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Leonardo DiCaprio had to return Marlon Brando's Oscar, and the financier who gave it to him as a birthday present is now reportedly a fugitive on the run

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leonardo dicaprio

  • Leonardo DiCaprio handed over to the US government Marlon Brando's best actor Oscar that had previously been gifted to him.
  • According to The New York Times, Jho Low, a Malaysian financier who gave DiCaprio the Oscar, stole billions of dollars from a Malaysian investment fund.
  • The Times said US investigators are in the process of recovering things purchased by Low.

 

Leonardo DiCaprio was given Marlon Brando's 1955 best actor Oscar, which Brando won for "On the Waterfront," as a birthday gift, but had to return it last year when it was revealed to be involved in a corruption scandal.

This week, new details emerged in a New York Times report about Jho Low, the Malaysian financier who gifted Brando's Oscar to DiCaprio after he won it for $600,000 at an auction. Low stole billions of dollars from a Malaysian government investment fund, called the 1Malaysia Development Berhad fund (1MDB), and is a fugitive on the run from US investigators, according to The Times.

According to The Times, Low is believed to be in hiding in China, and the US took charge of the investigation because it's been "been cracking down on the flow of illegal money through the American financial system."

Court documents reviewed by The Times revealed that several federal agencies are in the process of recovering items Low purchased, including $8 million worth of jewelry Low gave Australian supermodel Miranda Kerr.

According to the book "Billion Dollar Whale: The Man Who Fooled Wall Street, Hollywood and the World," which was released earlier this year, Kerr handed over the jewelry to the US government last year. But according to the Times report, another gift to Kerr, a piano in her home, is causing problems because it won't fit through the doors.

The recovery process has been slowed, according to The Times, because Low is in hiding, and he and his associates "have denied wrongdoing and are challenging the forfeitures."

SEE ALSO: Ellen DeGeneres is considering quitting her TV show, even though she is the highest-paid talk show host in the world

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NOW WATCH: The inside story behind the Marvel movie you were never supposed to see


When a homeless man was admitted to a hospital, his 4 stray dog friends patiently waited for him at the door

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dogs homeless man hospital

  • A nurse at a Brazilian hospital shared the heartwarming story of one of her homeless patients.
  • The man, César, came into the emergency room at 3 a.m. for help with a pre-existing health condition.
  • The nurse, Cris Mamprim, and her colleagues noticed a group of stray dogs waiting for César at the entrance of the hospital, as he takes care of them and feeds them.
  • Dogs are too good for this world.


On December 9, Cris Mamprim was working the night shift at Hospital Regional Alto Vale in Rio do Sul, Brazil, when a homeless man named César came in seeking treatment.

While he was getting treated for a pre-existing condition, Mamprim noticed that a group of dogs had congregated outside the door, waiting for their friend to get released. And, as Mamprim noted on The Dodo, these dogs looked much more well-fed than your average stray animals.

Read more: An IKEA store in Italy is letting stray dogs inside to warm up during the winter, and the pictures will warm your heart

César eventually admitted that he had stopped eating in order to care for his furry friends, Mamprim shared on Facebook. "A simple person, without luxury, who depends on help to overcome the hunger, the cold, the pain, the evils of the world, has by his side the best companions, and the exchange is reciprocal," wrote Mamprim.

She added, "Seeing them like this, waiting at the door, just shows how well they are cared for and loved."

These good boys refused to leave until César was ready to join them. But not before the hospital staff allowed them inside for a meal.

Read the full post below, and maybe have the tissues ready.

Visit INSIDER's homepage for more.

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NOW WATCH: The legendary economist who predicted the housing crisis says the US will win the trade war

LIVE: Theresa May promises to quit before next election as Conservative MPs decide whether to get rid of her

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Theresa May

LONDON — Theresa May will face a leadership challenge this evening after 48 Tory MPs sent letters demanding a no-confidence vote.

Conservative MP Graham Brady, the committee's chairman, said a ballot will be held between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. (GMT) tonight in the House of Commons.

"The votes will be counted immediately afterwards and an announcement will be made as soon as possible in the evening," Brady said.

The prime minister has told hostile Conservative MPs that she is seeking significant changes to the Brexit deal and will stand down before the next election in 2022 in an attempt to win their support. 

We'll find out whether it has worked when the result is announced at around 9 p.m. (GMT).

Follow Business Insider's liveblog for the latest developments in another hectic day at Westminster.

SEE ALSO: Theresa May hints she will quit before next election in last-minute bid to save her leadership

18:45: May's opponents don't trust her resignation promise

The European Research Group's recent Whatsapp messages have been leaked to Business Insider's Adam Payne. Here's what has been said in the last few minutes.

Helen Mayer — a leading member of the StandUp4Brexit campaign — has thanked MPs who have tried to oust May for their work, "whatever the result."

She has paid tribute to leading Brexiteer Steve Baker, who she says is "a superstar in Parliament with too many political pygmies."

MPs in the Whatsapp group also paid  tribute to chief Brexiteers Iain Duncan Smith, Jacob Rees-Mogg, and Owen Paterson.

Intetestingly, there is some suspicion about May's promise to quit before the next scheduled election in 2022.

Anna Bailey MP wrote: "How can she say she won't lead them into the next GE when that election could be anytime, esp with backstop on the table (hence no support from DUP)? It makes no sense whatsoever."



18:20: Here's what happened in the 1922 committee meeting

The 1922 Committee meeting of Conservative MPs has just finished. The MPs will now go and cast their ballots in the no confidence vote in Theresa May's leadership.

Here's what May told the meeting:

MPs in the room have reported an "emotional" atmosphere.

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson and senior MP James Cleverly said there was high levels of support for the prime minister ahead of the confidence vote. However, it wasn't a totally positive reaction for May. Lee Rowley MP reportedly told her "stamina isn't a policy" while others demanded a specific date for her resignation.



17:27: 'This is a delay and a distraction' — Cleverly

Conservative party chairman James Cleverly is briefing hacks outside the 1922 committee.

He says it was not a "razzmatazz" speech but she emphasised "now is not the time" to change the leader. She told MPs that tonight's vote is a "delay and distraction," Cleverly said.

