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German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier dissolved parliament on Friday and confirmed the expected February date for an early general election after the collapse of Olaf Scholz's government last month. Scholz's coalition was brought down by internal fights about how to revive Europe's largest economy but a deadly car-ramming attack at a Christmas market last week has renewed the country's heated debates over security and immigration. Confirming the February 23 date for the election, Steinmeier emphasised the need for "political stability" and appealed for the campaign to be "conducted with respect and decency". He also said that he wanted "the campaign to be conducted with fair and transparent means" and warned of the dangers of "foreign influence... which is particularly intense on X," the social media platform owned by billionaire Elon Musk. "Hatred and violence must have no place in this election campaign, nor denigration or intimidation... all this is poison for democracy," Steinmeier said. Scholz's Social Democrats are lagging badly in polls on just 15 percent. His unruly three-party coalition collapsed on November 6, the day Donald Trump won re-election to the White House. That led Scholz to call a confidence vote last week which he lost, paving the way for an early election. He will remain in office as a caretaker chancellor until a new government is formed, which could take several months after the election. In his speech, Steinmeier reminded political parties and voters of the host of challenges the next government will face given the "economically unstable situation... the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine" as well as debates over immigration and climate change. On security, both the CDU and SPD want to keep helping Ukraine in its war with Russia and spend two percent of GDP or more on Germany's defence. While the CDU programme remains vague on what weapons to ship to Kyiv, the SPD opposes sending long-range missiles because "Germany and NATO must not themselves become parties to the war". On the thorny issue of how to boost Germany's ailing economy, both parties want to reinvigorate the "Made in Germany" brand, boost investment and upgrade crumbling infrastructure. On climate and energy, the SPD has vowed to promote renewables, e-mobility and an ambitious green hydrogen initiative, while the CDU said it would reverse the planned phase-out of combustion engine vehicles COMMENTS Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive. For more information, please see ourCowboys WR CeeDee Lamb (shoulder) done for year

MOSCOW (AP) — Russian police raided several bars and nightclubs across Moscow on Saturday as part of the government’s crackdown on “LGBTQ+ propaganda,” state media reported. Smartphones, laptops and video cameras were seized, while clubgoers had their documents inspected by officers, Russia’s Tass news agency said, citing sources in law enforcement. The raids come since Russia’s Supreme Court ruled that the “LGBTQ+ movement” should be banned as an “extremist organization.” Its decision followed a decades-long crackdown on LGBTQ+ rights in Russia, where President Vladimir Putin has touted “traditional family values” as a cornerstone of his quarter-century in power. Footage shared on social media appeared to show partygoers being ordered by police to lie on the floor as officers moved through Moscow’s Arma nightclub. The capital’s Mono bar was also targeted, Russian media reported. In a post on Telegram on Saturday, the club’s management didn’t directly reference an incident with law enforcement, but wrote, “Friends, we’re so sorry that what happened, happened. They didn’t find anything forbidden. We live in such times, but life must go on.” Police also detained the head of the “Men Travel” tour agency on Saturday under anti-LGBT laws, Tass reported. The news agency said that the 48-year-old was suspected of preparing a trip for “the supporters of nontraditional sexual values” to visit Egypt over Russia’s New Year’s holidays. The raids mirror the concerns of Russian activists who warned that Moscow’s designation of the “LGBTQ+ movement” as “extremist” — despite it not being an official entity — could see Russian authorities crack down at will on groups or individuals. Other recent laws have also served to put pressure on those that the Russian government believes aren’t in line with the country’s “traditional values.” On Nov. 23, Putin a bill of Russian children by citizens of countries where gender-affirming care is legal. The Kremlin leader also approved legislation that outlaws the spread of material that . The Associated Press

