• New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo released an op-ed Monday defending the state's deal to lure Amazon's HQ2 to New York City.
• The state gave more than than $1.5 billion in tax incentives to Amazon, a move that was widely criticized.
• Cuomo said negative coverage of the HQ2 deal came in part because media companies compete with The Washington Post, which is owned by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday suggested that part of the the backlash to Amazon's selection of New York City as one of its HQ2 cities came because other media organizations compete with the Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos-owned Washington Post.

Cuomo, who famously joked that he would change his name to Amazon Cuomo if Amazon came to New York, released an op-ed on Monday defending the more than $1.5 billion in tax incentives that the state of New York and New York City gave to the online retail giant.

Part of the reason the media has been so quick to critique the deal, Cuomo claimed in the self-published op-ed, was that the companies compete with the Post.

"This transaction is a lightning rod for the political rhetoric on both extremes," Cuomo wrote. "The extreme conservatives and the socialists both now vehemently oppose 'incentives' for Amazon, which is one of the most profitable companies in the country. Compounding the situation, Jeff Bezos owns the Washington Post and Amazon and is a competitor to many interests currently involved in the discussion."

Amid frequent attacks from President Donald Trump on the pair, Amazon and The Washington Post have reiterated that the companies operate independently. 

Cuomo also dubbed as hypocrites media companies ranging from Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation — which owns the New York Post and Fox News — to the New York Times for criticizing the deal. He said those companies also accepted tax incentives from New York for expansions.

"I am sure that as these entities have now been highly critical of the concept of 'tax payer subsidies' we will see Rupert Murdoch, the Times, Warner Media/CNN rebate the incentives they have been receiving, refuse them in the future, and will remain in New York," Cuomo said. "Once we receive their rebates it will more than compensate for the Amazon benefit!"

Read more: New Yorkers are making lots of doomsday predictions about Amazon’s HQ2. Here are all the things that could make it a disaster.

Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio worked extensively to try and convince Amazon to come to the city, offering tax incentives and other perks to convince the company to bring approximately 25,000 jobs.

A wide array of media organizations have come out against the deal or expressed serious skepticism. The critiques have ranged from the Wall Street Journal editorial board to the New York Times board — and even local outlets in other corners of New York.

In addition, many New York City residents and New York politicians have expressed concerns about HQ2's effect on the city's public transportation and other services.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: This top economist has a radical plan to change the way Americans vote

• Anastasia Beverly Hills has started to announce its 2018 Black Friday deals.
• On November 23, the beauty brand will launch a $90 eye-shadow bundle called the "Haul of Fame Collection"  exclusively on its website.
• The bundle includes the subculture, soft glam, modern renaissance, and prism palettes, and is valued at $168.
• Anastasia Beverly Hills is also planning to release two $60 lipstick sets on Black Friday, which are valued at $200 and will include 10 shades each.

Black Friday is officially less than one week away, and the 2018 beauty deals are starting to roll in.

On November 23, Anastasia Beverly Hills will launch a $90 eye-shadow bundle called the "Haul of Fame Collection." Included in the boxed set are the subculture, soft glam, modern renaissance, and prism palettes. 

The limited-edition bundle will be sold exclusively on the brand's website.

Usually, each palette retails for $42

Together, the eye shadows are valued at $168, so this sale basically allows customers to purchase four palettes for the price of two.

Customers will also receive a sparkly black box to store the four palettes.

With four different palettes included in the set, you can gift the entire bundle to one person, or split up the palettes to give to multiple friends

The soft glam palette is ideal for a person who prefers neutral makeup looks.

The prism palette is also included in the bundle, and would make a great gift for anyone who prefers bold eye looks.

Read more: The only online stores you should bother shopping at for Cyber Monday

Anastasia Beverly Hills will also sell two different lipstick sets on Black Friday

The company hasn't announced all of the details yet, but it did reveal on Instagram that the bundles will each include 10 liquid lipsticks.

Purchasing 10 lipsticks from the brand would typically cost $200, but each bundle will be sold for $60.

Find out more about the Anastasia Beverly Hills Black Friday sale on the brand's website here.

Visit INSIDER's homepage for more.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: This mind-melting thought experiment of Einstein's reveals how to manipulate time

• President Donald Trump has so far stood by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman despite damning allegations he ordered the killing of Jamal Khashoggi in early October. 
• Trump's ongoing support for Prince Mohammed, the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, follows a long pattern.
• The president has a tendency to accept denials from his allies and those close to him when they face accusations of serious wrongdoing.

President Donald Trump has so far stood by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman despite damning allegations he ordered the killing of Jamal Khashoggi in early October. 

Trump's ongoing support for Prince Mohammed, the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, follows a long pattern: The president has a tendency to accept denials from his allies and those close to him when they face accusations of serious wrongdoing, regardless of how credible the accusations are. Meanwhile, he routinely and viciously lashes out at virtually anyone who criticizes him, at times embracing and promoting conspiracy theories to delegitimize them.

Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist who wrote for The Washington Post, went missing after he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2. After nearly three weeks of denials, Saudi Arabia finally acknowledged Khashoggi was killed in the consulate, but has maintained Prince Mohammed knew nothing about it. 

Read more: Here's everything we know about the troubling disappearance and death of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi

Riyadh's attempts to distance Prince Mohammed from the killing have been met with widespread skepticism, and the CIA has reportedly concluded with "high confidence" he ordered a team to take Khashoggi out. 

