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Leesa's Cyber Monday sale runs through December 7, and you can get up to $500 off mattresses plus 2 free pillows

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When you buy through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more.

leesa bf deal

Mattress deals abound on Black Friday. We love highlighting Leesa's in particular because we've tested most of its mattresses (and pillows and frames), and the online brand makes some of the best mattresses we've ever slept on. 

Luckily, you won't have to wait until Black Friday officially begins to take advantage of deals on Leesa mattresses. Now through December 7, Leesa is offering up to $500 off its four signature mattresses. You'll also receive two free down pillows with your purchase. Savings will depend on which mattress and size you get:

The savings are steep, but if you're looking for the Hybrid or Legend specifically, you'll save more with our exclusive discount code "INSIDER" for 20% off the Hybrid or Legend.

Since Leesa mattresses are also sold at West Elm, Amazon, and Macy's, we've included those buying options below, in case you prefer shopping at those sites, or want to checkout all your Black Friday finds in one cart. Some of the deals differ in that they don't include two free pillows or may include store-specific promotions. 

If you need to overhaul multiple parts of your bedroom, you can also buy various bundles. These let you pair bed frames and mattress protectors to your mattress and come at a discounted price when bought together. 

There's an additional social element to Leesa's Cyber Monday promotions too. The brand has launched a challenge where participants are asked to sleep away from their bed for one night. If they share their experience on social media with the hashtag #1BedlessNight, Leesa will donate one bed to a child who needs it. 

The best Cyber Monday deals on Leesa mattresses: 

  • Also available at West Elm (Twin and Full sizes only, does not include free pillows) and Amazon (does not include free pillows). 
  • Also available at West Elm (includes free pillows, and you'll receive $100 off your next furniture purchase of $200 or more), Amazon (does not include free pillows), and Macy's (includes a free adjustable base but does not include free pillows).
  • Also available at West Elm (includes free pillows, and you'll receive $100 off your next furniture purchase of $200 or more), Amazon (does not include free pillows), and Macy's (includes a free adjustable base but does not include free pillows).
  • Also available at West Elm (includes free pillows). 

Shop all mattresses at Leesa here

Check out our guides to the best mattresses and toppers below for more products that may be on sale this Cyber Monday: 

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Trump baselessly claims the FBI and DOJ may be involved in a ploy to 'rig' the election and says the agencies have been 'missing in action' in his legal battles

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Donald Trump
President Donald Trump, followed by his grandchildren walk on the south lawn of the White House on November 29, 2020 in Washington, DC.
  • President Donald Trump on Sunday said he believed the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice may be involved in an effort to steal the election from him.
  • There is no evidence to support this, nor is there evidence to support his baseless claims of voter fraud in the election, and the president offered none during the Sunday interview.
  • Trump also said the FBI and DOJ were "missing in action," bemoaning that the agencies weren't doing enough to prove his unsubstantiated claims.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

President Donald Trump on Sunday claimed in an interview on Fox News that the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice may be involved in a conspiracy to steal the election from him, which has no basis in fact.

"This is total fraud, and how the FBI and Department of Justice — I don't know maybe they're involved. But how people are allowed to get away with this stuff is unbelievable," the president told Fox Business anchor Maria Bartiromo.

"This election was rigged. This election was a total fraud and it continues to be as they hide," Trump said. "And the problem we have, we go to judges and people don't want to get involved."

There is no evidence of widespread voter fraud in the election, nor is there evidence of an effort to rig the election against the president. Trump, however, has spent weeks attempting to dispute the election results by leveling allegations of such fraud, which he has been unable to substantiate

President-elect Joe Biden secured 306 electoral college votes, pushing him well over the 270 needed to win the presidency. He also earned more than 80 million votes nationally, compared to Trump's more than 73 million. Both candidates secured more votes than any presidential candidate in history. 

Read moreJoe Biden is hiring about 4,000 political staffers to work in the White House and federal agencies. Here's how you can boost your chances getting a job in the new administration, according to 3 experts.

Trump also told Bartiromo that he believed the FBI and DOJ were "missing in action" when asked whether they were investigating his claims of fraud in the election, and said he wished he wouldn't have pledged to "stay out" of their work. 

"There's no reason really why I have to," he said.

 

"You would think if you're in the FBI or Department of Justice, this is the biggest thing you could be looking at. Where are they?" he asked. "I've not seen anything.

"They just keep moving along and they go on to the next president," he continued. "People don't understand this, they've been there a long time. Some of them have served a lot of different presidents, and they have their own views."

The president also Sunday said that he had asked his lawyers to file"one big, beautiful lawsuit" encompassing all of his baseless claims of voter fraud, but said he was told by his own lawyers he didn't have the legal standing to make such a suit. Instead, his legal team has filed a number of smaller suits, which don't allege fraud, in a number of states. None of them have yielded success in overturning the election results.

In the Sunday interview — his first TV interview since losing the election — Trump refused to say when he'd give up the legal challenges and accept the election results.

Read the original article on Business Insider

In a first, the Air Force strapped a cruise missile to the outside of a B-1B bomber

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B-1B Lancer bomber Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile JASSM
A B-1B Lancer with a Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) over Edwards Air Force Base in California, during a demonstration of the B-1B’s external weapons carriage capabilities, November 20, 2020.
  • In a late-November demonstration, a B-1B carried an inert AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile, known as JASSM, on an external pylon.
  • The demonstration is seen as a step forward in plans to have the B-1B carry future ordnance — like hypersonic missiles — outside of its internal bomb bay.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The US Air Force just proved it can externally mount an advanced stealth cruise missile on the B-1B Lancer for the first time, a step forward in plans to have the B-1 carry future ordnance — like hypersonic missiles — outside of its internal bomb bay.

In the demonstration, carried out by Air Force Materiel Command and Boeing Co., the B-1 carried an inert AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile, known as JASSM, on an external pylon. Then, the aircraft demonstrated its "ability to safely release" a mounted AGM-158 separation test vehicle, according to Air Force Global Strike Command spokesman Lt. Col. David Faggard.

"The captive-carry event is actually not a test, but a demonstration to revalidate the previously dormant external carry capability pre-existing on the B-1," Faggard told Military.com. "No major modifications were needed."

He added, "This demonstration may pave the way possibly for the B-1B to carry hypersonic weapons externally."

Members of the 412th Test Wing's 419th Flight Test Squadron, Global Power Combined Test Force, carried out the proof-of-concept over Edwards Air Force Base, California, on November 20.

"Adapting a small number of our healthiest B-1s to carry hypersonic weapons is vital to bridge between the bomber force we have today, to the force of tomorrow," Gen. Tim Ray, head of AFGSC, said in a statement.

Service officials said the demo does not affect its request to retire 17 B-1B bombers in 2021, reducing the fleet to just 44 aircraft in order to better sustain the most viable planes. The service plans to retire the entire fleet by 2036.

B-1B Lancer bomber Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile JASSM
A B-1B Lancer during the demonstration with a JASSM over Edwards Air Force Base in California, November 20, 2020.

Earlier this year, the House Armed Services Seapower and Projection Forces subcommittee said it would allow the bomber retirements as long as the service keeps 24 combat-coded aircraft; lawmakers previously demanded the service keep at least 36 bombers always ready for combat.

"My goal is to have a limited number of B-1s modified to become the roving linebacker of the western Pacific and the North Atlantic," Ray said.

Some of those missions are already underway: This year, B-1s have been spotted conducting multiple high-visibility patrols in these regions, most notably across the East and South China Seas. In May, bombers from Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, also held their first-ever training mission over Sweden near the Arctic.

The weapons' trial "is a true testament to the engineering and operations' teams who took this idea from concept to rapid test in a short amount of time," Ray added. He has previously advocated steps to make the remaining bombers even more lethal.

"This is a major step forward in our global precision fires capability and it is important we pursue these technologies to remain ahead of our competitors," he said.

Treaty constraints

The external hardpoints on the B-1B were once built to carry nuclear-tipped cruise missiles — a mission the long-range aircraft no longer has. The conversion process to make the B-1 non-nuclear began under the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, with the final conversion taking place in 2011.

While the external carriage demonstration reactivates the original design and inherent capability, the aircraft "will remain treaty-compliant," Faggard said. "The expanded capabilities will be conventional-only," he said.

If the Air Force pursues permanent modifications, the B-1's hard points would be reconfigured to carry modern conventional weapons and the right-forward hardpoint that currently supports the targeting pod pylon — a tracking device used for target detection and identification — that has been in operational use for the past 15 years, Faggard said.

Kingston Reif, the director of disarmament & threat reduction policy at the Arms Control Association, pointed out the Air Force has publicized increasing the B-1's weapons' payload — particularly with JASSM — for months now.

"This would not violate the treaty because the bomber is still only carrying conventional weapons," Reif said Tuesday. "They're not reinserting the electronics that would be required to make the bomber nuclear-capable, or to carry nuclear weapons."

He added, "They're doing something to reverse what they've previously done, but that doesn't mean it's a violation of the treaty."

Upgunning the missiles

B-1B Lancer bomber Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile JASSM
A B-1B Lancer carries a JASSM over Edwards Air Force Base in California during a demonstration of the B-1B's external weapons carriage capabilities, November 20, 2020.

The variable sweep-wing aircraft is capable of carrying both precision-guided and conventional bombs.

During the Syria strike in 2018, the B-1 struck targets using 19 JASSMs, marking the first operational use of any variant of the missile. (The standard JASSM-A missile variant was used, not the new extended-range variant, known as JASSM-ER.)

In August 2019, the Air Force proved it could transform the Lancer to hold more ordnance, a first step toward carrying hypersonic weapons payloads. The test, also conducted by Edward's 419th Flight Test Squadron, demonstrated that crews could fasten new racks onto the B-1's external hardpoints as well as reconfigure its internal bomb bays to hold heavier weapons.

The B-1 is also capable of carrying the Long Range Anti-Ship Missile, or LRASM. A single B-1B can carry up to 24 LRASMs; the Navy missile, which can autonomously locate and track targets while avoiding friendly forces, achieved early operational capability on the bomber in 2018.

The current initiative enables the B-1 "to carry 24 JASSMs [and or] LRASMs internally with 6 to 12 weapons externally," Faggard said. The proposed increase means that two bombers would equal three bombers' worth of weapons, he said.

The trial also determined that the B-1 can still carry a full, internal weapons complement even if JASSMs are positioned outside the bomb bay, Faggard said. Furthermore, the B-1 is able to employ internal weapons "without expending external weapons first," he said.

Engineers are now reviewing the data collected during the November 20 flight before the service moves on to the next phase of the demonstration: an external weapons release, Faggard said.

"This extensive engineering review will help the Air Force understand areas where we need to focus in order to maintain the B-1B as a multi-mission weapon system, potentially laying the groundwork for integration of future weapons on the aircraft," he said.

— Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to attribute additional treaty compliance details to Air Force Global Strike spokesman Lt. Col. Dave Faggard.

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Trump says he is ashamed that he supported Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp

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Georgia Governor Brian Kemp
Gov. Brian Kemp (R-Georgia).
  • President Donald Trump on Sunday expressed regret for supporting GOP Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, a statement that could potentially create major discord only weeks before two critical US Senate runoff elections in the state.
  • In a call-in interview with Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo, Trump harshly criticized both Kemp and Georgia Secretary of State Raffensperger for utilizing Dominion voting machines in the state.
  • "The governor has done nothing," Trump said. "I'm ashamed that I endorsed him.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

President Donald Trump on Sunday lit into Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, expressing regret for supporting the conservative Republican, a statement that could potentially create major discord only weeks before two critical US Senate runoff elections in the state.

Trump, still smarting from President-elect Joe Biden winning Georgia in the November election, has repeatedly blamed the state's usage of Dominion Voting Systems machines for his defeat. Dominion has come under fire from conservatives in the wake of the election, with the company having to fend off debunked allegations that their machines facilitated voting irregularities.

