• John Chau, the 26-year-old missionary who was killed after traveling to a remote island, reportedly attended an intensive training camp in Kansas to prepare for his mission, according to The New York Times.
• Chau also received emergency medical training and studied linguistics to prepare.
• He was reportedly warned numerous times that he could be killed.

John Chau, the 26-year-old missionary that was killed after traveling to the remote North Sentinel Island to make contact with a nearly untouched tribe, had reportedly trained at an intensive camp to prepare, according to a report from The New York Times.

The three-week training, run by a group called "All Nations in Kansas," seemed tailor-made for the mission that Chau would eventually embark on. One notable exercise included being blindfolded, dropped off in a remote location, and encountering a faux-tribe that carried fake spears and spoke gibberish. 

According to Chau's journals that were reviewed by The Times, the missionary had seemingly structured his life around his final trip — attending a linguistics institute, becoming an EMT, and embarking on numerous training trips that gave him practice hiking, swimming, and climbing.

Chau had even prepared an “initial contact response kit” containing forceps that were meant to remove any arrows shot at him.

Chau reportedly learned about the North Sentinelese people on the website for "The Joshua Project," which is described as "a research initiative seeking to highlight the ethnic people groups of the world with the fewest followers of Christ."

• Read more: Here's what we know about the isolated tribe that reportedly killed a 26-year-old American tourist
  Chau was repeatedly warned that he could be killed and was aware of previous killings that had occurred on the island. He was reportedly convinced he could survive, according to interviews with friends. Chau believed his smaller size (5 foot 6 inches and 130 pounds) might make him less intimidating than previous travelers to the island who were killed.

Chau's friends told The Times that his plan was to eventually learn the North Sentinelese language (which no one outside the island has ever been recorded to have learned), teach the natives about the Bible, and stay for multiple years.

Before his mission, Chau isolated himself for 11 days, which is a point of dispute between authorities and friends. According to police, his isolation was a means of hiding, but friends reportedly say that Chau was avoiding germs and sickness to protect the islanders whose immune systems would be more susceptible to modern illnesses.

When Chau reached the island with the help of five hired fishermen, he reportedly greeted multiple North Sentinelese by saying, "My name is John, I love you and Jesus loves you," before they raised their bows. In a second attempt at contact that included gifts, an islander shot Chau's Bible with an arrow and prompted shouts.

In his last attempt, Chau reportedly swam ashore. The next morning, fishermen saw Chau's body being dragged on the beach by islanders with a rope.

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

• Ariana Grande addressed the decision to leave Mac Miller out of the "Burn Book" in her new "Thank U, Next" music video.
• She confirmed to a fan on Twitter that his photo is placed next to her bed instead, though the photo is not shown in the final video.
• Grande also seemingly confirmed that she broke off her engagement with Pete Davidson by writing "sry [sic] I dipped" on his page in the book.

Ariana Grande's "Thank U, Next" music video is finally out after weeks of sneak peeks on social media.

The Hannah Lux Davis-directed clip includes references to iconic early-2000s films like "Legally Blonde" and "Bring it On," but the opening "Mean Girls" scene seems to have generated the most discussion. 

The scene shows Grande flipping through a "Burn Book" filled with photos of her exes. Her ex-boyfriend Mac Miller, who passed away in September, is noticeably missing from the pages.

Instead, Grande looks upwards as she sings the line "Wish I could say thank you to Malcolm, 'cause he was an angel," in tribute to the late rapper (whose real name is Malcolm McCormick). 

As Elle points out, it turns out that Grande actually addressed the decision not to include a page for Miller back in November. When a fan mistakenly thought his photo would be in the book, Grande replied with, "M ain't in the book he [sic] next to my bed."

Though his photo is never clearly shown in the final video, it appears that its placed next to Grande's bed, which the singer appears to briefly glance at during the lyric. 

Before the tribute to Miller, Grande flips through pages with photos of her exes that include Big Sean and Ricky Alvarez, though the final page for ex-fiancé Pete Davidson has garnered the most attention. Grande is seen writing, "sry [sic] I dipped," seemingly confirming that she was the one who broke off their engagement. 

Read more:Pete Davidson addresses his breakup with Ariana Grande on 'SNL': 'It's nobody's business'

Watch the full "Thank U, Next" video below:

Visit INSIDER's homepage for more.

• Read more:
• Ariana Grande's new music video received so many views in the first hour that it broke YouTube comments
• Ariana Grande's 'Thank U, Next' music video pays homage to 4 iconic movies — here are all the references you may have missed
• Ariana Grande's 'Thank U, Next' music video features nods to 'Mean Girls,' 'Legally Blonde,' and more iconic movies — watch it here
• Ariana Grande's manager defended Pete Davidson against one of the singer's angry fans: 'No one has hate for this guy'

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NOW WATCH: How Ariana Grande's "No Tears Left To Cry" music video was made

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.

• The Wells Fargo Propel American Express® Card is a good option for a credit card with no annual fee.
• The Propel card offers a 30,000-point welcome bonus (the highest available on a no-annual-fee personal card) and 3x points per dollar spent on eating out and ordering in, gas, flights, hotels, domestic car rentals, and popular streaming services.
• You never have to worry about your points expiring or paying foreign transaction fees.
• A great bonus benefit of the Wells Fargo Propel is cell phone protection.

If you are looking for a premium credit card with no annual fee, your search is over.

The revamped Wells Fargo Propel American Express® Card offers an array of wonderful bonuses and redemptions without the commitment of a hefty annual fee. With a strong welcome bonus (the highest available on a no-annual-fee personal card), a rewarding set of bonus categories, and a cell phone protection feature, it's a better time than ever to take advantage of the Wells Fargo Propel and all it has to offer.

