• With an eye on rivals Russia and China, the US Navy is looking at potential new payloads for the service's most technologically advanced submarines.
• The newer Virginia-class attack submarines will feature the Virginia Payload Module, which gives this sub the kind of strike firepower the aging Ohio-class guided-missile subs are capable of delivering.
• The VPM also offers new opportunities, as it could serve as a launch platform for new land-attack missiles and possibly even undersea drones.

The US Navy is getting creative with the weapons payloads of the Virginia-class submarines, one of the deadliest and most technologically advanced subs in the world.

The Virginia Payload Module (VPM), a weapons system intended to give the late-block Virginia-class attack submarines (SSNs) a bit more punch, was initially viewed solely in the context of giving these submarines the kind of firepower seen on the aging Ohio-class guided-missile submarines (SSGNs).

"We were only really allowed to talk about it as a replacement for SSGN strike," Program Executive Office for Submarines Executive Director George Drakeley said at last week's Naval Submarine League symposium, USNI News reported Thursday. "The handcuffs are off now, and lately we’ve been talking about other capabilities," he said at the event.

The US Navy awarded BAE Systems a contract earlier this year to develop new payload tubes — the new VPMs — for two Block V Virginia-class submarines, Defense News reported in June. One of the four VPM tubes reportedly has the ability to carry and launch up to seven Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles (TLAMs). This technology can triple the sub's payload capacity, significantly boosting its firepower.

There are also opportunities to innovate and apply this technology to new missions, a necessity as the US refocuses its efforts on preparation for high-end conflict with rival powers. "We’re in a great power competition now, and so we need to be focusing on other potential capabilities," Drakeley told those in attendance.

Both Russia and China are increasingly advancing their undersea warfighting capabilities. "In the undersea domain, the margins to victory are razor thin," Adm. James G. Foggo III, the commander of US Naval Forces Europe-Africa, told Pentagon reporters in October.

A new report evaluating the National Defense Strategy, which also highlights the threat posed by great power competition, recommended the US bolster its submarine force. But numbers are not everything, as capability is also key.

"We have to get past the days of just ADCAP (advanced capability Mk 48 heavyweight torpedo) and TLAM (Tomahawk land-attack missile) as being our two principle weapons," Rear Adm. John Tammen, the director of undersea warfare on the staff of the chief of naval operations, explained to attendees.

Tammen told USNI News that the surface warfare community is looking into a next-generation land-attack weapon, and the undersea warfare directorate would then look at ways to adapt it to the VPM, giving the Virginia-class subs an alternative to the Tomahawks.

At the same time, the Navy is also interested in VPM-launched unmanned undersea vehicles, but the pairing process has proven something of a challenge.

This new technology, as long with new torpedo systems, could potentially be seen on the Block VI and VII Virginia-class SSNs.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Navy SEALs explain the dangers of overplanning in both the military and business

• The Coast Guard offloaded nearly 38,000 pounds of cocaine on Thursday — a haul worth $500 million.
• The past three years have seen some of the service's highest levels of seizures on record.
• The Coast Guard and its partners are trying to catch traffickers on the high seas, where the cargoes are larger and more vulnerable.

FT. LAUDERDALE, Florida — While scouring the waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean over the past several months, the crew of the US Coast Guard cutter James seized 19,000 pounds of cocaine.

The James's haul was about half of the 38,00o pounds of cocaine its crew offloaded on Thursday in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Those drugs were seized in 19 interdictions at sea carried about by six US Coast Guard ships — nine of which were conducted by the James.

The total haul had an estimated wholesale value of about $500 million.

"Operating in the dark of night, often under challenging conditions, these outstanding Coast Guard men and women ... driving our boats, flying our armed helicopter swiftly interdicted drug smugglers operating in a variety of vessels used to move these tons of narcotics, from the simple outboard panga to commercial fishing vessels to low-profile high-speed vessels and even semi-submersibles designed to evade detection," Capt. Jeffrey Randall, the commander of the James, said Thursday.

The drugs were unloaded just a few weeks after the end of fiscal year 2018 on September 30. During that fiscal year, the Coast Guard intercepted just over 458,000 pounds of cocaine — the second highest total ever. Fiscal year 2017 set the record with 493,000 pounds seized, topping the previous record of 443,000 pounds set in fiscal year 2016.

The increase in seizures comes amid growing cocaine production in Colombia, the world's largest producer of the drug and the main supplier to the US market. Production of coca, the base ingredient in cocaine, has steadily risen since hitting a low in 2012.

Read also: The Coast Guard is catching more drug-running subs, but most 'very stealthy' narco subs are probably going undetected

Colombia is the only South American country that borders both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, but most of the cocaine it sends to the US takes a westerly route.

"In 2017, at least 84 percent of the documented cocaine departing South America transited the Eastern Pacific," the US Drug Enforcement Administration said in its most recent National Drug Threat Assessment.

"Shipments around the Galapagos Islands increased to 17 percent of overall flow in 2017, up from four percent in 2016 and one percent in 2015," the DEA report found. "In 2017, 16 percent of cocaine moved through the Caribbean, nine percent traveling through the Western Caribbean and seven percent through the Eastern Caribbean."

The Coast Guard's activity in the eastern Pacific, where it works with other US agencies and international partners, is meant to stanch the drug flow at its largest and most vulnerable point: at sea.

"The Coast Guard's interdiction efforts really employ what I call a push-out-the-border strategy. We're pushing our land border 1,500 miles deep into the ocean here a little bit, and that's where we find the success taking large loads of cocaine down at sea," Adm. Karl Shultz, the commandant of the Coast Guard, said Thursday during the offload.

"When we take down drugs at sea it reduces the violence. It maximizes the impact. When these loads land in Mexico, in Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, they get distributed into very small loads, very hard to detect, and there's associated violence, corruption, instability," Shultz added. "It's just very hard to govern in that space when there's that much associated disarray here that surrounds these drugs, so we're really proud of the ability to push that border out."

Coast Guard officials have said after having success against self-propelled semi-submersibles, which are like subs but typically can't fully submerge, the service has seen an uptick in the use of low-profile vessels, which look similar to speedboats but sit lower in the water, often with their decks right at water level.

"The low-profile vessel, it's evolutionary," Schultz told Business Insider in an interview earlier this year. "The adversary will constantly adapt their tactics to try to thwart our successes," he said, adding that the increase "reflects the adaptability" of traffickers.

Now read: An ISIS-inspired tactic is raising concerns in US ports

Asked on Thursday about smuggling trends the Coast Guard has observed above and below the water, Schultz said again pointed to increased use of low-profile vessels.

"We're seeing these low-profile vessels now, which is a similar construct [to semi-submersibles] but with outboard engines," Schultz told reporters. "They paint them seafoam green, blue. They're hard to detect ... from the air."

Semi-submersibles and low-profile vessels are pricey, running $1 million to $2 million each. But the multiton cargoes they carry can fetch hundreds of millions of dollars, making the sophisticated vessels an expense traffickers can afford.

Schultz and Randall both touted the Coast Guard's work with its US and foreign partners.

Claire Grady, third in command at the Homeland Security Department, put the service's high-seas interdictions squarely within the government's broader efforts to go after drugs and the smugglers bringing them north.

"We must take actions abroad in addition to our actions at home. This merging of the home game and the away game represents the layered defense that we employ to keep the drugs off our streets and dismantle the criminal organizations that wreak violence and instability," Grady said aboard the James on Thursday.

"The Coast Guard is critical to this effort, and the seized narcotics that you see behind me represents a major victory."

SEE ALSO: Mexican troops are in the streets to fight the drug war, and the country's defense chief says legalization may be 'a way out'

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Here's what $1 billion worth of cocaine looks like

• We just got a look at the third-quarter financial results for Clover Health, an Alphabet-backed health insurance startup valued at $1.2 billion. 
• Clover sells Medicare Advantage plans. According to New Jersey insurance filings reviewed by Business Insider, Clover posted an $18.7 million loss through the first nine months of the year. 
• Clover previously told Bloomberg in March that it expects to generate $330 million in revenue for the entirety of 2018. Through the first nine months, it's generated $223 million. 

We just got a look at how healthcare startup Clover Health is doing through the first nine months of 2018.

Clover lost $18.7 million in the first nine months of 2018, according to a state insurance filing reviewed by Business Insider. The company offers private health insurance plans for seniors, a product called Medicare Advantage.

The results put it in better shape than it was in in 2017, when it posted a net loss of $31.6 million through the first nine months of the year, according to the filing. By the end of 2017, it reported a $21.5 million loss in its business in New Jersey. 

The insurer currently operates in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Georgia, and is expanding to more states in 2019, including parts of South Carolina, Arizona, and Tennessee. Business Insider reviewed filings from New Jersey, which makes up the majority of Clover's business now. 

Other notable figures from the first nine months: 

• Clover's revenue in New Jersey was $223 million. 
• The company paid out $204.9 million in medical expenses for its customers. 
• Clover had 31,902 Medicare Advantage members as of September 30. 

Bloomberg in March reported that Clover expected 2018 revenue to hit $330 million in 2018. For the full year of 2017, the company generated $267 million in revenue.

Clover's New Jersey Medicare Advantage plan currently has a three star rating out of five from the government, down from 3.5 in 2017. That reduces the amount of money the government will pay Clover for insuring seniors.

Clover Health sells Medicare Advantage health insurance plans. When seniors in the US turn 65, they can choose to be part of either traditional Medicare or Medicare Advantage, which is operated through private insurers like Clover and often provides additional healthcare benefits. The hope for San Francisco-based Clover and other technology-based health insurers is to use data to improve patients' health.

The Medicare Advantage market is highly competitive. Oscar Health, another Alphabet-backed insurer, is planning to enter the Medicare Advantage market in 2020. In October, investors poured $300 million into Devoted Health, another startup planning to launch Medicare Advantage plans in Florida in 2019. 