"May said this is not going to be resolved by an election. We are going to deliver Brexit," he added.



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A day in the life of a Deutsche Bank managing director, who wakes up at 5:00 a.m., spends 10 days of the month traveling, and works out twice a day even while on business trips

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  • A New York-based managing director at Deutsche Bank spends up to 10 days out of the month traveling for work.
  • Piers Constable described his daily routine to Business Insider — and exercise is a huge part of it.
  • On a recent trip to Cote d'Ivoire, he woke up at 5:00 a.m. to exercise, met with clients all day, ate lunch while on an international conference call, and squeezed in another workout before heading back to the airport at 10:00 p.m. for his flight home. 

 

Piers Constable, a managing director at Deutsche Bank, wakes up at 5:00 a.m. every day and spends eight to 10 days of the month traveling for work.

Constable, based in New York City, has traveled to more than 60 countries while working for Deutsche Bank and has also lived in London and Dubai. His team arranges finance for infrastructure projects in emerging markets.

He wakes up at 5:00 a.m. every day to work out — and often fits in a second workout later in the day.

"I find getting up in the morning to go for a swim or sit on the bike is basically an hour less sleep than I'd have, but that gives me sort of more energy than I'd have had if I'd have stayed in bed," he told Business Insider. "I think nobody likes waking up at 5 o'clock, but if it becomes a habit, it's much easier to do."

Here's what a typical day looks like for Constable when he's traveling for business.

SEE ALSO: A Deutsche Bank exec who's traveled to more than 60 countries for business meetings says he always does the same thing when he gets to a new city

DON'T MISS: A Deutsche Bank exec says he travels up to 10 days every month — and he's been able to keep doing it for over 20 years because of a 'magic combination'

Piers Constable, a managing director at Deutsche Bank, is based in New York City but travels all over the world to meet clients for up to 10 days out of the month.



Constable wakes up at about 5:00 a.m. every morning, whether he's traveling or home in New York City. He said that he travels so much that sometimes it takes him a moment to remember where he's waking up. He recently woke up in a hotel in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, where he arrived on a Sunday evening after a 15-hour flight.



The first thing Constable does on any given day is exercise. A competitive triathlete, he likes to get a workout in before anyone else is awake. The hotel lobby in Abidjan was empty as he went to the pool at 6:00 a.m. He woke up slightly later than usual, at 5:30, because he wasn't allowed to swim in the pool before 6:00.



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How Amazon can dethrone UPS and FedEx in the US last-mile delivery market (AMZN)

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

AmazonShipping_CostSavings

Outside of the US Postal Service (USPS), FedEx and UPS have dominated the domestic logistics industry — and in particular, the last-mile of the delivery — for decades. On a quarterly earnings call in 2016, FedEx estimated that itself, UPS, and USPS executed a whopping 95% of all e-commerce orders.

But rapidly rising volumes have put the pair of legacy shippers in a bind. E-commerce sales have risen over 50% and are projected to continue their ascent into the next decade. High volumes are already straining shippers' networks — UPS struggled to bring consumers their parcels on time due to higher-than-anticipated package volume, which upset some big-name retail partners, including Macy's, Walmart, and Amazon. As online sales surge further, package volumes will outstrip legacy shippers' capacities, creating space for new entrants. 

Amazon is uniquely well-positioned to dethrone UPS and FedEx's duopoly. It's built up a strong logistics infrastructure, counting hundreds of warehouses and thousands of delivery trucks.

Further, as the leading online retailer in the US, it has a wealth of data on consumers that it can use to craft a personalized delivery experience that's superior to UPS and FedEx's offerings. Amazon must act soon, however, as UPS and FedEx are hard at work fortifying their own networks to handle the expected surge in parcel volume.

The longer the Seattle-based e-tailer delays the launch of a delivery service, the more it runs the risk that these legacy players will be able to defend their territory. 

In a new report, Business Insider Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service, explains how the age of e-commerce is opening up cracks in UPS and FedEx's duopoly. We then outline how Amazon's logistics ambitions began as an effort to more quickly get parcels out the door and fulfill its famous 2-day shipping process and how it'll be a key building block for the company if it builds out a last-mile service. Lastly, we offer concrete steps that the firm must take to maximize the dent it makes in UPS and FedEx's duopoly.

The companies mentioned in this report are: Alibaba, Amazon, FedEx, and UPS.

Here are some of the key takeaways from the report:

  • While UPS and FedEx have dominated the US last-mile delivery market for the last few decades, the surge in e-commerce is creating more volume than shipping companies can handle.
  • Amazon is uniquely well-positioned to put a dent in UPS and FedEx's duopoly due to its strategic position as the leading online retailer in the US.
  • Amazon can carry its trust amongst the public, a wealth of consumer data, and its ability to craft a more personalized delivery experience to the last-mile delivery space to ultimately dethrone UPS and FedEx.
  • The top priority for Amazon in taking on UPS and FedEx needs to be offering substantially lower shipping rates — one-third of US retailers say they'll switch to an Amazon shipping service if it's at least 20% cheaper than UPS and FedEx. 

In full, the report:

  • Outlines Amazon's current shipping and logistics footprint and strengths that it would bring to the last-mile delivery space in the US.
  • Lays out concrete steps that Amazon must take if it wants to launch a standalone last-mile delivery service, including how it can offer a more memorable, higher-quality delivery experience than UPS and FedEx.
  • Illustrates how Amazon can minimize operating costs for a delivery service to ultimately undercut UPS and FedEx's shipping rates in the last-mile space.

 

SEE ALSO: Amazon and Walmart are building out delivery capabilities

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Michael Cohen's lawyer Lanny Davis says his client will tell 'all he knows about Mr. Trump'

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Michael Cohen

  • Michael Cohen's attorney said the former lawyer will "tell all" about President Donald Trump. 
  • Lanny Davis said his client will state "all he knows" about the president to any Congressional committee. 

Michael Cohen, Trump's former lawyer who on Wednesday was sentenced to three years in prison for an array of crimes he committed while employed by the president, will "tell all" about Trump, his attorney said. 

