369 live Lawyer for Abdelrazik accuses former minister of exiling him through passport denialMiami enters the week still stunned after losing its fourth straight game. Next up, the Hurricanes will play host to Arkansas on Tuesday night in Coral Gables, Fla., as part of the ACC/SEC Challenge. Miami (3-4) lost on Saturday afternoon to Charleston Southern, a team that entered with a 1-7 record. Arkansas (5-2) is coming off a Thanksgiving loss to Illinois on a neutral floor in Kansas City, Mo. "We've got a lot to learn," said John Calipari, in his first season coaching Arkansas. "We really haven't scrimmaged because we haven't had 10 guys (due to injuries). "But this team is going to be fine." The same thing cannot confidently be said about the Hurricanes. Their first three defeats of the current skid were tough for Miami to take, losing to Drake, Oklahoma State and VCU on a neutral court as part of the Charleston Classic. But the loss to Charleston Southern -- which was a 25-point underdog -- has to be considered among the worst in Miami history. Hurricanes coach Jim Larranaga was without point guard Nijel Pack, who missed the contest due to a lower-body injury. Pack leads Miami in scoring (15.2) and assists (4.7). There are no reports on how long he will be out. With Pack unavailable, five-star freshman Jalil Bethea made his first college start. However, the 6-foot-5 shooting guard has not yet played up to his ranking. Bethea is averaging 6.3 points, 1.1 rebounds and 0.7 assists. He is also shooting 30.0 percent on 3-pointers. Miami ranks 284th in the nation in rebounds and 259th in blocked shots. "We haven't been able to put together a solid defensive effort," Larranaga said following the loss to Charleston Southern. "Some of it has to do with fundamentals. Some of it has to do with athletic ability. Some of it has to do with size." Tuesday's game will match two veteran coaches: Larranaga, 75, and Calipari, 65. Calipari brought in seven transfers and five freshmen for his first season in Fayetteville. Two of those transfers -- 6-foot-8 wing Adou Thiero and 7-foot-2 center Zvonimir Ivisic -- were signed after leaving Kentucky, Calipari's previous stop. Thiero leads Arkansas in scoring (19.1), rebounds (5.9) and steals (2.9). Ivisic leads Arkansas in blocks (2.7) while ranking third in points (12.1). Freshman Boogie Fland, a McDonald's All-American, has made a quick transition to college ball. The 6-foot-2 point guard is second on the team in scoring (15.9) and steals (1.9) and first in assists (4.9). Among Arkansas' bench pieces are 6-foot-11 Tennessee transfer Jonas Aidoo and 6-foot-10 Arkansas holdover Trevon Brazile. Their combined 92 college starts illustrate Arkansas' depth. "The ceiling is there," Calipari said. "But we need to be the aggressors." --Field Level Media

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Everything you need to know about Sydney's New Year's Eve fireworks: Best vantage points around Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge, how to get to the harbourside waterfront, weather warning and more... More than one million expected to watch fireworks show in person Attendees urged to plan ahead and arrive at their spot early READ MORE: Robbie Williams to headline Sydney's New Year's Eve celebrations By FREDDY PAWLE FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA Published: 00:55, 30 December 2024 | Updated: 00:55, 30 December 2024 e-mail View comments Revellers planning to watch Sydney 's world-famous New Year's Eve fireworks show have been urged to find their spot early with more than one million tipped to attend. More than nine tonnes of fireworks are going to light up Sydney's sky from 264 firing points across Sydney Harbour for this year's highly-anticipated event under the theme 'Forward with Heart'. The first fireworks will be launched during the children's fireworks session, now renamed the Calling Country show, at 9pm before the main event at midnight. Those hoping to see the fireworks in person without spending a fortune can find a space at 35 free waterfront vantage points. But there will be huge competition for the free viewing spots, with the City of Sydney estimating more than one million people to flock to the harbour. Attendees have also been urged to pack an umbrella or poncho with the Bureau of Meteorology expecting 'heavy bursts of rain' to dampen celebrations. Rainfall is also expected earlier in the day, leading to muggy conditions as the mercury is set to rise to 27C in the city and 29C in the Western Suburbs. While public transport will continue to operate throughout the day, authorities have warned attendees to expect 'long queues' for their trip home. Partygoers hoping to watch this year's New Year's Eve fireworks in Sydney have been urged to find their vantage spot early (pictured, revellers during last year's event) More than one million people are expected to flock to the city in order to see more than nine tonnes of fireworks fireworks in person (pictured, last year's event) WHERE YOU CAN WATCH THE FIREWORKS FOR FREE Circular Quay and the Rocks East and West Circular Quay Sydney Opera House The Rocks Hickson Road Reserve Dawes Point Park Campbell's Cove Royal Botanic Garden and The Domain Mrs Macquarie's Point Fleet Steps Bennelong Lawn Tarpeian Lawn Darling Harbour and Barangaroo Darling Harbour Barangaroo Reserve Observatory Hill North Sydney Blues Point Lavender