Author Archives: The Esbec Team

All reason and evidence tells us that Manchester United should sack Ruben Amorim – here’s the alarming reason why they won’t, writes IAN LADYMAN

All reason and evidence tells us that Manchester United should sack Ruben Amorim – here’s the alarming reason why they won’t, writes IAN LADYMAN

Football managers usually get sacked when clubs get desperate. At Manchester United, it may be the other way round. United are desperate, all right. Desperate not to go back to square one. Desperate not to have to start all over again. Desperate not to admit they’ve got it wrong once more. It’s all this that stands in favour of Ruben Amorim and a stay at Old Trafford beyond the summer. What it’s not in his favour – so far at least – is the football. Sometimes it’s worth writing some truths down, or saying them out loud, to believe and appreciate their sheer gravity. This is where we are with United. Amorim’s team are unfathomably poor to the point where we are almost immune to it and accepting of it.

Trump’s hostage diplomacy: Strategy or empty threat?

US President Donald Trump meets with a delegation of former hostages in the Oval Office, and shows off a plaque of gratitude from Hostage Families Forum, March 5, 2025. (photo credit: SCREENSHOT/X/POTUS)

Is Trump’s approach one of strategic diplomacy, or could it be a potentially dangerous posture that puts the remaining captives at risk? By JPOST EDITORIAL MARCH 7, 2025 05:51 Updated: MARCH 7, 2025 06:00 US President Donald Trump meets with a delegation of former hostages in the Oval Office, and shows off a plaque of gratitude from Hostage Families Forum, March 5, 2025. (photo credit: SCREENSHOT/X/POTUS) It was impossible to not be moved by Wednesday’s emotional meeting at the White House between US President Donald Trump and a group of freed Israeli hostages – Eli Sharabi, Keith and Aviva Siegel, Naama Levy, Doron Steinbrecher, Iair Horn, Omer Shem Tov, and Noa Argamani. Almost all of them were freed as part of ceasefire deals between Israel and Hamas. During the meeting

Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario riles fans with full-time gesture for more support after dismal defeat at AZ Alkmaar as struggling stars are told to ‘concentrate on their own performances’

The goalkeeper offered a frustration reaction after Spurs fans responded to his appeals

Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario riles fans with full-time gesture for more support after dismal defeat at AZ Alkmaar as struggling stars are told to ‘concentrate on their own performances’ Vicario was seen remonstrating with Spurs fans after their loss to AZ Alkmaar  Tottenham fell to a 1-0 defeat in the first leg after Lucas Begvall’s own goal  LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Is Alisson the best goalkeeper in the Premier League? By MICHAEL PAVITT Published: 16:21 EST, 6 March 2025 | Updated: 20:11 EST, 6 March 2025 Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario clashed with supporters after the club slipped to a lacklustre 1-0 defeat to AZ Alkmaar in their Europa League last-16 tie. A freak Lucas Bergvall own goal proved the difference between the sides in The Netherlands. Vicario prevented Tottenham

Mass exodus of immigration officials could delay millions of deportations

Mass exodus of immigration officials could delay millions of deportations

Earlier this month, Kerry Doyle sat in a Boston-area courtroom to observe a routine deportation hearing — one of thousands of similar proceedings that take place in immigration courts across the country each day. It was the final step before Doyle, 59, would herself join the ranks of America’s roughly 700 immigration judges. She was badly needed — the immigration court system has a backlog of some 3.7 million cases, with more piling up each day. As the hearing got underway, Doyle glanced down at her email and spotted a message in her inbox with an attachment called “Termination.” Days before she was to be sworn in at one of the busiest immigration courts in the country, Doyle was fired as part of the Trump’s administration’s first wave of mass

Kerr, Matthews leave UP Warriorz on the brink of exit

Amelia Kerr ran through Warriorz with 5 for 38  •  BCCI

(18.3/20 ov, T:151) 153/4 MI Women won by 6 wickets (with 9 balls remaining) Player Of The Match 68 (46) & 2/25 Report Mumbai Indians took a step closer to making the playoffs for a third year in succession, having triggered a UPW slide Amelia Kerr ran through Warriorz for figures of 5 for 38  •  BCCI Mumbai Indians 153 for 4 (Matthews 68, Sciver-Brunt 37, Harris 2-11) beat UP Warriorz 150 for 9 (Voll 55, Harris 28, Deepti 27, Kerr 5-38, Matthews 2-25) by six wickets Mumbai Indians (MI) mounted a fine comeback with the ball to set up a win that put them a step closer to making the playoffs for a third year in succession and pushed UP Warriorz (UPW) to the brink of exiting WPL 2025. Led by

