Apple's iPhone 8 will shatter previous sales records, top analyst reportedly says

Apple's iPhone makers of are slated to
make 120 million to 150 million iPhones in the second half of 2017, a volume that would crush all previous sales, according to a top analytics firm report cited by 9to5Mac.
KGI Securities forecasts three new iPhones with wireless charging from Apple next year, 9to5Mac reported Tuesday. The phones could include one
major redesign, the iPhone 8, with two more iterative updates to the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, according to 9to5Mac.
With features like a glass chassis and a bright, flexible screen, the new handsets could outsell Apple's most popular phone to date, the iPhone 6 phablets, KGI's analysis said. KGI's updated forecast comes on the heels of a Wall Street Journal report that Apple is considering more than 10 designs for its 10th anniversary iPhone next year, including at least one flexible screen design.
To be sure, Apple doesn't always sell every iPhone it plans to make. Last year, Apple initially provided the supply chain with high numbers only to cut numbers later, according to UBS analysts.
But an iPhone sales boost could provide much-needed relief to Apple investors, who watched iPhone sales drop from their year-ago volumes for three-straight quarters this year. Analysts surveyed by FactSet expect Apple to sell 78 million iPhones in the December 2016 quarter, up from 75 million from a year ago, bringing the second-half 2016
sales to 124 million.

Brazilian Goalkeeper Made Final Phone Call to His Wife Before Dying From Plane Crash Injuries

The goalkeeper of the Brazilian soccer team aboard a doomed flight to Colombia made a final phone call to his wife before succumbing to his injuries.
Read: 71 Killed After Plane Carrying Brazilian Soccer Team Crashes in Colombia
Marcos Danilo, 31, was flying with
his Chapecoense teammates when their plane went down near the town of La Ceja in Colombia.
According to reports, the devoted husband and dad of one initially survived the crash and was able to call his wife from a hospital bed. But he later died.
The plane, which was en route to Medellin, Colombia, where the Brazilian squad was to play the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana against Colombian team Atletico Nacional, crashed near the
city where they were supposed to land.
The plane was carrying 77 people, including members of the Chapecoense team and members of the media, as well as nine crew members. Six people have survived the tragedy.
The six survivors included players Jakson Follmann. 24. Helio Hermito Zampier Neto, 31, Alan Ruschel, 27, as well as journanalist Rafael Henzel
Valmorbida and crew members Ximena Suárez and Erwin Tumiri.
On Tuesday afternoon, Colombian authorities said four people did not board the fatal flight.
Authorities also recovered the plane's black boxes Tuesday afternoon.
Investigators are still working to figure out the cause of the crash. Aviation authorities said that the plane carrying the team declared an emergency due to an electrical failure before the crash.
The same British Aerospace 146 short-haul plane, operated by a Bolivian charter airline LaMia, was used earlier in the month to carry the Argentina national team.
Colombian squad Atletico Nacional have asked CONMEBOL, South America’s governing soccer body, to award Chapecoense the Copa Sudamericana title.
Tributes from around the soccer world have poured in following the news of the crash.
Manchester United tweeted their support for the Brazilian club.
United lost eight players after a plane they were chartering crashed in Munich, Germany, in 1958.
Twenty-three of the 44 victims, including supporters, employees of the squad and journalists traveling with the team perished. Twenty-one people survived.
Icons of Brazilian soccer like Pele, Kaka, Neymar and Ronaldinho all expressed their condolences on social media.
Other big names of the game like David Beckham, Carlo Ancelotti, Paulo and Maldini all expressed sympathy following the news.
CONMEBOL has suspended all activity until further notice.

