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The suspect in the high-profile killing of a health insurance CEO that has gripped the United States graduated from an Ivy League university, reportedly hails from a wealthy family, and wrote social media posts brimming with cerebral musings. Luigi Mangione, 26, was thrust into the spotlight Monday after police revealed he is their person of interest in the brutal murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, a father of two, last week in broad daylight in Manhattan in a case that laid bare deep frustration and anger with America's privatized medical system. News of his capture in Pennsylvania -- following a tip from a McDonald's worker --triggered an explosion of online activity, with Mangione quickly amassing new followers on social media as citizen sleuths and US media tried to understand who he is. While some lauded him as a hero and lamented his arrest, others analyzed his intellectual takes in search of ideological clues. A photo on one of his social media accounts includes an X-ray of an apparently injured spine. No explicit political affiliation has emerged. Meanwhile, memes and jokes proliferated, many riffing on his first name and comparing him to the "Mario Bros." character Luigi, sometimes depicted in AI-altered images wielding a gun or holding a Big Mac. "Godspeed. Please know that we all hear you," wrote one user on Facebook. "I want to donate to your defense fund," added another. According to Mangione's LinkedIn profile, he is employed as a data engineer at TrueCar, a California-based online auto marketplace. A company spokesperson told AFP Mangione "has not been an employee of our company since 2023." Although he had been living in Hawaii ahead of the killing, he originally hails from Towson, Maryland, near Baltimore. He comes from a prominent and wealthy Italian-American family, according to the Baltimore Banner. The family owns local businesses, including the Hayfields Country Club, its website says. A standout student, Mangione graduated at the top of his high school class in 2016. In an interview with his local paper at the time, he praised his teachers for fostering a passion for learning beyond grades and encouraging intellectual curiosity. A former student who knew Mangione at the Gilman School told AFP the suspect struck him as "a normal guy, nice kid." "There was nothing about him that was off, at least from my perception," this person said, asking that their name not be used. "Seemed to just be smiling, and kind of seemed like he was a smart kid. Ended up being valedictorian, which confirmed that," the former student said. Mangione went on to attend the prestigious University of Pennsylvania, where he completed both a bachelor's and master's degree in computer science by 2020, according to a university spokesperson. While at Penn, Mangione co-led a group of 60 undergraduates who collaborated on video game projects, as noted in a now-deleted university webpage, archived on the Wayback Machine. On Instagram, where his following has skyrocketed from hundreds to tens of thousands, Mangione shared snapshots of his travels in Mexico, Puerto Rico and Hawaii. He also posted shirtless photos flaunting a six-pack and appeared in celebratory posts with fellow members of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. However, it is on X (formerly Twitter) that users have scoured Mangione's posts for potential motives. His header photo -- an X-ray of a spine with bolts -- remains cryptic, with no public explanation. Finding a coherent political ideology has also proved elusive, though he had written a review of Ted Kaczynski's manifesto on the online site goodreads, calling it "prescient." Kaczynski, known as the Unabomber, carried out a string of bombings in the United States from 1978 to 1995, a campaign he said was aimed at halting the advance of modern society and technology. Mangione called Kaczynski "rightfully imprisoned," while also saying "'violence never solved anything' is a statement uttered by cowards and predators." According to CNN, handwritten documents recovered when Mangione was arrested included the phrase "these parasites had it coming." Mangione has also linked approvingly to posts criticizing secularism as a harmful consequence of Christianity's decline. In April, he wrote, "Horror vacui (nature abhors a vacuum)." The following month, he posted an essay he wrote in high school titled "How Christianity Prospered by Appealing to the Lower Classes of Ancient Rome." In another post from April, he speculated that Japan's low birthrate stems from societal disconnection, adding that "fleshlights" and other vaginal-replica sex toys should be banned.