• Zara is one of the best-known global fashion brands, with more than 2,000 stores around the world. The chain is owned by Inditex, a Spanish retail conglomerate that operates seven other brands. 
• One of its teen-focused brands, Pull&Bear, launched online in the US this month. 
• Find out more about these trendy brands below. 

Zara has become one of the best-known and most successful fashion brands in the world. However, US consumers tend to know little about not only the parent company driving its success but also its sister brands around the world. 

Since Zara's billionaire founder Amancio Ortega opened the first Zara store in northern Spain in 1975, it has grown to become an enormous, over 2,000-store chain, with a presence in 96 countries around the world. 

In that time, Ortega has also grown his business by acquiring and launching other fashion brands, which now fall under the umbrella of Inditex. Inditex is considered the largest fashion retailer on the planet, turning out more than $30 billion in sales in 2017.

While many of these other Inditex brands do not currently have a presence in the United States, they are found in hundreds of countries around the world and make up a mammoth combined store count of 7,442 locations. 

One of its teen-focused brands, Pull&Bear, launched online in the US this month.

Find about more about these brands below:

SEE ALSO: Zara has a fleet of secret stores where it masters its shop design and plots how to get you to spend money

Bershka

Bershka is the second-largest chain by store count in Inditex's entire operation. It has over 1,000 stores in 70 markets, and its sales represent 9% of the total revenue for the whole group.

This low-cost brand is targeted at younger male and female shoppers. 

In October 2017, it opened its first store in the US, a pop-up in New York's Soho neighborhood. 

Massimo Dutti

Massimo Dutti was originally a men's fashion label that was acquired by Inditex in 1991. Several years later, it added women's wear to its offering, and in 2003, kids also joined. 

This is Inditex's higher-end label, and it's targeted at an older customer. Prices are higher than at Zara, and the focus here is less on staying on trend but rather on creating more classic, timeless styles. 

It currently has 762 stores around the world. 

Oysho

Oysho doesn't currently have a store presence in the US, and much to the annoyance of some shoppers here, you are unable to order items online and have them delivered to a US address. 

Founded in 2001, Oysho specializes in women's wear, including lingerie, nightwear, swimwear, and athletics wear. 

It has 666 stores in 65 markets around the world. 

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.

• A two-pack of TP-Link's Deco M9 Wi-Fi routers are on sale for $207.99 (originally $299.99) until February 21 at 3 a.m. EST.
• This is the lowest price the routers have ever been, thanks to a Deal of the Day promotion on Amazon.
• We've tested these routers, and we highly recommend them thanks to their fast speeds, ease of setup, and well-designed app.
• The routers have a combined range of 4,500 square feet, come bundled with antivirus and anti-malware software, and have a ZigBee antenna that lets you directly set up and manage smart home accessories.

A two-pack of TP-Link's Deco M9 routers is $92 off until February 21 at 3 a.m EST because of a Deal of the Day promotion on Amazon. This brings the routers down to $207.99 from the original price tag of $299.99 for a total savings of $92. This is the lowest price the routers have ever been.

If you're stuck with the Wi-Fi router your cable company gave you and you want a major upgrade, you should take advantage of this discount. TP-Link's routers are only going to be on sale today until 3 a.m. EST tomorrow, so don't wait too long. 

An Insider Picks writer reviewed the Deco M9 routers last year and gave them a glowing recommendation. He was particularly impressed with how easy the routers were to set up, the speedy connection they provided for all of his tech, and TP-Link's well-designed app. His review was published when the Deco M9 routers were at their full price, but he still thought they were worth the money.

TP-Link's Deco M9 routers excel in three important areas: security, connectivity, and smart home compatibility.

These two routers create a "mesh network," which means they connect to one another from different parts of your home to spread Wi-Fi evenly, so you don't have to worry about hitting an internet dead zone. A pair of Deco M9 routers can provide a strong Wi-Fi signal for an area of up to 4,500 square feet, which is enough to cover most apartments and homes.

They're equipped to handle more than 100 connections at once and have a maximum speed of 1.5Gbps, so you won't have to worry about overloading them if you have a lot of gadgets, or slowing them down if you use a bunch of them at once.

To keep that connection secure, the Deco M9 routers have a suite of antivirus and anti-malware software called HomeCare built into them. HomeCare is constantly updated to prevent the latest cyber threats from getting onto your network and infecting your machines. Think of it this way: Instead of having to worry about dealing with a virus once it's on your computer, the routers will stop it from being able to get there in the first place.

Finally, the Deco M9 routers have a built-in ZigBee antenna, which lets you set up and manage certain smart home accessories, like Philips Hue Bulbs, without plugging in a dedicated hub. The setup process is handled inside TP-Link's app, but once the accessory is connected, you can control them with smart speakers like the Amazon Echo.

TP-Link's Deco M9 routers have excellent range and speeds, can keep your devices protected from nasty bugs, and help you make your smart home a little less complicated to manage. But they're only on sale until 3 a.m. EST, so if you want mesh routers with all of those features, you need to act fast.

TP-Link Deco M9 Routers, $207.99 (originally $299.99) [You save $92]

SEE ALSO: The best routers you can buy for fast Wi-Fi at home

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NOW WATCH: We compared Apple's $159 AirPods to Xiaomi's $30 AirDots and the winner was clear

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here are some of the key takeaways from the report:

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

In full, the report:

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

SEE ALSO: Amazon and Walmart are building out delivery capabilities

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• Consumer Reports has named Tesla's Model 3 sedan the most satisfying car.
• Survey respondents rated their vehicles based on their driving experience, value, comfort, styling, audio, and climate systems.
• Out of a possible 100 points, the Model 3 received 99 points for its driving experience, 84 points for comfort, and 67 points for value.
• Tesla's Model S sedan also made the publication's top-10 list, ranking fifth.

Consumer Reports has named Tesla's Model 3 sedan the most satisfying car. Tesla's Model S sedan also made the publication's top-10 list, ranking fifth.

The list was compiled based on survey data from the owners of over 500,000 vehicles. Respondents rated their vehicles based on their driving experience, value, comfort, styling, audio, and climate systems. Out of a possible 100 points, the Model 3 received 99 points for its driving experience, 84 points for comfort, and 67 points for value. Ninety-two percent of respondents said they would buy the Model 3 again.