At a glance

•      30,000 bonus points when you spend $3,000 in purchases in the first three months
•      $0 annual fee
•      Earn 3x points on eating out and ordering in, gas, flights, hotels, domestic car rentals, and popular streaming services
•      Earn 1x points on all other purchases
•      Points never expire as long as account remains open
•      Unlimited earning potential on points
•      No blackout dates on air travel when redeemed through Go Far Rewards
•      Low introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months
•      No foreign currency conversion fees
•      Cell phone protection from damage or theft

Rewards

With the Wells Fargo Propel, you can transfer points for cash back or air travel through the Go Far Rewards program. It's both low maintenance and convenient, which is perfect for anyone who doesn't want the hassle of an intricate rewards interface.

Additionally, you can earn more on everyday purchases in the following 3% bonus categories: travel, dining, gas stations and popular streaming services. It's not every day that you find a credit card that maximizes your use of Netflix or Hulu, making this reward particularly special.  

Even if you don't bank with Wells Fargo, you are still eligible for the Wells Fargo Propel. While not a reward per se, it's nice to have the flexibility of using a card outside of your own bank.

Read more: Dining rewards are on the rise in 2018 as credit card issuers like Wells Fargo and AmEx target foodies

Benefits

With so many credit cards offering benefits like purchase protection, travel protection, extended warranty coverage, return protection, coverage for lost or stolen items, travel accident insurance, lost baggage coverage, and domestic car rental insurance, it can be difficult to differentiate which card will be most beneficial to you; however, the Wells Fargo Propel has a celebrated benefit that makes it easier to choose.

Cell phone protection, which Wells Fargo offers with some of their other credit cards, provides up to $600 in protection against damage or theft (subject to $25 deductible). As long as you pay your monthly bill with the Propel, you will be able to take advantage of this benefit. 

Welcome bonus

When selecting a new credit card, the most important factor to consider is the welcome bonus.

Credit cards have become fiercely competitive in trying to gain your business, benefitting new credit card users with more valuable welcome bonus offers. Currently, the Wells Fargo Propel American Express Card is offering 30,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 in the first three months.

The 30,000 points equate to $300 in cash back, travel rewards, or gift cards. There is no limit to the points you can earn, and points don't expire as long as your account remains open. A great perk is that when it comes time to redeem your points, there are no blackout dates on air travel through Go Far Rewards.

Bonus categories

For a card with no annual fee,the Wells Fargo Propel American Express Card offers generous earning potential on travel, dining, gas stations, and popular streaming services. You'll earn 3x the points for ordering in or dining out, booking airfare or hotel stays, or even for paying Spotify Premium, Netflix, Apple Music, and more with your card.

For all other purchases, you'll earn 1x points back. As previously mentioned, all of the bonus categories you earn in offer 3% cash back, giving you competitive rewards at no annual cost.  

How to maximize Go Far Rewards points

To put a valuation on the credit card's rewards currency, each point is worth a penny. That's standard across all areas of redemption, including travel, gift cards, charity donations, and cash back.

For those who love discerning award charts to see what redemption provides the best value, this card won't feed your hunger. On the flip side, if you like credit cards with simple award charts and straightforward redemptions, the Propel card is for you. If you have more than one Wells Fargo credit card, you can pool your Go Far Rewards, earning you more points in a shorter amount of time.

The bottom line

When you consider the fact that most credit cards with any good benefits to speak of charge an annual fee upwards of $95, the Wells Fargo Propel is a bargain deal. You can still earn as many points as you would on another card, with the added incentive of getting cash back and earning 3x the points in certain categories like dining, traveling, and popular streaming services.

Plus, with 30,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 in the first three months, and no blackout dates on air travel through Go Far Rewards, you can take advantage of rewards quickly and unrestricted.

The cell phone protection feature brings this card to the top of the list for no-fee rewards credit cards.

Click here to learn more about the Wells Fargo Propel from Insider Picks' partner: The Points Guy.

SEE ALSO: 10 lucrative credit card deals you can get when opening a new card in November — including a 150,000-point bonus

DON'T MISS: 5 great benefits you might not realize your credit card comes with

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• Michael Cohen's lawyers revealed intriguing new details about President Donald Trump in a new court filing this week.
• Cohen pleaded guilty to lying to Congress and is cooperating with the special counsel Robert Mueller.
• Cohen's lawyers say he was "in close and regular contact" with Trump's lawyers and White House staffers in the weeks before he lied to lawmakers.
• They also revealed that Cohen is cooperating with a mysterious "separate open inquiry" conducted by the New York attorney general's office.
• When he was breaking campaign-finance laws at Trump's directions, Cohen's lawyers say he kept Trump "contemporaneously informed" of his actions.

In a sentencing memorandum submitted this week, Michael Cohen's lawyers said he was "in close and regular contact" with President Donald Trump's lawyers and White House staff in the weeks leading up to his congressional testimony last year.

The detail was just one of several bombshell revelations Cohen's lawyers made in the memorandum, which they submitted after Cohen pleaded guilty to one count of lying to Congress and formally began cooperating with the special counsel Robert Mueller this week.

Prosecutors said in a charging document that Cohen misled congressional investigators last year about the Trump Organization's effort to build a Trump Tower in Moscow during the 2016 US presidential election.

They said Cohen lied when he said negotiations for the Trump Tower Moscow deal ended in January 2016 and that he did not discuss it extensively with Trump Organization executives. They added that Cohen gave false testimony "in hopes of limiting the ongoing Russia investigations."

Cohen was in regular contact with Trump's lawyers and the White House before he lied to Congress

In their sentencing memorandum, Cohen's lawyers said his false statements to Congress stemmed from his effort, "as a loyal ally and then-champion of Client-1, to support and advance Client-1's political messaging." Client-1 is believed to be Trump.

Cohen was the Trump Organization's lead attorney for a decade, until he left in 2017 to be Trump's personal lawyer. He was serving in that capacity when he was asked to appear before the House and Senate intelligence committees last year to testify in each panel's respective Russia investigation.

At the time, Cohen "followed daily the political messages that both Client-1 and his staff and supporters repeatedly and forcefully broadcast," his lawyers wrote. "Furthermore, in the weeks during which his then-counsel prepared his written response to the Congressional Committees, Michael remained in close and regular contact with White House-based staff and legal counsel to Client-1."

