perform Tino Seghal’s “This Ornation” (2024) for you in a rather nondescript office space on the third floor. — HV Jerome Caja: Ugly Pageant Bortolami Gallery , 39 Walker Street, Tribeca, Manhattan Through December 19 🤩 was the reaction from my nine-year-old niece when I sent her a picture of Jerome Caja’s “Virgin Poop” (1992), an anthropomorphic pile of dung with a beatific gaze. This is not to say that the painting is just for kids who like gross-out jokes. Rather, it points to the star quality that the artist could imbue in the most unlikely subjects. Born in Cleveland in 1958, one of 11 boys in a Catholic family, Caja left Middle America after high school to study ceramics at the San Francisco Art Institute. Between 1985 and ’95, the year he died, he created a presence in San Francisco as a drag performer but he continued to make visual art. The works on view here are primarily small paintings on paper. His materials include glitter, nail polish, collaged fabrics, and white-out. Some pieces are in found frames (including a toilet seat); others take the form of reliquaries. Most are portraits whose subjects range from crusty drag queens holding mixed drinks to amalgams of sexual and religious iconography. A lot of artists have tried in vain to capitalize on kitsch and camp aesthetics. In contrast, Caja plumbed the depths of the grotesque in all its glitter and doom to reflect a world where saints wearing fishnets are born in Cleveland and the Virgin Mary’s grace rings truer when she’s at the bottom of a sewer. — NH Andrea Geyer: Manifest Hales , 547 West 2oth Street, Chelsea, Manhattan Through December 2o I’m usually averse to text-based art because it often tries to tell me what to think and how. I’ll make an exception for Andrea Geyer, whose beautifully sewn banners deliver a piercing manifesto on what today’s deeply flawed art museums can and should be. She wants a museum to “face history without fear”; “be a space to breathe”; and “feel its own floors tremble when others are destroyed.” Amen to all that. — Hakim Bishara Anne Samat: The Origin of Savage Beauty Marc Straus Gallery , 57 Walker Street, Tribeca, Manhattan Through December 21 Born from grief and loss, Malaysian artist Anne Samat’s work looks from afar like pua kumbu textiles , with bright colors and totemic shapes that create an altar to the artist’s lost loved ones. But on closer inspection, the installations are composed of toy army figurines, a bra holder, and a container for a mosquito coil. Each of these objects references memories of individuals, stories that are not readily apparent but that flow easily from the artist’s recollection. For example, “Never Walk in Anyone’s Shadow,” the stunning centerpiece of the show, looks like a three-part altar that folds into the floor. The title comes from a memory of her late elder brother, who encouraged her to build an art career in New York with a style that is distinctly her own. — AX Mina Bill Viola: The Raft James Cohan Gallery , 291 Grand Street, Tribeca, Manhattan Through December 21 This is the first time “The Raft” (2004) has been exhibited in New York City. Commissioned for the 2004 Athens Olympics, the large-scale video work depicts 19 people being bombarded with water in a deluge whose source remains unknown to us. It is surprising how the work seems to portend the immigration crisis that would show up on the shores of Europe over a decade later, as people from across the Global South would brave the Mediterranean to find safety, only to be demonized by Europeans. The work is complemented by two other video pieces by the veteran video artist, including “Traveling on Foot” (2012), one of five works from his Mirage series, and the 83-minute portrait called “Anima” (2000). All three showcase Viola’s interest in the human form when placed under various types of stress or even in awkward scenarios. These works suggest a greater truth that is found beyond simply the image. — HV Jiha Moon: Fool’s Moon Derek Eller Gallery , 38 Walker Street, Ground Floor, Tribeca, Manhattan Through December 21 Bananas appear frequently in this one-person exhibition in Tribeca, and while Moon suggests it as a metaphor to navigate Asian American, particularly second-generation, identity, the zeitgeistiness of the very peelable fruit is not lost on the viewer. While Maurizio Cattelan may have leaned into the comedy of the banana in his obscenely expensive prank, Moon enjoys the more slippery aspect of the fruit that is often evoked when Asian Americans slide into good ol’ American assimilation politics. There’s one line in her press release that continues to bring me joy whenever I reread it: “I reference the Korean drag queen Kimchi and Keanu Reeves, whose life quotes resonate deeply with me, borrowing their voices to tell my story.” I can imagine no more apt way to encapsulate her aesthetic universe in a sentence. — HV Simone Leigh Matthew Marks Gallery , 522 and 526 West 22nd Street, Chelsea, Manhattan Through December 21 Simone Leigh has a way of charging her sculptures of Black female figures with a palpable aura, even if she makes them headless. Moving between them at Matthew Marks’s cavernous gallery spaces is traversing through millennia-old histories and traditions, but it also feels like these figures have their own stories to tell. Don’t miss “Okwui” (2024), an 11-foot-long bronze sculpture of a reclining woman with an outstretched skirt. Her body is alive with dance and music, grief and joy. She’s still on my mind, weeks after seeing the show. — HB The Lady and the Unicorn: New Tapestry Salon 94 , 3 East 89th Street,Upper East Side, Manhattan Through December 21 The Lady and The Unicorn: New Tapestry offers a refreshingly contemplative return to the body as AI and disembodied technologies cast a shadow across art. The show presents eight contemporary textile artists operating in different geographical and cultural regions who tell their stories using natural dye processes, traditional weaving techniques, and a variety of materials. On the gallery’s first floor, Zapotec textile artist Porfirio Gutiérrez’s richly patterned works combine modernist design with his reverence for the land in his native Oaxaca. Some of his pieces feature wool canvases dripping with natural indigo dyes produced by his family, as well as pomegranate and pericon dyes, within a tight geometric structure, making a record of the exact period the plants were harvested. Hanging from the walls and taller-than-life ceilings on the next floor, Mitsuko Asakura’s ombré silk tapestries fill an entire room with waves of color. Her works contemplate Western and Japanese visual histories, as the materials interweave their respective approaches. The exhibition also includes playful and provocative works such as Qualeasha Wood’s embroidered collages of webcam selfies and desktop screenshots, as well as Felix Beaudry’s humanoid fabric wearables, that humorously reflect upon one’s sense of self. — Sebastián Meltz-Collazo Pass Carry Hold: Studio Museum Artists in Residence 2023–24 MoMA PS1 , 22–25 Jackson Avenue, Long Island City, Queens Through February 10, 2025 For its sixth iteration, the Studio Museum’s artist in residence program tasked its artists to “explore themes related to ancestral and intuitive knowledge.” Each artist — sonia louise davis, Malcolm Peacock, and Zoë Pulley — responded with distinctive, personal artworks, but all three assert the works’ materiality as part and parcel of histories and lives. In three different gallery spaces, family histories and transient moments hold forth. Peacock’s multimedia sculpture, a single, huge object in a small room, incorporates synthetic hair among other materials to simulate a giant tree trunk. The rings and textures are reflected in davis’s abstract textile pieces, while Pulley transforms clothing into abstract artworks, covered in furniture plastic and displayed alongside family ephemera. Rather than bogging the work down in explanations about its physical presence and emotional resonance, I suggest you see it and experience it for yourself. — NH 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 FacebookCanada 'Freedom Convoy' leader found guilty over trucker protest roleGOOGLE on Monday showed off a new quantum computing chip that it said was a major breakthrough that could bring practical quantum computing closer to reality. A custom chip called “Willow” does in minutes what it would take leading supercomputers 10 septillion years to complete, according to Google Quantum AI founder Hartmut Neven. “Written out, there is a 1 with 25 zeros,” Neven said of the time span while briefing journalists. “A mind-boggling number.” Neven’s team of about 300 people at Google is on a mission to build quantum computing capable of handling otherwise unsolvable problems like safe fusion power and stopping climate change. “We see Willow as an important step in our journey to build a useful quantum computer with practical applications in areas like drug discovery, fusion energy, battery design and more,” said Google CEO Sundar Pichai on X. A quantum computer that can tackle these challenges is still years away, but Willow marks a significant step in that direction, according to Neven and members of his team. While still in its early stages, scientists believe that superfast quantum computing will eventually be able to power innovation in a range of fields. Quantum research is seen as a critical field and both the United States and China have been investing heavily in the area, while Washington has also placed restrictions on the export of the sensitive technology. Olivier Ezratty, an independent expert in quantum technologies, told AFP in October that private and public investment in the field has totaled around $20 billion worldwide over the past five years. Regular computers function in binary fashion: they carry out tasks using tiny fragments of data known as bits that are only ever either expressed as 1 or 0. But fragments of data on a quantum computer, known as qubits, can be both 1 and 0 at the same time -- allowing them to crunch an enormous number of potential outcomes simultaneously. Crucially, Google’s chip demonstrated the ability to reduce computational errors exponentially as it scales up - a feat that has eluded researchers for nearly 30 years. The breakthrough in error correction, published in leading science journal Nature , showed that adding more qubits to the system actually reduced errors rather than increasing them - a fundamental requirement for building practical quantum computers. Error correction is the “end game” in quantum computing and Google is “confidently progressing” along the path, according to Google director of quantum hardware Julian Kelly. AFP

