Minogue pays tribute as Ball hosts final breakfast show Zoe Ball: “It’s time to step away from the early alarm call” Zoe Ball has described presenting Radio 2’s breakfast show as “an absolute privilege”, as she signed off from her final programme. The 54-year-old announced her departure in November, saying that after “six incredible years” it was “time for me to step away from the very early mornings and focus on family”. Kylie Minogue and David Tennant are among the stars who paid tribute to Ball on the show. In a pre-recorded message, singer Minogue said: “Thank you for an incredible six years. The nation loves you and I love you, and every time I’ve been in to see you, it’s been so much fun. “We’ve danced around the studio
Author Archives: The Esbec Team
![Myanmar's military seized power in a 2021 coup and a grinding civil war since has forced millions to flee [File: Zainal Abidin/EPA]](https://esbecgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Sri-Lanka-Navy-rescues-over-100-Rohingya-adrift-in-the-Indian-Ocean.jpg)
The 102 refugees, including 25 children, were taken to Sri Lanka’s eastern port of Trincomalee. More than 100 Rohingya refugees from war-torn Myanmar have been rescued while adrift on a fishing trawler off the Indian Ocean island nation by Sri Lanka’s navy, bringing them safely to port. The 102 people, including 25 children, were taken to Sri Lanka’s eastern port of Trincomalee, a navy spokesman said on Friday. “Medical checks have to be done before they are allowed to disembark,” the spokesman said. The Muslim-majority ethnic Rohingya are heavily persecuted in Myanmar and thousands risk their lives each year on long sea journeys, the majority heading southeast to Malaysia or Indonesia. But fisherman spotted the drifting trawler off Sri Lanka’s northern coast at Mullivaikkal at dawn on Thursday. The navy spokesman said
The Anti-Corruption Preparatory Team established by President-elect John Dramani Mahama has introduced new platforms to encourage public reporting of corruption. Dubbed Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL), the initiative aims to combat corruption and state capture as part of the incoming administration’s efforts to promote accountability. Reporting channels A press statement by the Mahama Transition Team, spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu announced the launch of interactive and secure platforms for citizens to report suspected acts of corruption. “Members of the public wishing to share any information on suspected acts of corruption can reach the team on the toll-free number 0800 900 111, its website, www.oralgh.org, or via email through [email protected],” the statement outlined. The public was further assured that “information sent to the team will be handled expeditiously
So many are suffering from the consequences that war has; not only war, but watching friends, family, and loved ones be decimated on October 7. By JPOST EDITORIAL DECEMBER 20, 2024 05:54 Tired pensive military man feeling worry and despair overhead view. Psychological trauma and PTSD treatment at therapy session. Tired pensive military man feeling worry and despair overhead view (photo credit: INGIMAGE) A handful of research, reviews, and data have come out in the aftermath of October 7, exposing the mental health crisis Israel is currently experiencing, and it is devastating. Out of the thousands of lone soldiers who have served in the reserves since the start of the war and who need treatment, only 500 have received treatment. The Hostage Family Forum revealed that the psychological harm of
‘The doors are open for IS’ – Syria’s Kurds warn over advance by Turkish-backed forces BBC/Matthew Goddard The BBC was granted rare access to the largest prison for IS detainees – Al Sina – which holds some 5,000 men As the new Syria struggles to take shape, old threats are re-emerging. The chaos since the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad is “paving the way” for the so-called Islamic State (IS) to make a comeback, according to a leading Kurdish commander who helped defeat the jihadist group in Syria in 2019. He says the comeback has already begun. “Activity by Daesh [IS] has increased significantly, and the danger of a resurgence had doubled’, according to General Mazloum Abdi, commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a mainly Kurdish militia alliance backed by
Katz also threatened Halevi that he would freeze all potential high command appointments until he receives the probe results. By YONAH JEREMY BOB DECEMBER 19, 2024 14:12 Israel Katz attends a replacing ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem on November 10, 2024. (photo credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90) Defense Minister Israel Katz on Thursday told IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi that all October 7 disaster probes must be finished by the end of January. Katz also threatened Halevi that he would freeze all potential high command appointments until he receives the probe results. The defense minister has blocked multiple mid-level appointments recently, saying that the officers in question could not be promoted until their role in the October 7, 2023 disaster was clarified. This latest move by
Douglas Jai Chilufya, also known as Boyka, is very famous among African MMA fans. However, few people know how much hard work and determination was needed to achieve such success, as well as the important role of the 1xBet brand brand in the fighter’s career. Jai is currently the strongest mixed martial arts fighter and one of Zambia’s top athletes. His technical and entertaining style brought him several important MMA titles at the continental level and helped him win the love of fans in Zambia. Jai continues his development and actively promotes MMA to the youth. Through his example, the fighter encourages young Africans who could very well become the next Francis Ngannou! Rehabilitation with the support of 1xBet In the midst of his preparations for the African MMA Championships
Police destroy 100 dogs a month after XL bully ban Alamy Police have seized and destroyed hundreds of dogs since the ban on XL bullies came into force Police have destroyed more than 100 dangerous dogs a month on average since XL bullies were banned nearly a year ago, the BBC has learned. Forces in England and Wales say the costs of kennelling thousands of seized dogs, often for months at a time, have risen sixfold to £25m a year and many facilities were at capacity. But in many areas dog attacks show no sign of falling. Of the 25 police forces that responded to BBC Freedom of Information Act requests, 22 said they were on course to see more reported incidents this year. Lisa Willis, who was mauled by
