https://arab.news/j8ntg BUCHAREST, Romania: A little-known, far-right populist took the lead in Romania’s presidential election Sunday, electoral data showed, and will likely face leftist Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu in a runoff in two weeks, an outcome that rocked the country’s political landscape. Calin Georgescu, who ran independently, led the polls with around 22 percent of the vote, while Ciolacu of the Social Democratic Party, or PSD, trailed at 20 percent. Elena Lasconi of the Save Romania Union party, or USR, stood at about 18 percent, and George Simion, the leader of the far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, or AUR, took 14.1 percent. After polls closed, 9.4 million people — about 52.4 percent of eligible voters — had cast ballots, according to the Central Election Bureau. The second round of the vote will be held Dec. 8. Thirteen candidates ran for the presidency in the European Union and NATO member country. The president serves a five-year term and has significant decision-making powers in areas such as national security, foreign policy and judicial appointments. Georgescu, 62, ran independently and was not widely known. He outperformed most local surveys, sending shockwaves through Romania’s political establishment as he ascended to poll position. After casting his ballot on Sunday, Georgescu said in a post on Facebook that he voted “For the unjust, for the humiliated, for those who feel they do not matter and actually matter the most ... the vote is a prayer for the nation.” Cristian Andrei, a political consultant based in Bucharest, told The Associated Press that Georgescu’s unexpected poll performance appears to be a “large protest or revolt against the establishment.” “The mainstream political parties have lost the connection with regular Romanians,” he said. “You don’t have strong candidates or strong leaders ... there are weak candidates, weak leaders, and the parties in general are pretty much disconnected.” Georgescu lacks an agenda, Andrei added, and has a vague and populist manifesto with positions that are “beyond the normal discourse.” His stances include supporting Romanian farmers, reducing dependency on imports, and ramping up energy and food production. According to his website, Georgescu holds a doctorate in pedology, a branch of soil science, and held different positions in Romania’s environment ministry in the 1990s. Between 1999 and 2012, he was a representative for Romania on the national committee of the United Nations Environment Program. Videos posted to his popular TikTok account, where he has amassed 1.6 million likes, depict him attending church, doing judo, running around an oval track, and speaking on podcasts. Ahead of Sunday’s vote, many had expected to see Simion, a vocal supporter of US President-elect Donald Trump, face Ciolacu in the second round. He campaigned for reunification with Moldova, which this year renewed a five-year ban on him entering the country over security concerns, and he is banned for the same reason from neighboring Ukraine. Ecaterina Nawadia, a 20-year-old architecture student, said she voted for the first time in a national election on Sunday and hoped young people turn out in high numbers. “Since the (1989) revolution, we didn’t have a really good president,” she said. “I hope most of the people my age went to vote ... because the leading candidate is not the best option.” Romania will also hold parliamentary elections on Dec. 1 that will determine the country’s next government and prime minister. As the ballots were still being counted, Simion said he congratulated Georgescu and that he was “Very happy that approximately 40 percent of the votes of Romanians went toward the sovereign option” and would be in the second round. Andrei, the political consultant, said Romania’s large budget deficit, high inflation, and an economic slowdown could push more mainstream candidates to shift toward populist stances amid widespread dissatisfaction. Ciolacu told the AP before the first-round vote that one of his biggest goals was “to convince Romanians that it is worth staying at home or returning” to Romania, which has a massive diaspora spread throughout EU countries. Other candidates included former NATO deputy general secretary Mircea Geoana, who ran independently and obtained about 6 percent; and Nicolae Ciuca, a former army general and head of the center-right National Liberal Party, which is currently in a tense coalition with the PSD — who stood at 9.3 percent. Geoana, a former foreign minister and ambassador to the United States, told the AP before Sunday’s vote that he believed his international experience would qualify him above the other candidates. Lasconi, a former journalist and the leader of the USR, said she sees corruption as one of the biggest problems Romania faces and that she supports increased defense spending and continued aid to Ukraine.a broken mirror reunited in an e-sports 。

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Taz, Evil Uno, Matt Cardona, and FTR’s Dax Harwood Praise Big Boom! AJ & Costco Guy’s Work at AEW Full GearThere is "mutual interest" between free agent pitcher Walker Buehler and the New York Yankees, per Jon Morosi of MLB Network. Buehler last saw the Yankees on Oct. 30, when he capped off his seventh season with the Los Angeles Dodgers by pitching the final three outs in a World Series-clinching Game 5 win at Yankee Stadium. The 30-year-old pitcher, who made his comeback last season from 2022 Tommy John surgery, is projected to make $3.9 million on his next deal by Spotrac . This article will be updated soon to provide more information and analysis. For more from Bleacher Report on this topic and from around the sports world, check out our B/R app , homepage and social feeds—including Twitter , Instagram , Facebook and TikTok .