The Los Angeles Chargers activated running back J.K. Dobbins from injured reserve on Friday. Dobbins is formally listed as questionable but figures to be the team's top running threat for Saturday's road game against the New England Patriots. Teammate Gus Edwards (ankle) was ruled out Thursday. Dobbins has missed the past four games since sustaining a knee injury against the Baltimore Ravens on Nov. 25. He was a full practice participant Thursday before receiving the questionable label. The injury-prone Dobbins was enjoying a solid season prior to the knee ailment, with 766 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground and 28 receptions for 134 yards in 11 games. His career high for rushing yardage is 805 for the Ravens in 2020. Dobbins' return comes with the Chargers (9-6) just one win from clinching an AFC wild-card playoff spot. Los Angeles also elevated safeties Eddie Jackson and Kendall Williamson from the practice squad. --Field Level Media

Lawmakers edge closer to deal on government fundingVideo showing an Ohio delivery driver realize that she had been given a very generous tip has gone viral. See the moment captured by Ring doorbell camera in the video player above. The act of kindness was caught on Ring camera , and the driver and the woman who started it all were reunited. When Lisa Burnett delivered a grocery order to a home in the Springboro neighborhood, she never imagined it would change her life. But it did, and it all started with a tip. During the holiday season, Kelly Schilling said she likes to randomly gift people with generous tips. On Saturday, she decided to give Lisa a $100 tip. Lisa thought it might have been a mistake and drove all the way back to Kelly’s home the next day. That’s when the two women shared an emotional moment, after Kelly told Lisa that the tip was a holiday gift. A few years ago, Lisa’s daughter passed away. She is now raising her granddaughter and has been doing deliveries to provide for them. She had just filed for public housing assistance, but after the video of the interaction went viral, Lisa got more support than she could ever imagine. “This became so popular because they loved her story,” Schilling said. “They loved the sincerity of it. I mean, she could have easily just taken the money and never said anything about it, right? But she didn't. And so, within hours, there were probably 5,000 comments.” Lisa said before the moment, she did not have many clothes, or even a winter coat. Now, she does, and she credits this experience as the reason. “I realized I just met an angel in person,” Burnett said. “I've got chills thinking about it now.” As the video went viral, a GoFundMe account was set up for Lisa, with the video seen by millions of people on social media. By Friday afternoon, nearly $40,000 had been raised and the total was continuing to climb. To donate and learn more, click here .

NoneGus Malzahn is taking a different job in Florida. , the UCF coach is stepping down to become the offensive coordinator at Florida State. UCF ended its season on Friday night with a home loss to Utah. The defeat dropped the Knights to 4-8 on the season. Florida State is 2-9 ahead of its regular-season finale against Florida on Saturday night. The Seminoles have been searching for an offensive coordinator for weeks after coach Mike Norvell fired both offensive coordinator Alex Atkins and defensive coordinator Adam Fuller following a 52-3 loss to Notre Dame. FSU's only wins this season are over Cal and Charleston Southern and the Seminoles have scored more than 21 points just once this season. That came in the team's 41-7 win over the FCS-level Pirates a week ago. Malzahn, 60, is taking the route UCLA coach Chip Kelly did less than a year ago. Kelly stepped down at UCLA to take the offensive coordinator job at Ohio State ahead of the 2024 season. The former Auburn head coach recently completed his fourth season at UCF. The Knights won nine games in each of his first two seasons but fell to 6-7 in 2023 before winning just four games this season. The drop in wins has coincided with UCF’s move from the American Athletic Conference to the Big 12. Before UCF, Malzahn was the head coach at Auburn from 2013 through 2020. The Tigers lost the BCS title game to Florida State in his first season in 2013 and won just 10 games once over the next seven seasons. However, Auburn never posted a losing season under Malzahn and was 6-4 in his final season. Malzahn was Auburn’s offensive coordinator when the Tigers won the national title following the 2011 season. He left Auburn to be the coach at Arkansas State for a season and then replaced Gene Chizik after one season with the Red Wolves.

