This is a preview of the “Global Fintech Landscape” premium research report from Business Insider Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service. To learn more about Business Insider Intelligence,  click here.

Since sprouting in the US and UK around 10 years ago, fintech has spread globally. Now, after years of proliferation, countries around the world are starting to see their fintech industries mature. Additionally, we continue to see the emergence of new hotbeds for fintech. This indicates that the space is still far from being fully developed, and that there are many new ways in which startups and their technologies continue to change financial services.

The fact that many new players are emerging in the space also suggests that attention is shifting away from the main countries where fintech is prevalent, and that investors are seeing the potential of newer, conventionally untapped markets.

The spread of fintech can be largely seen in the emergence of fintech hubs — cities where startups, talent, and funding congregate — which are proliferating globally in tandem with ongoing disruption in financial services. These hubs are all vying to become established fintech centers in their own right, and want to contribute to the broader financial services ecosystem of the future. Their success depends on a variety of factors, including access to funding and talent, as well as the approach of relevant regulators.

In this report, Business Insider Intelligence compiles various fintech snapshots, which together show the global proliferation of fintech, and illustrate where fintech is starting to mature and where it is just breaking onto the scene. Each snapshot provides an overview of the fintech industry in a particular country, and details what is contributing to or hindering its further development. We also include notable fintechs in each geography, and discuss what the opportunities or challenges are for that particular domestic industry.

Here are some of the key takeaways from the report:

• Besides the US and UK, there are plenty of other countries developing strong fintech hubs. Australia, Switzerland, and China, which are profiled in this report, have managed to leverage their stable financial centers of Sydney, Zurich, and Shanghai, respectively, to spur fintech development and attract funding.
• There are also a number of emerging fintech markets, including Brazil, Israel, and Canada, that are likely to play a big part in the global fintech ecosystem in the future. These countries have nascent but rapidly developing fintech hubs, as well as supportive regulatory environments, that could help them cement strong positions in the broader fintech scene.
• Many more fintech hubs will likely morph into big fintech players. This could push investors to increasingly wake up to the opportunities in new markets, leading fintech funding to become more diversified in the future, particularly outside of the UK and US.

 In full, the report:

• Outlines how the fintech industry has changed over the past 10 years.
• Details which cities are the most likely to succeed as fintech hubs at present and going forward.
• Highlights notable fintech startups in each of these markets.
• Discusses the potential opportunities and challenges these countries are facing today and in the future.

Interested in getting the full report? Here are two ways to access it:

1. Purchase & download the full report from our research store. >>Purchase & Download Now
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The choice is yours. But however you decide to acquire this report, you've given yourself a powerful advantage in your understanding of the fast-moving world of Fintech.

SEE ALSO: Latest fintech industry trends, technologies and research from our ecosystem report

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• The Los Angeles Rams beat the New Orleans Saints, 26-23, in overtime in the NFC Championship with the help of a huge missed call by the referees.
• With 1:48 left in the game, on 3rd-and-10 from the Rams' 13-yard line, with the score tied, Drew Brees threw a pass to the sidelines to Tommylee Lewis, who was hit by Rams' defensive back Nickell Robey-Coleman in midair before he could get to the ball.
• The play looked like obvious pass interference, but the referees did not call it.
• The Saints had to settle for a field goal, then the Rams tied the game to send it to overtime. They won with a field goal in overtime.
• Some if the NFL world called it the worst missed call of the season.

The Los Angeles Rams beat the New Orleans Saints, 26-23, in overtime, on Sunday in the NFC Championship to advance to the Super Bowl.

However, the talk of the game will be dominated by a huge missed call by the referees late in the fourth quarter that had a huge impact on the game.

With 1:48 left in the game, tied at 20, Drew Brees had the Saints on the Rams' 13-yard line, looking to score. Brees threw a short pass to the sidelines to wide receiver Tommylee Lewis, when Rams defensive back Nickell Robey-Coleman came flying in, knocking Lewis off his feet in mid-air, as the ball went out of bounds.

It looked like pass interference, which would have set the Saints up with 1st-and-goal, but the referees did not throw a flag.

Here was the play:

Basically the entire NFL world was outraged by the non-call:

Both Joe Buck and Troy Aikman, calling the game for Fox, said they thought there should have been a flag on the play.

The Saints settled for a field goal to make it 23-20. The Rams then drove to get into field goal range and kicked a field goal to tie it.

In overtime, Drew Brees threw an interception on the opening drive, and the Rams again went down the field to kick the game-winning field goal.

Through the Rams' final drive of regulation, Saints head coach Sean Payton followed the referees, yelling at them for not making the call.

Of course, plenty of other decisions had impacts on the game. Before the missed call, the Saints had thrown two incompletions, leading to some criticism of Payton's clock management to end the game. Brees' pick, which came as he was hit, also all but sealed the game for the Rams.

However, with the Super Bowl on the line, the NFL now has another officiating controversy on its hands.

• Read more:
• Saints fans in the Superdome wreaked havoc on the Rams' offense, and none of the players could hear
• Tom Brady reportedly walked into a room while preparing to play the Chiefs and told Patriots teammates that he's 'the baddest motherf----- on the planet'
• Football fans love to think that they know what constitutes a 'catch' in the NFL — almost all of them are wrong
• WHERE ARE THEY NOW? All of the picks in the massive trade that helped the Rams land Jared Goff

Join the conversation about this story »

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This is a preview of a research report from Business Insider Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service. To learn more about Business Insider Intelligence, click here.

Emerging markets are going to be essential for e-commerce growth, as retailers in developed markets may soon reach saturation in terms of consumer growth.

For example, almost half of US households now have a Prime membership, diminishing Amazon's growth potential in the country. Meanwhile, in China, the world's largest e-commerce market, nearly half of the population is actively making online purchases, leaving little room for growth. 