Read more: Tesla's General Counsel is out after just 2 months

The following vehicles made the top-10:

• 1. Tesla Model 3
• 2. Porsche 911
• 3. Genesis G90
• 4. Chevrolet Corvette
• 5. Tesla Model S
• 6. Toyota Avalon
• 7. Kia Stinger
• 8. Chevrolet Bolt
• 9. Toyota Prius
• 10. Dodge Challenger

Tesla's vehicles have received a wide range of feedback from Consumer Reports and its subscribers. The automaker has topped the publication's ranking of the most satisfying auto brands for three consecutive years, but was rated 27th of 29 brands in the publication's 2018 ranking of the most reliable auto brands. The publication said the Model 3 was reported to have average reliability and placed Tesla's Model X SUV among its 10 least reliable vehicles.

Consumer Reports gave the Model 3 its "Recommended Buy" rating in 2018 after Tesla released a software update that addressed the publication's issues with the vehicle's braking distance. Consumer Reports has complimented the vehicle's handling and acceleration, while criticizing its touchscreen-based controls, ride stiffness, and rear seat comfort.

The Model 3 is the only Tesla vehicle that Consumer Reports recommends. It previously recommended the Model S, but the vehicle lost that recommendation due to reliability issues, the publication said.

Have a Tesla news tip? Contact this reporter at mmatousek@businessinsider.com.

• Read more:
• Tesla's top lawyer is leaving the company after two months — here are all the key names who have departed in recent months
• Elon Musk doubled down on a bold claim he made about how quickly Tesla vehicles will be able to drive themselves
• Tesla's Powerwall is in high demand but difficult to get, according to a new survey
• Tesla quietly deletes the Model 3 standard battery from its website, raising questions about the long-awaited base model

SEE ALSO: Australia is letting people use emojis as an official part of their car license plates

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Watch what happens when you put a 240cc Honda dirt bike engine in a toy Barbie car

• Attorney General William Barr is ready to announce the end of the Russia investigation as early as next week, CNN reported.
• The news comes after previous reporting indicated Barr had already begun planning how to rein in the special counsel Robert Mueller before he was confirmed as attorney general.
• Barr said at his confirmation hearing that instead of sending Mueller's report to Congress, he would send his own summary of Mueller's findings.
• Barr previously criticized Mueller's obstruction-of-justice probe as being "legally insupportable" but did not commit to recusing himself from overseeing the special counsel.
• Legal experts cautioned that a Mueller report does not necessarily signify the end of the Russia probe — there are still multiple ongoing court cases and cooperating witnesses stemming from the investigation.

Attorney General William Barr is gearing up to announce the end of the special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation as soon as next week, CNN reported. Barr is also said to be planning to submit a summary of Mueller’s findings in the investigation soon after.

Barr was confirmed as attorney general last week.

Before he was confirmed, according to CNN, Barr already began planning how to take control of the Mueller probe. He was reportedly focused on two decisions in particular: how much information to report to Congress about Mueller's findings, and who the deputy attorney general will be (Rod Rosenstein, the current deputy attorney general who is overseeing Mueller, plans to step down after the Russia probe is completed).

Barr had his sights set on deputy transportation secretary Jeffrey Rosen to replace Rosenstein, and the White House announced Tuesday night that Rosen would take over.

Read more: In a massive rebuke to Trump, Matthew Whitaker says the Mueller probe is proceeding according to its scope

Despite his controversial comments about Mueller's probe, Barr did not commit to recusing himself

In the weeks leading up to his highly anticipated testimony, Barr drew sharp scrutiny over a memo he wrote last year where he argued that Mueller's obstruction-of-justice investigation into Trump is "legally unsupportable" and should not be sanctioned by the Justice Department.

At his confirmation hearing, Barr said he wrote the memo — which he sent to the White House, the Justice Department, and lawyers representing other defendants in the Russia probe — because he was concerned Mueller's obstruction investigation was based on an overly broad interpretation of the law and could have far-reaching ramifications down the road.

Asked whether he would commit to making any report Mueller produces available to Congress and the public, Barr said Mueller's report would not be made public. Instead, he told lawmakers, the public would see his own summary of the special counsel's findings.

One former senior Justice Department official who worked closely with Mueller when he was FBI director told INSIDER Barr's comments about Mueller's obstruction probe were a "red flag."

"If I'm reading the attorney general's summary of Mueller's findings, the first thing I'm going to look for is what Barr says — or doesn't say — about the obstruction case," this person said. "The good thing about the obstruction probe is that the public already knows a lot of what Mueller was investigating through Trump's public statements and media reports. It'll be interesting to see how much of that makes it into Barr's summary."

When lawmakers asked Barr whether he would recuse himself from overseeing the Russia probe in light of the memo he sent last year, Barr said he would seek the advice of Justice Department ethics officials but did not commit to following their advice.

Barr said that he is friends with Mueller and doesn't believe the special counsel would embark on a "witch hunt," as Trump and his allies claim. The attorney general also pledged that if he denied Mueller any resources or other requests, he would notify Congress of the matter.

Read more: William Barr confirmed as attorney general

A Mueller report does not signal the end of the Russia probe

Legal experts warned that Mueller's findings being submitted to Congress does not necessarily signal the end of the investigation. There are several pending court cases and reported indictments that could drop related to the Russia probe. Among other things, a federal judge recently voided former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort's plea deal with prosecutors, and prosecutors are said to be weighing whether to put Manafort on trial again.

Mueller also referred some matters that fell outside the scope of his appointment to other US attorneys. One of those investigations, which is now being handled by the Manhattan US attorney's office, centers around Trump's role in several hush-money payments during the election to women who said they had affairs with him, and whether those payments violated campaign finance laws.

Trump's former lawyer and longtime fixer, Michael Cohen, pleaded guilty in that investigation as well as in the Mueller probe and is still cooperating with prosecutors.

He is set to testify before several congressional committees about his involvement in the payments and in the Trump Organization's push to build a Trump Tower in Moscow at the height of the election. Cohen was originally scheduled to report to prison for a three-year sentence in March, but a federal on Wednesday judge pushed the date back to May 6.

Meanwhile, Rick Gates, the former deputy chairman of the Trump campaign and a former associate of Manafort's, is also still cooperating with prosecutors, as is the former national security adviser, Michael Flynn.

Last month, prosecutors also indicted the longtime GOP strategist, Roger Stone, on charges of obstruction, false statements, and witness tampering. Stone pleaded not guilty to all seven felony counts and said he intends to go to trial. He said he will not cooperate with prosecutors against Trump but signaled that he would be open to talking to them about others involved in the Russia investigation.