The president and his supporters have decried the Russia investigation as a politically motivated "witch hunt" since its existence first became public knowledge last March. And while the White House initially applauded Mueller's appointment as special counsel last May, Trump quickly switched gears and accused Mueller and the FBI, without evidence, of catering to Democrats and having anti-Trump bias.

Cohen's lawyers wrote that based on Trump's political messaging and Cohen's regular contact with Trump's lawyers and White House staff, he was "fully aware of Client-1's repeated disavowals of commercial and political ties between himself and Russia, as well as the strongly voiced mantra of Client-1's that investigations of such ties were politically motivated and without evidentiary support."

They added that Cohen was also aware of Trump's specific "aim to dismiss and minimize the merit" of the Russia probe, as well as Trump's and his representatives' claim that all contacts with Russians by Trump, his campaign, or the Trump Organization had ended before the Iowa caucuses, which took place on February 1, 2016.

Cohen's lawyers wrote that in accordance with that knowledge, Cohen misrepresented the timeline of the Trump Tower Moscow deal to Congress and downplayed the extent of his communications with Trump about the deal. They added elsewhere in the memo that Cohen's false statements "arose from Michael’s fierce loyalty to Client-1" and that his "conduct was intended to benefit Client-1, in accordance with Client-1’s directives."

Cohen has cooperated with a mysterious 'separate open inquiry'

In August, Cohen pleaded guilty to charges related to tax evasion, bank fraud, and campaign-finance violations. The charges were part of a separate investigation, by prosecutors from the Southern District of New York, into Cohen's and Trump's financial dealings leading up to the 2016 election.

Cohen's lawyers wrote in the sentencing memorandum that he has voluntarily met twice with prosecutors in the Manhattan US attorney's office. He has also participated in seven voluntary meetings with Mueller's team and given over 70 hours of interviews to the special counsel. His first meeting with Mueller's office came shortly before Cohen pleaded guilty in the Manhattan US attorney's office investigation.

His most recent sit-down with Mueller was last week.

Cohen's lawyers added in the memorandum that he has also voluntarily met with representatives from the New York attorney general's office, which is currently investigating the Donald J. Trump Foundation, Trump, and his children.

The lawsuit, which was filed in June against Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump, Eric Trump, and the Trump Foundation, alleges "a pattern of persistent illegal conduct" for more than a decade.

Cohen's lawyers included another intriguing detail in their memo: in addition to cooperating with the investigation into the Trump Foundation, Cohen has also "provided the [New York attorney general's office] with documents concerning a separate open inquiry."

They did not elaborate on what that inquiry is.

When he was breaking campaign-finance laws at Trump's direction, Cohen kept Trump 'contemporaneously informed' of his actions

When Cohen pleaded guilty to campaign-finance violations in August, he told prosecutors he acted at Trump's direction.

The charges stem from payments made shortly before the election to two women who claim to have had affairs with Trump, in exchange for their silence. Trump and his lawyers have repeatedly denied knowing anything about the payments and maintain that he did nothing wrong.

But in their sentencing memorandum, Cohen's lawyers wrote that Cohen kept Trump "contemporaneously informed and acted on [his] instructions" when it came to both the payments.

"Michael felt obligated to assist Client-1, on Client-1’s instruction, to attempt to prevent Woman-1 and Woman-2 from disseminating narratives that would adversely affect the Campaign and cause personal embarrassment to Client-1 and his family," Cohen's lawyers added.

Cohen broke campaign-finance laws for the same reason he lied to Congress, his lawyers said. "Both arose from Michael's fierce loyalty to Client-1. In each case, the conduct was intended to benefit Client-1, in accordance with Client-1's directives."

Cohen's lawyers said he is seeking an early sentencing date so he can begin rebuilding his life and look for new means to support his family. But they added that "this personal decision does not signal any intention on Michael's part to withhold information or his availability to respond to additional inquiry. To the contrary, he expects to cooperate further.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Lindsey Graham once warned there would be 'holy hell to pay' if Trump fired Jeff Sessions

• The 41st president of the United States, George H.W. Bush, died on November 30 at the age of 94.
• His presidency was just one period of his career in the military and politics.
• Barbara, his wife of 73 years, died just eight months before his death and accompanied him each step of the way.
• Here's the life and legacy of George H.W. Bush.

George H.W. Bush, the 41st president of the United States, died at the age of 94.

Bush leaves behind a legacy not just as a president, but as a loving father and husband throughout a political career that spanned decades.

"George H.W. Bush was a man of the highest character and the best dad a son or daughter could ask for," former President and son George W. Bush said in a statement.

Here's the life and legacy of George H.W. Bush in photos:

SEE ALSO: Former President George H.W. Bush dies at age 94

George H.W. Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, in 1924. He was the second child out of five others.

Source: USA Today

He grew up in Greenwich, Connecticut, and graduated from Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts.

Source: AP

On June 12, 1942, Bush enlisted in the US Navy as a pilot in World War II.

Source: USA Today

• Every week, we're picking five games against the spread for our entry in the WestGate Las Vegas SuperContest with the goal of winning the grand prize of $1.4 million.
• Last week, our picks went 2-3 against the spread, leaving us with some work to do to get back to profitability.
• This Sunday, the Giants, Jets, and Colts are some of our favorite bets to cover the spread.

We've had a rough go of it picking games against the spread of late, but in our weekly SuperContest picks, the damage has been fairly mitigated.

Every week, we're putting together our best five picks against the spread to submit into the WestGate Las Vegas SuperContest with the goal of winning the grand prize of $1.4 million.

Right now, that looks like something of a longshot, but a hot streak at the right time could put us in contention, or at the very least, get us back into the black for the season.

Take a look below for our best bets of the week. Home teams get the asterisk.

LAST WEEK: 2-3
OVERALL: 27-32-1

Indianapolis Colts (-4) over Jacksonville Jaguars*

The Colts are one of the hottest teams in the NFL right now. Winners of five straight, Indianapolis is now in control of its playoff destiny.

Against them is the Jacksonville Jaguars, a team that they beat just a few weeks ago. The biggest change between now and then is that the Jaguars have decided that Cody Kessler give them a better chance to win than Blake Bortles.