After weeks of publicly sparring with Georgia's GOP Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger over the election results, Kemp is Trump's newest Peach State target.

In a call-in interview with Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo, Trump's first major television interview since the election, he decried unsupported claims of mass voter fraud and harshly criticized both Kemp and Raffensperger for utilizing Dominion voting machines in the state. Days after the election was called for Joe Biden, Trump shared a baseless conspiracy theory about Dominion Voting Systems, an election-software company that was used by battleground states, including Michigan and Georgia, as Business Insider's Rachel E. Greenspan reported. Trump had claimed that Dominion "DELETED" more than one million Trump votes across the US by switching votes from Trump to Biden in Pennsylvania and other states. 

 "Everything has to be approved by the legislature, and they had judges making deals, and they had electoral officials making deals like this character in Georgia who's a disaster," Trump said of Raffensperger.

"The governor has done nothing," he said. "He's done absolutely nothing. I'm ashamed that I endorsed him. But I look at what's going on — it's so terrible."

Kemp, formerly Georgia's Secretary of State, narrowly defeated former Georgia House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams in the 2018 gubernatorial election. He has served as the state's governor since January 2019.

Republicans, hoping to secure their majority in the US Senate, would like to focus on reelecting Republican Sen. David Perdue and electing appointed Sen. Kelly Loeffler to the seat that was vacated by former Sen. Johnny Isakson in December 2019. Perdue will face Democrat Jon Ossoff and Loeffler face Democrat Raphael Warnock, respectively.

Runoff elections were triggered for both races since no candidate secured a majority of the vote in the November general election. Under Georgia state law, a Senate candidate must receive at least 50% of the vote to win an election.

Earlier this month, both Perdue and Loeffler called on Raffensperger to resign, which he rejected. 

Republicans would like to prevent any party disagreements or disunity that could jeopardize the Senate seats.

If Democrats can pick up both seats, there would be a 50-50 split in the Senate, giving the party a majority with Vice-President Kamala Harris having the ability to break ties.

Read the original article on Business Insider

US consumers spent a record $9 billion on Black Friday online shopping

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shopping
A storefront in Boston's fashionable Newbury Street shopping district is seen on In this September 15, 2020.

Black Friday online sales hit a new record this year as pandemic-wary Americans filled virtual carts instead of real ones.

Consumers spent an estimated $9 billion on US retail websites on Black Friday, according to Adobe Analytics, which tracks online shopping. That was a 22% increase over the previous record of $7.4 billion in 2019.

The company expects Monday to be the largest online sales day in US history, with estimated spending of between $10.8 billion and $12.7 billion.

One reason for the big numbers is that people are shopping online for things such as groceries and alcohol that they bought in stores before the pandemic, Adobe said. As for more traditional gifts, Hot Wheels cars, Lego sets, Apple AirPods, Samsung televisions and video games are among the biggest sellers.

Big retailers such as Walmart and Target benefited from the surge, but small retailers did as well, Adobe said. Sales at big stores surged by 403% on Thanksgiving and Black Friday compared to the daily average in October, but sales at smaller retailers also grew by 349%.

Read the original article on Business Insider

Best Buy's Cyber Monday 2020 deals include discounts on Beats headphones, OLED TVs, and more — here's what's on sale now

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When you buy through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more.

Cyber Monday 2020 Best Buy Deals 2x1

With Black Friday 2020 officially over, Cyber Monday is less than a day away now, and we're already seeing early deals on all kinds of tech products from laptops and TVs to gaming gear and headphones.

Every major online store — in particular tech giants like Amazon — are throwing down deals right now through Monday. However, Best Buy has it all, from that new monitor for your home office upgrade, to smart doorbells and security systems for that security update as well as that new 4K TV for the den.

The word's still out on what the best deals of the day will be with Best Buy on Cyber Monday proper, but in recent years past, there have been massive savings, like $450 off 75-inch 4K TVs, steep discounts on smart home devices, like the Nest and Google Home Mini, and savings on nice-to-haves like noise-cancelling headphones and Bluetooth speakers.

What we do know: on Sunday Best Buy already has solid deals up on Xbox controllers, laptops, and new 4K TVs of all sizes and prices. What's more, the electronics retailer is helping you get your new gadgets faster by offering in-store pickup on some online orders.

Below are some of the best deals we've found that are live now, and answers to a few questions you might have about shopping Cyber Monday at Best Buy.

Table of Contents: Masthead Sticky

Top Best Buy Cyber Monday deals

Solo Pro More Matte Collection (medium, Preferred: Best Buy)
A8H 65" UHD 4K TV (medium, Preferred: Best Buy)
75-inch NanoCell 80 4K TV (medium, Preferred: Best Buy)32-inch Smart HDTV - Fire TV Edition (medium, Preferred: Best Buy)
Roomba 675 Robot Vacuum (medium, Preferred: Best Buy)Echo Dot (4th Generation) (medium, Preferred: Best Buy)EVO Select 256GB MicroSDXC (medium, Preferred: Best Buy)

How do we choose the best deals from Best Buy?

  • We only choose products that meet our high standard of coverage, from brands we've tested and trust.
  • We compare the prices against other retailers like Amazon, Target, and Walmart and only include the deals that are the same or better (not including promotional discounts that come from using certain credit cards).
  • We research price history thoroughly to ensure that every deal we list is actually worth your time.

When is Cyber Monday 2020?

Cyber Monday 2020 takes place on November 30 and, if last year's sale was any indicator, the deals will start rolling in at 12:00 a.m. CT this year. It's a bit different than Black Friday; as the name suggests, Cyber Monday sales are typically online-only, whereas Black Friday will still offer some in-store discounts. The discounted products are generally the same, though Cyber Monday leans a bit more tech, and you can snag equally exceptional deals both days.

That all said, there are also Best Buy Cyber Monday deals that start as soon as, well, today: Sunday – and those deals will carry on into Monday and potentially later in the week as stock allows.

Can I order online and pick up in-store?

Best Buy offers both in-store and curbside pickup for online orders. Just select the option that works best for you when adding to your cart to knock off any extra shipping costs and, sometimes, expedite your order's arrival. You'll need your ID, the credit card used for the purchase, and order number when you get to the store. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, you must also wear a face-covering to enter the store to pick your order up. 

Here are the options:

  • Contactless Curbside Pickup: Keep contact to a minimum by selecting this option at checkout; you'll receive step-by-step instructions via email to receive your order as smoothly as possible, all from the safety of your car. 
  • Fast Store Pickup: Or just store pickup at checkout, you can get your order as soon as within an hour of placing it. 
  • Free shipping to stores: If the item you're ordering is out of stock at your local Best Buy, you can have it shipped to your store for pickup, free. 
  • Friends and Family Pickup: Send a gift to a loved one via your closest Best Buy location or have someone you trust pick your order up for you with this option. Shipping to store is still free. 
  • Warehouse Pickup: For larger purchases like home appliances, select warehouse pickup to avoid scheduling conflicts and heavy shipping costs by picking your order up straight from the warehouse. Most metropolitan areas have a Best Buy Warehouse nearby; find a warehouse (it'll say in the name) near you here.

What should I buy from Best Buy during Cyber Monday?

The discounts you should expect from Best Buy this Cyber Monday are very similar to those you can hope to see during Black Friday. It leans heavily on tech: TVs, audio gear, smart home accessories, gaming peripherals and the like are all deeply discounted over Cyber Monday.

If you're planning to buy a TV, do so on Cyber Monday. We're already seeing notable drops, like $500 off the 75-inch LG NanoCell 80, $1,000 off the 65-inch Sony A8H OLED, and $70 off the 32-inch Insignia HD Fire TV. This year, we expect to see the same range of TVs on sale; no matter your budget or size requirements, you're sure to find something that fits your needs this Cyber Monday.

Headphones and speakers always drop to notable lows during the event, and 2020 should be no different. Whether you're looking for earbuds, Bluetooth headphones, portable speakers, home theater soundbars, or bookshelf speakers this year, so long as you can hold out til Cyber Monday rolls around, you can find a solid deal. 

Smartening up your home is never as affordable as it is during Cyber Monday. Discounts always include accessories compatible with both Google smart assistant and Amazon Alexa, along with the speakers and smart displays.  

Though typically less pricey a purchase than something like a TV, PC and gaming peripherals always fall to lows on Cyber Monday. Gaming mice, keyboards, headsets, and SSDs from brands like Logitech, Razer, HyperX, and Samsung see deep discounts every year during the event, so don't miss out if you're looking for something specific.

What is My Best Buy?

My Best Buy is the free program offered by the retailer that can get you some extra discounts and perks, members only. Some of the perks include, but aren't limited to, early deal access and the Black Friday price guarantee going on now. You don't need to be signed up to shop the deals, but if you're planning to shop from Best Buy at all this Cyber Monday, it's worth signing up — it's free. 

Which is better, Black Friday or Cyber Monday?

This year, with most shopping taking place online, the difference between the two days will be less distinct — in-store exclusives will be a thing of the past as buyers stay home and opt for safety. Both days will offer exceptional savings, of that you can be sure. 

If you're worried about encountering buyers' remorse amongst the flurry of discounts, don't fret; when buying through one of our posts, you can be sure you're getting an actually good deal (and we'll always include details so you can make the most informed purchase possible). As a rule of thumb, it's always safe to buy a deal on either Black Friday or Cyber Monday themselves, especially if we note that it's a new low.

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A top rooftop solar company is facing complaints from customers about botched installations, broken panels, and unhelpful reps

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Jayson Waller Powerhome
Jayson Waller, the CEO and cofounder of Powerhome Solar.

Powerhome Solar, which is among the nation's fastest-growing energy firms, is facing complaints from customers about performing sloppy installations and providing poor customer service that's left some of them stuck with expensive panels that they say don't work.

The allegations, made by 11 customers who spoke with Business Insider, follow our previous investigation into Powerhome. That story reported that the company appears to use misleading sales tactics to sell high-priced rooftop solar panels and was based on a review of legal records, interviews with a dozen current and former employees, and internal memos.

Read more: Fast-growing energy firm Powerhome Solar uses misleading tactics to lure customers into home solar deals that cost more than a car, insiders, legal claims, and leaked memos suggest

Customers we spoke with for this story say they experienced problems with Powerhome Solar that extend beyond the company's sales practices.

One customer said he thinks that a shoddy installation job was likely what sparked a fire that burned down his home. (The cause of the fire was undetermined, according to a county fire report.) Five customers said their panels didn't work at all for some period of time. Others said they saw careless and unprofessional behavior by the company's crews during installations, including catcalling, drinking, and damaging property.

A former Powerhome installer who worked in Missouri told Business Insider that installation jobs were rushed, often at the expense of quality. The former employee requested anonymity for fear of retaliation. We have verified his identity.

Headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina, Powerhome sells solar panels, roofs, and other energy-efficiency products. Its solar installations have roughly doubled every year since 2015, according to the research firm Wood Mackenzie, and it was one of just two energy firms on Inc.'s list of fastest-growing private companies last year.

Business Insider sent Powerhome an email detailing the specific claims made by customers in this article. Powerhome did not respond to them.

"POWERHOME SOLAR has more than 30,000 satisfied customers and 1,600 employees in 10 states and continues to grow," a company representative said in a statement. 

The full story is available here exclusively for Business Insider subscribers.

Read the original article on Business Insider

Futuristic Mercedes doesn't have a steering wheel

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  • The Vision AVTR is a futuristic concept car from Mercedes-Benz
  • The vehicle features no steering wheel, and instead is controlled by an interactive joystick.
  • It was inspired by the alien creatures and vehicles found in James Cameron's film "Avatar."
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Following is a transcript of the video.

Narrator: This here is the Vision AVTR, Mercedes' futuristic concept car inspired by the movie "Avatar." The car replaces multiple basic controls in the pursuit to be more connected to the driver, like switching out the steering wheel and pedals for an interactive joystick-like controller on the center console. Here's what it's like inside the symbiotic concept.