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Patron of IBA Karachi, one of Pakistan’s premier institutions of higher education, presided over its convocation ceremony, celebrating the achievements of the Class of 2024. Shah congratulated the graduating class in his address and commended their hard work, resilience, and dedication. “Today, we celebrate your academic accomplishments and the perseverance that brought you here and this moment is a testament to your talent and the support of your families,” he stated. Murad also highlighted a historic milestone that IBA Karachi will achieve next year, marking 70 years of excellence in education, leadership, and innovation. “70 years of nurturing talent and shaping leaders is a legacy few institutions can claim,” he said and added that this milestone reflected the dedication and vision of IBA’s faculty, administration, and students. The commitment of IBA Karachi to academic excellence was a focal point of the event. With 67 per cent of its faculty holding PhD degrees, the institute continues to foster a rigorous academic environment and produce graduates prepared to navigate the challenges of an evolving global landscape. Murad emphasised the critical role of institutions like IBA Karachi in shaping the nation’s future. “As graduates, you must embrace advancements in artificial intelligence, data science, and digital transformation,” he said and added that Pakistan’s vibrant youth and its growing technological ecosystem hold immense potential to contribute meaningfully on the global stage. The influential alumni network of IBA Karachi, consisting of over 18,000 individuals, was also recognised as a significant asset. Alumni have made notable contributions across various sectors and serve as role models for the graduating class. In his closing remarks, Mr Shah encouraged graduates to lead with empathy, integrity, and social responsibility. “True leadership extends beyond personal success. The knowledge and skills you have gained here should be used to create positive change and uphold the highest standards of integrity,” he said. The convocation marked a proud moment for graduates and their families as they prepared to embark on new journeys. The event also set the stage for IBA Karachi’s upcoming 70th-anniversary celebrations, reflecting on its rich legacy and continued impact on education and leadership in Pakistan. Executive Director IBA, Dr Akbar Zaidi, thanked the Chief Minister for his valuable time in attending the event. Clad in a convocation robe, the Chief Minister presented medals and degrees to the position holders. Copyright Business Recorder, 2024

Berry Tramel: Will Mike Gundy now learn to get along with his bosses?LOS ANGELES (AP) — Democrats and Republicans agreed on at least one thing before November’s election: California would play a central role in determining control of the U.S. House. Indeed it did. Democrat Adam Gray's come-from-behind victory over Republican Rep. John Duarte in a Central Valley farm-belt district Tuesday — the final House contest decided this year — gave Democrats their third pick-up of a GOP-held seat in the state, a small victory in a tough year for Democrats nationally. While Democratic wins narrowed the gap in the House, Republicans held their ground in two other toss-up contests that helped the GOP defend its fragile majority in Washington. Republicans won 220 House seats this election cycle , with Democrats holding 215 seats. Despite falling short of a majority, Democrats stressed that the party will gain seats next year, leaving the chamber even more closely divided. “Netting three seats was a very big deal,” Rep. Pete Aguilar, the third-ranking Democrat in the chamber, who lives in Redlands, east of Los Angeles, said in Washington. Democratic enthusiasm was tempered, however, by turnout figures that lagged the 2020 presidential election in the heavily Democratic state, even with Kamala Harris leading the Democratic ticket in her home state. Also, Republicans made incremental gains in the state Legislature. Voters overwhelmingly endorsed a ballot proposal that makes shoplifting a felony for repeat offenders again and increases penalties for some drug charges amid frustration over retail crimes, a proposal opposed by some Democrats. The election showed Democrats will need to pay closer attention to issues like crime and the cost of living, even in a state where the party holds every statewide office and dominates the Legislature and congressional delegation, Claremont McKenna College political scientist Jack Pitney said. In the House, Democrats “were hoping that California would push them over the top to gain a majority. But their gains elsewhere were not strong enough,” Pitney added, pointing to GOP wins in North Carolina. Gray won by a margin of less than 200 votes, with election officials reporting Tuesday all ballots had been counted. Duarte captured the seat in 2022 when he defeated Gray by one of the closest margins in the country, 564 votes. He was often listed among the most vulnerable House Republicans given that narrow margin of victory in a district with a Democratic tilt — about 11 points over registered Republicans. Gray said in a statement: “We always knew that this