Lanny Davis', Cohen's lawyer, said his client will "state publicly all he knows about Mr. Trump" once special counsel Robert Mueller completes his investigation.

Davis said he will help Cohen testify before any Congressional committee that is "interested in the search for truth and the difference between facts and lies. Mr. Trump's repeated lies cannot contradict stubborn facts." 

Read more: Michael Cohen says he felt it was his 'duty' to 'cover up' Trump's 'dirty deeds,' is sentenced to 3 years in prison

"Michael has owned up to his mistakes and fully cooperated with Special Counsel Mueller in his investigation over possible Trump campaign collusion with Russian meddling in the 2016 election," Davis said in a statement. "While Mr. Mueller gave Michael significant credit for cooperation on the 'core' issues, it is unfortunate that SDNY prosecutors did not do the same. To me, their judgement showed a lack of appropriate proportionality." 

The special counsel had suggested Cohen get no prison time due to his cooperation with the investigation. SDNY prosecutors thought otherwise. During Cohen's hearing, SDNY's Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicolas Roos said Cohen could not "have it both ways." 

"To do so would send the wrong message," Roos said.

Before his sentencing, Cohen said apologized for his actions, saying he felt he had a "duty" to "cover up" Trump's "dirty deeds." He said he acted out of "blind loyalty" to Trump. It was this loyalty, he said, what led him go down "a path of darkness instead of light."

Cohen must report to federal prison on March 6.

SEE ALSO: People are dragging Michael Cohen for a 2015 tweet about Hillary Clinton after he was sentenced to 3 years in prison

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NOW WATCH: Anthony Scaramucci claims Trump isn't a nationalist: 'He likes saying that because it irks these intellectual elitists'

Canadian cannabis producer Canopy Growth expects to enter the US market next year to grab a piece of a $1.6 billion opportunity (CGC)

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  • Canopy Growth expects to have an active presence in the US cannabis market by late 2019, CEO Bruce Linton said at an event on Tuesday, according to Cowen.
  • Linton's announcement came after the US Senate voted Tuesday to approve the hemp-friendly Farm Bill. The House will vote on the bill Wednesday. 
  • The US-hemp market is expected to be worth $1.6 billion by 2021, said Vivien Azer, an analyst at Cowen.
  • Watch Canopy Growth trade live.

The Canadian cannabis producer Canopy Growth expects to enter the US market by the end of 2019, according to analysts at Cowen.

Speaking at a New York City-based Contractors Association Lunch on Tuesday, Canopy CEO Bruce Linton said he expects his company to have an active presence in the US cannabis market by late 2019, Cowen says.

Linton's announcement came after the US Senate voted to approve the hemp-friendly Farm Bill. The bill, which is expected to pass in the House on Wednesday and be signed by President Donald Trump, includes a provision for the legalization of industrial hemp.

Hemp is a source of the popular ingredient cannabidiol, or CBD, one of the primary cannabinoids that occur naturally in cannabis. This corner of the market is one to keep an eye on as Coca-Cola reportedly held talks with Canopy rival Aurora Cannabis to develop beverages infused with CBD.

"With the legislation having been signed by Congressional leadership the night before his presentation (and slated for a floor vote by the end of next week), Linton’s tone brightened notably,"Vivien Azer, an analyst at Cowen, said in a note sent out on Wednesday.

"As a reminder, Brightfield estimates that U.S. CBD currently generates $418 million in sales, which is expected to climb to $1.6 billion by 2021."

Hemp

So far in the US, nine states and Washington, DC, allow recreational marijuana, while 31 states and Washington, DC, allow medical marijuana.

Canopy Growth moved its stock listing from Toronto to the New York Stock Exchange in May. Shares were flat for the year until August, when Constellation Brands, the beverage maker behind Corona beer and Svedka vodka, announced a $4 billion investment in the company, sparking a so-called green rush into the cannabis sector and causing companies across the industry to see their valuations more than double in a matter of weeks.

However, shares have been under pressure as of late — after the company missed big on second-quarter revenue on November 14. Canopy was down 44% from its all-time high of $56.89 set on October 15, two days before Canada became the second country after Uruguay to legalize marijuana for recreational use. 

Now read:

CGC

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NOW WATCH: The world's largest cruise ship just landed in Miami — here's what it's like on board

76 unique gift ideas from startups that are worth having on your radar

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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.

Away $225

Startups are often seen as incubators or think tanks making better, smarter, or cooler products faster than traditional companies can. And thanks to the lean businesses models made possible by the internet, those products don't have to cost more than the status quo they're replacing. 

Their uniqueness, cool origin stories, and — on average — more sustainable and ethical business practices also make them particularly good gifts. Below are 76 up-and-coming startups we love to shop at, plus a cheat sheet for what to buy from each of them.

Below, you'll find 76 of the best gifts you can buy from startups this year.

Looking for more gift ideas? Check out all of Insider Picks' holiday gift guides for 2018 here.

Allbirds

What to buy:
Women's Wool Loungers, $95
Men's Wool Loungers, $95

This is the footwear company responsible for the merino wool sneakers and loungers often called the "most comfortable shoes in the world"— a statement we agreed with after trying them. They're great for everyday use or for traveling, and you'll find them in high concentrations in hubs like Silicon Valley and New York City. 

Allbirds are also a great gift for environmentally-conscious shoppers. The company is well-known for practicing "better business" and engineering its shoes from sustainable wool, eucalyptus leaves, or foam made from sugar cane.



Brooklinen

What to buy:
Brooklinen Luxe Hardcore Sheet Bundle, from $213

Brooklinen is one of our favorite companies, point blank. We think they make the best high-end sheets at the best price on the market, and most of the Insider Picks team uses Brooklinen on their own beds.

The Luxe Hardcore Sheet Bundle comes in 15 colors and patterns, and you can mix and match them to suit your taste. As part of the Bundle, you'll receive a core sheet set (fitted, flat, two pillowcases), duvet cover, and two extra pillowcases in soft, smooth 480-thread-count weave. Grab a gift card (delivered digitally or in a gift box) if you want them to have more freedom. 



