MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) — Uruguayans on Sunday voted in the second round of the country's presidential election , with the conservative governing party and a left-leaning coalition locked in a close runoff following level-headed campaigns widely seen as emblematic of the country's strong democracy. As polls closed Sunday evening, turnout stood at 89.4% — around the same as during the first round last month in which the two moderate coalitions both failed to win an outright majority. Voting in Uruguay is compulsory. Depending on how tight the vote turns out to be, electoral officials may not call the race for days — as happened in the contentious 2019 runoff that brought center-right President Luis Lacalle Pou to office and ended 15 years of rule by Uruguay’s left-leaning Broad Front by a razor-thin margin. Álvaro Delgado, the incumbent party’s candidate who won nearly 27% in the first round of voting on Oct. 27, has campaigned under the slogan “re-elect a good government." Other conservative parties that make up the government coalition — in particular, the Colorado Party that came in third place last month — notched 20% of the vote collectively, enough to give Delgado an edge over his challenger. Yamandú Orsi from the Broad Front, who took 44% of the vote in the general election, is promising to forge a “new left” in Uruguay that draws on the memory of stability and economic growth under his Broad Front coalition, which presided over pioneering social reforms that won widespread international acclaim from 2005-2020, including the legalization of abortion, same-sex marriage and sale of marijuana . With inflation easing and the economy expected to expand by some 3.2% this year, according to the International Monetary Fund, surveys show that Uruguayans remain largely satisfied with the administration of Lacalle Pou, who constitutionally cannot run for a second consecutive term. But persistent complaints about sluggish growth, stagnant wages and an upsurge in violent crime could just as easily add the small South American nation to a long list of places this year where frustrated voters have punished incumbents in elections around the world. With most polls showing a virtual tie between Delgado and Orsi, analysts say the vote may hinge on a small group of undecided voters — roughly 10% of registered voters in the nation of 3.4 million people. “Neither candidate convinced me and I feel that there are many in my same situation,” said Vanesa Gelezoglo, 31, in the capital, Montevideo, adding she would make up her mind at “the last minute.” Analysts say the candidates’ lackluster campaigns and broad consensus on key issues have generated extraordinary indecision and apathy in an election dominated by discussions about social spending and concerns over income inequality but largely free of the anti-establishment rage that has vaulted populist outsiders to power in neighboring Argentina and the United States. “The question of whether Frente Amplio (the Broad Front) raises taxes is not an existential question, unlike what we saw in the U.S. with Trump and Kamala framing each other as threats to democracy," said Nicolás Saldías, a Latin America and Caribbean senior analyst for the London-based Economist Intelligence Unit. “That doesn't exist in Uruguay.” Both candidates are also appealing to voter angst over the current government's struggle to stem the rise in violent crime that has shaken a nation long regarded as one of the region’s safest, with Delgado promising tough-on-crime policies and Orsi advocating a more community-oriented approach. Delgado, 55, a rural veterinarian with a long career in the National Party, served most recently as Secretary of the Presidency for Lacalle Pou and promises to pursue his predecessor’s pro-business policies. He would continue pushing for a trade deal with China that has raised hackles in Mercosur, an alliance of South American countries promoting regional commerce. "We have to give the government coalition a chance to consolidate its proposals,” said Ramiro Pérez, a street vendor voting for Delgado on Sunday. Orsi, 57, a former history teacher and two-time mayor from a working-class background, is widely seen as the political heir to former President José “Pepe” Mujica , an ex-Marxist guerilla who became a global icon for helping transform Uruguay into one of the region's most socially liberal and environmentally sustainable nations. “He's my candidate, not only for my sake but also for my children's,” Yeny Varone, a nurse at a polling station, said of Orsi. “In the future they'll have better working conditions, health and salaries.” Mujica, now 89 and recovering from esophageal cancer , turned up at his local polling station before balloting even began, praising Orsi's humility and Uruguay’s famous stability. “This is no small feat,” he said of Uruguay's “citizenry that respects formal institutions.” Orsi planned no dramatic changes, and, despite his call for a revitalized left-wing, his platform continues the Broad Front's traditional mix of market-friendly policies and welfare programs. He proposes tax incentives