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump said Wednesday that he has chosen Keith Kellogg, a highly decorated retired three-star general, to serve as his special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. Kellogg, who is one of the architects of a staunchly conservative policy book that lays out an “America First” national security agenda for the incoming administration, will come into the role as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine enters its third year in February. Trump, making the announcement on his Truth Social account, said, “He was with me right from the beginning! Together, we will secure PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH, and Make America, and the World, SAFE AGAIN!” Kellogg, an 80-year-old retired Army lieutenant general who has long been Trump’s top adviser on defense issues, served as national security adviser to Vice President Mike Pence , was chief of staff of the National Security Council and then stepped in as an acting security adviser for Trump after Michael Flynn resigned. As special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Kellogg will have to navigate an increasingly untenable war between the two nations. The Biden administration has begun urging Ukraine to quickly increase the size of its military by drafting more troops and revamping its mobilization laws to allow for the conscription of those as young as 18. The White House has pushed more than $56 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the start of Russia’s February 2022 invasion and expects to send billions more before Biden leaves office in less than two months. The U.S. has recently stepped up weapons shipments and has forgiven billions in loans provided to Kyiv. Trump has criticized the billions the Biden administration has spent in supporting Ukraine and has said he could end the war in 24 hours, comments that appear to suggest he would press Ukraine to surrender territory that Russia now occupies. As a co-chairman of the American First Policy Institute’s Center for American Security, Kellogg wrote several of the chapters in the group’s policy book. The book, like the Heritage Foundation’s “Project 2025,” is designed to lay out a Trump national security agenda and avoid the mistakes of 2016 when he entered the White House largely unprepared. Kellogg in April wrote that “bringing the Russia-Ukraine war to a close will require strong, America First leadership to deliver a peace deal and immediately end the hostilities between the two warring parties.” Trump's proposed national security adviser , U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz of Florida, tweeted Wednesday that “Keith has dedicated his life to defending our great country and is committed to bringing the war in Ukraine to a peaceful resolution.” Kellogg featured in multiple Trump investigations dating to his first term. He was among the administration officials who listened in on the July 2019 call between Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy in which Trump prodded his Ukrainian counterpart to pursue investigations into the Bidens. The call, which Kellogg would later say did not raise any concerns on his end, was at the center of the first of two House impeachment cases against Trump, who was acquitted by the Senate both times. On Jan. 6, 2021, hours before pro-Trump rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol, Kellogg, who was then Pence’s national security adviser, listened in on a heated call in which Trump told his vice president to object or delay the certification in Congress of President Joe Biden ’s victory. He later told House investigators that he recalled Trump saying to Pence words to the effect of: “You’re not tough enough to make the call.” Baldor reported from Washington. AP writer Eric Tucker in Washington contributed to this report. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
POET Technologies Inc POET shares are trading lower Thursday after the company announced a $25 million public offering . What Happened: POET announced plans to complete a non-brokered public offering of 5 million units at a price of $5 per unit. Each unit will be comprised of one share of common stock and one-half of one common share purchase warrant. The warrants will be exercisable for five years to acquire one common share at a price of $6. The offering is expected to close on or about Dec. 19. POET said it anticipates gross proceeds of $25 million. The company expects to use any net proceeds for working capital and general corporate purposes. The offering comes just weeks after POET announced a $25 million registered direct offering . The company said at the time that it planned to use net proceeds from that offering for working capital related to POET’s recently announced plans to expand assembly operations into Malaysia. POET Technologies offers high-speed optical engines, light source products and custom optical modules to the AI systems market and to hyperscale data centers. See Also: Stocks Slip On Hot Inflation Data, Adobe Tumbles, Natural Gas Hits 1-Year High: What’s Driving Markets Thursday? POET Price Action: POET shares were down 9.25% at $4.36 at the time of publication Thursday, according to Benzinga Pro . Photo: courtesy of POET Technologies. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Michail Antonio spoke to his West Ham team-mates via a video call from his hospital bed before they beat Wolves 2-1 on Monday night. Jarrod Bowen held Antonio’s number nine shirt aloft after scoring the winner in support of the Hammers striker, who is recovering after a horror car crash on Saturday. Boss Julen Lopetegui said: “He is not in his best moment but he kept his humour. It was a special moment for us. “I think we have a lot of reason to win matches but this was one reason more. He’s alive so we are happy.” MA9 ❤️ pic.twitter.com/fXwtdSQWYE — West Ham United (@WestHam) December 9, 2024 West Ham players wore ‘Antonio 9′ shirts while warming up and walking out before kick-off. The shirts will be signed by the players, including Antonio, and auctioned off with the proceeds going to the NHS and Air Ambulances UK. Tomas Soucek headed West Ham into the lead and held up nine