SEE ALSO: A bombshell new report about Trump's alleged interference with federal investigations 'raises serious questions' about whether Matthew Whitaker misled Congress, aides say

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NOW WATCH: 8 key takeaways from Trump's State of the Union address

• Close apps on the Apple Watch by pressing the side button and swiping left on recently opened apps.
• Resolutions for problematic Apple Watch apps (from freezing to closing unexpectedly) include force quitting and uninstalling and reinstalling the app.
• There are better ways to conserve Apple Watch battery than closing apps — which may not be saving you battery in the first place.

Whether for the satisfaction of decluttering or for the perceived notion of conserving battery life (a point that has been debunked, though that won't stop me from swiping away — idle apps, begone!), closing apps on your Apple Watch is as straightforward as closing them on your iPhone.

Here, we walk through how to close apps on the Apple Watch and a few general troubleshooting tips for when apps on the watch aren't working. 

How to close apps on Apple Watch

1. Press the side button to show the Dock of your open apps. 
2. If no apps are open, you'll see the below message that reads "Recently used apps appear here." Otherwise, you'll see a list of windows representing various apps (as depicted above). You can scroll through this list by swiping up or down on the watch display or by turning the digital crown.
   
   
3. Swipe left on any open apps you want to close. This will move the window to the left and reveal a red "X."
   
   
4. Tap the "X" to close the app.

Troubleshooting for apps that quit unexpectedly, freeze, or won't open

Apple Support offers numerous tips for apps on its various devices. Below, we detail a few of those tips for how to troubleshoot problematic apps specific to the Apple Watch:

1. Force quit the app by pressing and holding the side button. This will pull up the watch's power options. Press and hold the digital crown to finish quitting the app.
2. Restart your Apple Watch by pressing and holding the side button, dragging the button across the "Power Off" option, then pressing and holding the side button until you see the Apple logo. To force restart (as a last resort and only if your watch isn't responding and not currently updating), press and hold the side button and digital crown, and release when you see the Apple logo (at least 10 seconds).
3. Ensure you have the latest version of watchOS.
4. Delete and reinstall the app by opening the Watch app on your iPhone. Tap the "My Watch" tab and select the app you want to remove under "Installed on Apple Watch." Turn off "Show App on Apple Watch" to remove the app. To reinstall, scroll down to "Available Apps" and tap Install.
5. If all else fails, contact the app developer. Use Apple support if it's an Apple app or, if it's made by a third party, contact the app developer.

How to conserve battery on Apple Watch

Closing apps won't extend your Apple device's battery life, according to Wired. However, Apple does offer several tips for "maximizing battery life and lifespan" on its devices, including updating your software and turning on Power Saving Mode. Here's how to do those two things on the Apple Watch. 

1. Make sure your software is up to date. You can do this by opening the Watch app on your phone, select the "My Watch" tab, tap "General," then "Software Update."
2. Turn on Power Saving Mode when doing running or walking workouts. This will disable the heart rate sensor, which preserves battery life however calorie counts might not be as accurate. To turn on Power Saving Mode, open the Watch app on your iPhone, tap the Workout app and switch on Power Saving Mode.

For more tips specific to the Apple Watch's battery, visit Apple's website. 

• Read more of our coverage on Apple products:

• How to charge an Apple Watch, and how long it takes to fully charge

• How to change and customize the face of your Apple Watch

• How to delete apps on your iPhone (and save their data)

• How to clear the cache on your iPhone and make it run faster

SEE ALSO: The best smartwatches you can buy

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NOW WATCH: Apple forever changed the biggest tech event of the year by not showing up

• Mount Vernon is the Virginia estate that belonged to George Washington, the first president of the United States of America.
• He acquired the property from his father and brother in 1754, and quickly began extensive renovations on its architectural structure and design.
• The 21-room mansion, and its expansive gardens and grounds, are also home to a museum and education center. 
• You can even check out Washington's dentures in the museum.

First president of the United States George Washington called the sprawling estate that was Mount Vernon home for most of his life.

His 21-room mansion, plantation, and gardens are located near Alexandria, Virginia, and Washington first acquired them from his family. He oversaw the expansions and reconstructions of the estate, and lived there until his death in 1799.

Keep scrolling for a look inside the stunningly ornate Mount Vernon. 

Nestled along the banks of the Potomac River near Alexandria, Virginia, Mount Vernon was originally built by George Washington's father.

George Washington's father, Augustine, built an early iteration of what we now know as Mount Vernon in 1734. The estate began as a simple, one-and-a-half-story house, and it was Washington's brother, Lawrence, who first dubbed it "Mount Vernon." 

George Washington acquired ownership of the estate in 1754, and promptly began expansions and renovations.

According to Mount Vernon's official website, Washington supervised every aspect of the renovations— from the interior decor to the overall construction. Gradually, and even throughout the Revolutionary War, the estate expanded to its current 21 rooms.

Washington's attention to detail came through in the various ornate rooms in the mansion, like the New Room, which took over two decades to build.

Built between 1774 and 1799, Washington's New Room features turquoise walls, a two-story ceiling, and ornate furnishings. The room was designed to be a receiving area for visitors, and it was occasionally used for dining (that is, if Washington's party was too large to fit into the traditional dining room).

Washington documented his plans for the room during the Revolutionary War, writing, "I would have the whole executed in a masterly manner."

On February 15, 1985, John Hughes' "The Breakfast Club" hit theaters. The film, which starred Molly Ringwald and Judd Nelson, focused on a group of seemingly dissimilar teenagers who ended up together during Saturday morning detention at Shermer High School.

For hours, they were told to keep quiet and write a 1,000-word essay describing who they think they are. Naturally, the students completely disregarded the first part and instead spent the day getting into trouble.  

Here's what the cast of the iconic movie has been up to since "The Breakfast Club" was released 34 years ago.

The popular girl at school, Claire Standish, was played by Molly Ringwald.

Claire ended up in detention because she skipped class so she could go shopping. 

Ringwald has a recurring role as Mary Andrews, Archie's mom, on "Riverdale."

After "The Breakfast Club," Ringwald landed roles in "Not Another Teen Movie," 'Townies," and "Psych." She also starred as Shailene Woodley's on-screen mother on the drama series "The Secret Life of the American Teenager." 

Most recently, Ringwald appeared on "Riverdale" and played Mrs. Flynn in the Netflix rom-com "The Kissing Booth." Next, she'll star on the mini-series "Tales of the City," which is based on a book series by Armistead Maupin.

In 2018, Ringwald wrote a candid essay for the New Yorker, examining "The Breakfast Club in the Me Too era. The actress also called attention to one scene in which John looked under Claire's skirt while hiding from Mr. Vernon, which she said is problematic. 

"Bender sexually harasses Claire throughout the film," Ringwald said. "When he's not sexualizing her, he takes out his rage on her with vicious contempt, calling her 'pathetic,' mocking her as 'Queenie.' It's rejection that inspires his vitriol."