You’re Worrying About The Wrong EV Batteries

You’re Worrying About The Wrong EV Batteries

Many of you are worried about the long-term reliability of electric vehicle batteries. I know because you ask me all of the time. Among skeptics and prospective buyers alike, it’s one of the first things to come up: Will the battery last? Yet more and more data is showing that modern EV traction batteries just don’t fail in significant numbers. You don’t have to worry about them. It’s the damn 12-volts that’ll leave you stranded in the office parking lot. Internal combustion drivers know that risk. Traditional cars use a 12-volt battery—usually a chunky lead-acid unit—to start the vehicle and power the electronics. You may expect that EVs, with their massive drive batteries, don’t need these ancient bricks. Yet they rely on them for the exact same reasons. EV 12-volt

Japan launches non-nuclear submarine as aversion over atomic bombings lingers

Japan launches non-nuclear submarine as aversion over atomic bombings lingers

Japan has commissioned one of the most advanced conventional submarines in the world, with the Raigei being the latest in a class of hunter-killer vessels designed to operate in the relatively shallow seas around the country. The diesel-electric Raigei – or Thunder Whale – was completed at Kawasaki Heavy Industry’s shipyards in Kobe and is the fourth vessel in the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force’s (MSDF) Taigei class of submarines. Its launch on Thursday also meets Japan’s maritime defence needs with its ability to conduct stealth operations in tight bodies of water and also reflects the country’s aversion to nuclear-powered submarines, according to analysts. At 84 metres from bow to stern, a displacement of 3,000 tons and a crew of 70, the Raigei has an ultra-quiet diesel-electric propulsion system that combines

IDF creates new system to shield tank crews from deadly smoke inhalation

The new Israeli "Barak" tank (photo credit: DEFENSE MINISTRY)

To develop the system, the IDF conducted field investigations, including an analysis of data from tank computers to reconstruct events. By AMIR BOHBOT MARCH 7, 2025 01:09 Updated: MARCH 7, 2025 01:10 The new Israeli “Barak” tank (photo credit: DEFENSE MINISTRY) The Defense Ministry’s Tank Administration (MANTAK) developed a new system for IDF tanks, aiming to protect soldiers from life-threatening smoke inhalation after launching an investigation into the recurring matter.  At the onset of Israel’s war, IDF tank crews faced severe damage to their vehicles that involved incidents of ammunition catching fire inside the tanks, which could potentially lead to smoke inhalation.  “The goal was to find a solution that provides an immediate response, is intuitive to operate under extreme pressure, and remains comfortable enough for daily use so that

NFL star Ben Cleveland’s wife responds to cheating claims

Ben Cleveland's wife has responded to cheating claims with cryptic Instagram message

By JACK BEZANTS Published: 19:53 EST, 6 March 2025 | Updated: 20:23 EST, 6 March 2025 The wife of Baltimore Ravens offensive lineman Ben Cleveland has seemingly responded to claims that she cheated on the troubled NFL star with a cryptic Instagram post. Cleveland, who was recently arrested for DUI in Georgia, has filed for divorce from his wife of nearly three years after saying she hadn’t been faithful to him. Now, as per TMZ, Kaitlyn Terrell Cleveland appeared to indirectly respond to the allegations by sharing song lyrics on her Instagram story from the Kelsea Ballerini song ‘Interlude’. The lyrics read: ‘The rumors goin’ ’round, but the truth is kinda nuanced. I wanna set it straight, but my lawyer says I shouldn’t.’ She has since set her social media

Mindy Kaling’s New Series Starring Kate Hudson Is Crushing It On Netflix

Mindy Kaling’s New Series Starring Kate Hudson Is Crushing It On Netflix

Netflix Check the scoreboard before you keep reading: this article contains spoilers for season 1 of “Running Point.” Ever since she got her start on “The Office,” Mindy Kaling has become a seriously major producer and writer — and her latest project, “Running Point,” is making a huge splash on Netflix. As an original series for the platform, it’s ranking high in the streamer’s top 10 after dropping its first season on February 27, 2025 … and whether you’re a basketball diehard or you barely know how the game is played, I can tell you the show is definitely worth checking out. When we first meet Isla Gibson (Kate Hudson), she’s working as the coordinator of charitable endeavors for the Los Angeles Waves basketball team alongside her siblings — her younger half-brother