Inside the AVTR, the car comes to life when the driver puts their hand on the central control pad. The device is used by drivers to accelerate, brake, and turn the car. The pad itself vibrates and pulsates like a heartbeat in order to mimic a living, breathing animal. Instead of a dashboard or infotainment screen, the front of the cabin features one giant curved display module that projects real-time footage of the road ahead. You can even choose for it to light up with 3D graphics of Pandora, the fictional world from the 2009 film "Avatar." In order to access the car's different features, take your hand off the center pad, and a menu of controls is projected onto your palm that you can cycle through with gestures.

The car's body uses Mercedes' same one-bow design, like many of the automaker's other concept cars, but features a massive windshield and entirely transparent doors. This is a car you're gonna want to dress your best for. Its most distinct feature is the 33 bionic flaps on the rear of the car. These flaps move and light up in different colors to indicate when the vehicle is accelerating, braking, or turning.

Despite being a show car, the AVTR is no slouch on the road. The all-electric concept features four motors, one at each wheel, that together make a combined 469 horsepower. Its battery also manages a total driving range of up to 435 miles. The car's spherical wheels combined with two independently moving axles allow it to crab-walk sideways at a 30-degree angle, both a neat party trick and potentially useful for certain driving situations that require squeezing through some very tight spaces.

The AVTR's battery cell takes eco-friendly to another level. Unlike modern EV batteries made from toxic metals like lithium and cobalt, this concept's battery is graphene-based, making it recyclable through composting. The battery also has a high-energy density, making it capable of being fully charged in 15 minutes. It's good for the environment and convenient for drivers, but still requires a lot of research before this technology is applied to modern cars. And while we don't expect anything close to this car in the near, or even distant future, some influencers got a chance to test-drive the concept earlier this year for the first time.

Read the original article on Business Insider

The best Cyber Monday deals on online courses include a 2-for-1 discount on Masterclass and 40% off Skillshare Premium

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When you buy through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more.

Black friday 2020 free or cheap online courses 4x3

Cyber Monday sales are often associated with physical products like TVs or headphones, but e-learning deals shouldn't be overlooked. Not only can online courses help you pivot careers, explore affordable grad school alternatives, and keep you entertained during the coming months of pandemic lockdown, they can also make for very thoughtful and unique holiday presents.

Below, you'll find some of the biggest e-learning platforms, such as Coursera, edX, Udemy, MasterClass, CreativeLive, Skillshare, Babbel, and Rosetta Stone, with details on the deals and, if applicable, gifting instructions. You'll also get a few course recommendations based on what's the most popular on each platform, from favorites like Yale's The Science of Well-Being to coding, photography, language, cooking, and personal development offerings. Check out the deals below, as well as the best Cyber Monday deals right now.

The best Cyber Monday e-learning deals:

Deals from Coursera
coursera logo

The deal: Learners can either redeem a select free course or get their first subscription month free until December 4

Some popular courses: 

Deals from edX
edX

The deal: edX's Cyber Monday sale lasts through November 30. Users can get 20% off verified certificates and program bundles using the code CYBER2020 at checkout.

Some popular courses: 

Deals from Udemy
Udemy free class showcase

The deal: While Udemy's Black Friday sale is over, many classes are still as low as $10.99.

How to gift it: Every course's landing page has a "Gift this course" button (it's on the top left-hand side next to the "Share" button).

Some popular courses:

Deals from MasterClass
Masterclass

The deal: From now until November 30 (11:59 PT), you can buy two annual MasterClass memberships for the price of one (valid if you redeem within the memberships within 365 days). A membership will get you access to all the courses on MasterClass for a year. You can read more about the terms here.

How to gift it: This is meant to be shared, so you can gift the second free membership to someone via an email link once you purchase. You can also buy individual courses by hitting the "Gift" button on the course's landing page (Note: you'll have to scroll down a little to find it).

Some popular courses:

Deals from Codecademy
Codeacademy Logo

The deal: Until December 4, all annual plans are 25% off with the promo code CYBER25. It applies to both student and non-student memberships.

Some popular courses:

Deals from Skillshare
Skillshare Logo

The deal: For Cyber Monday, get 40% off a Skillshare Premium membership, which gives you access to thousands of online classes for free.

How to gift it: You can buy someone a limited membership, which they can redeem.

 




Deals from CreativeLive
CreativeLive logo

The deal: Select classes on CreativeLive are just $17.

How to gift it: There's a "Gift Class" button under the "Buy Class" button on the right-hand side of each course's landing page.

Some popular courses:

Deals from Rosetta Stone

The deal: Until November 30, you can get an annual subscription for $7.99 a month (one payment of $95.88) or a lifetime membership for $179 (usually $199).

How to gift it: You can buy a Rosetta Stone subscription for someone and they can pick the language they want to learn once they get the email.

Some popular courses:

Deals from Babbel

The deal: For Black Friday, you get 35% off a three-month subscription, 45% off six months, and 55% off a year through November 29. After that, Babbel's Cyber Monday sale gets users 45% off six months, 55% off a year, and 60% off a two year-membership from November 30 through December 4.

How to gift it: Just like Rosetta Stone, you can gift a subscription for someone (I can't affiliate this one) and have them pick from 14 languages.

Some popular courses:

Deals from Kindle
Kindle showcase

The deal: On Black Friday through Cyber Monday (November 30), the Kindle Paperwhite will be $45 off ($84.99) and the Kindle Oasis will be $174.99 ($75 off). New Kindle Unlimited subscribers can get two months of access to more than one million books, Audible audiobooks, and magazines for just $0.99. 

How to gift it: You can gift a Kindle Unlimited membership by selecting "Add a Gift Receipt" when checking out. 

Read the original article on Business Insider

New data shows how Netflix's 'The Queen's Gambit' has grown into a word-of-mouth hit since its release

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Anya Taylor-Joy in Netflix's 'The Queen's Gambit'
  • On Monday, Nielsen released its latest list of top streaming titles, which Netflix's "The Queen's Gambit" topped with 1.85 billion minutes watched from October 26 to November 1.
  • "The Queen's Gambit" rose continuously in audience demand in its first month of release, according to data from Parrot Analytics.
  • At its peak demand on November 20, "The Queen's Gambit" was over 20 times more in demand than the average series in the US.
  • Netflix said last week that "The Queen's Gambit" was its biggest limited series yet.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

This story was originally published on November 27, 2020 and has been updated to reflect new Nielsen data.

Netflix said last week that "The Queen's Gambit" was its biggest limited series yet and was watched by 62 million households worldwide in its first 28 days (a view is counted if an account watches two minutes or more).

And new data suggests it got there by steadily growing into a word-of-mouth hit after debuting on October 23.

In Nielsen's latest list of top streaming titles released on Monday, "The Queen's Gambit" was No. 1 with 1.85 billion total minutes watched from October 26 to November 1 in the US. In the prior list, which accounted for the week of October 19 to October 25, the series was No. 10 with 551 million minutes watched.

"The Queen's Gambit" even topped Disney Plus' "The Mandalorian" on the most recent Nielsen list. The "Star Wars" series debuted at No. 3 with 1.03 billion minutes watched after season two premiered October 30, following "The Queen's Gambit" and "The Office," which is also on Netflix (until the end of the year).

"The Queen's Gambit's" significant surge in the week after its debut weekend reflects its growing demand and word-of-mouth.

When "The Queen's Gambit" debuted, it was only around five times more "in demand" than the average series in the US, according to Parrot Analytics. The research company measures "demand expressions," which account for the engagement, viewership, and desire for a series.

By its peak demand on November 20, "The Queen's Gambit" was over 20 times more in demand than the average series in the US.

The chart below illustrates its steady demand growth in its first month.

the queen's gambit parrot demand data

"The Queen's Gambit" is notable because its popularity continued to increase over its first month of release, breaking the mold of most binge-released shows, Parrot Analytics said.

Parrot Analytics attributed much of the rise to research around the show, which kept interest up. For instance, chess-set sales soared 125% in the US in the weeks after the series debuted, according to The New York Times.

And the series seems to be popular around the world. Netflix said that it cracked its daily top 10 lists of popular titles in 92 counties and ranked No. 1 in 63 countries. 

Read the original article on Business Insider

Exxon is slashing workers and cutting costs as a hobbled oil market slowly recovers. Here's everything we know.

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Exxon CEO Darren Woods

Exxon Mobil, the nation's largest oil company, is losing money like never before.

For the first time on record, the firm reported a loss three quarters in a row, from January through September. Analysts expect the company to lose money in the last three months of 2020, as well, according to Bloomberg data. 

The obvious culprit is the coronavirus, which sapped demand for gasoline and jet fuel, causing the price of oil to plummet. But Exxon's market value began falling years before the pandemic, driven down in part by souring investor interest in fossil fuels. 

Now down in market value more than 50% from the start of the year, Exxon is cutting costs. The result is big headcount reductions and other measures. Here's everything we know so far. 

Exxon gas station

Exxon is trimming its global workforce by 15%, which includes steep cuts in the US and Europe

As Business Insider first reported, Exxon is slashing its global workforce by 15%, or 14,000 people, through 2022, relative to the company's headcount in 2019. The cuts include both contractors and employees. 

  • Up to 1,900 of the job cuts will be in the US, largely in the Houston area. Click here for a timeline of the reductions and insight into how Exxon will decide which workers to lay off, as revealed by leaked documents we obtained.
  • Another 1,600 jobs or so could be cut in Europe. We explain which roles are at risk here, and you can read the letter the firm's CEO, Darren Woods, sent employees following the cuts here
  • Exxon also said it would lay off about 300 workers in Canada, starting in December, according to a public press release and an internal memo we obtained. The cuts are involuntary and most of them will take place by February of 2021, per the memo. 
  • In addition, the company launched a voluntary redundancy program in Australia. It's not clear how many roles the program will impact.
  • Part of Exxon's approach to shrinking spending is sending jobs overseas to cheap centers of labor, we reported.
Exxon refinery

The firm used its employee-ranking process to cut workers in the weeks after oil markets crashed

In April, Exxon quietly made a change to the way it ranks employees, forcing managers to dub a larger chunk of employees as poor performers, putting them at risk of being cut.

  • Leaked audio from an internal meeting suggests not all employees placed in that category were, in fact, poor performers. That's why workers we spoke to called the change to the ranking system a layoff in disguise.
  • Exxon's performance-based cuts, initiated this summer, put as much as 10% of the company's workforce at risk of losing their jobs. You can find all the details of the ranking system and the April change here
  • The government of Singapore is probing Exxon's labor practices after employees raised concerns about the company's performance-based cuts.  

Other changes to curb spending

Exxon has said publicly that it began restructuring years before the pandemic drove down the price of oil, in part, to curb spending. In the last few months, however, the firm has made a handful of other changes to cut costs. 

What we're watching

  • The job cuts Exxon has announced so far were determined by workforce reviews Exxon has been carrying out on a country-by-country basis. The company could announce results from additional reviews soon.
  • While Exxon has curbed spending, the firm's "dividend sustainability remains challenged absent higher commodity prices," Morgan Stanley said in early November. We'll be keeping an eye on the dividend. 
  • Exxon is placing a huge bet on Guyana, a small South American country with big oil resources. Expect continued focus there (partly because oil production is cheap).
  • The company has lagged among its peers in setting emissions-reduction goals. We're watching to see how Exxon responds to waning investor interest in fossil fuels. So far, the firm has doubled down on oil and gas. 

Do you have information about Exxon? Reach out to this reporter at bjones@businessinsider.com or through the messaging app Signal at 646-768-1657. 

This story was originally published on November 6. We updated it to include new information about job cuts in Canada.