However, India, Southeast Asia, and Latin America are worth keeping an eye on. E-commerce penetration rates in these areas hover between 2-6%, presenting a huge opportunity for future growth as online sales gain traction. Moreover, these regions are expected to grow at compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) of 31%, 32%, and 16%, respectively, through 2021.

This report compiles several e-commerce snapshots, which together highlight the most notable emerging markets in various regions. Each provides an overview of the e-commerce industry in a particular country, discusses influential retailers, and provides insights into the opportunities and challenges for that specific domestic industry.

Here are some of the key takeaways:

• Emerging markets are going to be essential for e-commerce growth, as retailers in developed markets may soon reach saturation in terms of consumer growth.
• India is the clear overall leader in e-commerce potential, but countries in Southeast Asia and Latin America are also worth keeping an eye on. Within Southeast Asia, Indonesia shows the most promise for retailers, as the government is loosening restrictions on foreign investments, and its massive population is gaining spending power and more access to internet. Meanwhile, Mexico is a retailer's best bet for expansion in Latin America, due to its stable economy and rising middle class, but Brazil may be gearing up to steal the top spot.
• However, doing business in these regions can be difficult. In most of these emerging markets, infrastructure is underdeveloped and the population is largely unbanked, making digital payments a challenge.
• If retailers can build a brand presence in these markets while online shopping is still in its nascent stages, they may become market leaders as e-commerce takes off in the regions. Moreover, these markets could provide new sources of growth for companies that would otherwise stagnate in more mature e-commerce markets.

 In full, the report:

• Explores the e-commerce industry in India, Southeast Asia, and Latin America.
• Highlights the leading country in each region, as well as key e-commerce players there. 
• Outlines the challenges and opportunities each region faces.
• Gives insight into how these emerging markets may shape the future of e-commerce.

Join the conversation about this story »

• The Los Angeles Rams beat the New Orleans Saints 26-23 on Sunday in the NFC Championship to punch their ticket to Super Bowl LIII.
• The deciding play of the game came on a shocking no-call on what looked like a blatant pass interference by the Rams, which allowed Los Angeles to tie the game late and eventually go on to win in overtime.
• Just minutes after the game ended, Saints head coach Sean Payton told reporters he had already called the league office about the missed call.

The Los Angeles Rams beat the New Orleans Saints 26-23 on Sunday in the NFC Championship to punch their ticket to Super Bowl LIII.

For the Saints, the biggest moment of the game came not from any play on the field, but rather a shocking no-call from the referees on what looked like a blatant pass interference penalty late in the fourth quarter.

Read more: Saints lose to Rams in NFC Championship after one of the worst missed calls you'll see on a huge fourth-quarter play

Tied 20-20 with under two minutes left, Saints quarterback Drew Brees threw a short pass to the sidelines to wide receiver Tommylee Lewis, when Rams defensive back Nickell Robey-Coleman came flying in, knocking Lewis off his feet in mid-air, as the ball went out of bounds.

Had the call been made, the Saints would have had a first down in the red zone and would have been able to run down the clock and win the game with a chip shot field goal.

Instead, the Saints were forced to kick their field goal with plenty of time left on the clock. The Rams drove into field goal range to tie the game before the end of regulation and won the game in overtime.

After the game, Saints head coach Sean Payton was understandably frustrated with the call and said during his press conference that he had already called the league office about the missed penalty.

"That call puts us in 1st-and-10," Payton said. "We only need three plays. It’s a game-changing call."

No matter what the league office tells Payton, there's nothing that can change the outcome of the game. The Rams are going to the Super Bowl, and the Saints season is over.

SEE ALSO: Football fans love to think that they know what constitutes a 'catch' in the NFL — almost all of them are wrong

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• UiPath, an artificial intelligence company backed by Google and Sequoia, will soon hit $200 million annual recurring revenue, sources told Business Insider.
• Though founded in 2005, the company had just $3.5 million in ARR in 2016. 
• The company, which is backed by Accel, CapitalG and Sequoia, was last valued at $3 billion in a September funding round.

The buzzy and well-funded $3 billion artificial intelligence startup UiPath will soon hit $200 million in annual recurring revenue, sources told Business Insider.

UiPath, which does robotic process automation, brought in just $3.5 million in ARR in 2016, according to one source. This means the company grew its revenue by 5614% in just over two years.

ARR is a popular metric used by subscription software or SaaS companies. It essentially takes the value of long-term subscription contracts and normalizes it for a one year period.

The company announced that it hit $100 million in annual recurring revenue in July 2018, then $150 million in November. When UiPath hits $200 million in revenue in the next couple of weeks, its revenue will have grown 33% in just over two months. 

Founded in Romania in 2005, UiPath stayed relatively low-profile until 2015 when it raised its first round of venture capital. Silicon Valley firm Accel led its Series A in 2017, when it raised around $30 million at a $110 million valuation, according to PitchBook.

Alphabet's CapitalG jumped into the company in 2018, leading its first $1 billion unicorn round with a $153 million Series B. CapitalG and Sequoia Capital co-led a $225 million Series C in September, which valued the company at $3 billion, according to PitchBook.

SEE ALSO: US artificial intelligence startups had a record Q1 2018 and raised $1.9 billion of venture capital

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• The Internet of Things is fueling the data-based economy and bridging the divide between physical and digital worlds.
• Consumers, companies, and governments will install more than 40 billion IoT devices worldwide through 2023.
• The next five years will mark a pivotal transformation in how companies and jurisdictions operate, and how consumers live.

Being successful in the digital age doesn’t just require knowing the latest buzzwords; it means identifying the transformational trends – and where they’re heading – before they ever heat up.

Take the Internet of Things (IoT), for example, which now receives not only daily tech news coverage with each new device launch, but also hefty investments from global organizations ushering in worldwide adoption. By 2023, consumers, companies, and governments will install more than 40 billion IoT devices globally. And it’s not just the ones you hear about all the time, like smart speakers and connected cars.

