Hamas’s failure demonstrates how quickly years of diplomatic work can be jeopardized by chaos on the ground, which could derail future releases. By JPOST EDITORIAL JANUARY 31, 2025 06:01 Updated: JANUARY 31, 2025 06:07 Palestinian terrorist surround hostage Arbel Yehoud, held in Gaza since the deadly October 7 2023 attack, on the day they hand her to members of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) as part of a ceasefire and a hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel, in Khan Yunis. (photo credit: Ramadan Abed/Reuters) Our ceasefire and hostage exchange deal is hanging by the thinnest of threads, and no instance proved that more than Thursday’s hostage return. On yet another emotional and miraculous occasion, Israel saw the release of eight hostages: three Israelis and five Thai
Author Archives: The Esbec Team
Jan
Two US lawmakers, including the chair of a hawkish congressional committee, are raising concerns about the John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts’ decision to host the National Ballet of China, accusing the dance company of being a tool of China’s “political machinery”. They are urging the cultural institution to reconsider its ties with the Chinese ballet company. Representatives Chris Smith, a Republican from New Jersey, and John Moolenaar, a Michigan Republican who chairs the House select committee on China , sent a letter this week to Kennedy Centre chairman David Rubenstein and president Deborah Rutter regarding the NBC performances, which are scheduled from January 29 to February 2 in Washington as part of Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations. 01:59 Taking Lunar New Year to Brooklyn Nets Taking Lunar
A session of the Appointments Committee of Parliament descended into chaos late on Thursday as tensions between Minority and Majority members flared over the vetting of Kwabena Mintah Akandoh and Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa. The disagreement began when the Minority proposed postponing the vetting to Friday, citing concerns about the day’s proceedings. However, the Majority rejected the proposal, insisting the process should continue as planned. The dispute quickly escalated and some tables as well as microphones were destroyed amid a tussle between some MPs. Security personnel were called in to manage the growing tension in the conference room. The Minority remained firm, arguing that an agreement had been reached to vet only four nominees before adjourning. They insisted that no further candidates should be assessed beyond that. As both sides refused
Jan
Forget the EV tax credit. Rivian founder and CEO R.J. Scaringe is far more concerned about another threat from President Donald Trump: tariffs. “It has, in some ways, bigger implications, far bigger, than what happens with the IRA tax credits,” Scaringe told reporters last week, referring to the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, which contains pro-EV policies that Trump has attacked time and time again. “There’s not a car company in the world that’s not thinking about moving supply chains around right now,” Scaringe said. More From Our Chat With Rivian’s CEO Trump plans to slap 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada on February 1, in an attempt to pressure those governments into preventing the flow of drugs and undocumented immigrants into the U.S. But it’s American consumers and
Jan
FireAid: Stars take to stage for LA benefit concert Christal Hayes BBC News Reporting from Los Angeles, California Getty Images Olivia Rodrigo is among the artists taking part in the show A star-studded line-up is taking over two venues in Los Angeles for a benefit concert to help the area recover from two of the largest fires in its history. More than 20 artists from various genres are on the line-up for the FireAid benefit show, which is happening simultaneously at two large venues in the city. Among those set to preform are Sting, P!nk, Lil Baby, Rod Stewart, Lady Gaga and Earth Wind & Fire. The lineup also includes multiple acts who were born in the LA area, including Billie Eilish, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and No Doubt.
Jan
The plane went down in the Potomac River near Reagan National Airport. Last Updated: January 30, 2025, 9:32 PM EST An American Airlines regional jet went down in the Potomac River near Washington, D.C.’s Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport after colliding with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter on Wednesday night, with no survivors expected. Sixty-four people were on board the plane, which departed from Wichita, Kansas. Three soldiers were on the helicopter. The collision happened around 9 p.m. when the PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet was on approach to the airport. Map of the area around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and the layout of Runway 33, which the regional American Airlines jet was approaching at the time of the collision with the Army Black Hawk helicopter, according
Jan
Intel co-chief executive Michelle Johnston Holthaus says the rise of DeepSeek chatbot could signal opportunity to be a disruptive player in the market for chips that power artficial intelligence. Photo: Pau BARRENA / AFPSource: AFP Intel reported a fourth-quarter loss on Tuesday, but better than expected revenue as the US chip giant continues to struggle to stake its place in the artificial intelligence revolution. The company posted a net loss of $126 million for the quarter ending December 28, compared to a profit of $2.67 billion in the same period last year. Revenue declined seven percent to $14.3 billion, which was slightly better than expected by analysts. The company’s share price rose two percent in after-hours trading following the earnings release. “While Intel’s revenue decline remains concerning, the overall results
![Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva poses for a photo after his first cabinet meeting of 2025, at the Granja do Torto country residence in Brasilia, Brazil, on January 20 [Eraldo Peres/AP Photo]](https://esbecgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Brazils-Lula-says-any-US-tariffs-would-be-reciprocated.jpg)