But Trump has largely responded to the disturbing details surrounding Khashoggi's killing by touting Saudi denials while emphasizing the purported benefits of the US-Saudi relationship.

In an interview with Fox News anchor Chris Wallace that aired Sunday, the president avoided placing any significant blame on Prince Mohammed. 

"He told me that he had nothing to do with it," Trump said of the Saudi prince. 

Trump added, "Will anybody really know? All right, will anybody really know? But he did have certainly people that were reasonably close to him and close to him that were probably involved. You saw we put on very heavy sanctions, massive sanctions on a large group of people from Saudi Arabia. But at the same time we do have an ally and I want to stick with an ally that in many ways has been very good."

The interview aired just two days after a bombshell report from The Washington Post that said the CIA had concluded Prince Mohammed explicitly ordered Khashoggi's killing.

Trump is seemingly accepting the denial of a dubious autocrat over the findings of the US intelligence community.

The president's posture is similar to his stance toward Russian President Vladimir Putin, which includes controversial remarks Trump has made undermining US intelligence assessments on the Kremlin's interference in the 2016 presidential election.

Trump came under fire in July after he appeared to side with Putin's denials about Russia's interference over the US intelligence community's conclusions on the subject. 

Read more: A huge question looms over Trump after the CIA reportedly concludes the Saudi crown prince ordered Jamal Khashoggi's killing

But this is also reminiscent of Trump's acceptance of denials from a number of people on the domestic front. 

After former staff secretary Rob Porter resigned from the White House amid allegations of domestic violence, for example, Trump came to his defense. "He says he's innocent,"Trump said the week Porter resigned back in February. "He said very strongly yesterday that he’s innocent."

Similarly, when failed Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore of Alabama faced accusations of sexually assaulting multiple teenage girls, Trump continued to support him. "He denies it, he denies it,"Trump said of Moore in November 2017. "He says it didn't happen, and you have to listen to him also. And he said, 40 years ago, that this did not happen."

When former Fox News host Bill O'Reilly faced allegations of sexual harassment from multiple women, Trump in April 2017 said, "I don't think Bill did anything wrong." He described O'Reilly as a person he knows "well." 

More recently, as Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh faced allegations of sexual misconduct during his confirmation hearing, Trump also came to his defense. 

In fact, Trump has used the same rhetoric he employed to defend Kavanaugh as he's responded to the Khashoggi killing and allegations against Saudi Arabia's leadership. Speaking on the investigation in mid-October, Trump said, "Here we go again with, you know, you’re guilty until proven innocent. I don’t like that. We just went through that with Justice Kavanaugh. And he was innocent all the way."

In short, Trump has made a habit of embracing denials when they're convenient for him – even at the expense of undermining the US intelligence community – while habitually rejecting facts that don't support his agenda or make him look bad.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Megyn Kelly in 2017: 'I regret a lot' of the controversial stuff I've said on live television

• The SLS Baha Mar resort in Nassau, The Bahamas has a three-night VIP vacation package for couples — and it starts at $60,000.
• The Sinfully Lavish Splendor Package comes with perks including a private island rental, personalized dining experiences, and a private butler at all times.
• Diamond PR represents the resort and helped create the package for the mega-rich. 

Couples can escape the winter vacation crowds in The Bahamas with a luxurious vacation package at the SLS Baha Mar in Nassau.

Diamond PR represents the SLS Baha Mar and worked with the resort to create an ultimate three-night VIP vacation starting at $60,000. Booking the Sinfully Lavish Splendor Package comes with celebrity-status perks, including exclusivity: only one couple can book the package at a time for any night. 

Read more: A Maldives luxury resort that costs up to $3,800 a night has opened an underwater sculpture museum and the photos are otherworldly

The hotel works directly with couples to create the experience, which includes first-class flights, a private island rental, personalized dining experiences, and a private butler at all times. The resort features more than 12,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space on the Bahamian coastline. 

The Baha Mar is also known for hiring a CFO — that's "Chief Flamingo Officer"— whose responsibilities including supervising the hotel's flamingos. 

Each day of the vacation package is pre-planned, so guests don't have to worry about their itineraries. Check out what $60,000 at the SLS Baha Mar buys you with the Sinfully Lavish Splendor package. 

SEE ALSO: This hotel in The Bahamas will pay you to hang out with flamingos all day

DON'T MISS: You can swim with pigs at this beach in The Bahamas

The SLS Hotel is located within the $4.2 billion Baha Mar resort in Nassau, The Bahamas. The SLS has access to shared Baha Mar amenities including the Caribbean's largest casino, 18-hole golf course, and spa.

Source: SLS Baha Mar

It sits on 3,000 feet of Bahamian coastline and is known for being the first lifestyle hotel in the Caribbean.

Source: SLS Baha Mar

Booking the $60,000, three-night Sinfully Lavish Splendor package comes with two first-class tickets to The Bahamas and a 10-minute ride from the airport to the resort. The hotel works directly with a couple to book the tickets from anywhere in the world.