to lure investment and social security reforms that would lower the retirement age but fall short of a radical overhaul sought by Uruguay's unions. The contentious plebiscite on whether to boost pension payouts failed to pass in October, with Uruguayans rejecting generous pensions in favor of fiscal constraint. Both candidates pledged full cooperation with each other if elected. “I want (Orsi) to know that my idea is to form a government of national unity,” Delgado told reporters after casting his vote in the capital's upscale Pocitos neighborhood. He said that if he won, he and Orsi would chat on Monday over some yerba mate, the traditional herbal drink beloved by Uruguayans. Orsi described Sunday's democratic exercise as “an incredible experience" as he voted in Canelones, the sprawling town of beaches and cattle ranches just north of Montevideo where he served as mayor for a decade. “The essence of politics is agreements,” he said. “You never end up completely satisfied.” Associated Press writer Isabel DeBre in Villa Tunari, Bolivia, contributed to this report.Morgan Stanley stock underperforms Friday when compared to competitors80jili.ph 。

Georgia quarterback Carson Beck's college football career appears to be over. The Bulldogs released an ominous update Monday on the top NFL Draft prospect's elbow injury, which he suffered in the 22-19 win over Texas in Saturday's SEC Championship game. "Georgia quarterback Carson Beck suffered an elbow injury during Saturday's Southeastern Conference Championship game," it read. "He and his family are exploring treatment options and there is no current timetable on his return." Georgia also announced that punter Brett Thorson will require season-ending surgery after injuring the knee in his non-kicking leg on Saturday. "Carson and Brett are both fierce competitors and extremely hard workers," Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said, per the statement. "I'm confident they will attack their rehab with the same determination they exhibit in their daily habits. We will be here to support them every step of the way." Bill Belichick's typical response to criticism of 48-year age gap with girlfriend Tom Brady issues brutal one-word response to Bill Belichick's college coaching chances Beck injured the elbow in his throwing arm late on the last play of the first half. Smart said postgame that the Florida native couldn't grip the ball because of the impact of what's now believed to be a UCL issue. Georgia backup quarterback Gunner Stockton replaced the Florida native after the halftime break, only to get hurt on what would be the penultimate play of the Saturday overtime thriller. Beck checked back in before handing the ball to running back Trevor Etienne, who secured the conference title for the Bulldogs with a four-yard rush. There will be more to follow on this breaking news story and Mirror US Sports will bring you the very latest updates, pictures and video as soon as possible. Please check back regularly for updates on this developing story HERE. Get email updates on the day's biggest stories straight to your inbox by signing up for our newsletters. Follow @‌MirrorUSSports on Twitter : The official Mirror Sports X/Twitter account for all the latest sports news as it happens in real time. Follow us on Google News , Flipboard , Apple News , , Facebook or visit The Mirror US homepage.

Thanks brooooo. A dream has come true!” replied my Syrian friend, just hours after the collapse of the Assad regime. A medical doctor who had helped countless refugees throughout the years under the auspices of the United Nations, he had spent years behind bars and had been subjected to unspeakable torture by the former regime. Throughout his 20s, he witnessed more horror and tragedy than most humans throughout their entire lives. But he is also a young and newlywed man brimming with hope for a better future—for his once-beautiful country can, if given the chance, become great again. The fall of the Assad regime has, predictably, generated mixed reactions. After all, the half-a-century-old Assad dynasty had generated a degree of stability and prosperity until the 2010 to 2011 Arab uprisings and, in more recent years, was the ”known devil” for regional actors. The new supremo of Syria, however, is Abu Mohammed al-Golani, a jihadist who spent time in the inner circles of al-Qaida before ”moderating” his image and ”nationalizing” his mission as the leader of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) forces. Born as Ahmad al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia to Syrian parents, he formerly led the al-Nusra front, the Syrian branch of al-Qaida, and displayed his independent streak by defying calls to be merged into what would later become the “Islamic State” under the leadership of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. After years of frozen conflict, with both Russia and Iran effectively bailing out the Assad dynasty, the Syrian regime instantaneously crumbled in the face of al-Golani’s blitzkrieg offensive. With the Assad regime cut off from its bailiwick in Lattakia and Alawite coastal regions