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An increasing number of wealth managers are using new technologies to make their operations more efficient and to increase customer satisfaction.

The technologies they are implementing include robotic process automation (RPA), chatbots, machine learning, application programming interfaces (APIs), and explainable AI.

In this report, Business Insider Intelligence analyzes how emerging technologies like RPA and AI are transforming the wealth management industry, on both the front and back end, by increasing efficiency and opening up the space to new demographics. We explain how both incumbents and startups are applying these technologies to different business areas, and how successful they've been at implementation. Additionally, we take a look at the challenges wealth managers are facing as they look to revamp their businesses for the digital age.

Here are some of the key takeaways from the report:

• Startup wealth managers and digitally savvy technology suppliers are bringing emerging technologies to the fore to make wealth management more time- and cost-efficient. These include RPA, machine learning, and AI. Big players in the space are also beginning to wake up to those opportunities.
• The technologies can improve consumer-facing elements of wealth management, like onboarding and customer service, to increase customer satisfaction.
• Machine learning and APIs can help wealth managers improve functions like portfolio management and compliance, and help them better stay on top of regulations, and increase customer satisfaction by offering improved and additional services.
• However, there are some challenges wealth managers are facing when implementing these tools, ranging from a lack of customer trust in emerging technologies to difficulty finding appropriate talent.

 In full, the report:

• Outlines how the wealth management industry is implementing emerging technologies.
• Details which technologies they are using, and what their specific benefits are. 
• Discusses the potential challenges wealth managers are facing when implementing new technologies.
• Highlights what wealth managers need to do to stay relevant in the field.

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Fintech hubs — cities where startups, talent, and funding congregate — are proliferating globally in tandem with ongoing disruption in financial services. 

These hubs are all vying to become established fintech centers in their own right, and want to contribute to the broader financial services ecosystem of the future. Their success depends on a variety of factors, including access to funding and talent, as well as the approach of relevant regulators.

This report compiles various fintech snapshots, which together highlight the global spread of fintech, and show where governments and regulatory bodies are shaping the development of national fintech industries. Each provides an overview of the fintech industry in a particular country or state in Asia or Europe, and details what is contributing to, or hindering its further development. We also include notable fintechs in each geography, and discuss what the opportunities or challenges are for that particular domestic industry.

Here are some of the key takeaways:

• Most countries in Europe have made some formal attempt to foster the development of domestic fintech industries, with Germany and Ireland seeing the best results so far. France, meanwhile, got off to a slow start, but that's starting to change. 
• The Asian fintech scene took off later than in the US or Europe, but it's seen rapid growth lately, particularly in India, China, and Singapore.
• The increasing importance of technology-enabled products and services within the financial services ecosystem means the global fintech industry isn't going anywhere. 
• Fintech hubs will continue to proliferate, with leaders emerging in each region.
• The future fintech landscape will be molded by regulatory bodies — national and international — as they seek to mitigate the risks, and leverage the opportunities, presented by fintech. 

 In full, the report:

• Explores the fintech industry in six countries or states, and identifies individual fintech hubs.
• Highlights successful fintechs in each region.
• Outlines the challenges and opportunities each country or state faces. 
• Gives insight into the future of the global fintech industry. 

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• Cross-party group of MPs publish draft legislation for holding a Brexit referendum before the end of May.
• MPs from the Conservatives, Labour and other parties unveil two draft bills designed for holding a referendum on Theresa May's Brexit deal in the next few months.
• Lib Dem leader Sir Vince Cable said it shows "how quickly a People's Vote can be delivered."
• The prime minister has repeatedly ruled out another referendum and described it as an affront to democracy.
• May is set to claim on Monday that MPs blocking Brexit is more likely than no deal.
•  Her deal is set to be voted down by MPs on Tuesday.

LONDON — A cross-party group of anti-Brexit MPs has published draft legislation for creating a route to a referendum on Theresa May's deal as MPs prepare to vote on the prime minister's agreement with Brussels.

MPs including senior Conservative backbencher Dominic Grieve, Lib Dem leader Sir Vince Cable, and Labour's Chuka Umunna are backing two pieces of proposed legislation designed to force a so-called People's Vote.