Source: SLS Baha Mar

• Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance chairman and CEOCarlos Ghosnwas arrested by Japanese law enforcement on Monday.
• Nissan revealed that an internal investigation concluded that Ghosn allegedly under-reported his income and misused corporate assets.
• Nissan said it will dismiss Ghosn as its chairman.
• Ghosn allegedly reported only half of the $88.7 million he earned in a five year period ending in March 2015. 
• Ghosn is the mastermind behind the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, which sold more than 10.6 million cars in 2017, the most of any carmaker in the world. 

Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance chairman and CEO Carlos Ghosn was arrested by Japanese law enforcement on Monday. The arrest comes after Nissan revealed that an internal investigation concluded that the long-time executive allegedly under-reported his income and misused corporate assets.

According to reports for Japanese media outlets NHK and Kyodo News, Ghosn allegedly reported only half of the $88.7 million he earned in a five year period ending in March 2015. 

In a statement, Nissan announced that CEO Hiroto Saikawa will ask the company board to remove Ghosn from his chairmanship.

At a press conference on Monday, the Nissan CEO said he felt "despair, indignation, and resentment."

Saikawa, who served as Ghosn's co-CEO at Nissan between November 2016 and March 2017, also bowed and apologized to the public 

The Brazilian-born Ghosn also serves as the chairman of Mitsubishi Motors; chairman and CEO of Renault; and chairman and CEO of The Alliance, a carmaking unit consisting of Nissan, Renault, and Mitsubishi. 

It's unclear how his arrest will affect his positions with the Alliance. 

The Alliance was not immediately available for comment. 

Monday's news marks a stunning downfall for an executive long-regarded as the man who saved Nissan nearly 20 years ago. 

He is also the mastermind behind the Alliance, which sold more than 10.6 million cars in 2017, the most of any automaker in the world.

With Ghosn's future as the Alliance's leader in question, the conglomerate's future also looks to be less clear than before right as the envisioned synergies of the venture begin to bear fruit.

"This benefits of the Alliance are finally coming into fruition," Rebecca Lindland, a Kelley Blue Book executive analyst, told Business Insider. "There's some platform sharing, technology from the new Nissan Leaf EV is going to go across several brands."

In the hours after news broke of Ghosn's alleged behavior, both Nissan and Renault reaffirmed their commitment to the carmaking venture.

Read more: Nissan slides after Chairman Carlos Ghosn is arrested over financial misconduct allegations.

In a statement from Renault, a group of the company's directors expressed "their dedication to the defense of Renault’s interest in the Alliance." Saikawa also said during his press conference that the Alliance will not be affected by Ghosn's ouster.

But there are still a lot of questions about how exactly the incident will impact the stability of the Alliance. 

Shares of both Nissan and Renault took steep dives during Monday trading. 

In a note released on Monday, Citi Group indicated that it does not foresee a dissolution of the Alliance.

"While unlikely, in our view, a drastic change to the status quo with Nissan could also result in a period of instability for the stock," Citi said. 

Lindland agrees. 

"Mr. Ghosn masterminded the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance, balancing three different companies with demanding elegance," the analyst said. "The alliance will continue without him, but this misconduct will cause disruption and uncertainty at the top for a while."

However, expected a change in management style at Nissan and the Alliance.

"I think we could see a committee running the alliance," Lindland said. "One of the things emphasized over and over at during Nissan's press conference was the individual power that Mr. Ghosn held and I think that's something Nissan and The Alliance will try to change in the future. "

SEE ALSO: The Kia Stinger is Business Insider's 2018 Car of the Year

FOLLOW US: On Facebook for more car and transportation content!

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: This LEGO Bugatti Chiron is drivable — here's what it can do

Join the conversation about this story »

Join the conversation about this story »

• Demi Lovato called out a fan who criticized her for firing her trainer and said the singer's team was “rotten.”
• “It was completely unfair to fire Dani, she’s one of the few who really cares about Demi’s health and has been helping her for 3 years, she’s surrounded by people who only care about her money and she does not see it,” the fan shared in a screenshot on Instagram.
• Lovato, who just returned to Instagram earlier this month, responded saying the fan has “no idea” what they are talking about.
• The singer was likely referring to Danielle Martin, who she fired after leaving rehab. Martin gave an interview to Radar Online shortly after her overdose.

Demi Lovato called out a fan who criticized her for firing her trainer and called her team “rotten.”

“It was completely unfair to fire Dani, she’s one of the few who really cares about Demi’s health and has been helping her for 3 years, she’s surrounded by people who only care about her money and she does not see it,” the fan shared in a screenshot on Instagram.

Lovato, who just returned to Instagram earlier this month, responded saying the fan has “no idea” what they are talking about. "True friends don't do interviews about you when you OD," she added in another comment on the post.

• Read more:Demi Lovato returns to Instagram with a photo of her voting

Many speculated Lovato was talking about her backup dancer Dani Vitale, but she later commented confirming that she was not talking about Vitale. The dancer was by Lovato’s side after her overdose and denied rumors of providing her with drugs in August.

“I have NEVER touched nor even SEEN a drug in my entire life,” Vitale wrote on Instagram. “I DO NOT DO DRUGS, nor would I ever encourage, or supply them to anyone I love.”

The singer was likely referring to Danielle Martin, who she fired after leaving rehab. Martin gave an interview to Radar Online shortly after her overdose. After being fired, Martin spoke with Radar Online again, saying she was fired for being honest.

