Croatia's incumbent president and NATO critic leads in exit poll after presidential election
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Real Madrid's big stars turned on the style to revive the Spanish giant's faltering Champions League title defense on Tuesday. Galacticos Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham all scored in a thrilling 3-2 win at Italian league leader Atalanta. But Madrid still had to ride its luck as Mateo Retegui fired over from in front of goal in stoppage time when handed a golden chance to level the game. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
BUCHAREST, Romania -- A top Romanian court on Friday annulled the first round of the country's presidential election, days after allegations emerged that Russia ran a coordinated online campaign to promote the far-right outsider who won the first round. The Constitutional Court’s unprecedented decision — which is final — came after President Klaus Iohannis declassified intelligence on Wednesday that alleged Russia organized thousands of social media accounts to promote Calin Georgescu across platforms such as TikTok and Telegram. The court, without naming Georgescu, said that one of the 13 candidates in the Nov. 24 first round had improperly received “preferential treatment” on social media, distorting the outcome of the vote. Georgescu denounced the verdict as an “officialized coup” and an attack on democracy, as did the second-place finisher, reformist Elena Lasconi of the center-right Save Romania Union party. Despite being an outsider who declared zero campaign spending, Georgescu emerged as the frontrunner who was to face Lasconi in a runoff on Sunday. Some 951 voting stations had already opened abroad on Friday for the runoff for Romania’s large diaspora, but had to be halted. Iohannis said he would remain in office until a new presidential election could be rerun from scratch. On Dec. 1, one week after the first round of the presidential race, Romania also held a parliamentary election , which saw pro-Western parties win the most votes but also gains for far-right nationalists. Iohannis said that once the new government is formed, the date of the new presidential vote would be set. On Wednesday the president had released intelligence files from the Romanian Intelligence Service, the Foreign Intelligence Service, the Special Telecommunication Service and the Ministry of Internal Affairs. In a televised statement Friday, Iohannis said he was “deeply concerned” by the contents of the intelligence reports. “Intelligence reports revealed that this candidate’s campaign was supported by a foreign state with interests contrary to Romania’s. These are serious issues," he said. The Constitutional Court in its published decision cited the illegal use of digital technologies including artificial intelligence, as well as the use of “undeclared sources of funding.” It said one candidate received “preferential treatment on social media platforms, which resulted in the distortion of voters’ expressed will." Georgescu slammed the verdict as putting “democracy is under attack.” “I have only one pact ... with the Romanian people and God,” he said in a video statement. “We are no longer talking about fairness but rather about a mockery that betrays the principles of democracy ... It is time to show that we are a courageous people who know that the destiny and rights of the Romanian nation are in our hands.” Lasconi also strongly condemned the court's decision, saying it was “illegal, immoral, and crushes the very essence of democracy" and that the second round should have gone forward. “Whether we like it or not, from a legal and legitimate standpoint, 9 million Romanian citizens, both in the country and the diaspora, expressed their preference for a particular candidate through their votes," she said. “I know I would have won. And I will win because the Romanian people know I will fight for them, that I will unite them for a better Romania,” she added. Some 9.4 million people — about 52.5% of eligible voters — had cast ballots in the first round in this European Union and NATO member country. The president serves a five-year term and has significant decision-making powers in national security, foreign policy and judicial appointments. Most surveys had predicted the top candidate would be Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu of the ruling center-left Social Democrats. They indicated that second place would be claimed by either Lasconi or the leader of the far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, George Simion. As the surprising results came in with Georgescu on top, and Lasconi narrowly beating Ciolacu, it plunged the political establishment into turmoil. The same court last week ordered a recount of the first-round votes, which added