To successfully navigate this changing landscape, individuals and organizations must understand the full extent and functionality of the “Things” included in this network, the key drivers of each market segment, and how it all relates to the work they do every day.

Business Insider Intelligence, Business Insider’s premium research service, has forecasted the start of the IoT’s global proliferation in The IoT Forecast Book 2018— and the next five years will be transformational for consumers, enterprises, and governments.

• Consumer IoT: In the US alone, the number of smart home devices is estimated to surpass 1 billion by 2023, with consumers dishing out about $725 per household — a total of over $90 billion in spending on IoT solutions.
• Enterprise IoT: Comprising the most mature segment of the IoT, companies will continue pouring billions of dollars into connected devices and automation. By 2023, the total industrial robotic system installed base will approach 6 million worldwide, while annual spending on manufacturing IoT solutions will reach about $450 billion.
• Government IoT: Governments globally are ushering in IoT devices to spur the development of smart cities, which would be equipped with innovations like connected cameras, smart street lights, and connected meters to provide a real-time view of traffic, utilities usage, crime, and environmental factors. Annual investment in this area is expected to reach nearly $900 billion by 2023.

Want to Learn More?

People, companies, and organizations all over the world are racing to adopt the latest IoT solutions and prevent growing pains amidst a technological transformation. The IoT Forecast Book 2018 from Business Insider Intelligence is a detailed three-part slide deck outlining the most important trends impacting consumer, enterprise, and government IoT — and the key drivers propelling each segment forward.

Representing thousands of hours of exhaustive research, our multipart forecast books are considered must-reads by thousands of highly successful business professionals. These informative slide decks are packed with charts and statistics outlining the most influential trends on the leading edge of your industry. Keep them for reference or drop the most valuable data into your own presentations to share with your teams.

Whether you’re newly interested in a topic or you already consider yourself a subject matter expert, The IoT Forecast Book 2018 can provide you with the actionable insights you need to make better decisions.

Join the conversation about this story »

This is a preview of a research report from Business Insider Intelligence. Current subscribers can read the report here.

As streaming becomes an increasingly mainstream behavior among consumers, the video industry has produced new combinations of streaming video programming services to prepare for the progressive overhaul in how media is distributed.

These streaming bundles have emerged in response to the problems of media fragmentation, cord-cutting, and high consumer costs. Declining usage of traditional TV across every demographic, particularly among young viewers, has also demanded new solutions to the traditional distribution model that is pay-TV.

Although streaming media bundles are still evolving, four distinct models have emerged:

• Skinny bundles — Cheaper, streaming versions of the traditional pay-TV bundle, but with fewer channels.
• SVOD aggregators — Facilitate a la carte sign-ups to third-party streaming services through a central user portal. The primary example so far is Amazon Channels, Amazon's SVOD partner program. 
• SVOD integrations — SVOD services like Netflix that bring their offerings to a traditional operator's service.
• Streaming service partnerships — Combine one or more streaming services under a single offering, at a lower cost than the total price separately.

In the SVOD Bundling Report, Business Insider Intelligence examines the state of the US video ecosystem and how media companies are refining their distribution strategies to meet the changing needs of consumers. The report situates each of the four bundle model types within the overall SVOD market, and investigates the overarching advantages and challenges each faces. Finally, we predict how player dynamics might transform and adapt, outlining best practices for providers to succeed within the new TV landscape.

Here are some of the key takeaways from the report:

• SVOD bundles partake in a growing SVOD market in the US. Business Insider Intelligence estimates that the SVOD market totals $13.6 billion in 2018, primarily driven by uptake on services from SVOD giants Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video. 
• Streaming video accessed on over-the-top (OTT) platforms is going mainstream, while consumers — particularly younger viewers — are reducing usage on live, linear TV. Traditional TV usage among viewers ages 18-24 has dropped 48% since 2011, 35% among 25-34 year olds, and 18% in the 35-49 demographic. 
• Skinny bundle services are growing in popularity, with 7.2 million subscribers in the US, but they suffer fundamental financial sustainability problems. 
• Distributors with at-scale platforms and powerful back-end tech can capitalize on the growing consumer demand for content consolidation among consumers. Faced with a fragmented and expanding universe of content options, more than two-thirds of consumers say they would prefer to get all their services from a single source, per Hub Entertainment Research. 
• Winners in the bundling shakeout will have prioritized internet-connected tech, an effective user experience, reasonable pricing, and content diversity. 

In full, the report:

• Identifies the four SVOD model types that have emerged as alternatives or supplements to traditional distribution.
• Investigates the top advantages and challenges of each model type.
• Outlines strategies that players across media and distribution companies can use to address business or market challenges.
• Explores how the dynamics of each model type will evolve as services converge under new bundled offerings.

Join the conversation about this story »

• The Los Angeles Rams beat the New Orleans Saints 26-23 on Sunday in the NFC Championship to punch their ticket to Super Bowl LIII.
• The deciding play of the game came on a shocking no-call on what looked like a blatant pass interference by the Rams, which allowed Los Angeles to tie the game late and eventually go on to win in overtime.
• On Twitter, football fans and celebrities alike shared their feelings about the referee's decision to keep the flag in his pocket.

Hogan wasn't the only one to compare the game's outcome to a wrestling match.

Controversial calls deciding the outcomes of playoff games may be bad for football, but it makes for some pretty good memes.