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In his first global meetings since Donald Trump was reelected to lead the U.S., Chinese President Xi Jinping went on a diplomatic offensive, hedging against expected new tariffs and preparing to exploit potential future rifts between Washington and its allies. At meeting after meeting, from APEC in Peru to G20 in Brazil over the last week, Xi sought to draw a contrast with Trump's "America First" message, presenting himself as a predictable defender of the multilateral global trade order. Summit organizers, diplomats and negotiators also describe a noticeable shift from previous summits in a more constructive posture by Chinese diplomats, who were less focused on their narrow interests and more involved in building a broader consensus. The outreach is urgent for Beijing. While better prepared for another Trump White House - with many tech companies far less reliant on U.S. imports - China is also more vulnerable after its economy was hit by a huge property crisis. Much of China's attention has focused on the Global South, with state news agency Xinhua praising the G20 for including the African Union as one of the members. The voice of the Global South needed to be "not merely heard but also translated into tangible influence," Xinhua said. During his G20 speech on Monday, Xi reiterated China's position on "unilaterally opening our doors wider to the least developed countries," touting China's move to give all such countries "zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines." By making such overtures, China wants to expand its leading position in parts of the developing world where the U.S. has long lagged due to its inability to match the billion-dollar investments that China's state-led economy has marshalled. “To position China as a defender of globalization and a critic of protectionism, this calculated messaging comes at a time when many countries in the Global South fear the potential return of indiscriminate trade and tariff policies from the U.S., particularly under Trump’s influence,” said Sunny Cheung, associate fellow for China Studies at Jamestown Foundation, a think tank based in Washington DC. "Xi's remarks aim to present China as a more stable and sensible and most importantly a reciprocal partner in contrast to perceived U.S. unpredictability." CONCILIATORY TONE Trump has pledged to impose tariffs on Chinese imports in excess of 60%, and a Reuters poll of economists found they expected the U.S. would impose tariffs of nearly 40%, potentially slicing growth in the world's second-biggest economy by up to 1 percentage point. Former Chinese diplomats privately acknowledge that developing countries won't make up for that loss, but Xi has been betting heavily on the expansion of BRICS and mending fences with Asian neighbors, from India to Japan to Australia. European countries, also threatened by Trump with tariffs, sought to strike a conciliatory tone with Xi at the latest round of meetings. German chancellor Olaf Scholz said Berlin would work for a mediated solution to an EU-China dispute over Chinese electric vehicles as fast as possible during his meeting Xi. Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer struck an upbeat tone in the first meeting between the countries' two leaders since 2018, saying he would like to engage with Beijing on areas such as trade, the economy and climate, and have broader engagement on science, technology, health and education. Shen Dingli, a Shanghai-based international relations scholar, said European allies of the U.S. would not "embrace" China if Trump’s protectionist policies were aimed at them "but there would be more cooperation". LIMITS OF OUTREACH Behind the scenes, diplomats said they also noted a change in China’s behavior at these multinational gatherings, with Beijing officials getting involved in a wider set of issues. “China traditionally stayed much more discreet and defended only its most essential interests,” according to a Brazilian diplomat. “They seem to be realizing today that more engagement is required of them. It's not enough to build economic power, diplomacy is important for their own interests and the position they want to have in the world,” he added. To be sure, some analysts say the Chinese outreach belies tensions between Beijing and other countries that were not present when Trump first took office, making his return unlikely to bring about a total reordering of the geopolitical landscape. Western countries have long accused China of unfair trade