Best Beginnings families automatically eligible for more public benefitsAfter a far-right pro-Russia candidate secured a surprise lead in Romania's presidential election Monday, the eastern European NATO member is bracing for a high-stakes parliamentary vote on Sunday, amid fears it could bring about a strategic shift in the country. Calin Georgescu was in pole position with almost 23 percent after the first round of voting, a political earthquake in the country of 19 million people that has so far resisted nationalist appeals that have gained traction in Hungary and Slovakia. His victory ahead of centre-right mayor Elena Lasconi -- who scored 19.18 percent -- ended the hopes of Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu to compete for the presidency in the December runoff. After coming third at 19.15, Ciolacu said his Social Democratic Party (PSD) won't challenge the narrow result, and announced his resignation as party leader. Experts say the far right's surprise success could affect the parliamentary elections later this week, and even influence the chances of forming a future government. In the runoff ballot on December 8, Lasconi will face Georgescu, a NATO critic who in the past expressed his admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Georgescu's popularity surged ahead of the vote with a viral TikTok campaign calling for an end to aid for Ukraine, which shares a 650-kilometre (400-mile) border with Romania. In a first reaction on his YouTube channel, the 62-year-old independent candidate insisted "there is no East or West", stressing that neutrality was "absolutely necessary". "I am not an extremist, I am not a fascist -- I am a Romanian who loves his country," he said in reference to media reports that "tried to portray" him in a wrongful way. For his rival Lasconi, the upcoming runoff represents "an existential battle", "a historic confrontation" between those who wish to "preserve Romania's young democracy" and those who want to "return to the Russian sphere of influence". "We must not allow anger to throw us back into the past," she said to thunderous applause from her supporters, vowing to stand up for Europe and NATO. The political earthquake comes amid soaring inflation and mounting fears of Romania being potentially dragged into Russia's war in neighbouring Ukraine, as the country has emerged as a key player on the alliance's eastern flank. In Sunday's vote, another far-right contender, AUR party leader George Simion, secured nearly 14 percent. Already pounding the campaign trail for this week's parliamentary elections, Simion said Romania now has "the chance to have a sovereign government and a sovereign president". Overall, the far right won more than a third of all votes in Sunday's presidential ballot. "The far right is by far the big winner of this election," political scientist Cristian Pirvulescu told AFP, predicting a possible "contagion effect" in the parliamentary vote. Extremist forces and Lasconi's centre-right party now have "wind in their sails", sociologist Gelu Duminica said, though "it remains to be seen if they know how to capitalise" on it. The PSD, which has shaped the country's politics for more than three decades, has never before been eliminated in the first round of a presidential election. The National Liberal Party (PNL) party, with whom the PSD currently governs, also suffered a defeat. While many expressed their disbelief over the poll in the streets of the capital Bucharest, others were enthused. Maria Chis, 70, said she was surprised by Georgescu's lead in the first round but had been impressed after watching his TikTok videos. "He seems a man of integrity, serious and patriotic. He inspires seriousness. I think only someone like him can bring change," said the pensioner, who was planning to vote for him in the second round. Alex Tudose, the owner of a construction company, was gloomy. "There is sorrow, disappointment, that after so many years in Euro-Atlantic structures we voted for a pro-Russian by over 20 percent," the 42-year-old said. "There is clearly a strong fragmentation both in society and in the political class, and I think we saw that yesterday," he said. ani-anb-kym/sbkNone
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NORTH HUNTINGDON, Pa. – The Penn Cambria football team’s incredible season ended one game short of an appearance in the PIAA Class 3A championship game on a frigid Friday night at Norwin High School. District 7 champ Avonworth rode its one-two Neal Brothers rushing attack and a stout defense to a 16-6 victory over Penn Cambria in the state semifinal round. PHOTO GALLERY | Avonworth ends Penn Cambria's historic run in 3A state semifinal But coach Nick Felus and his District 6-3A champion Panthers left the snowy turf at Knights Stadium to the cheers and chants from a large crowd of fans who withstood temperatures in the mid-20s and occasional snow showers. This group of Panthers made history and brought a community together, especially over the past month in winning the program’s first District 6 football title and two state playoff wins, as well as a Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference championship. WTAJ | Penn Cambria vs. Avonworth “Hell of a ride,” said Penn Cambria senior Gavin Harrold, whose 62-yard touchdown run in the second quarter gave the Panthers a 6-3 halftime lead. “I wouldn’t want to go to battle with anyone else. We played as hard as we could. Sometimes you just can’t come out with the ‘dub.’ That’s what happened. “Hats off to them. A great team. I’m sad it ends.” Penn Cambria closed a 14-1 season. Avonworth takes a 12-3 record into next Saturday’s PIAA championship game against undefeated District 11 Northwestern Lehigh, a 31-14 winner over District 4 Danville. “We love these guys so much. This senior class, now it’s going to hurt,” Penn Cambria’s Felus said after leading an emotional, postgame team huddle in the end zone. “It’s going to sting but what they did for the program and the community is second to none.” The Panthers roster included 11 seniors who were key in a “Mountain Mentality” resurgence. “They’re going to be able to look back and understand how much of an impact they had,” Felus said. “We had an unbelievable season. It didn’t end the way we wanted it to end, but we’re not going to let this one game define what this group did for our program and our community.” Avonworth junior Luca Neal gained 254 yards and scored both of his team’s touchdowns. He had 27 carries, most out of a wildcat formation. His brother senior Nico Neal gained 62 yards on 16 carries. Nov. 23 in the District 7 title game win over Central Valley, Nico Neal had 102 rushing yards and two TDs at Acrisure Stadium. “We just wanted to stay to our game plan,” Avonworth coach Duke Johncour said. “The Neal boys are tough hard runners. We knew we eventually could punch one in, and we did. “Our kids are resilient,” he said. “They’re in shape. They’re physical. They’re tough. “They’re downhill.” Neither team scored in the first quarter, although both squads had some success moving the ball on their opening drives. Penn Cambria stopped Avonworth’s Luca Neal for a loss of 1 on fourth-and-1 to take over at the Panthers 38-yard line with 1:13 left in the first quarter. But the possession ended in a third punt by Brady Jones. Behind Luca Neal’s 60 rushing yards, Avonworth moved 66 yards in 13 plays. Facing a fourth-and-4 from the Penn Cambria 8, the Antelopes called on Calder Mahan, who booted a 25-yard field goal with 4:06 remaining in the half. Penn Cambria answered quickly. Harrold got around the end and used a downfield block by junior quarterback Brady Jones, who lined up at receiver, to run 62 yards to the end zone to give the Panthers a 6-3 advantage with 2:30 on the clock. “We saw the outside started to get open. We just hit that side. Great blocks by everyone,” Harrold said. As usual, Penn Cambria lined up for a two-point conversion, but took an encroachment penalty, pushing the ball back to the 7. The ensuing pass attempt sailed through the end zone. “Just an unbelievable effort,” Felus said of the TD run. “That’s what Gavin does. Brady Jones, as a quarterback, lined up at wide receiver and made an unbelievable block.” Avonworth moved to the Panthers 42 in six plays but the drive stalled. Penn Cambria ran out the first-half clock, holding a three-point lead. Early in the third quarter, Nico Neal ran 51 yards to the end zone, but a holding penalty negated the touchdown. Four plays later, the Panthers senior Mason Mento and sophomore Corbin Vinglish stopped Nico Neal on a fourth-and-1 at the Penn Cambria 42. Penn Cambria advanced to the Avonworth 23, but Jones and senior Derek Hite narrowly missed connecting on a fourth-down pass that went a bit high and out of the end zone. Luca Neal ran 65 yards for a touchdown to give the Antelopes a 9-6 lead with 4:39 left in the third quarter. “That’s a great team,” Johncour said of the Panthers. “He broke through the line on that one and made a huge play. He’s a talented player.” Avonworth had an opportunity to pull away after recovering a Penn Cambria fumble at the Panthers’ 45 right after the touchdown. The Antelopes ran 13 plays and got to the 11-yard line, but Penn Cambria junior defensive back Blake Lilly intercepted a pass in the end zone and returned to the 28 with 9:16 remaining in the game. “Our kids battled for all four quarters,” Felus said. “It was one of those games where (Avonworth) tried to control the ball, especially in the fourth quarter. It didn’t feel like we had the ball a lot. “We just weren’t opportunistic enough to take advantage of a few things, but the effort was unbelievable,” he said. “The kids played so hard. The community support was unbelievable.” Luca Neal scored on a 2-yard run with 1:08 remaining, and Mahan booted the extra point. “That last drive sealed the deal,” Johncour said. “That was a great drive.” Harrold gained 97 yards and Jones passed for 30 against a stingy Antelopes defense. “They’re a very good team, well-coached,” Johncour said. “They had athletes all over the field. Our defense played lights out again. We had one blown gasket on a defensive play. “We missed a line. That 12 (Harrold) is going to make you pay for it. He did.” Penn Cambria under sixth-year head coach Felus has emerged from a once-struggling program to a state semifinalist. “We set a standard,” Harrold said. “Ever since I was in seventh grade, Coach Felus came in as head coach and had us working. At first, we were hesitant. Is this going to pay off? “You can tell it paid off. It was a hell of a journey working up from seventh grade the whole way up to now. I just can’t thank Coach Felus enough.” Mike Mastovich is a sports reporter and columnist for The Tribune-Democrat. He can be reached at 814-532-5083. Follow him on Twitter @Masty81. (c)2024 The Tribune-Democrat (Johnstown, Pa.) Visit The Tribune-Democrat (Johnstown, Pa.) at www.tribune-democrat.