10 jili NoneWith 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/soccer

BIG-hearted viewers of The Late Late Toy Show have raised more than ­€4million for charity. The annual Christmas extravaganza aired on Friday night, with tens of thousands of kids and adults tuning in across the nation. The Toy Show Appeal was started in 2020 following brave youngster Saoirse Ruane’s ­appearance on the festive show, where she spoke about her battle with illness. Since then, it has become a major tradition to raise funds for those in need, especially in the lead-up to Christmas Day. The Galway girl’s family were left heartbroken after 12-year-old Saoirse sadly passed away back in March following her long battle with cancer. The young girl won the nation’s hearts when she appeared on the Toy Show during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, aged eight, to speak about her fight with cancer . She had been diagnosed with a rare form of the disease and had to have her right leg amputated. This evening, RTE announced that generous members of the public had donated more than €4million already this year, with donations still accepted until tonight, as part of their fundraising drive. In addition this year — in Saoirse’s honour — a grant of up to €150,000 will also be awarded to a selected charity. In a statement, RTE said: “The Saoirse Ruane Grant will be issued as part of the 2025 appeal allocations and can be used over two years. The public can continue to donate by going to rte.ie/toyshowappeal, or with the appeal’s official donation partner, Revolut Pay.” On Friday night, Saoirse’s mum Roseanna, dad Ollie, and sister Farrah Rose watched the Late Late Toy Show for the first time since her tragic death. Her grieving mum opened up on her “mixed emotions” on the night, saying: “It’s a big day, a big day in any household that has little kids, with the Toy Show on tonight. “Obviously, it’s mixed emotions in our house, but Farrah Rose is super excited and we’re gonna let her stay up as long as she’s able.” During the programme, a group of talented kids appeared on air to perform a hit song from the ­popular musical, Wicked. At the beginning of the performance, the cameras focused on the top of the Christmas tree in the studio where a gold star that read “Saoirse’s Star” was placed as a touching tribute to the young girl. RTE announced today that the Toy Show total stood at a staggering €4,154,168. The money will be distributed to various charities who will use the funds to help those in need. Across the island of Ireland, 226 children’s charities have received 359 grants to date. Also on the show, Olympic heroes Phil Healy and Sharlene Mawdsley helped brave youngster Kirsty get her hands on this year’s top toys for children in need. Kirsty’s mother had written to The Late Late Toy Show about her, explaining that Kirsty’s little sister Lauren had been in and out of Crumlin Children’s Hospital recently and how she had gone above and beyond in caring for her sibling. As a reward, she took part in a trolley dash at Dublin’s Smyth’s toy store where the Irish relay heroes helped her stock up on toys for youngsters in Crumlin Hospital . Lauren later told Patrick Kielty she was “very proud” of her big sister.Were Hunter Biden’s Prosecutions a Result of Political Pressure? A Look at the Facts

Missing Maui woman’s family disputes LAPD chief’s statement on case

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George has a bone bruise on his left knee and will miss two games, the team said Thursday. The 76ers said George did not suffer any structural damage when he injured the same knee that he hyperextended during the preseason in Wednesday night's loss at Memphis. The game marked the first time this season the All-Star trio of George, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey started a game together. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get updates and player profiles ahead of Friday's high school games, plus a recap Saturday with stories, photos, video Frequency: Seasonal Twice a week

The Supreme Court on Tuesday disapproved of repeated doubts raised over Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), berating the tendency of political leaders to question the credibility of EVMs when they lose elections while conveniently accepting the system when they win. Also Read | ‘We don't want EVMs': Kharge calls for campaign to bring back ballot papers in elections “When you lose, EVMs are tampered with; when you win, EVMs are fine,” a bench of justices Vikram Nath and PB Varale remarked while dismissing a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking a return to ballot papers and other electoral reforms including the disqualification of candidates accused of electoral corruption. After petitioner KA Paul referred to statements by Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu and his predecessor Jagan Mohan Reddy casting doubts on the credibility of EVMs, the bench highlighted instances where leaders who questioned EVMs after defeats remained silent on their alleged flaws after securing electoral victories. “When Chandrababu Naidu won this time, he didn’t say EVMs could be tampered. This