fingers to a TV camera. The Czech midfielder told Sky Sports: “He’s been here since I came here. He is really my favourite. I said it would be tough for me to play without him. "He was here since I came and he's really my favourite" Tomáš Souček on dedicating his goal to Michail Antonio ❤️ pic.twitter.com/smNy26wmuX — Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 9, 2024 “I was so scared what was going to happen. It was a really tough week for him, his family and us.” Matt Doherty equalised for Wolves, and boss Gary O’Neil felt they should have had two penalties for fouls on Goncalo Guedes and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, both of which were checked by VAR. But Bowen’s winner – O’Neil believed there was a foul in the build-up – condemned Wolves to a 10th defeat of the season and a third in a row. While under-pressure Lopetegui may have earned a stay of execution, O’Neil’s future as Wolves manager is now in serious doubt. “A lot of things went against us but ultimately we have not found a way to turn the game in our favour,” he said. “But the players showed they are still fighting for me, for the fans and the group. “Where does this leave me? In the same place I was. I’m aware of the noise. But if anyone expected this to be easy – I’m happy to be judged on results but it should be done in context. “Whenever this journey ends with Wolves I’ll be proud of it.” There was an acrimonious end to the match as captains Bowen and Mario Lemina scuffled after the final whistle, with the Wolves midfielder angrily shoving people including one of his own coaches, Shaun Derry. “I just went to shake his hand after the game,” Bowen said. “He didn’t want to shake my hand, two captains together just to say ‘well done’ after the game. “I know it’s difficult when you lose. I’ve been on the end of that situation.” O’Neil added: “Mario is calm now. He’s a passionate guy and something was said that upset him. “The instinct of the staff was to make sure he didn’t get into trouble, but he took some calming down.”
"The statement naming the prime minister will be published tomorrow morning," the Elysee presidential palace said on Thursday after Macron returned early from a trip to Poland . "He is finishing his consultations," an aide to to the president added. Macron was widely expected to name a new prime minister on Thursday evening. Suspense mounts as Macron prepares to unveil new French PM The new delay, albeit an overnight delay, underscores the political challenges posed by the fractured lower house of parliament, a result of July's snap elections. The assembly remains split among a leftist alliance, centrists and conservatives, and the far-right National Rally (RN), complicating efforts to secure a stable government capable of surviving no-confidence votes. On Thursday, Greens leader Marine Tondelier urged Macron to take bold action. "The French public want a bit of enthusiasm, momentum, fresh wind, something new," she said in an interview with France 2 television, adding that the president needs to "get out of his comfort zone." France's Macron meets party leaders, promises new PM within 48 hours The urgency to name a new government leader follows last week’s confidence vote, which ousted former Prime Minister Michel Barnier. His administration, backed by Macron's centrists and Barnier's conservative allies, fell over a contentious cost-cutting budget proposal. Meanwhile, Barnier’s caretaker government on Wednesday approved an emergency bill aimed at maintaining essential financial functions, including tax collection and borrowing, despite the absence of a formal 2025 budget plan. Outgoing French government to present 'special' budget to avoid shutdown The stopgap measure is expected to pass parliament on Monday with broad support. As the political gridlock continues, Macron faces mounting pressure to secure a cohesive government while navigating the fragmented parliamentary landscape. Political stalemate Whoever is named will be the sixth prime minister of Macron's mandate after the toppling of Barnier, who lasted only three months, and faces an immediate challenge in thrashing out a budget to pass parliament. Each premier under Macron has served successively less time in office and there is no guarantee for the new premier that they will not follow this pattern. Macron seeks allies to rebuild government after historic collapse Macron remains confronted with the complex political equation that emerged from the snap parliamentary polls -- how to secure a government against a no-confidence vote in a bitterly divided lower house where no party or alliance has a majority. All the candidates widely floated so far have encountered objections from at least one side of the political spectrum. "They are stuck," someone close to Macron said, asking not to be named and lamenting that "each name gets blocked." "No one is in agreement around the president," added the source, expressing hope Macron will surprise everyone with an unexpected choice. Macron's rumoured top pick, veteran centrist Francois Bayrou, raises hackles on the left -- wary of continuing the president's policies -- and on the right, where he is disliked by influential former president Nicolas Sarkozy. Beyond Bayrou, prime ministerial contenders include former Socialist prime minister Bernard Cazeneuve, current Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu, a Macron loyalist, and former foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian. Another name being discussed in the media is Roland Lescure, a former industry minister, but the nomination of the former Socialist risks inflaming the right. ( With newswires )Xerox Holdings Co. ( NYSE:XRX – Get Free Report )’s share price gapped up prior to trading on Monday . The stock had previously closed at $8.39, but opened at $8.99. Xerox shares last traded at $8.77, with a volume of 2,577,006 shares. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of brokerages recently weighed in on XRX. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Xerox from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, December 16th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on Xerox from $11.00 to $8.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on Xerox from $10.00 to $8.00 and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $9.50. Get Our Latest Report on XRX Xerox Stock Down 2.3 % Xerox ( NYSE:XRX – Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, October 29th. The information technology services provider reported $0.25 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.51 by ($0.26). The firm had revenue of $1.53 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.63 billion. Xerox had a positive return on equity of 6.60% and a negative net margin of 21.31%. Xerox’s revenue was down 7.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.46 EPS. On average, equities research analysts expect that Xerox Holdings Co. will post 1.12 EPS for the current fiscal year. Xerox Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 31st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 31st will be paid a $0.25 dividend. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 10.83%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, December 31st. Xerox’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is -9.06%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Tidal Investments LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Xerox by 26.1% during the 3rd quarter. Tidal Investments LLC now owns 68,359 shares of the information technology services provider’s stock valued at $710,000 after purchasing an additional 14,164 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in Xerox by 2.3% during the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 2,808,775 shares of the information technology services provider’s stock valued at $29,161,000 after buying an additional 62,947 shares in the last quarter. Barclays PLC increased its stake in Xerox by 55.5% in the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 469,106 shares of the information technology services provider’s stock worth $4,869,000 after acquiring an additional 167,500 shares during the last quarter. Stifel Financial Corp raised its holdings in shares of Xerox by 44.2% during the 3rd quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 152,380 shares of the information technology services provider’s stock worth $1,582,000 after acquiring an additional 46,708 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Point72 Asset Management L.P. grew its holdings in shares of Xerox by 39.2% in the third quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. now owns 38,312 shares of the information technology services provider’s stock valued at $398,000 after purchasing an additional 10,794 shares in the last quarter. 85.36% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Xerox Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) Xerox Holdings Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a workplace technology company that integrates hardware, services, and software for enterprises in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, India, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Print and Other; and FITTLE. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Xerox Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Xerox and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
Julia Wick | (TNS) Los Angeles Times As California politicos look ahead to 2025, the biggest question looming is whether Vice President Kamala Harris — a native daughter, battered just weeks ago by presidential election defeat — will enter the 2026 California governor’s race. Related Articles National Politics | Biden says healthy women help US prosperity as he highlights White House initiative on their health National Politics | Trump taps immigration hard-liner Kari Lake as head of Voice of America National Politics | Trump invites China’s Xi to his inauguration even as he threatens massive tariffs on Beijing National Politics | Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what’s next for those who oppose Trump National Politics | What Americans think about Hegseth, Gabbard and key Trump Cabinet picks AP-NORC poll Harris has yet to give any public indication on her thoughts and those close to her suggest the governorship is not immediately top of mind. But if Harris does ultimately run — and that’s a massive if — her entrée would seismically reshape the already crowded race for California’s highest office. Recent polling suggests Harris would have a major advantage, with 46% of likely voters saying they were somewhat or very likely to support her for governor in 2026, according to a UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies survey co-sponsored by The Times. “If Vice President Harris were to choose to run, I am certain that that would have a near