• Read more:
• Saints fans in the Superdome wreaked havoc on the Rams' offense, and none of the players could hear
• Tom Brady reportedly walked into a room while preparing to play the Chiefs and told Patriots teammates that he's 'the baddest motherf----- on the planet'
• Football fans love to think that they know what constitutes a 'catch' in the NFL — almost all of them are wrong
• WHERE ARE THEY NOW? All of the picks in the massive trade that helped the Rams land Jared Goff

Join the conversation about this story »

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• Referees in the NFC Championship didn't call what appeared to be blatant pass interference on the Los Angeles Rams late in the fourth quarter, causing the New Orleans Saints to settle for a field goal. They later lost in overtime.
• Rams defensive back Nickell Robey-Coleman, who appeared to commit the violation, said referees told him that it wasn't pass interference because the ball was tipped. Coleman said he thought it was pass interference.
• Saints head coach Sean Payton said referees told him that they didn't call the penalty because Coleman arrived at the same time as the ball.
• The NFL will reportedly admit there was a missed call.

The NFL world was outraged during the NFC Championship between the New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Rams when referees missed what appeared to be pass interference on the Rams late in the game.

Read more: Saints lose to Rams in NFC Championship after one of the worst missed calls you'll see on a huge fourth-quarter play

With the score tied, with 1:48 left in the game from the Rams' 13-yard line, Rams defensive back Nickell Robey-Coleman hit Saints receiver Tommylee Lewis in mid-air before Lewis could get to the ball. The play wasn't flagged, though it looked like pass interference. The Saints settled for a field goal, and the Rams tied it to end regulation. The Rams then won with a field goal in overtime.

After the game, both Coleman and Saints head coach Sean Payton offered explanations they got from referees for why pass interference wasn't called.

According to D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Coleman said the refs told him that the ball was tipped, which meant it was not pass interference.

It doesn't appear that the ball was tipped, but perhaps live the referees thought it was. They couldn't review the play.

Coleman, however, said he thought it was going to get flagged on the play.

Saints head coach Sean Payton offered a slightly different explanation. He told Fox's Erin Andrews that the referees told him Coleman was in the area of the ball, so it was not PI.

"[The refs] felt like the play arrived at the same time the ball did," Payton said. "They didn't feel like it was an interference call.

"It's a tough way to lose a game, especially when you're in a position like that to win it."

Payton told reporters after the game that he called the league office and they admitted they had missed the call.

Read more: Saints head coach Sean Payton called the league office minutes after losing NFC Championship over blown call

NFL official Bill Vinovich didn't offer much after the game to the pool reporter, claiming he didn't see the play.

According to Pro Football Talk, the NFL will admit that it was a missed call. The Saints may not take much solace in explanation or the admission.

Join the conversation about this story »

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• The Los Angeles Rams beat the New Orleans Saints, 26-23, on Sunday in the NFC Championship to punch their ticket to Super Bowl LIII.
• The deciding play of the game came on a shocking no-call on what looked like a blatant pass interference by the Rams, which allowed Los Angeles to tie the game late and eventually go on to win in overtime.
• After the game, Rams running back Todd Gurley posted a Photoshopped picture that appeared to thank the referees for their help in getting Los Angeles to the Super Bowl.

The Los Angeles Rams beat the New Orleans Saints 26-23 on Sunday in the NFC Championship to punch their ticket to Super Bowl LIII.

For the Saints, the biggest moment of the game came not from any play on the field, but rather a shocking no-call from the referees on what looked like a blatant pass interference penalty late in the fourth quarter.

Read more: Saints lose to Rams in NFC Championship after one of the worst missed calls you'll see on a huge fourth-quarter play

The no-call would give the Rams time to tie the game in regulation and go on to win in overtime, sending Los Angeles to the Super Bowl and ending the Saints season in brutal fashion.

After the game, Rams running back Todd Gurley shared a picture on Instagram that appeared to show his thanks to the referees for their help it getting his team to the Super Bowl.

Controversial calls deciding the outcomes of playoff games may be bad for football, but it makes for some pretty good memes.

• Read more:
• Saints fans in the Superdome wreaked havoc on the Rams' offense, and none of the players could hear
• Tom Brady reportedly walked into a room while preparing to play the Chiefs and told Patriots teammates that he's 'the baddest motherf----- on the planet'
• Football fans love to think that they know what constitutes a 'catch' in the NFL — almost all of them are wrong
• WHERE ARE THEY NOW? All of the picks in the massive trade that helped the Rams land Jared Goff

Join the conversation about this story »

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This is a preview of a research report from Business Insider Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service. To learn more about Business Insider Intelligence, click here.

The gig economy is becoming a core element of the labor market, pushed to the fore by platforms like Uber and Airbnb. Gig economy workers are freelancers, such as journalists who don’t work for one publication directly, freelance developers, drivers on platforms like Uber and Grab, and consumers who rent out their apartments via Airbnb or other home-sharing sites.

Gig economy workers are not employed by these platforms, and therefore typically don't receive conventional employee perks, such as insurance or retirement options. This has created a lucrative opportunity to provide tailored insurance policies for the gig economy. 

A number of insurtech startups — including UK-based Dinghy, which focuses on liability insurance, and US-based Slice, which provides on-demand insurance for a range of areas — have moved to capitalize on this new segment of the labor market. These companies have been busy finding new ways to personalize insurance products by incorporating emerging technologies, including AI and chatbots, to target the gig economy.

In this report, Business Insider Intelligence examines how insurtechs have begun addressing the gig economy, the kinds of policies they are offering, and how incumbents can tap the market themselves. We have opted to focus on three areas of insurance particularly relevant to the gig economy: vehicle insurance, home insurance, and equipment and liability insurance.

While every consumer needs health insurance, there are already a number of insurtechs and incumbent insurers that offer policies for individuals. However, when it comes to insuring work equipment or other utilities for freelancers, it's much more difficult to find suitable coverage. As such, this is the gap in the market where we see the most opportunity to deploy new products.

The companies mentioned in this report are: Airbnb, Deliveroo, Dinghy, Grab, Progressive, Slice, Uber, Urban Jungle, and Zego.