time, Jagan Mohan Reddy lost, he said EVMs can be tampered,” commented the bench, referencing claims made by the Andhra Pradesh CM and his predecessor in previous years. Also Read | Congress MP Karti Chidambaram on EVM: ‘Have no doubt about its efficacy’ During the hearing, Paul argued that India’s democracy was at risk due to the alleged manipulability of EVMs and sought a return to paper ballots to ensure transparency and fairness. Representing himself, Paul claimed that democracy would “die” unless corrective measures were taken and raised concerns over the large sums of money confiscated during elections as evidence of malpractice. However, the court questioned the logic of linking the ballot system to these issues, asking: “How will going back to the ballot system help curb this?” Paul argued that only 32% of the population cast votes and called for measures to increase awareness. He also alleged financial impropriety involving industrialists and political parties, claiming an unnamed industrialist had spent ₹ 1,200 crore across six states to secure contracts worth ₹ 48,000 crore. He even cited Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s purported comments on the possibility of tampering with EVMs. The bench was unconvinced. “We have not seen or offered any money for casting votes. We don’t know how this money is given,” it said. Also Read | After husband's poll loss, Swara Bhasker questions '99% battery' in EVMs Ultimately, the court deemed the PIL an inappropriate avenue for such arguments. “This is not the platform to argue such matters,” said the bench, dismissing the plea and advising Paul to pursue his grievances through proper forum. Tuesday’s order aligns with the Supreme Court’s earlier endorsement of EVMs. On April 26, a bench comprising justices Sanjiv Khanna (now the Chief Justice of India) and Dipankar Datta dismissed a series of petitions seeking 100% cross-verification of EVM votes with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs). The judges, in their concurrent opinions, reiterated EVMs’ credibility, simplicity and security, emphasising that the machines have been instrumental in ensuring free and fair elections. Justice Khanna pointed out the stringent safeguards implemented by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to prevent tampering, while justice Datta noted the technology’s reliability in instilling voter confidence. The judgment added that while skepticism over EVMs persists in some quarters, no concrete evidence of tampering has ever been produced, and the ECI’s protocols remain robust and transparent. While the political discourse around EVMs and the scrutiny of ECI are likely to continue despite the Supreme Court’s rulings, the top court on Tuesday reinforced its position that electoral integrity rests on established safeguards and evidence-based approaches, not political rhetoric.The global consumer electronics market, which has faced significant challenges in recent years, is poised for a major recovery. Despite a steep $10 billion decline in revenue since its peak in 2021, industry experts predict that the market will rebound and reach a remarkable $1 trillion in sales by 2026. According to data from Stocklytics.com, the consumer electronics sector has been buffeted by rising inflation and shifting consumer priorities, leading to substantial drops in spending. A $42 billion decline in 2022 and a projected $6 billion dip by the end of 2024 have dampened growth. However, after years of contraction, the industry is now poised for moderate, steady expansion over the next five years. Figures from Statista suggest that global consumer electronics sales will hit $977.5 billion in 2025, with the $1 trillion milestone expected to be reached in 2026. By 2029, the market is forecast to grow by another 10%, reaching nearly $1.1 trillion. Over the same period, the sales volume is set to increase, with total units sold rising from 8.2 million to more than 9 million. The average price of consumer electronics is also expected to climb by 6%, reaching $121.7 per unit by the end of the decade. Key market segments are driving this recovery, with smartphones, gaming equipment, and streaming devices leading the charge. According to Statista, smartphone sales are projected to grow by 8%, reaching $521 billion by 2026 and nearly $580 billion by 2029. The gaming sector will see similar growth, with sales expected to increase by 12%, reaching $38.3 billion by 2029. However, it is the streaming devices category that is set to see the most significant growth. Consumers are expected to spend nearly $17 billion on smart TVs, streaming boxes, and video players by 2029—a 40% increase compared to current levels. While these key product categories will experience the strongest growth, other sectors such as computing, drones, and television equipment are expected to see more modest gains, with revenues rising by 12%, 11%, and 9%, respectively, over the same period. Despite the challenges, the consumer electronics market is showing clear signs of resilience, setting the stage for a strong recovery as consumers return to spending and new technological innovations continue to drive demand.

