With technical prowess and considerable style, Marta danced around two sliding defenders, outwitted a goalkeeper and calmly scored as another player rushed forward in desperation to stop her. It was more Marta Magic. That goal last weekend helped propel the Orlando Pride into Saturday's National Women's Soccer League championship game against the Washington Spirit. Barbra Banda also scored in the Pride's 3-2 semifinal victory over the Kansas City Current . While Banda has had an incredible first season with the Pride, captain Marta has been the talisman that has helped lead the team in its remarkable turnaround this year. The last time the Pride were in the NWSL playoffs was in 2017 — Marta's first year with the club. But this season they nearly went undefeated, going 23 games without a loss to start the season before losing 2-0 to the Portland Thorns with just two regular-season games left. “I think because of the way that we did it, during this season, from beginning to now, it’s something very special that I’ve never had before with any other club that I’ve played for," Marta said. "Plus year by year, we see in America, strong competition. This is the best league in the world. And you never know what’s going to happen, and it’s hard to keep winning the games, being in the first place almost like the whole season. That’s why it’s really different and so special.” Marta’s goal was the latest gasp-inducing moment in a stellar career filled with them. Known by just her first name, the 38-year-old is a six-time FIFA world player of the year. "Let's see if tomorrow I can do something similar — or even better," Marta said on Friday. Her teammate Kylie Strom chimed in: “That was the greatest goal I've ever witnessed, hands down." Appropriate. Earlier this year, FIFA announced that the best goal in women's soccer each year would earn the Marta Award. In a lighthearted moment the day before the title match, Marta was asked if she thought it was possible she might give the award to herself. “You guys need to decide, because who votes for the best goal in the year? It’s you. It’s the people in the public. So it should be really interesting, like Marta’s Award goes to Marta!” she said with a laugh. Marta has played in six World Cups for Brazil and played this summer in her sixth Olympics, winning a silver medal after falling in the final to the United States . She previously said this would be her final year with the national team. But since then Brazil was named the host of the 2027 Women's World Cup. "I had a conversation with my coach, the national team coach, and I was really clear about playing in 2027. I told him it’s not my goal anymore,” she said. “But I’m always available to help the national team. And if they think I still can do something during this preparation for the World Cup, yeah, I would be happy to help them." Marta's club career started in Brazil when she was just 16. She has also played in Sweden and in the U.S. professional women's leagues that came before the NWSL. With nine regular-season goals, Marta has had one of her best seasons since she joined the Pride. “I can never pick a side, I never pick favorites — but I love to see this for Marta," U.S. coach Emma Hayes said. “Marta is someone we all like, admire and are grateful for. And that goal was just like prime Marta at her best. And so grateful for and thankful for her that she got the opportunity with another game with her team.” The Pride went 18-2-6 this season, clinching the NWSL Shield for the first trophy in club history. Orlando also set a record with 60 regular-season points to finish atop the standings. “We are sitting top of the table, but I think there still are a lot of doubters. I think there’s people out there who say, maybe this was a one-off season,” Strom said. “But we’re here to prove them all wrong. So I think we do carry a bit of that underdog mentality still with us.” The second-seeded Spirit advanced to the title match at Kansas City's CPKC Stadium last weekend on a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw against defending champions Gotham FC. The Spirit's roster includes Trinity Rodman, a standout forward who formed the so-called “Triple Espresso” trio with Mallory Swanson and Sophia Smith for the United States at the Olympics. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerIt's been a while since Katherine Webb has made headlines but that all changed this week. Webb, who was named Miss Alabama USA in 2012, has officially agreed to a deal with CollXab, a public relations agency that is run by Arleigh Banner. The brand promises to handle its client's future partnerships with great care. "Katherine is more than a beauty queen," CollXab wrote on Instagram . "She's a force to be reckoned with—beauty, brains, and a magnetic TV presence. Remember Miss Alabama USA 2012 and that iconic 2013 BCS National Championship moment? Say no more. Welcome aboard, Katherine." Here's more on CollXab's CEO : She has spent her career planning and managing high-profile events for clients whose profiles range from diverse industries. She has secured extensive press coverage, social impressions and increased visibility for countless brands by sourcing and securing successful partnerships and marketing opportunities. Along the way, she has formed lasting, genuine relationships with a network of influencers, VIPs and decision-makers at national talent and PR agencies. Webb shared this announcement from CollXab on her own Instagram page. View the original article to see embedded media. Webb became a fan favorite in the college football world during the 2013 BCS National Championship Game. At that time, she was dating Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron. McCarron and Webb have been married since 2014. They share three sons together. McCarron has not yet commented on Webb's latest career move. Hopefully, the next chapter of Webb's career is an awfully successful one. Related: 3 Best Swimsuit Photos Of AJ McCarron's Wife, Katherine Webb‘Difference is Trump’: American homebuyers brace for rate pain