Read the original article on Business Insider

How a 22-year-old heiress launched a handbag line and within 3 years landed the Netherlands' Queen Máxima as a fan

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Marina Raphael.
  • Marina Raphael, 22, is a handbag designer and a sixth-generation member of the Swarovski crystal dynasty. 
  • She launched her eponymous brand in 2018 after teaching herself how to design handbags.
  • In an interview with Business Insider, Raphael talks about her journey as a young entrepreneur and the importance of fashion's sustainability movement.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

In 2017, then 20-year-old Marina Raphael had an idea. "I wanted to launch a handbag brand where the quality and the craftsmanship was impeccable, but the prices were not too high," she told Business Insider.

The only problem? She had no background in design. She didn't attend Parsons in New York or Central Saint Martins in London. She said she was never the one to sit down and design clothes as a little girl.

She did come from a prominent family, as she acknowledged in an interview with Business Insider. Raphael is a sixth-generation member of the Swarovski crystal dynasty and grew up in the shadow of that billion-dollar glass empire.

To get her company off the ground, she said she borrowed some money from a family member and combined it with money she had been saving since her adolescence.

She pays homage to her heritage by incorporating crystals on all of her products but she also said that while she's been "fortunate" to have family support, she still had to work extremely hard to build off of that and achieve what she has so far.

"Sometimes people look down on me because I am very young and I did happen to come from a background that has supported me," she told Business Insider. "But I am a very hard-working individual, and I love my job and I wouldn't trade it for anything."

Here's how she did it.

'My first 10 handbags were a disaster'

Raphael was born and raised in Athens, Greece. She entered the International Baccalaureate program at St. Catherine British School in Athens, then studied business management at Kings College London. 

"Kings College was so much about theory, but I am a practical person," she said. "I wanted to go out there and create something of my own."

She said her journey into the fashion industry stemmed from her entrepreneurial drive and her passion for luxury. This led to a year of her learning how to design and draw the technical sketches for her handbags; she studied topology and learned how to choose leather as well as how to understand the weight of the bags. 

Marina Raphael
From the Marina Raphael Fall/Winter 2020 Look book.
Raphael chose handbags, she said, because they are "investment pieces" and "no matter what age you are, you can always wear a bag." 

"Handbags are a personal accessory," she said. "I wanted to give my clients impeccable quality, but still be sort of affordable, so it's still luxury."

According to the Marina Raphael website, bags from past collections roughly range in price from $550 to $2,700. Bags in the current Apricity Collection FW20 range from $550 to $1,200.

She then spent a year learning Italian and headed out to Florence, Italy, to find a factory that could produce her handbags.   

"I speak Spanish, English, Greek, and German, and so I learned Italian because I wanted to be able to communicate with the factories and have a hands-on approach," Raphael said.

There are currently seven people working for Raphael full-time, but she said it took more than 200 people, including press and sales teams, to get her operation off the ground. She recalled that her first year of production was like it is for most entrepreneurs: a bit wobbly.  

"My first 10 bags were an absolute disaster," Raphael, now 22, recalled. "But all of these things happen and they are just part of the job. You just have to keep moving on."

Marina Raphael
From the Marina Raphael Fall/Winter 2020 Look book.

Disastrous situations taught Raphael how to set realistic goals and expectations for her brand and for her journey as an entrepreneur. She said one of the most important things she did was take the time to learn how to work with her team and simply listen. 

"Sometimes being young and being stubborn you think you know it all, but you need to learn how to adapt your ways and listen to your customers and change your product," she said. "It's important to take criticism."

'We had nothing to lose — so we sent out a bunch of emails'

Once the first collection of handbags was completed, Raphael hired New York-based strategy firm Tiger Shark to represent the brand and began working with its founder, Elizabeth Manice, to send out cold emails to retailers. The goal was to get one of them to pick her young brand up. 

"We had nothing to lose. So we sent out a bunch of emails to random people," she said. 

Luxury retailer Moda Operandi took an interest early on, becoming the first online retailer to sell Raphael's bags. 

Marina Raphael
From the Marina Raphael Fall/Winter 2020 Look book.

"One of the first people that actually believed in the brand was [Moda Operandi cofounder and chief brand officer] Lauren Santo Domingo, and she specifically loved the bag — she said, 'Let's give it a shot.'" 

Now, nearly two years later, Raphael says the brand is "going really well" and works with top influencers including WhoWoreWhat founder Danielle Bernstein. Queen Máxima of the Netherlands is also a fan of the brand — the royal has been seen on numerous occasions sporting Raphael's latest designs. 

Queen Maxima Marina Raphael
Queen Máxima of the Netherlands with a Marina Raphael bag.

Raphael has also joined the growing number of young emerging designers at the forefront of fashion's sustainability movement. For her own brand, she has made sure the company incorporates ecological wool and biodegradable leather.

She is also following a near-zero waste policy, where the company tries to reuse old leather and skins. 

"Sustainability is the future of fashion," she said. "Everyone should be educated on how they can make their company more sustainable." 

Marina Raphael
From the Marina Raphael Fall/Winter 2020 Look book.

But Raphael said people remain skeptical of her leadership and taste due to her young age.  

"I didn't have much experience and they questioned my quality and my motives," she said. "They think, 'Oh, she is 22, let's see the brand for another three, four, five seasons — if she continues." 

But Raphael is doing well. Very well, actually. She just launched a crystal handbag collection with fashion blogger Evangelie Smyrniotaki, and told WWD in November that her company saw steady growth amid the pandemic, seeing a boom in sales during the first few months of the pandemic — more than they've ever had. 

"I failed so many times in the beginning," Raphael told Business Insider. "But without failure, you don't learn. Failure is so important in any company because it's what brings you to the next level. And it is what separates you from the people that quit." 

Read the original article on Business Insider

Meet the rising stars making waves in commercial and residential real estate in 2020

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We selected 30 professionals under 35 in a variety of commercial and residential roles.

The pandemic has upended the real-estate industry, forcing offices and shops to reinvent themselves and causing millions of Americans to relocate or reconsider their home bases for work, financial, or personal reasons.

Against this backdrop, we're spotlighting professionals who are thriving, seizing opportunities despite, or because of, COVID-19's effects on commercial and residential real estate in the US.

These 30 young professionals stood out as the vanguard of the next generation in real estate, from prodigies who've risen through the ranks and innovated at established firms to startup founders looking to disrupt pockets of the sector with deeply traditional roots.

We've included people with a variety of roles and experiences. Some come from finance behemoths like Blackstone and JPMorgan, others from industry mainstays like CBRE, Colliers, Savills, Cushman & Wakefield, and JLL. Top-selling, trend-setting brokers hail from Compass and Brown Harris Stevens. Then there are the startups, like Mosaic and Doorkee, whose names you might not recognize now but are bound to sooner than later.

SUBSCRIBE TO SEE OUR FULL LIST: Meet 2020's rising stars of real estate, young visionaries making waves at big-name firms like CBRE and Compass as well as industry-shaking startups

Emily Neff, 32, CBRE
Emily_Neff CBRE by CBRE

Emily Neff's year changed drastically in March as offices closed across the world. Her clients, who usually would ask her about how much office space they need and how they should use it, were now asking her how they could use the offices at all.

"That's been a curveball that's been thrown at us," Neff said.

Neff stepped up to help CBRE pioneer its Workplace Reset service, which prepares companies to reenter the office during a global pandemic. She's been navigating clients on which safety measures to put in place, which signage should be set up around the office, and overall office design. She's also been advising them on the price of all these changes.

"We help clients understand how much it will cost to make these changes and reopen, and are those costs worth it," Neff said. "We help them understand the road map to reopen."

While she's become a trusted confidante for some of the biggest corporations in unprecedented times, Neff's original plan was to advise families, as a financial planner. She studied it at Ohio State, and spent her first year out of school at the life insurance and retirement provider John Hancock.

When she realized that her career path would require as much sales as consultation, she began to look for a new career. She started at CBRE in 2011.

"Real estate brought what I wanted: engaging with people to help them implement their plans," Neff told Business Insider.

Click here to read the full list.

Tyler Biddle-Barrows, 31, Brown Harris Stevens
rising stars of real estate tyler biddle barrows

Tyler Biddle-Barrows' first client was a celebrity — he represented Charlie Sheen as a buyer's agent when the "Two and a Half Men" star bought a Los Angeles mansion.

After his successful start with the Beverly Hills agency Hilton & Hyland, he took a leap to move to New York, where he's mimicked what he did in Los Angeles: cultivating a list of clients strong enough to rank him in the top 1% of agents in the city.

So far he's participated in about $90 million in sales. By age 30, Biddle-Barrows had worked alongside top producing teams in three of America's major markets — Los Angeles, New York City, and Miami.

When the pandemic upended life in the spring, Biddle-Barrows' business goals immediately shifted, and he established a partnership with the private aviation provider Blade to serve as its exclusive real-estate partner.

Through the partnership, he enabled buyers, sellers, and property owners to safely travel to and from Miami and New York, a creative deal that earned Biddle-Barrows confidence from clients and colleagues in times of uncertainty.

He sees the future of real estate as intertwined with other sectors, including tech, luxury, and travel, and he is determined to continue to act as an innovator in the field.

Want to meet the rest of real estate's rising stars? Click here to read the full list.

Read the original article on Business Insider

US pending home sales fall for 2nd month as high prices cut into housing-market rally

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FILE - In this Oct. 22, 2019, file photo, a sign stands outside a home for sale in southeast Denver. On Friday, Feb. 21, 2020, the National Association of Realtors reports on sales of existing homes in January, (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
FILE - In this Oct. 22, 2019, file photo, a sign stands outside a home for sale in southeast Denver. On Friday, Feb. 21, 2020, the National Association of Realtors reports on sales of existing homes in January, (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
  • The National Association of Realtors' index of pending US home sales fell 1.1% to 128.9 in October, according to data published Monday.
  • Economists surveyed by Bloomberg expected the gauge to rise 1% through the month. The reading also marks a second straight decline.
  • The housing market has served as a rare bright spot in the nation's economy, but rising prices and limited supply threaten the strength seen in recent months.
  • "This recent weakening suggests that existing home sales—which generally lag pending home sales by one or two months—will soften moving forward," Daniel Silver, an economist at JPMorgan, said.
  • Visit the Business Insider homepage for more stories.

Sales of previously owned homes in the US fell for a second straight month in October, signaling that the housing boom seen throughout the pandemic may be slowing.

The National Association of Realtors' index of pending home sales fell 1.1% to 128.9 last month, according to data published Monday. The index's September decline was revised to 2%. The index still sits 20.2% higher from the year-ago period.

Economists surveyed by Bloomberg expected the gauge to climb 1% through October.

Read more: A top equity portfolio strategist at Goldman Sachs shares his four essential ESG trends that you need to be thinking about

"This recent weakening suggests that existing home sales—which generally lag pending home sales by one or two months—will soften moving forward," Daniel Silver, an economist at JPMorgan, said in a note. "All that said, the recent cooling in the pending home sales data has reversed only a small portion of the surge reported over the prior few months."

Pending sales fell or stayed the same in all regions but the South, where they ticked just 0.1% higher. The Northeast saw the biggest decline, with the region's index dropping 5.9% to its lowest level since July.

The unexpected pullback suggests rising home prices and limited supply is starting to impede the housing market's rally. The sector has served as a rare bright spot in the weakened economy, largely due to record-low interest rates driving the rate of purchases higher.

Sales of new and previously owned homes surged through the pandemic, but with homebuilders struggling to keep up, higher prices pose a risk to the buying spree.

"The housing market is still hot, but we may be starting to see rising home prices hurting affordability," Lawrence Yun, NAR's chief economist, said.