The first is a "Paving Bill" which would let the Electoral Commission prepare a new referendum, by doing consultation around the question and deciding the official campaigns. The second would provide for the referendum itself.

Supporters say it would allow for a referendum on May's deal versus staying in the European Union to take place before the European Parliament elections in May, with help from a short extension of the Article 50 exit process.

People's Vote campaigners estimate that 175 out of the 650 MPs in the Commons support another referendum, Business Insider revealed. That number could rise as the UK approaches exit day without a deal or viable alternative.

Prime Minister May will on Monday claim that MPs blocking Brexit is a more likely outcome than a no-deal scenario.

Speaking in the Leave-voting city of Stoke, she'll say MPs must "consider the consequences of their actions on the faith of the British people in our democracy" and that "we all have a duty to implement the result of the referendum."

Tory MP Grieve, who has been behind numerous amendments designed to give MPs greater control over Brexit, said: "This Bill provides a legally credible way forward, and a politically credible way forward. With no majority in Parliament for the deal, or for 'no deal,' the legislation provides the Government with an escape hatch."

The Scottish Nationalist Party's Westminster leader Ian Blackford also supports the proposed bills.

He said: "There is little support in Parliament for the Prime Minister’s deal or for no deal. As Members of Parliament, it is our responsibility to present an alternative route to protect our economy and citizens rights."

The MPs assembled a team of academics, constitutional experts and peers in the House of Lords to write the draft pieces of legislation, which Lib Dem leader Cable claimed "shows how quickly a People's Vote can be delivered."

One of those experts, former House of Commons Clerk Lord Lisvane, said:"We have worked together on a cross-party – and no-party – basis to provide a pragmatic solution to the present impasse.

"Now that people know what the options are, it seems right to let them choose. This Bill provides for that."

Prime Minister May has repeatedly ruled out another referendum and described it as an affront to democracy.

She wrote in the Sunday Express that failure to deliver the 2016 Brexit vote would be a "catastrophic and unforgivable breach of trust in our democracy" and urged MPs to "forget the games and do what is right for our country."

The prime minister is almost certain to lose the Tuesday on her deal with vote with MPs on all sides opposed to it.

The margin of defeat could be over 100 votes, with tens of Conservative MPs and the Democratic Unionist Party that props up May's government set to join all opposition parties in voting against the Brexit deal.

The prime minister is set to return to the Commons within days of a defeat to lay out what she'll do next, with MPs calling for a range of options including a softer Brexit, an extension to Article 50, and a new referendum.

SEE ALSO: Conservative MPs blame Theresa May's 'dysfunctional' leadership for looming Brexit deal defeat

DON'T MISS: Exclusive: Second Brexit referendum campaign fear it's 'game over' unless Corbyn backs a People's Vote

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

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

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

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

Here are some of the key takeaways:

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

 In full, the report:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Want to Learn More?

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

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

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

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• Nick Foles' game-winning drive fell short when a pass sailed through the hands of Alshon Jeffery to Marshon Lattimore for the game-sealing interception with less than two minutes to play.
• It was Lattimore's second interception of the day, and he was crucial in slowing down Jeffery in the second half of the game.
• The Saints will face the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship.

Nick Foles' magic finally ran out.

With just under three minutes remaining, trailing 20-14, Foles tried to lead the Eagles down the field for a game-winning drive.

With 1:52 left in the game, Foles threw a short pass to wide receiver Alshon Jeffery. The ball simply sailed through Jeffery's hands and was picked up by Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore for what was the game-sealing interception.

Jeffery was the Eagles' leading receiver on the day, with five catches for 63 yards. After beating the Saints for a few catches early on, New Orleans put Lattimore, their top cornerback, on jeffery to shadow him, and it seemed to work, as Jeffery and the Eagles' pass game went quiet in the second half. It was Lattimore's second interception on the day.

The Saints will move onto face the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship, while the Eagles will go into an offseason with some difficult decisions to make at quarterback.