NoneCarucci Take 2: Bills are poised to win their 5th consecutive AFC East crownAbout 5,000 miles west of the Caribbean nation, similar climes awaited Maui Invitational men's teams in Hawaii. They’ve often been greeted with leis, the traditional Hawaiian welcome of friendship. College basketball teams and fans look forward to this time of the year. The holiday week tournaments feature buzzworthy matchups and all-day TV coverage, sure, but there is a familiarity about them as they help ward off the November chill. For four decades, these sandy-beach getaways filled with basketball have become a beloved mainstay of the sport itself. “When you see (ESPN’s) ‘Feast Week’ of college basketball on TV, when you see the Battle 4 Atlantis on TV, you know college basketball is back,” said Miller-Tooley, the founder and organizer of the Battle 4 Atlantis men's and women's tournaments. “Because it’s a saturated time of the year with the NFL, college football and the NBA. But when you see these gorgeous events in these beautiful places, you realize, ‘Wow, hoops are back, let’s get excited.’” MTE Madness The Great Alaska Shootout was the trend-setting multiple-team event (MTE) nearly five decades ago. The brainchild of late Alaska-Anchorage coach Bob Rachal sought to raise his program’s profile by bringing in national-power programs, which could take advantage of NCAA rules allowing them to exceed the maximum allotment of regular-season games if they played the three-game tournament outside the contiguous 48 states. The first edition, named the Sea Wolf Classic, saw N.C. State beat Louisville 72-66 for the title on Nov. 26, 1978. The Maui Invitational followed in November 1984, borne from the buzz of NAIA program Chaminade’s shocking upset of top-ranked Virginia and 7-foot-4 star Ralph Sampson in Hawaii two years earlier. Events kept coming, with warm-weather locales getting in on the action. The Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Cancun Challenge in Mexico. The Cayman Islands Classic. The Jamaica Classic. The Myrtle Beach Invitational joining the Charleston Classic in South Carolina. Numerous tournaments in Florida. Some events have faded away like the Puerto Rico Tipoff and the Great Alaska Shootout, the latter in 2017 amid event competition and schools opting for warm-weather locales. Atlantis rising Miller-Tooley’s push to build an MTE for Atlantis began as a December 2010 doubleheader with Georgia Tech beating Richmond and Virginia Tech beating Mississippi State in a prove-it moment for a tournament’s viability. It also required changing NCAA legislation to permit MTEs in the Bahamas. Approval came in March 2011; the first eight-team Atlantis men’s tournament followed in November. That tournament quickly earned marquee status with big-name fields, with Atlantis champions Villanova (2017) and Virginia (2018) later winning that season’s NCAA title. Games run in a ballroom-turned-arena at the resort, where players also check out massive swimming pools, water slides and inner-tube rapids surrounded by palm trees and the Atlantic Ocean. “It’s just the value of getting your passport stamped, that will never get old,” Miller-Tooley said. “Watching some of these kids, this may be their first and last time – and staff and families – that they ever travel outside the United States. ... You can see through these kids’ eyes that it’s really an unbelievable experience.” ACC Network analyst Luke Hancock knows that firsthand. His Louisville team finished second at Atlantis in 2012 and won that year’s later-vacated NCAA title, with Hancock as the Final Four's most outstanding player. “I remember (then-coach Rick Pitino) saying something to the effect of: ‘Some of you guys might never get this opportunity again. We’re staying in this unbelievable place, you’re doing it with people you love,’” Hancock said. “It was a business trip for us there at Thanksgiving, but he definitely had a tone of ‘We’ve got to enjoy this as well.’” Popular demand Maui offers similar vibes, though 2024 could be a little different as Lahaina recovers from deadly 2023 wildfires that forced the event's relocation last year. North Carolina assistant coach Sean May played for the Tar Heels’ Maui winner in 2004 and was part of UNC’s staff for the 2016 champion, with both teams later winning the NCAA title. May said “you just feel the peacefulness” of the area — even while focusing on games — and savors memories of the team taking a boat out on the Pacific Ocean after title runs under now-retired Hall of Famer Roy Williams. “Teams like us, Dukes, UConns – you want to go to places that are very well-run,” May said. “Maui, Lea Miller with her group at the Battle 4 Atlantis, that’s what drives teams to come back because you know you’re going to get standard A-quality of not only the preparation but the tournament with the way it’s run. Everything is top-notch. And I think that brings guys