“I lost my job for speaking up for her, to be honest,” she told Radar Online. “Pretty sad. I did nothing but empower her. Nothing bad to say. The people around her I’m sure were happy to run to her. They told her I was taking the situation and making it all about me. I’d never do that. Not ever. I was standing up for her. That’s all.”

For more, head to INSIDER's homepage. 

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: The science of why human breasts are so big

In the heart of Times Square, amid a barrage of tourists and billboards, taxi cabs and LED lights, stands an abandoned theater covered in scaffolding. Though it's located in one of the busiest entertainment districts in the world, the structure has stood empty for nearly three decades.

As the nation's retail industry began to decline, the theater struggled to find an owner that could afford its coveted location. Many have tried, and failed, to implement their grand visions for the site, which dates back to the early 20th century. 

In the 1990s, a restoration group called The New 42nd Street undertook the mission of renovating seven neglected Times Square theaters. Of all their historical projects, the abandoned building at 215 West 42nd Street is the last to be refurbished.

After interviewing more than 100 applicants, The New 42nd Street finally landed on a developer to convert the old theater into a 52,000 square-foot retail center, featuring glass walls and a two-tiered outdoor terrace.

Take a look at the building's century-long transformation, which is set to be complete in two years' time. 

In 1920, the theater opened as a live Broadway playhouse.

The first performance to debut was The Mirage, starring actress Florence Reed. 

The structure was designed by Italian-American architect Eugene de Rossa.

The New York Times called it"simple, spacious, handsome, [and] comfortable."

In 1934, the building was converted into a movie theater, which became popular among WWII soldiers on leave.

Source: Wall Street Journal

• Robert J. O'Neill, a former US Navy SEAL who shot Osama Bin Laden during a 2011 raid on the former Al Qaeda leader's Abbottabad, Pakistan compound, has pushed back on President Donald Trump's criticism of his commander.
• O'Neill's commander, retired Adm. Bill McRaven, recently said Trump's attitude towards the press is the greatest threat to democracy he's seen in his life.
• Trump fired back by calling McRaven a Hillary Clinton and Obama supporter.
• O'Neill said on Twitter that the raid that killed Bin Laden was bipartisan, and that McRaven is a leader he'd follow anywhere. 

Robert J. O'Neill, a US Navy SEAL who shot Osama Bin Laden during the legendary 2011 raid on the former Al Qaeda leader's Abbottabad, Pakistan compound, has pushed back on President Donald Trump's criticism of his commander.

In an interview with Fox News, Trump called Bill McRaven, O'Neill's former commander, "a Hillary Clinton backer and an Obama backer," in response to McRaven calling Trump's attacks on the press the greatest threat to democracy he'd seen in his lifetime. 

"I did not back Hillary Clinton or anyone else,"McRaven told CNN. "I am a fan of President Obama and President George W. Bush, both of whom I worked for. I admire all presidents, regardless of their political party, who uphold the dignity of the office and who use that office to bring the nation together in challenging times."

"I stand by my comment that the President's attack on the media is the greatest threat to our democracy in my lifetime," McRaven concluded.

Read more: 'You have embarrassed us in the eyes of our children': Navy SEAL who oversaw the Osama bin Laden raid rebukes Trump

Trump on Monday doubled down on his criticism of the 2011 raid, saying the US should have gotten Bin Laden sooner. But O'Neill rushed to defend McRaven, a storied SEAL leader who led the shadowy Joint Special Operations Command at the time of the bin Laden raid.

"The mission to get bin Laden was bipartisan. We all wanted to get him as soon as we could," O'Neill tweeted on Monday. 

"ADM McRaven was born to lead this mission. I’ll follow him anywhere. If only people heard the real speech he gave the Team," O'Neill continued. 

Trump frequently touts the fact that his 2000 book "The America We Deserve" mentions Bin Laden in passing, but he did not predict that the Al Qaeda leader would carry out the September 11, 2001 attacks. 

Furthermore, Trump campaigned on destroying ISIS in its entirety, but ISIS's leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who has facilitated attacks on US soil like Bin Laden did, remains at large. So does Al Qaeda's current head, Ayman al-Zawahiri.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: The true story behind Boston gangster Whitey Bulger

Every year, the White House gets decked out in elaborate decorations to celebrate the holidays, and the Trumps put their own personal touch on the Christmas flair.

The official theme in 2017 was "Time-Honored Traditions," meant to pay homage to over 200 years of White House holiday celebrations.

On Monday, the Trumps received the massive Christmas tree that will stand on the grounds, and thousands of volunteers started transforming the White House into a winter wonderland. By December, they will welcome guests to see the decorations.

First lady Melania Trump unveiled the first transformation under her tenure last November. This is what the White House looked like for Christmas last year.

SEE ALSO: The Trump White House is hanging mistletoe — and some people are freaking out

DON'T MISS: 7 of the most amusing products you can buy at the Trump store

In 2017, the White House was filled with 71 wreaths, 53 Christmas trees with more than 12,000 ornaments, and 18,000 feet of Christmas lights.

The official Christmas tree stands tall and regal in the White House Blue Room. It is decorated with the seals of every US state and territory.

The first lady, like many before her, has taken a leading role in overseeing the holiday preparations. Here she is marveling at the handiwork of the White House staff.