Read More: We got the first look at Oscar's financials since Google's parent company made its $375 million investment — and the health insurer's losses are narrowing

Clover, Devoted, and eventually Oscar are going up against healthcare giants that have been entrenched in the market like Humana, UnitedHealth Group and soon-to-be-merged CVS Health and Aetna. Those companies tend to generate substantial profits from Medicare Advantage.

In January, CNBC reported that Clover had hit some rough patches, including upsetting members who faced unexpected bills, and missing financial targets.

Founded in 2014, the company most recently raised $130 million in May 2017 from investors including Alphabet's venture arm GV at a $1.2 billion valuation. In total, the company has raised to $425 million. 

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: You've been blowing your nose all wrong — here's how you should do it

• American Challenger Fabiano Caruana fought for a win in Game 6 at the 2018 World Chess Championship, but Magnus Carlsen was able to make a draw.
• The first five games were interesting, but all also ended in draws.
• Six more games remain to be played in London, with the score deadlocked at 3-3.

The midway point of the 2018 World Chess Championship in London has arrived. For the first time since Norway's Magnus Carlsen took the title in 2013, the two highest-rated players on the planet are competing for the win.

Carlsen, 27, is taking on Fabiano Caruana, 26, and the latter is the first American to make it to the championship match since Bobby Fischer in 1972. The players are well-prepared contestants who have faced each other numerous times over the past few years. Before Game 6 of the match, Carlsen's FIDE rating was 2835, Caruana's 2832, but Carlsen has a career edge in wins, with a lead on decisive results against Caruana.

In Game 1, Caruana showed some nerves with the white pieces, as Carlsen played the Sicilian Defence against Caruana's 1. e4 opening, avoiding the drawish Berlin Defence in the Ruy Lopez. The Rossolimo variation of the Sicilian quickly developed, and Carlsen developed an edge before Caruana was able to wrangle a hard-fought draw after 115 moves and seven hours.

Game 2 led to another draw, after 49 moves. Game 3 saw the Rossolimo Sicilian again appear, this time with some befuddlements created by Caruana, who also missed chances to sharpen the position despite better preparation than Carlsen. Nonetheless, the result was another draw.

In Game 4, Carlsen opened with 1. c4, the English game, a move essayed by Fischer at times, but infrequently seen in recent World Championship play. It manifested a theme for the 2018 WCC: an intriguing opening that peters out into draws. This time, the bloodless result occurred after 34 moves.

Game 5 was another Rossolimo Sicilian, but this time Caruana uncorked the obscure Gurgenidze variation, a gambit with the b pawn. A new theme crystallized: Caruana's deeper opening preparation versus Carlsen's oft-touted ability to ignore complicated opening theory and find the best analysis of nearly any position.

And still, a draw after 34 moves. The WCC consists of 12 classical games, followed by rapid/blitz tiebreaks. This was how the 2016 Championship match, played between Carlsen and Russia's Sergey Karjakin, ended. Karjakin and Carlsen won games, but a deadlocked score after 12 games gave Carlsen an advantage given his superior rapid and blitz skills. This led to speculation that Carlsen was looking to draw the classical games against Caruana and again throw the Championship to faster chess, where he's also better by his results that Caruana.

The thriller of Game 6

Another wrinkle was that by starting with the white pieces, Caruana had to deal with two games in a row with black after Game 6. And so in Game 6, things got a bit crazy. Carlsen opened with 1. d4, the Queen's Pawn game, and Caruana was at last able to use the Petroff Defence, at which he's considered an expert. Carlsen dealt with it by moving a knight an almost absurd number of times in the opening, a violation of a fundamental chess principle. 

Caruana wasn't confused by the gonzo tactic, and by the endgame, Caruana had found a slight edge, after Carlsen sacrificed a knight in exchange for two extra pawns. By move 54, Caruana was winning. For the first time in the 2018 Championship match, Carlsen found himself fighting for a draw rather than pressing for a win. Ten moves later, Carlsen's king was cornered, and the World Champ was trying to salvage an analytically lost position.

But Caruana couldn't delve 30 or 40 moves into the position, finding a very esoteric plan, and was unable to move in for the kill. Regrettably, for the challenger, another draw was agreed to after 80 moves. However, Caruana headed into the second half of the match having notched his strongest game to date in World Championship Play.

After a rest day on Saturday, the match will resume Sunday, tied 3-3, after both players have collected 0.5 points for each draw.

SEE ALSO: An American finally has a shot at winning the World Chess Championship for the first time since Bobby Fischer in 1972

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Here’s what a computer is thinking when it plays chess against you

Many people look forward to Black Friday every year — it’s an opportunity to hit the stores with family and friends after Thanksgiving and to score some major deals on holiday gifts. But packed stores and parking lots can lead to a lot of dangerous situations, and sometimes does. There have even been incidences when people have gotten seriously hurt during Black Friday crowds. 

But there is a way to shop and be safe at the same time, even when you’re dealing with crowds. With a few tips from experts and survivalists, you can ensure that your Black Friday experience doesn't end poorly. 

When driving in the dark follow some safety tips.

If you're heading out to get some of the best sales, chances are you're going to have to set out in darkness. Driving at night can be a dangerous situation and it's important to keep on your toes. Give other drivers more space as they may be tired and be sure not to dazzle them with your lights. Give yourself plenty of time to get there so you're not rushing. 

Know how to keep safe in a crowd

Paul Wertheimer, an expert on crowd control, told World Nomad that if you find yourself in a crowd that seems to be on the verge of a stampede, there are a few actions you can take. Stay on your feet, don’t use any more energy than you have to, and keep your hands up by your chest to protect it.

Experiencing an emergency and need to get out of the crowd fast? The best way to do so is by asking the people around you to crowd surf you out.

Prepare yourself for being involved in a stampede

Although you want to do everything you can to avoid being in a stampede situation, sometimes, it’s out of your control. If a stampede is happening, Wertheimer says you should use something called the accordion method.  

"After you're pushed forward, like in a wave there's a lull. In that lull is your chance to move, and the way you move is on a diagonal, between pockets of people,” he said. “There's always space between people. A couple of steps sideways, another wave surge, then another couple of steps in the next lull. You work your way out that way till you get to the periphery."

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.

• Drugstore staple Aquaphor can be used on the under-eye area and face to lock in skin's moisture, especially in the dry winter months, for under $10.
• A study published in the British Journal of Dermatology has found a link between dry and skin and wrinkles, and Aquaphor delivers a level of hydration that can keep fine lines from forming.
• It can also be used as a balm for dry skin, dermatitis, and scrapes.

Years ago, I worked as a journalist on the entertainment news beat — which meant I spent a good amount of time face to face with impossibly beautiful actresses, singers, and socialites. In person, these women were even more flawless than you can imagine: perfect, plump skin, no fine lines in sight, and an otherworldly glow that can't be attributed to highlighter (or an Instagram filter) alone.

Luckily, the bulk of my job involved interviewing celebs about their beauty must-haves, and I paid special attention anytime anti-aging products came up in conversation. I always expected my high-profile interviewees to rattle off a long list of luxury serums, moisturizers, and creams that I couldn't afford (or maybe even pronounce); and most of the time, that's exactly what happened.

Until the day one of Hollywood's elite (who shall remain nameless — a journalist never reveals her sources, after all) confided in me her surprisingly low-key anti-aging eye treatment: Aquaphor, an under-$10 drugstore staple that you probably already have in your bathroom cabinet.

I admit that Aquaphor seems like an unexpected choice for eye care. The mineral-packed jelly is actually intended to heal cracked hands and feet or treat minor scrapes, and doesn't boast any fine line-fighting skincare ingredients like retinol or vitamin C. However, its ability to cover the outermost layer of skin with a watertight seal and lock in hydration makes it an anti-aging agent, as well.

Why? Because hydration has been shown to be the most important factor in remaining wrinkle-free. One study published in the British Journal of Dermatology observed a group of 122 women over a period of eight years, and found that over time, well-moisturized skin looks significantly younger than dry skin. In fact, subjects with hydrated skin saw only 22% more wrinkles over eight years, while participants with dry skin saw 52% more wrinkles. In other words, moisturization (along with sun protection, of course) is the key to bouncy, younger-looking skin — and Aquaphor is nothing if not extremely moisturizing.

A quick peek at the ingredients list proves it: With petrolatum as its base, Aquaphor creates a water-protective barrier around the area of application to help the skin retain moisture. It also includes hydration-sealing emollients like natural mineral oil and lanolin, and a waxy mineral substance called cerasin, which makes the formula safe for sensitive skin. Finally, Aquaphor is packed with pathenol, a derivative of vitamin B that stimulates skin cell regeneration, and chamomile, a natural anti-inflammatory.

It's worth noting that Aquaphor doesn't add hydration; it simply prevents a natural function known as Transepidermal Water Loss (or TEWL), in which water evaporates from the skin. This process speeds up as you age, leading to drier, thinner skin — aka fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging. By keeping your moisture levels locked and sealed, Aquaphor basically defies the forces of time and nature. (Traditional moisturizers act in pretty much the opposite way — they add moisture, but don't seal it in.)

While all of that sounds great, I'll be the first to say that applying Aquaphor as an eye cream is not the most user-friendly experience. The thick, jelly-like texture is slippery and goopy and doesn't exactly sink into the skin; but the payoff is so, so worth it. I've been using this as my go-to eye treatment every night since this celebrity spilled her secret, and my skin has never looked more hydrated or glowing.

I reach for Aquaphor to treat any dry patches of atopic dermatitis that pop up — they're always gone by morning — and have even been known to slather a light layer on my cheekbones and brow bones during the day as a subtle highlighter. Aquaphor is also my #1 in-flight hydration hack. Frequent fliers, take note: I slather my face in the stuff after boarding, and by touch-down I'm the glowiest girl on the plane.