Indianapolis needs this game exponentially more than the Jaguars do, and should be able to do enough to cover the number.

Pittsburgh Steelers* (-3.5) over Los Angeles Chargers

Both of these teams have been solid all season but are coming off losses. I'm backing the Steelers to be better prepared to bounce back as the home team.

James Conner is averaging over 100 rushing yards per game in his past three outings in Pittsburgh. Sunday feels like a fine time for a fourth.

New York Giants* (+5.5) over Chicago Bears

Mitch Trubisky is out again for Chicago, meaning Chase Daniel will be taking snaps for the Bears. While he was perfectly adequate in the team's Thanksgiving win over the Lions, a backup quarterback going on the road as a favorite of almost a touchdown doesn't pass the smell test.

Unless the Bears defense can score twice — which, admittedly, is entirely possible — I don't see Chicago covering this number.

• Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts led the Crimson Tide to a comeback win in the SEC Championship on Saturday.
• Hurts replaced Tua Tagovailoa, this year's Heisman-favorite and Alabama's starting quarterback, in the fourth quarter after Tagovailoa left with an injury.
• Hurts threw one touchdown and ran in the go-ahead touchdown in a 10-minute span.
• Hurts was replaced by Tagovailoa in last year's college football championship.

Alabama junior quarterback Jalen Hurts on Saturday led the Crimson Tide to a 35-28 win over Georgia in a wild comeback for the SEC Championship.

Hurts was famously replaced by Tua Tagovailoa during last year's college football championship, and Tagovailoa led Alabama to a big comeback over Georgia.

This year, there was a highly publicized quarterback competition coming into the year, with Tagovailoa winning the job and leading Alabama to a 12-0 record this season. With 36 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, and a 70% completion rate, Tagovailoa came into the game as the Heisman Trophy favorite.

However, on Saturday, Tagovailoa left the game with an injury while Alabama trailed Georgia, 28-21. With 10:33, on 3rd-and-12, Hurts was inserted into the game by head coach Nick Saban. Hurts promptly threw for a first down, then, 12 plays later, threw a touchdown to even up the game.

After Georgia's drive stalled out on a fake punt on 4th-and-11, Hurts and the Crimson Tide took over again with 2:59 remaining. Hurts eventually led Alabama downfield, then took the ball himself and ran in the go-ahead touchdown. It ended up being the game-winning score.

Hurts was supportive of Tagovailoa last season when Tagovailoa led Alabama to win in the championship game. This year, he got a measure of redemption.

Read more:Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts had a gracious response when asked about the backup quarterback replacing him and leading the team to the championship win

On Saturday, Tagovailoa was supportive, saying: "I am really happy for Jalen. I'm happy that he had a chance here, and everyone on the team knew he could do what he did."

After the game, Saban nearly choked up discussing Hurts, saying: "I'm so proud of this guy for what he's done this year, I can't even tell you."

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NOW WATCH: Inside an intense training session where aspiring WWE wrestlers learn how to fight

• If you feel like there's so much content on Netflix that you can't keep up, "Saturday Night Live" has a sketch for you. The NBC variety series aired a sketch poking fun at how much original content the streaming service is putting out.
• "In 2019, we'll have even more programming to choose from because we've gone crazy," says a voice-over in the sketch. "That's right, we're spending billions of dollars and making every show in the world. Our goal is the endless scroll."
• The sketch isn't complete hyperbole. In June, The Economist reported Netflix would spend $12-$13 billion on original programming this year.
• Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos said in May that Netflix will have 1,000 originals by the end of the year. Netflix originals consist of series licensed from other studios and some shows that are self-produced. 
• Watch the sketch below:

Visit INSIDER's homepage for more.

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NOW WATCH: There's so much CO2 in the atmosphere that planting trees can no longer save us

• Theresa May has nine days to avoid huge parliamentary defeat on her Brexit deal.
• Leaked legal advice on the Irish backstop is set to outrage pro-Brexit MPs ahead of the meaningful vote.
• The advice, which May has refused to publish in full, reportedly confirms that the UK could be stuck with EU customs rules for years after Brexit.
• Pro-EU Conservative MPs are leading growing calls for another referendum.
• The prime minister doubled down on her deal when quizzed by journalists in Argentina on Saturday.
• Labour confirms it will submit a no confidence motion in the government if May loses the vote.

LONDON — Theresa May faces a bigger than expected defeat on her Brexit deal with the potential to threaten her leadership, with the number of MPs set to vote for her deal in nine days time looking smaller by the day.

The prime minister has spent the last week touring the United Kingdom in an attempt to get the British public behind her Brexit Withdrawal Agreement and encourage them to tell their MPs to vote for it on Tuesday, December 11.

However, rather than warm to the deal, a growing number MPs from all sides are lining up to lambast it. ConservativeHome estimated on Friday that she could lose the "meaningful vote" by a margin of up to 180 MPs.

Pro-Brexit MPs, already irked by the divorce package, are set to be outraged again this week, this time by leaked legal advice which confirms that the UK could be trapped in a customs union with the EU indefinitely after Brexit.

Secret legal advice given to May's government and leaked to The Times says that under the agreed backstop proposal for avoiding a hard Irish border, the UK would be wedded to EU customs rules for years after Brexit, with years of further negotiation needed before it has a chance of breaking away.

In this scenario — which will come into effect if a sufficient new UK-EU trading relationship isn't in ready by the end of the transition period — the UK would have a reduced ability to sign new trade deals and Northern Ireland would be in parts of the single market, creating controversial new checks between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

This potential outcome is loathed by Brexiteers and the Democratic Unionist Party which props up the government.

The prime minister has so far refused to give MPs the full legal advice, with one source in her Cabinet telling The Times: "The legal advice is very bad, which is why they don’t want anyone to see it."

In the meantime, pro-EU Conservative MPs mobilising amid growing calls for another Brexit referendum.

On Friday night, Sam Gyimah quit as May's science and universities minister in protest against the prime minister's "naive" Brexit deal. The UK would be "worse off, transformed from rule makers into rule takers," he said.