• Black Friday means massive deals at retailers including Belk, JCPenney, and Kohl's.
• However, some stores are offering bigger discounts than others, according to an analysis of almost 7,000 Black Friday deals. 
• Here are the top 10 stores that are offering the largest Black Friday deals this year. 

As Black Friday grows near, shoppers need to get strategic about where to find the best deals. 

The power of Black Friday has cooled in recent years. Stores are more likely to offer deals year-round, and with other major sales day — such as Amazon's Prime Day in July — the kickoff of the holiday shopping season isn't quite what it used to be. 

However, that doesn't mean there are not incredible discounts to be found. Shoppers just need to know where to look for them.

WalletHub surveyed nearly 7,000 deals from Black Friday ads of 35 of the largest retailers in the United States. The website then analyzed which retailers were offering the largest average discounts.

Here are the top 10 stores to visit for the biggest possible Black Friday deals this year:

SEE ALSO: Alibaba just had the biggest online shopping day of all time, nearly tripling every company's 2017 Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales combined

10. Shopko

Average discount: 45.2%

Shopko is letting customers in at 2 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day and keeping stores open until 10 p.m. Black Friday.

9. Fred Meyer

Average discount: 45.3%

The supermarket — which is open on Thanksgiving Day — will kick off Black Friday at 5 a.m. 

8. Macy's

Average discount: 48.7%

The department store will be open between the hours of 5 p.m. and 2 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day.

• The next battle for dominance in streaming may be related to the aggregation of OTT apps.
• Roku is is commonly seen as the leading aggregator of OTT content.
• But other content distributors, like Comcast, have shown interest in offering similar services.
• A Roku executive told Business Insider he expects the competition to only increase.

Alongside the battle for developing the top streaming service is a concurrent battle for aggregating those services together.

As more and more over-the-top options for users crop up — from video-on-demand services like Netflix to digital TV services like DirecTV Now — consumers are looking for an easy, well-organized way to access their subscriptions. Scott Rosenberg, an executive at Roku, expects the competition in that part of the market to only increase.

"I would say broadly consumers have so many more options now to watch longform premium video in our living room and so we all should expect that the traditional video distributors will feel compelled to compete more aggressively to keep consumer attention and to compete at the price point that consumers are demanding," Rosenberg, GM of the company's platform business, told Business Insider.

Roku is commonly seen as the leading aggregator of OTT content, offering more than 5,000 channels for users who buy its set-top boxes. But new entrants to the aggregation business continue to emerge. Comcast, which doesn't have its own OTT service for US customers, is reportedly working on a set-top box for broadband customers that will aggregate OTT apps.

That offering would likely directly compete with Roku. While Rosenberg wouldn't comment specifically on Comcast's strategic decisions, he said he isn't surprised that traditional media distributors, like Comcast and AT&T, are starting to innovate with offerings similar to Roku to keep up with consumer demand. 

"Consumers are asking for skinnier bundles and more varied bundles, they're asking for a better ad experience, they're asking for more apps, more content diversity, and OTT makes that possible. And so I would fully expect that all of the traditional video distributors feel compelled to try and gravitate towards that user experience," he said.

The growing competition in this space is monitored by an industry curious to see what platform will win dominance. "There's no shortage of people who have identified [aggregating OTT apps] as the next big thing," Alan Wolk, cofounder and lead analyst for TVREV, told Business Insider. "Amazon and Apple want to do it. [Comcast] wants to do it." 

Roku's user base is its big strength, with 24 million active user accounts as of the end of the third quarter. Morgan Stanley analysts predict Roku will continue to pick up users over the next four years, but how much growth it can achieve is up for debate.

"Our bull case of over 50 million active accounts by [year end] 2022 would represent a doubling over the next four years, reaching >50% penetration of US broadband homes," the analysts wrote. "Reaching these heights despite platforms like Amazon, Apple, and Alphabet's rising focus in TV hardware, software, and content, while incumbents like Comcast grow the OTT content distributed to its [approximately] 14 million X1 customers, will be challenging."

Rosenberg Roku isn't overly concerned about the growing competition in this space."We've competed our whole lives here at Roku with big companies, inevitably companies much bigger than us," he said. "We compete with Apple, Amazon, Google, we outperform all of them, in unit sales and engagement with consumers in the TV market."

And it's Roku's unique relationship in the industry that he thinks gives the company a boost.

We're "a relatively neutral entity in the ecosystem," he said. "We're not typically vertically integrated into music or movie services, and as a result we have all the major music services, all the major movie services available in OTT because we're a platform."

SEE ALSO: 'His comments are illogical': Analysts say Disney CEO Bob Iger's plan to raise Hulu prices is out of step with customer demand

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: The science of why human breasts are so big

A lot of pressure comes with planning a wedding. You want to put together a celebration that is fun for everyone invited — and not just fun, but the best night ever. 

As it turns out, a fantastic wedding doesn't always have to involve a lot of money, a fancy venue, or a huge guest list. In fact, a glimpse through a few different Reddit threads on the subject proves the opposite: the best weddings are full of love, happiness, and a feeling of togetherness … with a few other things mixed in as well.

Over the years, a few Reddit users have shared what they think makes a good wedding. Take a look at their responses, and keep them in mind if you're planning your own big day.

"Your party is only as good as the people enjoying it."