Floyd Mayweather flashes his previous $100 million fight check on Instagram

If there’s one thing that Floyd Mayweather wants you to understand more than anything else, it’s that
he doesn’t have to fight for money ever again.
The retired pound-for-pound boxing king’s name has been rumored to be in talks to come out of his retirement for a massive fight. Some rumors have him tied to UFC lightweight champion Conor
McGregor while others link him to a return bout with Manny Pacquiao. Either fight would surely rake in a windfall of money.
However, an Instagram post by Mayweather suggests that the 49-0 fighter is “happily retired” and his proof came in the form of a $100 million
dollar check.
“Gotta love these backseat drivers so worried about another man’s legacy instead of trying to write their own,” Mayweather posted in response to the
rumors about his return to the ring. “Ultimately, I will always have the last laugh. This is just one of my many checks, a cool $100,000,000.00 that I
still have every dime of.”
The check is dated May 2, 2015, which is the date that Mayweather defeated Pacquiao in a record-breaking blockbuster. The fight generated a record 4.6 million pay-per-view buys and brought in over $600 million in revenue. Maywather’s guaranteed
purse for that night was $100 million and he ultimately raked in somewhere in the neighborhood of $220 million for the 36 minutes of work that ended in a one-sided decision victory.
Essentially, Mayweather is responding to everyone who has suggested that he’ll fight again for the money. But, as of right now, Mayweather isn’t interested and has more than enough money to hold him over without a return to the ring.
“Y’all still have to work however, I’m happily retired,” Mayweather wrote. “At the end of the day, it’s them Benjamin Franklins that matter to me, so the jokes on you. I’ve made smart investments,
sorry for those who thought that I couldn’t read, write, or count. Y’all call them watches, I call them time pieces. Y’all call them boats, I call them yachts. Y’all call them houses, I call them
mansions. Y’all charter jets and we own jets.”

Apple signals the end of the line for some Macs by declaring them vintage, obsolete

No PC or gadget lasts forever, even if it lasts longer than you might think . At some point, it becomes obsolete and can no longer be repaired or serviced
by the manufacturer. At that point, it’s dropped from the list of supported devices and you’re essentially on your own.
Although Apple appears to be no slouch in terms of supporting its products, even it has to draw the line somewhere. Starting on December 31, a number of
Apple Macs will be dropped from the support rolls and be officially declared as obsolete, according to a 9to5Mac report .
Apple’s terms for PCs and iOS devices that are no longer repairable at Apple Stores and resellers are “vintage” and “obsolete.” Once a Mac receives
that designation, its repair staff will no longer be able to order parts for the machines and thus will no longer be able to effect repairs. Apple defines
“vintage” machines as “those that have not been manufactured for more than 5 and less than 7 years ago,” whereas “obsolete” products are “those
that were discontinued more than 7 years ago.”
The status of machines added to the list varies by region. For example, Apple still provides support for Macs in California and for all Apple products in Turkey at Apple service providers, as well as for
iPod and iPhone products in California via Apple Retails Stores and online support. Obsolete products are not supported anywhere.
The machines that reached vintage status in the U.S. and Turkey and obsolescence everywhere else include the 15-inch and 17-inch MacBook Pro
(early 2011) models, while the Mac mini (early 2009) and 13-inch MacBook (mid-2009) models reached obsolete status. If you’re an owner of any of these machines, or the machines on Apple’s
overall list of vintage and obsolete products, then it’s definitely time to consider an upgrade.

Prince William Made a Rare Statement to Show Support for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

You know that a royal's relationship is serious when he has to give a public statement about it.
That's what happened when Prince Harry told the world to give some much-needed privacy to his new girlfriend, Suits star Meghan Markle. And now,
even his brother, who has met his potential future sister-in-law, has felt the need to weigh in.
According to The Telegraph , rumors had swirled that Prince William didn't like Harry's decision to go public with the relationship. But it turns out that couldn't be further from the truth.

People close to the royals told the paper that the family wouldn't release such a public statement unless they all talked about it beforehand. Apparently, the royals pored over every word before releasing it, especially since both brothers have the same media team.

Kensington Palace cleared the air with yet another statement: "The Duke of Cambridge absolutely understands the situation concerning privacy and supports the need for Prince Harry to support those closest to him."

