As several fires spread across Southern California, President-elect Donald Trump blamed policies from California Gov. Gavin Newsom and President Joe Biden for causing the outbreak. “He is the blame for this,” Trump wrote about Newsom on his social media platform Truth Social on Wednesday. But the governor’s office called Trump’s evidence “pure fiction.” A person uses a garden hose in an effort to save a neighboring home from catching fire during the Eaton Fire, Jan. 8, 2025, in Altadena, California. Mario Tama/Getty Images “Governor Gavin Newscum refused to sign the water restoration declaration put before him that would have allowed millions of gallons of water, from excess rain and snow melt from the North, to flow daily into many parts of California, including the areas that are currently burning in
Author Archives: The Esbec Team
Jan
Transparency in the decision-making processes of international carriers, coupled with efforts to ensure fair pricing and increased availability of flights, could alleviate much of the current strain. By MICHAEL J. SALAMON JANUARY 9, 2025 02:05 AN EL AL plane takes off at Ben-Gurion Airport. With major carriers reducing or suspending their services, passengers are left with few options, and El Al has become one of the few reliable choices, yet this reliability comes with a hefty price tag, the writer notes. (photo credit: YOSSI ALONI/FLASH90) The war has had a major impact on all of our lives, causing collateral damage in a variety of areas. In the last 15 months, a troubling pattern has emerged in international travel because of the war that has left many passengers, especially those trying
Jan
Meta co-founder, Chairman and CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifies on Capitol Hill in 2018. Photo: CHIP SOMODEVILLA / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/Getty Images via AFPSource: AFP The clean cut hair has grown, his college kid’s hoodie is now a gold chain, and his politics have swerved hard right. Mark Zuckerberg, the boss of Facebook and Instagram, on Tuesday accused governments and so-called legacy media of pushing censorship, and vowed to take his world-dominating platforms back to their “roots.” “We’re restoring free expression on our platforms,” he asserted in a video posted on his social networks on Tuesday, in which he announces the end of fact-checking in the US. The out-of-the blue pivot to Trumpian talking points has perplexed many of Zuckerberg’s closest watchers, but the tech pioneer’s sudden alignment with the
The Majority Chief Whip, Kwame Governs Agbodza, has informed Parliament that four independent Members of Parliament (MPs) have decided to do business with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Majority Caucus in the House. He, however, noted that the Majority Caucus was yet to officially communicate this decision by the MPs to the Speaker.  “Mr Speaker, the four colleagues of ours who are in this House as independent MPs indeed communicated to our caucus to caucus with us in doing business on the floor,” he said.  The four are Dr. Ohene Kwame Frimpong for Asante Akim North, Nandaya Yaw Stanley for Wulensi, Kwame Asare Obeng, commonly known as Kwame A Plus, for Gomoa Central, and Worlasi Kpeli for Afram Plains North, an NDC member who contested as an independent.
Jan
At least two people were killed as several fast-growing wildfires raged out of control on Wednesday near Los Angeles, destroying hundreds of buildings, scorching hillsides and prompting officials to order some 70,000 people to evacuate their homes. Fierce winds were hindering firefighting efforts and fuelling the fires, which have expanded unimpeded since they began on Tuesday. The biggest blaze has consumed more than 5,000 acres in Pacific Palisades, a picturesque neighborhood in west Los Angeles County between the beach towns of Santa Monica and Malibu that is home to many film, television and music stars. More than 1,000 structures have been destroyed, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said at a press conference on Wednesday. Another fire, the Eaton fire, had grown to more than 2,000 acres as it
Jan
Manchester United legend Teddy Sheringham has advocated for Wayne Rooney to join the club’s coaching role Plymouth Argyle recently fired the England and Man United legend after a dreadful run His former side are struggling this season, and Sheringham believes the retired forward will help It has been a good week for Manchester United, who held Liverpool to a 2-2 draw in an epic encounter. The Red Devils are having their worst Premier League season, and after four defeats in a row, there was talk of relegation. Treble winner Teddy Sheringham has said Wayne Rooney could help coach Man United’s struggling strikers. Wayne Rooney’s coaching career has not started well. Photos by Martin Rickett/PA Images and Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA.Source: Getty Images Can Wayne Rooney unlock Man United strikers?