Read more:Nick Foles can't stop winning — and it puts the Eagles in a difficult situation as his free agency looms

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

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

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

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

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

Here are some of the key takeaways from the report:

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

In full, the report:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here are some of the key takeaways from the report:

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

 In full, the report:

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

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

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• The final season of "Game of Thrones" will premiere on April 14.
• A new teaser shows Jon Snow, Arya Stark, and Sansa Stark in the Winterfell crypts.
• This eighth season is only six episodes long, which means the finale should be on May 19 if HBO doesn't skip any Sundays. 
• HBO announced the date ahead of the premiere for "True Detective" season three.

The eighth and final season of "Game of Thrones" begins April 14. After months of building anticipation among fans, HBO dropped the air date ahead of its third season premiere of "True Detective" with a new teaser video.

In the tease, which was directed by David Nutter (a "Game of Thrones" veteran director, who did the fifth season finale), Jon meets up with Arya and Sansa in the Winterfell crypts. The video is not actual season eight footage — instead it's similar to past teasers HBO has crafted, ones that address coming themes of the season. The crypt teaser begins with heavy overtures of Jon's true Targaryen parentage as he walks past Lyanna Stark's crypt. 

Read more:'Game of Thrones' has been hinting at Jon Snow's true parentage since season one — here's every clue we spotted

The major source of excitement for fans will be seeing Jon and Arya reunited. The two haven't seen each other since the second episode of season one, when Jon gifted Arya her precious sword, Needle. As all three Stark kids stand in front of their own crypt statues, they turn as a frost creeps down the hallway. The signal of the White Walkers causes Jon and Arya to draw their blades, anticipating the coming fight. 

Another prominent part of the teaser is the feather in front of Lyanna's crypt (you can read more on that here). This was placed there by King Robert Baratheon on the very first episode of the series. Later, on the fifth season, Sansa touched the feather when she visited her Aunt's statue. 

Jon has yet to find out he's half-Targaryen and half-Stark, but that revelation will surely be a major part of his storyline on the coming season.

This final season of the long-running series will be six episodes long, as opposed to its previous standard 10 episode seasons. Despite having fewer installments, those episodes are reported to all be longer than an hour, with some possibly at "feature" length.

In a brief clip of the new seasons, released last week during the Golden Globes, HBO showed Daenerys Targaryen and Jon Snow arriving in Winterfell.

Read more: HBO released the new footage of the final season during the Golden Globes

They are greeted by Sansa Stark, who told Dany, "Winterfell is yours, Your Grace." This is a direct callback to the first-ever "Game of Thrones" episode, on which Ned Stark welcomed King Robert Baratheon to the castle and told him Winterfell was his. 

With the season premiere coming April 14, that should place the finale episode at May 19 (if HBO doesn't skip any weeks of episodes). In the meantime, you can read INSIDER's key predictions for the final season here. 

Watch the full new teaser below:

Visit INSIDER's homepage for more.

• Read more:
• The new 'Game of Thrones' teaser had a fantastic throwback to the very first episode and Jon Snow's real mother
• Everything we know about the final season of "Game of Thrones" so far
• An actor from the original unaired 'Game of Thrones' pilot is returning for HBO's prequel spin-off
• Emilia Clarke and Kit Harington tease trouble ahead for Daenerys and Jon's romance on 'Game of Thrones'

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• Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots made the surprising decision to receive the ball to start the game vs. the Los Angeles Chargers instead of deferring and kicking it. They had only elected to receive once this season.
• Patriots players said after the game that the decision caught them off-guard, but fired them up because it meant Belichick had confidence in them.
• The plan worked, as the Patriots started fast, scoring on their opening drive en route to blowing out the Chargers.

The New England Patriots playoff game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday began with an unusual decision, and it appeared to work.

The Patriots won the opening coin toss and elected to receive instead of deferring so they could get the ball to start the second half. According to Ben Volin of The Boston Globe, the Patriots only elected to receive to start the game one other time this season — in Week 2 vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Instead, Bill Belichick seemed to want to send a message right away — the Patriots had to start fast and put the Chargers at an immediate disadvantage.

It seemed to work. The Patriots scored on their first drive, and after the Chargers responded with a score, the Patriots scored four more touchdowns in the first half while holding the Chargers scoreless. They led 35-7 at halftime.