Eagles stars Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown say relationship is 'good' after teammate suggests fissureWINNIPEG — Mike O’Shea stood in front of reporters Friday and kept his cool while answering questions about the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ 41-24 Grey Cup loss to the Toronto Argonauts last weekend. The head coach was asked if he made a mistake keeping injured quarterback Zach Collaros in the game, why star running back Brady Oliveira didn’t get the ball more and whether a flawed game plan led to Winnipeg’s third consecutive championship loss. “As an entire team, we didn’t have our best game,” O’Shea said in his end-of-the-season press conference. “We didn’t lack effort. We didn’t lack desire. “We didn’t have our best game as an entire team. Three phases. Coaches — everybody. Me especially.” O’Shea admitted he missed calling a timeout in the fourth quarter when there were only 11 Blue Bombers on the field instead of 12. “I don't get the count over the headset as quickly as I probably need to, we can't count. As I'm seeing a guy come off, that's the right time for that timeout that I should have used,” O’Shea said. He also said he should have used a challenge flag earlier on a play he didn’t identify, and checked on his players more during the game. But hindsight wouldn’t change his decision to put Collaros back in the game after the index finger on his throwing hand was cut deep when it hit a defender’s helmet. “He absolutely deserves every opportunity to lead this team,” O’Shea said. “From what I saw and from chatting with him very briefly, I felt really comfortable with that. I didn't think it was going to be easy, but I thought it's Zach, so...” The injury to Collaros’s finger happened late in the third quarter when the Blue Bombers were trailing the Argonauts 17-10. The veteran left the game and returned with a bandaged finger that needed five stitches and a numbing agent. He wore a glove on the hand and told reporters earlier this week it was difficult to grip the ball. Collaros said he warned receivers in the huddle his throws might not have the usual zip and they should be prepared to come back for the ball. “(I) saw him delivering the ball on the sidelines. Then you see him deliver a couple balls out there and some of them are pretty damn good, right?” O’Shea said. “The awareness of Zach to say to the receivers, ‘hey, work a little harder for me,’ I think it’s natural and what should be said. I think they already know that.” When Collaros re-entered the game, he threw interceptions in back-to-back series. “On one of them he got rid of the ball and I thought it was a good ball and the defensive player made a good play,” O’Shea said of the picks. “One slipped right out of his hand or I don't know if it got tipped or not. You've got to give him that opportunity.” Oliveira was questioning his lack of opportunities in the game when he spoke to reporters earlier in the week. The CFL’s newly minted most outstanding player and top Canadian only had 11 carries for 84 yards and one late touchdown. About 17 or 18 run plays were called, O’Shea said. “One starts off with a procedure penalty in the first and then six of those get pulled because there's X number of guys in the box or the read says this is not a run play anymore, this is now a pass play,” he said. “You call that many runs and then a pile of them get pulled because of the structure of the defence. That's OK with me at that point.” O’Shea said Bombers offensive co-ordinator Buck Pierce has been granted permission to talk to CFL teams with head-coaching job openings. The B.C. Lions are reportedly interested in Pierce. The Edmonton Elks also have a vacant head coach spot. If Pierce doesn’t become a head coach, O’Shea said he wants him to stay in Winnipeg. He believes Pierce had the offence “extremely well-prepared” for the Grey Cup. “I’m never going to question the play-calling, and I think what’s going on here is we’re questioning,” O’Shea said. “We’re trying to find blame and fault when that’s nowhere in our DNA of how we built this eight, nine, 10 years ago. We’re starting to try and find all these answers and question all these people that were 0-4 and 2-6 and then 10-1, and we just didn’t play our best game.” The Bombers finished 11-7 and claimed the West Division title that earned them a fifth consecutive trip to the Grey Cup. They won the championship in 2019 and ’21, but lost 28-24 to the Montreal Alouettes last year and 24-23 to Toronto in 2023. “We're the same group that got there, that went on a phenomenal run after a bad start, and a bad start for a lot of reasons that we overcame,” O’Shea said. “I just, I don't question any of it. I look for answers, too. I watch the film over and over and over again. And look to already make notes on how we're going to be better, how we're going to get back there again.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 22, 2024. Judy Owen, The Canadian Press