![Afghan residents inspect the accident site as they stand near the remains of a bus following its collision with a coal truck on a highway between Kabul and southern Kandahar city [Mohammad Faisal Naweed/AFP]](https://esbecgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Dozens-killed-in-two-passenger-bus-crashes-in-Afghanistan.jpg)
At least 50 people killed in accidents on the same highway in Ghazni province between Kabul and southern Kandahar city. Two bus crashes in central Afghanistan have killed at least 50 people and injured dozens more, according to officials. The accidents took place on the same highway in Ghazni province between the capital, Kabul, and southern Kandahar city late on Wednesday, provincial head of information and culture Hamidullah Nisar said on X on Thursday. In the first, a passenger bus collided with a fuel tanker near Shahbaz village in central Ghazni. In the other accident, a bus hit a truck in the eastern district of Andar, Nisar said. Hafiz Omar, a spokesman for the governor of Ghazni province, said 50 people were killed in the accidents. Taliban chief government spokesman
The newly elected leadership of the Economic Freedom Fighters was elected unopposed at the Nasrec Expo Centre on Saturday. Julius Malema was re-elected president and Godrich Gardee was elected as deputy president replacing Floyd Shivambu. Malema’s re-election means this will be his third term as the party’s leader and he is the only president the EFF has ever had. Voting did not take place and the results were announced immediately because all those nominated, ran unopposed. Shivambu resigned in August to join the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party as the national organiser. He has since been appointed as the party’s secretary-general. This is the position that many EFF members wanted EFF head of political education, Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, to fill within the party but the move collapsed before it could reach
Feeble England blown away by New Zealand Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Captain Ben Stokes was part of England’s collapse of five wickets for nine runs Chief Cricket Reporter in Hamilton Third Test, Hamilton (day two of five) New Zealand 347 (Santner 76; Potts 4-90) & 136-3 (Young 60, Williamson 50*) England 143 (Root 32; Henry 4-48, Santner 3-7, O’Rourke 3-33) New Zealand lead by 340 runs Scorecard England’s hopes of a clean sweep in New Zealand are all but over after a feeble display on the second day of the third Test in Hamilton. Continuing a growing trend of woeful performances in series finales, the tourists were shot out for 143 inside 36 overs in blameless conditions. Overall, England lost their last eight wickets for 66 runs either
At this stage, no suspects have been arrested, with police “continuing investigative efforts to identify suspects involved in the smuggling.” By ELI ASHKENAZI DECEMBER 15, 2024 09:32 The Lebanese hashish seized by the police in northern Israel. (photo credit: via walla!) Police seized some 7.3 kg. of Lebanese hashish in Israel’s Upper Galilee area, amounting to the sum of NIS 378,000. At this stage, no suspects have been arrested, and the police refrained from making any accusations. Given the recent events on the northern border, there is a possibility that the smugglers may be IDF soldiers. Amal Aazam, a police officer at the Safed police station, said that the operation came as a result of intelligence information, with police “continuing investigative efforts to identify suspects involved in the smuggling.” Lebanese
Pope Francis’ one-day visit to the French island of Corsica on Sunday, two days before his 88th birthday, will put a dual focus on the Mediterranean, highlighting local traditions of popular piety on the one hand and migrant deaths and wars on the other. The visit to Corsica’s capital Ajaccio, birthplace of Napoleon, will be one of the briefest of his papacy beyond Italy’s borders, just about nine hours on the ground, including a 40-minute visit with French President Emmanuel Macron. It is the first papal visit to the island, which Genoa ceded to France in 1768 and is located closer to the Italian mainland than France. Papa Francescu, the pope’s name in Corsican, will address more than 400 participants at the Conference on Popular Religiosity in the Mediterranean, organised
An ex-OpenAI engineer has started a new robotics venture with offices reportedly in China and Singapore, joining the race to produce intelligent machines as China moves to boost the industry. Roger Jiang, who left ChatGPT creator OpenAI in June 2023, founded Light Robotics in Singapore in August this year with the goal of building general purpose robots, according to his LinkedIn profile. Jiang contributed to building OpenAI’s GPT-4 in areas including foundational reinforcement learning from human feedback, data and contamination investigations, OpenAI’s website shows. Light Robotics, named Liangyuan Xinchuang in Chinese, will focus on consumer-facing companion robots. It has set up offices in both Shenzhen and Singapore, according to a report by Chinese news outlet 36Kr on Friday. 02:02 Robot in China persuades others to ‘go home’ Robot in China
Reuters The US has made “direct contact” with the HTS rebels who now control Syria after toppling the Assad regime, Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said. It is the first acknowledgement of direct American contact with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which the US currently still designates as a terrorist organisation. Blinken was speaking in Jordan after talks with representatives from several Arab countries, Turkey and Europe to discuss the future of Syria. Officials agreed to support a peaceful transition process in the country, with Jordan’s foreign minister saying that regional powers did not want to see it “descend into chaos”. A joint communique called for an inclusive Syrian government that respects the rights of minorities and does not offer a base for “terrorist groups”. The talk both inside and outside