Business Insider revealed that Gyimah will be the next Tory MP to officially back the People's Vote campaign for another referendum, joining Jo Johnson who also quit government to back the campaign this month.

The government is braced for more pro-EU MPs to quit, the Mail On Sunday reports, with Business Secretary Greg Clark, Lord Chancellor David Gauke and minister Margot James spotted with Gyimah and Johnson this week.

James has since denied she is planning to resign but senior People's Vote campaigners are confident of signing up more Conservative MPs as the March 2019 deadline for leaving the European Union approaches.

MPs will begin a five-day debate on May's Brexit deal on Tuesday before voting on it the following week.

Shadow Brexit Secretary, Labour MP Keir Starmer, told Sky News on Sunday it is "inevitable" that Labour would move a no confidence motion in the government if May's Brexit deal is voted down on December 11.

"There has to be a question of confidence in the government... I think it is inevitable we will move that," Starmer said.

May dodged questions about her own future when quizzed by journalists in Argentina on Saturday.

"There is a lot more for me still to do, not least delivering on Brexit and being the prime minster that does take the United Kingdom out of the European Union,"she told reporters at the G20 summit, adding that she'd be "talking with members of parliament obviously and explaining to them why this is a good deal for the UK."

SEE ALSO: Exclusive: Tory MP Sam Gyimah to back second Brexit referendum after quitting Theresa May's government

DON'T MISS: Here's what happens next in Brexit

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NOW WATCH: Fox News' Harris Faulkner is the only black woman in cable news with a daily show: 'It's a tremendous amount of responsibility'

• Barclays estimates that US tariffs on the European automotive sector could knock as much as $75 billion from growth in the Eurozone next year.
• Trump has threatened to impose 25% tariffs on all autos and auto parts coming into the US to extract concessions from trading partners including the European Union and Canada.
• He is yet to follow through on such threats, but with trade set to dominate the agenda at this weekend's G20 conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina, discussion of auto tariffs is set to resurface.
• A 25% tariffs on autos could see euro area growth from 1.6% to 1.2%.

An escalation of the global trade conflict which saw US President Donald Trump levy increased tariffs on the European automotive sector could knock as much as $75 billion from growth in the eurozone next year, according to analysts at Barclays.

Writing this week, a Barclays team led by Francois Cabau estimated that if Trump were to impose 25% tariffs on the import of European cars into the US, it could knock as much as 0.4 percentage points off growth in the single currency area in 2019. That would equate to around $75 billion of lost output.

Trump has threatened to impose 25% tariffs on all autos and auto parts coming into the US to extract concessions from trading partners including the European Union and Canada.

He is yet to follow through on such threats, but earlier this month it was reported that the White House was circulating a report discussing the prospect of auto tariffs, and with trade set to dominate the agenda at this weekend's G20 conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the threat of auto tariffs is set to resurface.

Read more: Trump claims car companies are 'pouring' into the US. The reality is a lot more troubling

"Higher tariffs on EU automobiles have been directly cited and thus remain a serious threat ahead of the G20 meetings," Barclays' team said on Thursday.

"We explore a scenario in which the US increases tariffs on EU passenger cars from 2.5% to 25%."

"We estimate an increase of US tariffs on European cars from the current 2.5% to 25% would result in a drop in euro-area net exports of roughly 2.0%, lowering EA GDP growth about 0.1pp through the direct impact of trade on growth," the note said.

Combining a traditional mechanical analysis, and a Barclays specific value at risk model, the bank estimates that this would subsequently lower estimated growth in the euro area from 1.6% to 1.2% in 2019.

Such a fall in GDP growth, Barclays' team says, could force the European Central Bank into a "policy response."

Although it doesn't specify what form of response, it would likely come in the form of either the restarting of quantitative easing — which is set to come to an end at the end of December — or a further cut in interest rates, below their current level of -0.4%.

Barclays' team was keen to stress that a 0.4 percentage point drop in GDP growth is not its base case, but added that the "potential ramifications are serious enough to warrant a deep exploration of the issue."

It added however, that the initial 0.4 percentage point estimate could increase "as the US-China trade dispute escalates, putting further stress on the Chinese economy, and rippling into Europe."

SEE ALSO: Volvo's $30 billion IPO is officially off, and Trump's trade war may be to blame

Join the conversation about this story »

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

• We were invited to Buckingham Palace in November.
• Prince Andrew — the Queen's second son, and father of Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie — was hosting a tech event at its grand ballroom.
• Here's what it was like.

Buckingham Palace, the home Britain's royal family, is a total mystery to most of us. 

Only six royals have bedrooms there, and the palace's grand "State Rooms" are almost only used when a member of the family sponsors a big event.

We were recently invited to Pitch@Palace, an event for tech startups and investors hosted by Prince Andrew, the Queen's second son and father of Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice.

Here's what it's like to be invited to a party at the Palace.

Buckingham Palace is the home of Queen Elizabeth II, and it's not often people get to go inside.

Security there is particularly tight, and the gates that surround the 40-acre site imposing.

We were invited to an event there in early November.

The letters "KG" after the Duke's name mean he's in the "Order of the Garter," established in 1348 to note people of chivalry.

The motto is: "Shame on him who thinks ill of it."

• China has been increasingly cracking down on Christians, Muslims, and Buddhists.
• Authorities are subjecting Muslims to an unprecedented amount of surveillance, shutting down Christian churches, and forcing monks to pledge allegiance to the state.
• The officially atheist Chinese Communist Party disapproves of all kinds of grassroots organizations as they are seen to undermine its grip on power.

China is waging an unprecedented war on religion.

Over the past year alone, China has detained Muslims because of their faith, forced Buddhists to pledge allegiance to the Chinese Communist Party, and coerced Christian churches to take down their crosses or shut down.

The sinicization of religion

The Party, which is officially atheist, has for decades attempted to control religious organizations to maintain its dominance.

Its State Administration for Religious Affairs, set up in 1951, allows five religious organizations to exist under the state's control: a Party-sanctioned form of Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Protestantism, and Catholicism.