Now read more markets coverage from Markets Insider and Business Insider:

Guggenheim says it could invest up to $530 million in a bitcoin trust as the cryptocurrency leaps to record highs

Here's how the US economy could transform under Biden after his appointment of Janet Yellen as Treasury Secretary — starting with sizable stimulus

'Equity markets have devolved into casinos': A former Wall Street chief strategist unloads on the toxic narratives fueling a speculative bubble — and implores investors to heed the warnings of 1999 and 2007

Read the original article on Business Insider

Your complete coronavirus vaccine calendar: When candidates are likely to get authorized, and when you could receive your shot

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Dr. Mustafa Gerek participates in a coronavirus vaccine trial at Ankara City Hospital in Ankara, Turkey on October 13, 2020.
  • Three companies developing COVID-19 vaccines — AstraZeneca, Moderna, and Pfizer — have released positive results from their late-stage trials.
  • Pfizer already applied for emergency authorization from the FDA. Its shot could get authorized as early as December 10.
  • Moderna is set to file a request for emergency authorization on Monday, putting it on track to deliver shots before Christmas. 
  • Here's a timeline of when the leading vaccines could get authorized and the milestones they must pass before reaching the public.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Good news about coronavirus vaccines keeps rolling in. On November 9, Pfizer became the first pharmaceutical company to announce that its shot successfully prevented COVID-19 in clinical trials. Moderna followed suit with positive results on November 16, then AstraZeneca revealed some promising data last week.

Now the big question in the US is: When can Americans get a shot?

Pfizer has already applied for an emergency use authorization (EUA) from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Moderna is set to do so on Monday.

Once the FDA grants those authorizations, some Americans could start receiving shots within a couple of days.  

Here are the key milestones ahead before vaccines reach the public

November 30: Moderna is set to submit its EUA request. 

By December 7: The FDA will release a Federal Register notice about its meeting to discuss Moderna's EUA. 

December 8: The FDA will release briefing materials for its meeting about Pfizer's vaccine. The agency already released a Federal Register notice with details about the meeting and invited the public to submit comments.

December 10: An FDA advisory committee made up of independent scientific experts will meet to evaluate Pfizer's EUA request. The meeting will be streamed on the FDA website and on its YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter channels. Pfizer will present its safety and efficacy data, then answer questions. After that, the advisory committee will make a recommendation on whether to greenlight the vaccine. The FDA is likely to follow the committee's advice, and the vaccine could be authorized within the same day, or perhaps a few days later. 

December 11-12: Once Pfizer's vaccine is authorized, Americans could start receiving shots within 24 to 48 hours.  On Tuesday, December 1, an advisory committee to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expected to finalize guidelines about which Americans will get priority access. First in line will likely be frontline healthcare workers. 

December 17: An FDA advisory committee will meet to evaluate Moderna's EUA request. 

By December 21: Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel told the New York Times it could take 24 to 72 for FDA advisers to make a decision. That means Moderna shots might not be available until four days after the FDA meeting.

Pfizer and Moderna's 2021 vaccine timeline

Moncef Slaoui, the chief advisor to Operation Warp Speed, has estimated that 20 million Americans could get a COVID-19 shot before the end of 2020. In each subsequent month after that, another 25 to 30 million Americans could get vaccinated, he said.

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That would put the US on track to vaccinate roughly 70 million to 80 million people — as much as a quarter of the population — by the end of February. By April, vaccines could start being distributed to young, healthy Americans. 

Bancel recently told Business Insider that any American who wants a vaccine should have access to one by Memorial Day. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, has also said that the general population could have access to shots by late spring and early summer.

But those timelines could vary depending on whether additional vaccine candidates besides Pfizer's and Moderna's get emergency authorization. The more vaccine trials that report success, the sooner shots can be widely distributed to the public. 

What about other vaccine candidates?

Operation Warp Speed has purchased 100 million doses of Pfizer's vaccine and another 100 million doses of Moderna's. The program hopes to distribute 400 to 450 million vaccine doses from now through May. 

Slaoui told Bloomberg that "Plan A" is to distribute vaccines from two other companies — AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson — to help reach that goal. Though AstraZeneca's trials in Brazil and the UK showed positive data, the company hasn't yet released findings from its US trial.

Slaoui told Business Insider last month that he expects AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson's US trials to produce results in December or January. That could put them on track for authorization this winter. The US has already purchased 100 million doses from each company. 

"Plan B," Slaoui told Bloomberg, is to order additional doses from Pfizer and Moderna. Agreements with the companies allow the US to acquire another 500 million doses from Pfizer and another 400 million doses from Moderna should it so choose.

The remaining two vaccine candidates backed by Warp Speed come from Novavax and a Sanofi/GlaxoSmithKline partnership. If the companies have trouble finding enough Americans to join their trials once a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine hits the market, Slaoui told Bloomberg, the trials might recruit volunteers in other countries. Both are expected to release pivotal data about their vaccine candidates in early 2021.

If those two vaccines get authorized — that would most likely happen in the spring — the US is prepared to distribute 100 million doses of each as well. 

In a recent NPR interview, Fauci said additional vaccine candidates besides Pfizer's and Moderna's "are going to be essential if we want to get enough vaccine to give to everyone who would need it or want it in the country."

This story has been updated with new information about Moderna's EUA application. It was originally published on November 25.

Read the original article on Business Insider

The 320+ best Cyber Monday 2020 deals and sales

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When you buy through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more.

Amazon Laptop 2 Black Friday 2020 deals

This year, Cyber Monday falls on November 30, during which you can expect to see major players like Amazon, Walmart, Target, and Best Buy to drop tons of excellent deals alongside retail startups we love, like Leesa, Brooklinen, Bombas, and Tommy John.

We're keeping track of all the online stores participating in Cyber Monday 2020 to help you plan out your shopping hit list before the event rolls around. Check back here for updates as more deals are released today and through the rest of the week. 