practices, saying its state support for manufacturers, coupled with depressed domestic demand, is pushing excessive Chinese supply onto global markets. China's outreach could also be a hard sell in its immediate neighborhood, where its ships have repeatedly clashed with the Philippines and other neighbors over territorial claims in the South China Sea. Shi Yinhong, a professor at Renmin University in Beijing, was skeptical of the notion that Trump's return would give China more leverage when dealing with the EU and other U.S. allies, highlighting the proliferation of conflicts over Ukraine, Taiwan, and elsewhere. "China, of course, likes to improve relations with the EU and its major powers, but without much cost," said Shi. That meant it would not make major concessions on trade, human rights, and territorial disputes "with or without Trump, which in turn makes major and lasting rapprochement impossible," he added. Shi also said that China's ability to invest and take advantage of costly Global South infrastructure projects was diminished due to its sputtering economy. And even among these like-minded countries there is underlying unease about China's growing clout, other experts say, pointing as an example to Brazil's move to not join Xi's signature Belt and Road Initiative. "Brazil has some concerns about the relationship with China on who is the dominant partner and a desire to not be a satellite and have a more equal, balanced trade relationship with more value added on the Brazilian side," said Robert Evan Ellis, a professor at the U.S. Army War College.Oklahoma sophomore quarterback Jackson Arnold will enter the transfer portal, according to multiple reports on Wednesday. A five-star recruit in 2023 out of Denton, Texas, Arnold began this season as the starter, lost his spot and later regained it as the Sooners went 6-6. Monday is the first day that underclassmen can transfer during the winter portal window. Arnold completed 154 of 246 passes (62.6 percent) for 1,421 yards, 12 touchdowns and three interceptions in 10 games. He also ran the ball 150 times for 444 yards and three TDs, including 25 attempts for 131 yards in the Sooners' 24-3 win over Alabama on Nov. 23. As a freshman last season playing behind Dillon Gabriel, Arnold appeared in seven games and was 44 of 69 (63.8 percent) for 563 yards, four TDs and three picks. A former Gatorade Texas Player of the Year, Arnold started for Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl last December, when the Sooners lost 38-24 to Arizona. He was QB1 for the 2024 campaign, but three early turnovers caused him to be pulled in a 25-15 defeat to Tennessee on Sept. 21 and replaced by true freshman Michael Hawkins Jr. Arnold came off the bench to replace Hawkins in a 35-9 loss to South Carolina on Oct. 19, and head coach Brent Venables afterward fired offensive coordinator Seth Littrell. Co-offensive coordinator Joe Jon Finley became the interim play-caller. Venables filled the position permanently on Monday by hiring Washington State OC Ben Arbuckle, who could bring Cougars QB John Mateer with him to Norman, Okla. --Field Level MediaQuinn scored on a 32-yard run to open the scoring midway through the first quarter, and his 75-yard touchdown run gave Texas Southern a 17-13 lead with 6:59 remaining in the third. A little more than three minutes later, Jace Wilson threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Trenton Leary that stretched the Tigers' lead to 24-13. Athean Renfro added 55 yards rushing with a 1-yard TD run in the fourth quarter for Texas Southern (5-6, 4-4 Southwestern Athletic Conference). DJ Stevenson threw a touchdown pass and an interception for Arkansas-Pine Bluff (3-8, 2-6). Abdulbasit Osholake had an 80-yard pick-6 that tied it 7-all late in the second quarter for the Lions. ___ Get alerts on the latest AP Top 25 poll 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-football