Prince William and Princess Kate Pay Tribute to the Duke of Westminster at Somber Memorial Service

Prince William and Princess Kate paid their respects to the sixth Duke of Westminster at a somber memorial service Monday morning.
The royal couple were among the hundreds of guests to attend the service at Chester Cathedral. Prince Charles, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and
Princess Eugenie were also in attendance.
Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor, the Duke of
Westminster, died on August 9 at Royal Preston Hospital in Lancashire, England, after developing a sudden illness at his home, Abbeystead Estate. He was 64.
Close family members attended a private funeral service in the days after his death.
The late Duke was Britain’s wealthiest landowner and a friend to the royal family.
He served in the British Army for nearly 40 years, eventually obtaining the rank of Major General. He is survived by his wife, Natalia, their four children, Tamara, Edwina, Hugh and Viola, as well as four
grandchildren.
Throughout his life, he was close to several members of the royal family, including Prince Charles, Princess Diana, Prince William and Princess Kate. His wife, Natalia, is one of Prince William’s godparents.
His only son, 24-year-old Hugh Grosvenor — who is also one of Prince George’s godparents — inherited his title, as well as the bulk of his father’s wealth, and is now the 7th Duke of Westminster.

Obama Shares Heartfelt Facebook Message to Sasha and Malia

On Thursday morning, POTUS posted
this touching Facebook message about his experience in the Oval Office, and what it's been like to see his daughters grow into "funny, smart, humble, and extraordinary young women." Along
with his heartfelt words, Obama also added in some throwback photos of the family. Eight years ago when the president first took office, Sasha was
7 and Malia was 10.
"Today, my family will join Americans across the country in sitting down together to give thanks for the good in our lives. This will be the last time we
celebrate Thanksgiving in the White House.
For me, this house has served as the backdrop to the tough decisions and trying times that often characterize the Presidency. But it's also been home― it's where Michelle and I have watched our daughters grow into the funny, smart, humble, and extraordinary young women they are today.
And when I look back over the years, what strikes me most about my girls is that, despite the challenges that have come their way, they have remained extraordinarily kind. They treat people
with the respect and understanding that all of us deserve―no matter who we are, where we come from, who we love, or what we believe. It's that bedrock belief in decency that can only come from
an inherent optimism about the road ahead. And it's what I find in all the young people I meet when I travel the country and the world".

Donald Trump Makes False Claims That "Millions of People" Voted Illegally

Donald Trump, the president-elect who sailed into office not on the tides of a democratic process but on the back of the Electoral College, is now falsely
claiming that he won the popular vote, too. But only if you "deduct the millions of people who voted illegally."
In addition to winning the Electoral College in a landslide, I won the popular vote if you deduct the millions of people who voted illegally - Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 27, 2016
Unlike CBS, which struggled to formulate a coherent headline in these difficult times, let's be very clear: This is a lie. Hillary Clinton is currently up in the popular vote by over two million votes.
There is no evidence of the kind of widespread voter fraud that Trump is referring to.
As ProPublica, a non-profit news organization, rehashed on Twitter over the weekend, it dispatched over 1,000 people to monitor the vote on Election
Day. "We saw no evidence the election was 'rigged' no matter what Stein or Trump say," it tweeted .
ProPublica said it solicited tips from 400
journalists and 120,000 citizens nationwide. It had 600 people watch social media for reports of voter fraud and had experts on hand to analyze the
endless stream of results. Based on all that, "[w]e saw plenty of problems: Long lines, broken voting machines, incorrect poll books, confusion [about] voter ID laws." But, it added, "we saw no reason to doubt the results."