Bay Parklands Bradfield Park and Mary Booth Reserve Eastern suburbs Rose Bay Foreshore Embarkation Park Yarranabbe Park McKell Park Murray Rose Pool and Blackburn Gardens Duff Reserve Dumaresq Reserve Pyrmont Pyrmont Bay Park Giba Park Giba Park Balmain Simmons Point Birchgrove Park Mort Bay Park Yurulbin Park Elkington Park Illoura Reserve Thornton Park Lookes Avenue Reserve Opening times and if alcohol is prohibited or available for sale varies. Credit: City of Sydney Advertisement This year's display is expected to exceed previous spectacles with new technology being used to create ever-more stunning visuals. Foti International Fireworks, behind Sydney's New Year's Eve fireworks since 1997, said they have put more than 4500 hours of preparation into this year. The family-owned business promised fireworks that turn into shapes like fish and sharks while others falling from the bridge like a waterfall will spell 'Sydney'. Attendees can also expect artificial intelligence and four drone-powered pyrotechnic platforms to help create the stunning visuals seen around the world. 'We are always looking at ways we can evolve our show and believe this will be one of the most innovative New Year's Eve fireworks displays in the world,' Fortunato Foti told the Daily Telegraph . The most popular vantage points for the show, the Royal Botanical Gardens, Mrs Macquaries Point and the Sydney Opera House, are expected to pack out well before nightfall. Their close view of the Harbour Bridge led to the popular Royal Botanical Gardens and Mrs Macquaries Chair quickly reaching capacity before gates opened last year. Attendees have been warned to bring their own entertainment for the long wait, as many vantage points, even quiter ones, don't allow re-entry after leaving. This year's rendition has promised AI projections and drone-powered platforms to enhance the visual spectacle (pictured, last year's event) NSW Police have warned attendees to not start 2025 'in the back of a police truck' with a massive police operation planned across the state (pictured, last year's revellers) The Bureau of Meteorology expects a 'slight chance of a shower in the afternoon and evening' for New Year's Eve in Sydney. There is also a chance of the rain to be followed by a thunderstorm, but it is most likely to fall over the Western Suburbs. Read More New Year's Eve, Australian style: Travel chaos and wild weather smash major cities - and some revellers keep the party going until dawn Transport for NSW coordinator general Howard Collins said attendees should 'get to their destination early' and patiently hold their spot. 'It's important to understand that we want to walk you into the city and walk you out again,' he said. Sydney Trains chief executive Matt Longlan added that transport to and from areas around the Harbour Bridge will likely be 'very busy'. NSW Police's Operation New Year's Eve 2024 Commander Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna urged partygoers to be safe this year. The operation will see large numbers of uniformed and plain-clothed officers patrolling New Year's Eve events across the state. 'We want everyone to enjoy their New Year's Eve celebrations in a safe and responsible way,' Assistant Commission McKenna said. 'People planning on coming to the city for free vantage points are urged to get in early to avoid missing out. If a location becomes full, do not attend and find an alternative location. 'Police will not tolerate dangerous, criminal or anti-social behaviour. 'We ask people to drink responsibly, know their limit and avoid starting 2025 in the back of a police truck.' Share or comment on this article: Everything you need to know about Sydney's New Year's Eve fireworks: Best vantage points around Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge, how to get to the harbourside waterfront, weather warning and more... e-mail Add commentIncredible PS5 Pro Black Friday sale cuts £300 from the price

Airports and highways are expected to be jam-packed during Thanksgiving week, a holiday period likely to end with another record day for air travel in the United States. AAA predicts that nearly 80 million Americans will venture at least 50 miles from home between Tuesday and next Monday, most of them by car. However, travelers could be impacted by ongoing weather challenges and those flying to their destinations could be grounded by delays brought on by airline staffing shortages and an airport service workers strike . Here's the latest: U.S. airlines are preparing for a Thanksgiving holiday rush, and so are the U.S. Postal Service, United Parcel Service and FedEx. Shipping companies will deliver about 2.2 billion packages to homes and businesses across the U.S. from Thanksgiving to Dec. 31, said Satish Jindel, a shipping and logistics expert and president of ShipMatrix. That’s down from 2.3 billion packages last year. Because the shopping period is a week shorter than in 2023, consumers are shopping further ahead of Black Friday and more purchases are taking place in physical stores, he said. The number of holiday package shipments grew 27% in 2020 and by more than 3% the following year during the pandemic. The numbers have been falling since then, with a projected decline of about 6% this holiday season. Looking to de-stress while waiting for your flight? Many airports have a fleet of therapy dogs — designated fidos and puppers that are eager