Atlas Coffee Club

What to buy:
Three-Month Subscription, $55

Atlas Coffee Club is a monthly coffee subscription that curates freshly-roasted, micro-lot coffees from around the world and sends them to your door. Since the coffees span the globe, each shipment is meant to connect recipients with the culture that produced it. Shipments include a corresponding postcard (plus flavor notes and brewing tips), and the coffee bag designs are inspired by local landscapes and textiles. 



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The most baffling optical illusions of the year

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  • This year was full of optical illusions that baffled people.
  • Some were viral photos of humorous coincidences.
  • Others were more intricate works of art using Photoshop or other materials.

From intricate works of art to masterful Photoshop jobs to viral coincidences, 2018 was full of optical illusions that baffled people.

Here are 15 of the most mind-bending optical illusions of the year.

"Triply Ambiguous Object" created by Kokichi Sugihara of Japan won the title of Best Optical Illusion of the Year.

"Triply Ambiguous Object" created by Kokichi Sugihara of Japan shows what appears to be a three-dimensional object looking completely different from three different viewpoints. These seemingly different objects can all be seen at the same time thanks to two vertical mirrors placed behind it.

There are three reasons why the illusion occurs. For one, it only works on video, meaning that depth perception is absent: our brains then fill in the missing depth information with rectangles. Also, the vertical pin emphasizes the direction of gravity when viewing the object on a slant, strengthening the illusion of a 3D space. Finally, it's hard to tell that the three viewpoints are showing the same object.



Contrasted by the colorful items in the aisles, the greyscale section in this supermarket looks eerily colorless.

Holly McKee was shopping for a Halloween costume for her younger sister at Asda supermarket in Dundee Milton, Scotland, when she came across an irl optical illusion that made her do a double take.

Sandwiched between colorful aisles of clothes and accessories was a display of greyscale children's clothes so uniform that it looked like a black and white filter had been applied in reality.

McKee first posted the photo to her Instagram story, then to Twitter, captioning it "Thought I went colour blind in Asda today."

When people thought that she edited the photo, McKee went back to the store to film a video of the display to prove that it was real for her YouTube channel, The Scottish Sisters.



This frog actually consists of five models covered in body paint.

Johannes Stotter creates optical illusions that first appear to be hyperrealistic depictions of animals. But on closer inspection, you can see they're actually humans covered in body paint.

Stotter began his "Illusions" project in 2013 while living in the Italian Alps, where he says nature directly influenced his art.



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13 underrated warm-weather destinations for the holidays

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A tourist in Santorini.

  • In the US, warm-weather destinations like Edisto Island, South Carolina and Dunedin, Florida typically have fewer crowds in the winter.  
  • The Caribbean island Anguilla is more private warm-weather travel destination.
  • Panama City, Panama and Santorini, Greece are also popular warm-weather destinations that can be bit less crowded during the winter time. 

Whether you're looking for a warm-weather travel destination to escape from cold winter weather or you simply want to explore somewhere new during the holiday season, there are plenty of travel options out there if you want to avoid the crowds. 

Here are a few underrated warm-weather travel destinations to check out this holiday season. 

Edisto Island in South Carolina is a beachy destination that's close to Charleston.

Get two trips in one by visiting Edisto Island in South Carolina — it's only about an hour away from Charleston, so you can visit the popular destination and also get to relax by the beach.

You can have a low-key trip, or you can explore a bit by going dolphin and whale watching, taking a boat tour to beautiful Shell Island.



Head to Cartagena in Colombia for beautiful sightseeing.

Pretty much any place in South America will be a warm-weather destination, but if you want a somewhat less crowded destination, check out Cartagena, Colombia.

This coastal city features amazing food, beautiful architecture, and quaint cobblestone streets. 



Explore nature at Lake Atitlan in Guatemala.

The shores of beautiful Lake Atitlan offer you a view of three volcanoes. Plus, you can visit the village of San Marcos for some quiet relaxation or head to Santa Cruz La Laguna to explore — it's the lake's scuba capital that's also known for diving. San Pedro also offers plenty of delicious restaurants to check out.

Read More:  45 hotels around the world with stunning views



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21 scandals that rocked the Trump administration in 2018

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  • The Trump administration has provided no shortage of controversy and scandal in 2018.
  • From Trump reportedly referring to several nations as "s--thole countries" and multiple cabinet members implicated in ethics scandals, it was an eventful year for the White House and the administration broadly.
  • Here are the 21 biggest scandals that roiled the Trump administration in 2018. 

It's been a long and eventful year in the administration of President Donald Trump, with nearly every day bringing with it a new controversy or scandal. 

Between the release of two tell-all books that described the West Wing as dysfunctional, five cabinet members either ousted or mired in scandal, and several bombshell revelations in special counsel Robert Mueller's probe into Russian interference, there's been no shortage of scandal. 

Here are the 21 of the biggest scandals that rocked the Trump administration in 2018:

Michael Wolff's "Fire and Fury" left aides scrambling to do damage control.

In early 2018, a controversial tell-all book about the Trump administration written by  Hollywood Reporter columnist Michael Wolff raised tensions among White House staffers as they tried to minimize the damage.

Among the book's most salacious allegations were that former White House advisor Steve Bannon called Trump's oldest daughter Ivanka "dumb as a brick" and his son Donald Jr. "treasonous," that Trump repeatedly tried to have sex with his friends' wives, and that "everyone around him" questions his intelligence and fitness for office.

While the book's claims were treated with cautious skepticism by other members of the media, Trump slammed Wolff and blamed "weak libel laws" for the book's allegations.

 



Staff secretary Rob Porter resigned after his two ex-wives accused him of domestic violence.

Rob Porter, a White House staff secretary and right-hand man to chief of staff John Kelly, resigned in early February after two of his ex-wives came forward with allegations of domestic abuse, sending the West Wing into chaos. 

Many of Porter's White House colleagues stuck by him even as the women came forward with disturbing accounts of physical assault, photographs of black eyes, and protective orders they filed against Porter. The allegations were considered serious enough to deny Porter a security clearance, according to reports. 

While Kelly publicly stated he was "shocked" by the claims, multiple news reports asserted the White House was aware of the allegations for months before they became public. 