Clinton Is Backing a Recount in Wisconsin

Former secretary of state Hillary Clinton is backing an election recount in Wisconsin initiated by Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein.
Marc Elias, the Clinton organization’s general counsel, said over the weekend that the campaign would take part in the Wisconsin recount without financially contributing to the operation. He also
raised the possibility of joining the Third Party in recounts in two other closely contested states, Pennsylvania and Michigan.
Republican President-elect Donald Trump, seething over what he and his top advisers perceive as Clinton’s reneging on her pledge to abide by the
outcome of the Nov. 8 election, predicted that a recount in Wisconsin and the other states would not alter the results of the election.
“Hillary Clinton conceded the election when she called me just prior to the victory speech and after the results were in,” Trump said in one of a flurry of angry tweets early Sunday. “Nothing will
change.”
The Trump team bitterly complained that the recount would be a colossal waste of time and money and serve as a distraction from the president-elect’s efforts to assemble a new cabinet
and administration that would carry out his agenda and help reunite a sorely divided country.
More ominously, Trump’s campaign manager and senior adviser, Kellyanne Conway, hinted that Trump might be having second thoughts about abandoning a campaign pledge to call for a special prosecutor to investigate Clinton’s mishandling of State Department emails and the questionable fundraising activities of her family’s
global foundation.
Trump told the New York Times last Tuesday that he had no intention of pressing for an investigation of Clinton and her family, saying that “I don’t want
to hurt the Clintons, I really don’t.” During an appearance today on the ABC News “This Week” program, Conway noted repeatedly that Trump “is being very magnanimous” towards Clinton.” At the same time, she declined to totally rule out the possibility that the Justice Department would eventually seek such an investigation after Trump takes office.
Conway suggested that Trump’s generosity was being met by a slap in the face from Clinton, who ordered Elias, her counsel, to “join this ridiculously
fantastical recount that Jill Stein is engaging in in Wisconsin and perhaps elsewhere.”
Conway didn’t say specifically that Trump would retaliate against Clinton for allowing her organization to take part in the recount, but she left it to viewers to connect the dots.
“I guess the real question is, why in the world can’t the Democrats accept the election results: after Clinton and the news media made a big issue of Trump’s refusal to definitively promise to abide by the results if he lost the election,” she said.
Clinton and her advisers sharply criticized Trump during the campaign for refusing to say definitively whether he would abide by the election results if he
lost. Trump warned his supporters that he could only lose to Clinton if the election was somehow “rigged” against him, and he even called on his backers to be vigilant at the polls for possible
fraud.
Elias wrote in a post on Medium that Clinton’s campaign had received “hundreds of messages, emails, and calls urging us to do something,
anything, to investigate claims that the election results were hacked and altered in a way to disadvantage Secretary Clinton,” especially in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin where
Trump’s combined margin of victory was only 107,000 votes.
Reince Priebus, the Republican National Committee chair and newly appointed chief of staff to Trump, fumed during an appearance on “Fox News Sunday” that the recount was a “ridiculous” fund-
raising fraud” perpetrated by a Green Party nominee. He noted that Stein won only 33,000 votes in Wisconsin, compared to Trump’s 1.4 million votes in the state.
“So here we have a person perpetrating a fundraising scheme that has lost by over 1.35 million votes in Wisconsin, attempting to undo [Trump’s] 28,000 vote lead [over Clinton]. It’s never going to happen. It’s a total waste of everybody’s time.”
Stein on Friday filed for a recount in Wisconsin and said she had raised more than $5 million for the effort. She indicated she would be raising more
money for similar efforts in Michigan and Pennsylvania, and disputed Trump’s claim that this is a scam.
“The point to drive home here is that having a secure elections process benefits us all,” Stein told CNN’s “Newsroom.”
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), who challenged Clinton for the Democratic nomination, said the Green Party has a legal right to seek a recount, regardless of how unlikely it was to change the election results.
“No one expects there to be a profound change, but there’s nothing wrong with going through the process.,” he told Dana Bash of CNN today.
Sanders, who is taking a prominent role in trying to rebuild and reshape the Democratic party, said the more important question is whether Trump would keep many of his campaign promises that Democrats actually agree with -- such as lowering prescription drug prices and protecting Social
Security, Medicare and Medicaid from cuts.
“Let’s see if he keeps his word,” Sanders said.