The state controls these groups' personnel, publications, and finances. Technically, citizens are free to practise religion freely, as long as their sect is officially sanctioned by the government.

Party officials in 2015 introduced the term "sinicization" into official government lexicon, in which they called on Muslim, Buddhist, and Christian leaders to fuse their religions with Chinese socialist thought.

Roderic Wye, a former first secretary in the British Embassy in Beijing, told Business Insider: "The party has always had trouble with religion one way or another, because often religious activity tends to imply some sort of organization. Once there are organizations, the party is very keen to control them."

But under the presidency of Xi Jinping, the government's crackdown appears to have increased at an alarming scale.

Read more:Planting spies, paying people to post on social media, and pretending the news doesn't exist: This is how China tries to distract people from human rights abuses

'They want to ... cut off Islam at the roots'

In the western region of Xinjiang, the home of the majority-Muslim Uighur ethnic minority, authorities have installed a massive police state and reportedly imprisoned up to 1 million Uighurs.

Many detainees said they were arrested for showing distinct markers of Islam, like wearing a veil or growing a long beard.

The majority-Muslim Hui people, who are scattered around China, also fear that the government will extend its crackdown to them. 

In the northern city of Yinchuan, home to the largest concentration of Hui Muslims in the country, authorities have banned the daily call to prayer because it apparently created noise pollution, the South China Morning Post reported.

One unnamed imam in Linxia, central China, also told Agence France-Presse in July: "They want to secularize Muslims, to cut off Islam at the roots. These days, children are not allowed to believe in religion: Only in communism and the party."

Read more:China is locking up its Muslim minorities, and pushing Islamophobia to get Europe to do it too

Monitored services, censored sermons

The crackdown extends beyond Islam.

Authorities have also targeted Christians outside the state-sanctioned Catholic and Protestant associations by burning Bibles, shutting down churches, and ordering people to renounce their faith, the Associated Press reported.

Some churches allowed to remain open have to install facial-recognition cameras in the building, or risk getting shut down. Party officials censor and add state propaganda to pastors' sermons, Bob Fu, who runs the US rights group ChinaAid, told France24.

In September, authorities in China and the Vatican signed an agreement in which Pope Francis officially recognized seven Beijing-appointed bishops, who had been excommunicated because they weren't approved by the Holy See. Critics said the deal ceded power from the Holy See to the Communist Party.

The loyalties of China's approximately 10 million Catholics are split between the Vatican and the state-supervised Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association. China has about 100 million Protestants, the Financial Times reported.

Read more:China is reportedly burning bibles and making Christians renounce their faith to ensure total loyalty to the Communist Party

Monks raising the flag

Buddhism and Taoism — which has historically deeper roots in East Asia — is not exempt either.

China restricts religious operations in Tibet, and spiritual leader the Dalai Lama remains in exile. Activists say the state monitors the daily activities of major Tibetan monasteries, limits believers' travel and communications, and has routinely detained monks on terrorism charges— not dissimilar from the situation in Xinjiang.

Earlier this year, China's famous Shaolin Temple — an ancient Buddhist monastery believed to be the birth place of kung fu — raised the Chinese national flag for the first time in its 1,500-year history as part of a government campaign to demonstrate its patriotism.

'No other source of moral or social authority is tolerated'

The Communist Party, keen to maintain its sole grip on power, disapproves of all kinds of grassroots organizations as they are seen to undermine it and disrupt internal stability.

Read more:China's Communist party violently cracks down on a new group — student communists

Wye, the former British Embassy official, said China's keenness to exert control over religions is also to limit foreign influence.

"There's always been a concern the Chinese state has had about the extent of foreign influence over religion and the way foreign forces might use to manipulate societal thought," Wye, now an associate fellow at Chatham House, told Business Insider.

"This is part of the wider 'China dream' that Xi Jinping has, to make China big and strong again," he added.

"Whatever political and social development China will take in the future, it is to be decided and promulgated by the Chinese Communist Party, and no other source of moral or social authority is tolerated."

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• John Hussman — the outspoken investor and former professor who's been predicting a stock crash — says traditionally diversified portfolios are set to offer their worst returns since the Great Depression over the next 12 years.
• Hussman explains why he sees a US stock market drop of more than 60% coming, and breaks down why the Federal Reserve's past actions have created the situation.

There's never been a worse time to be a conventional portfolio manager.

Well, maybe back in the deepest, darkest throes of the Great Depression that crushed the US economy way back in 1929. But not for the past 90-or-so years.

At least that's what John Hussman thinks. The former economics professor and current president of the Hussman Investment Trust has crunched the numbers and found that the future looks historically bleak for investors who aim for a traditionally diversified mix of holdings.

His methodology looks at a portfolio with 60% invested in the S&P 500, 30% in Treasury bonds, and 10% in Treasury bills — and it's designed to assess the expected total return over a forward 12-year horizon.

Hussman finds that at the stock market's all-time peak in September, this mix of investments was set to produce total returns of just 0.48% over that 12-year period. As you can see below — as signified by the blue line — that's the lowest since the Great Depression era of 1929.

Even though bond yields recently climbed and US stocks took a 10% hit, Hussman notes that the expected return climbed to just 1.29%, still Great Depression lows. This fact shows just how far stretched the market is right now — and reinforces the degree to which it must drop to make future returns more appealing.

To that end, Hussman calculates that, in order to achieve a 10% expected return with that portfolio mix, the S&P 500 would have to plummet by roughly 60%. That would be a brutal reckoning that would rank among the biggest and most catastrophic in history.

"Notice that the completion of every market cycle has served to restore normal prospective market returns, which is routinely accomplished by sharp losses in security prices," Hussman wrote in a recent blog post.

One element of that collapse would be a possible crisis in pension funds, which are notable for their low risk thresholds and long-term scope. Hussman notes that they usually assume future returns of 7%, which is far above his current forecasts. If they're making just a fraction of that, it could spur panic.

The Fed's role in creating this mess

So how did the market end up in this situation? Hussman places a lot of blame on the Federal Reserve, whose monetary easing practices he says have produced unsustainable conditions.