field-clearing effect on the Democratic side,” Rep. Katie Porter, D-Irvine, said during a recent UC Irvine panel interview . Porter, a high-profile Democrat who has been eyeing the wide-open governor’s race, has yet to say whether she plans to run. Porter’s point was broadly echoed in conversations with nearly a dozen California political operatives and strategists, several of whom requested anonymity to speak candidly. Most speculated that a Harris entry would cause some other candidates in the race to scatter, creating further upheaval in down-ballot races as a roster of ambitious politicians scramble for other opportunities. “In politics, you always let the big dogs eat first,” quipped Democratic political consultant Peter Ragone. The current gubernatorial field is a who’s who of California politicians, but lacks a clear favorite or star with widespread name recognition. The vast majority of California’s 22 million voters have yet to pay attention to the race and have little familiarity with the candidates. The list of Democratic candidates includes Los Angeles’ first Latino mayor in more than a century ( Antonio Villaraigosa ); the first female and first out LGBTQ leader of the state Senate ( Toni Atkins ); the sitting lieutenant governor and first woman to hold that post ( Eleni Kounalakis ); the state superintendent of public instruction ( Tony Thurmond ) and the former state controller ( Betty Yee ). Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom is serving his second term as California governor, meaning he is ineligible to run again. Several other Democrats, including Porter, outgoing Health and Human Services Director Xavier Becerra and state Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta have also publicly toyed with the idea of a run. They could be less likely to enter the fray should Harris decide to run. What the billionaire mall mogul Rick Caruso — who has also been exploring a run — would choose to do is an open question, as Caruso might contrast himself with Harris as a more centrist candidate. The real estate developer was a registered Republican until November 2019. It’s unlikely that Harris will proffer a public decision in the immediate term, leaving plenty of time for political insiders to game out hypotheticals in the weeks and months to come. Harris’ office did not respond to a request for comment. “I think every candidate for governor is trying to get some kind of intel,” Mike Trujillo, a Los Angeles-based Democratic political consultant and former Villaraigosa staffer, said of a potential Harris run. Trujillo speculated that Harris’ current state was probably similar to Hillary Clinton’s hiking sojourns in the Chappaqua woods after losing to Donald Trump in 2016, or Al Gore growing a beard in the bruising aftermath of his 2000 defeat. “The first thing she’s probably thinking about is, ‘Well, can I run again for president in four years?’ Not, ‘Do I run for governor in two years?’” said one political operative who’s worked with Harris in the past. Harris maintains a home in Brentwood and previously served as California’s senator and attorney general. A successful run for governor in 2026 would almost certainly impede a grab for the presidency in 2028. (Though if history is any guide, an unsuccessful run for California governor does not definitively preclude a bid for the Oval Office: Two years after losing the White House to John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon lost the 1962 contest for governor to Pat Brown . The Yorba Linda native became the nation’s 37th president in 1969.) As the chief executive of a state that doubles as the world’s fifth-largest economy, Harris would have more power to steer policy and make changes as a California governor than she did as vice president, where her job required deference to President Biden. But leading a state, even the nation’s most populous, could feel like small potatoes after being a heartbeat (and a few dozen electoral votes) from the presidency. The protracted slog to November 2026 would also be a stark contrast to her ill-fated 107-day sprint toward the White House, particularly for a candidate whose 2020 presidential primary campaign was dogged by allegations of infighting and mismanagement. “I don’t think Kamala Harris has a deep psychological need to be governor of California, or to be in elective office in order to feel like she can contribute to society,” said the operative who’s worked with Harris in the past. “I think some of these people do, but she’s somebody who has enough prominence that she could do a lot of big, wonderful things without having to worry about balancing California’s budget or negotiating with Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel,” the Encino Democrat who chairs the Assembly’s budget committee. Technically, Harris has until March 2026 to decide whether she enters a race. But political strategists who spoke to The Times theorized that she probably would make a move by late spring, if she chooses to do so. “People will be more annoyed if she drops in in June,” a Democratic strategist involved with one of the gubernatorial campaigns said. Sending a clear signal by February would be more “courteous,” the strategist continued, explaining that such a move would give candidates more time to potentially enter other races. Kounalakis is a longtime friend and ally of Harris’ , and the vice president also has long-term relationships with some of the other candidates