Judd Nelson starred as John Bender, the stereotypical arrogant bad boy.

He tore pages out of books in the library out of boredom and spent the whole movie belittling Claire. 

• All eyes are on Samsung as the tech giant is set to announce a handful of new gadgets at its Unpacked event on Wednesday in San Francisco.
• Reports and leaks are pointing to at least three new Galaxy phones: the Galaxy S10 "E," the Galaxy S10, the Galaxy S10+, and a rumored high-end phone called the Galaxy S10 "X."
• We're also expecting a new smartwatch, new earbuds, and potentially Samsung's rumored foldable smartphone.
• Follow along with our live blog below — we'll be updating it throughout the event, which begins at 2 p.m. ET.

• UFC legend Georges St-Pierre was rumored to announce his retirement this week.
• On Wednesday, lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov took to Instagram to challenge St-Pierre, hoping the two could fight in November in the final bout of the latter's career.
• Nurmagomedov hasn't fought since defeating Conor McGregor in October 2018, and a fight against St-Pierre would likely upset other lightweight contenders.

UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov wants his shot at Georges St-Pierre before the mixed martial arts legend retires.

News broke this week that St-Pierre was planning on announcing his retirement from the sport, having last fought in 2017 to win the middleweight championship from Michael Bisping.

At 37, St-Pierre (26-2) was known to be at the tail-end of his career, and was reportedly interested in ending his fighting days with a bout against Nurmagomedov, but decided on retirement after it became clear that it wouldn't materialize, according to ESPN's Ariel Helwani.

Regardless of what negotiations happened beforehand, Nurmagomedov now appears to have taken the matter into his own hands, telling St-Pierre to hold off retirement until November so the two could fight in an Instagram post.

"Let's do it in November," Nurmagomedov wrote. "After this fight, you can retire. I grow up on your fights and have nothing but respect for you, and I believe showed that to you, George, when you were in Moscow. But, it would be honor for me to share Octagon with one of the greatest fighters of all time."

Nurmagomedov added that the fight could take place at 160 or 155 lbs., and pitched Montreal, New York, Moscow, and Abu Dhabi as potential host cities for the mega-bout.

Nurmagomedov hasn't fought since defeating Conor McGregor in October 2018, and his next bout will undoubtedly be one of the biggest draws in recent UFC memory.

Read more: Conor McGregor signed a new deal for 5 more fights — here are 11 potential opponents he could meet in the octagon

Notably, Nurmagomedov left Las Vegas off the list of potential host cities for the fight, having vowed not to fight in the city again in retaliation to fines and suspensions given by the Nevada State Athletic Commission to himself and his teammates for their role in the post-fight brawl at UFC 229.

While Nurmagomedov might jump at the chance to fight one of the greatest fighters the sport has ever seen, a bout against St-Pierre likely wouldn't sit well with the contenders for his lightweight title, most notably Tony Ferguson and Dustin Poirier.

SEE ALSO: Khabib Nurmagomedov's manager says a rematch between him and 'piece of s---' Conor McGregor 'will happen in the street'

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen have a combined net worth of $580 million. Here's how the power couple makes and spends their money.

• Amazon backed out of a deal on February 14 to develop part of its second headquarters — known as HQ2 — in New York City, in exchange for a total of $3 billion in tax breaks it would receive over 10 years.
• The company cited resistance from state and local politicians as the reason behind its rethinking the deal. 
• A new INSIDER poll reveals that most respondents believe there are better uses for $3 billion in tax breaks than giving it all to one company for development. 
• The most popular use among respondents, by far, was for the tax breaks to go to residents.
• It's an idea that has also been supported by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Amazon stunned onlookers on February 14 when it announced it was cancelling its New York HQ2 project before it ever got off the ground.

The company backed out of a deal to put part of its second headquarters — known as HQ2 — in New York City, in exchange for a total of $3 billion in tax breaks it would receive over 10 years. The company cited resistance from state and local politicians as the reason behind its rethinking the deal. 

A few polls, like ones by INSIDER, Siena College, and HarrisX (sponsored by Amazon), mostly showed public support for Amazon coming to Queens, though responses were split when specific aspects of the deal — like the $3 billion figure — were mentioned.

Read more: Most Americans want Amazon's HQ2 to come to their city

A new INSIDER poll conducted on SurveyMonkey Audience may help explain why. The poll asked 1,117 respondents what the best use of $3 billion in tax credits would be: giving it to one large company to open a large corporate office, to several mid-size companies to open offices, to existing businesses in the area for growth, or to residents in the area to encourage spending.

The style of deal that was negotiated between Amazon and New York — $3 billion in tax credits for a new, large office — carried only about 4% of the vote in the INSIDER poll. It was the least popular of all possible responses, including "I don't know," which earned just over 12% of votes. 

By far the most popular response supported giving tax credits to residents, which took the lion's share of the vote at more than 45%. Next was giving them to existing businesses, with over 20%, and mid-size companies, at 18%. The poll had a margin of error of about 3%. Those results held steady regardless of whether the respondent said they lived in an urban, rural, or suburban area. 

There were some differences between how more liberal or more conservative respondents would allocate the tax credits, but they did not change the results materially.

Conservative respondents were slightly more game than liberals to give a single large company a $3 billion welcome mat, but still, only 7% of moderately or very conservative respondents favored that option.

Tax credits for existing businesses remained flatly popular across the board, with one in five thinking they would be the best option. Moderately or very liberal respondents favored giving tax credits to residents by a gap of eight percentage points over their conservative counterparts, who favored giving credits to several new mid-size businesses by five percentage points.

Altogether, though, the issue transcended politics: a small fraction of respondents think the best use of that kind of tax credit is to one major company.

Not even people who strongly supported the Amazon deal seemed to believe that giving tax credits to a major company would be the best overall choice. Later in the survey, we presented the gist of the Amazon arrangement: $3 billion in tax credits for 25,000 jobs in a new headquarters.

Of those who strongly supported that deal, only 10% thought one major company was the best beneficiary of such a tax credit when presented with other options.

Meanwhile, 40% thought residents would be the best recipient, 26% said several mid-size companies, and 19% said existing businesses.

What's clear is that given the option for giving $3 billion in tax credits, people would rather see pretty much anything other than a deal that looks similar to the one New York made — and then canceled — with Amazon. That polling supports Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's stance that $3 billion in incentives should be used in other ways. 

"It's fair to ask why we don't invest the capital for public use, + why we don't give working people a tax break," Ocasio-Cortez said in a series of tweets on Tuesday night.