A 9th telecoms firm has been hit by a massive Chinese espionage campaign, the White House saysTech slump slays Santa rally, weak yen lifts Japan stocks higher
Pet passports for dogs, cats and ferrets to travel within UK ‘an outrage’
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Shoprite has warned that the website checkershypersa.co.za, selling products at significantly discounted prices, is a scam. The supermarket chain told MyBroadband that its cybersecurity team has already initiated a takedown and is closely monitoring the process. MyBroadband was informed about the website by a reader and has reached out to the domain registrar, 1Api. The scam site also appears to use Flutterwave for its payment gateway. Neither Flutterwave nor 1Api had responded by publication. The website bears the Checkers Hyper branding and claims to sell several technology products, including washing machines, laptops, and gaming consoles. To entice buyers, all items are on sale — most of which are roughly 50% off. Shoprite said it notifies its customers about fake websites, competitions, or scams through its official social media platforms. It has also provided several guidelines that users can follow to stay safe when engaging with its platforms online. Scams like this are particularly prominent around Black... Daniel PuchertPhilippe Clement takes pride in Rangers performance and admits disappointment they didn’t defeat SpursDK Metcalf is happy to block as Seahawks ride streak into Sunday night matchup with Packers
Trump threat to immigrant health care tempered by economic hopes
Seahawks will be without leading rusher vs. CardinalsIt's no secret that Nvidia ( NVDA 0.54% ) is one of the hottest artificial intelligence (AI) stocks in the market. The chip-making juggernaut just reported an incredible Q3, beating Wall Street's sky-high expectations. So why was the stock trading lower on Thursday when the market opened? Although it might seem to defy logic, it's not an uncommon phenomenon. Let's take a look at why it happens and see if the past might shed some light on what happens next. First, let's take a look at Nvidia's quarter. Even for Nvidia, this was a strong quarter Few companies have as much riding on their shoulders as Nvidia does in the current market. The company's performance is seen as a bellwether for the market as a whole. It's a good thing, then, that Nvidia delivered this quarter. Nvidia's data center segment continues to be the driving force behind its success, though its gaming arm is still showing solid growth. Demand for its Superchips and related hardware is at a fever pitch. As CEO Jensen Huang puts it, "The age of AI is in full steam, propelling a global shift to Nvidia computing." The big news is the confirmation that Blackwell, the newest iteration of its Superchips, is on schedule and will be rolled out without a hitch. During the earnings call, Huang made clear that the first chips are already "in the hands of all of [Nvidia's] major partners" and will soon be shipped to end users -- companies like Meta and Microsoft operate massive AI data centers. According to Huang, demand for Blackwell is "staggering"; Nvidia has so many orders it is struggling to keep pace. Despite this, demand for its current Hopper chips remains strong, and Huang indicated he believed orders would continue well into next year. Nvidia's reach is global Beyond the numbers, Nvidia highlighted some important developments that show the growing demand beyond U.S. commercial clients. Denmark just launched its first AI supercomputer driven by Nvidia's Hopper chips. This is an important client base for Nvidia that is often overshadowed by its success with big tech cloud operators. "Sovereign AI" -- world governments running their own computers -- could be a massive industry as nations around the world enter an information arms race. Nvidia is also finding commercial success worldwide, with new private companies in India, Japan, and Indonesia building Nvidia-powered AI data centers. Nvidia's stock dips In the initial hours after the market opened on Thursday, shares of Nvidia slipped, briefly reaching $141 after closing at nearly $146 the day before. Why would this happen after such a strong quarter? This is pretty common if Wall Street's expectations exceed the company's performance, even if that performance is solid. That's not what happened here. Nvidia beat estimates handily, delivering revenues of $35.1 billion and earnings per share (EPS) of $0.81. Consensus targets were $33.2 billion and $0.75, respectively. Here's the thing: market sentiment can exceed even Wall Street estimates. With all the hype around Nvidia and talk of "insane" demand for its new chips, it's becoming increasingly difficult for the company to live up to investors' expectations no matter what numbers it delivers. It's the curse of success. Nvidia has continuously beat estimates, so now, even when it does, it might not be by enough. Certain research has shown that investors tend to put too much faith in past earnings. Over time, this leads to a stock being overbought in the lead-up to an earnings release and a short-term dip after the release. What Nvidia is experiencing is very normal. Don't panic. The long-term potential is where we want to place most of our focus here and this report shows it is still firing on all cylinders. Given other stocks that have been in Nvidia's shoes and Nvidia itself last quarter -- shares dipped 18% in the days after earnings -- history tells us that the stock will be just fine.