and potential candidates. California has eight statewide elected offices and campaign finance laws allow candidates to fundraise interchangeably for them, meaning money already raised for a candidate’s gubernatorial campaign could easily be redirected should they decide to run for, say, lieutenant governor instead. There are already a number of candidates running for lieutenant governor, including former Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs, former state Sen. Steven Bradford and former state Treasurer Fiona Ma. But that office probably would see even more interest should Harris enter the gubernatorial race. It’s a largely ceremonial position, but one that has served as a launching pad for the governorship. Still, even if Harris does enter the race, Republican political strategist Mike Murphy threw cold water on the idea that she would have an automatic glide path to the governor’s office. “It’s like Hollywood. Nobody knows anything. She’s famous enough to look credible in early polling. That’s all we know for sure,” Murphy said. “Does that predict the future? No. Are there a lot of downsides (to a potential Harris candidacy)? Totally, yes.” ©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Britain’s POSHEST migrant hotel revealed as £150-a-night palatial manor house hosts migrants for three years
Prediction: This Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chip Stock Will Rebound in Spectacular Fashion in 2025
The police comments came as part of their annual update on the investigation, a month before the 28th anniversary of JonBenet’s killing. Most Popular Trending NationallyAfter their recent T20 World Cup success, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) have reappointed White Ferns head coach Ben Sawyer for a further two years. Sawyer, a 46 year-old Australian, was first appointed in June 2022 on a two-year contract, which was later extended until the end of the side’s tour to India in October, a three-match tour which immediately followed that unexpected victory on the global stage. He will now remain in charge until December 2026, which means he will oversee the 50-over World Cup in India in September and October next year, as well as the defence of their T20 World Cup in England in 2026. New Zealand Cricket started their review of Sawyer’s position before the squad departed for Australia in the run-up to the recent T20 World Cup, a deliberate decision to minimise disruption and distraction during the tournament. NZC Head of Women’s High Performance, Liz Green, feels that under Sawyer, the recent success is just the beginning for this side. “I guess to the naked eye, performances over the last 12 months are one story, but internally we always knew what we were trying to achieve with this group and what Ben inherited as a coach two years ago was quite a young developing group, so first and foremost his priority and task and focus has been to develop this team. The performances might not have always been seen in terms of the win column, but internally we were seeing players develop and that for us was why we wanted to complete that review before the World Cup,” Green says. Green confirms that as part of the review, NZC spoke to all the players and staff, as well as other stakeholders who feed into the White Ferns programme, such as the head coaches of the major association sides around the country “For us, removing any bias of performances was pretty crucial and it was quite an extensive review. It really focused on that learning process with the fact that Ben was tasked with developing the playing group and what we were learning over the past two years and what’s been the good, the bad and the ugly,” she says. “I think the first two years of Ben’s tenure, we’re only scratching the surface. We’ve built a really strong support group around Ben. We’ve got a really strong, developing cohort of White Ferns who are starting to put their hands up and believe in themselves,” she says. Sawyer himself is delighted to be able to continue the work he and the other staff have started. “I want to thank New Zealand Cricket for their support and for their leadership. It was always about trying to develop this team, so, I’m really grateful and have to thank the selectors who made some hard calls when they let a few senior players go. My job was then to see that through,” Sawyer says. “They made some really good calls around the likes of Izzy Gaze and Georgia Plimmer and they saw something in those kids and it was my job to try and stick with that and at times that was tough, but I always had that support from New Zealand Cricket that we were developing them. Did I think it would come as fast as it did with the T20 World Cup? No I didn’t, but I thought they were tracking along and in Australia [before the T20 World Cup] I thought there were signs that things were turning and we were seeing improvements,” he says. Sawyer says he now has two major goals in his head. First the two pinnacle events, the ODI World Cup next year and the T20 World Cup the year after. But more importantly he thinks his job over the next two years is to build depth. “I’d love to have eight or nine batters fighting for six spots who are genuinely fighting for those spots. I think if we’re being honest, we can see that the bowlers at the moment are fighting for spots. I’ve had to leave Hannah [Rowe] and Jess [Kerr] out at times, and even Molly [Penfold] and they are playing for spots and I think