"I find that if I'm not too close with the couple then I'm just there as a formality. But if I know the couple well, regardless of the level of quality in each piece, I have had a great time. Your party is only as good as the people enjoying it. So, if you invited too many people that were just there out of ‘consideration,' then there's a higher chance of it being lame(r)." - Redditor duderino13

"When it incorporates the couple's hobbies, interests, and just who they are."

"The best wedding I've been to was obviously low-budget, but it incorporated the (rather quirky) personalities of the couple just perfectly. For instance, the bride had just gotten her degree in chemistry, so the centerpieces used chemistry glassware instead of vases for the flowers (which were all hand-crocheted by her!)." - Redditor Yavemar

"Good food."

"It's usually the most expensive part of the wedding, but I think people should try to save money on other things and get the best food within their budget. I don't have an opinion on nice centerpieces or how much the wedding dress costs, but I always remember which weddings had good or bad food." - Redditor Book_1love

• NASA has picked a landing site for its upcoming Mars 2020 rover.
• The space agency will try to land its nuclear-powered robot in Jezero Crater, a giant impact near the Martian equator.
• Jezero Crater was a water-rich area billions of years ago on Mars, and it might still hide signs of alien life such as microbes.
• NASA hopes to dig up and store Martian soil samples — for the first time in human history — for a future launch back to Earth.

NASA has announced where it plans to land the Mars 2020 rover and dig for signs of alien life in the red planet's soil.

The car-size robot is expected to land inside the 28-mile-diameter Jezero Crater, an ancient impact site located just north of the Martian equator. It was one of more than 60 sites that NASA eyed during years of consideration.

NASA's Mars 2020 rover is made from a backup of the Curiosity rover, which landed on Mars in August 2012 and has roamed the red planet on nuclear power ever since. But the new six-wheeled robot will come with vital upgrades to its wheels and — most importantly — be equipped to "collect rock and soil samples and store them in a cache on the planet's surface," the agency said in a press release.

This canister of soil and rocks, if successfully stashed, will be the critical first leg of an unprecedented, multi-mission effort to collect and launch the first sample of Mars back to Earth, where scientists would be able to analyze it in detail.

"The landing site in Jezero Crater offers geologically rich terrain, with landforms reaching as far back as 3.6 billion years old, that could potentially answer important questions in planetary evolution and astrobiology," Thomas Zurbuchen, NASA's associate administrator, said in the release. "Getting samples from this unique area will revolutionize how we think about Mars and its ability to harbor life."

NASA expects to launch the Mars 2020 rover in July or August of 2020, which means the robot would arrive on Mars in April or May of 2021.

Like Curiosity, NASA plans to use a death-defying "sky crane" system to plunk the 2,315-lb robot on the Martian surface.

Jezero was named in 2007 after a town in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and it means "lake" in several Slavic languages.

SEE ALSO: Mars destroys tires so NASA reinvented the wheel — here's how

DON'T MISS: Trump could replace Obama's asteroid catcher with a SpaceX-backed mission to Mars

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: NASA released this 5-year time-lapse of Mars from its Curiosity rover — and the footage looks amazing

• Jessie J took to Instagram to criticize people who have been comparing her appearance to Jenna Dewan.
• "I am so disappointed and embarrassed that my name is even involved. It's not something I stand for, at all," she wrote. 
• Dewan supported the British singer, saying: "Women for women all the way. No need for negativity. Let's live in a world where we support each other and raise each other up. Like I said before, positive vibes all the way. Nothing but respect."
• People first started comparing Dewan and Jessie J after it was reported in October that the British singer was dating Tatum.

Jessie J is slamming people who are comparing her to Jenna Dewan and pitting the women against each other.

The British singer, who's reportedly dating Channing Tatum, said that she "rarely" responds to stories about her in the news that she disagrees with, but had to comment on people who keep saying that she looks like Dewan.  

"There is a story I have seen be rewritten over and over again in the past few weeks that talks about myself compared directly to another beautiful woman regarding our looks and people picking who they think is prettier,"Jessie J wrote on Instagram on Friday. 

The "Domino" singer went on to discuss the negative effect of comparing women and called out the double standard, saying that the media doesn't treat men the same way.

"You only have to look at a few of the comments to see that these stories are not inspiring women supporting women, but mostly women ripping other women down," Jessie J wrote. "I am so disappointed and embarrassed that my name is even involved. It's not something I stand for, at all."

The 30-year-old added: "I am a woman that supports ALL women. I am a woman that loves ALL women and will not stand quietly when the media is teach young girls to constantly compare one another. Or to pick who they think is prettier."

Read more: Jenna Dewan responded to the suggestions that she looks like Channing Tatum's reported new girlfriend, Jessie J

Dewan also took to social media to support Jessie J's "beautiful message." 

"Women for women all the way. No need for negativity. Let's live in a world where we support each other and raise each other up. Like I said before, positive vibes all the way. Nothing but respect," she said.

Previously an Instagram user commented on one of Dewan's Instagram posts and said that she didn't understand the physical comparisons between the 37-year-old and Jessie J. 

The fan said that the two stars are "not even close" and added that Dewan is "untouchable."

"Just trying to spread positive vibes, keep doing you…to an absolute outsider from a small town you are doing it seamlessly," she added.

In response, Dewan said: "Positive vibes all the way."

Visit INSIDER's homepage for more.   