I can't get enough: I keep an extra-large jar in my bathroom, and travel-size tubes in my pockets, purses, and bedside table. With the weather getting colder and skin getting drier, I suggest stockpiling Aquaphor to keep the delicate under eye area plump and hydrated. You've got nothing to lose (except $10).

Buy the Aquaphor Healing Ointment for $9.96 (7 oz.) at Amazon.

Buy the Aquaphor Healing Ointment for $4.99 (1.75 oz.) at Ulta and Target.

Join the conversation about this story »

Though an orgasm isn't necessary for sex and masturbation to feel pleasurable, few will deny that reaching the big 'O' is a great added bonus.

But beyond just feeling great, an orgasm also brings with it a host of unexpected health benefits, many of which you likely had no idea about.

Whether you're climaxing with a partner or during a solo session, orgasms help with all kinds of things, from lowering stress levels and heart attack risk to giving your skin a natural glow.

INSIDER spoke with Dr, Damian Jacob Sendler, chief of division of clinical research at Felnett Health, and Dr. Felice Gersh, M.D., an OB-GYN and founder/director of the Integrative Medical Group of Irvine in Irvine, CA and author of the upcoming "PCOS SOS: A Gynecologist's Lifeline To Naturally Restore Your Rhythms, Hormones and Happiness," to learn the mental and physical health benefits of orgasms.

You'll probably enjoy a solid night's sleep.

If you've ever drifted peacefully off to sleep after an orgasm, you've experienced this powerful benefit firsthand. When we climax, a flood of hormones are sent to our brains, and it's those hormones that might help combat sleepless nights.

"Orgasm largely causes muscle relaxation as well as the release of chemicals that tell the body to rest," Dr. Sendler said. One hormone in particular, oxytocin, is to thank for that blissful feeling. As Dr. Gersh told INSIDER, "Orgasms trigger the release of the hormone oxytocin, which has been shown to promote a sense of tranquility and peace and therefore to foster sleep."

That giddy spring in your step post-orgasm is real.

This one might not much of a surprise, but that joyful, relaxed post-orgasm feeling works wonders for your overall mental health and happiness. "Orgasms require our body to function at the highest level of arousal," said Dr. Sendler, with Dr. Gersh giving credit to that release of oxytocin.

"Once more, that fabulous oxytocin is a marvelous boost to mood. Nature wants reproduction to occur and so makes the feelings associated with it pleasurable ones."

You'll feel closer not only to your partner, but with others in your social orbit as well.

If you've ever felt that telltale desire to snuggle up next to your partner after reaching orgasm, you can also thank oxytocin for those loved-up feelings. But it turns out that this powerful hormone can help you feel closer with others in your social circle too, not just your sexual partners.

According to a 2012 study by evolutionary psychologists at the University of Michigan and Albright College in Pennsylvania, "the more one's partner was likely to fall asleep after sex, the stronger the desire for bonding," said Daniel Kruger, research fellow at the University of Michigan, and lead author of the study.

"Oxytocin plays several roles involving mood. Since successful reproduction requires peaceful cooperation among family members, touching and hugging increases oxytocin, as does breastfeeding and having orgasms," explained Dr. Gersh, adding that "whichever way it is stimulated and produced, it increases the feeling of love and bonding."

In 2013, researchers Mark Ellenbogen and Christopher Cardoso looked at the effects of oxytocin on your social orbit outside the bedroom and found that "instead of the traditional 'fight or flight' response to social conflict where people get revved up to respond to a challenge or run away from it, oxytocin may promote the 'tend and befriend' response where people reach out to others for support after a stressful event. That can, in turn, strengthen social bonds and may be a healthier way to cope."

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.

• As part of Amazon's Early Black Friday offerings, many of its devices, including Echo and Fire TV products, are already on sale. 
• Find all the deals, along with information about how the different device specs compare, below. 
• We'll be updating this page through Black Friday and Cyber Monday as we learn more about new Amazon device promotions.
• To potentially save more on Black Friday, you can visit Business Insider Coupons to find up-to-date promo codes for a range of online stores.

If you've ever wanted to own an Amazon device, be it a Kindle e-reader, Echo speaker, orFire TV Stick, then you should know that the best times of the year to buy one — if you want to enjoy the lowest prices, anyway — are Prime Day, and Black Friday and Cyber Monday. 

Historically, Amazon has offered discounts of $15 to $50 off its popular gadgets on both holidays, and each year the deals just get better.

Now that it's moving on to new and improved versions of its devices, you'll be able to save on certified refurbished units of the older models and double (or even triple) up on new devices to save more. 

Below, we've rounded up all the Amazon device deals in one place for you to shop. We've also provided easy comparisons among options within the same family so you don't waste time going back and forth between pages trying to distinguish their differences. 

If you want to read up on Amazon's complete portfolio of devices, check out this ultimate guide. Otherwise, start shopping below. These Black Friday Amazon device deals are already live. 

Many Echo devices are on sale today, from the simple  Echo Dot to the features-packed Echo Show. Each one uses Alexa to accomplish any number of tasks, from answering questions to reordering supplies on Amazon. Depending on your budget and preferences, you'll probably prefer one model over another. Here's a quick comparison:

• Echo Dot (2nd Gen, Certified Refurbished), $29.99 (originally $39.99) [You save $10]: A small, compact way to add Alexa to any room.
• Echo Dot Kids, 3 for $99.97 (originally $209.97) [You save $110]: Features a kid-friendly version of Alexa, parental controls, and a year of FreeTime Unlimited (Amazon's educational content subscription).
• Echo (2nd Gen, Certified Refurbished), $59.99 (originally $79.99) [You save $20]: All the functionalities of the Echo Dot, but with room-filling dual speakers.
• Echo Spot, 2 for $159.98 (originally $259.98) [You save $100]: Has a small screen to let you video-chat, watch videos, and see content at a glance.
• NEW Echo Show (2nd Gen), 2 for $339.98 (originally $459.98) [You save $120]: Combines the speaker quality of the Echo and Echo Plus with the visual capabilities of the Echo Spot. Has a larger (10") HD display and eight mic array than the 1st generation model. 
• Echo Look (Certified Refurbished), $89.99 (originally $169.99) [You save $80]: A style assistant that helps you discover, decide on, and share outfits.

Fire tablets are optimized for the best portable entertainment experience, whether you like to watch movies or play games. There are three main types, and the number refers to the display size. All are available in bright colors and have high-quality video recording features, so their main differences come down to resolution, storage size, battery life, and audio capabilities. The following tablets are on sale:

• Fire 7 Kids Edition Tablet 2-Pack, $119.98 (originally $199.98) [You save $80]: 1024 x 600 (171 ppi) resolution, built-in Alexa function, 16 GB storage, eight-hour battery life, mono speaker. Includes one year of FreeTime Unlimited, two-year worry-free guarantee, and a kid-proof case.
• Fire HD 8 Kids Edition Tablet 2-Pack, $149.98 (originally $259.98) [You save $110]: 1280 x 800 (189 ppi) resolution, built-in Alexa function, 16 or 32 GB storage, 12-hour battery life, Dolby dual speakers. Includes one year of FreeTime Unlimited, two-year worry-free guarantee, and a kid-proof case.
• Fire HD 10 Tablet, $99.99 (originally $149.99) [You save $50]: 1920 x 1200 (224 ppi) resolution, built-in Alexa function, 32 or 64 GB, 10-hour battery life, Dolby dual speakers.
• Fire HD 10 Kids Edition Tablet 2-Pack, $249.98 (originally $399.98) [You save $150]: Same specs as the 10 above, but does not include Alexa. Includes one year of FreeTime Unlimited, two-year worry-free guarantee, and a kid-proof case.

Armed with a Fire TV device and your favorite streaming subscriptions, including Netflix, Hulu, and Prime Video, you'll feel like traditional cable is truly a thing of the past. It's a great tool for would be cord cutters. Fire TV devices also use Alexa for convenient hands-free control, so you don't have to juggle or manage yet another remote control. These Fire TV devices are on sale today:

• NEW Fire TV Stick 4K, 2 for $89.98 with code "TWOPACK" (originally $99.98) [You save $10]: A small streaming media player that plugs into any TV's HDMI port and has an antenna design optimized for 4K Ultra HD streaming.

If you love reading, you won't regret getting a Kindle, which makes it that much easier to enjoy the pastime. The e-readers are light and comfortable to hold, give you the ability to download millions of books with the click of a button, and let you make highlights and notes. They're also easy to read in bright light, unlike your phone. 

• NEW Kindle Paperwhite and six months of Kindle Unlimited, $129.99 (originally $189.93) [You save $59.94]: Thinner, lighter, and longer battery life than the first generation model, waterproof, 8 GB storage.

These security cameras keep your home safe when you're not there by giving you live notifications and video clips of the scene.

• Amazon Cloud Cam Security Camera, 2 for $199.98 (originally $239.98) [You save $40]: If you're already entrenched in the Alexa ecosystem, this basic camera with two-way audio is probably your best choice.

Looking for more deals? We've rounded up the best Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals on the internet.

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• MoviePass fired three staff members on Friday, including two who made up the entirety of its human resources staff, a source at the company told Business Insider.
• MoviePass CEO Mitch Lowe has not been on all-hands calls in two months, according to the source, who said he thinks this is a sign of his lack of involvement in the day-to-day operations of the business.
• "Mitch has been and continues to be involved in the day-to-day operations of the company," MoviePass told Business Insider in a statement. 
• The company is planning to unveil a three-tier pricing plan, with the most expensive being similar to AMC Theatres' subscription plan, AMC Stubs A-List.

On Thursday MoviePass' parent company, Helios and Matheson Analytics, disclosed it lost $130 million last quarter, and suffered a "significant decline" in MoviePass subscribers. 