that means we are getting the best out of them,” Sawyer says. “My job, and I feel the system’s job, and all the coaches in the major associations, is if we can build the batting stocks as well, then I think we’re in a really good spot. If we can create eight or nine really strong batting prospects, I think that’s going to get the best out of the team,” he says. NZC’s five-year strategic plan for 2024/25-2028/29 outlines a goal that the White Ferns will consistently reach the semi-finals of the events they take part in; another goal is that the depth of talent pool of international cricketers grows year on year. It’s a challenge that both Green and Sawyer are relishing. “We’ve got a really strong U19 two-year cycle related to the World Cup and in domestic cricket we’ve got the A programme and the North v South series, which are really critical for players to move through the pathway. I think now players are genuinely starting to see a pathway and strive to perform strongly at domestic cricket and work their way up,” Green says. Although there are a growing number of female leaders in New Zealand Cricket, it’s unclear how quickly a woman will be in a position to succeed Sawyer, or the head coaches that follow him. When Craig McMillan was appointed as Sawyer’s assistant coach earlier this year, no females applied for the job. “I’m a firm believer that it’s always the best coach for the job, regardless of gender,” says Green, but I’m a big advocate and supporter of trying to get more females coaches into our systems and across our programmes. “For me, I think, yes, we get criticism for not appointing more female coaches to roles, but equally the context I have is that is saddens me that no females apply for these roles and I guess that’s the question I’ve been asking internally, how do we create opportunities for females coaches where they feel they can reach out and ask the question. “We’ve got some great female leaders in the game – we’ve just appointed Sarah Tsukigawa as national women’s selector – but for me, we’ve got to start somewhere and I’m really proud of the work that’s done within our communities,” she says. “We’re becoming a lot more inclusive and open in terms of women feeling comfortable enough to be in our system and it’s how we keep growing that level of comfort for female coaches. I guess the final hurdle is making sure those female coaches are ready to take on a role, but I’m encouraged by what I’m seeing,” she says. Now that Sawyer has been reappointed, his first task with his reunited White Ferns squad is the highly anticipated Rose Bowl series against Australia, made up of a three-match ODI series at Wellington’s Basin Reserve, on December 19, 21 and 23. The first of those matches will be free for spectators to attend and the T20 World Cup trophy will be on display. The squad will be named later this week. “It’s now onto ODI cricket and how we can develop that. We’ve got the world’s toughest assignment with the world’s best ODI team coming up. Once again, it’s going to be hard and we’ll be trying to win every single game, but we also know that we’re getting ready for that World Cup, playing that way.”
While commenting on one of my articles on recent developments in Syria an educated Sunni Muslim of India, (aged around 70) with having grasp on international affairs said: “You must understand that these Shia hardliners of Iran, if not checked, will even capture Makkah and Madinah.” But he was rendered speechless when I cut in to ask, “Why have Iranians not succeeded in installing a Shia ruler in nearby Bahrain when they are in majority there? Bahrain is ruled by a dictator belonging to a minority Sunni sect. How is it that the Sunnis, who form an overwhelming population of Saudi Arabia, would allow the Shia minority to occupy the two holiest sites of Islam thousands of kilometers away from the Iranian border? Even in Saudi Arabia Shias have a substantial population on its eastern coast much far away from Hejaz in the west.” I went on to explain: “Why only Bahrain? Iran could have easily placed a puppet government in its Shia-dominated northern neighbour, Azerbaijan, immediately after the dismemberment of the then-Soviet Union in December 1991. Iran could have exploited the situation that emerged after the collapse of the Communist Soviet Union as the United States was bogged down in Iraq after the first Gulf War of January- February 1991. Instead, Azerbaijan went on to become a trusted friend of Israel, the United States, and Turkey and thus constantly pose a big threat to Tehran.” This gentleman was wise enough to understand my point. But this is not the case with all the Sunnis around the world. The exaggerated phobia of Shia expansionism has deliberately been spread since the Iranian Revolution of 1979. As the revolution created a massive upsurge in the region–as it had happened later in the case of the Arab Spring of 2011–the monarchs, especially of Saudi Arabia, tried to deflect the attention of the people by whipping up this anti-Shia passion. The Salafi Ulema (clergy) more or less convinced of the rulers’ propaganda, which had an impact on the Sunni world. Gradually, many Sunnis around the world, who hailed the Iranian Revolution, became skeptic of the Shias. The West has a great interest in aggravating the rift therefore its media went all out to magnify the differences. Various international agencies fanned this tension. The Salafi hotheads, as far away as Pakistan, started