to the myriad controversies that have engulfed a chaotic election cycle. Following a recount, the court then validated the first-round results on Monday. Many observers have expressed concerns that annulling the vote could trigger civil unrest. The court said Friday that its decision was meant “to restore citizens’ trust in the democratic legitimacy of public authorities, in the legality and fairness of elections.” Simion, of the far-right party, said the development was a “coup d’état in full swing” but urged people not to take to the streets. “We don’t let ourselves be provoked, this system has to fall democratically,” he said. Cristian Andrei, a political consultant based in Bucharest, said the court's decision amounts to a “crisis mode situation for Romanian democracy.” “In light of the information about the external interference, the massive interference in elections, I think this was not normal but predictable, because it’s not normal times at all, Romania is an uncharted territory,” he told The Associated Press. “The problem is here, do we have the institutions to manage such an interference in the future?” Georgescu’s surprising success left many political observers wondering how most local surveys were so far off, putting him behind at least five other candidates before the vote. Many observers attributed his success to his TikTok account, which now has 6 million likes and 541,000 followers. But some experts suspected Georgescu’s online following was artificially inflated while Romania’s top security body alleged he was given preferential treatment by TikTok over other candidates. In the intelligence release, the secret services alleged that one TikTok user paid more $381,000 (361,000 euros) to other users to promote Georgescu content. Intelligence authorities said information they obtained “revealed an aggressive promotion campaign” to increase and accelerate his popularity. Georgescu, when asked by the AP in an interview Wednesday whether he believes the Chinese-owned TikTok poses a threat to democracy, defended social media platforms. “The most important existing function for promoting free speech and freedom of expression is social media,” he said.
Iowa quarterback Cade McNamara released a statement Friday slamming the "100% false" media reports that suggested he had thrown his final pass for the Hawkeyes. McNamara has been sidelined since sustaining a concussion during the Oct. 26 win against Northwestern. Backup quarterback Brendan Sullivan has started the last two games for the Hawkeyes (6-4, 4-3 Big Ten) but is out with an ankle injury for Saturday's game at Maryland (4-6, 1-6). Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said earlier this week that Jackson Stratton will be the likely starter against the Terrapins if McNamara is unavailable. McNamara's cloudy status prompted speculation on a podcast this week that he was "not mentally ready to play." The podcast hosts from the Des Moines Register and The Athletic also suggested that McNamara -- who played three years at Michigan (2020-22) before transferring to Iowa -- is not "fit to play quarterback in the Big Ten right now." "We don't want to bury his career yet, but it does seem like that interception against Northwestern was his last snap as a Hawkeye," Leistikow said. McNamara, who passed for 1,017 yards with six touchdowns and five interceptions in eight games this season, released a statement updating his current status. "My status is the same as it's always been -- a proud member of this football team," he said. McNamara said he has not yet been cleared to play. He said he was cleared to practice on Sunday but suffered an "adverse reaction" and was unable to practice this week and therefore unable to travel with the team to Maryland. "I have been working with the University of Iowa doctors and trainers, a concussion specialist focused on vision training, as well as engaging in hyperbaric treatments as frequently as possible," McNamara said. "I have every intention to play versus Nebraska next Friday night and I am confident that my teammates will return from Maryland with a win." Including his time with the Wolverines, McNamara has completed 60.9 percent of his passes for 4,703 yards with 31 touchdowns and 15 interceptions in 34 games. --Field Level MediaJosh Allen is scoring some points with his soon-to-be brother-in-law. Hailee Steinfeld ’s car enthusiast brother Griffin Steinfeld shared footage of his winning bond with her fiancé as they both visited SoFi Stadium for the Buffalo Bills game against the Los Angeles Rams Dec. 8. In a video shared to his Instagram Dec. 9 captioned, “Good vibes no matta what,” Griffin was all smiles as he donned a blue Bills sweatshirt and jeans while he stood with the Oscar nominee and quarterback in a dimly lit hallway. Hailee sported a