"We're so trained in our routine. I was thinking, 'Oh, we won, defer to the second half,'" Patriots tight end Dwayne Allen told Volin. "Then I hear we're receiving, and it's like, 'Whoa. Let's go.'"

Allen added: "The way I take it is [Belichick is] putting his confidence in us. It put a little pep in my step."

Patriots running back Rex Burkhead told Volin: "Yeah, it definitely fired us up. It's always nice when you start fast."

The Patriots won the game, 41-28, but the final score wasn't indicative of how much of a blowout the game was.

It seemed Belichick wanted to keep his team on edge, and the message he sent might have been on-target for how the team was feeling. After the game, Tom Brady, who threw for 343 yards on 77% for one touchdown, mocked critics, saying: "Everybody thinks we suck, we can't win any games."

Read more: Tom Brady mocks critics after Patriots' latest evisceration of a playoff opponent: 'Everybody thinks we suck, we can't win any games'

Belichick sent his team a message with a surprising decision, and in turn, the Patriots sent the Chargers and the rest of the NFL a message.

• Read more:
• Eagles' receiver Alshon Jeffery drops pass through his hands for brutal, game-winning interception for Saints
• Saints coach Sean Payton wheeled out the Lombardi trophy, a Super Bowl ring, and $200,000 of cash to motivate his players before the playoffs
• Tom Brady sacrificed at least $60 million in his career with discounted contracts for the Patriots

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• Amy Adams and Patricia Arquette tied for best actress in a limited series or movie made for television at the 24th annual Critics' Choice Awards.
• "Schitt's Creek" stars Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara, read Adams' name first — but once she got onstage, she demanded to announce her fellow winner right away.
• Arquette joined Adams onstage and they gave joint acceptance speeches.

Amy Adams and Patricia Arquette shared the stage at the 24th annual Critics' Choice Awards, which took place at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California — not to present an award, but to accept the same one.

Adams and Arquette tied for best actress in a limited series or movie made for television, for HBO's "Sharper Objects" and ‎Showtime's "Escape at Dannemora," respectively.

"Schitt's Creek" stars and the award's presenters, Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara, read Adams' name first. But once she got onstage, she demanded to announce her fellow winner and bring her up right away. 

"I want the other girl up here with me — the other woman!" Adams said before reading Arquette's name. Arquette joined Adams onstage and they gave joint acceptance speeches.

"I actually can't think of a more beautiful thing than a tie, because there really isn't a winner when we get to do such great work and we have such wonderful opportunities," Adams said, putting her arm around Arquette. "And it's Patricia Arquette! So like, it's amazing!"

The women went on to thank their respective networks, crews, families, and costars.

Arquette also made a point to honor the women who were glad to see a woman with a non-traditional body type for Hollywood onscreen, especially a character who's openly and unapologetically sexual.

Fans immediately fawned over the mutual support and empowering messages from the two actresses.

Later in the night, Glenn Close and Lady Gaga also tied for best actress in a movie for "The Wife" and "A Star Is Born," respectively, but they opted to deliver their speeches separately.

Visit INSIDER's homepage for more.

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• Media News Group Enterprises, better known as Digital First Media, is reportedly planning to make an offer to buy USA Today publisher Gannett Co. at $12 per share.
• The offer would represent a 23% premium over Gannett's Friday closing share price of $9.75.
• The Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter, said MNG Enterprises Inc. has already accumulated a 7.5% position in Gannett’s stock.
• MNG and its hedge fund backer Alden have acquired a reputation for slashing costs at its media investments leaning on a strategy of layoffs.

A hedge-fund-backed media group with a reputation for swooping in on vulnerable local papers and cleaning out their newsrooms is planning to make an offer to buy USA Today publisher Gannett Co. at $12 a share.

The Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter, said MNG Enterprises Inc., better known as Digital First Media, has already accumulated a 7.5% position in Gannett’s stock, and the offer would represent a 23% premium over Friday's closing share price of $9.75.

MNG and its hedge fund backer and largest shareholder Alden Global Capital LLC have a reputation for slashing costs at its media investments leaning on a strategy of layoffs and zero-based budgeting, demanding that operators justify their annual expenses.

Shares in Gannett, a McLean, Virginia-based publisher, have been inching their way back after falling heavily over 2018, shedding about 15% in the past 12 months.