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The 17th annual Aurora Holiday Food Drive is moving into its final days, and organizers said this year’s drive is slightly behind the pace from last year. “We are asking the community to give what they can to help those who are less fortunate, and we are grateful for every penny donated, and every can purchased from one of the stores,” said Katie Arko, executive director of the Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry. The drive is designed to stock the shelves of the pantry, which serves 1,300 families in a given week. Hundreds of volunteers and staff hours have been poured into the campaign, Arko said, which takes place at three participating grocery stores: Prisco’s Family Market, 1108 Prairie St., Aurora; Cermak Fresh Market, 1250 N. Lake St., Aurora; and La Chiquita, 1525 Douglas Road, Montgomery. Arko added that smaller, local food drives organized by social clubs, neighborhoods, churches, school groups and others add to the donations during the overall Holiday Food Drive. Arko pointed to one volunteer, Dan Dolan, who is considered the godfather of the Holiday Food Drive. Dolan created the idea for the drive 17 years ago, and, along with his family, he “gives his heart, soul, time and energy into helping the pantry every year,” Arko said. “He spends time writing letters to raise money, goes to the grocery stores to pack bags, hands out flyers to customers at the stores, makes phone calls and utilizes his social media network to help with the cause,” she said. The drive began Nov. 1 and runs through Wednesday, Nov. 27. Depending on how each store does it, people can buy packaged bags of groceries of $5, $10, $15 and $20 as they go through the checkout line during normal shopping. They also can buy a $20 virtual bag online, a feature added two years ago. The pantry also takes monetary donations. The money is used to purchase food from the Geneva-based Northern Illinois Food Bank, and every $1 donated actually purchases $8 of food. Both the virtual bags and the monetary donations can be done at the Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry website, https://www.aurorafoodpantry.org/. Monetary donations also still are taken the old-fashioned way, with checks mailed to the pantry at 1110 Jericho Road, Aurora, IL, 60506. Checks should be made out to Aurora Food Pantry. The food drive also depends on volunteers who help in a number of ways, including passing out flyers promoting the drive at the participating grocery stores. Ways to volunteer are also at the pantry’s website. Individuals and families often volunteer, but so do many businesses, churches, Scouting and student groups and other organizations. From to 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, one of those organizations, a fifth-grade Girl Scout troop from Freeman Elementary School, was scheduled to be at Prisco’s Family Market in Aurora, handing out flyers, bringing holiday cheer and encouraging people to buy a bag of groceries to donate to the pantry. “This is the third year in a row that this troop has volunteered to help the pantry,” Arko said. Sponsors of the Aurora Holiday Food Drive are Dolan and Murphy, Inc. real estate; Konen Insurance; Gerald Subaru of North Aurora; AuraLight Dispensary; Douglas Carpet One; Aurora Bank & Trust; Bob’s Discount Furniture; Oak St. Health; AC’s Pub; Ald. Patty Smith, 8th Ward; The Beacon-News; Aurora Fastprint; Prisco’s Family Market; Cermak Fresh Market; La Chiquita; and 95.9 The River. slord@tribpub.comThings are starting to look up for the Seattle Kraken. The Kraken won five of six games on their just-completed homestand to surpass hockey's version of .500 (10-9-1) and move within a point of the Western Conference's two wild-card playoff spots. Seattle will try to carry that momentum into Saturday's game against the host Los Angeles Kings, who have lost three of their past four games. The Kraken dropped four road games in a row -- a span in which they scored just four goals -- before returning home. "We were obviously losing those games, and I think your confidence, momentum and mindset starts to change a little bit," Kraken center Matty Beniers said. "So, I think being able to get home, we just kind of had a couple of days off. We were able to get some really good days of practice and make sure that our mindset and game was good and together. "And then we were able to get that first win ... and once that happens, you build confidence, and you build chemistry from there." The Kraken are coming off a 3-0 victory against visiting Nashville on Wednesday as Joey Daccord made 24 saves for his first shutout of the season. Brandon Montour (one goal, one assist) and Chandler Stephenson (three assists), Seattle's big offseason acquisitions, sparked the offense. Forward Jared McCann, the Kraken's leading scorer with nine goals and 21 points, scored three times during the homestand, including an overtime winner against Vegas. "The way things ended on the road trip, we felt like we'd let some games get away from us," McCann said. "Obviously, it wasn't good but coming home here we kind of turned the page and just tried to focus on