Here are some of the key takeaways from the report:

• By 2027, the majority of the US workforce will work as freelancers, per Upwork and Freelancer Union, though not all of these workers will take part in the gig economy full time.
• By personalizing policies for gig economy workers, insurtechs have been able to tap this opportunity early. 
• A number of other insurtechs, including Slice and UK-based Zego, offer temporary vehicle insurance, which users can switch on and off, depending on when they are working.
• Slice has also developed a new insurance model that combines traditional home insurance with business coverage for temporary use.
• Other freelancers like photojournalists need insurance for their camera, for example, a coverage area that Dinghy has tackled.
• Incumbent insurers have a huge opportunity to leverage their reach and well-known brands to pull in the gig economy and secure a share of this growing segment — and partnering with startups might be the best approach.

 In full, the report:

• Details what the gig economy landscape looks like in different markets.
• Explains how different insurtechs are tackling the gig economy with new personalized policies.
• Highlights possible pain points for incumbents when trying to enter this market.
• Discusses how incumbents can get a piece of the pie by partnering with startups.

SEE ALSO: These were the biggest developments in the global fintech ecosystem over the last 12 months

Join the conversation about this story »

• The Kentucky congressman that represents the parents and mentors of the Covington Catholic High School boys involved in an incident in Washington that subsequently went viral on Saturday says the teachers and parents 'should be proud, not ashamed,' of their kids’ behavior.
• Kentucky Republican U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie said on Twitter that it was his 'honor to represent them,' adding that they had remained calm in the face of 'racist and homosexual slurs.'
• The US has been in a heightened state of social media uproar since Friday, after students from the Kentucky all boys high school were accused of harassing a Native American man in a public stand off in Washington, DC.

Kentucky Republican U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie of  Kentucky's 4th Congressional District has taken to Twitter in an extraordinary defence of the students from Kentucky's Covington Catholic High School, who were filmed on Friday surrounding and chanting at a Native American activist Nathan Phillips in Washington DC.

In what has quickly become an iconic image of a modern America divided,  a teenager wearing a "Make America Great Again" hat smilingly stares just inches from the face of Phillips as the Vietnam veteran beats a drum and sings the "American Indian Movement" song. 

The images have been shared worldwide and sparked intense debate, fury and abuse as social media users, politicians, commentators and punters offer their interpretation of the scene.

Few comments have been as systematically and staunchly supportive of the teenagers as those made Sunday night by the conservative lawmaker from Kentucky.

Massie tweeted that following his initial discomfort at seeing the video, he chose to hang back, weigh up the facts before offering his thoughts: "because the narrative did not match what I know to be the character of these students."

Massie represents Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District which stretches across Northern Kentucky and 280 miles of the Ohio River, including Covington.

The boys, quickly identified as Covington Catholic High School students had traveled from Kentucky to attend the March for Life, an annual anti-abortion demonstration at the capitol.

March for Life is something of a Covington tradition

Wearing "Make America Great Again" hats the boys are recorded from several angles surrounding a small group of protestors in front of the Lincoln memorial.

In several videos posted to social media, a smirking boy stands face-to-face with a protestors as the large group giggles, jeers, and clap.

The UK Daily Mail also reports that a Covington student has since claimed that Phillips has a history of racial vilification claims and forced his way into their "cheer circle" as a publicity stunt.

On Sunday, Massie describes the "honorable and tolerant" students as the victims.

"The honorable and tolerant students of Covington Catholic School came to DC to advocate for the unborn and to learn about our nation’s Capitol," he wrote. "What they got was a brutal lesson in the unjust court of public opinion and social media mobs."

"I’ve now watched over an hour of other videos from 4 different cameras of the incident in front of the Lincoln Memorial. I urge everyone to watch the other videos before passing judgement."

"Would you have remained that composed at that age under those circumstances?" Massie rhetorically asks, without detailing the sources of the brutality.

Separate video of the incident showed a small group of black protesters arguing with some of the crowd members before Phillips intervenes.

"In the face of racist and homosexual slurs, the young boys refused to reciprocate or disrespect anyone. Even when taunted by homophobic bigots, which was obviously bewildering to them, they insulted no one."

Massie concludes by accusing the media of removing the context "of everything that was going on."

"Proud, not ashamed."

Read More: Video shows teenagers in 'MAGA' hats mocking and harassing Native American protestors at Indigenous Peoples March

Despite the  widespread and often visceral condemnation of the incident, Massie encourages the responsible parents and mentors of the boys -  curiously absent during the incident - to be appreciative and gratified by their charges and their behavior.

"Parents and mentors of these boys should be proud, not ashamed, of their kids’ behavior. It is my honor to represent them."

Last week in an interview with Fox Business Channel, Massie defended US Rep. Steve King following a national backlash regarding King's widely panned comments on white supremacy.

"In my presence, he's never said anything racist and so I'm not ready to censure a man based on a New York Times article," Massie said.

Massie: "the narrative did not match what I know to be the character of these students." 

Massie is a staunch social conservative and deficit hawk who often calls for government spending cuts. He was first elected to Congress in 2012. 

SEE ALSO: The mother of one of the boys who mocked a Native American activist blamed 'black Muslims' for the incident

Join the conversation about this story »

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• The Los Angeles Rams defeated the New Orleans Saints for a spot in Super Bowl LIII with the help of a blown call near the end of regulation.
• Noted Saints fan Harry Connick Jr. was not happy and posted an open letter to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Instagram.
• Connick says he won't be watching the Super Bowl and wants changes to the NFL's replay review system.

The New Orleans Saints lost a shot at being in Super Bowl LII thanks to a controversial blown call, and Harry Connick Jr. is not happy.

Read more:Saints lose to Rams in NFC Championship after one of the worst missed calls you'll see on a huge fourth-quarter play

After the game, Harry Connick Jr. posted an open letter on Instagram addressed to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. Needless to say, the troubadour was not happy about how the game ended. In fact, he threatened not to watch the Super Bowl.