TOURMALINE DECLARES QUARTERLY DIVIDEND

World News | Canada's Top Military Commander Calls out US Senator for Questioning Woman's Role in CombatFormer New England Patriots coach and six-time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick has been offered the head coaching job at the University of North Carolina, sources said. A few days after he confirmed having "a couple of good conversations" with North Carolina Chancellor Lee Roberts about the Tar Heels' head-coaching job, multiple sources told WRAL that he was offered the job. Belichick reportedly has a long list of demands for UNC, including a 400-page document calling for a new coaching and recruitment staff. He also demanded his son, Stephen Belichick, be next in line to serve as head coach after him. As for Belichick's salary, analysts have said he could command up to $12 million a year. This week on ESPN's “The Pat McAfee Show,” Belichick said he had spent the 11 months since his departure from the Patriots taking a “longer look” at college football throughout the season as opposed to during the spring lead-up to the draft as a pro coach. Belichick would replace Mack Brown, UNC's all-time winningest coach and College Football Hall of Famer, who was fired in November. Brown's last game was a Nov. 30 loss to rival N.C. State. Belichick, 72, who had decades of success in the NFL, has never worked at the college level but his father was an assistant coach for the Tar Heels from 1953-55. He and the Patriots announced a mutual parting of ways in January , following the end of a disappointing season. Jerod Mayo replaced Belichick as the Patriots head coach the next day. Belichick became head coach of the Patriots on Jan. 27, 2000, less than two weeks after he resigned as head coach of the New York Jets on the day of what was supposed to be his introductory press conference. He had a 296-133 record in 24 seasons as New England’s head coach between the regular season and postseason. When including the five seasons he was head coach of the Cleveland Browns (1991-95), he has a total record of 333-178. His 31 postseason wins, all but one of which came with the Patriots, are the most by a head coach in NFL history, and he is only the third coach to win 300 or more regular-season games. Belichick trails only Don Shula (328) and George Halas (318) on the all-time regular-season wins list, and Shula is the only one ahead of Belichick on the combined wins list (347). Rumors have linked Belichick to the pursuit of other NFL jobs, including the Atlanta Falcons in January, but no job materialized this season and the ex-coach instead signed a deal with ESPN.

Seahawks have taken a bumpy path to first place in the NFC WestGAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — DJ Lagway threw two touchdown passes, Montrell Johnson ran for 127 yards and a score, and Florida upset No. 9 Mississippi 24-17 on Saturday to knock the Rebels out of College Football Playoff contention. The Gators (6-5, 4-4 Southeastern Conference), who topped LSU last week, beat ranked teams in consecutive weeks for the first time since 2008 and became bowl eligible. The late-season spurt provided another vote of confidence for coach Billy Napier, who is expected back for a fourth season. Ole Miss (8-3, 4-3), which entered the day as a 10-point favorite, lost for the first time in four games and surely will drop out of the 12-team playoff picture. The Rebels ranked ninth in the latest CFP and needed only to avoid stumbling down the stretch against Florida and lowly Mississippi State to clinch a spot in the playoff field. But coach Lane Kiffin’s team failed to score in three trips inside the red zone and dropped countless passes in perfect weather. No. 2 OHIO ST. 38, No. 5 INDIANA 15 COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Will Howard passed for two touchdowns and rushed for another, TreVeyon Henderson ran for a score and No. 2 Ohio State beat previously undefeated No. 5 Indiana. All Ohio State (10-1, 7-1 Big Ten, CFP No. 2) has to do now is beat Michigan at home next Saturday and it will earn a return to the Big Ten championship game for the first time since 2020 and get a rematch with No. 1 Oregon. The Ducks beat Ohio State 32-31 in a wild one back on Oct. 12. The Hoosiers (10-1, 7-1, No. 5 CFP) had their best chance to beat the Buckeyes for the first time since 1988 but were hurt by special teams mistakes and disrupted by an Ohio State defense that sacked quarterback Kurtis Rourke five times. Howard finished 22 for 26 for 201 yards. Emeka Egbuka had seven catches for 80 yards and a TD. No. 8 GEORGIA 59, UMass 21 ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Carson Beck threw four touchdown passes, Nate Frazier ran for 136 yards