Raducanu to start trial with coach Platenik

Emma Raducanu has won just one match since her third-round Australian Open exit in January

Emma Raducanu will begin a trial period with Slovakian coach Vladimir Platenik when she plays her first-round match at Indian Wells on Thursday. The 49-year-old was coaching Lulu Sun when the New Zealand qualifier beat Raducanu in the fourth round of Wimbledon last July. Platenik worked with compatriot Dominika Cibulkova when she reached the semi-finals of the French Open in 2009, and has also coached Russians Daria Kasatkina and Veronika Kudermetova. Loughborough Academy coach Tom Welsh agreed to join Raducanu for Indian Wells, but that was billed as a one-off arrangement. Raducanu, who has been without a permanent coach since Nick Cavaday stood down for health reasons after January’s Australian Open, plays Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima in her opening Indian Wells match. “I don’t want to rush into anything, but I’m

FIFA president Gianni Infantino confirms 2026 World Cup final will feature a Super Bowl-style half-time show… withColdplay in charge of choosing the musical performers

Rapper Kendrick Lamar headlined the half-time show at this year's Super Bowl in New Orleans

FIFA president Gianni Infantino confirms 2026 World Cup final will feature a Super Bowl-style half-time show… with Coldplay in charge of choosing the musical performers The 2026 FIFA World Cup final in New Jersey will feature a half-time show British pop rock band Coldplay will work with FIFA to select the performers LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Is it harsh on Anthony Gordon that he misses the Carabao Cup final? By ROBERT SUMMERSCALES Published: 06:54 EST, 5 March 2025 | Updated: 07:44 EST, 5 March 2025 FIFA president Gianni Infantino has confirmed that the 2026 World Cup final will feature a half-time show inspired by American football’s Super Bowl. The tournament – which will be the biggest in World Cup history as will feature 48 national teams, instead of 32

Chinas bigger diplomatic budget underlines global push, unlike Trumps America first

Chinas bigger diplomatic budget underlines global push, unlike Trumps America first

China’s growing foreign policy budget signals a proactive approach to deepening ties with the Global South and expanding its Belt and Road Initiative, at a time when the US is taking an isolationist turn under “ America first ”, according to observers. The Chinese finance ministry on Wednesday proposed that the “diplomatic endeavours” budget for 2025 be raised by 8.4 per cent to over 64.5 billion yuan (US$8.87 billion), marking a bigger jump than the 6.6 per cent last year. The hike for the military budget, meanwhile, was set at 7.2 per cent, the same as in 2024 and 2023. The proposed budget was submitted to China’s top legislature as Premier Li Qiang delivered the government’s annual work report to top lawmakers at the “ two sessions ”, the country’s

Volkswagen Was Already In Trouble. Tariffs Could Make Things Much Worse

Volkswagen Was Already In Trouble. Tariffs Could Make Things Much Worse

Volkswagen had a tough go of things last year. The company’s sales fell by 10 percent in China, arguably its most important. Its other stronghold, Europe, was flat, with a shrinking overall car market that led to VW Group sales falling by 0.1%. This strained the company’s finances, eventually forcing the company to shed 35,000 jobs over the forthcoming years. The bright spot in all of this was the company’s performance in the Americas. South American sales grew 15%, while North American sales grew 6%, underlined by incredible 15.2% growth for the VW brand in the U.S. After decades of trying to crack the U.S., amid brutal competition elsewhere, things were looking up for Volkswagen. Now, tariffs may blow all of that away. The VW plant in Puebla, Mexico. Photo by: Volkswagen

Omarzai displaces Nabi to become No. 1 ranked ODI allrounder

Azmatullah Omarzai had a stellar Champions Trophy campaign  •  AFP/Getty Images

News Virat Kohli, meanwhile, moves up one spot to fourth on the batting charts, while Matt Henry enters the top three on the bowling list Azmatullah Omarzai had a stellar Champions Trophy campaign  •  AFP/Getty Images Azmatullah Omarzai has dethroned fellow Aghhanistan team-mate Mohammad Nabi to be ranked the top allrounder in ODIs following a stellar Champions Trophy 2025 campaign. While Afghanistan could not make it to the semi-final of the tournament, Omarzai had an excellent time of it. He picked up seven wickets in three games, which included a match-winning 5 for 58 against England. He also scored 126 runs at an average of 42.00 and a strike rate of 104.13, often shepherding the Afghanistan lower-middle order through tricky times. Omarzai rose two spots on the rankings charts and is now