The noted Saints fan started by saying he would have written the letter no matter who had been playing in the game. He goes on to call the missed call, "one of the most disgraceful no-calls" he has seen" before ripping the NFL over the state of officiating in general.

He then goes on to say he is "out" and won't be watching the Super Bowl.

"Until changes are made, specifically, booth review of outcome-altering no-calls, you can count me out," Connick wrote. "I'm not watching the AFC Championship game and I won't be watching the Super Bowl."

It should be noted that Connick is a huge Saints fan.

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• A wild sequence of events saw the Chiefs take the lead over the Patriots in the AFC Championship.
• Julian Edelman mis-played the ball on a punt, and the Chiefs recovered it, running it in for a touchdown.
• The play was reviewed, and referees found that the ball missed grazing Edelman's thumb by a sliver, meaning the ball was dead and the touchdown was reversed.
• Two plays later, the Chiefs intercepted Tom Brady, then scored to take the lead, their first of the game.

The AFC Championship between the Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots took a wild turn in the fourth quarter that saw the Chiefs take the lead on a crazy series of plays.

After going three-and-out in the fourth quarter, the Chiefs punted back to the Patriots. While receiving the punt, Julian Edelman misplayed the ball, and it bounced away from him and got scooped up by the Chiefs, who ran it in for a possible go-ahead touchdown.

However, referees reviewed the play after Edelman was adamant that he didn't touch the ball. If he had touched it, it would be a live ball for for the Chiefs to pick up. If he didn't, the ball would be dead where the Chiefs touched it.

How close was it? Within a fingertip:

The refs reviewed the play, amid much discussion from analysts and fans, and ruled that Edelman didn't touch it. Patriots ball.

But two plays later, Tom Brady threw an interception, turning the momentum back to the Chiefs. Tony Romo (and many others) mentioned the common basketball saying, "Ball don't lie."

And two plays later, the Chiefs scored, taking the lead for the first time.

Between Thumbgate and the missed pass interference call in the NFC Championship, it's been a tough and busy weekend for the refs.

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This is a preview of a research report from Business Insider Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service. To learn more about Business Insider Intelligence, click here.

Over the past five years, the world has seen a seemingly unending series of high-profile data breaches, defined as incidents in which unauthorized parties access and retrieve sensitive, secure, or private data.

Major incidents, like the 2013 Yahoo breach, which impacted all 3 million of the tech giant’s customers, and the more recent Equifax breach, which exposed the information of at least 143 million US adults, has kept this risk, and these threats, at the forefront for both businesses and consumers. And businesses have good reason to be concerned — of organizations breached, 22% lost customers, 29% lost revenue, and 23% lost business opportunities.

This threat isn’t going anywhere. Each of the past five years has seen, on average, 1,704 security incidents, impacting nearly 2 billion records. And hackers could be getting more efficient, using new technological tools to extract more data in fewer breach attempts. That’s making the security threat an industry-agnostic for any business holding sensitive data — at this point, virtually all companies — and therefore a necessity for firms to address proactively and prepare to react to.

The majority of breaches come from the outside, when a malicious actor is usually seeking access to records for financial gain, and tend to leverage malware or other software and hardware-related tools to access records. But they can come internally, as well as from accidents perpetrated by employees, like lost or stolen records or devices.

That means that firms need to have a broad-ranging plan in place, focusing on preventing breaches, detecting them quickly, and resolving and responding to them in the best possible way. That involves understanding protectable assets, ensuring compliance, and training employees, but also protecting data, investing in software to understand what normal and abnormal performance looks like, training employees, and building a response plan to mitigate as much damage as possible when the inevitable does occur.

Business Insider Intelligence, Business Insider’s premium research service, has put together a detailed report on the data breach threat, who and what companies need to protect themselves from, and how they can most effectively do so from a technological and organizational perspective.

Here are some key takeaways from the report:

• The breach threat isn’t going anywhere. The number of overall breaches isn’t consistent — it soared from 2013 to 2016, but ticked down slightly last year — but hackers might be becoming better at obtaining more records with less work, which magnifies risk.
• The majority of breaches come from the outside, and leverage software and hardware attacks, like malware, web app attacks, point-of-service (POS) intrusion, and card skimmers.
• Firms need to build a strong front door to prevent as many breaches as possible, but they also need to develop institutional knowledge to detect a breach quickly, and plan for how to resolve and respond to it in order to limit damage — both financial and subjective — as effectively as possible.

In full, the report:

• Explains the scope of the breach threat, by industry and year, and identifies the top attacks.
• Identifies leading perpetrators and causes of breaches.
• Addresses strategies to cope with the threat in three key areas: prevention, detection, and resolution and response.
• Issues recommendations from both a technological and organizational perspective in each of these categories so that companies can avoid the fallout that a data breach can bring.

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• Tom Brady led the New England Patriots to the game-winning touchdown in overtime to beat the Kansas City Chiefs and make it back to the Super Bowl.
• In the first drive of overtime, Brady thrice threw for first downs on third-and-long, keeping the drive alive, eventually leading to a rushing touchdown by Rex Burkhead.
• The fourth quarter of the game saw some wild action, but the Patriots remained composed enough to pull off the win.

Tom Brady did it again, and the New England Patriots are going back to the Super Bowl.

The Patriots beat the Kansas City Chiefs, 37-31 in overtime in the AFC Championship after Brady led the Patriots down the field to start overtime, eventually getting running back Rex Burkhead to punch in the game-winning score.

Brady was as precise and machine-like as ever in overtime, thrice getting first downs on 3rd-and-long to keep the drive going. He found Julian Edelman for two big completions, then Rob Gronkowski for a first down that felt like the nail in the coffin.

Brady finished the game with 346 yards on 30-46 passing, with 1 touchdown, and 2 interceptions.