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Missed kicks. Poor tackling. Costly penalties. Week 12 was filled with sloppy play around the NFL, leading to some upsets and surprising outcomes. Jayden Daniels nearly led Washington to an improbable comeback down 10 in the final two minutes against Dallas only to fall short because Austin Seibert's extra point sailed wide left. After a field goal and successful onside kick, Daniels connected with Terry McLaurin on an 86-yard catch-and-run touchdown to bring the Commanders within one point with 21 seconds remaining. But Seibert's point-after attempt failed and the Cowboys returned the ensuing onside kick for a touchdown to seal a 34-26 victory. Special teams were atrocious for both teams. Seibert also missed his first extra point and Washington allowed KaVontae Turpin's 99-yard kickoff return for a score earlier in the fourth quarter. The Cowboys missed a field goal, had another blocked and had a punt blocked. "What a wild special teams moment of blocked punts, kicks, kickoff returns, blocked field goals, just a number of things going to that spot," Commanders coach Dan Quinn said. Washington (7-5) was a 10 1/2-point favorite over the undermanned Cowboys (4-7) but ended up losing a third straight game. The Houston Texans were 8-point favorites against the lowly Tennessee Titans and let the game come down to Ka'imi Fairbairn missing a 28-yard field goal that would have tied it with just under two minutes left. C.J. Stroud threw two interceptions, was sacked four times and the Texans (7-5) committed 11 penalties, including an illegal shift that negated a go-ahead 33-yard TD pass to Nico Collins on the drive that ended with Fairbairn's miss in the 32-27 loss. The Titans (3-8) averaged just 17 points per game before putting 32 on the scoreboard against Houston's defense that entered No. 4 in the league. "We didn't do anything well enough to win this game," Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. "Out of all the positives that we did have, there were way too many negatives. Too many negative plays. Score, get a penalty, get touchdowns called back. Get penalties on special teams. Just way too many negative plays defensively, like unexplainable explosives for touchdowns. We just didn't play good across the board." The San Francisco 49ers didn't have quarterback Brock Purdy, star edge rusher Nick Bosa and All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams against Green Bay. That was no excuse for their undisciplined performance. The Niners committed nine penalties and their tackling was shoddy in a 38-10 loss to the Packers. The defending NFC champions are 5-6 with a trip to Buffalo (9-2) coming up. They're still only one game behind Seattle and Arizona in the NFC West. "I'm really not concerned right now about how many guys were missing. We didn't play good enough, so that's not a factor. But, when you are missing some guys, you do have to be better. When you have those penalties and we didn't stop the run like we did and we had those three turnovers in the second half, that's how you get embarrassed." Coming off their first loss of the season, the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs needed Patrick Mahomes' heroics on the final drive to beat Carolina 30-27. Mahomes ran 33 yards to set up Spencer Schrader's 31-yard field goal as time expired. Kansas City had 10 penalties, including a pass interference that gave the Panthers (3-8) another chance to make the 2-point conversion that tied the game with 1:46 remaining. On defense, the Chiefs (10-1) suddenly shaky unit gave up 334 total yards against Bryce Young and an offense that entered last in the NFL. "We've got to do better. We're doing good in the red zone but that's only a third of the field," Chiefs safety Bryan Cook said. "We will go back and look at the film to see what we're doing week to week, and see the tendencies that we're giving up, and just move forward from there. At the end of the day, we're all vets in the room for the most part. ... got to go back to the drawing board and see what we're doing and correct it from there." The Vikings allowed the Bears to recover an onside kick with 21 seconds left and Caleb Williams followed with a 27-yard pass to D.J. Moore to set up Cairo Santos' tying 48-yard field goal. But Minnesota won in overtime, 30-27. The Chiefs and Vikings overcame their mistakes in narrow victories. The Commanders, Texans and 49ers couldn't. They have to be better down the stretch to make a playoff run. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Colorado star Travis Hunter says Coach Prime `ain’t going nowhere'Calgary’s bold vision: Becoming Canada’s innovation capital