a witch-hunt against the minority Shias. At several places Shias too responded—but they had some limitations as they were in the minority. Thus, the royal families of the Gulf countries distracted the attention of the masses from their dictatorial rule. But it is also a fact that Shias and Sunnis have been living together peacefully for quite a few centuries. The reality was that in Iraq and Bahrain the Sunnis were in power though they are numerically Shia dominated countries. Iraq would have remained a Sunni-ruled state for some more time had its ruler Saddam Husain not attacked fellow Sunni neighbour, Kuwait, on August 2, 1990. This was so even though Kuwait, like all the Sunni countries of the region, wholeheartedly supported Iraq in its eight-year-long war with Iran (1980-88). It was upon this that the United States-led army came to the rescue of Kuwait and liberated it in 1991. In 2003, that is after 9/11 the US captured the entire Iraq and dethroned Saddam, who was later executed. Had he not committed the folly of invading Kuwait the Americans would not have come and Iraq would not have become a Shia-ruled country. So, one cannot blame Iran for turning Iraq into a Shia-ruled country. May sound unbelievable now, but true: During the Yemeni Civil War between 1962 and 1970 Sunni Saudi Arabia and Jordan; Shia Iran (then ruled by Raza Shah) as well as Israel and Britain supported the Zaidi Shia ruler of the country, while Sunni Egypt and Communist Soviet Union backed the Left-leaning group which led a revolt. The eight-year-long bloodletting in the Yemeni civil war was fully exploited by Israel which attacked Egypt, Syria, and Jordan in 1967. It is said that some 70,000 Egyptian soldiers were in Yemen during that period of civil war. This is the stark reality. Though the Shia factor was played up after the 1979 Iranian Revolution, it is a fact that King Abdullah of Jordan in 2004 referred to the Shia Crescent from Damascus to Tehran via Baghdad. This was so even though Shias, like Sunnis, consider Alawites as disbelievers. So, there is no question of calling Syria a Shia-ruled country. It was the French who during the colonial rule wrongly categorized Alawites as Shia Muslims recruited a large number of them in the army and promoted them to high military positions. What King Abdullah did not say is that Baghdad became the capital of a Shia-ruled state After the US-led invasion a year before. Jordan was a close ally of the Western powers. Therefore, holding Iran responsible for the creation of this fictitious Shia Crescent was blatantly wrong. Abdullah was thus reading the script prepared by the Western masters. The reality is that Shias in general, whatever the differences they have with the Sunnis, always backed the cause of Palestinians, who were overwhelmingly Sunnis. This was so even though they were in the initial years of the creation of Israel not targeted by the Zionist state. Barring Lebanon, there is hardly any Shia population in the frontline states—Egypt, Jordan, and Syria. Yet the Shias of Lebanon, even before the Iranian revolution, stood behind the Sunni Palestinians. And after the Revolution Iran and later another far-off Zaidi Shia country, Yemen, led a religious campaign for the liberation of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. In contrast, the Saudis invaded Yemen, which caused widespread destruction and deaths of lakhs of people. The Gulf monarchies have an advantage. They have enormous amounts of wealth which they use not only to check the democratic forces within but also to foment trouble in other Arab countries. If Assad of Syria were barbaric and responsible for the massacres of their people, so were the Gulf despots, for example, Saudis in Yemen. But through money and power, they keep the masses in their own countries in good humour. There is less scope for economic distress, which plays a significant role in causing political upheaval—as in Syria which is not rich. They were alarmed by the Arab Spring of 2010-2011, which swept from Tunisia to Syria. With the help of money power, they supported various groups in respective countries. If they got rid of the first elected government of President Morsi in Egypt, the petrodollar of these Arab countries play a key role in fomenting trouble in Sudan, Syria, etc. Money power plays a big role in creating a favourable atmosphere for these rulers even in far-off Muslim countries. The ultra-Salafis of other countries were the primary beneficiaries. The Saudi ruling family tries to earn the goodwill of non-political Muslims of the world by posing as the custodians of Makkah and Madinah. The problem with Iran is that it has got overstretched as it is fighting on various fronts almost single-handedly. The revolution of 1979 inspired Shias across the world. When the revolution took place in Iran many Western scholars felt that the country would be thrown 1,400 years back, but it emerged as a powerful scientific and technological power. Yet it is also a fact that a sizable minority population within the country believes that Iran should not have poked its nose into Israeli affairs for no apparent gain. They are also of the view that the post-Revolution establishment has gradually become intolerant and is suppressing the voice of dissent. After the recent developments in Syria, the West would leave no stone unturned to back these elements and get rid of the present set-up. Whether it succeeds or not only time will tell.