Table of Contents: Masthead Sticky
Best Cyber Monday big-box retailer sales
Amazon Echo Show 5
Best Cyber Monday tech sales
WH-1000XM4 headphones on desk
  • Adorama: Save big on cameras, computers, and more.
  • Apple: Get an Apple Gift Card of up to $150 on eligible products through November 30.
  • B&H Photo: Save big on cameras, accessories, and other accessories.
  • Bose: Save up to 50% on headphones, speakers, and more.
  • Dell: Save on Dell computers, TVs, gaming gear, and more with more new doorbusters being released daily at 8 a.m. ET. 
  • GoPro: Save $200 when you buy the Hero9 Bundle with a 1-year GoPro subscription.
  • HP: Save up to 65% on select laptops, printers, monitors, accessories, and more with doorbuster deals being added daily. Take 5% off select PCs $599+ with the code 5STACKBFCM21, and 10% off select PCs $999+ with the code 10STACKBFCM21.
  • JBL: Save 10% to 70% off select speakers, headphones, and more.
  • Kindle: Get select Kindle models for as low as $59.99.
  • LG: Take 10% off with the code EXTRA10 through November 30. Buy a select vacuum and get a free Total Care Kit through November 30. Save up to $1,700 on select TVs through December 6. 
  • Master & Dynamic: Save 20% on orders $300+ with the code GIVEBF20, and 25% on orders $500+ with the code GIVEBF25 through December 2. The brand will also donate 5% to City Harvest.
  • Microsoft: Select Surface devices are on sale now. Also save on PCs, Xbox games, and more.
  • Nomad: Save 30% on everything.
  • PhoneSoap: Save 20% on phone sanitizers and get free shipping with the code HOLIDAY20.
  • PopSockets: Get 25% off Popsockets and phone accessories sitewide.
  • Samsung: Save on Galaxy phones, Galaxy smartwatches, Galaxy Buds Live, TVs, gaming monitors, and more.
  • Sonos: Save $100 on select products, including the Sonos Move and Sonos Beam, through November 30.
  • Speck: Take 25% off sitewide; some exclusions apply.
  • UrbanEars: Save on select headphones and speakers through November 30.
  • Verizon: Save on smartphones, wearables, headphones, and other accessories.
Best Cyber Monday home and kitchen sales
online kitchen startups great jones
  • 1-800-Flowers: Save 20% on select items with the code XMAS20.
  • Abbio: Take 25% off sitewide with the code ABBIOBF25.
  • Apt2B: Save 20% off sitewide, save 25% off orders $2,499, save 30% on orders $3,999+, save 35% on orders $4,999+
  • Allswell: Take 25% off sitewide (excluding the Allswell mattress) with code TURKEY25 through November 30.
  • AJ Madison: Up to 50% off on appliances and more.
  • Amazing Clubs: Save on all 6-month and 12-month clubs, and get free shipping.
  • Anthropologie: Save 30% off everything in stores and online, and get free shipping on orders $50+. Take an extra 50% off sale items.
  • Autonomous: Save up to 40% on select items until 3 a.m. EST on November 29.
  • Avocado: Save on mattresses, mattress toppers, bedding, and adjustable bases, and get two free pillows with select mattress purchases. 
  • Baked by Melissa: Save up to 30% on cupcake assortments.
  • Baloo: Take 30% off all weighted bedding with code HOLIDAY30.
  • Boll & Branch: Get 25% off everything, plus up to 50% off sale items. 
  • The Bouqs Co.: Get 20% off and free shipping with code CYBERMONDAY.
  • Bloomscape: Get a free small plant when you order an XL with the code GRATEFUL.
  • Branch: Save up to 20% on home office furniture. 
  • Brandless: Save up to $30 on select bundles and get free shipping on domestic orders $40+.
  • Brooklinen: Get 20% off sitewide.
  • Burrow: Save 10% off on purchases up to $1,399, $200 off $1,400+, $250 off $1,800+, $300 off $2,200+, $400 off $2,600+, $500 off $3,000+, $700 off $4,000+, and $1,000 off $5,000+ with code DOUBLE.
  • CB2: Save 15% off purchases of full-price items $100+, 20% off purchases of $1,999+, and 25% off purchases of $3,999+ with code SAVEMORE.
  • The Company Store: Save 40% on special items, 20% on orders under $300, and 30% on orders $300+ using code CYBERSALE20.
  • Coop Home Goods: Save 20% on almost everything with code SWEETDREAMS
  • Copper Cow Coffee: Get 30% off sitewide with the code BFCM at checkout and get free shipping on orders over $30.
  • Crane and Canopy: Save 20% on everything, including bedding, sheets, and decor with code YAY20.
  • Crate & Barrel: Save up to 30% on holiday items and up to 20% off toys, and more. There's also free furniture delivery on orders $1,499+.
  • Crowd Cow: Save up to 20% on different cuts of proteins. New members can also get free ground beef forever. 
  • Dyson: Save up to $150 on select products through December 5. Shop more Dyson deals here.
  • Equal Parts: Take 20% off sitewide.
  • Favor: Save 25% with code FESTIVE.
  • Field Company: Save up to 40% off skillets. Buy one, get one half off with code BOGOHO. Buy two, get one free with code B2G1. Buy three, get two free with code B3G2.
  • Firstleaf: Get 60% off your first box of wine with code BESTSALE2020.
  • Floyd: Save up to $150 with the code CYBR20.
  • Framebridge: Get 20% off orders of $50 or more with code BF20. Save 20% on gallery walls.
  • Fully: Take 15% off every product, including standing desk and home office chairs, through November 30.
  • Gravity Blankets: Save 30% sitewide with code HOLIDAY2020
  • Great Jones: Get 20% off all orders over $100.
  • Happiest Baby: Save 25% on the favorite Snoo bassinet.
  • Havenly: 50% off all design packages with code HALFPRICE.
  • Hedley & Bennett: Take 20% off orders over $50, 25% off orders over $100, and 30% off orders over $200, plus get a free mask with any order over $50.
  • Horchow: Save 25% sitewide, plus free shipping on orders over $50 with code HOLIDAY.
  • Houzz: Get up to 75% off on select home decor products.
  • Hydro Flask: Save 25% off sitewide.
  • Industry West: Take 30% off sitewide with code HOLIDAY.
  • The Inside: Take 20% off sitewide.
  • Interior Define: Take 15% off through 12/1.
  • iRobot: Save up to $200 on Roomba vacuums through December 26, and up to $400 on bundles.
  • Keurig: Save 30% on coffee makers and accessories, and 25% off K-Cup pods and coffee with code BF2020 through November 29.
  • KonMari: Take 10% off everything through November 30 with code HOLIDAY2020.
  • Made In: Get up to 30% off cookware, knives, and kitchen accessories.
  • Magnolia: Take 20% off everything.
  • Mark & Graham: Take up to 50% off select items, and an extra 30% of sale items with the code MERRY
  • Material: Take 25% off through December 1.
  • Michaels: Save 20% on all regular price shopping with code 20MADEBYYOU through December 5, and take up to 70% off select items.
  • Miku: Save $50 on a Miku Smart Baby Monitor with free shipping starting November 25 using code BLACKFRIDAY50.
  • Minted: Take 25% off everything with the code CM2020, and get free shipping through December 1.
  • Mixtiles: Get 50% off 16 tiles.
  • Modsy: Up to 30% off furniture + decor through November 30. 
  • Monica and Andy: Save up 30% off everything and 60% on select styles. 
  • Nakedwines.com: Save $100 on six bottles of wine.
  • Ninja Kitchen: Save up to $80 off Ninja products and 15% on orders $100+.
  • Nutribullet: Get 25% off your entire order with code GETGIFTING.
  • Omaha Steaks: Get 50% off select items, plus free shipping on orders of $129 more and free chicken breasts with orders of $159 or more.
  • Onsen: Get 30% off sitewide.
  • Our Place: Save $50 on the bestselling Always Pan with code SUPERSALE.
  • Otherland: Save up to 35% on all candles.  
  • OXO: Save 20% on bakeware, coffee appliances, and tea gear through November 30.
  • Parachute: Get 20% off sitewide through November 30.
  • Pottery Barn: Save up to 20%, plus get free shipping on orders of $79+ with the code CYBER.
  • Pottery Barn Kids: Save up to 60%  with the code COZY.
  • Pottery Barn Teen: Save up to 60%  with the code COZY.
  • Raymour & Flanigan: Save yo to 30% in-store and online.
  • Rejuvenation: Save 20% on everything, save 25% on orders $1,500+. 
  • ReserveBar: Save $30 on orders $150+ with the code CYBER30.
  • Rifle Paper Co.: Take 30% off everything with the code HOLIDAY30.
  • Ruggable: Save 20% off sitewide with code BFCM20.
  • Sardel: Take 20% off sitewide.
  • Serena and Lily: Save up to $180 on select products.
  • Shark: Up to $180 off cordless and robot vacuums. 
  • The Sill: Save up to 50% off a special Cyber Monday collection.
  • Simplehuman: Save up to 25% on kitchen and bathroom essentials through November 30.
  • Snowe: Save 20% on orders $100+ with free shipping.
  • Society6: Save up to 50% off everything.
  • Stanley: Take 25% off sitewide through December 7.
  • Sur la Table: Save up to 55% on cookware, bakeware, kitchen tools, small appliances, and more, and get free ground shipping on orders $75+.
  • Treatlife: Save 20% on smart lighting products through November 30.
  • Tushy: Save 15% on all bidets through November 29 with code BROWN15.
  • Veestro: Take 40% off with code CYBER.
  • Vitamix: Save on blenders and compost machines through November 30.
  • Wayfair: Get up to 80% off home decor, furniture, bedding, kitchen appliances, and more— new deals are added every day. 
  • West Elm: Save up to 70% on bedding, leather furniture, decor, and more. There are sitewide bonus deals and free shipping on orders $79+ with the code CYBER.
  • Williams Sonoma Home: Save up to 50% on everything. 
  • Williams Sonoma: Save up to 50% on everything and take an extra 20% off clearance with code EXTRA.
  • World Market: Take an extra 20% off curbside pick-up orders.
Best Cyber Monday mattress sales
Casper Elements
  • Allswell: Save 25% on everything except the original Allswell mattress through November 30 with code TURKEY25.
  • Awara: Save $300 off any mattress, plus 25% accessories.
  • Amerisleep: Save 30% on mattresses and get free pillows with the code BF30.
  • Bear: Get 20% off mattresses and a free gift set worth $250 with purchase.
  • Brooklyn Bedding: Save 30% sitewide and save 50% on all sheets and pillows with the code CYBERMONDAY30.
  • Casper: Save 30% on bundles, 20% on mattresses, and 10% on bedding, pillows, and more.
  • DreamCloud: Get a free set including two pillows, a mattress protector, and a luxury sheet set with any mattress purchase.
  • Eight Sleep: Save up to $500 on mattresses and accessories. 
  • Helix: Use codes CYBERSALE100 to get $100 off any mattress and two free pillows, CYBERSALE150 to get $150 off and two free pillows when you spend $1,250, CYBERSALE200 to get $200 off and two free pillows when you spend $1,750.
  • Layla: Save up to $200 on mattresses and get $300 worth of free accessories through November 30.
  • Leesa: Save up to $500 on Leesa mattresses and get two free pillows with purchase. 
  • Nectar: Get $399 worth of sleep accessories including a mattress protector, sheets set, and premium pillows with every mattress purchase.
  • Purple: Save up to $500 on a mattress + sleep bundle, and up to 20% on select bedding and cushions in the gift guide.
  • Saatva: Save $200 on any purchase of $1,000 or more.
  • Serta: Save up to $400 on an iComfort Mattress.
  • Tempur-Pedic: Save more than 40% on the Tempur Essential Mattress and buy one, get one free pillows.
  • Tuft & Needle: Save 20% sitewide through November 25.
Best Cyber Monday streaming sales
Hulu app watching laptop
  • Amazon Music Unlimited: New subscribers get three months free. 
  • Hulu: Save 65% on the regular price of ad-supported Hulu. Spend $2 for 12 months, then $6/month afterward — you can cancel any time.
  • Sling TV: Buy one month of Sling, get one month free, and get a free AirTV Mini streaming device with a Sling subscription.
  • Tidal: New users can get TIDAL Premium for $1 for four months, or TIDAL HiFi for $2 for four months.
  • Roku: Get select channels like Showtime, Starz, and Epix for just 99 cents per month on The Roku Channel through November 30, and save up to $30 on Roku streaming sticks.
Best Cyber Monday fashion and beauty sales
fenty
  • 54 Thrones: Get free shipping on orders over $60 (US only), a free mini butter gift set on orders over $200 with the code MINISET, or 25% off your purchase with 25OFF.
  • & Other Stories: Get up to 50% off select items.
  • Adidas: Save up to 30% with the code BRINGJOY.
  • Aldo: Buy one and get 25% off, buy two and get 30%, buy 3+ and get 35% off. Take 50% off select sale styles.
  • Allen Edmonds: Save 30% off sitewide.
  • Alleyoop: Save 20% sitewide, plus get a free tote with purchase of $70 or more through November 30.
  • Andrew Marc: Get an extra 35% off sitewide with code AMCYBER.
  • Aurate: Take up to 25% off everything with the code STUFFED.
  • Banana Republic: Save up to 75% on everything, and take an extra 10% off with code BRCYBER.
  • Ban.do: Take 30% off sitewide through December 2 with code 30FORYOU.
  • BareMinerals: Save 30% sitewide plus get free shipping with code BESTMONDAY.
  • BaubleBar: Save 30% sitewide with code BB30.
  • Beau Ties Ltd: Take 40% off sneakers, 25% off pocket squares, and 20% off leather belts.
  • BeautyBio: Save 30% sitewide with code GLO30.
  • Birdies: Select leather Starlings for $95. 
  • Birdy Grey: Up to 60% off bridesmaid dresses.
  • Blue Nile: Save 50% on gifts. 
  • Bloomingdale's: Save 20% when you spend $100 to $249, 25% when you spend $250 to $499, and 30% when you spend $500 or more.
  • Bombas: Save 20% off sitewide with the code CHEER20.
  • Bonobos: Get 40% off sitewide plus free shipping with code SLEIGHFUL.
  • Candid: Save $600 on treatment when you pre-purchase aligners.
  • Carter's: Save up to 60% on everything sitewide and in stores, and get free shipping on all orders.
  • Catbird: Save 15% sitewide through November 30.
  • Caudalie: Get 20% off sitewide and up to 40% off premium offers.
  • Clarks: Save 50% on your entire purchase with code CYBER
  • Coach: Get an extra 10% off with the code CYBER10.
  • Cole Haan: Save up to 70% on almost everything sitewide — prices are marked plus save an extra 10% with code THEBEST.
  • Columbia: 50% off select styles.
  • Converse: Save 30% sitewide CYBERWEEK.
  • Cos Bar: Earn a $40 promo card for every $200 spent.
  • Crocs: Save 30% sitewide.
  • Cubcoats: Save up to 50% on certain designs. 
  • Dagne Dover: Take 20% off everything with the code SHINEBRIGHT at checkout.
  • Dermstore: Save up to 30% on over 200 brands with code SHARETHELOVE through November 30.
  • DevaCurl: Save 30% sitewide plus a free full-size Melt Into Moisture treatment when you spend $65.
  • Everlane: Shop sale items and get free shipping on orders over $75.
  • Express: 50% off sitewide.
  • EyeBuyDirect: Buy one get one free plus 25% off your order with promo code CYBERSAVE.
  • Faherty: Take 25% off almost everything.
  • Fenty Beauty: Get 30% off sitewide through November 30. 
  • Frank and Oak: Save 30% on everything with code CYBER30, plus 50% off lightning deals 
  • Garnet Hill: Save 33% off cashmere, 25% off regular price designs, and get free shipping with code TOGETHER.
  • Girlfriend Collective: Save 30% sitewide.
  • GlassesUSA: Save 65% off and get free shipping.
  • Glossier: Take 25% off sitewide and up to 35% off sets through November 30.
  • Gorjana: Save 20% off sitewide with the code CYBER2020.
  • Her Room: Up to 50% off bras, underwear, shapewear, and more.
  • The Honest Company: Save 30% on almost everything with code BRIGHT30, or 40% off your first month's diaper and wipes subscription with the code THANKS40.
  • Huda Beauty: Up to 50% off the entire site.
  • Ilia: Save 20% off sitewide through November 30 with code UNWRAP20, and get a free gift with any $125 purchase,
  • Indochino: Shop suits from $249 and take an extra $50 off orders over $399 with the code CYBER50.
  • Jo Malone: Get three miniatures and an exclusive travel pouch with any $75 order.
  • Kiehl's: Save 50% on select best-sellers.
  • Koio: Take 10% off orders of $250+, 20% off orders of $500+, or 30% off orders of $800+.
  • Levi's: Save 40% on everything with free shipping when you use code CYBER, plus take an extra 50% off sale items.
  • Lively: Get a free swag pack with every order.
  • L.L.Bean: Take 15% off your order with the code THANKS15 through December 1.
  • Loulou Lollipop: Save 15% with no minimum spend using code BFCM2015 or save 25% when you spend $50 or more with code BFCM2025 through November 30.
  • Maelove: Take 10% off your purchase of two items with promo code TEN or 20% off your purchase of three or more items (automatically applied at checkout).
  • MeUndies: Save 25% off all orders, 30% off orders of $50 or more, and 35% off orders of $100 or more.
  • M.GEMI: Save up to 70% sitewide.
  • Madewell: Save 40% with code THXINTERNET.
  • Margaux: Save 20% off storewide with the code GAUXTIME.
  • Mejuri: Buy one piece of jewelry, get 10% off; buy two pieces, get 15% off; buy three or more pieces, and get 20% off through December 1.
  • Ministry of Supply: Save 25% sitewide through November 30 with code 25OFF.
  • M.M.LaFleur: Save an extra 25% on sale styles with code EXTRA25 through November 30.
  • Monica + Andy: Save 30% sitewide and 60% on select styles.
  • Mott & Bow: Save 20% sitewide with the code CM20.
  • Naadam: Save up to 75% sitewide.
  • Night: Save 30% off silk face masks, sleep masks, scrunchies, and more with code BIG30.
  • Nisolo: Take 20% off $150 with code CM20, 30% off $250 with code CM30, and 40% off $350 with code CM40
  • Nordstrom: Find deep discounts up to 50% on women'smen's, and kids' clothingbeauty and fragrance, and home goods until December 1. Read our roundup of the best deals here.
  • Nike: Save up to 25% on select styles with code CYBER25
  • Old Navy: Save 50% on everything.
  • Outerknown: Save 30% off sitewide, and up to 70% on past-season favorites.
  • Pipette: Save 50% off sitewide with code GOBIG.
  • Primary: Up to 40% off kids' clothes and family pajamas, plus free shipping for a year with code FREEYEAR.
  • Rag & Bone: Take 25% off sitewide and an additional $100 off $350 with code BLACKFRIDAY100.
  • Redbubble: Save up to 60% with code DEALS2020.
  • Richer Poorer: Take 30% off sitewide and an additional 30% off sale items.
  • Ritani: Save 30% off wedding rings and lab diamonds with code HOLIDAY30.
  • Roots: Save 25% on almost everything now through November 30.
  • Sephora: Take up to 50% off and get free shipping.
  • SmileDirectClub: Get an impression kit for $9 (normally $59) with code HOLIDAYGRINS. Return the kit for a full rebate and six months of free teeth whitening.
  • Soludos: Save 25% sitewide.
  • SPANX: Save 20% sitewide.
  • Sterling Forever: Save 35% sitewide, plus get free shipping with code CM35.
  • Storq: Take 20% off sitewide through November 30.
  • Summersalt: Get $20 towards your purchase, free shipping, and free holiday essential kit with code CELEBRATE.
  • Sundance: Take 20% off sitewide, plus get free shipping on orders $150+ with code BLKWKD.
  • Sweaty Betty: 25% off entire store
  • The Children's Place: Save 60 to 70% off sitewide.
  • ThirdLove: Get bras for as low as $28 while supplies last. 
  • Tommy John: Get 25% off and free shipping.
  • Toms: Save 35% sitewide.
  • Tory Burch: Save 30% on orders $250+ and get up to 60% off sale styles with code THANKS
  • Ulta: Save on makeup, skincare, haircare, and grooming, and get free shipping on orders of $35 or more. Get a free 23-piece beauty bag with any $80 online purvhase.
  • Uniqlo: Save on sweaters, Heattech innerwear, and more with select deals online only. 
  • United by Blue: Save an extra 50% on sale items with the code VERYMERRY.
  • Urban Outfitters: Save $75 off purchases of $200 or more, $50 off purchases of $150 or more, and $10 off purchases of $50 or more.
  • Uniqlo: Save up to 30% and get a free Airism face mask on orders of $150 or more.
  • Universal Standard: Buy one, get one for $1 loungewear.
  • Vida: Take 15% off sitewide with code JOYOFSMALL.
  • Vincero: Save 15% sitewide or get 20% off $200+ and 25% off $300+ through December 2. 
  • Wildling: Get 20% off sitewide and free shipping with code SHOPWILD.
  • Yoox: Up to 90% off through November 28.
  • Zappos: Deals starting at 40% off on shoes, clothing, bags, and more. 
  • Zenni Optical: Save 15% on orders $10+, 20% on orders $30+, and 25% on orders $75+ with code BF2020 through December 5.
Best Cyber Monday outdoor and fitness sales
Lululemon
  • 5.11 Tactical: Save up to 60% through December 1.
  • Alo Yoga: Save up to 70% sitewide through December 1 with new items dropping throughout Cyber Week.
  • Arctic Cool: Save 25% sitewide with code CYBERSAVINGS25.
  • Athleta: Save 20% on activewear through November 30, and save up to 60% on new markdowns.
  • Backcountry: Save up to 60% on brands like Patagonia, Arc'teryx, Columbia, Salomon, and more.
  • Fight Camp: Get a free gift valued at $268 with the purchase of every FightCamp package.
  • Gaiam: Take 25% off sitewide and get free shipping on orders over $50 with code CYBERMONDAY.
  • Hydro Flask: Get 25% off sitewide.
  • Hyperice: Get $70 off select massage guns, $450 off Normatec recovery systems, and 30% off other recovery tech through November 30.
  • Janji: Save 50% on items from past seasons.
  • Lululemon: Save on leggings, sports bras, and men's and women's activewear.
  • Mirror: Save $500 with the code CYBERMONDAY20 at checkout.
  • Odlo: Up to 40% off the current winter collection.
  • Osprey: Save up to 50% with free shipping through November 30.
  • Outdoor Voices: Save up to 70% sitewide.
  • REI: Save up to 50% sitewide.
  • Rhone: Save 30% sitewide through November 30.
  • Saxx: Save20 to 40% on everything including underwear, sleepwear, and more, and get free shipping.
  • Spyder: Up to 60% off jackets and ski gear.
  • The North Face: Get 50% off select styles online only through November 30.
  • Theragun: Save up to $150 on Theragun massagers. 
  • Under Armour: Save up to 50% sitewide.
Best Cyber Monday travel gear sales
CALPAK
  • Away: Save up to $125 on luggage bundles.
  • Briggs & Riley: Save $50 off items $199+ and $100 off items $399+, plus receive a free toiletry bag with all purchases of $399 or more through November 30.
  • Calpak: Save up to 50% sitewide through December 1.
  • Herschel: Take $20 off orders of $60+, $40 off orders of $110+, and $60 off orders of $140+.
  • Lo & Sons: Save up to 70% sitewide.
  • Monos: Save up to 25% sitewide with code CYBER2020.
  • Nomatic: Get up to 50% off.
  • Timbuk2: Save up to 70% off.
  • Tortuga: Save 20% when you spend $200 or more, 25% when you spend $300 or more, or 30% when you spend $500 or more through December 21.
  • Travelpro: Save 15-20% off most items with certain items seeing discounts of up to 60%. 
Best Cyber Monday toys, games, and collectible sales
shopDisney Minnie Mouse Flower Cart Play Set
  • Buy Buy Baby: Save on car seats, strollers, nursery furniture, and more, and earn $100 in My Funds rewards with a $300 purchase. 
  • Crate & Kids: Save up to 20% on toys.
  • Crayola: Save 25% sitewide and get free shipping.
  • The Dough Project: Save 30% sitewide.
  • Fat Brain Toys: Save up to 70%.
  • GameStop: Take up to 50% off select Nintendo Switch games, and new deals are added every day.
  • HearthSong: Save 25% sitewide when you spend $75 with code CYBER, 15% when you spend $50 with code MONDAY, and 10% when you spend $35 with code SAVINGS.
  • KiwiCo: Get one, two, or four months free with code MERRY.
  • LEGO: Save up to 20% on select items, November 27 to November 30.
  • Maisonette: Save 20% on orders $600+ with the code HAPPY20, free ground shipping on orders $75+, and take up to 30% off more than 8,000 items.
  • Osmo: Up to 40% off select kits.
  • Ordinary Habit: Get 15% off sitewide with code OHHOLIDAYS at checkout.
  • shopDisney: Save 30% off $200, 25% off $150, 20% off $100, and 15% off $75 plus get free shipping with code SHIPMAGIC.
Best Cyber Monday e-learning sales
Udemy coding
  • Babbel: Save 35% off a three-month subscription, 45% off six months, and 55% off a year.
  • Book of the Month: Get a membership for $5 using the code READUP or get $10 off when you gift a 6- or 12-month subscription with the code HIREBOXIE.
  • Codecademy: Get 25% off one year of Codecademy Pro with code CYBER25.
  • CreativeLive: Get select classes for $17 each.
  • Coursera: Get a select course for free or the first month of a Coursera Plus subscription for free.
  • edX: Get 20% off verified certificates and program bundles using the code CYBER2020 at checkout.
  • MasterClass: Get one annual membership, get a second one for free to give to someone else.
  • Rosetta Stone: You can get an annual subscription for $7.99 a month (one payment of $95.88) or a lifetime membership for $179 (usually $199).
  • Udemy: Get courses starting as low as $9.99.
Best Cyber Monday sex toy sales
Ella Paradis Blog top sex toys of quarantine
  • Adam & Eve: Take 50% off one item with code BONUS50.
  • Babeland: Get 20% off sitewide and free shipping on orders over $69.
  • Bellesa Boutique: Save 25% sitewide. 
  • Chiavaye: Buy one, get one free. 
  • Coconu: Buy one, get one 50% off with code BLACKFRIDAY.
  • Cute Little F*ckers: Save $10 on any toy or $50 off all three. 
  • Dame: Save 20% sitewide and up to 35% on sets. 
  • Ella Paradis: Save up to 80% with code CYBER.
  • Elvie: Save 15% on the Elvie Pump and 25% on the Elvie Trainer through December 1. Get an extra 5% off with the code CYBEREXTRA5.
  • Fun Factory: Save 25% sitewide and get a free mini vibrator with any Stronic purchase.
  • Myhixel: Save 20% on solutions with code 20BLACKFRIDAY.
  • MysteryVibe: Save 30% off the Crescendo, Tenuto, or Poco. 
  • Satisfyer: Take 35% off sitewide.
  • We-Vibe: Take 20% off bestsellers with code BF20.
Read the original article on Business Insider