The following morning, MoviePass staff came to work to a startling discovery. MoviePass' two-person HR department had been fired, a source at the company told Business Insider.

Now some at MoviePass are wondering if they could be next on the chopping block, and if payroll, which was one of the duties of HR, will suddenly become an issue, according to the source. 

To top it all off, MoviePass CEO Mitch Lowe has been hard to find, according to the source. 

Lowe has not been on an all-hands call in two months, which the source said was a sign of his lack of involvement in the day-to-day operations of the company. Some of Lowe's duties, including running the all-hands, are being done by Khalid Itum, MoviePass' VP of Business Development. 

"Mitch has been and continues to be involved in the day-to-day operations of the company," MoviePass told Business Insider in a statement. 

Shortly after Business Insider called MoviePass for comment, another all hands was called to inform staff of a forthcoming story, according to the source. 

Read more:MoviePass competitor Sinemia is being sued by angry customers who say it ripped them off with new fees

On a call Monday, Itum told the staff the company was "not going anywhere." In fact, MoviePass plans to make a big splash soon by unveiling a three-tier pricing plan for subscribers, the company source said.

This would include the current pricing level of $9.95 for three titles per month as the bottom-tier option, and a top-tier price that would be similar to what AMC is offering with its AMC Stubs A-List, at $19.95 a month for three movies per week.

"We have been listening closely to our subscribers," MoviePass also told Business Insider in a statement. "While we can't share specifics at the moment, we're looking forward to releasing our new programs intended to maximize positive member experience."

The last official subscriber count the public got from MoviePass was when it crossed three million subscribers in June. The company source told Business Insider that tens of thousands of subscribers canceled in October.

SEE ALSO: "Creed II" escapes a sequel slump with thrilling fight scenes and a gripping performance by Michael B. Jordan

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With college football's rivalry weekend just a week away, the stakes continue to rise for the best teams in the country.

It makes for compelling football, and some offer great gambling opportunities to bettors looking to put some money down.

Last week, we had another winning week, going 4-2-1 against the spread.  This week, we'll try to do it again.

Take a look below for our seven best bets of the Week 11 college football slate (* indicates home team).

LAST WEEK: 4-2-1
OVERALL: 40-34-2

Oregon* (-3.5) over Arizona State

It's Oregon's last home game of the season, and though the year hasn't gone exactly to plan for the Ducks, this should be a win.

Herm Edwards has wildly beaten expectations for his return to coaching in his first year with Arizona State, but Oregon is simply a stronger team on every side of the ball in this one and should walk away with it in front of the home crowd.

Navy* (-6) over Tulsa

Navy has only won twice this season, but has played more competitively than you might think. Further, they still have something to play for.  Army-Navy is two weeks away in Philadelphia, and the Midshipmen will want to continue getting better every week in preparation for their biggest game of the year.

Tulsa is another two-win team that doesn't have the benefit of a late-season motivator to keep them going. Trust the triple-option.

Ohio State (-14.5) over Maryland*

Ohio State and Michigan are on a collision course, and Maryland is simply a speed bump along the way.

Even last week with the Buckeyes offense couldn't get anything going, the Ohio State defense found a touchdown to ease bettors to a comfortable cover. The Big Ten will be decided next weekend, and everything before that is table setting.

• Japan Airlines announced it will enact stricter measures to monitor its crew members' alcohol consumption after the carrier's pilots failed multiple alcohol tests over the past year. 
• The Japanese flag carrier will introduce more advanced breathalyzers for its domestic and international crews by Monday, November 19, The Asahi Shimbun reported. 
• The decision comes on the heels of an incident involving Japan Airlines pilot Katsutoshi Jitsukawa, who was arrested on October 28 after being almost 10 times over the legal limit for alcohol prior to his flight at London Heathrow airport, according to CNN.
• JAL pilots have failed 19 breathalyzer tests since August 2017. 

Japan Airlines announced it will enact stricter measures to monitor its crew members' alcohol consumption after its pilots failed multiple alcohol tests over the past year.

The airline will introduce more advanced breathalyzers for its domestic and international crews by Monday, November 19, Japanese national newspaper The Asahi Shimbun reported.  Crew members with excessive blood alcohol content will face stiff penalties. 

In addition, Japan Airlines will conduct more frequent medical checks.  

The decision comes on the heels of an incident involving Japan Airlines co-pilot Katsutoshi Jitsukawa, who was arrested on October 28 after being almost 10 times over the legal alcohol limit prior to his flight at London Heathrow airport in October, according to CNN.

JAL's policy, enacted after the Heathrow incident, preventing pilots from drinking within 24 hours of a flight will remain in place, The Japan Times reported.

The publication also reported that airline president, Yuji Akasaka, will be cutting his compensation by 20 percent "to demonstrate management responsibility." 

Read More:An off-duty pilot who attacked an Emirates flight attendant and drunkenly threatened to blow up the plane is headed to jail for a year

"The company fully understands the severity of the violation," Japan Airlines said in a statement to Business Insider. "The Company does not condone the individual`s actions, as safety remains our utmost priority. Please be assured that actions will be taken immediately."

According to the BBC, Japanese law does not set limits for alcohol consumption for its pilots, which may have played a part in the fact that since August 2017 there have been a whopping 19 instances where Japan Airlines pilots failed the company's alcohol tests prior to flying. 

BBC reports that 12 flights were delayed due to these failed alcohol tests, with another seven requiring an alternate crew in order to operate on time. 

SEE ALSO: An off-duty pilot who attacked an Emirates flight attendant and drunkenly threatened to blow up the plane is headed to jail for a year

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• Draymond Green reportedly told Kevin Durant. "You're a b---- and you know you're a b----" and told Durant that the Warriors didn't need him during their heated exchange on Monday.
• According to one report, rival teams are trying to gather more information on the Warriors to gauge the mood and what might happen next.
• The Warriors will move on from the incident, but it's worth wondering if the tension will linger throughout the season.

Draymond Green's blow-up on Kevin Durant during an overtime loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday has seemingly threatened to derail the Warriors.

After Green turned the ball over at the end of regulation, Durant criticized him for not getting him the ball. Green responded by attacking Durant, reportedly calling Durant a "b----" several times and criticizing the handling of his impending free agency. Now we're beginning to learn some more specifics of what was said.

The Athletic's Shams Charania reported that after Durant yelled at Green for not getting him the ball. Green responded (as written by Charania): "Don't talk to me and come at me like I'm [unnamed Warriors big man]. I've won before you came."

Yahoo's Chris Haynes reported further details of Green's tirade.

"You're a b---- and you know you're a b----," Green reportedly said to Durant, adding: "We don't need you. We won without you. Leave."

The Athletic's Sam Amick reported that Green's words were even worse than what was reported, in part because of the biting nature of them.

There's a lot to parse in the whole matter. The Warriors suspended Green for one game, docking him over $120,000 in game pay. Reports since have suggested that the Warriors not only wanted to make clear that Green crossed the line, but that the punishment was public, just as Green's blow-up came in public.

But despite most believing Green crossed a line, according to reports, some also felt that his criticism of Durant's handling of his free agency struck a chord. Durant is a free agent at the end of the year and has neither committed to staying with the Warriors nor leaving. He also hasn't shut down questions on it, as some other stars have before free agency in the past. According to several reports, the lingering cloud of Durant's free agency has rubbed some Warriors, notably Green, the wrong way, with The Athletic's Tim Kawakami calling it"Durant Free-Agent Fatigue."

Read more: Kevin Durant has twice taken the same contract gamble as LeBron James, and it seems to be at the source of the Warriors' tension

What happens next is anyone's guess, but NBA teams are playing close attention. Haynes reported: "Rival teams and opposing players are attempting to gather more information on the morale and status of the Warriors, sources said. The whole affair is being viewed as promising to the opposition."

Green issued a statement to reporters on Thursday, saying he is passionate and sometimes that passion goes too far. Notably, he did not mention any sort of apology in his statement (though he spoke with Durant in private, and the two were seen walking into the Houston Rockets arena together and shooting at the same basket).

Also notable, Green gave almost an ominous quote, saying that whatever happens next, the Warriors have had a good run.

"At the end of the day, as I've said before, whatever Kevin decides to do, whatever Klay decides to do, whatever who decides to do, we had great years together."

In Green's first game back with the team, they lost in rather flat fashion to the Rockets, 107-86.

There's little doubt that Green and Durant will make up and the team will move on. In Green's statement, he issued a warning to other teams that they will have to beat the Warriors, as the Warriors won't beat themselves.

But Green's explosion, while inappropriate, also signaled that there had been building tension, and finally, it boiled over. It's worth wondering how much that will linger with the team, even if Green and Durant drop the matter.

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• Amazon has kicked off its Black Friday deals early this November.
• Right now, you can buy the 8-Piece Ring Home Security Kit for $189, its lowest price ever.

Black Friday is still a week away, but Amazon couldn't help itself and has started releasing great lead-up deals.

Right now you can get an eight-piece home security bundle from Ring, which includes a base station, keypad, three contact sensors, two motion detectors, and range extender for $189, which is $80 cheaper than buying each item individually. It's also, interestingly, $10 cheaper than Ring's five-piece home security system right now. 

Each piece of Ring's kit is designed to protect a different part of your house. The contact sensors detect when windows and doors are opened or closed; the motion detectors use infrared beams to sense movement and heat in a room; the keypad lets you arm and disarm the system; the base station keeps the system online, and has a 110-decibel siren that sounds when motion is detected; and the range extender keeps the sensors connected to the base station. Both the base station and range extender have a 24-hour battery backup that will keep the system online in case of a power outage.

When the system is triggered, the alarm from the base station will sound, and you'll receive a notification on your phone so you can investigate the situation or call the police. If you subscribe to a Nest Protect plan for $10 a month, a professional home security service will monitor your home and check in on you when the system is triggered.