The second half of the game featured some of the wildest action the league has seen all year. Trailing the Patriots 17-0 at halftime, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense found its groove, scoring 24 of their 31 points in the fourth quarter.

Several times it seemed the Chiefs were out of it, only to rally. After a review determined that Julian Edelman did not touch the ball on a punt that would have awarded the Chiefs the ball, they picked off Brady, then scored to take the lead for the first time.

Read more: BALL DON'T LIE: Chiefs get massive fourth quarter score on an interception after a wild, controversial review over whether Julian Edelman's fingers grazed a punt

The Patriots came back, with another precise drive by Brady, as they scored with 39 seconds remaining. However, Mahomes made two huge throws (alongside some penalties on the Patriots) that got the Chiefs within field goal distance to tie the game.

Why Mahomes, the likely league MVP, did not get a chance to tie the game in overtime is a question the NFL will have to consider if they evaluate their overtime rules.

In the meantime, Brady and company are going back to the Super Bowl, their third in a row, to face the Los Angeles Rams.

Brady is indeed the baddest you-know-what.

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• Israel's Defense Forces (IDF) have tweeted that they have begun striking Iranian targets inside Syria.
• Israel's powerful military tweeted that they are targeting elite units of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, known as The Quds.
• Normally reticent, the IDF has not provided any further information, but did warn Syria not to 'harm' any Israeli's or Israeli territory.
• The move is a calculated response by the IDF which said earlier on Sunday that it intercepted missiles launched out of Syria toward Israel.

Israel's Defense Forces says they have begun striking Iranian targets inside Syria, tweeting that they are targeting the Iranian Revolutionary Guards elite forces, the Quds.

Israel has not provided any other details, but it's military warned Syria on Twitter not to "harm" Israeli forces or territory.

Tensions have escalated quickly between forces within the two neighboring countries. 

Netanyahu: "We have a defined policy: to harm Iranian entrenchment in Syria."

"We warn the Syrian Armed Forces against attempting to harm Israeli forces or territory,"Haaretz.com reported the IDF as saying, adding that the IDF hit targets belonging to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' elite unit Quds Force.

The move is a calculated response by the IDF which said earlier on Sunday that it intercepted missiles launched out of Syria toward Israel.

Syrian media say air defenses managed to repel "an Israeli aerial attack," following reports of strikes in and around the Syrian capital Damascus early on Monday.

Associated Press reports that earlier on Sunday the IDF said it had intercepted a rocket over the Golan Heights.

The statement is a surprising break with protocol for an Israeli military with a reputation for adhering to its own discipline and systems.

The IDF very rarely signals its intent with a statement to media or via any public admissions most particularly when considering its largely covert military operations in Syria.

With so much at stake, Israel has sought to keep its profile and involvement in the bloody and drawn out civil war to a minimum.

According to Syrian military the IDF began intensive airstrikes, launching groups of missiles shortly after 1 a.m.local time. Reports via the BBC suggest that the Syrian air defenses destroyed most of the missiles before they hit their targets.

On Sunday, Syrian state media confirmed that air defenses successfully protected the international airport south of Damascus.

Syrian state TV said the war torn nation's air defenses "prevented" the attack, saying Israel targeted 6 missiles near Damascus International Airport. State TV said that 5 were intercepted while the last was "diverted."

Witnesses heard explosions overnight and while the damage remains uncertain, the BBC reports that the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights believes Israeli rockets were directly targeting Damascus.

Read More: Israel blows hundreds of thousands firing Iron Dome missile at nothing in a bizarre, costly mistake

The operation comes after Israeli said that "a rocket was fired at the northern Golan Heights and was intercepted by the Iron Dome Aerial Defence System".

While Israel rarely confirms or denies it's strategic operations inside Syria, or elsewhere, but with the political future of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the spotlight, the prime minister issued a warning himself while in Chad on Sunday.

After Israel’s "Iron Dome" missile shield intercepted a rocket fired toward the Golan Heights, Netanyahu, released a a statement reminding his constituents if Israel's standing policy.

Israel's Iron Dome

“We have a defined policy: to harm Iranian entrenchment in Syria and to harm anyone who tries to harm us.”

Netanyahu has previously claimed that Israel has destroyed hundreds of Iran-linked objectives in Syria, including a  weapons facility linked to Hezbollah two weeks ago. 

In May last year, Israel said it destroyed almost all of Iran's military infrastructure inside Syria in its such biggest assault since the start of the Syrian civil war 8 years ago

SEE ALSO: Israel's Iron Dome missile interceptor might not be as successful as some people think

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• The Patriots defeated the Chiefs 37-31 in overtime in the AFC Championship, earning their third straight trip to the Super Bowl.
• For a moment, it looked as though the Chiefs had sealed the game with an interception late in the fourth quarter, but the play was called back after an offsides penalty.
• The Patriots took advantage, scoring a go-ahead touchdown and eventually winning the game in overtime.

The New England Patriots are heading to the Super Bowl for the third straight year after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 37-31 in overtime in the AFC Championship.

It was a game full of wild momentum swings, including dramatic replays, and not one, but two clutch touchdown drives from Tom Brady and the Patriots offense.

Read more: BALL DON'T LIE: Chiefs get massive fourth quarter score on an interception after a wild, controversial review over whether Julian Edelman's fingers grazed a punt

But the one moment the Chiefs will likely have the hardest time letting go of came late in the fourth quarter when an unnecessary offsides penalty cost the Kansas City defense what was likely the game-winning interception.

Patrick Mahomes drove the Chiefs offense down the field to take a 28-24 lead with just over two minutes left on the clock, setting the stage for Brady to drive the field and win the game in the final seconds.

After a few quick completions got the Patriots into Chiefs territory, the outcome felt all but inevitable, until Charvarius Ward picked off a ball tipped by Rob Gronkowski, momentarily sealing the game for Kansas City.