She previously suggested the cash could be put to better use than given in tax credits. The idea was dismissed as "nonsense"by some on Twitter who assumed she didn't understand how these credits work.

SEE ALSO: Amazon says it will still honor its agreements to assist New York City schools after yanking HQ2

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• Rivian, an electric truck startup, announced last week that Amazon was leading a $700 million fundraising round
• Morgan Stanley says its the most significant event for electric vehicles since Tesla's 2010 IPO
• What's more, the bank's widely followed autos analyst, says it could be the most important event for the industry this year.

It's only February, but Morgan Stanley thinks we've already seen the most important milestone to hit the automotive industry all year.

Adam Jonas, the Wall Street bank's widely followed autos analyst says it's the biggest thing to happen for electric vehicles since Tesla went public nearly a decade ago.

"We view Amazon's leading of a $0.7 billion investment in US electric pickup truck maker Rivian as not just the most significant milestone for EVs since Tesla's 2010 IPO," he said in a note to clients Tuesday.

"It may prove to be the most significant milestone for US autos for all of 2019," he continued.

It's not a hard comparison to follow. Sure, the Prius has been around for years. But for many Americans, a Tesla is their first experience seeing — or driving — a fully electric car. In 2010, when Tesla hit public markets, there were less than 100,000 electric vehicles on the road. Today, it's getting close to 1 million.

Electric Vehicles are at a tipping point

Tesla might have spurred the segment's growth, but now that Amazon is entering the race, it's anyone's game.

"Just when it seemed like Tesla's lead over the competition in EVs couldn't be any wider, we have Amazon making a bold move right into US-made EVs," says Jonas. "We view Amazon and Tesla as competitors rather than partners/collaborators in advancing the future of transport."

Rivian showed off two concepts at the Los Angeles auto show in January. The R1S SUV and R1T truck should be available by 2020, the company said.

And Tesla's not the only automaker at risk of disruption.

"We see Amazon's increased and more direct involvement in revolutionizing a century-old propulsion and business model ecosystem to be more of a treat than an opportunity for our coverage," said Jonas.

SEE ALSO: Tesla challenger Rivian just announced a $700 million investment led by Amazon

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NOW WATCH: The rise and fall of Donald Trump's $365 million airline

• The NBA is heading into its stretch run with the NBA All-Star Weekend now over.
• Several topics, from conversations with those in the league to media day questions and player answers, kept coming up.
• A few of the big storylines include the tight MVP race, the Anthony Davis trade saga, the top-heavy Eastern Conference, Lakers intrigue, and Warriors pessimism.
• Follow all of Business Insider's 2019 NBA All-Star coverage here >

With the NBA All-Star Weekend in the rearview, the NBA regular season will begin its stretch run.

While in Charlotte, North Carolina, for All-Star, we tried to gauge what interested people, from conversations with those in the league, what was asked at media sessions, what got players talking, and what made the rounds on talk shows.

A few themes and storylines emerged. The Anthony Davis trade saga is not going away. People are anxious to see if the Lakers can make a playoff push, and who will come out on top of the East. The MVP race is a true race. And, of course, the NBA world is pessimistic about the league's chances of upsetting the Warriors.

Check out what other topics were popular below:

The Anthony Davis trade saga continues.

No one topic was bigger in the weeks leading up to the All-Star break and over All-Star Weekend itself.

Read more: The Anthony Davis trade saga that rocked the NBA world is still hanging over the league on its biggest weekend

Despite Davis not being traded at the deadline, the drama has continued, with an awkward dynamic over whether the New Orleans Pelicans should be forced to play the 25-year-old big man, who will almost surely be gone this summer.

It didn't help matters that the team fired GM Dell Demps on Friday, the first day of All-Star activities. Throughout the weekend, players, from Davis himself to other All-Stars, were asked if Davis was in the right to request a trade. 

Davis can't be traded until the offseason now. There will be two huge factors to watch going forward: who gets the No. 1 pick in the draft, and thus, an excellent trade chip for Davis, and how the Boston Celtics fair in the playoffs. What, exactly, would the Celtics part with to land Davis, who could also be key to re-signing Kyrie Irving?

One league source told Business Insider that, even with trade talks dead for now, the topic is still dominant in league circles, and that it could even hold up other major transactions until it's resolved.

LeBron James and the Lakers' playoff push.

This goes hand-in-hand with the Davis topic.

The Lakers obviously pushed to land Davis and were unsuccessful. The trade talk seemed to create a genuine distraction for the team, one that was already struggling with James returning from month-long injury absence.

Now, at 28-29, there are no major reinforcements coming. James will have to rally the troops, summon an MVP-like effort, and try to get back into the playoff mix.

Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma noted at his All-Star media availability that the Lakers have rarely had their full squad healthy, and thus, the record isn't a proper indication of their talent.

After Sunday's All-Star Game, James told reporters that his sole focus will be carrying the Lakers into the postseason.

On Thursday, from TNT's media session, Shaquille O'Neal told reporters that James will have a one-year "grace" period with the Lakers.

If James and co. miss the playoffs this year, pressure will mount to get James help and to turn things around quickly.

The race for the top of the Eastern Conference.

Three of the Eastern Conference's top four teams made big moves at the trade deadline to beef up their squads. The Boston Celtics remain perhaps the most well-rounded team if they can jell on time for the postseason.

Read more: A frenzied NBA trade deadline has turned the top of the Eastern Conference into one of the most compelling races in the league

A case could be made for each of the Milwaukee Bucks, Toronto Raptors, Philadelphia 76ers, and Celtics as the best team in the conference. Just as you land on one, a convincing case is made for another team.

Several players were asked about who they think could win the conference, and answers varied.

The Bucks, currently, the No. 1 team in the NBA, aren't looking over their shoulders, however. GM Jon Horst told Business Insider that they are "really good" and feel they can compete for a championship.

Read more: Bucks GM Jon Horst talks Giannis Antetokounmpo, the team's big signings and trades, and building the team that could threaten the Warriors

Each team has several big-name free agents — the Bucks with Khris Middleton, Eric Bledsoe, and Brook Lopez; the Raptors with Kawhi Leonard; the Celtics with Kyrie Irving; the 76ers with Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris. Only two of those four teams will make the Eastern Conference Finals, rendering the season a disappointment for two other teams. That could have a huge impact on free agency. This is a race that truly matters.