This bundle is a pretty comprehensive home security system, but the one thing it doesn't include is a camera. You can add Ring Video Doorbell or Ring Spotlight Cam to it, and both will integrate seamlessly with the pieces in this kit. The motion sensors in Ring's cameras will trigger the alarm in the base station, while also giving you video evidence in case of a break-in.

Home security isn't something most people want to think about, but Ring's Alarm Home Security System can help put your mind at ease when you go to sleep, or leave town for a vacation.

Ring Alarm Home Security System 8-Piece Kit, $188.98 (originally $168.98) [You save $80]

SEE ALSO: The best home security products you can buy

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

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

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

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

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

Here are some of the key takeaways:

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

 In full, the report:

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

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• Republican Brian Kemp will become the next governor of Georgia after his Democratic opponent, Stacey Abrams, ended her bid on Friday evening after a tight and contentious battle.
• Kemp claimed victory with 50.22 percent of the vote — just barely over the 50 percent threshold to avoid a runoff.
• Abrams accused Kemp of "deliberate and intentional" voter-suppression tactics and said she would file suit against the state for "gross mismanagement" of the election.

Republican Brian Kemp will become the next governor of Georgia after his Democratic opponent, Stacey Abrams, ended her bid on Friday evening after a tight and contentious battle.

Kemp claimed victory with 50.22 percent of the vote — just barely over the 50 percent threshold to avoid a runoff and, as of Thursday night, earned 54,801 more votes than his opponent did, out of a total 3.9 million ballots cast.

Abrams, who has for months accused Kemp of disenfranchising voters as Georgia's secretary of state, refused to give a traditional concession speech, accusing Kemp of undermining the state's democracy in order to improve his electoral chances.

"I acknowledge that Brian Kemp will be certified as the victor in the 2018 gubernatorial election," Abrams said during her Friday speech. "But to watch an elected official who claims to represent the people in this state baldly pin his hopes for election on suppression of the people's democratic right to vote has been truly appalling. So let's be clear, this is not a speech of concession."

Abrams blamed the state's voter roll purges — which, under Kemp's direction, removed 1.5 million voters from the rolls, the classification of about 50,000 voters as "pending" because their information didn't exactly match that in government files, long lines, faulty equipment, and closed polling places for disenfranchising an untold number of Georgians, a group that disproportionately comprises people of color.

"I will not concede because the erosion of our democracy is not right," said Abrams, who would have become the country's first African American female governor. "But my assessment is that the law currently allows no further viable remedy."

Read more:Hotly contested recounts are underway in Florida, as Georgia and Arizona scramble to finalize results in key races

The Georgia race was one of the most contentious and closely-watched in the country, as Abrams, who received a last-minute boost from Oprah, battled it out with Kemp, a strong Trump supporter who benefited from the president's endorsement. Abrams, the former state House minority leader, came closer to winning a statewide race in Georgia than any Democrat has in decades.

Over the last two weeks, thousands of provisional ballots were counted — including at polling sites that initially said they had completed their counts.

"Make no mistake, the former secretary of state was deliberate and intentional in his actions," she said. "I know that eight years of systemic disenfranchisement, disinvestment, and incompetence had its desired effect on the electoral process in Georgia."

Abrams also said her team would be filing a "major lawsuit" against the state of Georgia for "gross mismanagement" of the election.

"Voting is not a right for some, it is a right for all, and it is not a privilege," Abrams said.

Read more: Democrats' 3 biggest rising stars came up short in an otherwise successful night for the party

But Abrams also said she would "pray for the success of Brian Kemp that he will indeed be a leader of all Georgians."

In a statement on Friday evening, Kemp, who previously called Abrams' refusal to concede "a disgrace to democracy" and a "temper tantrum," said he looked forward to moving past the divisive race.

"I appreciate her passion, hard work, and commitment to public service," Kemp said of his opponent. "The election is over and hardworking Georgians are ready to move forward. We can no longer dwell on the divisive politics of the past but must focus on Georgia's bright and promising future."

SEE ALSO: Georgia politician and protesters are arrested in the state capitol as tension over tight governors race comes to a head

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• Chatham Dockyard houses the only remaining traditional working ropewalk in the world.
• The ropewalk is a quarter of a mile long, so long that the rope makers use bicycles to get from one end of the building to the other. 
• Rope has been made at Chatham Dockyard for 400 years, and it's still produced in almost exactly the same way today. 

This is the last traditional working ropewalk in the world. They use traditional methods, and 150-year-old equipment to make 500,000 pounds of rope each year. 

Ropemaking is a simple process of twisting fibers together to create an extremely strong cable, and the principles haven't changed in years. There are two parts to the process, forming and closing. Forming starts with banks of yarn that are run through a die and twisted and compressed into one strand. 

Three of these formed strands are then moved onto the closing machine. This wraps each of the cables together along the ropewalk. The ropewalk is a quarter of a mile long, long enough to make 220 meter lengths of rope. This length is enough to anchor a ship in 40 fathoms of water.  

Chatham Dockyard was once at the forefront of ship building, throughout its history it provided over 500 ships for the Royal Navy and each of those ships needed a lot of rope. An 18th century first rate ship of the line would need around 31 miles of rope, 20 miles for its rigging alone.

At its height the dockyard employed over 10,000 workers. The yarn used to be created on the site too and in a room just above the ropewalk raw fibres of hemp and flax were combed and spun.

The rope made here has been used on the Cutty Sark and the HMS Victory and is still supplied to historic ships today.

Produced by Charlie Floyd

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Apple's newest crop of phones is here, which means you may be thinking about finally upgrading from your older iPhone. 

During the past few years, it hasn't been easy to justify shelling out for a new phone if you're using an iPhone 5S, 6, or 6S. The design has been similar, the camera hasn't seen a major upgrade, and the battery life hasn't necessarily been such a major jump from older devices. 

But now that the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max have arrived, it feels like time to consider a new phone, especially if you're on an iPhone 6S or earlier. 

If you haven't bought an iPhone in the last year, however, you're going to be in for a few major changes, especially if you opt for the extra-large iPhone XS Max, which is a pretty big departure from iPhones of years past.

Here are the six biggest things you'll notice when making the switch:

SEE ALSO: Here's how the new $400 Apple Watch Series 4 compares to last year's model, the Apple Watch Series 3

1. The screen

The most notable thing about the iPhone XS Max is the screen — the big, beautiful screen. 

First and foremost, the XS Max has an OLED display, which no older iPhones have, save for the iPhone X. Blacks look blacker, whites look whiter, and the whole display is just more gorgeous and immersive than what you're probably used to on an LCD screen. 

Besides being a better display, it's also going to be much bigger than what you're used to. It's the largest display of any iPhone, ever, and goes nearly edge-to-edge (save for the notch at the top, and some thin bezels along all four sides). 

2. The size and weight

Beyond having a great big screen, the XS Max has a great big body, too. It's the biggest, heaviest iPhone Apple sells, and also the largest phone it's ever made. 

Here are the specs:

• Height: 6.20 inches (157.5 mm)
• Width: 3.05 inches (77.4 mm)
• Depth: 0.30 inch (7.7 mm)
• Weight: 7.34 ounces (208 grams)

Compare that to the iPhone 6, which is 5.44 inches by 2.64 inches and weighs just 4.55 ounces, and it's pretty striking. If you're used to your small, lightweight phone, you may be in for a bit of a shock. 

3. The camera

When I compared my iPhone 6S to the iPhone 8 Plus last year, I was taken aback by how little difference there was between the two cameras, which were two generations apart. While the 8 Plus won in a few situations, there wasn't enough of an improvement to warrant buying the new device for the camera alone. 

One year later, that's no longer the case. 

I've been using the XS Max for about a week, and every time I switch back to my own phone, I'm disappointed by how my photos look. The camera isn't as sharp, it doesn't perform half as well in low light, and the colors look dull. Plus, my old phone can't do things like portrait mode on both the front and rear cameras. 

It's officially gotten to the point where the 6S (and, I imagine, the phones that came before it) feel outdated, camera-wise.

• Picking the right wine to bring to a holiday party can be tricky — you want it to complement the food being served and you want everyone to like it.
• We talked to a sommelier and beverage expert for her picks on the best bottles of wine to bring to seven different types of holiday parties.
• Our expert gave bottle suggestions at three different price points: under $20, $20 to $50, and $50 and up.

'Tis the season for parties — and unlimited trips to the wine store.

From Thanksgiving to Hanukkah to Christmas, it's not surprising that wine consumption spikes in October, November, and December, according to The Beverage Spot.

Bringing the right bottle to any holiday party or dinner can be tricky — there's a lot of pressure to pick a bottle that complements the food you'll be eating and guests' palates, especially if you're on a budget. 

We talked to Gretchen Thomas, sommelier and vice president at Del Frisco's Grille and Barcelona Wine Bar, to get her picks on the best wines to bring for eight different holiday occasions. The holidays can get expensive, so we included three different price points: under $20, $20 to $50, and $50 and up.

From Friendsgiving to your best friend's Secret Santa party, here are the best wines to bring to your next holiday party.

SEE ALSO: The 3 most important things to look for on a wine label, according to an expert

DON'T MISS: 12 secrets to enjoying the perfect bottle of wine, according to wine experts

Family Thanksgiving reunion: Pinot noir

Under $20: Montinore Estate, Willamette Valley

$20 to $50: Anthill Farms, Anderson Valley

$50 and up: Domaine de la Cote, Santa Rita Hills

According to Thomas, Thanksgiving needs a wine that can bridge different flavors and textures since sweet sides and sauces are often served with the meal.

"The wine also needs to please many palates and work as a complement (not a scene stealer) to what is the most important dinner of the year for many American families," she said. "A fruity, medium to full-bodied west coast Pinot Noir works great for this."