The stock price, like many other traditional media, have been on a downward slide for a few years now, leaving the company with a market value of about $1.1 billion. During the first nine months of 2018, revenue from its advertising dropped 7% year-on-year to $1.23 billion. Fourth quarter reporting due on February 14 will be critical for Gannett and its trajectory.

MNG, meanwhile, will publicly urge the publisher to put itself on the market, bring in some bankers to facilitate a sale, enter into talks with Digital First about a deal and how best to review its strategy before hiring a new CEO and put a cork in acquiring any new assets, The Journal was told.

It's not the first time MNG has made a play for Gannett, according to The Journal. People close to MNG said that possibly more than one approach has been made just in the last month or so.

The play comes as Gannett faces a leadership vacuum, with its CEO Robert Dickey due to vacate in May.

It isn't clear whether Gannett will more seriously consider this latest offer, the Journal added.

In addition to publishing USA Today, Gannett owns and operates many other well-known newspapers from the Arizona Republic  and the Naples Daily News in Florida.

MNG is one of the largest newspaper chains in the country and has a "contentious history" with the newspaper industry after buying local papers and then heavily cutting costs, The Journal noted.

SEE ALSO: Denver Post editorial page editor resigns amid staff cuts

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here are some key takeaways from the report:

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

In full, the report:

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

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• The biggest news this weekend was about the now record-breaking partial government shutdown and its expanding fallout.
• President Donald Trump was particularly active on Twitter over the weekend after learning the FBI had investigated him as a possible Russian agent.
• The president also reportedly hid records of his conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin from his own administration.
• Investigators say the man suspected of kidnapping Jayme Closs killed her parents so he could get to her.
• The oceans are heating up 40% faster than scientists realized — which means we should prepare for more disastrous flooding and storms.
• Huawei says it fired an executive charged with espionage in Poland for bringing the company accused of global espionage and fraud into disrepute.

The second weekend of 2019 was a record breaker for a government in shutdown and the increasingly far-reaching consequences as it pushes past 23 days.

President Donald Trump had more to contend with though, as more reports emerged of possibly damaging ties to Russia.

Here are the news stories you may have missed this weekend, January 12-13.

SEE ALSO: Trump ties undocumented immigrants to sex crimes against children, but he's not telling the full story

The partial government shutdown became the longest in US history and it is starting to bite.

• A partial shutdown of the federal government entered its fourth week Saturday, making it the longest on record. From jobs to food stamps, an impasse over border security has put large swaths of the economy in jeopardy.
• Republican lawmakers are adamant that the president is not going to weaken or crack when it comes to backing down on the longest shutdown in US history.
• Most Americans are pointing the finger at the president for the government shutdown. According to weekend polls, they say it's all about a border "crisis" that they don't see.
• The shutdown could have widespread consequences for the US economy— for example, employment could fall for the first time since 2010.
• But that's not as ugly as it gets — the government reportedly accidentally paid a bunch of federal employees and then told them not to touch the money.
• And as the sticking point of a border wall grinds the gears of government to a halt, it's the right time to take a journey along the entire 1,933-mile US-Mexico border and get a better grasp of what a monumental job it is to secure it, with or without a barrier.  

The New York Times reported that the FBI had investigated Trump as a possible Russian agent.

• President Donald Trump was particularly active on Twitter over the weekend after learning FBI investigated him as a possible Russian agent.
• The New York Times reported Saturday that the FBI was looking into the possibility he was a Russian agent right after the president fired former FBI Director James Comey.
• In a tweetstorm later, the president called Comey a "Crooked Cop" and attacked special counsel Robert Mueller, along with his former opponent Hillary Clinton.
• Trump then added that he has been tougher on Russia than maybe any president, saying that it would be good if Russia and the US had better relations.
• And then he called Comey a "total sleaze."

The Washington Post reported that the president hid records of his conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin from his own administration.

• The president also reportedly hid records of his conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin from his own administration.
• Trump went to some pains to hide the details of his chats with Putin— even going so far as to yank the notes from his interpreter and order the linguist to stay silent. 
• When asked on Saturday whether he is working for Russia or has worked for Russia, Trump did not directly answer, and called the question his most insulting ever.
• The president has previously repeatedly denied colluding with the Russians.