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: The science of why human breasts are so big

• It's been one of the active years in senior investment banking hires and exits since the financial crisis, according to top Wall Street headhunters.
• Business Insider reviewed executive search reports detailing nearly 300 investment banking moves at the managing director level or higher this year.
• We've created a chart showing how many top investment bankers each bulge-bracket firm hired and lost this year.

Wall Street investment banks have been poaching rival dealmakers at a rampant pace this year. 

In fact, as of early November, there had been more moves by senior investment bankers in the US than any year since the financial crisis, according to top industry headhunters who work closely with the firms and their bankers and keep tabs on significant personnel changes. 

After reviewing reports and discussing with some of the industry's top investment-banking search firms, we tallied nearly 300 hires, departures, and resignations of managing directors or other senior investment bankers in the US. 

Much of the activity has revolved around the top global banks, who have been competing intensely for a share of the $78.1 billion in investment banking revenues, of which $38.4 billion comes from the US, according to data from Dealogic. 

Unlike years past, when these top banks generally focused on replacing talent lost to increasingly pesky boutiques and independents, many of the big banks are more assertively hiring to capture a bigger slice of growing deal fee pool — especially given the record amount of merger and acquisition volume in 2018. 

Add to the mix an unprecedented amount of shakeups at the highest ranks of bulge-bracket investment banks — Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Citigroup, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, and UBS have each undergone major leadership changes — which can have a cascading effect as new power brokers mold their organization to fit their strategy.

Here's a closer look at the talent churn at the nine top global investment banks — how many notable, senior dealmakers they lost in the US and whom they lost them to: 

Deutsche Bank, which is having a tumultuous year amid the ouster of CEO John Cryan and subsequent appointment in April of consumer-banking specialist Christian Sewing, stands out with 26 senior losses in the US, spread fairly evenly between bulge-brackets, boutiques and independents, and second-tier investment banks. 

Barclays, Credit Suisse, JPMorgan, and Morgan Stanley each saw a greater proportion of its senior dealmakers leave for rival global banks. 

Which bulge-bracket banks have been stealing their rivals' talent? This chart — which highlights senior hires and departures in 2018 — shows that Goldman Sachs and UBS have been the most active of the big banks, followed by Barclays. 

Goldman, the only bank to hire more senior bankers than it lost according to our headhunter reports, has been particularly aggressive amid its pursuit of $500 million in additional investment banking revenues by 2020. They've brought in at least 13 dealmaker MDs in the US this year, many of them at the partner level, like ex-JPMorgan deal wizard Kurt Simon, who joined Goldman in August.

Keep in mind that there are some limitations to these charts and data. First of all, they're not internal figures from the banks. Headhunters keep a great pulse on the most significant and notable moves, but it's possible that the bulge-bracket firms have made hires that slipped under their radar. 

Amid the turmoil at Bank of America, for instance, the firm has recently been pointing out it has added nearly 50 managing directors globally in investment banking in 2017 and 2018, though it hasn't provided specificity beyond that overall figure. 

And on that note, our figures are only focused on the extraordinarily active year of 2018. But some banks may have gotten significant hiring out of the way in 2017. Citigroup, by way of example, hired more than 20 MDs globally in its corporate and investment bank last year, including lifting a top consumer-retail team from Bank of America, which sparked a war for consumer investment bankers in early 2018. 

Also, our figures are focused on senior moves, but not all managing directors are created equal. Losing a few underperforming MDs and luring one true rainmaker would be a net win for most banks.

That's why Business Insider worked with senior headhunters to winnow that list of nearly 300 moves down to the 40 most significant.

You can check out that list here.

Join the conversation about this story »

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

• Rent the Runway is introducing RTR Platform, a new way for designers to partner with the rental company and reach a growing number of customers.
• With these partnerships, customers like you will be able to browse curated collections put forth by established brands and new designers alike.
• Already, nearly 40 brands have jumped on the Platform bandwagon — including Club Monaco, J.Crew, Rebecca Minkoff, and Jason Wu — and it seems that more will soon be following suit.
• New subscribers can currently take 20% off their first month of Reserve, or save a total of $80 on their first two months of Unlimited, with the code "GETFESTIVE".
• The Unlimited subscription has changed the way many women at Business Insider shop for clothes, and the perks of subscribing just keep getting better.

The Rent the Runway pieces in your closet may only be temporary additions, but the rental market is clearly here to stay.

As it turns out, borrowing instead of buying designer clothes is a trend that shows no sign of going out of style. And as the pioneer in the space, Rent the Runway is continuing to introduce innovative new ways to bring more and more labels into the rental industry.

This month, the New York City-based platform is launching RTR Platform, a new way for brands to take part in the rental economy. Not only does that allow more designers to grab a piece of the ever-growing rental pie, but it also allows shoppers like you to pick from an ever-growing roster of tops, bottoms, dresses, jackets, accessories, and more.

With the introduction of RTR Platform, designers will be able to work directly with Rent the Runway in order to create a curated collection of pieces meant specifically for Runway customers.

Before the launch of Platform, COO Maureen Sullivan explained to Business Insider, the primary way the company secured inventory was by simply purchasing pieces directly from its 500+ designer brand partners. Now, Sullivan says, "Our partnerships with designers, beyond just traditional wholesale relationships, are deeper partnerships; from creating capsule collections, to sharing insights on the designer's product in the rental ecosystem, to the designers creating exclusive inventory for RTR based on our data and insights, and our knowledge of what customers want to rent."