Friendsgiving feast: Sparkling wine

Under $20: Juve y Camps Reserva de la Familia Brut Nature

$20 to $50: Schramsberg Mirabelle Brut

$50 and up: Billecart-Salmon Blanc des Blancs

"Friendsgiving is my favorite annual holiday, and it's all about eating fall-inspired foods often more adventurous than what might be served at the traditional family Thanksgiving and celebrating life with your best friends," Thomas said. "Nothing works better for this than a great bottle of bubbles."

A Hanukkah dinner: Sparkling wine, rosé, or a full-bodied red

Kosher options/non-Kosher options:

Under $20: LaMarca Prosecco / Gramona La Cuvee Gran Reserva Cava

$20 to $50: Celler Capcanes Peraj Petita Rosat / Robert Sinskey Vin Gris of Pinot Noir

$50 and up: Celler de Capcanes Peraj Ha'abib / Casas del Bosque Gran Reserva Pinot Noir

Traditional Hanukkah dishes offer an array of flavors, Thomas said, adding that some, like the sweetness of noodle kugel, are difficult for wine pairing, while others, like potato latkes and matzo ball soup, pair easily. 

"Rather than suggesting one type of wine to cover the entire dinner, the kosher suggestions offer the perfect pairings for the dinner — beginning with a sparkling, [continuing] with a soft and fruit rosé, and finishing the dinner (brisket time!) with a full-bodied and rich red wine," she said.

• After nearly three weeks of denials, Saudi officials said on October 19 that the journalist Jamal Khashoggi died in an altercation inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.
• Khashoggi, 59, who was often critical of the Saudi government, entered the consulate on October 2 and had not been seen since.
• Saudi Arabia previously said, without evidence, that Khashoggi left the consulate, and officials had rejected assertions that he was killed.
• US President Donald Trump has shifted from expressing concern about the case to defending Saudi leadership since Khashoggi's disappearance.
• Trump has said that stopping arms sales to the Saudis as punishment for Khashoggi's disappearance would be a "tough pill to swallow," but he's facing growing calls in Congress for the US to cease or diminish its relationship with the kingdom.
• US intelligence may have known before Khashoggi's disappearance about a Saudi plot to capture him, The Washington Post reported in early October.
• The Saudis' narrative on Khashoggi's killing has shifted multiple times, even after acknowledging he was killed. The most consistent aspect of their story is the claim that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had no prior knowledge of Khashoggi's killing.
• Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has put pressure on the Saudis to be more transparent and cooperative in the ongoing investigation. The Turks maintain that Khashoggi's killing was premeditated and have rejected assertions that a "local collaborator" disposed of his dismembered body.
• The Turks have said Khashoggi's killing was ordered at the "highest levels" of the Saudi government.
• Pompeo has said the US would take "appropriate actions" against people it has identified as connected to Khashoggi's killing, including revoking visas and possibly imposing economic sanctions. Little has occurred in this regard.
• The Saudi public prosecutor's office on Thursday said 11 people had been indicted in connection with Khashoggi's killing, adding that the death penalty had been requested for five of them.
• The prosecutors said the Saudi agents involved had orders to abduct the journalist but ultimately killed him via a lethal injection after a "fight and quarrel." Khashoggi's body was then dismembered and given to a local collaborator, they said. None of the suspects were named.
• The CIA has concluded Prince Mohammed ordered Khashoggi's killing, The Washington Post reported on Friday, contradicting the kingdom's narrative.

Jamal Khashoggi's death has captured the world's attention.

Khashoggi, 59, a Saudi journalist, was killed in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul in early October.

The Saudi government on October 19 acknowledged his death, claiming he died during an altercation in the consulate. The Saudis had given conflicting accounts about the case over the nearly three weeks that Khashoggi's disappearance remained a mystery.

The journalist entered the consulate on October 2 to obtain documents necessary to marry his Turkish fiancée, Hatice Cengiz.

Cengiz has said she waited for Khashoggi outside the consulate for roughly 11 hours but he never came out. She tweeted in early October: "Jamal is not dead. I cannot believe that he has been killed."

Here's a timeline of the events surrounding Khashoggi's disappearance and death.

Who is Jamal Khashoggi?

Khashoggi, a prominent journalist who was often critical of the Saudi government and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, wrote for The Washington Post's global opinion section.

Karen Attiah, Khashoggi's editor at The Post, told CNN on October 7: "We're still hoping for the best, but of course this news, if true, has us all completely devastated. This is an attack on us as well at The Washington Post."

Khashoggi had a long, complicated career.

He went from interviewing a young Osama bin Laden in the 1980s to becoming one of the top journalists in his country to living in self-imposed exile.

Khashoggi was at one point an adviser to senior officials in the Saudi government and worked for top news outlets in the country. He was long seen as close to the ruling elite there.

But last year, Khashoggi had a falling out with the government over Prince Mohammed's controversial tactics as he has worked to consolidate his power, including arresting powerful business executives and members of the royal family.

The Saudi royal family also barred Khashoggi from writing after he was critical of US President Donald Trump, and it drove Khashoggi to leave Saudi Arabia for the US in the summer of 2017.

Months before his death, Khashoggi reportedly told colleagues he had feared for his life.

After leaving Saudi Arabia, Khashoggi divided his time between London, Istanbul, and Virginia. He was a US resident with a green card, but not a citizen.

The Post on October 17 published an op-ed article Khashoggi filed shortly before his disappearance. In it, Khashoggi called for a free press in the Arab world. Attiah, who edited the article, wrote a note at the top.

"I received this column from Jamal Khashoggi's translator and assistant the day after Jamal was reported missing in Istanbul," Attiah said. "The Post held off publishing it because we hoped Jamal would come back to us so that he and I could edit it together. Now I have to accept: That is not going to happen. This is the last piece of his I will edit for The Post."

She added that Khashoggi's article "perfectly captures his commitment and passion for freedom in the Arab world."

What Saudi Arabia has said about Khashoggi's disappearance

Saudi officials initially claimed that Khashoggi left the consulate, and they maintained that story for roughly 17 days.

"Mr. Khashoggi visited the consulate to request paperwork related to his marital status and exited shortly thereafter," an unnamed Saudi official told The New York Times in October.

The Saudi government previously denied allegations that Khashoggi was killed, describing them as "baseless."

Prince Mohammed told Bloomberg News in early October that Turkish authorities were welcome to search the consulate. "We have nothing to hide," he said.

"He's a Saudi citizen, and we are very keen to know what happened to him," he added. "And we will continue our dialogue with the Turkish government to see what happened to Jamal there."

When asked whether there were any charges against Khashoggi in Saudi Arabia, Prince Mohammed said, "Actually, we need to know where Jamal is first."

The Saudi ambassador to the US told The Post on October 8 that it would be "impossible" for consulate employees to kill Khashoggi and cover up his death "and we wouldn't know about it."

Turkish media reported early last month that 15 men arrived at Istanbul's airport on October 2, the day Khashoggi went missing, and left Turkey later that night. Turkey has alleged that they were sent to kill Khashoggi.

The Saudi-owned Al Arabiya TV network on October 11 aired a report claiming that the 15 men weren't sent to Istanbul for the purpose of capturing or killing him but were just tourists.

On October 19, Saudi Arabia said Khashoggi died in a fistfight in the consulate, a claim that has been met with a great deal of skepticism.

The Saudi foreign minister, Adel al-Jubeir, told Fox News on October 21 that Khashoggi was killed as a result of a "rogue operation," claiming that Prince Mohammed had no prior knowledge of the incident. He described Khashoggi's death as a "murder."

A Saudi official told Reuters on October 21 that Khashoggi's body was rolled up in a rug and given to a "local cooperator" for disposal. But a Reuters report the next day suggested the operation was run via Skype by a top aide to the crown prince.

Saudi Arabia's official press agency on October 25 quoted a prosecutor with knowledge of Turkey's investigation into Khashoggi's fate as saying evidence indicated that his killing was premeditated, marking yet another shift in the kingdom's narrative about what happened to the journalist.

"Information from the Turkish authorities indicates that the act of the suspects in the Khashoggi case was premeditated," Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor said in a statement.

The Saudi public prosecutor's office on Thursday said 11 people had been indicted in connection with Khashoggi's killing and that the death penalty had been requested for five of them. Prosecutors added that 21 people had been detained overall. Riyadh said in October that 18 people had been detained.

The prosecutors said the Saudi agents involved, including the head of forensics for the national intelligence service, had orders to abduct the journalist but ultimately killed him via a lethal injection after a "fight and quarrel." Khashoggi's body was then dismembered and given to a local collaborator, they said, contradicting earlier claims that the killing was premeditated.

None of the suspects were named, and a spokesman for the prosecutor reiterated the kingdom's claims that Prince Mohammed had no prior knowledge of the killing.

What Turkey has said about Khashoggi's disappearance

Turkish officials have consistently accused the Saudis of brutally killing Khashoggi.

A high-level Turkish official told The Associated Press on October 16 that police who entered the consulate found "certain evidence" that Khashoggi was killed there.

Turkey has been putting a great deal of pressure on Saudi Arabia to be more transparent. On October 8, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan demanded Saudi officials provide proof that Khashoggi left the consulate.

"Do you not have cameras and everything of the sort?" Erdogan said. "They have all of them. Then why do you not prove this? You need to prove it."

Throughout the investigation, there have been somewhat conflicting messages from Turkey on Khashoggi's disappearance as details of what might have happened to him have been gradually leaked to media outlets.

In a report on October 9, The Times described a senior official as saying Turkey had concluded Khashoggi was killed "on orders from the highest levels" of the Saudi royal court.

But Yasin Aktay, an adviser to Erdogan, said on October 10 that "the Saudi state is not blamed here," suggesting that "a deep state" was responsible for Khashoggi's disappearance.

On October 11, Erdogan increased pressure on Saudi Arabia over Khashoggi's disappearance.