 



The Washington Post reported that Trump referred to a number of nations as "s--thole countries" in a meeting.

In a bipartisan meeting with members of Congress, Trump reportedly referred to nations including Haiti, El Salvador, and a number of African nations as "shithole countries," and lamented why the US wasn't seeing more people immigrate from places like Norway.

The remarks garnered heavy backlash from figures in Washington and the media. 

"I don't know how to break this to you, but I think the president might be racist," Trevor Noah, host of "The Daily Show,"said.

"Sir, they're not shithole countries," joked "Late Show" host Stephen Colbert. "For one, Donald Trump isn't their president."

 



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The 5 biggest snubs of this year's Screen Actors Guild Awards nominations, which are voted on by actors

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  • The nominations for the 25th Annual Screen Actor's Guild (SAG) Awards are here, and they're filled with surprises and snubs.
  • Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell didn't get nominated for their leading roles on the excellent final season of "The Americans."
  • "Bohemian Rhapsody," a movie that has only been praised for one performance, got a nomination for best ensemble cast.
  • We're confused. 


We thought actors (people who professionally act) would be really good at voting for acting awards, but we were wrong!

The SAG Awards, which take place a few weeks before the Oscars every year, is an awards show hosted by the Screen Actor's Guild. Actors vote on their peers in film and television, but the focus is performances, with awards for best lead and supporting actors and actresses, and awards for best ensemble casts. 

Usually SAG nominees are a bit better than the bigger shows like the Oscars and Golden Globes, because SAG voters really know their craft. But not in 2018.

This year's nominations are filled with shocking snubs and unpleasant surprises, including no nomination for the leads on FX's "The Americans," and a strange outstanding ensemble cast nomination for "Bohemian Rhapsody."

The 25th Annual SAG Awards ceremony will be broadcast live on TNT and TBS on Sunday, January 27 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. 

Here are the five biggest snubs and surprises from the SAG Awards nominations:

Matthew Rhys didn't get nominated for outstanding performance by a male actor in a drama series, but Jason Bateman and John Krasinski did.

The nominees: 

Jason Bateman, “Ozark”
Sterling K. Brown, “This Is Us”
Joseph Fiennes, “The Handmaid’s Tale”
John Krasinski, “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan”
Bob Odenkirk, “Better Call Saul”

Rhys's portrayal of the KGB spy Philip Jennings who's somewhat seduced by the American life has been the absolute best performance on television for years, overshadowed by more popular AMC shows. But this was finally his year. On the sixth season, Rhys did his best work to date, which included Philip's classic line dancing, an emotional final trip to McDonald's, but also an intense ten minute stand-off in a parking garage. Rhys carried carried the scene while allowing his co-stars Keri Russell and Noah Emmerich to shine, too. Rhys should have had a nomination, and he should have won.

"The Americans" earned a SAG nomination for best ensemble cast on a TV drama, and while its cast has always been the best (and the most ignored), the lead performances deserve recognition the most. 

 



Keri Russell didn't get nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series, but two actresses from "Ozark" did.

The nominees: 

Julia Garner, “Ozark”
Laura Linney, “Ozark”
Elisabeth Moss, “The Handmaid’s Tale”
Sandra Oh, “Killing Eve”
Robin Wright, “House of Cards”

For the past five years, Russell, like her co-star Matthew Rhys, has been doing some of the best acting in television history on "The Americans" as the cold, dutiful, but sometimes conflicted KGB spy Elizabeth Jennings. Her character made some major advancement during the final season, and Russell captured every feeling, from the obvious to the subtle. 

And yet, two actresses from Netflix's second season original series "Ozark," a mediocre drama with very good performances (not great), got nominated over Russell. Laura Linney is, as always good on the show, but she's not doing anything particularly groundbreaking. The same goes for her co-star and fellow nominee Julie Garner, who had a major role on "The Americans" and appeared briefly on the final season earlier this year. 



"Bohemian Rhapsody" got nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture for some reason.

The nominees: 

“A Star Is Born”
“Black Panther”
“BlacKkKlansman”
“Bohemian Rhapsody”
“Crazy Rich Asians”

This particular nomination is truly baffling, considering the only positive reception this movie has gotten is strictly related to Rami Malek's performance as Freddie Mercury. While there are other people in this movie, like  Mike Meyers apparently, no one is talking about them. You probably, like me, just found out that Mike Meyers is in this movie in the previous sentence.

It feels like no SAG members even saw the movie, and just picked the movie out of a hat. Or maybe they just voted for it to avoid giving "Avengers: Infinity War" -- the biggest crossover event of all time -- a nomination in the category. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Jon Gosselin says that he and Kate Gosselin 'don't talk' and it's 'sad'

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jon gosselin and kate gosselin

  • Jon Gosselin told "Access Hollywood" that he and ex-wife Kate Gosselin "don't talk."
  • "It's just nothing, which is sad because co-parenting would have been the process," the 41-year-old said. 
  • Jon recently won temporary sole physical and legal custody of their 14-year-old son Collin. 
  • Their other child, Hannah, lives with Jon, while Mady, CaraAlexis, Aaden, Leah, and Joe reside with Kate. 

 

Jon Gosselin says that he no longer has a relationship with ex-wife Kate Gosselin.

"We don't talk," Jon said during an interview with "Access Hollywood.""It's not even business, it's just nothing. I don't know what to call it."

The reality TV star, who recently won temporary sole custody physical and legal custody of their 14-year-old son named Collin, went on to say: "It's just nothing, which is sad because co-parenting would have been the process. It's just nothing."

Jon and Kate rose to fame for their reality TV show, "Jon and Kate Plus Eight," which focused on the couple and their children — Mady, Cara, and sextuplets Alexis, Hannah, Aaden, Collin, Leah, and Joe. Since their 2009 split, the parents continue to have public disagreements and spats

Mady, CaraAlexis, Aaden, Leah, and Joe live with Kate, while Collin and Hannah stay with Jon. Even though Jon won the legal battle, Collin still resides at a facility for children for special needs and visits his father occasionally. 