with three scores and No. 8 Georgia overwhelmed Massachusetts as the Bulldogs tried to protect their College Football Playoff hopes. Georgia (9-2, No. 10 CFP) needed the big offense from Beck and Frazier to rescue a defense that gave up 226 rushing yards. UMass (2-9) played its first game under interim coach Shane Montgomery, the offensive coordinator who retained his play-calling duties after replacing fired coach Don Brown on Monday. Jalen John led the Minutemen with 107 rushing yards and a touchdown. Georgia extended its streak of consecutive home wins to 30, the longest active streak in the Football Bowl Subdivision. No. 10 TENNESSEE 56, UTEP 0 KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Nico Iamaleava threw for 209 yards and four touchdowns to lead No. 10 Tennessee to a victory over UTEP. The Volunteers (9-2) overcame a sluggish start to roll up the impressive win. Both teams were scoreless in the first quarter, but Tennessee found its rhythm. Grad student receiver Bru McCoy, who hadn’t caught a touchdown pass this season, had two. Peyton Lewis also ran for two scores. Tennessee’s defensive line, which had no sacks in last week’s loss to Georgia, had three against the Miners. UTEP (2-9) struggled with two missed field goals and three turnovers. Tennessee’s offense came alive with 28 points in the second quarter. In the final four drives of the quarter, Iamaleava completed 11 of 12 passes for 146 yards and touchdowns to Squirrel White, Ethan Davis and McCoy. No. 11 MIAMI 42, WAKE FOREST 14 MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Cam Ward passed for 280 yards and threw two touchdowns to Jacolby George on another record-breaking day, Mishael Powell ran an interception back 76 yards for a touchdown and No. 11 Miami pulled away late to beat Wake Forest. The Hurricanes (10-1, 6-1 Atlantic Coast Conference, No. 8 College Football Playoff) can clinch a berth in the ACC title game with a win at Syracuse next weekend. Ward completed 27 of 38 passes, plus ran for a score. He broke two more single-season Miami records, both of which had been held for 40 years by Bernie Kosar — most passing yards in a season and most completions in a season. Ward now has 3,774 yards on 268 completions this season. Kosar threw for 3,642 yards on 262 completions in 1984. Demond Claiborne had a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown for Wake Forest (4-7, 2-5). Claiborne also rushed for 62 yards for the Demon Deacons, and starting quarterback Hank Bachmeier was 8 of 14 passing for 86 yards and a touchdown. No. 13 SMU 33, VIRGINIA 7 CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — Kevin Jennings threw for a career-high 323 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another, and No. 13 SMU clinched a spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game by routing Virginia. Isaiah Smith and Jared Harrison-Hunte each had two sacks to help the Mustangs (10-1, 7-0, No. 13 CFP) extend their winning streak to eight. They would earn an automatic bid into the expanded College Football Playoff by beating 11th-ranked Miami or 17th-ranked Clemson in the ACC title game on Dec. 7 in Charlotte, North Carolina. SMU had to get there first, and Jennings led the way again, bouncing back from an interception and a fumble to complete 25 of 33 passes to six different receivers, including TD tosses to Jordan Hudson and Matthew Hibner. Brashard Smith provided a little balance on offense, running for 63 yards and his 13th touchdown of the season. SMU’s defense overwhelmed UVa’s offensive line, sacking Anthony Colandrea nine times and allowing the Cavaliers (5-6, 3-4) just 173 yards. Special teams contributed, too, with Roderick Daniels Jr. returning a punt 48 yards and Collin Rogers making two field goals. No. 24 ILLINOIS 38, RUTGERS 31 PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) — Luke Altmyer found Pat Bryant for a catch-and-run, 40-yard touchdown pass with 4 seconds left, sending No. 24 Illinois to a wild victory over Rutgers. Illinois (8-3, 5-3 Big Ten) was down 31-30 when it sent long kicker Ethan Moczulski out for a desperation 58-yard field goal with 14 seconds to go. Rutgers coach Greg Schiano then called for a timeout right before Moczulski’s attempt was wide left and about 15 yards short. After the missed field goal was waved off by the timeout, Illinois coach Bret Bielema sent his offense back on the field. Altmyer hit Bryant on an in cut on the left side at the 22, and he continued across the field and scored untouched in a game that featured three lead changes in the final 3:07. Rutgers (6-5, 3-5) gave up a safety on the final kickoff return, throwing a ball out of bounds in the end zone as players passed it around hoping for a miracle touchdown. Altmyer was 12-of-26 passing for 249 yards and two touchdowns. Bryant finished with seven receptions for 197 yards.