to receive pets and snuggles from weary travelers. Rules and schedules vary from airport to airport, but the group AirportTherapyDogs uses online crowdsourcing to share the locations of therapy dogs across its various social media accounts. Today, Gracie, a toy Australian shepherd, and Budge, an English bulldog, wandered the concourses at Denver International Airport, and an American Staffordshire Terrier named Hugo greeted travelers at Punta Gorda Airport in Florida. Some airports even feature other therapy pals. San Francisco International Airport’s fleet of animals includes a Flemish Giant rabbit and a hypoallergenic pig. “We cannot live on the wages that we are being paid,” ABM cabin cleaner Priscilla Hoyle said at a rally earlier Monday. “I can honestly say it’s hard every single day with my children, working a full-time job but having to look my kids in the eyes and sit there and say, ‘I don’t know if we’re going to have a home today.’” Timothy Lowe II, a wheelchair attendant, said he has to figure out where to spend the night because he doesn’t make enough for a deposit on a home. “We just want to be able to have everything that’s a necessity paid for by the job that hired us to do a great job so they can make billions,” he said. ABM said it is “committed to addressing concerns swiftly” and that there are avenues for employees to communicate issues, including a national hotline and a “general open door policy for managers at our worksite.” Employees of ABM and Prospect Airport Services cast ballots Friday to authorize the work stoppage at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, a hub for American Airlines. They described living paycheck to paycheck while performing jobs that keep planes running on schedule. Most of them earn $12.50 to $19 an hour, union officials said. Rev. Glencie Rhedrick of Charlotte Clergy Coalition for Justice said those workers should make $22 to $25 an hour. The strike is expected to last 24 hours. Several hundred workers participated in the work stoppage. Forty-four fights have been canceled today and nearly 1,900 were delayed by midday on the East Coast, according to FlightAware . According to the organization’s cheekily named MiseryMap , San Francisco International Airport is having the most hiccups right now, with 53 delays and three cancellations between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. EST. While that might sound like a lot of delays, they might not be so bad compared to last Friday when the airport suffered 671 delays and 69 cancellations. In an apparent effort to reduce the headaches caused by airport line cutting, American Airlines has rolled out boarding technology that alerts gate agents with an audible sound if a passenger tries to scan a ticket ahead of their assigned group. This new software won’t accept a boarding pass before the group it’s assigned to is called, so customers who get to the gate prematurely will be asked to go back and wait their turn. As of Wednesday, the airline announced, the technology is now being used in more than 100 U.S. airports that American flies out of. The official expansion arrives after successful tests in three of these locations — Albuquerque International Sunport, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Tucson International Airport. ▶ Read more about American Airlines’ new boarding technology Travel can be stressful in the best of times. Now add in the high-level anxiety that seems to be baked into every holiday season and it’s clear travelers could use some help calming frazzled nerves. Here are a few ways to make your holiday journey a little less stressful: 1. Make a checklist of what you need to do and what you need to bring 2. Carry your comfort with you — think noise-canceling headphones, cozy clothes, snacks and extra medication 3. Stay hydrated 4. Keep up to date on delays, gate changes and cancellations with your airline’s app ▶ Read more tips about staying grounded during holiday travel Thanksgiving Day takes place late this year, with the fourth Thursday of November falling on Nov. 28. That shortens the traditional shopping season and changes the rhythm of holiday travel. With more time before the holiday , people tend to spread out their outbound travel over more days, but everyone returns at the same time, said Andrew Watterson, the chief operating officer of Southwest Airlines . “A late Thanksgiving leads to a big crush at the end,” Watterson said. “The Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday after Thanksgiving are usually very busy with Thanksgiving this late.” Airlines did a relatively good job of handling holiday crowds last year, when the weather was mild in most of the country. Fewer than 400 U.S. flights were canceled during Thanksgiving week in 2023 — about one out of every 450 flights. So far in 2024, airlines have canceled about 1.3% of all flights. Drivers should know that Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons will be the worst times to travel by car, but it should be smooth sailing on freeways come Thanksgiving Day, according to transportation analytics company INRIX. On the return home, the best travel times for motorists are before 1 p.m. on Sunday, and before 8 a.m. or after 7 p.m. on Monday, the company said. In metropolitan areas like Boston, Los Angeles, New York, Seattle and Washington, “traffic is expected to be more than double what it typically is on a normal day,” INRIX transportation analyst Bob Pishue said. Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Mike Whitaker said last week that he expects his agency to use special measures at some facilities to deal with an ongoing shortage of air traffic controllers. In the past, those facilities have included airports in New York City and Florida. “If we are short on staff, we will slow traffic as needed to keep the system safe,” Whitaker said. The FAA has long struggled with a shortage of controllers that airline officials expect will last for years, despite the agency’s lofty hiring goals. 5. Auto club and insurance company AAA predicts that nearly 80 million Americans will venture at least 50 miles from home between Tuesday and next Monday. Most of them will travel by car. 6. Drivers should get a slight break on gas prices . The nationwide average price for gasoline was $3.06 a gallon on Sunday, down from $3.27 at this time last year. 7. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 18.3 million people at U.S. airports during the same seven-day stretch. That would be 6% more than during the corresponding days last year but fit a pattern set throughout 2024. 8. The TSA predicts that 3 million people will pass through airport security checkpoints on Sunday; more than that could break the record of 3.01 million set on the Sunday after the July Fourth holiday. Tuesday and Wednesday are expected to be the next busiest air travel days of Thanksgiving week. ▶ Read more about Thanksgiving travel across the U.S. Workers who clean airplanes, remove trash and help with wheelchairs at Charlotte’s airport, one of the nation’s busiest, went on strike Monday to demand higher wages. The Service Employees International Union announced the strike in a statement early Monday, saying the workers would demand “an end to poverty wages and respect on the job during the holiday travel season.” The strike was expected to last 24 hours, said union spokesperson Sean Keady. Employees of ABM and Prospect Airport Services cast ballots Friday to authorize the work stoppage at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, a hub for American Airlines. The two companies contract with American, one of the world’s biggest carriers, to provide services such as cleaning airplane interiors, removing trash and escorting passengers in wheelchairs. ▶ Read more about the Charlotte airport workers’ strike Parts of the Midwest and East Coast can expect to see heavy rain into Thanksgiving, and there’s potential for snow in Northeastern states. A storm last week brought rain to New York and New Jersey, where wildfires have raged in recent weeks, and heavy snow to northeastern Pennsylvania. The precipitation was expected to help ease drought conditions after an exceptionally dry fall. Heavy snow fell in northeastern Pennsylvania, including the Pocono Mountains. Higher elevations reported up to 17 inches (43 centimeters), with lesser accumulations in valley cities including Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. Around 35,000 customers in 10 counties were still without power, down from 80,000 a day ago. In the Catskills region of New York, nearly 10,000 people remained without power Sunday morning, two days after a storm dumped heavy snow on parts of the region. Precipitation in West Virginia helped put a dent in the state’s worst drought in at least two decades and boosted ski resorts as they prepare to open in the weeks ahead. ▶ Read more about Thanksgiving week weather forecasts Two people died in the Pacific Northwest after a rapidly intensifying “ bomb cyclone ” hit the West Coast last Tuesday, bringing fierce winds that toppled trees and power lines and damaged homes and cars. Hundreds of thousands lost electricity in Washington state before powerful gusts and record rains moved into Northern California. Forecasters said the risk of flooding and mudslides remained as the region will get more rain starting Sunday. But the latest storm won’t be as intense as last week’s atmospheric river , a long plume of moisture that forms over an ocean and flows over land. “However, there’s still threats, smaller threats, and not as significant in terms of magnitude, that are still going to exist across the West Coast for the next two or three days,” weather service forecaster Rich Otto said. As the rain moves east throughout the week, Otto said, there’s a potential for heavy snowfall at higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada, as well as portions of Utah and Colorado. California’s Mammoth Mountain, which received 2 feet (0.6 meters) of fresh snow in the recent storm, could get another 4 feet (1.2 meters) before the newest system clears out Wednesday, the resort said. Another round of wintry weather could complicate travel leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday, according to forecasts across the U.S., while California and Washington state continue to recover from storm damage and power outages. In California, where two people were found dead in floodwaters on Saturday, authorities braced for more rain while grappling with flooding and small landslides from a previous storm . Here’s a look at some of the regional forecasts: 9. Sierra Nevada: The National Weather Service office issued a winter storm warning through Tuesday, with heavy snow expected at higher elevations and wind gusts potentially reaching 55 mph (88 kph). Total snowfall of roughly 4 feet (1.2 meters) was forecast, with the heaviest accumulations expected Monday and Tuesday. 