But his issue with the Fed stems far beyond current chair Jerome Powell, who has been stuck with the unenviable task of normalizing interest rates back to historical levels. He thinks previous Fed chairs Ben Bernanke and Janet Yellen are more culpable, having created what he calls a "yield-seeking carnival of speculation."

By lowering interest rates to near zero, the Fed made it so companies — even those with highly questionable credit profiles — could have easy access to debt financing, says Hussman. Those firms then used that money to make splashy acquisitions, reinvest, and buy back shares. In the end, it helped push stocks to new all-time highs.

But Hussman prefers to look at it differently. He says those records were accompanied by valuations reaching their "most offensive extremes in history." He's no fan of the short-sighted policy decisions that create this situation, and he expects the fallout to be sharp and brutal.

"In the Federal Reserve's attempt to bring the US out of the crisis of its own making, the Fed has produced conditions that make another collapse inevitable," said Hussman. "Unfortunately, the scale of the present bubble is far grander, and the consequences are likely to be more severe."

He continued: "By the completion of this cycle, I continue to expect the S&P 500 to lose roughly two-thirds of the market capitalization it reached at its Sept. 20 peak."

Hussman's track record

For the uninitiated, Hussman has repeatedly made headlines by predicting a stock-market decline exceeding 60% and forecasting a full decade of negative equity returns. And as the stock market has continued to grind mostly higher, he's persisted with his calls, undeterred.

But before you dismiss Hussman as a wonky perma-bear, consider his track record, which he breaks down in his latest blog post. Here are the arguments he lays out:

• Predicted in March 2000 that tech stocks would plunge 83%, then the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 index lost an "improbably precise" 83% during a period from 2000 to 2002
• Predicted in 2000 that the S&P 500 would likely see negative total returns over the following decade, which it did
• Predicted in April 2007 that the S&P 500 could lose 40%, then it lost 55% in the subsequent collapse from 2007 to 2009

In the end, the more evidence Hussman unearths around the stock market's unsustainable conditions, the more worried investors should get. Sure, there may still be returns to be realized in this market cycle, but at what point does the mounting risk of a crash become too unbearable?

SEE ALSO: An investment director at a $150 billion firm warns that US companies are engaging in a risky, unsustainable practice — and explains why traders should be looking overseas

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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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• The Green Bay Packers have fired head coach Mike McCarthy after 13 seasons with the team.
• The decision came after the team's 20-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals at home.
• Offensive coordinator Joe Philbin will take over for the Packers as interim head coach.

The Green Bay Packers have fired head coach Mike McCarthy. The decision came after the Packers embarrassing 20-17 loss at home to the Arizona Cardinals, giving the Packers to a 4-7-1 record on the year. The Packers were 14-point favorites to win the game.

"The 2018 season has not lived up to the expectations and standards of the Green Bay Packers. As a result, I made the difficult decision to relieve Mike McCarthy of his role as head coach, effective immediately," team president Mark Murphy said in a statement.

"Mike has been a terrific head coach and leader of the Packers for 13 seasons, during which time we experienced a great deal of success on and off the field. We want to thank Mike, his wife, Jessica, and the rest of the McCarthy family for all that they have done for the Packers and the Green Bay and Wisconsin communities. We will immediately begin the process of selecting the next head coach of the Green Bay Packers."

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the news of his firing came as a surprise to McCarthy.

McCarthy took over for the Packers in 2006 and led the team to a win in Super Bowl XLV over the Pittsburgh Steelers, but fans have been let down since, with earlier than expected playoff exits. Now, the team is moving on with the hope of finding a new coach that can make the most of however many years left Aaron Rodgers has as one of the best quarterbacks in the league.

Offensive coordinator Joe Philbin will be taking over interim duties for the Packers until a new head coach is named.

• Read more NFL coverage:
• The 22 best NFL touchdown celebrations of 2018
• Kansas City Chiefs release star running back Kareem Hunt saying he was 'not truthful' about altercation with woman
• NFL is under fire after a Cowboys defender wasn't flagged for an ugly helmet-to-helmet hit

SEE ALSO: Odell Beckham Jr. threw his second touchdown pass of the season and everyone on Twitter is making the same joke

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• The Buffalo Bills lost to the Miami Dolphins, 24-17, in heartbreaking fashion on Sunday.
• With one final chance to win the game, rookie quarterback Josh Allen put the Bills in position to score.
• On a critical fourth down, he threw a wobbling pass to a wide-open Charles Clay, who dropped the ball.

The Buffalo Bills have been finding new and innovative ways to lose football games for some time now, but Sunday's effort came with an especially painful ending for the Bills Mafia.

After trailing for the majority of the game, the Bills had one final chance to come back and beat the Dolphins in Miami. Buffalo started their final drive at their own 10-yard line with 2:33 left on the clock and needing a touchdown to win. Josh Allen was able to move the offense down to the Miami 30-yard line with just over a minute left, but after a few incompletions, the Bills faced fourth-and-11 with the game on the line.

Allen took the snap and was immediately in trouble, with Dolphins defenders closing in fast. Somehow, he escaped, scrambling as far back as midfield before he was able to reset his feet and look for an open man.

He found one — in the chaos, Charles Clay had gotten himself wide open and was ready for the ball in the end zone. Allen threw up a prayer, and it bounced right out of Clay's hands.

While the throw was a bit short, Allen had already performed two miracles on the play simply to remain upright. Still, seeing how open Clay was only made the play more painful upon second viewings.

The Bills would turn the ball over on downs, and the Dolphins would go on to win the game 24-17 after a few kneel-downs.

Just when you think you've seen it all, the Bills find a new way to lose.

• Read more NFL coverage:
• The 22 best NFL touchdown celebrations of 2018
• Kansas City Chiefs release star running back Kareem Hunt saying he was 'not truthful' about altercation with woman
• NFL is under fire after a Cowboys defender wasn't flagged for an ugly helmet-to-helmet hit

SEE ALSO: Odell Beckham Jr. threw his second touchdown pass of the season and everyone on Twitter is making the same joke

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The details are still being decided, but President Donald Trump ordered the federal government to close on December 5 "as a mark of respect" for former President George H.W. Bush.