Bills cap, red top and black jeans while Josh rocked a Buffalo hat, dark T-shirt and gray sweatpants as they leaned in with smiles. Also in attendance at the game with Griffin was retired F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo , who was decked out head-to-toe in Bills gear, including a patch-filled jacket and jersey, as he joined the Steinfeld crew in the sky box. Hailee and Josh’s dad Peter Steinfeld was also spotted in the video in a candid pre-game moment staring at the field from the front of the box, donning a navy-and-red plaid flannel and jeans. Though the Bills lost 44-42 to the Rams, the Steinfeld family outing is sure to not be their last chance to support Josh following his Nov. 22 engagement to Hailee. The couple revealed their waterfront proposal In a joint Instagram post Nov. 29 captioned with infinity symbols, showing Josh surrounded by a flower-filled arch and dozens of candles, as he held out a ring while bent on one knee and Hailee leaned in to kiss her fiancé. "I didn't blow it nor did anyone else," Josh recalled in Hailee's Beau Society newsletter Q+A Dec. 6. "You were extremely surprised, you said yes, and that was all that mattered to me.” Griffin endorsed the pair’s engagement, per a screenshot of his Instagram Story, by sharing their post and writing alongside a heart emoji, “One of the greatest days of my life.” Read on for a look back at Hailee and Josh’s sweet love story. May 2023: Romance Rumors Following Josh Allen 's breakup with longtime girlfriend Brittany Williams , the Buffalo Bills quarterback stepped out for dinner in NYC with Hailee Steinfeld . Two months later, the duo confirmed their relationship while kissing on vacation in Mexico. March 2024: Surprise Appearance Nearly a year after the duo first sparked romance rumors, the athlete and the actress made a rare social media appearance while helping his sister, Nicala Madden , reveal the sex of her baby in an adorable Tiktok video . March 2024: Très Romantique The Edge of Seventeen star and the NFL player went on a romantic outing in matching khaki outfits during Paris Fashion Week. July 2024: The City of Love The NFL star made the couple's romance Instagram official, posting a photo of the couple posing in front of the Eiffel Tower in his July 23 photo dump . July 2024: Part Of the Family Posted in that same photo dump, the "Starving" singer squeezed in for a photo with Josh's family. August 2024: Mr. Hard Launch "Mr. Hard Launch," as reporter Kay Adams called him on her Up & Adams show, bashfully admitted "we love love" when asked about his and Hailee's relationship. November 2024: Engagement Hailee and Josh confirmed they were engaged in a November 29 Instagram post showing the athlete getting down on one knee as the Oscar nominee leaned in to give him a kiss. They captioned the post with the date of their major milestone: 11-22-24.
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Syria's de facto leader says it could take up to 4 years to hold electionsLudhiana: The police have arrested two persons after recovering three illegal pistols and live cartridges from them. The arrested suspects have been identified as Jashandeep Singh and Gagandeep Singh , both from Lalton Kalan. They were arrested from a vacant plot along Pakhowal Road. Upon investigation, the police recovered three .32 bore illegal pistols. A search of a nearby Thar vehicle revealed live cartridges. We also published the following articles recently Two from MP arrested with illegal pistols Udaipur police, along with SOG and ATS, apprehended two men from Madhya Pradesh's Ratlam, seizing nine illegal pistols and 13 cartridges. Tosif, residing in Udaipur, and Ajaz were arrested following a tip-off. Investigations revealed their connection to previous arms supply cases, including one involving Bada Mewati. 10 arrested for illegal fishing Ten marine fishermen were apprehended by the forest department at Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary in Kendrapada on Wednesday for illegal fishing. Officials seized their trawler containing 10 quintals of fish, along with 11 trawling nets, three GPS devices, and three mobile phones. The arrests highlight ongoing efforts to protect the sanctuary's delicate ecosystem from illegal fishing activities. Driver held, three stolen vehicles recovered Hyderabad police arrested Syed Sahil, a habitual offender, in Chaitanyapuri. They recovered three stolen bikes and his car, used in his crimes. Sahil, a driver, targeted parked vehicles, intending to sell them to scrap dealers. Previously involved in 12 thefts and recently released on bail, he resumed his criminal activities to fund his lavish lifestyle. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .
'All I Want For Christmas is You' is having another record-setting year on Billboard charts