Pet passports for dogs, cats and ferrets to travel within UK ‘an outrage’P112 million found in safes of Bataan company tagged as Pogo
WASHINGTON — The FBI should have done more to gather intelligence before the Capitol riot, according to a watchdog report Thursday that also said no undercover FBI employees were on the scene on Jan. 6, 2021, and that none of the bureau's informants was authorized to participate. The report from the Justice Department inspector general's office knocks down a fringe conspiracy theory advanced by some Republicans in Congress that the FBI played a role in instigating the events that day, when rioters determined to overturn Republican Donald Trump's 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden stormed the building in a violent clash with police. The review, released nearly four years after a dark chapter in history that shook the bedrock of American democracy, was narrow in scope, but aimed to shed light on gnawing questions that have dominated public discourse, including whether major intelligence failures preceded the riot and whether the FBI in some way provoked the violence. Rioters loyal to Donald Trump gather Jan. 6, 2021, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. The report offers a mixed assessment of the FBI's performance in the run-up to the riot, crediting the bureau for preparing for the possibility of violence and for trying to identify known "domestic terrorism subjects" who planned to come to Washington that day. But it said the FBI, in an action the now-deputy director described as a "basic step that was missed," failed to canvass informants across all 56 of its field offices for any relevant intelligence. That was a step, the report concluded, "that could have helped the FBI and its law enforcement partners with their preparations in advance of January 6." The report found 26 FBI informants were in Washington for election-related protests on Jan. 6, including three who were tasked with traveling to the city to report on others who were potentially planning to attend the day's events. While four informants entered the Capitol, none were authorized to do so by the bureau or to break the law, the report said. Rioters storm the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. Many of the 26 informants provided the FBI with information before the riot, but it "was no more specific than, and was consistent with, other sources of information" that the FBI acquired. The FBI said in a letter responding to the report that it accepts the inspection general's recommendation "regarding potential process improvements for future events." The lengthy review was launched days after the riot as the FBI faced questions over whether it had missed warning signs or adequately disseminated intelligence it received, including a Jan. 5, 2021, bulletin prepared by the FBI's Norfolk, Virginia, field office that warned of the potential for "war" at the Capitol. The inspector general found the information in that bulletin was broadly shared. FBI Director Chris Wray, who announced this week his plans to resign at the end of Biden's term in January, defended his agency's handing of the intelligence report. He told lawmakers in 2021 that the report was disseminated though the joint terrorism task force, discussed at a command post in Washington and posted on an internet portal available to other law enforcement agencies. "We did communicate that information in a timely fashion to the Capitol Police and (Metropolitan Police Department) in not one, not two, but three different ways," Wray said at the time. FBI Director Christopher Wray speaks March 11 during a hearing of the Senate Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington. Separately, the report said the FBI's New Orleans field office was told by a source between November 2020 and early January 2021 that protesters were planning to station a "quick reaction force" in northern Virginia "to be armed and prepared to respond to violence that day in DC, if necessary." That information was shared with the FBI's Washington Field Office, members of intelligence agencies and some federal law enforcement agencies the day before the riot, the inspector general found. But there was no indication the FBI told northern Virginia police about the information, the report said. An FBI official told the inspector general there was "nothing actionable or immediately concerning about it." A cache of weapons at a Virginia hotel as part of a "quick reaction force" was a central piece of the Justice Department's seditious conspiracy case against Oath Keeper leader Stewart Rhodes and other members of the far-right extremist group. Trump supporters, including Douglas Jensen, center, confront U.S. Capitol Police on Jan. 6, 2021, in the hallway outside of the Senate chamber at the Capitol in Washington. The conspiracy theory that federal law enforcement officers entrapped members of the mob has been spread in conservative circles, including by some Republican lawmakers. Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., recently suggested on a podcast that agents pretending to be Trump supporters were responsible for instigating the violence. Former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., who withdrew as Trump's pick as attorney general amid scrutiny over sex trafficking allegations, sent a letter to Wray in 2021 asking how many undercover agents or informants were at the Capitol on Jan. 6 and if they were "merely passive informants or active instigators." Wray said the "notion that somehow the violence at the Capitol on January 6 was part of some operation orchestrated by FBI sources and agents is ludicrous." Rioters scale a wall at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) Supporters loyal to then-President Donald Trump attend a rally on the Ellipse near the White House on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Trump supporters participate in a rally in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) Trump supporters participate in a rally Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) Then-President Donald Trump gestures as he arrives to speak at a rally in Washington, on Jan. 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) People listen as then-President Donald Trump speaks during a rally Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Supporters of then-President Donald Trump try to break through a police barrier at the Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) A supporter of then-President Donald Trump is injured during clashes with police at the U.S. Capitol, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) A rioter pours water on herself at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) A Trump supporter holds a Bible as he gathers with others outside the Capitol, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) Trump supporters try to break through a police barrier, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, at the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) A demonstrator supporting then-President Donald Trump, is sprayed by police, Jan. 6, 2021, during a day of rioting at the Capitol.(AP Photo/John Minchillo) Rioters try to enter the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) U.S. Capitol Police try to hold back rioters outside the east doors to the House side of the U.S. Capitol, Jan 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Rioters gather outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, on Jan 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Protesters gather outside the U.S. Capitol, Jan 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Jacob Anthony Chansley, center, with other insurrectionists who supported then-President Donald Trump, are confronted by U.S. Capitol Police in the hallway outside of the Senate chamber in the Capitol, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. Chansley, was among the first group of insurrectionists who entered the hallway outside the Senate chamber. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) U.S. Capitol Police hold rioters at gun-point near the House Chamber inside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Lawmakers evacuate the floor as rioters try to break into the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Police with guns drawn watch as rioters try to break into the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Congressmen shelter in the House gallery as rioters try to break into the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Members of Congress wear emergency gas masks as they are evacuated from the House gallery as rioters try to break into the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) The House gallery is empty after it was evacuated as rioters try to break into the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Rep. Andy Kim, D-N.J., cleans up debris and personal belongings strewn across the floor of the Rotunda in the early morning hours of Jan. 7, 2021, after rioters stormed the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Members of the DC National Guard surround the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Vice President Mike Pence and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., read the final certification of Electoral College votes cast in November's presidential election during a joint session of Congress after working through the night, at the Capitol in Washington, Jan. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, Pool) A flag hangs between broken windows after then-President Donald Trump supporters tried to break through police barriers outside the U.S. Capitol, Jan 6, 2021. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) A flag that reads "Treason" is visible on the ground in the early morning hours of Jan. 7, 2021, after rioters stormed the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) An ATF police officer cleans up debris and personal belongings strewn across the floor of the Rotunda in the early morning hours of Jan. 7, 2021, after rioters stormed the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.