Unfortunately for Chiefs fans, it wasn't meant to be, as linebacker Dee Ford had lined up offsides on the play, giving the ball back to the Patriots.

The Patriots would go on to finish the drive with a touchdown. Mahomes would rally the Chiefs offense into field goal range to tie the game just before the end of regulation to force overtime, but in the extra period the Patriots won the toss, elected to receive, and drove for another touchdown without ever giving the Chiefs and chance to win the game.

The Chiefs were about as close as you can be to an AFC Championship win, but thanks to a bone-headed penalty and another clutch performance from Brady, it's the Patriots who will be playing in the Super Bowl.

• Read more:
• Saints fans in the Superdome wreaked havoc on the Rams' offense, and none of the players could hear
• Tom Brady reportedly walked into a room while preparing to play the Chiefs and told Patriots teammates that he's 'the baddest motherf----- on the planet'
• Football fans love to think that they know what constitutes a 'catch' in the NFL — almost all of them are wrong
• WHERE ARE THEY NOW? All of the picks in the massive trade that helped the Rams land Jared Goff

SEE ALSO: Todd Gurley posted an eyebrow-raising Photoshopped photo that appeared to thank the refs for blown call in NFC title game

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• Digital trust is the confidence people have in a platform to protect their information and provide a safe environment for them to create and engage with content.
• Business Insider Intelligence surveyed over 1,300 global consumers to evaluate their perception of Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
• Consumers’ Digital Trust rankings differ across security, legitimacy, community, user experience, shareability, and relevance for the six major social networks.

If you feel like “fake news” and spammy social media feeds dominate your Internet experience, you’re not alone. Digital trust, the confidence people have in platforms to protect their information and provide a safe environment to create and engage with content, is in jeopardy.

In fact, in a new Business Insider Intelligence survey of more than 1,300 global consumers, over half (54%) said that fake news and scams were "extremely impactful” or “very impactful” on their decision to engage with ads and sponsored content.

For businesses, this distrust has financial ramifications. It’s no longer enough to craft a strong message; brands, marketers, and social platforms need to focus their energy on getting it to consumers in an environment where they are most receptive. When brands reach consumers on platforms that they trust, they enhance their credibility and increase the likelihood of receiving positive audience engagement.

The Digital Trust Report 2018, the latest Enterprise Edge Report from Business Insider Intelligence, compiles this exclusive survey data to analyze consumer perceptions of Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

The survey breaks down consumers’ perceptions of social media across six pillars of trust: security, legitimacy, community, user experience, shareability, and relevance. The results? LinkedIn ran away with it.

As the most trusted platform for the second year in a row – and an outlier in the overall survey results – LinkedIn took the top spot for nearly every pillar of trust — and there are a few reasons why:

• LinkedIn continues to benefit from the professional nature of its community — users on the platform tend to be well behaved and have less personal information at risk, which makes for a more trusting environment.
• LinkedIn users are likely more selective and mindful about engagement when interacting within their professional network, which may increase trust in its content.
• Content on LinkedIn is typically published by career-minded individuals and organizations seeking to promote professional interests, and is therefore seen as higher quality than other platforms’. This bodes well for advertisers and publishers to be viewed as forthright, honest, persuasive, and trustworthy.

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Enterprise Edge Reports are the very best research Business Insider Intelligence has to offer in terms of actionable recommendations and proprietary data, and they are only available to Enterprise clients.

The Digital Trust Report 2018 illustrates how social platforms have been on a roller coaster ride of data, user privacy, and brand safety scandals since our first installment of the report in 2017.

In full, the report analyzes key changes in rankings from 2017, identifies trends in millennials' behavior on social media, and highlights where these platforms (as well as advertisers) have opportunities to capture their attention.

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• Serena Williams made an embarrassing mistake before her Australian Open match against Simona Halep on Monday.
• Williams was already through the tunnel and had made a few steps onto the court when she was receiving applause from the crowd.
• The only problem? The cheers were not for her. She had mistimed her entrance as the announcer had called for the world number one Halep.
• Any embarrassment proved to be short-lived as Williams beat Halep two sets to one, and now progresses into Wednesday's quarter-final.

Serena Williams looked mortified as she made her way to the Rod Laver Arena for her crucial Australian Open match on Monday.

Williams was already through the tunnel, had made a few steps onto the court, and received a round of applause from the Melbourne crowd before she realized she had completely mistimed her entrance and that the cheers were not intended for her.

This is because Williams walked onto the court as her opponent's name, the world number one Simona Halep, was being announced.

All Williams could do was double back down the tunnel, and make her way back to the court after Halep.

Watch footage of the ordeal below:

Any embarrassment proved to be short-lived as Williams threatened to make light work of Halep.

Read more: Alexis Ohanian says he keeps a spreadsheet of everything he owns while Serena Williams, his wife, 'has no idea where all of her trophies are'

The American won the first set 6-1 in approximately 20 minutes, before Halep battled back in the second to restore parity heading into the critical third and final stanza, one which Williams won with aplomb.

"I'm such a fighter, I never give up, I … it's … I don't know, it's innate,"Williams said after the match, according to the Australian Open's official Twitter channel. "This is my job… my job is to come out and play in front of you guys and it's a super pleasure. That keeps me motivated to keep trying for literally every point."

With victory, Williams booked her place in the final eight — her 50th appearance in a Grand Slam quarter-final— and plays Karolína Plíšková on Wednesday.

SEE ALSO: Alexis Ohanian says he keeps a spreadsheet of everything he owns while Serena Williams, his wife, 'has no idea where all of her trophies are'

DON'T MISS: Serena Williams says she and Venus were never 'afraid to be black' in tennis, and she wants her own daughter to be confident in her body

UP NEXT: Serena Williams identified Roger Federer's one 'super underestimated' skill after playing him for the first time

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