"We cannot remain silent to such an incident," Erdogan was quoted by Turkish media as telling reporters, according to The Post.

"How is it possible for a consulate, an embassy not to have security camera systems? Is it possible for the Saudi Arabian consulate where the incident occurred not to have camera systems?" he continued.

"If a bird flew, if a mosquito appeared, these systems would catch them," he said, adding that he believed that the Saudis "would have the most advanced of systems."

Erdogan on October 23 contradicted Saudi Arabia's narrative of Khashoggi's death, describing it as a premeditated act. The Turkish leader said Khashoggi was the victim of a "savage" and "planned" murder.

"We have strong evidence in our hands that shows the murder wasn't accidental but was instead the outcome of a planned operation," Erdogan said.

Erdogan also called for the 18 men the Saudis arrested in connection with Khashoggi's death to be brought to Turkey to stand trial. The Turkish president said Khashoggi's body had not been found, pushing back on reports suggesting otherwise.

Erdogan on October 30 called on the Saudis to identify the people responsible for Khashoggi's killing.

"Saudi officials need to reveal the local cooperators," he said. "Let us know whoever this person is, and we will find them."

He added: "We cannot leave this issue unsolved — we need to solve it now. There is no point in procrastinating or trying to save some people from under this."

Istanbul's chief prosecutor, Irfan Fidan, said on October 31 that Khashoggi was strangled shortly after he entered the consulate and his body subsequently dismembered. The prosecutor also called on the Saudis to reveal the location of Khashoggi's body.

Erdogan said in an op-ed article in The Post on November 2 that Khashoggi's killing was ordered by the "highest levels" of the Saudi government, and he rebuked Riyadh for not being more cooperative. The Turkish leader reiterated calls for Saudi Arabia to answer basic questions about Khashoggi's death, such as where his body is.

"Some seem to hope this 'problem' will go away in time," Erdogan wrote. "But we will keep asking those questions, which are crucial to the criminal investigation in Turkey, but also to Khashoggi's family and loved ones."

Erdogan on Saturday said he passed on audio recordings of Khashoggi's killing to the US, the UK, France, Germany, and Saudi Arabia.

What we know about the investigation into Khashoggi's disappearance and death

There appears to be video footage of Khashoggi entering the consulate. Turkish officials have said that some footage from it mysteriously disappeared.

Local police were examining video footage from security cameras in the area, and on October 15 police entered the consulate to investigate for the first time. Erdogan said the next day that investigators found some surfaces that had been newly painted over.

Turkish officials allege that the Saudi government sent a 15-man team to Istanbul via private jets to kill Khashoggi at the consulate. The AP described Turkish media as saying the team included "Saudi royal guards, intelligence officers, soldiers, and an autopsy expert."

Turkish media published what it said were videos of Saudi intelligence officers entering and leaving Turkey via Istanbul's airport.

Citing an unnamed US official, The Post reported on October 7 that Turkish investigators believed Khashoggi was killed and his body most likely dismembered, placed in boxes, and flown out of the country. But some reports suggest Khashoggi's body may have been dissolved with acid.

A senior official who spoke to The Times said Turkish officials believed the team used a bone saw to dismember Khashoggi's body.

The Guardian reported last month that officials were looking for a black van with diplomatic number plates that was seen departing the consulate roughly two hours after Khashoggi went in. They also thought Khashoggi's Apple Watch could provide clues about what happened to him, though experts have cast doubt on that claim.

A Post report published on October 11 described several unnamed Turkish and US officials as saying the Turkish government told US officials it had audio and video recordings suggesting that a team of Saudis killed Khashoggi.

The newspaper quoted one official as saying the audio recording indicated that Khashoggi was "interrogated, tortured, and then murdered," adding that both Khashoggi's voice and the voices of men speaking Arabic could be heard on the recording.

The recording "lays out what happened to Jamal after he entered," The Post's source said.

The Wall Street Journal reported on October 16 that Turkish officials shared with the US and Saudi Arabia details of an audio recording said to illustrate how Khashoggi was beaten, drugged, and ultimately killed in the Saudi consul general's office minutes after entering the consulate.

The Journal described people familiar with the matter as saying the recording included a voice that could be heard urging the consul to leave the room, as well as a voice of a person Turkish officials identified as a forensic specialist urging people nearby to listen to music as he dismembered the body.

In a Times report on October 17, a senior Turkish official described audio recordings suggesting that Khashoggi's fingers were cut off shortly after he arrived at the consul and that he was eventually beheaded.

A Turkish official on October 19 said investigators were looking into the possibility that Khashoggi's remains were taken to a nearby forest or to another city in the country.

On October 22, CNN reported that surveillance footage suggested the Saudis involved in the operation had a man wear Khashoggi's clothing, a fake beard, and glasses around Istanbul in an attempt to act as a body double.

The Post quoted a diplomat familiar with the deliberations as saying the Saudis decided not to move forward with the story because the double appeared too "flawed" in the footage.

Saudi officials who spoke with the AP acknowledged that a body double was used but said it was part of a plan to kidnap rather than kill Khashoggi.

Meanwhile, Reuters and The Post reported on October 25 that CIA Director Gina Haspel heard audio of the killing while visiting Turkey that week.

Khashoggi's last words were "I'm suffocating ... Take this bag off my head, I'm claustrophobic," according to a Turkish journalist, Nazif Karaman, who told Al Jazeera on Sunday that he listened to audio of Khashoggi's death recorded at the consulate. According to Karaman, the killing lasted roughly seven minutes.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday said Canadian intelligence had listened to recordings of Khashoggi's killing.

"Canada's intelligence agencies have been working very closely on this issue with Turkish intelligence, and Canada has been fully briefed on what Turkey had to share,"Trudeau said.

One of the men involved in Khashoggi's killing told a superior over the phone in Arabic to "tell your boss" that "the deed was done," The Times reported on Monday, citing three people familiar with a recording of Khashoggi's death collected by Turkish intelligence.

US intelligence officials believe it was a reference to Prince Mohammed, though he was not explicitly named, the report said.

The CIA has concluded Prince Mohammed ordered Khashoggi's killing, The Washington Post reported on Friday, contradicting the kingdom's narrative. Officials have reportedly accepted the CIA's assessment with "high confidence."

What Trump and the White House have said about the Khashoggi case

Trump initially expressed concern about the Khashoggi case, then shifted to defending Saudi leaders while exhibiting a reluctance to punish them.

On October 8, he told reporters that he was "concerned about" Khashoggi's disappearance.

"I don't like hearing about it. Hopefully that will sort itself out,"Trump said. "Right now nobody knows anything about it, but there's some pretty bad stories going around. I do not like it."

During an interview with "Fox & Friends" on October 11, Trump said that "we're probably getting closer than you might think" to finding out what happened to Khashoggi, adding that US-Saudi relations were "excellent."

In an interview with Fox News on October 10, the president seemed reluctant to guarantee repercussions against the Saudis — especially in terms of US arms sales to the country — if it turned out that they harmed Khashoggi.

"I think that would be hurting us," he said of stopping arms sales to Saudi Arabia. "We have jobs. We have a lot of things happening in this country ... Part of that is what we're doing with our defense systems, and everybody is wanting them, and frankly I think that that would be a very, very tough pill to swallow for our country."

During the interview, Trump said that it was "looking a little bit like" Saudi Arabia was responsible for Khashoggi's disappearance but that "we're going to have to see."

In a "60 Minutes" interview that aired on October 14, Trump said that "we would be very upset and angry" if it turned out the Saudis were involved in Khashoggi's disappearance, adding that the Saudis "deny it every way you can imagine."

The president also reiterated concerns about the economic impact of reducing arms sales to the Saudis.

"I tell you what I don't want to do: Boeing, Lockheed, Raytheon ... I don't want to hurt jobs. I don't want to lose an order like that," he said. "There are other ways of punishing, to use a word that's a pretty harsh word, but it's true."

After a phone call with Saudi Arabia's King Salman on October 15, Trump suggested, without evidence, that "rogue killers" could be behind Khashoggi's disappearance and said the king flatly denied any involvement.

On October 16, Trump escalated his defense of the Saudis, suggesting in an interview with the AP that the criticism leveled against the government was another instance of "guilty until proven innocent."

In an interview with Fox Business that aired that evening, Trump said it "would be bad" if it turned out that the Saudis were behind Khashoggi's disappearance, but he emphasized the US-Saudi relationship.

"Saudi Arabia's our partner, our ally against Iran," Trump said. "They've been a great ally to me."

Trump on October 17 said he'd contacted Turkish officials and requested audio and video related to the case, "if it exists."

When asked whether he had sent the FBI to investigate, Trump said, "Why would I tell you?"

Trump stressed the fact that Khashoggi was not a US citizen and boasted about billions of dollars in planned US arms sales to the Saudis.

When asked by reporters on October 18 whether he believes Khashoggi is dead, Trump said, "It certainly looks that way to me."

The president also said there would be "very severe" consequences if investigations into Khashoggi's disappearance conclude the Saudis are responsible.

"We're waiting for the results of about — there are three different investigations, and we should be able to get to the bottom fairly soon," Trump said at the time, adding that he plans to make a "very strong statement" once they've concluded.

After the Saudis acknowledged Khashoggi's death, Trump said he found their explanation about how he died credible and offered his support to the crown prince.

In an interview with The Post published October 20, Trump described the crown prince as "a strong person, he has very good control."

"He's seen as a person who can keep things under check," Trump added. "I mean that in a positive way."

Trump also said he didn't think Prince Mohammed should be replaced, describing the controversial 33-year-old as Saudi Arabia's best option. The president expressed some doubts to The Post, however, saying that "obviously there's been deception, and there's been lies."

The president told reporters on October 22 that he wasn't satisfied with what he'd heard from the Saudis about Khashoggi's death, adding, "We're going to get to the bottom of it."