race would be as close as they come, and we’re expecting a photo finish this year, too.” In other Democratic House gains, first-time candidate Derek Tran ousted Republican Rep. Michelle Steel in a Southern California district anchored in Orange County, while Democrat George Whitesides toppled Republican Rep. Mike Garcia is a district north of Los Angeles. In a district east of Los Angeles, Republican Rep. Ken Calvert again held off Democrat Will Rollins in a repeat of their 2022 contest. And Republican Rep. David Valadao kept his grip on a farm-belt seat, despite its heavy Democratic registration edge. The outcome will leave Republicans with nine of the state's 52 U.S. House seats next year. Although California is often seen as a liberal monolith, a string of House districts has proved volatile in recent elections, spotlighting their importance to both parties. Democrats snatched seven seats from Republicans in 2018, then Republicans seized four from Democrats in 2020. In the 2022 elections, Republicans gained one seat, from 11 to 12, while Democrats dropped to 40 seats from 42, after California lost a House seat in reapportionment after the 2020 census. Overall, the state dropped to 52 districts from 53. The state played a pivotal role in securing the gavel for Republicans in 2022 and installing Rep. Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield as speaker . Michael R. Blood, The Associated PressXavier tries to get right vs. Morgan State before rivalry clash

Unlikely battleground California plays key role -- again -- in setting US House's political balanceNone

PARIS (AP) — Howling winds couldn’t stop Notre Dame Cathedral ’s heart from beating again. With three resounding knocks on its doors by Paris Archbishop Laurent Ulrich, wielding a specially designed crosier carved from fire-scorched beams, the monument roared back to life Saturday evening. For the first time since a devastating blaze nearly destroyed it in 2019, the towering Gothic masterpiece reopened for worship, its rebirth marked by song, prayer, and awe beneath its soaring arches. The ceremony, initially planned to begin on the forecourt, was moved entirely inside due to unusually fierce December winds sweeping across the Île de la Cité, flanked by the River Seine. Yet the occasion lost none of its splendor. Inside the luminous nave, choirs sang psalms, and the cathedral’s mighty organ, silent for nearly five years, thundered to life in a triumphant interplay of melodies. The restoration, a spectacular achievement in just five years for a structure that took nearly two centuries to build, is seen as a moment of triumph for French President Emmanuel Macron, who championed the ambitious timeline — and a welcome respite from his domestic political woes . The evening’s celebration, attended by 1,500 dignitaries, including President-elect Donald Trump, US first lady Jill Biden, Britain’s Prince William, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, underscored Notre Dame’s enduring role as both a spiritual and cultural beacon. Observers see the event as Macron's, and his intention to pivot it into a fully fledged diplomatic gathering, while highlighting France’s ability to unite on the global stage despite internal political crises. As the cathedral’s largest bell, the 13-ton Emmanuel — which was not named after the French leader — tolled into the Paris night, signaling the start of the ceremony, the crowd inside Notre Dame fell into an expectant hush. Emmanuel, a legacy of King Louis XIV, had rung through centuries of French history, and its peal now resonated as a call to witness another epochal moment. Outside the cathedral’s monumental doors, Ulrich raised his fire-scarred crosier. “Brothers and sisters, let us enter now into Notre Dame,” he declared. “It is she who accompanies us on our path to peace.” With the congregation of over 2,500 people watching in silence, Ulrich struck the floodlit doors, the base of his crosier reverberating against the wood. Inside, the choir answered with soaring hymns, their voices filling the nave. Illuminations on the cathedral facade heightened the drama. On the final strike, the heavy doors swung open, revealing the glowing interior of restored blond Lutetian limestone. Adding to the ceremony’s visual splendor, Ulrich and the clergy wore vibrant liturgical garments designed by French fashion designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac. Known for his signature pop-art aesthetic, Castelbajac created 2,000 colorful pieces for 700 celebrants, blending modern elements with medieval touches. Flooded with light and song, the cathedral came alive in a moment of breathtaking spectacle. What had been a silent, soot-blackened ruin five years ago now blazed with renewed vitality, marking the culmination of a nearly $1 billion global effort to resurrect it. Speaking inside the cathedral, Macron expressed “gratitude” Saturday to those who saved, helped, and rebuilt Notre Dame, his voice reverberating through the nave. “I stand before you ... to express the gratitude of the French nation,” he said, before voices flooded the space with song, harmonies not heard in over five years. “Tonight, the bells of Notre Dame are ringing again. And in a moment, the organ will awaken,” sending the “music of hope” cascading through the luminous interior