The condemnation came as the House of Lords debated regulations paving the way for a scheme which would require animal lovers on the British mainland to have documentation in order to visit Northern Ireland. Critics view the move as further evidence of Northern Ireland still having to follow EU rules post-Brexit and being treated differently from the rest of the UK – a major source of contention to the unionist community. The paperwork, which will be free to apply for, includes a declaration that the owner will not travel onwards to Ireland or another EU country with their pet or assistance dog. Animals will have to be microchipped and have their own individual pet travel document, which will be valid for its lifetime. Northern Ireland residents returning after a stay in Great Britain with their pet or assistance dog will not need a travel document. The scheme is being introduced under the Windsor Framework, a revised deal for Northern Ireland’s post-Brexit trading arrangements aimed at tackling issues caused by the protocol. Raising her concerns in Parliament, Baroness Hoey, a Northern Irish Brexit supporter and former Labour MP, said: “These regulations are in effect about a new aspect of the Irish Sea border that has not had expression until this point because of the grace periods.” She added: “The experience of visiting Northern Ireland with your pet dog or cat, or even a ferret, will be made to feel like a visit to a foreign country. Lady Hoey went on: “This could spell the end of holiday trips for pet owners from GB to NI and then on to the Republic, when they want to explore both Northern Ireland and the Republic. “If they have a pet passport, they will have renounced their right to go to the Republic. That makes the border more of an obstruction than having border control posts on it, because at least in that eventuality, you could still cross over it.” Rejecting claims it was a result of the UK leaving the EU, she said: “The reality is that this is happening precisely because Northern Ireland has not got Brexit. “As we say repeatedly, it is still subject to EU rules and the EU could change the rules overnight.” Former DUP deputy leader Lord Dodds of Duncairn said: “Every one of the statutory instruments that come forward under the Windsor Framework must be properly debated, because these laws are being brought forward to implement what a foreign jurisdiction has decided should be the law of the United Kingdom. “In the 21st century, we should not accept colonial rule. We abolished it elsewhere. We believe it should not be tolerated for one second. People should have the democratic right to decide their laws for themselves, in their interests.” He added: “The ridiculous part about this debate is that we are having to debate European laws regulating the movement of pet animals owned by British citizens between one part of the United Kingdom and another. That is an outrage.” Lord Dodds went on: “As I said, there will be hundreds, thousands more of these regulations, in all areas, affecting the daily lives of people in Northern Ireland. They all add up to a grievous assault on Northern Ireland’s constitutional position.” But former leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick said: “I support the Windsor Framework because it is a necessary legal device to deal with the complexities that were presented to us in Ireland, north and south, on the issue of Brexit. “We need a pragmatic solution rather than choosing to have political contests and duels simply for the sake of them.” Introducing the regulations, environment minister Baroness Hayman of Ulloch said: “This scheme will simplify the requirements associated with moving pet dogs, cats and ferrets from Great Britain to Northern Ireland significantly. “It replaces single-use animal health certificates with a free-of-charge lifelong travel document and removes the need for costly pet health treatments. “Pet owners who travel frequently with their pets, or those who rely on the services of an assistance dog to travel independently, will benefit substantially from this change in approach.” However, she acknowledged the concerns raised by peers and promised to continue engagement with them.
Scheifele scores as the Jets beat the Blackhawks 4-2 in Sorensen's first gameRyan Seacrest is only on his first season as the new host of Wheel of Fortune , but he is already skating on thin ice with some fans of the game show. Seacrest , 49, is taking some heat after an incident that occurred during the Tuesday, November 26 episode of Wheel . Oleh Voloshyn, a contestant who could have easily won, ended up losing the game, and some fans believe that it's all because of Seacrest's lack of experience. The debacle took place during the "Final Spin" puzzle in which the wheel landed on $5,000. This meant that the three-word "Event" puzzle would likely decide the winner of the game, as each consonant was worth $6,000. After a few guesses from each player, the puzzle read, "TOUR_NG 'A' '_ _ _ N_R_'." Instead of choosing another consonant and adding $6,000 to his $12,000, winning the game with $18,000, Oleh decided to solve the puzzle correctly as "TOURING A WINERY." This left Oleh with $14,000 total, which was $176 short of his opponent's $14,176 total. Fans of the game show took to social media to share their thoughts on Oleh's loss. "If I'm Oleh, I'm upset at myself for not realizing the situation... I'm also angry at Ryan for not doing something that Pat always made a point to do in this exact situation. It's not the host's job to point those types of things out but Pat [Sajak] always tried so now we expect it," wrote one user on Reddit , referring to the show's former host of over 40 years. A second user agreed and noted, "Pat would have reminded him to guess a letter before solving," implying that Seacrest lacks the former host's experience. "Didn't Pat used to say 'do you want to guess a letter first?'," asked a third Redditor while another added, "Ryan needs to start doing this." Despite receiving some grief from fans of late, many have been vocal about their support for the new host , one even praised him for his off-camera hosting abilities. Seacrest started his tenure as host of the beloved game show in September following Sajak's exit.Frank Rossoto Stocktrek/DigitalVision via Getty Images Introduction The Global X Defense Tech ETF ( NYSEARCA: SHLD ) offers investors exposure to technology defense companies. The ETF aims to track the Global X Defense Tech Index, which it has slightly lagged. The index tracks defense Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.