• Christian Bale accepted the award for best actor in a comedy movie for "Vice" at the 24th annual Critics' Choice Awards.
• "I guess time sort of allows it to be considered a comedy, but it's really a tragedy," Bale said of the film, in which he portrays former Vice President Dick Cheney.
• Bale also called "Vice" a "love story" to the United States.
• Last week, Bale thanked Satan for inspiring his performance when he accepted an award at the Golden Globes.

Christian Bale accepted the award for best actor in a comedy movie for "Vice" at the 24th annual Critics' Choice Awards, while simultaneously questioning the category that the film was placed in.

"I guess time sort of allows it to be considered a comedy, but it's really a tragedy," Bale said of the film, in which he portrays former Vice President Dick Cheney.

The British actor, who came to the United States when he was 17 years old, also called "Vice" a "love story" to the country and expressed grattitude for opportunities he's found in the US.

Last week, Bale thanked Satan for inspiring his performance when he won for the same role at the Golden Globes.

Later in the night, Bale also won best actor overall. His second speech was short and sweet, but he did make a point to dispell the notion that all actors should be in competition, opting instead to call the night a "celebration."

INSIDER's Jason Guerrasio called Bale "astounding" as Cheney and argued he gave "one of the best performances of the year."

Visit INSIDER's homepage for more.

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• HBO's latest "Game of Thrones" season eight teaser video featured Lyanna Stark's crypt statue.
• Her burial place in Winterfell was part of scene from the pilot episode, in which King Robert Baratheon places a feather in the statue's hand. 
• That same feather was later seen by Sansa Stark on the fifth season.
• Both of these scenes provided hints that Lyanna was actually Jon Snow's mother. 
• Jon has yet to discover this truth, but his parentage reveal is likely a key part of the final season. 

HBO continues ramping up excitement for the eighth and final season of "Game of Thrones." The newest promotional video, which you can watch here, showed Jon Snow and Arya and Sansa Stark in the crypts of Winterfell, with extra emphasis on an important feather.

The feather was placed on Lyanna Stark's crypt statue by King Robert Baratheon way back on the pilot episode of the series. The next time we saw it, Sansa Stark picked it up when she was visiting her aunt's statue. 

Now the feather was part of the season eight tease in which Jon Snow's parentage was heavily referenced. The video began with Jon walking past Lyanna's statue as a snippet of her dialogue from the Tower of Joy flashback plays — "You have to protect him." This was the moment when Lyanna gave baby Jon to her brother, Ned Stark, begging him to protect her son from King Robert's wrath. Jon is of course the trueborn son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna, making him heir to the Iron Throne. 

Read more: 'Game of Thrones' has been hinting at Jon Snow's true parentage since season one — here's every clue we spotted

This game-changing truth was hinted at in both the show scenes featuring the feather. First, King Robert and Ned discussed Rhaegar and Lyanna for the first time back on that pilot episode. 

When Robert says he dreams of killing Rhaegar every night, Ned replies by saying "the Targaryens are gone."

"Not all of them," Robert replies. 

The episode then cuts to Daenerys and Viserys Targaryen, but of course we know now that there was a third Targaryen right there in Winterfell.

The second scene featuring the feather was from season five, when Sansa visits the crypts after finally returning to Winterfell. While standing at her aunt Lyanna's statue, she notices the feather and picks it up. 

Littlefinger finds her there, and the two of them discuss what happened between Rhaegar and Lyanna.

"Lord Whent had a great tourney at Harrenhall," Littlefinger said. "Lyanna was already promised to Robert [Baratheon]... the last two riders were Barristan Selmy and Rhaegar Targaryen. When Rhaegar won everyone cheered for their prince [...] until he rode right past his wife, Elia Martell, and all the smiles died [...] he rode past his wife and lay a crown of winter roses in Lyanna's lap, blue with frost [...] How many tens of thousands had to die because Rhaegar chose your aunt?"

"Yes, he chose her," Sansa relied. "And then he kidnapped her and raped her."