to Parisians, France, and the world beyond, he said. The celebration is expected to give a much-needed boost to the embattled French leader, whose prime minister was ousted this week , plunging the nation’s politics into more turmoil. Macron has called Notre Dame’s reopening “a jolt of hope.” Observers say he hoped the occasion would briefly silence his critics and showcase France’s unity and resilience under his leadership — a rare moment of grace in a presidency now facing a grave crisis. Inside Notre Dame, 42,000 square meters of stonework—equivalent to six soccer pitches—gleamed anew, revealing intricate carvings and luminous limestone. Above, 2,000 oak beams, nicknamed “the forest,” restored the cathedral’s iconic spire and roof. The great organ, dormant for over five years, roared back to life like a slumbering giant. With its 7,952 pipes—ranging from pen-sized to torso-wide—and a renovated console featuring five keyboards, 115 stops, and 30 foot pedals, it responded to Archbishop Laurent Ulrich’s command: “Wake up, organ, sacred instrument.” The first low rumble grew into a triumphant symphony as four organists pulled out the stops, weaving improvised responses to the archbishop’s invocations. Eight times, Ulrich addressed the organ; eight times, its voice filled the nave with breathtaking sound. Guests marveled at the spectacle, many capturing the moment on their phones. “It’s a sense of perfection,” said François Le Page of the Notre Dame Foundation, who last saw the cathedral cloaked in scaffolding in 2021. “It was somber then. Now, it’s night and day.” The Rev. Andriy Morkvas, a Ukrainian priest who leads the Volodymyr Le Grand church in Paris, reflected on his first visit to Notre Dame in over a decade. “I didn’t recognize it,” he said. “God is very powerful; He can change things.” He expressed hope that the cathedral’s revival could inspire peace in his homeland, drawing strength from the presence of Ukraine’s president. “I think that will have a big impact,” he said. “I hope Notre Dame and Mary will help us resolve this conflict.” The reopening of Notre Dame comes at a time of profound global unrest, with wars raging in Ukraine and the Middle East. For Catholics, Notre Dame’s rector said the cathedral “carries the enveloping presence of the Virgin Mary, a maternal and embracing presence.′′ “It is a magnificent symbol of unity,” Olivier Ribadeau Dumas said. “Notre Dame is not just a French monument — it is a magnificent sign of hope.” The international range of dignitaries coming to Paris underline the cathedral’s significance as a symbol of shared heritage and peace. Canadian visitor Noelle Alexandria, who had traveled to Paris for the reopening, was struck by the cathedral’s ability to inspire. “She’s been nearly ruined before, but she always comes back,” Alexandria said. “Not many of us could say the same after such tragedy, but Notre Dame can.” Guests entered through Notre Dame’s iconic western façade, whose arched portals adorned with biblical carvings were once a visual guide for medieval believers. Above the central Portal of the Last Judgment, the Archangel Michael is depicted weighing souls, as demons attempt to tip the scales. These stone figures, designed to inspire both awe and fear, set the stage for a ceremony steeped in history. Inside, the hum of hundreds of guests awaiting the service filled the cathedral with human sounds once more — a stark contrast to the construction din that echoed there for years. Tuners restoring the great organ often worked through the night to find the silence needed to perfect its 7,952 pipes, ranging from pen-sized to torso-wide. Notre Dame echoed to the sound of a sustained standing ovation after the showing of a short movie that documented the gargantuan rebuilding effort. Outside, the word “MERCI” — thank you — was projected against the cathedral’s iconic western facade. The movie showed the terrible wounds left by the inferno — the gaping holes torn into its vaulted ceilings and the burned roof. But that was followed by images of all types of artisans, many using traditional handicraft techniques, who collectively restored Notre Dame to look better now than ever. "We went from night to light," said one of the workers in the movie. Security will be high through the weekend, echoing measures taken during the Paris Olympics earlier this year. The Île de la Cité — the small island in the River Seine that is home to Notre Dame and the historic heart of Paris— is closed to tourists and non-residents. Police vans and barriers blocked cobblestoned streets in a large perimeter around the island, while soldiers in thick body armor and sniffer dogs patrolled embankments. A special security detail is following Trump. Public viewing areas along the Seine’s southern bank will accommodate 40,000 spectators, who can follow the celebrations on large screens. For many, Notre Dame’s rebirth is not just a French achievement but a global one — after the reopening, the cathedral is set to welcome 15 million visitors annually, up from 12 million before the fire. Sylvie Corbet, Yesica Brumec, Marine Lesprit and Mark Carlson in Paris contributed. Associated Press religion coverage receives support through The AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

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