Read more on our coverage: 

• Bush died Friday after suffering from Parkinson's and experiencing multiple hospitalizations. 
• World leaders gave touching reactions and shared their memories of the former president throughout the weekend.
• President Trump announced that the federal government would close its offices Wednesday to honor Bush's funeral. Nasdaq and the NYSE will also close. Starting Monday, Bush will lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda for three days.
• The federal budget is also expected to be extended for two weeks with a stop-gap measure, setting up a deadline for a new budget to be negotiated by the Friday before Christmas to avoid a shutdown.

Trump attended the G20 Summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina, not without controversy.

Here are the highlights: 

• Trump had a meeting and a formal dinner to hold high-stakes talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping concerning the burgeoning US-China trade war. 
• Trump took a break from his preferred diet of meatloaf, Oreos, and Diet Coke while in Argentina. 
• Trump stood alone on the issue of climate change. Still, G20 leaders found common ground on trade and migration after heated negotiation.
• At the end of the two-day summit, Trump appeared more than ready to leave for Washington, nearly missing a photo-op and telling an aide: "get me out of here."

Neil deGrasse Tyson responded to sexual misconduct allegations: "I cannot continue to stay silent"

Here's what happened: 

• Astrophysicist and media personality Neil deGrasse Tyson posted a statement Saturday addressing sexual misconduct allegations and describing his memories of the incidents.
• On Friday, Fox announced that it was placing Tyson under investigation after reports accused documented multiple accusations against him.

• "Black Mirror," the popular dystopian Sci-Fi series on Netflix, may be coming back for Season 5. 
• One Twitter user claims to have caught confirmation of the first episode of the series — titled "Bandersnatch"— set to air on December 28. 
• Previous reports indicate that Netflix has also been developing "choose-your-own-adventure"-like specials, fueling speculation that "Bandersnatch" may feature some interactive elements. 
• INSIDER has reached out to Netflix for comment. 

"Black Mirror," the popular dystopian Sci-Fi series on Netflix, may be coming back for Season 5. 

The show has reached cult-status since being picked up in 2016, and there have been rumors floating about the show's comeback this December. 

But one Twitter user claims to have caught confirmation of the first episode of the series — titled "Bandersnatch"— set to air on December 28. 

The original tweet, which reportedly came from a verified Netflix account, has since been deleted.

The internet went wild following rumors of the show's comeback this December. 

Previous tweets reportedly from the Black Mirror set while they were filming in April mention the name of the supposed new episode. 

Netflix has yet to confirm the news, though the date is similar to the release date of last year's premiere, which fell on the final Friday of the year. 

Bloomberg reported in October that the series was expected to return to Netflix in December.

It also reported that the streaming company is developing "choose-your-own-adventure"-like specials, which would allow viewers to choose the next storyline in a TV episode or movie.

According to the report, the first of these specials could be a season 5 episode of "Black Mirror," fueling speculation that "Bandersnatch" might provide excited viewers with some sort of interactive engagement. 

INSIDER has reached out to Netflix for comment. 

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• This year's Victoria's Secret Fashion Show had 12 official Angels.
• The models walked in two different outfits each.
• This year marks Adriana Lima's last as an Angel.

The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show sees some of the most famous and successful models in the industry come together for one night. While all spots in the show are highly coveted, the show's iconic Angel wings are reserved for the few official Victoria's Secret Angels. 

Stars like Heidi Klum and Tyra Banks have been Angels in the past, and Adriana Lima ended her run as the longest-serving Angels during this year's show held in New York City.

12 Angels made their way down the runway, which took place on November 8 but aired Sunday night on ABC. From Behati Prinsloo to Elsa Hosk, here are all 24 outfits the Angels wore during the 2018 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

Taylor Hill opened the show by showcasing a set of swirling, bold red wings for the "Glam Royale" segment.

They were paired with a mixed plaid ensemble.

Josephine Skriver stepped out in a giant pair of emerald wings with a plaid pattern and feather details.

Her wings were paired with plaid lingerie and argyle boots.

Sara Sampaio donned a swirling set of wings with her plaid look.

The look was complete with a pair of strappy thigh-high boots.

• President Donald Trump announced that China will lower or eliminate their tariffs on US car imports.
• The US sent $10.5 billion worth of new and used cars to China in 2017.
• The announcement comes after Trump's dinner with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday at the G20.
• The two sides announced a 90-day pause of the US-China trade war.

President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that China will lower or remove tariffs on American-made cars coming into the country.

"China has agreed to reduce and remove tariffs on cars coming into China from the US," Trump tweeted. "Currently the tariff is 40%."

The move is significant as US-made cars from BMW and others are popular in China. A total of $10.5 billion worth of new and used cars were shipped to China from the US in 2017, according to the Census Bureau.

The tweet comes the day after Trump's dinner with Chinese President Xi Jinping that yielded a deal to freeze the escalation of the US-China trade war and pause the imposition of tariffs between the two countries.

The Trump administration announced a 90-day détente in the trade war to give the two countries time to negotiate a broader trade deal. This means that the US will not raise the 10% tariff rate on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods to 25% on January 1, as originally scheduled.

China also committed to buying a "very substantial amount of agricultural, energy, (and) industrial" goods from the US.

While the deal is limited in scope, it was a sign of significant progress given the fact that the two countries have barely communicated since the first round of tariffs were imposed in July. A total of $360 billion worth of goods flowing between the two countries are subject to new tariffs imposed this year: $250 billion worth of Chinese goods coming into the US and $110 billion worth of US goods going to China.

The announcement that auto tariffs on US-made cars is another concrete step towards what Larry Kudlow, Trump's top economic adviser, has said is the goal of no tariffs or non-tariffs barriers between the two countries.

The tariffs were also imposed to try and force China to make changes to their economic practices, specifically the theft of US intellectual property. So far, China has been unwilling to commit to long-term changes that address the Trump administration's concerns.

SEE ALSO: Trump's favorite trade war report card is looking uglier than ever

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