Trump on October 23 described Khashoggi's killing as one of the worst cover-ups in history.

Additionally, the president said he'd leave any ramifications against the Saudis up to Congress.

Trump told reporters on November 7 that he was consulting with Congress on how to respond to the killing, adding that he would have "a very strong opinion" to offer on the subject next week.

The president on Saturday responded to reports the CIA concluded Prince Mohammed ordered the killing by touting America's partnership with the Saudis. 

“We...have a great ally in Saudi Arabia, "Trump said. "They give us a lot of jobs...a lot of business, a lot of economic development."

The president claimed he hadn't been briefed on the CIA assessment yet, but a report from The Washington Post suggests Trump had already been shown evidence of Price Mohammed's alleged involvement in Khashoggi's killing by intelligence officials. 

Khashoggi's fiancée has called on Trump to do more

Cengiz urged Trump in an op-ed article for The Post, published on October 9, to "shed light" on his disappearance. She added that she and Khashoggi "were in the middle of making wedding plans, life plans," when he disappeared.

On October 10, Trump said that he had spoken with the Saudi government about Khashoggi and that he was working closely with the Turkish government to get to the bottom of what happened. He would not say whether he believed the Saudis were responsible for the journalist's disappearance.

The president also said he invited Cengiz to the White House.

Cengiz wrote in an op-ed article for The Times published on October 13: "In recent days, I saw reports about President Trump wanting to invite me to the White House. If he makes a genuine contribution to the efforts to reveal what happened inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul that day, I will consider accepting his invitation."

Pompeo went to Saudi Arabia to discuss the case with the king

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo landed in Riyadh on October 16 to discuss the Khashoggi case with King Salman. A State Department spokeswoman, Heather Nauert, told The Times that Pompeo"thanked the king for his commitment to supporting a thorough, transparent, and timely investigation of Jamal Khashoggi's disappearance."

Later in the day, Pompeo met with Prince Mohammed for roughly 35 to 40 minutes.

"We are strong and old allies," the crown prince told reporters as he met with Pompeo. "We face our challenges together."

After his meetings, Pompeo said the Saudi leadership "strongly denied any knowledge of what took place in their consulate in Istanbul."

"We had direct and candid conversations," Pompeo said. "I emphasized the importance of conducting a thorough, transparent, and timely investigation, and the Saudi leadership pledged to deliver precisely on that."

The secretary of state said he believed there was a "serious commitment to determine all the facts and ensure accountability, including accountability for Saudi Arabia's senior leaders or senior officials."

Pompeo added: "We're going to give them the space to complete the investigation of this incident."

The US received a $100 million payment from Saudi Arabia that day. The timing of the payment raised questions, but the State Department said it had no connection to Pompeo's visit.

After returning to the US, Pompeo said he told Trump the US "ought to give" the Saudis "a few more days" to complete an investigation before deciding "how or if the United States should respond to the incident surrounding Mr. Khashoggi."

"There are lots of stories out there about what has happened," Pompeo said at the White House. "We are going to allow the process to move forward."

On October 18, ABC News cited a senior Turkish official as saying the Turks let Pompeo listen to audio and view a transcript offering evidence that Khashoggi was killed. Pompeo promptly denied ever hearing or seeing such a recording, and Ankara's top diplomat subsequently denied supplying any audio to the secretary of state.

Pompeo said on October 23 that the US would take "appropriate actions" against people it has identified as connected to Khashoggi's killing.

"We have identified at least some of the individuals responsible, including those in the intelligence services, the royal court, the foreign ministry, and other Saudi ministries who we suspect to have been involved in Mr. Khashoggi's death," Pompeo said, adding that the repercussions could include revoking visas or imposing economic sanctions.

Pompeo had a call with Prince Mohammed on Sunday in which he told the Saudi leader the US would hold accountable everyone involved in Khashoggi's death, The Guardian reported.

The US intelligence community reportedly knew about a Saudi plot to capture Khashoggi

A Post report on October 10 said US intelligence intercepts showed that Prince Mohammed sought to lure Khashoggi back to Saudi Arabia and detain him there.

The newspaper said the intercepts of Saudi officials discussing the plan were described by US officials familiar with the intelligence.

Under a directive signed in 2015, the US intelligence community has a "duty to warn" people — including those who are not US citizens — who it believes are at risk of being kidnapped, seriously hurt, or killed. This directive was a central aspect of the conversation about the US's response to Khashoggi's disappearance.

The White House and the State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider. A representative for the National Security Council declined to comment.

But a State Department spokesman, Robert Palladino, told reporters that the US government did not have prior knowledge of a Saudi plot to capture or harm Khashoggi.

Trump is under mounting pressure to address the situation more forcefully

Senators on both sides of the aisle had expressed serious concerns about Khashoggi's disappearance. And those who commented about the Saudi government's announcement of Khashoggi's death expressed doubt about the Saudis' explanation.

Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal said he believed the Saudis were"buying time and buying cover."

Rep. Adam Schiff of California, the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, said: "The announcement that Jamal Khashoggi was killed while brawling with a team of more than a dozen dispatched from Saudi Arabia is not credible. If Khashoggi was fighting inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, he was fighting for his life with people sent to capture or kill him.

"The Kingdom and all involved in this brutal murder must be held accountable, and if the Trump Administration will not take the lead, Congress must."

"To say that I am skeptical of the new Saudi narrative about Mr. Khashoggi is an understatement,"said Sen. Lindsey Graham, a top Senate Republican, adding, "It's hard to find this latest 'explanation' as credible."

Nearly two dozen senators sent a letter to Trump on October 10 invoking the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act of 2016.

The letter — written by Sens. Bob Corker, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Bob Menendez, its ranking Democrat — gave the White House 120 days to "determine whether a foreign person is responsible for an extrajudicial killing, torture, or other gross violation of internationally recognized human rights against an individual exercising freedom of expression."

At the end of 120 days, the letter said, Trump is to report back to the committee on the investigation's findings and how his administration plans to respond.

"We request that you make a determination on the imposition of sanctions pursuant to the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act with respect to any foreign person responsible for such a violation related to Mr. Khashoggi," the senators wrote. "Our expectation is that in making your determination you will consider any relevant information, including with respect to the highest ranking officials in the Government of Saudi Arabia."

The letter paves the way for sanctions to be imposed on Saudi Arabia and puts pressure on Trump to investigate Khashoggi's disappearance.

Speaking with reporters about the letter, Corker said, "It's the forcing mechanism to ensure that we use all the resources available to get the bottom of this, and if in fact at the very highest levels of Saudi Arabia they have been involved in doing this, that appropriate steps will be taken to sanction them."

Meanwhile, Graham called for the crown prince to step away from the world stage, describing him as "toxic" in an appearance on "Fox & Friends."

Other Republican senators, including Marco Rubio, Rand Paul, and Ben Sasse, have also been deeply critical of Saudi Arabia and the US's relationship with it in the wake of Khashoggi's disappearance.

"It's time to rethink America's relationship with the Saudi Kingdom," Paul wrote in an op-ed article for Fox News.

"We can start by cutting the Saudis off," he added. "We should not send one more dime, one more soldier, one more adviser, or one more arms deal to the kingdom."

The UN has called for an independent investigation into the Khashoggi case

Meanwhile, UN experts have called for an independent and international investigation into the case.

"We are concerned that the disappearance of Mr. Khashoggi is directly linked to his criticism of Saudi policies in recent years,"they said in a statement on October 9. "We reiterate our repeated calls on the Saudi authorities to open the space for the exercise of fundamental rights, including the right to life and of expression and dissent."

SEE ALSO: The meteoric rise of Saudi's powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is now suspected of ordering the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi

READ MORE: Jamal Khashoggi's disappearance is an 'embarrassing' 'crisis' for Trump and 'one of the roughest foreign-policy challenges' he's faced yet, experts say

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• Hailey Baldwin changed her last name to Bieber on social media.
• The model formerly known as Hailey Baldwin now goes by Hailey Rhode Bieber. Rhode is her middle name.
• This change came shortly after Justin Bieber referred to Hailey as "my wife" on Instagram.
• The couple got engaged in July and reports of their marriage began to swirl in September.

As the saying goes, nothing is official until you put it on Instagram. This adage, of course, held true for Justin Bieber and Hailey Baldwin's marriage

Late Friday night, Hailey Baldwin changed her last name to Bieber on social media, which seemingly confirmed her marriage to Justin Bieber. The model, formerly known as Hailey Baldwin, now goes by Hailey Rhode Bieber, Rhode being her middle name.

After their July 2018 engagement, reports of their marriage first emerged in mid-September.

For nearly two months, it was unclear if the couple had actually tied the knot when they were seen they were seen at the New York City Marriage Bureau. At the time, Baldwin denied the reports on Twitter— although she has since deleted her tweet.

Now, it's all come full circle.

People are fawning over her name change and apparent marriage confirmation.

Some people can't help but make jokes.

Baldwin's name change came shortly after Bieber called her his "wife" on social media.

"My wife is awesome," Bieber captioned what appeared to be a candid photo.

Initially, the photo was posted without a caption. Per Comments by Celebs, Baldwin herself responded to the picture before it was captioned. "That's my babe," she wrote.

Read more: Watch Justin Bieber and Hailey Baldwin meet for the first time 9 years ago

Bieber and Baldwin got engaged in the summer after they began dating earlier in 2018. They were also together in some capacity in 2015 and 2016. 

In a 2016 interview with GQ, Bieber spoke at length about the nature of their relationship. He even suggested that he might marry each other one day.

"I know that in the past I've hurt people and said things that I didn't mean to make them happy in the moment. So now I'm just more so looking at the future, making sure I'm not damaging them," he said. "What if Hailey ends up being the girl I'm gonna marry, right?"

Right.

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