"It's just her way and my way and that's it," Jon told "Access Hollywood.""She has her kids, I have mine."

Read more: Jon Gosselin shared a rare photo of kids Collin and Hannah visiting, and you won't believe how much they've grown

"It's a relief to know that my son is going to be taken care of, and I'm going to take care of him, and [girlfriend Colleen Conrad], and our family as well, my immediate family," he added.""It's comforting to know that my attorneys worked really hard and it's always nice to win, of course."

The 41-year-old went on to say: "Hannah lives with me too, so his sister's going to be there to support him as well."

A representative for Kate didn't respond to INSIDER's request for comment.

Watch Jon Gosselin speak with "Access Hollywood" below. 

Visit INSIDER's homepage for more.   

Join the conversation about this story »

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These seven 'Super Smash Bros. Ultimate' tips will help you dominate your friends like a pro (NTDOY)

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Super Smash Bros Ultimate Link

  • "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate" is out now for the Nintendo Switch and players are already starting to get competitive with the new game.
  • Up to eight players can fight each other in Smash at the same time, leading to plenty of mayhem on the battlefield.
  • While players who have played Smash in the past will have no problem picking up "Ultimate," there are a few tricks that set veterans apart from casual players.

"Super Smash Bros." has provided fierce a fierce video game battleground since the first game in the series was released on the Nintendo 64 in 1999. With "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate" now out for Nintendo Switch, the fight continues with multiplayer matches breaking out across offices, dorm rooms, and house parties everywhere.

While "Ultimate" is the biggest Smash game ever, the rules are the same: players fight to knock each other off the stage using their favorite video game characters. Those who have played the previous games should feel right at home when they pick up "Ultimate;"every character from the previous games has returned and dedicated tournament players have already begun developing advanced techniques for their favorite characters.

Not everyone is ready to become a professional Smasher, but it can't hurt to have a few tricks to beat casual players right? Here are some essential tips to help you dominate your friends in "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate."

SEE ALSO: 'Super Smash Bros. Ultimate' brings more than 70 characters to the Nintendo Switch — here they all are

SEE ALSO: We found a trick that unlocks every character in 'Super Smash Bros. Ultimate' in just a few hours. Here's how to get your favorites as fast as possible.

Figure out a comfortable control scheme (seriously though).

Really though, it may sound obvious, but knowing your controls is the first step to winning. "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate" has no shortage of control schemes and settings, so it's important to figure out which works best for you. While Smash veterans may prefer playing on the old-school GameCube controller (compatible with "Ultimate" via an adapter sold separately), the new Switch controls have a different layout and an extra button to customize.

In addition to the standard controls, pay attention to the "Other Settings" options. Lots of players prefer to turn off "Stick Jump" so they don't accidentally jump with the analog stick and die. Personally, I like to set my right analog to "Tilts" for quick attacks, and use Attack+Special for smash attacks. Some people like to set their Jump to a trigger button at the top of the controller for easier access.

Remember that Smash has two types of jumps: A regular jump that is performed by holding the jump button, and a short hop, which can be done by tapping the jump button. You should feel comfortable using all of your attacks at both heights.

Controls are saved to specific usernames, so you can set your personal preferences for different controllers and even create multiple names to use different control layouts for different characters.

 

 



Learn how to use items to your advantage.

While not everyone prefers to play with items enabled, they're a key part of Smash. Some are basic weapons, some will give you special power-ups, and a few might just blow up in your face and kill you. Learning the different items is key to survival.

In addition to throwing items with the "Attack" button while they're equipped, you can also drop them in-place by pressing the "Grab" button. If an item is thrown at you, you can catch it by pressing "Attack" or "Grab" right before it hits you, even if you're in mid-air.

Even if items are turned off, characters like Link and Peach can generate their own items — Link can throw bombs, and Peach can attack with thrown vegetables — and use them to trick and trap opponents.

 



Remember all of your options for getting back to the stage.

When knocked off stage, every character in "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate" can use their Up+Special Attack move to help them get back onto the stage. That special move will vary from between characters but it's your prime key for survival when used properly. If you find yourself having trouble staying alive, you can pick a character like Kirby, Jigglypuff, Metaknight, King Dedede or Pit, who can float in the air for a period. 

Some characters have extra moves to help them get back to the stage too. Using attacks with extra horizontal movement can help make your return to the stage less predictable. A few characters can hit themselves with their special moves to help propel them back to the stage, and an even smaller handful can use certain moves to literally tether themselves to the stage, including Samus, Lucas, Young Link, Toon Link, and Richter/Simon Belmont.

 



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'Amazon does not have our best interests at heart': Protesters swarmed City Hall as New York's city council held its first hearing about Amazon's HQ2 deal (AMZN)

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Protesters swarmed City Hall as New York's city council held its first in a series of hearings about Amazon's HQ2 deal on Wednesday.

Amazon announced on November 13 it would split its second headquarters between the Long Island City neighborhood of Queens and a region of Northern Virginia that Amazon has named National Landing.

As the hearing was set to begin, many angry New Yorkers gathered on the steps of City Hall, chanting "G-T-F-O Amazon has got to go" and "We need money for education, not for banks and corporations." 

Between chants, speakers shared stories on behalf of Amazon workers who they said had reached out to them prior to the protest. Others expressed their own fears about what HQ2 means for New Yorkers and communities in Queens. 

There were protesters from a number of organizations, including the New York City Democratic Socialists; New York Communities for Change; the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union; and the Long Island City Coalition. Individual speakers included assembly member Latrice Walker and city council member Jumaane Williams.

Read more: 'I was not elected to be a cheerleader for Amazon': New York officials rail against Amazon's HQ2 deal amid shouts of protesters in a wild hearing

Miguel Adams, a representative of VOCAL NY, which assists formerly incarcerated New Yorkers, said he fears Amazon will continue to gentrify New York and displace working-class families.

"We have been bamboozled by Mayor De Blasio and Governor Cuomo. We must hold Amazon accountable, but we must hold these two accountable too," he said. 