• The Department of State has barred US-born "ISIS bride" Hoda Muthana from returning to the United States.
• The 24-year-old woman, who her lawyer claims was born in the US in 1994, "is not a US citizen," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday, adding that she "will not be admitted into the United States."
• After leaving her Alabama home in 2014 to join ISIS in Syria, she became an outspoken advocate of violence against Americans, calling for bloody attacks on American soil.
• She later became disillusioned and deserted the terrorist group, which is being exterminated across the Middle East.

The State Department announced Wednesday that ISIS bride Hoda Muthana, a US-born woman who left Alabama to join ISIS but began begging to return to the US after recently deserting the terror group, is not a US citizen and will not be allowed to return home.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a written statement that "she does not have any legal basis, no valid US passport, no right to a passport, nor any visa to travel to the United States."

Her lawyer argues that she was born in the US, specifically New Jersey in 1994. "The Trump administration continues its attempts to wrongfully strip citizens of their citizenship," her attorney Hassan Shibly, told ABC News.

Muthana's citizenship status prior to leaving to join ISIS remains unclear as she was born to a Yemeni diplomat, meaning that she was not automatically granted citizenship by birth, although she could have applied for citizenship.

She has been seen in photos with a US passport, something only US citizens can possess.

The 24-year-old woman ran away to Syria in November 2014, one year after graduating from high school, to join the Islamic State. She married an ISIS fighter, gave birth to his child, and became an outspoken advocate online for violent extremism.

In one particularly egregious social media post from March 2015, she urged ISIS fighters to drive trucks into crowds, encouraging terrorists to spill blood on American soil.

"Go on drive bys, and spill all of their blood, or rent a big truck and drive all over them," she tweeted four years ago, when ISIS was a more serious threat. "Veterans, Patriots, Memorial, etc day … Kill them."

Read More: ISIS bride from Alabama who urged people to drive pick-up trucks into crowds on Veterans Day wants to come back to the US: 'Please forgive me'

She deserted the terror group, now on its last legs in Syria, six weeks ago. She was recently picked up by Kurdish forces, and since then she has been begging for forgiveness and permission to return to the US.

She has told newspapers that she was "brainwashed," explaining that life with ISIS was not as she had envisioned. "I'm really traumatized by my experience. We starved and we literally ate grass."

She is currently being held by the Syrian Democratic Forces who captured her.

"Please forgive me for being so ignorant," she recently told the Guardian, a British newspaper. "I believe that America gives second chances. I want to return and I’ll never come back to the Middle East."

But, the State Department stated that she is not a citizen and, therefore, has no right to return to the US.

The UK decided on Tuesday to strip another ISIS bride, Shamima Begum, of her citizenship. The woman left her London home in 2015 to join ISIS in Syria.

Read More: Britain is stripping a teen ISIS bride of her citizenship, and she could end up in a country she says she's never been to

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un is 35 — here's how he became one of the world's scariest dictators

• Hands down, AirDrop is the easiest way to send files like photos, documents, and even web pages from an iPhone to a Mac (or to another Apple device).
• AirDrop is automatically available on your iPhone's sharing option whenever there's another AirDrop-compatible device in range.
• You may need to set up AirDrop on your Mac before being able to AirDrop a file from an iPhone to that computer.

Compared to the ancient days of floppy disks, it's like we're living in a science fiction future today. After all, it's easy to share large files via email or on cloud services like Dropbox.

But Apple offers an even easier option: AirDrop. Armed with AirDrop, you can send files – even ones too big for email – from your iPhone to a Mac with just a tap, as long as the Mac is in range to receive them. 

What's "in range"? AirDrop uses a combination of both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to transmit files, so your Mac or other Apple device has to be within about 30 feet of the phone, according to Apple. 

To successfully AirDrop, you'll need to configure AirDrop on a Mac– you only need to do that once – and then you can send files from your iPhone quickly and easily.

Activate AirDrop on your Mac or another Apple device

1. Click "Go" in the Finder menu and then click "AirDrop."

2. If your Mac's Bluetooth or Wi-fi is turned off, you will be asked to turn them on.

3. In the AirDrop window, choose who can AirDrop you. Click "Allow me to be discovered by" and choose either "Contacts Only" or "Everyone."

For Apple devices other than a Mac, including an iPhone, you can access the same permissions by going into your Settings, clicking General, and then selecting AirDrop to choose whether you can receive an AirDrop from "contacts only" or "everyone." 

Limiting AirDrop only to your contacts is more secure, but choosing "everyone" is more convenient if you frequently have to receive files from a lot of different people.

It's generally easier to choose "Everyone." But be aware that if you are working in a public place (like a coffee shop), anyone in your vicinity will be able to try to send you files, so be careful whom you accept AirDrop files from.

Send a file from your iPhone

1. On your iPhone, open the app that you want to AirDrop from. To send a photo, for example, open Photos.

2. Select the file or photo you want to send (you can select more than one at a time).

3. Click the Share button.

4. In the AirDrop section of the Share screen, you should see icons for all of the AirDrop-compatible devices in range (it might take a moment for them to appear). Tap the icon for the Mac you want to send the file to.

If you're in range, you should see a button for your Mac (and other AirDrop-compatible devices).

That's all you need to do on the iPhone; now the Mac or other device needs to accept the file.

Receive a file on your Mac or another Apple device

1. You should see a notification appear on your desktop or device's screen. Choose "Accept."

2. On a Mac, choose whether to open the file or save it to the Downloads folder.

3. Open Downloads in Finder on your Mac. The file should be the most recent.

If you run into trouble

Like any technology, sometimes it doesn't work the way you expect. If you're having trouble with AirDrop, there are a few common things to check:

• Is your Mac AirDrop-compatible? It needs to be running Mac OS X Yosemite or later.
• Make sure that Bluetooth and Wi-fi are enabled on both your Mac and your iPhone.
• It's possible the devices are too far apart, especially if you can't see the Mac on the iPhone's AirDrop list. Bring the two devices closer together.
• Make sure that the iPhone isn't connecting to the Internet via a personal hotspot. Open Settings and make sure Personal Hotspot is "Off."

• Read more of our Apple products coverage:

• How to use Do Not Disturb on iPhone to optimize your time

• How to cancel subscriptions on your iPhone

• How to unlock an iPhone for use on a new carrier

• How to clear the cache on your iPhone and make it run faster

SEE ALSO: The best iPhone for every type of person and budget

Join the conversation about this story »

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• East London restaurant The Book Club is serving "period pancakes" that come complete with tampon-shaped macarons.
• The dish will be served from March 3 to 10 in an effort to raise money for period poverty charity Big Bloody Brunch.
• The campaign is based on research cited by the charity which shows that half of people in the UK currently describe periods as unpleasant or disgusting.