The Brazilian leader says he is looking for a relationship based on mutual respect after Trump threatens tariffs. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has said that, if the United States imposes tariffs on his country, he will respond in kind. Speaking at a news conference in the capital Brasilia, on Thursday, Lula said his country seeks a relationship based on mutual respect. His comments came in response to US President Donald Trump’s threat of heightened tariffs. “It is very simple: If he taxes Brazilian products, there will be reciprocity,” Lula told reporters. “Trump was elected to run the US, and I was elected to run Brazil. I will respect the US and want Trump to respect Brazil. That’s all.” The comments are the latest signal that Trump’s efforts
Fourteen figure skaters — including some young athletes called the “rising stars” of the sport — are among the victims of the first major commercial plane crash in the United States since 2009, officials said. The Skating Club of Boston was devastated by the crash, according to Doug Zeghibe, the club’s CEO and executive director, who said six of the victims were from the Boston club, including two coaches, two teenage athletes and two moms of athletes. “Our sport and this club have suffered a horrible loss with this tragedy,” Zeghibe said. “Skating is a tight-knit community where parents and kids come together six or seven days a week to train and work together. Everyone is like family. We are devastated and completely at a loss for words.” Jinna Han
Jan
Princess Beatrice has given birth to her second child, named Athena, Buckingham Palace has announced. Athena was born several weeks prematurely and weighed 4lb 5oz, but is said to be healthy and doing well. The new baby, the second child of Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, was born a week ago on 22 January at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London. The King and Queen and other members of the Royal Family were said to be delighted at the baby’s safe arrival, said the Palace. Beatrice had been due to give birth in early Spring, but in December had received medical advice not to travel long distances. The photo issued of Athena shows her wrapped in a blanket, with her hand over her face. In a social
Jan
The Kwahu Traditional Council has reiterated that there is no dual paramountcy within the Kwahu Kingdom, following the destoolment of the former Kwahumanhene, Daasebre Akuamoah Agyapong II, and the installation of his successor. In a statement issued by the Council, the Akyeamehene of Kwahu, Nana Asiedu Kwabeng IV, stressed that Daasebre Akuamoah Agyapong II was formally removed from office on 19th October 2024 after violating the sacred oath he swore as Omanhene that “he will not eat red oil and smear our white cloth in it.” His actions, according to the Council, had “soiled our cloth with red oil that he has eaten.” Events leading to destoolment The statement said the destoolment process was triggered by a petition submitted to the government by Mr. Collins Darkwah Aboagye on September 12
![American and Israeli Jews [Illustrative] (photo credit: REUTERS)](https://i3.wp.com/images.jpost.com/image/upload/q_auto/c_fill,g_faces:center,h_537,w_822/433149?w=1000&resize=1000,500)
Jan
In an American political climate where meritocracy is the word du jour, it’s not clear if any minority label – for any group – will be an asset or a liability. By SOPHIA TUPOLEV-LUZ JANUARY 29, 2025 02:14 American and Israeli Jews [Illustrative] (photo credit: REUTERS) The US Department of Commerce, on January 13, 2025, signed an agreement with the country’s Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce to confer minority status on Jewish-owned businesses in America through the department’s Minority Business Development Agency. This move has elicited strong mixed emotions for many Jews, myself included. At first glance, this sounds like an impactful step toward the economic inclusion of Jewish business owners. After all, federal programs for minority groups have been around for 50 years. Taking that view, it makes sense
Jan
The 2026 BMW iX gets a larger 113 kilowatt-hour battery with up to 340 miles of estimated range. A new entry-level xDrive45 trim with a smaller 100 kWh battery is good enough for 280-300 miles of range. It gets a new silicon carbide inverter that helps with a more efficient energy transmission from the battery to the motors. The BMW iX is a range champ. In one of InsideEVs’ long-term tests last year, it covered 351 miles on a single charge, smashing its 307-mile EPA range. Granted, the summer weather helped, but even in winter, it’s a solid road-tripper. Now BMW has upgraded the iX with new trims and a bigger battery which delivers even more range and power along with improved efficiency. Gallery: BMW iX (2025) The iX LCI—short for
![Rifaat Jouda walks with his son as he enters Gaza City following a long journey from southern Gaza,on January 28, 2025 [Abdelhakim Abu Riash/Al Jazeera]](https://esbecgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Exhausted-Palestinians-arrive-in-Gaza-City-to-no-homes-killed-family.jpg)
Al-Rashid Street, Gaza City, Palestine – There are many stories among the tens of thousands of people walking along Gaza’s al-Rashid Street, heading for the north. In the crowds is a man with a white beard walking with determination alongside his family. In one hand, he carries a blanket and a few meagre possessions. In the other, he holds onto his adult son, who has Down Syndrome. Rifaat Jouda doesn’t pretend that he isn’t tired. He started his journey in the morning in southern Gaza, in Khan Younis’s al-Mawasi, where his family had been displaced for 15 months during Israel’s war on Gaza. The aim was to reach Gaza City, a journey finally possible since Israel allowed Palestinians in the southern Gaza Strip to travel north on Monday, after a
Jan
Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) start-up DeepSeek has gone quiet this week as it enters “holiday mode” for Lunar New Year while its recent technological developments continue to send shock waves through Wall Street and Silicon Valley, prompting reflections about current industry strategies and business models. DeepSeek’s rapid rise in AI has attracted attention across the Pacific this week with comments from US President Donald Trump and OpenAI co-founder and CEO Sam Altman, after stocks related to the industry saw significant declines on Monday. The correction resulted in the largest single-day loss ever for semiconductor giant Nvidia . Yet the Hangzhou-based start-up, including founder Liang Wenfeng and the firm’s young scientists, has shunned public attention as China entered its week-long Lunar New Year holiday. The company made its last update at