'I don't see any way around it': Former Navy SEAL McRaven says retaliation for assassination of top Iranian nuclear scientist all but certain

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In this photo released by the official website of the Iranian Defense Ministry, military personnel stand near the flag-draped coffin of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, a scientist who was killed on Friday, during a funeral ceremony in Tehran, Iran, Monday, Nov. 30, 2020.
Iranian military personnel stand near the flag-draped coffin of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh during his funeral in Tehran, November 30, 2020.
  • Days after the assassination of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, a top Iranian nuclear scientist, retired US Navy Adm. William McRaven said that retaliation is all but inevitable.
  • "The Iranians are going to be in a position where they have to retaliate. I don't see any way around it," McRaven, former head of US Special Operations Command and the Navy SEAL who oversaw the bin Laden raid, said on ABC's "This Week."
  • Iran has already threatened to retaliate for the attack, though it is unclear exactly when or how it may do so.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Retired Navy Adm. William McRaven, the former Navy SEAL and special operations commander who oversaw the bin Laden raid, said Sunday that Iranian retaliation for the assassination of a prominent nuclear scientist is all but certain.

Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, a former officer in Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and a physics professor who made substantial contributions to Iran's nuclear program, was killed outside of Tehran on Friday, state media reported.

Shortly after news of the attack broke Friday, Iranian officials began blaming Israel. Accusations have continued for days, as have threats of retaliation.

"Iran, you know, either suspects or knows that Israel was responsible for this attack," McRaven told Martha Raddatz on ABC's "This Week."

The retired admiral added that "then, of course, kind of by association, they're going to assume that we either collaborated with it or at a minimum were witting of the Israeli actions."

"The Iranians are going to be in a position where they have to retaliate," McRaven said. "I don't see any way around it. They're going to have to save face. So now the issue becomes, what does that retaliation look like? Does that then begin to escalate the problems in the region?"

"That's not going to be good for anybody," McRaven said.

Fakhrizadeh was shot when a remote-controlled machine gun mounted on the back of a Nissan truck opened fire on him and his bodyguards. The truck self-destructed after the attack, according to the semi-official Fars News Agency.

Rear Adm. Ali Shamkhani, head of the Supreme National Security Council, said at the funeral Monday that "necessary improvements were made for his security, but the enemy used completely new, professional and special methods and, unfortunately, they were successful."

Iran has said that it will have its revenge for Fakhrizadeh's killing. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Saturday that Iran will seek "definitive punishment for the perpetrators and those who ordered it," though it is unclear exactly when retaliation might come.

"We will respond to the assassination of Martyr Fakhrizadeh in a proper time," Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Saturday.