A London restaurant is serving red-velvet "period pancakes" topped with tampon-shaped macarons — but it's for a good cause.

The Book Club in Shoreditch, east London, is serving the red-themed dish from Sunday March 3 to Sunday March 10 in support of period poverty charity Big Bloody Brunch, which raises awareness of and funds for period poverty and aims to destigmatize conversations around menstruation.

The dish costs £8 ($10.50) for the pancakes or £9.50 ($12.50) if you want the extra tampon-shaped "macaroon" topping (which, though it's advertised as a "macaroon," looks like a macaron) from Ohlala bakery. Fifteen percent of proceeds from each dish will go towards the charity.

Guests can also order a Bloody Mary with the option of paying through the purchase of period products from social enterprise Hey Girls, which will distribute the products to UK charities.

Read more: An Australian restaurant called 'Pablo's Escoburgers' has defended serving its main dish with a line of white powder and a rolled up fake $100 bank note

Those not in London are encouraged to host their own brunch at home serving Bloody (or Virgin) Marys and asking friends and family to donate via Hey Girls, then share photos of their event using the hash tag #bloodybigbrunch.

Big Bloody Brunch, a charity founded by creative agency WIRE, cited its own research conduced this month which showed that half of people in the UK currently describe periods as unpleasant or disgusting, but 69% — including men and boys — wish they felt more comfortable about them.

Meanwhile, the charity says that nearly three in 10 women and girls in the UK have been unable to afford period products.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un is 35 — here's how he became one of the world's scariest dictators

• Samsung has unveiled the Galaxy S10e, the least expensive phone in its new Galaxy S10 lineup.
• The biggest differences between the Galaxy S10e and Samsung's more expensive new phones are in its screen, camera, and fingerprint sensor.
• The Galaxy S10e starts at $749.99 with preorders beginning on February 21.

For those looking to stay well under the $1,000 price tag when shopping for a new smartphone, Samsung is launching the Galaxy S10e, the least expensive entry in its new Galaxy S10 lineup.

The Galaxy S10e will start at $749.99 with preorders launching in February 21, putting it in the same price range as Apple's iPhone XR.

The decision to launch four different variants of the same smartphone is somewhat of a strategy shift for the South Korean electronics giant, which in recent years has released only two versions of its flagship Galaxy phones. Last year, for example, it launched the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+, with the main differentiator being the latter's larger screen. The move allows Samsung to target customers in different price ranges, similar to Apple's approach with the iPhone XR.

The Galaxy S10e differs from its more expensive siblings in a few important ways. It has a smaller 5.8-inch display compared to Samsung's other new smartphones, such as the Galaxy S10 — which has a 6.1-inch screen — and the Galaxy S10+, which includes a 6.4-inch display. The Galaxy S10e's display is also flat while the pricier models feature curved screens.

And while the more premium variants include an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor built into their displays, which Samsung says is capable of reading the user's thumbprint in three dimensions rather than taking a two-dimensional image, the Galaxy S10e has a capacitive fingerprint scanner located in the power button.

There are also some notable differences when it comes to the camera: The Galaxy S10e has two rear cameras, while the more expensive versions have a third telephoto lens for better zooming.

Although the Galaxy S10e does compromise on certain features, it also preserves many of the Galaxy S10's core characteristics. All four of Samsung's new phones — the Galaxy S10, Galaxy S10+, Galaxy S10e, and Galaxy S10 5G — will include a dynamic AMOLED display that Samsung says should deliver a wider range of colors.

While the new phones have the same general look and feel as last year's models, Samsung has improved on the design, making the border around the phone even slimmer by housing the camera and sensors into a hole near the top of the display — eliminating the need for a "notch."

Like Samsung's other new Galaxy phones, the Galaxy S10e's camera will include a 123-degree, ultra-wide lens that the company claims has a field of view similar to that of the human eye. Samsung is also aiming to make its smartphone cameras more intelligent by improving its Scene Optimizer feature, which adjusts camera settings based on what the user is photographing.

All three phones run on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 855 processor and will support Samsung's Bixby digital assistant. Color options for the Galaxy S10e in the United States include pink, black, white, and blue, and the base model for each phone will offer 128 GB of storage space — that's twice the amount of storage than the entry level iPhone XR offers.

Each of these new Samsung phones, including the Galaxy S10e, will support Wireless PowerShare, making it possible to wirelessly charge another device using the smartphone.

• Read more about Samsung Unpacked 2019:
• LIVE: Samsung unveils new Galaxy phones, watches, and more
• Samsung has finally showed off its new foldable smartphone, the $1,980 Galaxy Fold
• I tried the entire lineup of Samsung's new Galaxy S10 phones. Here's what they're like in person
• These are the new Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10 Plus smartphones from Samsung

Join the conversation about this story »

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This is a preview of a research report from Business Insider Intelligence. Current subscribers can read the report here.

Blockchain technology promises to transform how nearly all industries manage data. Since roaring onto the scene as the engine behind Bitcoin in 2009, it's become applicable to a diverse array of industries beyond financial services, including industrial manufacturing, healthcare, and logistics.

The common thread between these industries is that they all feature complex supply chains, large numbers of interconnected players, and vast amounts of data. The digital advertising industry shares those characteristics as well. These characteristics, combined with the industry's transparency issues, make advertising a prime candidate for blockchain solutions.

Blockchain can help solve one of the advertising industry’s biggest challenges: opaque advertising practices.  Publishers, advertisers, and ad tech vendors are exploring blockchain as a tool to boost transparency around ad practices, with the end goal of reducing fraud. Ad fraud is expected to cost the industry $44 billion by 2022, up from $19 billion this year, according to Juniper Research estimates. Through its function as a public database, blockchain can store information about a digital advertisement, like who has created it, while sharing it with everyone else on the network in a verifiable and immutable way. For digital advertising, that means ad impressions can be tracked along the supply chain, and advertisers can record where an ad is delivered. 

In this report, Business Insider Intelligence will explain what blockchain technology is and how it can inject transparency into the advertising supply chain. We will then highlight the significant hurdles to adoption, and propose different ways the industry could navigate those challenges. Finally, the report will profile companies that are at the forefront of the blockchain advertising space to give advertisers an idea of what blockchain looks like in practice today.

The companies mentioned in this report are: Basic Attention Token (BAT), IBM, Kochava, and MetaX. 