the next game. "I mean, it's just more of a mental thing. You've got to get past that mental block. We didn't have our best (on the road), but you've got to just push that aside and worry about the next one. "That's kind of the way we had to look at it and it's worked out for us." The Kings lost 1-0 to visiting Buffalo on Wednesday despite 18 saves by David Rittich. It was the first time this season that Los Angeles was blanked. "There's nights that I'm really frustrated with how we played, and it's hard to be disappointed with the guys (Wednesday)," Kings coach Jim Hiller said. "They tried, it didn't go their way. Live with it and move on." The Kings came close to scoring several times, including a two-on-one rush late in the second period when Trevor Moore tried to pass to Phillip Danault instead of shooting. "Just one too many passes," Hiller said. "We thought Mooresy should have shot it. If the pass gets through and Phil taps it in the back door, we're saying, ‘Wow, what an incredible goal.' So you can't take that decision-making off the players. They have to play hockey and choose what's right in the situation. "On a night like (Wednesday) where it was hard to find a goal, you don't want to pass too many up. Maybe that was one that we passed up." --Field Level Media

Republicans lash out at Democrats' claims that Trump intelligence pick Gabbard is 'compromised'The future of unmanned air systems (i.e. drones ) is racing forward on all fronts. Emerging technology from near-peer adversaries and 5th-generation aircraft cost concerns have driven the US Air Force to push for new and better-unmanned platforms. The General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper has been serving the US armed forces well and faithfully since its introduction in 2007. However, its age is beginning to show, and it is now in pursuit of a successor via the “MQ-Next” initiative. Some of the features being pursued include stealth qualities, modularity in payload types and autonomous operational capabilities. In a recent report by SlashGear , it was noted that should the designs currently in development pass muster, the new platform will offer capabilities that surpass the MQ-9 in both survivability and mission scope. While the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) abilities of the MQ-9 are still highly relevant and mission capable, rapidly growing threats from near-peers like the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) The MQ-9 manufacturer General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) , is focused on meeting the Air Force’s needs for flexible architecture and scalable technologies. Observers from Air & Space Forces , note that the approach in development supports a future in which unmanned aircraft will operate more independently and increase combat effectiveness against sophisticated threats as well as survivability in the 5th-Gen battlespace. 1 Stealth design Low observability and minimal footprint The MQ-Next proposal address the ever-shifting landscape of the global defense realm. As all conventional military forces have made improvements to detection, targeting and air-defense technology over the past decade, the air that the MQ-9 flies in has changed dramatically. A key design feature will be low-observability, not only from radar detection systems but also thermal and acoustic signatures need to be mitigated to the greatest extent possible on the battlefield of 2024. A report by Breaking Defense notes that General Atomics is developing a hybrid-electric engine to support a stealthier MQ-Next drone design with reduced vulnerability to detection. One of the many innovative new concepts that will be present in the final iteration of the MQ-Next research and development program. Design features like tailored exhaust configurations that minimize thermal output, radar absorbent materials and aerodynamics that reduce the radar cross section (RCS) will be used as well, of course. Refinements to existing tech and the introduction of new ideas are the path to improving survivability and effectiveness. It will take a great deal of forward-thinking and careful engineering to craft the right MQ-Next that will fulfill missions in areas previously unimaginable for unmanned systems. 