And when it comes to succeeding in the retail industry, data is key. "By partnering with the RTR Platform, [brands] can access invaluable data and insights around customer demand for their products in the rental ecosystem as well as item-level feedback on any product they put on the RTR Platform," Sullivan told us. This could ultimately have an effect on what brands ultimately decide to rent, and could even have an impact on their manufacturing processes and inventory assortments.

With RTR Platform, the curated capsule collections are brought directly into Rent the Runway, and the rental service becomes responsible for managing fulfillment, reverse logistics, cleaning, inventory care, and customer service. The revenues from any rentals are split between Rent the Runway and its designer partner, which ought to help designers generate an additional revenue stream separate from their traditional sales model.

"Rent the Runway has changed consumer behavior, with our subscribers now wearing rented clothing 120 days of the year," Sullivan said. "We had brands coming to us asking how we could partner and help them enter the rental market. Currently, we have 39 brands signed on as part of Platform, with more being added every month."

As it stands, these 39 brands include J.Crew, Levi's, Club Monaco, Josie Natori, Prabal Gurang, Hunter, DL1961, Derek Lam, Jason Wu, Ralph Lauren, Rebecca Minkoff, L.K. Bennett and Marchesa. And by 2019, Rent the Runway expects that inventory from RTR Platform will account for nearly 25% of the company's total inventory.

So why the continued interest in renting?

As it turns out, customers tend to be a bit more adventurous with their rentals, displaying a willingness to try new things and perhaps deviate from the little black dress mold.

As Sullivan tells us, "Only 20% of our rentals are in black, and more than half of our rentals are prints or embellished. Once a subscriber has unlocked the limitless closet in the cloud, she starts renting items outside her comfort zone. She tries things she wouldn't have bought because they weren't practical, and now she invests in good quality basics [instead of] spending her money on fast fashion."

This could be good news for young, innovative designers as well.

With RTR Platform, Rent the Runway is offering newer labels and lesser-known brands an opportunity to reach a larger audience — indeed, the company reports that 98% of subscription customers discover a brand for the first time through their rentals. "In most cases, customers are not shopping by brand," Sullivan told us. "As a result, emerging brands get as much exposure and attention as bigger brands. Our site is a source of discovery and exploration."

As the rental economy continues to grow, Rent the Runway may just have a few more tricks up its three-quarter length sleeve. Whether it's in the form of designer partnerships or a growing number of ways to rent rather than own, it seems as though Rent the Runway is ensuring its continued relevance in the fashion world.

New customers can currently take 20% off their first month of Reserve, or save a total of $80 on their first two months of Unlimted, with the code "GETFESTIVE".

SEE ALSO: I've used Rent the Runway's unlimited subscription for a year — and it's completely changed the way I shop

DON'T MISS: Allbirds has dropped a brand-new high-top sneaker made with a sustainable foam sole — here's how it feels in person

Join the conversation about this story »

• Target will be open from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day and reopen on Black Friday at 7 a.m.
• This is the longest amount of time that the store has been open during Thanksgiving since it first opened its doors on the holiday in 2011. 
• While some retailers are still hoping to capitalize on Black Friday sales early by opening during Thanksgiving, some have likely pulled back because the famous shopping day doesn't carry the same weight it once did.

Target's Thanksgiving opening hours are creeping further forward. 

This year, its stores will be open on Thanksgiving from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Stores will then reopen at 7 a.m. on Friday.

This is the first time that the store has had these extended hours. Last year, Target was open from 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day to midnight on Black Friday. The previous year, it opened at 6 p.m. and was closed by 11 p.m. 

Read more: The clever tricks Target uses to get you to keep spending money

SEE ALSO: Kohl's will open stores for Black Friday on Thanksgiving Day

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: How Alibaba turned a fake holiday into a $25 billion shopping extravaganza that's bigger than Black Friday and Cyber Monday combined

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

Today only, one of the best pairs of headphones you can buy is going for one of the lowest prices we've seen.

The V-Moda Crossfade wireless headphones are available from Amazon for $114.99— that's 30% off their current normal price of $164.99.

I've been a V-Moda fan for a number of years, ever since I tried one of their earliest pairs of on-ear cans, and the Crossfade headphones are no exception. The headphones offer a seamless wireless sound via Bluetooth, and come with a cable so that you can still connect them to wired-only devices — like an airplane's entertainment system.

These stylish headphones feature dual-diaphragm 50mm drivers that offer excellent warm, accurate sound with a punchy bass that doesn't overwhelm, bright treble, and balanced mids.

V-Moda headphones are known for their build quality, and the Crossfade lives up to that reputation. The headphones feature a steelflex headband that can be adjusted, as well as a steel frame. The included cable features Kevlar and is tested to stay intact no matter how many times you bend, pull, or twist it.

Fortunately, the headphones' durability doesn't impact their comfort. Big, plush memory foam earpads, coupled with vegan leather cushioning on the headband, mean that you can listen comfortably for hours. The headband's clamping force is adjustable, so its easy to make them tighter or looser.

It's rare to find these headphones for such a low price, so make sure to get a pair before the deal is over.

Buy the V-Moda Crossfade Wireless Headphones for $114.99 on Amazon [You save $50]

Join the conversation about this story »