Here are some of the key takeaways from the report: 

• Blockchain promises to mitigate ad fraud through its function as an immutable public database, which allows it to store and validate previously murky information about digital ads.
• Despite this promise, just 11% of advertisers and agency executives have completed an ad buy using blockchain technology, according to an Advertiser Perceptions survey.
• Limited adoption is the result of several significant hurdles — like ad executives' skepticism around the technology's usefulness — which must be overcome before blockchain is widely accepted.
• Blockchain is heralded as a transformative technology, and while it has that potential, it's not quite there yet for advertisers.
• Still, it shouldn't be dismissed as "pie in the sky"— blockchain presents several short-term use cases for advertisers, and those who take advantage will be set up for long-term success as the technology matures.

In full, the report: 

• Highlights how blockchain technology works, and how it can be integrated into the advertising supply chain to improve transparency. 
• Outlines practical, low-risk ways marketers can prepare themselves to benefit from blockchain including using smart contracts, registering domain names, and exploring tokens that reward consumers for use of their data. 
• Profiles several companies at the forefront of the blockchain advertising space, gaining industry-wide recognition as thought leaders.

Join the conversation about this story »

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

• Some of our favorite pairs of leggings come not from typical athleisure brands, but from shapewear company Spanx.
• In addition to its iconic shapewear, Spanx makes leggings that are widely loved for their style, comfort, and flattering fit. 
• We tried four styles — the EveryWear Mesh Side Stripe Leggings ($110), Look At Me Now Cropped Seamless Leggings ($68-$72), EveryWear Icon Leggings ($110), and Active Printed Leggings ($110-$114) — to confirm they really are worth it. 

Over the course of 21 years, Spanx has firmly entrenched itself into popular culture and become synonymous with looking and feeling confident in your evening dress.

Though it's usually associated with smoothing, panty line-eliminating shapewear, another part of its business — which has expanded far and wide to include activewear, swimwear, and men's underwear— is quietly raved about, too.

Spanx leggings have earned their own share of fans because they feature the same comfort and flattering look of the famous shapewear, but take everyone's favorite form of pants-that-aren't-really-pants. 

A few of the most popular Spanx legging styles are the Faux Leather Leggings ($98), Faux Leather Moto Leggings ($110), and the Look At Me Now Seamless Leggings ($68).

The sleek and slick Faux Leather Leggings are slimming and make an ordinary outfit instantly more edgy, while the Moto version turns the edge up further with its textured moto seams. Though you'd expect these styles to be uncomfortable or restrictive, they're quite stretchy and have control tops.

Meanwhile, the stretchy knit Seamless Leggings are an attractive legging basic you'll default to on the weekends, but won't feel ashamed to wear out of the apartment. 

In total, Spanx sells nearly 40 styles of leggings, from "Jean-ish" to luxe velvet to active. They run from $60 to $130, with most styles priced around $100 to $110 — on par with premium athleisure brands. The Spanx difference, however, benefits from a design philosophy that has both comfort and style in mind, and executes through features like shaping waistbands and the absence of center seams. 

We tried a few pairs of Spanx leggings to see for ourselves what the big deal was and came away impressed with their fit, quality construction, and flattering style. You can read more about our experiences, then shop all of Spanx's leggings below. 

Shop all leggings at Spanx here

Shop Spanx leggings at Nordstrom here

Shop Spanx leggings at Amazon here

EveryWear Mesh Side Stripe Leggings

EveryWear Mesh Side Stripe Leggings, $110, available at Spanx

For both stylistic and functional, breathability purposes, I love leggings with mesh details or panels, so I was immediately drawn to this pair. They have a lengthening and slimming mesh stripe down each leg that somewhat mimics the popular side stripe pant look of the moment, but has its own unique effect. 

Your legs and butt will look great in these leggings because the fabric compresses and hugs your curves, but they'll also feel surprisingly comfortable the whole time. They're stretchy, and though I wouldn't work out in them, they easily adapted to the unexpected squats and light jogs that can be required during an active day in the city.

The other parts of the comfort equation were the soft, antimicrobial finish and breathable fabric that allowed me to wear these leggings from day to night. —Connie Chen, Insider Picks reporter

Look At Me Now Cropped Seamless Leggings

Look At Me Now Cropped Seamless Leggings, $68-$72, available at Spanx

I'm firmly in camp "leggings as pants," and this semi-high-waisted pair has everything going for it. The extreme opacity means I never have to worry when I  bend over to pick something up (which is often, I have a cat and a slippery phone),  and the seamless construction is incredibly smoothing and comfortable. There's no elastic strip in the waistband, so there's no digging. The waist is basically just a continuation of the leggings themselves.

They're also not as tight as Spanx shapewear, but they still hold me in without pressing too hard anywhere. I don't wear these to work, but I do wear them as often as possible when I'm not in the office. I'm also 5-foot-1, so cropped leggings fit me perfectly as regular-length pairs.  —Sally Kaplan, Insider Picks editor

EveryWear Icon Leggings

EveryWear Icon Leggings, $110, available at Spanx

I was prepared not to love Spanx’s leggings. I spend most of my time in athletic leggings, and I had decided I'd outgrown athleisure pairs. I stand corrected.

The Every-Wear leggings are flattering and slimming, and surprisingly thin enough to wear all day comfortably. The four-way stretch lets you move around unencumbered. The design is smart: the absence of a center-seam and a waistband-free construction makes the transition from what is essentially shapewear to a more natural second skin (and no muffin top). It hit at my natural waist, and the seams in back work both functionally and as a kind of slimming and uplifting contour.

All in all, they’re movement-friendly, make for a lean and streamlined silhouette, and avoid most of my athleisure complaints. $110 is expensive, but I’d personally rather own one pair of these than three inferior pairs. —Mara Leighton, Insider Picks reporter

Samsung announced its new Galaxy Buds wireless earbuds during its Unpacked event on Wednesday. 

Samsung's new Galaxy Buds come with a slightly new design over the original Galaxy Gear IconX wireless earbuds, and they'll come in three different color options: black, white, and yellow. 

The major new feature on the Galaxy Buds actually has mostly to do with its charging case. The case itself can be charged wirelessly, which conveniently complements the Galaxy S10's newfound reverse wireless charging ability. That means you'll be able to place the Galaxy Buds on the back of a Galaxy S10 phone and charge the buds wirelessly. 

While this is a pretty nifty feature for the Galaxy Buds, recent leaks have hinted that Apple is working on an AirPods case that can charge wirelessly, which could come with Apple's upcoming AirPods 2. 

The buds will cost $130 when they're released on March 8. Anyone interested in the Galaxy S10 should know that Samsung is throwing in the Galaxy Buds when you pre-order the device up until March 7. 

SEE ALSO: I tried the entire lineup of Samsung's new Galaxy S10 phones. Here's what they're like in person

Join the conversation about this story »

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