2 Modular payload Integration for expanded missions One of the core concepts behind the MQ-Next program’s goals is maximal mission versatility. The USAF is encouraging platforms that are capable of rapid reconfiguration between mission-set load-outs. Whether that be ISR, electronic warfare (EW) or precision-strike - the next generation of UAVs has to be able to do them all, and do them fast. Meta Defense remarked that emerging concepts suggest the platform will be able rapidly change roles by exchanging modular sensors and weapons systems. This requirement is informed by experience gained from years of MQ-9 deployments, where the needs on missions often changed, unpredictably. MQ-Next will feature uniform interfaces, enabling ground teams to interchange payload elements without many modifications. This will allow one airframe to serve many roles instead of depending on different variants. MQ-Next is expected to be a cost-efficient solution that will simplify logistics and enhance surveillance and targeting capabilities. 3 Autonomy Artificial intelligence integration MQ-Next imagines a future in which unmanned systems depend less on constant remote control and more on integrated intelligence. These autonomous abilities might include algorithms for sensor fusion, machine learning models for target classification, and functions for route optimization that facilitate independent decision-making. According to The National Interest , the Air Force is exploring multiple concepts that could yield a new platform to replace the MQ-9 by the end of the decade. Autonomous capabilities enable the aircraft to traverse contested airspace with restricted communications while ensuring situational awareness and reacting to new threats. These developments create opportunities for mission tasks that include cooperative swarms of unmanned vehicles coordinating their actions without overwhelming human operators. The outcome might be an aerial fleet functioning at speeds and accuracy levels previously deemed impossible, guaranteeing data continuity and mission achievement even if command connections weaken. Perhaps well over a dozen advanced US drones have been shot down or otherwise lost over Yemen, underscoring their vulnerability. 4 Agile development Rapid upgrade cycles A central aspect of MQ-Next planning includes agile procurement strategies and modular building concepts that allow for the rapid integration of new technology. A report from SlashGear observed that modular architectures will facilitate continuous technology refreshes over the lifecycle of the aircraft, ensuring it remains at the cutting edge. Moving away from conventional, protracted procurement methods, the Air Force aims for a platform suitable for continuous enhancements. Hardware and software improvements would be implemented as soon as they are ready, instead of delaying for complete redesigns. This approach boosts long-term value by avoiding obsolescence and facilitating prompt reactions to new threats. Initiatives might include enhanced sensors, advanced propulsion technologies, and aerodynamic adjustments. The MQ-47 is a groundbreaking drone, combining advanced AI, stealth features, and enhanced avionics, posed to transform modern air warfare. 5 Lessons learned MQ-9 Reaper’s legacy According to the fact sheet of the US Air Force MQ-9 Reaper , the MQ-9 can also be disassembled and loaded into a single container for deployment worldwide, illustrating a logistical agility that future platforms must maintain or exceed. MQ-9 Specs: • Wingspan: 66 ft/20 m • Length: 36 ft/11 m • Height: 12.5 ft/3.8 m • Maximum Takeoff Weight: 10,500 lbs/4,762 kg • Payload Capacity: 3,750 lbs/1,701 kg • Endurance: 14 hours fully loaded • Maximum Altitude: 50,000 ft/15,240 m • Speed: 240 KTAS/444 kmh Developers, including those at General Atomics, stand prepared to refine and enhance previously fielded concepts. The Air Force intends to strengthen unmanned capabilities while simplifying maintenance and deployment procedures. MQ-Next represents a comprehensive attempt to improve upon unmanned reconnaissance and strike systems by incorporating stealth, modular payloads, autonomy, and flexible architecture. According to TWZ ’s report on another competing design, Northrop Grumman 's plan to replace the MQ-9 Reaper with stealthy, autonomous drones could usher in a new era of unmanned aerial operations. This era imagines aircraft that can be deployed globally at a moment's notice, change roles freely, and respond to new challenges without significant redesign. While the Air Force hones specifications and assesses prototypes, the MQ-9’s legacy guides choices intended to ensure that MQ-Next surpasses earlier constraints, ultimately offering a solution meant for a complicated and uncertain future.

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