10. Midwest and Great Lakes: The Midwest and Great Lakes regions will see rain and snow Monday and the East Coast will be the most impacted on Thanksgiving and Black Friday, forecasters said. 11. East Coast: A low pressure system is forecast to bring rain to the Southeast early Thursday before heading to the Northeast. Areas from Boston to New York could see rain and breezy conditions, with snowfall possible in parts of northern New Hampshire, northern Maine and the Adirondacks. If the system tracks further inland, there could be less snow and more rain in the mountains, forecasters said. ▶ Read more about Thanksgiving week weather forecastsArkansas visits skidding Miami in battle of veteran coaches

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Jaylon Johnson isn't interested in bright spots with the Bears' skid at 5 gamesDALLAS — After a deep postseason that saw Luka Doncic effectively lead all offensive categories into his first NBA Finals run, followed by only a brief summer rest before competing for Slovenia at the Olympics, the wear and tear on the franchise star finally saw the “check engine” light turn on. Dallas received a blow to their 2025 chances on Christmas Day when Doncic left the Western Conference Finals rematch against the Minnesota Timberwolves with a left calf strain, logging just 16 minutes in the loss. Doncic, currently the West’s top scoring guard, will be away from action through January, effectively removing him from MVP consideration and leaving the Mavericks facing a tough test to start the new year. Please embed this tweet: Luka Dončić injury update: Luka sustained a left calf strain on Christmas Day. Dončić will be re-evaluated within one month. Wishing @luka7doncic a speedy recovery. We know you will come back stronger than ever. #MFFL pic.twitter.com/gTBWkfFZNX Luckily for Dallas, this was a scenario that they are better prepared for than at any point in Doncic’s career. The ability to weather a Luka absence remains promising after the front office spent the last couple of years trying to build competitive depth around their star point guard. Their gritty 98-89 win over the Phoenix Suns in their first game without Doncic showed that depth and their resolve. Five Mavs reached double digits and none scored more than 20 as spreading the looks proved fruitful. More importantly, with the tough road ahead, the team showed that they have each other’s backs when they scuffled with Suns’ enforcer Jusef Nurkic. That P.J. Washington and Naji Marshall came to Daniel Gafford’s aid during that tussle might have landed them suspensions , but it also was the type of rallying point that can take them through the upcoming gauntlet as they await their anchor. It won’t be easy, of course, not without Doncic who often acts as the engine that makes the offense go as one the league’s best players. To that point, even with the win over Phoenix, the team is 1-2 since losing Doncic. The good news is they’ve remained competitive, losing by no more than six points in either loss, but their vaunted depth is starting to get challenged. Dereck Lively II, Washington, and Marshall missed Friday night’s loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, leading to increased minutes for end-of-bench players Dwight Powell, Olivier-Maxence Prosper, and Maxi Kleber. Marshall will miss three additional games serving his suspension for punching Nurkic, with Kyrie Irving continuing his ascension to team leader by covering the fines. Irving will also be looked at to shoulder the load of go-to threat in Doncic’s absence, which will make watching his minutes crucial to avoid the wheels falling off come playoff time for the 32-year-old. Irving played 37 minutes against Minnesota and 40 in the Phoenix win before logging 26 shots in just under 40 minutes against the Blazers. His effort in Portland was the highest-scoring night of the season for Irving, attaining 46 points after dropping 39 on Christmas. The absurd career-high shooting percentages continued for Irving, with 62% from two, 41% from deep, and a perfect 100% on free throws. Irving has been superb this season, sandwiched between Doncic and De’Aaron Fox among the Western Conference leaders in scoring for guards. Dallas enters the final week of 2024 with a 20-12 record, fourth in the standings in the West, and two games out of second. They’ve done well to show that their run in the playoffs wasn’t a fluke. Now they’ll have to show that they’ve built a team that can still win games even without Doncic. Keeping their run going in Luka’s absence may not hand Irving his own MVP votes, but he will surely deserve a ninth All-Star appearance, which would be his first as a Maverick. Dallas has one more date with 2024 in a Monday night matchup versus the rudderless Kings. Sacramento is 12th in the West and has just dismissed the reigning NBA Coach of the Year Mike Brown in an effort to keep superstar Fox in the fold. The Mavs will then welcome the new year with a contest against the surprising third-place Houston Rockets in a New Year’s Day duel that begins their January marathon, the first of 16 games in 31 days without Doncic. Do you think the Mavs can survive the upcoming onslaught without their All-NBA star? Share your thoughts with Irvin on Bluesky @irvin.bsky.social .