back year after year.” That’s why Colorado coach Tad Boyle is so excited for the Buffaloes’ first Maui appearance since 2009. “We’ve been trying to get in the tournament since I got here,” said Boyle, now in his 15th season. And of course, that warm-weather setting sure doesn’t hurt. “If you talk about the Marquettes of the world, St. John’s, Providence – they don’t want that cold weather,” said NBA and college TV analyst Terrence Oglesby, who played for Clemson in the 2007 San Juan Invitational in Puerto Rico. “They’re going to have to deal with that all January and February. You might as well get a taste of what the sun feels like.” Packed schedule The men’s Baha Mar Championship in Nassau, Bahamas, got things rolling last week with No. 11 Tennessee routing No. 13 Baylor for the title. The week ahead could boast matchups befitting the Final Four, with teams having two weeks of action since any opening-night hiccups. “It’s a special kickoff to the college basketball season,” Oglesby said. “It’s just without the rust.” On the women’s side, Atlantis began its fourth eight-team women’s tournament Saturday with No. 16 North Carolina and No. 18 Baylor, while the nearby Baha Mar resort follows with two four-team women’s brackets that include No. 2 UConn, No. 7 LSU, No. 17 Mississippi and No. 20 N.C. State. Then come the men’s headliners. The Maui Invitational turns 40 as it opens Monday back in Lahaina. It features second-ranked and two-time reigning national champion UConn, No. 4 Auburn, No. 5 Iowa State and No. 10 North Carolina. The Battle 4 Atlantis opens its 13th men’s tournament Wednesday, topped by No. 3 Gonzaga, No. 16 Indiana and No. 17 Arizona. Michigan State Hall of Famer Tom Izzo is making his fourth trip to Maui, where he debuted as Jud Heathcote’s successor at the 1995 tournament. Izzo's Spartans have twice competed at Atlantis, last in 2021. “They’re important because they give you something in November or December that is exciting,” Izzo said. Any drawbacks? “It’s a 10-hour flight,” he said of Hawaii.Rider's Jay Alvarez drives toward the basket against Delaware during an NCAA men's basketball game on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Gymnasium in Lawrenceville. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) Rider's Jay Alvarez, right, and Ife West-Ingram, left, slap hands after Alvarez got to the free throw line against Delaware during an NCAA men's basketball game on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Gymnasium in Lawrenceville. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) Rider's Zion Cruz reacts after scoring against Delaware during an NCAA men's basketball game on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Gymnasium in Lawrenceville. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) Rider's Tariq Ingraham grabs the ball against Delaware during an NCAA men's basketball game on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Gymnasium in Lawrenceville. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) Rider's Jay Alvarez, 5, goes up between two Delaware defenders during an NCAA men's basketball game on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Gymnasium in Lawrenceville. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) Rider's Zion Cruz looks to drive against Delaware during an NCAA men's basketball game on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Gymnasium in Lawrenceville. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) Rider's Tariq Ingraham, back, looks to pass the ball as he's defended by Delaware's Tahron Allen, front, during an NCAA men's basketball game on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Gymnasium in Lawrenceville. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) Rider's Flash Burton brings the ball up the floor against Delaware during an NCAA men's basketball game on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Gymnasium in Lawrenceville. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) Rider's Jay Alvarez drives toward the basket against Delaware during an NCAA men's basketball game on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Gymnasium in Lawrenceville. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) LAWRENCEVILLE — Maybe Jay Alvarez and his Rider teammates would have been better served staying on the road rather than returning to Alumni Gymnasium for the home cooking they were expecting. Instead, it was a post-Thanksgiving malaise. The Broncs failed to get timely stops on one end, then went ice cold in the second half on the other of what ended up a 72-66 loss to Delaware in the home opener on Saturday afternoon. “I felt we could get whatever we wanted on offense when we moved the ball, but I felt like nothing was going in,” Alvarez said. “That’s when we got to lock in on defense and get some stops.” Rider (4-4) lost consecutive games for the first time this season, although it was hoping that being inside Alumni Gymnasium after a seven game season-opening road trip that took it to four states and three time zones would provide a boost to a road-weary club. “I was worried about being home and the distractions,” coach Kevin Baggett said. “I wanted our guys to play for one another and not for the crowd or anybody else for that matter. It just came down to a poor defensive effort today. Give them credit because they made some big shots and scored at costly times when we were trying get stops.” Despite a near five-minute scoring drought in which the Broncs were 1-for-17 from the floor in the second half, they were still down just 11 and made a late run at it. Alvarez finally got a 3 to drop to make it 63-57 with 2:02 left, but Delaware’s John Camden converted a three-point play after on a second-chance opportunity to push the deficit back to nine. Even though Rider missed its first nine 3s in the second half — it was another tough shooting night from beyond the arc as it finished 6-for-23 — T.J. Weeks Jr. followed Alvarez’s trey with a four-point play to make it 66-61 with 1:09 to go. And again the Broncs couldn’t get a stop as the Blue Hens (4-3) moved the ball into the hands of the open Erik Timko for a dagger 3 with 45 seconds left. “Too many breakdowns, not enough ball pressure, gave up too many 3s at costly times when we knew they were desperate,” Baggett said. “They got all the 50/50 balls, so therefore you lose the game. When the game is in the balance, you have to get stops. Then you get a stop and then you don’t get a rebound to secure the possession.” Baggett tried just about every five-man combination he could think of; ten players logged at least nine minutes. “I just couldn’t find a great five that could consistently get stops,” he said. “It wasn’t about scoring the ball. It was about getting stops. I couldn’t find that group five. It was maybe three guys defending and two guys breaking down; four guys defending and one guy breaking down.” Alvarez finished with 17 points and Weeks Jr. had 15 but they also combined to shoot 4-of-16 from beyond the arc. Tariq Ingraham had a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds and Zion Cruz scored 10 off the bench. “We know we what we got to do,” Alvarez said. “Just go back and practice, fix some things up, watch film and then we’ll be better.” It has to get better quickly because the Broncs are at Fairfield on Wednesday night in the MAAC opener. “Got to focus on the defensive stuff,” Alvarez said. “That’s something we stress at practice every day, bringing the intensity just like a game so we’re ready when gametime comes.”

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Microsoft’s Copilot is an amazing AI assistant, and Copilot+ PCs and laptops are designed to take advantage of the technology. The Acer Swift 14 AI is an excellent example, and it’s available from Best Buy with a huge $400 discount that slashes its price from $1,200 to only $800. We’re not sure how much time is remaining before this offer expires, but if you want to make sure that you buy this powerful machine for less than $1,000, we highly recommend proceeding with your purchase as soon as possible. Why you should buy the Acer Swift 14 AI The Acer Swift 14 AI is a Copilot+ laptop that’s made by one of the best laptop brands , so you can be sure you’re getting a high-quality device. With Microsoft’s Copilot running on the laptop itself, you’ll receive faster response times from the AI with enhanced security, for tasks such as finding documents and web pages using Recall , generating and editing images, and translating between languages in real-time. The Acer Swift 14 AI can handle these functions because it’s powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite processor, Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite Adreno Graphics, and 16GB of RAM. Another major feature of the Acer Swift 14 AI, as we described in our review, is its “exceptionally long-lasting battery life.” This makes the laptop pretty portable, as it’s also compact with its 14.5-inch screen with WQXGA resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. The Acer Swift 14 AI ships with Windows 11 Home , which is pre-loaded in its 1TB SSD that will provide you with lots of storage space for all of your projects. If you’re on the hunt for laptop deals , you should think about going for one that’s built for Microsoft’s Copilot. The Acer Swift 14 AI, a Copilot+ laptop, should be at the top of your list because it’s on sale from Best Buy for just $800, for savings of $400 on its sticker price of $1,200. The discount may end at any moment though, so you better hurry if you’re interested in this offer. Push forward with your transaction for the Acer Swift 14 AI laptop immediately, as you may miss out on this special price if you wait too long.

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