This is a repeat of the widely accepted story of Rhaegar and Lyanna — that he captured her against her will and brought her to the Tower of Joy. But Rhaegar and Lyanna were actually in love, and secretly eloped together.

Instead of replying when Sansa repeats this falsehood, Littlefinger gave her a knowing smirk before changing the subject. He seems to know the truth, even if Sansa didn't. That whole episode, "Sons of the Harpy," has other hints about Jon's parents. You can read those clues, along with every other major moment pointing to Jon's parentage, in our round up here.

And so the new season eight tease brings this connection between Lyanna and the feather almost full circle, with Jon passing by his mother's statue. Frost eventually creeps into the crypt, spreading over the feather and towards Jon, Arya, and Sansa. 

Will Jon learn the truth about his mother and father? Will the Night King's army overtake Winterfell? Will more of the Stark children die in the great war to come? 

Only season eight can answer these questions and more. The final season of "Game of Thrones"begins April 14 on HBO. 

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• President Donald Trump on Sunday again mocked Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren's claims of Native American heritage and her nascent presidential ambitions.

• Trump singled out Warren's instagram campaign announcement, saying it "would have been a smash" if her husband had dressed in "Indian garb."

• Trump has routinely attacked Warren over her heritage and has habitually referred to her as "Pocahontas."
• Last week, Warren announced that she had launched an exploratory committee for a presidential run in 2020.

SEE ALSO: Trump mocks Elizabeth Warren’s presidential ambitions and claims of Native American heritage with meme

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Major logistics providers have long relied on analytics and research teams to make sense of the data they generate from their operations.

But with volumes of data growing, and the insights that can be gleaned becoming increasingly varied and granular, these companies are starting to turn to artificial intelligence (AI) computing techniques, like machine learning, deep learning, and natural language processing, to streamline and automate various processes. These techniques teach computers to parse data in a contextual manner to provide requested information, supply analysis, or trigger an event based on their findings. They are also uniquely well suited to rapidly analyzing huge data sets, and have a wide array of applications in different aspects of supply chain and logistics operations.

AI’s ability to streamline so many supply chain and logistics functions is already delivering a competitive advantage for early adopters by cutting shipping times and costs. A cross-industry study on AI adoption conducted in early 2017 by McKinsey found that early adopters with a proactive AI strategy in the transportation and logistics sector enjoyed profit margins greater than 5%. Meanwhile, respondents in the sector that had not adopted AI were in the red.

However, these crucial benefits have yet to drive widespread adoption. Only 21% of the transportation and logistics firms in McKinsey’s survey had moved beyond the initial testing phase to deploy AI solutions at scale or in a core part of their business. The challenges to AI adoption in the field of supply chain and logistics are numerous and require major capital investments and organizational changes to overcome.

In a new report, BI Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service, explores the vast impact that AI techniques like machine learning will have on the supply chain and logistics space. We detail the myriad applications for these computational techniques in the industry, and the adoption of those different applications. We also share some examples of companies that have demonstrated success with AI in their supply chain and logistics operations. Lastly, we break down the many factors that are holding organizations back from implementing AI projects and gaining the full benefits of this disruptive technology.

Here are some of the key takeaways from the report:

• The current interest in and early adoption of AI systems is being driven by several key factors, including increased demands from shippers, recent technological breakthroughs, and significant investments in data visibility by the industry’s largest players.
• AI can deliver enormous benefits to supply chain and logistics operations, including cost reductions through reduced redundancies and risk mitigation, improved forecasting, faster deliveries through more optimized routes, improved customer service, and more.
• Legacy players face many substantial obstacles to deploying and reaping the benefits of AI systems, though, including data accessibility and workforce challenges.
• AI adoption in the logistics industry is strongly skewed toward the biggest players, because overcoming these major challenges requires costly investments in updating IT systems and breaking down data silos, as well as hiring expensive teams of data scientists.
• Although AI implementations are unlikely to result in large-scale workforce reductions in the near term, companies still need to develop strategies to address how workers' roles will change as AI systems automate specific functions.

 In full, the report:

• Details the factors driving adoption of AI systems in the supply chain and logistics field.
• Examines the benefits that AI can deliver in reducing costs and shipping times for supply chain and logistics operations.
• Explains the many challenges companies face in implementing AI in their supply chain and logistics operations to reap the benefits of this transformational technology.