Following the assassination of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani by the US in early January, Iran retaliated by striking two coalition bases in Iraq with more than a dozen short-range ballistic missiles.

While no US troops were killed, 110 service members — 29 of whom have received Purple Hearts — were diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries.

While much of the focus has been on Israel, Iranian Brig. Gen. Esmaeil Qaani, who replaced Soleimani as head of the IRGC Quds Force, said Saturday that Fakhrizadeh was killed "with American bullets."

McRaven urged de-escalation during his interview with ABC, saying: "The Iranians don't want to war with us. We don't want to go to war with Iran. So everybody needs to do the best they can to kind of lower the temperature and try not to get this into an escalation mode."

He explained that current situation with Iran is likely to make things more difficult for the incoming Biden administration.

"By attacking their nuclear scientist, by really escalating this effort, the Iranians, I think, are going to be more compelled to try to get a bomb quicker," McRaven said. "This is going to complicate President [Joe] Biden's efforts, diplomatic efforts."

McRaven recently met with Biden to discuss national security and defense issues that the new administration will face.

McRaven had a distinguished career as a Navy SEAL, serving as the 11th commander of Joint Special Operations Command and the ninth commander of US Special Operations Command. His most recognizable achievement was planning and overseeing the assault that killed terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden.

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I help run a shelter for homeless youth in Detroit. I've seen firsthand how homelessness and poverty can happen to anyone, especially during a crisis.

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Stephanie Taylor Headshot
Stephanie Taylor is the outreach manager at Covenant House Michigan, a nonprofit shelter for homeless youth.
  • Stephanie Taylor is the outreach manager at Covenant House Michigan, a shelter for homeless youth ages 18 to 24 located in Detroit.
  • She spends her days making contact with at-risk youth to offer them food, clothing, and medical attention, and encourages them to come stay at the Covenant House shelter.
  • Taylor and her colleagues provide education, employment, and permanent housing opportunities to help youth get back on track and become independent adults.
  • Amid the pandemic, Taylor says she hopes more people realize that homelessness and poverty can happen to anyone, and that no young person should be overlooked or left behind.
  • This is her story, as told to freelance writer Ashley Zlatopolsky.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

We pray before we leave every day for our outreach program at Covenant House Michigan, a faith-based nonprofit organization in Detroit that provides a home for homeless youth ages 18 to 24. We don't carry any weapons and we can't touch anyone, so we ask God to keep us covered. Some of these youth don't like rules, and they've been banned from other shelters for violence, but as outreach workers, it's our job to service them.

When we go out on the streets in Detroit to encourage youth to come to our shelter, it can take time to build a relationship. 

If they do trust us and come with us, we're able to provide some of our services right away, whether it's taking them to a hospital for medical care or taking them to our shelter if they need food and clothing.

If they want to go back to school, we'll help them get registered. We'll also help them find permanent housing. The shelter allows for a 90-day stay, but because of COVID-19, we've been letting people stay longer. If they need somebody to talk to, we'll try to do whatever we can to make sure we can give them a support system. We always ask them, "What's your one goal? What's the one thing you've always wanted to do?" Then, we'll work to help them achieve that.

As outreach manager at Covenant House, I do a bit of everything.

Stephanie Taylor
Taylor starts her days early when she work the outreach morning shift beginning at 7:30 a.m.

My work can sometimes feel like case management. Our days run from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with two shifts, morning and afternoon. There is a staff of four on the outreach team that alternate shifts. We travel in groups of two, always one female and one male. This is for safety and liability for both parties. Now with COVID-19, we take temperatures and ask safety questions as well. We make sure anyone we pick up gets a shower and clean clothes.

Every day we begin by checking our voicemail to see if we've received any calls for help. We'll immediately make arrangements to get people connected to our services. For example, we took in a young lady who was homeless and had been staying in an abandoned mobile home for six months. We took care of her medical needs, made sure she had a physical and had her dental work done. We helped her get housing, and got her registered in school. 

We take our outreach van to "hotspot" areas where homeless youth hang out. We show our presence to make sure they know that when they're ready, they have a place to go for help. We hand out our business cards with our phone numbers. My phone is on 24 hours a day, so youth can reach me anytime. I've learned to find balance with my work duties by meditating and praying in my free time.

Read more: A chef and restaurateur founded a successful snack brand after overcoming addiction. He shared how investing in his self-care made him a better leader and entrepreneur.

We always make sure the shelter is a safe place for each person who comes our way.

Stephanie Taylor
Taylor during an outreach shift with the van.

Some people need more intensive mental health or medical care, so we might take them to the hospital instead. When youth come to the shelter, there are special measures that keep everyone safe, including checking for weapons with a metal detector. It can be dangerous sometimes.

In fiscal year 2020, our outreach program served nearly 700 individuals. The program has an annual funding of $100,000. To keep a youth member fully off the streets for one day, it costs $81.96. To provide food and shelter only for a week, it costs about $204, while a month will cost $819, and a year will cost $9,828.

When I started here in 1998, I was only 25 years old myself, close to the age of the young people we service. I'm originally from Inkster, which is in metro Detroit. I was always interested in outreach and initially worked for another nonprofit organization that provided support for youth waiting on court dates and facing jail time. We would sit down and listen to them, and they would tell us why they committed crimes. A lot of them would say things like "I was hungry" or "I needed to get food for my family."

I realized that these young people were babies, often whose backs were up against the wall and thought these were the only options they had. When Covenant House came to Michigan to start their program, it gave me an opportunity to try to prevent these situations from happening to more young people who were struggling and needed support. It inspired me to join their mission and go further into this field.

Read more: COVID-19 threatens to create a 'lockdown generation' in Europe: Here's why young people could be the ones paying for yet another crisis

We always say to people, "Don't forget about these youth." 

A lot of them tend to have mental health concerns or substance abuse struggles because they try to erase what they've been through. So many of them have been in the foster care system that once they turn 18, we hear them say something like, "I just wish I had a family."

For most of us, we don't realize how blessed we are to go home to our families every night, and know they're going to be there. For these young people we serve at Covenant House, we workers become their aunts or uncles or families. We don't judge them. 

Especially now during COVID-19, I think more people realize that homelessness or poverty can happen to anyone. 

Stephanie Taylor
Taylor during outreach in an area of Detroit frequented by homeless youth.

Even if you have a comfortable income, a disaster or unavoidable circumstance could cause you to go from having a safety net to being unable to pay for housing or bills in an instant. 

A lot is different now because of the pandemic. Places like coffee shops and the dining areas in McDonald's have shut down, so youth have fewer places to go for temporary shelter from the outdoors. 

Social distancing is also hard for us because we need to be able to approach youth in order to help them. It's tough because we try to keep everyone safe, and because of the pandemic we might not be able to reach out to as many youth as we previously could. I don't want any young person out there to suffer, so it means a lot to me to be able to come in and do whatever I can to help these young people.

I want to help them become safe, successful, and get connected to the resources they need. I tell people all day long that even though this is a job, it's a ministry. It's a blessing. If you want to go into this field, please have a lot of patience and don't ever give up. Some of these young people are going to be in charge one day, and we have a chance to plant that seed to help them flourish.

Ashley Zlatopolsky is a Detroit-based writer and editor. Her work can be found in Rolling Stone, National Geographic, the Guardian, and The Atlantic, among other outlets. Follow her on Twitter at @ashley_detroit and learn more on her website.

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The best Kohl's Cyber Monday deals happening now, including steep discounts on Roomba, Keurig, Instant Pot, and more

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kohl's
  • Kohl's is hosting a Cyber Monday sale and the deals are some of the best we've seen from any retailer so far.
  • Deals on robotic vacuums, kitchenware, wireless earbuds, and more are well underway; we've sorted out the best Kohl's Cyber Monday 2020 deals below.
  • For shopping on Cyber Monday, you'll earn $15 of Kohl's Cash for every $50 spent, to use through December 9.
  • We're covering Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, Target, and more, and you can shop all the best Cyber Monday 2020 deals here.

Kohl's offers great deals on Cyber Monday and 2020 is no different; so far, Kohl's has some of the deepest discounts we've seen, along with other great shopping incentives. 

In addition to big discounts, the retailer is offering several special coinciding promotions, including $15 Kohl's Cash for every $50 spent, which you can use for additional shopping through December 9. Kohl's also has several products on its site that are promo-code eligible; on certain items the code YOUGET20 will get you an additional 20% off at checkout. Fine and silver jewelry is an additional 20% off with the code SPARKLE20, and watches are an additional 10% off with the code WATCHES10. 

The top 5 Cyber Monday deals at Kohl's

The best Cyber Monday home and kitchen deals at Kohl's 

The best Cyber Monday tech deals at Kohl's

 

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Renewable energy expert says the world's energy transition is here to stay despite recent surge in oil prices

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FRANCOIS AUSTIN   Provided

Oil company stock prices jumped more than 10% since Pfizer announced its vaccine breakthrough, amidst hopes that life will soon return to normal. So does this mean oil giants will swing back to producing more oil and abandon renewable energy? 

No, not at all. Even if the industry wished to turn back the hands of time, it can no longer afford to. The starting gun has been fired. Reducing greenhouse-gas emissions is no longer an issue for academics, governments, and activists. Oil companies' customers, bankers, and investors are increasingly committed to a lower carbon world.  More than 1,000 of the world's most major corporations, along with 22 regions, 452 cities, and 45 of the world's biggest investors have signed on to the United Nation's Race to Zero campaign  to cut the world's emissions to net zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050.  Any chief executive who hasn't still has to discuss their sustainability plans with board members, shareholders, and financiers.

More companies will follow. Almost every day a major fund reduces its investments in companies inconsistent with its green investing policy. The most recent example was on November 9, when Scottish Widows divested 440 million British pounds of company holdings that failed environmental, social, and governance tests. 

In response to this sea change, Europe's major oil companies have already cut the oil price assumptions used to plan long-term investments so their expected returns on capital from oil and renewable gas projects will be comparable. On top of that, they are rebalancing their portfolios and redirecting capital from oil production to electron production from solar panels, wind turbines, and have plans to provide turnkey clean energy solutions to cities and regions. 

The energy industry is more committed now to transitioning to clean energy than I have ever seen in my decades consulting the industry. It is just becoming more fragmented as different parts of the world move at different speeds to a more sustainable future given their respective business and societal contexts. In response to changes in the way Europeans choose to power their homes, cars, buildings, and corporations, major European players plan to transform from oil and gas companies into energy companies. Chinese companies, already the world's largest solar panel, wind turbine and large-scale battery producers, are laying the groundwork for China to become a renewable energy superpower. North American and Middle Eastern energy players are hedging their bets. 

Integrated oil companies will not be organized as they have been in the past. They will accelerate the pace that they spin off marginal oil fields that no longer fit in a clean energy agenda for financial, strategic and brand related reasons. These will likely end up with private equity players since they will be inconsistent with the investment goals of public funds.

Instead, companies will organize themselves around a future in which the biggest energy companies will no longer be the players that drill the most oil, but instead the ones with brands most favored by consumers. That's why most major oil companies are investing in building customer brands around their services. They want to service all of their customers' energy needs. Since buying a utility two years ago, one major European oil company has been offering discounted fuel to its customers who buy its electricity. Just as Tesla offers power for free to customers who buy its cars, energy companies will have to come up with new ways to thrive independent of revenues from their fuel sales. Power could become free in the same way mobile phone calls will become free as long as you buy enough data.

The greening of the energy industry has arrived and is accelerating. Many companies already are reinventing their economic models in the same way that telecoms already have.  The coronavirus has shown how painful a world crisis can be. No one wants to be unprepared  – and that includes the people who work in the energy industry. 

Francois Austin leads the Global Energy Practice at Oliver Wyman and is an expert on the Mobility and Climate & Sustainability Platforms with the Oliver Wyman Forum.

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