following the fall of Homs, the fall of Damascus became an inevitability. In just over a week, al-Golani beat even Taliban’s lightning record in toppling a foreign-backed regime. “Syria deserves a governing system that is institutional, no one where a single ruler makes arbitrary decisions,” the former al-Qaida-affiliate leader told CNN last week. During his appearance at the landmark Umayyad Mosque in Damascus hours into the downfall of the Assad regime, al-Golani declared: “Our message to all the sects of Syria is that ... Syria is for everyone.” As astute observers such as Charles Lister have argued, however, both al-Golani’s military victory and ”moderated” image invite scrutiny. To begin with, the Assad regime—notorious for its corruption, brutality, and narco-politics—was thoroughly hollowed out after a decade of brutal civil war. It had little chance of long-term survival once its chief patrons, Russia and Iran, shifted their focus to other strategic fronts amid the ongoing conflicts from Ukraine to Gaza. Meanwhile, the HTS leadership, known for its iron-fist rule throughout its former territories, has every reason to present a more ”moderate” image to both consolidate support in multi-sectarian Syria and crucially win international recognition despite its ”terrorist” designation. As if the Syrian upheaval wasn’t historic enough, last week saw another surreal development: the declaration of martial law in one of the world’s most prosperous democracies. Confronting political sterility and collapsing approval ratings, President Yoon Suk-yeol went for the nuclear option, just to see his short-lived martial law stymied by fierce resistance from both the Parliament, including his own party mates as well as South Korea’s fearless civil society, who collectively resisted military forces until the president backed down. Not long after, South Korean prosecutors arrested former defense minister Kim Yong-hyun on charges of treason; Yoon narrowly avoided impeachment while mulling potential resignation. In both Syria and South Korea, popular resistance prevailed against the forces of dictatorship. The path ahead, however, is filled with uncertainty. Lest we forget, the past year was filled with countless shocks, including the victory of Donald Trump, the tit-for-tat missile exchanges between Middle East’s two most powerful nations, and the all-out political war between the House of Duterte and the House of Marcos. The old order—along with its underlying assumptions—is perishing, while a new order is yet to crystalize. But as the great Italian thinker Antonio Gramsci counseled: one should combine the “pessimism of the intellect,” namely taking into account hard facts and troubling imponderables with the “optimism of the will,” namely the courage to fight for freedom and a better tomorrow. —————- [email protected] Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy .‘Top of the class’: Blues hail Jagga best player in stacked draftAdele bid an emotional farewell to the Las Vegas stage she’s performed on since November 2022, which is when her two-year residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace began. “I don’t know when I’m next going to perform again,” she said to her final “Weekends With Adele” audience on Saturday night (Nov. 23), telling fans, “I will miss it terribly, and I will miss you terribly.” “I’m not doing anything else,” she added, as seen in a fan-captured clip from the concert. “I’m actually s—ing myself about what I am going to do. I don’t have any f—ing plans.” During her speech on Saturday, Adele joked, “I chose to do a residency mainly because I f—ing hate touring,” and then with tears in her eyes told the crowd she committed to Vegas to keep a stable schedule for her son: “I chose to do a residency so I could keep his life normal, and I did do that.” The “Weekends With Adele” residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace ran from November 2022 to November 2024, with two performances each weekend on her schedule. “I am emotional, but just so you know, I got closure when Celine Dion came to my show ,” she assured the audience, announcing she “cried for a whole week” after the experience. “It was just such a full-circle moment for me. Because that’s the only reason I ever wanted to be in here.” Dion — who opened The Colosseum with her first residency in 2003 — attended Adele’s Oct. 26 show with her sons. Adele, spotting the pop legend in the crowd, was brought to tears in the middle of “When We Were Young” and later wrote on social media that The Colosseum “was the only venue I wanted to play in Vegas because it was built for her. I have a picture of her right next to the stage that I touch every night before I walk on and she came to the show this weekend and it was a surprise and it was a MOMENT!!” Previously, the “Easy on Me” singer said she needs rest when her residency’s over — and that she plans to temporarily step away from music. Adele shared that she wants to take “a big break after this, and I think I want to do other creative things, just for a little while.”

HAMILTON BEACH BRANDS HOLDING COMPANY DECLARES QUARTERLY DIVIDEND