Here's what the protest was like: 

SEE ALSO: We walked around Long Island City, the New York neighborhood where Amazon is planning to bring HQ2, and saw why it'd be appealing to the e-commerce giant

On Wednesday, New York's city council held its first in a series of hearings about Amazon's HQ2 deal. The council invited both New York City's Economic Development Corporation and representatives for Amazon to answer questions from members and the public.



On the way to City Hall, there were "Amazon Crime" stickers on nearly every lamppost.



It was cold, but there were dozens of protesters outside. The crowd was chanting, "G-T-F-O Amazon has got to go."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

'Do you realize how out of touch that seems?': NYC lawmakers rail against Amazon for HQ2 helipad demand in heated hearing (AMZN)

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  • Amazon's demand of a provision to install a helipad at its HQ2 was repeatedly criticized during a hearing with the New York City Council on Wednesday. 
  • Multiple city council members questioned the importance of its inclusion, said it appeared out of touch with New Yorkers, or invoked it as reason why the company's tax incentives were unnecessary.
  • "The only transportation aspect of this project is a helipad," Corey Johnson, speaker of the council, said during his opening remarks.

New York's city council is not happy with Amazon.

In a public hearing about the company's HQ2 project on Wednesday, members of the economic development committee peppered Amazon executives Brian Huseman, vice president of public policy, and Holly Sullivan, head of worldwide economic development, with questions.

Many of the questions mentioned what the members saw as a questionable inclusion of a provision for a helipad to be built as part of the project. The helipad was included in the memorandum of understanding that stands as an agreement for Amazon to start planning part of its HQ2 project in Long Island City, Queens. The provision was also included in Amazon's agreement with Northern Virginia, where it will build the other part of its HQ2. 

Multiple city council members questioned the importance of its inclusion, said it appeared out of touch with New Yorkers, or invoked it as reason why the company's tax incentives were unnecessary.

"The only transportation aspect of this project is a helipad," Corey Johnson, speaker of the council, said during his opening remarks, relating it to a lack of promises from Amazon to fund transit projects. "So yes, Jeff Bezos' commute is all set. But what about the rest of New Yorkers?"

Read more: Most New Yorkers support Amazon coming to town but many hate the deal, a new poll says

In council member Jimmy Van Bramer's opening remarks, he invoked "Bezos' damn helipad" as evidence that the city had given too much and not asked for enough in return.

Later in the hearing, Johnson asked Huseman why Amazon felt it needed to add the helipad provision into the memorandum.

In responding, Huseman said that Amazon will be funding the construction of the helipad, that he does not commute by helicopter and nor does any of Amazon's senior team, and that Amazon's Seattle headquarters does not have a helipad.

The helipad provision was added, according to Huseman, because the company wanted to "look to the future" and have the provision in place for a later time.

Johnson, apparently aghast, responded: "Do you realize how out of touch that seems for the average New Yorker?"

SEE ALSO: 'I was not elected to be a cheerleader for Amazon': New York officials rail against Amazon's HQ2 deal amid shouts of protesters in a wild hearing

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Apple is quietly discounting the HomePod — but there's a catch if you want the deal (AAPL)

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Apple HomePod

  • Apple sent out individual promo codes to Apple Music subscribers in the UK offering 15% off a HomePod.
  • Apple's marketing this holiday season seems to be significantly more discount-focused than in previous years. 
  • Official HomePod sales figures are not public but some estimates suggest that sales are lackluster. 

Apple's marketing department is trying lots of new kinds of promotions this holiday season.

The newest deal may be in your inbox — if you are an Apple Music subscriber who lives in the UK. 

9to5Mac and MacRumors are both reporting that Apple is sending emails to certain subscribers with personalized codes offering £50 off of a HomePod, Apple's smart speaker. It typically retails for £319 — so it works out to about a 15% discount. 

The deal doesn't seem to have been sent to any Apple Music subscribers in other countries yet. However, retailers like Target have been offering as much as $100 off the $350 HomePod in the United States. 

The rare Apple hardware sale comes as the iPhone giant has been increasingly trying new discount-oriented marketing strategies for its devices. Historically, Apple doesn't like to discount its own products from its stores. 

Apple's website currently advertises an iPhone XR for "$449*"— but there's an asterisk. That price is only valid if you trade-in an older iPhone in good condition and get the maximum trade-in value. And Apple offered certain discounts for four days over Thanksgiving weekend, another break with tradition.

Screen Shot 2018 12 12 at 3.00.46 PMApple released HomePod in early February 2018 after missing the last holiday shopping season. The speaker is controlled through Siri voice commands or an iPhone, and is significantly more expensive than competing products from Google and Amazon, although Apple markets the device as having premium sound worthy of a higher price.

Apple hasn't said how well the HomePod is selling, but a recent estimate suggested that sales have been sluggish, having sold 700,000 units in the first full quarter it was available earlier this year. 

SEE ALSO: Here's everything I love and hate about the 2018 Mac Mini

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10 ways to trick yourself into saving money

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wallet money

  • Automatically having parts of your paycheck placed into your savings account is an easy way to save. 
  • Cash back credit cards and money-saving apps can be useful, too. 
  • Waiting a week before making major purchases can help you to avoid impulse shopping. 

Saving money is way harder than spending it. Some people have a knack for keeping their savings accounts padded, but others struggle to put money away for the future. Of course, there are plenty of reasons why you may not be in a position to be putting away any money, but even for those who can, it can be tough to know where to start.

Luckily, there are a few strategies that most people can use to make saving much simpler and easier.

Here are some ways to trick yourself into saving money, even when you don’t consider yourself financially savvy.

Try automatically paying yourself first.

You probably have automatic payments set up for at least a few of your bills and expenses, so why not try the same method with your savings?

Investopedia recommended designating one or two separate accounts for your savings goals (e.g. an emergency fund, a vacation fund, etc.) andset up an automatic transfer to those accounts on payday. That way, you're not tempted to spend spare cash and you can budget for your savings every month or week.



Make a habit of emptying your wallet at the end of the week.

No, this tip doesn't mean you should spend everything in your wallet by Sunday. Rather, establish a weekly purge of the spare change floating around at the bottom of your purse or wallet.