Jan
Rugby must learn to love its stars if an unprecedented push to break the United States is to succeed, according to the agents who represent some of the sport’s biggest names and America’s most influential entertainment figures. Roc Nation, which has Rihanna and Alicia Keys among the music stars on its roster, expanded into sport in 2013 and rugby specifically in 2019. The agency now represents South Africa’s two-time Rugby World Cup-winning captain Siya Kolisi, his Springboks team-mate Cheslin Kolbe, former world player of the year Ardie Savea and England trio Marcus Smith, Ellis Genge and Maro Itoje. “There are so many traditionalists still in the game that want to do things in the traditional way,” said Michael Yormark, president of Roc Nation Sports International. “But many people are beginning
Jan
West Ham sack Lopetegui and hold talks with Potter Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Lopetegui had been preparing for Friday’s FA Cup third-round tie with Aston Villa West Ham have sacked manager Julen Lopetegui after just six months in charge and are in talks with Graham Potter about succeeding him. Former Wolves boss Lopetegui, 58, was appointed in May following the departure of David Moyes but officially took charge on 1 July. The Hammers won just six Premier League games during the Spaniard’s tenure. Saturday’s 4-1 defeat by Manchester City was a ninth loss in 20 league games this season and left the club 14th – seven points above the relegation zone. The club have held talks with former Chelsea and Brighton boss Potter about taking the role, initially
Jan
Economists talked to Business Insider about what they expect to happen in the job market this year. Getting a white-collar job could still be hard, and more people may have to return to the office. Changes under a new administration could affect hiring and turnover. Getting a job was tough for many Americans in 2024. If a career shift is your New Year’s resolution for 2025, you might still find it challenging. Job growth has slowed, unemployment has been historically low but rising, and unemployed Americans are staying jobless for longer. “Heading into 2025, it is going to be a little harder for job seekers across the board,” Cory Stahle, an economist at the Indeed Hiring Lab, said in December. “We’ve seen that just about every category on Indeed has
![A serviceman of 13th Operative Purpose Brigade 'Khartiia' of the National Guard of Ukraine prepares to fire a Giatsint-B howitzer towards Russian troops at a position on a front line, in the Kharkiv region, Ukraine, on January 6, 2025 [Sofiia Gatilova/Reuters]](https://esbecgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Here-are-the-key-developments-on-the-1049th-day-of-Russias-full-scale-invasion-of-Ukraine.jpg)
Here are the key developments on the 1,049th day of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. A serviceman of 13th Operative Purpose Brigade ‘Khartiia’ of the National Guard of Ukraine prepares to fire a Giatsint-B howitzer towards Russian troops at a position on a front line, in the Kharkiv region, Ukraine, on January 6, 2025 [Sofiia Gatilova/Reuters] Here is the situation on Wednesday, January 8: Fighting Kyiv said its forces are still actively fighting in Kurakhove, a strategic town in Ukraine’s east that Russia said it had seized. Moscow hailed the capture of the “important logistics hub”, saying it would enable Russian forces to take the rest of the eastern Donetsk region “at an accelerated pace”. Ukraine also said its forces were “commencing new offensive actions” in Russia’s western Kursk region
Jan
The Duchess of Sussex has said she is “devastated” following the death of her dog, Guy. In a post on Instagram, Meghan said had “cried too many tears to count” over the dog’s passing and thanked him for “so many years of unconditional love”. The duchess said she had adopted the beagle from an animal rescue in Canada in 2015 and that he had been “with me for everything” ever since. She did not say when the dog had died or its cause of death. The post was accompanied by a montage of photos and video showing the duchess and her family playing with Guy. In one, she is seen boiling fruit on a stove to make jam and telling the dog, “We’re jamming, Guy”. In another her husband, the
Introduction By 2025, the solar industry will face an unprecedented challenge: managing over 78 million end-of-life solar panels annually. This growing volume of solar waste represents both an environmental imperative and an economic opportunity. As the first generation of large-scale solar installations reaches retirement age, the need for efficient recycling technologies has never been more […]
Jan
Looking to slay with a fresh and trendy hairstyle? Jayda Wayda braids are the ultimate combination of elegance and edge. Perfect for turning heads, these braids blend creativity and style effortlessly. Whether stepping out for an event or elevating your everyday look, these braids have you covered for that stylish transformation. Jayda Wayda braids with curly ends (L), Jumbo knotless braids (M), and Jayda Wayda braids five braids (R) are some of Jayda Wayda’s braids. Photo: @hairbybriii @bigghair (modified by author)Source: UGC TABLE OF CONTENTS 15 stunning Jayda Wayda braids 1. Jayda Wayda braids with heart 2. Long black braids 3. Extra-long maroon Jayda Wayda braids 4. Honey blonde Jayda Wayda braids 5. Jumbo knotless braids 6. Ombre red Jayda Wayda braids 7. Jayda Wayda braids with boho curls 8.
Jan
The Next Drug Epidemic Is Blue-Raspberry Flavored How Galaxy Gas became synonymous with the country’s burgeoning addiction to gas. By Ezra Marcus , a freelance reporter who writes about crime and culture Photo: Quinn Batley This article was featured in One Great Story, New York’s reading recommendation newsletter. Sign up here to get it nightly. In early 2023, Alex took a job at Cloud 9, a strip-mall smoke shop off Atlanta’s I-85. He had recently graduated from college and wanted something laid-back; the shop, with its graffitied ceilings and cheesy blue-light displays, seemed like the ideal register job for a stoner with a music degree. It didn’t take long for him to realize that many of his customers weren’t there for rolling papers or vapes. They were coming instead for
Jan
Joburg EMS said teams received a call about an incident on corner of Guinea Fowl Street and Smew Avenue on Tuesday evening. (CityofJoburgEMS/X) One person has been rushed to hospital, while emergency rescue teams are digging through rubble searching for another, after a structure collapsed in Lenasia on Tuesday evening. Joburg EMS spokesperson Nana Radebe-Kgiba said that at around 19:45, teams received a distress call about an incident on corner of Guinea Fowl Street and Smew Avenue. “On arrival, rescue technicians managed to remove one patient from the rubble and take them to a nearby medical facility. Search and rescue is under way for the second person, who is believed to be stuck under the rubble,” she said. We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred Who