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

1. Subscribe to an All-Access pass to BI Intelligence and gain immediate access to this report and over 100 other expertly researched reports. As an added bonus, you'll also gain access to all future reports and daily newsletters to ensure you stay ahead of the curve and benefit personally and professionally. >>Learn More Now
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• Direct-to-consumer brands are shaking up not just retail and advertising, but also the customer experience.
• Legacy brands including Mastercard and MetLife to Marriott are responding to the threat by appointing chief experience officers to build closer relationships with customers.
• The role goes beyond the traditional chief marketing officer function to include areas such as growth, innovation and user experience. 

As new direct-to-consumer brands like Dollar Shave Club, Warby Parker, and Casper upend categories from eyeglasses to mattresses, legacy brands are rethinking not just how they approach retail and advertising, but the customer experience.

A growing roster of established brands including Mastercard, MetLife, and Marriott, have appointed chief experience officers dedicated to building closer relationships with customers.

"DTC brands are the disruptors that are providing a wake-up call for a lot of the other brands," said Nancy Kramer, chief evangelist at IBM iX. Kramer has helped brands including Sherwin Williams and Coca-Cola transition from being in the product business to the services business. 

As of 2015, 6% of companies in the S&P 500 Index had a chief experience officer, according to Forrester analyst Harley Manning. He estimates that number to be at 11% to 12% at present.

"At a time when traditional brands are taking a step back and asking how they are going to compete, looking at DTC brands gives them proof that competing on customer experience is working," he said.

DTC brands have turned customer experience into a real competitive business advantage

DTC brands are different from traditional brands in that they are digital natives, own their first-party customer data, and rely heavily on performance marketing on digital channels to grow.

Their rapid growth can also be attributed to their focus on direct consumer relationships and more agile supply chains that can quickly adapt to consumers, according to a 2018 report from the Interactive Advertising Bureau.

"DTC brands have done an incredible job building on the premise that people care about experiences, not products," said Sam Appelbaum, general manager at performance marketing agency YellowHammer, which works with DTC brands. "They make emotional connections, which manifest through data-driven marketing."

These brands believe that having top customer experience gives them a competitive advantage. Casper, for instance, lets customers order a mattress online, try it for 100 days, and return it if they don't like it. It also frequently sets up pop-ups to tout its new products, and plans to set up nore permanent retail outposts. 

"Casper's success, since the early days, can be distilled down to two simple things — a unique product, delivered with a unique experience," said Eleanor Morgan, Casper's chief experience officer. "Experience is a differentiator for us, and one that we invest in."

Legacy brands have started taking a page out of the DTC playbook

To be sure, such customer-centric roles have been around in industries like banking and hospitality for years. But the rise of DTC brands has prompted established brands to take a page straight from the DTC playbook.

Read More: To compete for customers, luxury brands are borrowing a tactic banking and hospitality have been using for years

For Mastercard, that's meant dedicating an executive, Donald Chestnut, as chief experience officer, starting this month. His role goes beyond the traditional chief marketing officer role and involves ensuring consistency in the company's interactions across all the touch points the company has across its business lines, from employees and issuers, to merchants and consumers. 

"Whether you're running a business or you're a person shopping, you are looking for a simple, secure, convenient and intuitive way to go about your daily life — and payments are no exception," Michael Miebach, chief product officer at Mastercard, told Business Insider. "These same needs cut across our brand, products and services and also inform how we interact with and support the banks that issue our cards and the merchants that accept them."

Other marketers have taken steps to learn more about their customers by collecting personal information and data about their purchasing habits and online behavior.

Consumer packaged goods giant Unilever, for instance, set up a pop-up store for its skincare brand St. Ives in New York City in 2017 and 2018, where customers could create personalized facial scrubs and body lotions. St. Ives used the pop-up to collect contact data and consumer preferences, amassing more than 25,000 email addresses in 2017. Unilever used the data to develop products and target customers with personalized content.

"Investing in experiences helps brands to not only build connections and drive brand recall, but also allows them to  drive addressable sales and eventually, return on ad spend," said YellowHammer's Applbaum. 

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