Keep spare change in a large jar or bucket and before you know it, you'll have enough to cash in for a tidy sum. If you're even more ambitious, apply the same strategy to your paper money, too. Swear to stash any small bills that are still in your wallet by the end of the week and watch your savings account grow.



Pretend you didn't get that raise.

If you're lucky enough to score a raise or bonus at work, don't immediately adjust your lifestyle to make use of all that extra dough. Instead, try budgeting as if your income hasn't increased and put most of the additional cash into a savings account.

"A good rule of thumb for raises is to spendno more than 50% of whatever extra ends up in your paycheck after taxes," Michael Kitces, CFP, partner and director of research for Pinnacle Advisory Group, told Men's Health.

By sticking to your pre-raise budget, you can prevent accumulating more debt or higher expenses that will negate the positive impact that a bump in pay could have on your savings.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

10 tricks to help you solve every crossword puzzle, every time

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crossword puzzle

  • Crossword puzzles have you solve clues to fill in words, but it isn't as easy as it sounds.
  • It might help to stick to one kind of puzzle at first before branching out.
  • If you see an exclamation point in a clue, it's usually a signal that something cryptic is going on.

If you've ever attempted a crossword puzzle, you know that the clues can be confusing and the format can be downright baffling.

In order to help both veteran and beginner solvers tackle challenging puzzles, INSIDER spoke to crossword expert Shuchismita Upadhyay, author ofCrossword Unclued, a website for cryptic crossword solvers and setters.

Here are a few tricks that can help you solve even the toughest crossword puzzles.

First, you should figure out what kind of crossword puzzle you're dealing with.

Unfortunately for novice solvers, crossword puzzles don't come in a dizzying array of flavors. Each requires its own strategy, so be sure you know what kind of puzzle you've encountered.

Upadhyay explained that puzzles can be "straight" or "cryptic," based on the types of clues provided. The way the blank letter spaces are arrangedcan also vary– some puzzles feature large blocks, while others use bars or a freeform design to organize the grid.

Lastly, Upadhyay noted that puzzles have different "setting" gimmicks. These can range from themes to which that all the clues adhere and even puzzles that allow the solver to usemore than one letter per square.

The most common types of crosswords are American-style (a straight, blocked grid with higher checking) or British-style (cryptic, blocked or barred grid).

Before trying to plug in your answers, make sure you identify the kind of puzzle in front of you.



It might help to stick to one kind of puzzle at first before branching out.

Even though all almost crossword puzzles are based around a system of clues and answers, the wide variety of puzzle types can sometimes be discouraging to newbies. If you're looking to increase your crossword confidence, it might be a good idea to pick a particular style to practice.

If you're looking to get better at British-style crosswords, Upadhyay recommended checking outThe Guardian orThe Independent for free interactive puzzles. You can also follow their solutions on Fifteensquared.

For American-style crosswords, the New York Times crossword is exceedingly popular and its solution is analyzed onmultiplecrossword enthusiast sites.



Pay attention to words in clues that could have multiple meanings.

In cryptic crosswords, a setter – i.e. the person who created the puzzle – will often try to disguise a clue's real meaning with a misleading surface interpretation.

"For example, the word ‘setter' need not be a reference to the puzzle's author – it could be a dog, a jeweler, or a winding street," offered Upadhyay.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

A woman who sells 6-figure engagement rings on Instagram says there's a simple way to buy diamonds that look bigger for a lower price

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Nicole Wegman Ring concierge

  • Ring Concierge founder Nicole Wegman designs and sells bespoke engagement rings on Instagram and advises clients to allocate budgets toward carat weight, not color or clarity.
  • A round diamond is the best-selling shape for engagement rings, but it is not a best seller at Ring Concierge: The classic look costs 25% more than all other shapes.
  • Wegman said she aims to provide clients with the biggest bang for their buck without sacrificing the look of a ring. 

Since 2013, Nicole Wegman's company, Ring Concierge, has designed engagement rings and sold diamonds on Instagram. As a New York City-based jeweler, she caters to clients looking for the latest trends. Each year she sells hundreds of custom rings ranging from $10,000 to six figures and advises clients to get the biggest bang for their buck without sacrificing the look of a ring.

And, in large part, that question comes down to the diamond shape a client chooses.

Round diamonds are the best-selling shape for engagement rings, Wegman told Business Insider. Notably, though, they are not a best seller at Ring Concierge — the classic look costs 25% more than all other shapes, she said. 

"When we explain that to them, and we show them 'here's an oval that's 25% less, and actually appears larger than the round,' they start to gravitate towards these other shapes anyway," she said. 

For the most part, Ring Concierge sells fancy shapes — ovals, emerald cuts, radiant, and antique diamonds. Much like fashion at large, engagement ring trends are impacted by celebrities; Wegman said that after Blake Lively got engaged with an oval diamond, ovals were in high demand. 

4ct comparison, which shape is your fav?? 🤔 (P.S. most already sold, but the Old Mine is available for $57K 💕)

A post shared by Nicole Wegman (@ringconcierge) on Sep 14, 2018 at 10:41am PDT on

"We're showing women there are other shapes besides the round," Wegman said. "You can get something a little more unique, you can get something a little more interesting. You don't have to wear a round Tiffany-style solitaire like everyone else is wearing."

Read more:A woman who sells 6-figure engagement rings through Instagram says lots of people make the same mistake when buying diamonds — and it comes down to which details they overspend on

Wegman meets with every client in person or remotely for a design session. If a woman is absent from an appointment, Wegman and her team provide a female voice during consultations. She said they take care to ensure a ring has everything a woman is looking for.

"We’ve never had a girl come back in and say he went too big. We have had a few people come in and say, 'alright how can we go bigger,'" she said.

"I've made settings with over 170 tiny diamonds set all over it," Wegman continued. "So we definitely have these more lavish designs, but we still try to keep things tasteful and fresh. We don't like them to feel gaudy and over the top. Even if you can afford, you know, a $200,000 ring, you don't want to look like that gaudy lady walking down the street."

SEE ALSO: A woman who sells 6-figure engagement rings through Instagram says there's a big misconception about the 4 C's of buying diamonds

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