Take a look at Apple’s new design book without spending $300

Apple last week impressed and shocked the world when it released a brand new product just weeks after unveiling the iPhone 7. For just $300, Apple fans can now get their hands on a new coffee table book that highlights a select history of Apple products dating back to 1997, beginning of course with the iconic Bondi Blue iMac.
Okay, so maybe nobody was impressed. And sure, maybe no one was shocked either, aside of course from the deluge of snarky Internet commenters who
were quick to blast Apple for having the gall to release a book for $300.
Dedicated to the memory of Steve Jobs, Apple design guru Jony Ive explained the impetus behind the book’s creation as follows.
“Honestly, it felt more of an obligation than something that we felt really compelled to do,” Ive said during an interview last week. “The reason for
that, and I guess it’s a fairly obvious one, is that as designers, we are far more interested in and consumed by the future; in what doesn’t exist yet.
But we’ve been working together for 20, 25 years, and it felt like the right and appropriate thing to do.
You get a sense of what we’ve learned as a team and of how technology is evolving.”
The book is appropriately titled “Designed by Apple in California” and is available in two sizes, a 10.2 x 12.8 inch version that retails for $199 and a 13 x
16.3 inch version that retails for $299.
If you’re at all curious about what a few hundred bucks will get you, Michael Kukielka over the weekend put together a walk through of the book where we can take a gander at the vibrant photos
that fill the pages of Apple’s curious new product.
And in case you missed it the first time around, Stephen Colbert last week covered Apple’s new book by spoofing one of the company’s famed product introduction videos.

Murray rules the world after humbling of Djokovic

His season had already
provided several unforgettable chapters but Andy Murray saved the best to last as he eclipsed Novak Djokovic 6-3 6-4 to claim his first ATP World Tour Finals title and rubberstamp the year-end top
ranking on Sunday.
Against a man who has so often been his nemesis, Britain's golden boy Murray produced a relentless display to claim a ninth title of a year which included a second Wimbledon crown and Olympic
gold in Rio.
Murray's play in the winner-takes-all season climax was all the more remarkable as a day earlier he looked on the point of mental and physical
exhaustion after taking almost four hours to subdue Milos Raonic in the semi-final.
It would have been blow to Murray's solar plexus if, two weeks after dislodging Djokovic from the top ranking, the Serb had ripped it back with a fifth consecutive Tour Finals title.
But his powers of recovery appear limitless as he handed an error-prone Djokovic a bitter defeat that will leave a sour taste in the 12-times major
champion's mouth as a new season swings into action in a few weeks.
On this evidence the Scot may enjoy his new status for some time.
Murray double-faulted twice in the first game and there was a wobble near the end as Djokovic mounted some late resistance, but with the majority of the 17,000 fans in the O2 Arena willing him on, Murray completed the job.
"It's very special playing against Novak in a match like this, we've played grand slam finals and at the Olympics before, but I am very happy to win and to
be world number one is very special. It is something I never expected," Murray said.
Murray's win came two days after older brother Jamie was crowned number one doubles pair with Brazil's Bruno Soares and a year since Dunblane's
finest led Britain to the Davis Cup title.
Djokovic had won 22 of his past 23 matches at the Thames-side venue, but the cracks that have appeared in his game since completing a career slam by beating Murray in the French Open final
returned after a trouble-free route to the final.
He made 30 unforced errors and some of his mistakes would have embellished a video nasty.
Despite his year tailing off, however, and losing a 9,000-point ranking lead over Murray, Djokovic still won seven titles and finally ruled at Roland Garros.
He was gracious in defeat.
"Definitely he is the number one in the world. He is the best player and deserved to win. He played the better tennis in the decisive moments. Credit to Andy for being mentally tough."
Best of British, Mate.

Kanye West Rants Against Beyoncé and Jay Z, Abruptly Ends Concert

Concertgoers on Twitter claimed the singer showed up late and only performed two to three songs -- amid his signature rants -- before exiting the stage as the audience loudly booed.
Things started on a positive note when West brought out rapper Kid Cudi, with whom he'd had an online feud earlier this year. Before performing together, the pair hugged on stage as the crowd
cheered.
But the uplifting energy quickly shifted when West began to rant about other artists.
"Beyoncé, I was hurt. 'Cause I heard that you said you wouldn't perform unless you won Video of the Year over me and over 'Hotline Bling,'" West said,
referencing this year's MTV Video Music Awards .
"Now don't go trying to diss Beyoncé. She is great.
Taylor Swift is great. We are all great people. We are all people. But sometimes we be playing the politics too much and forgetting who we are just to win. F**k winning. F**k looking cool. F**k being cool."
The "Famous" rapper went on to take a jab at Beyoncé's husband and his longtime pal, Jay Z, saying, "Jay Z, call me, bruh. You still ain't called me. Jay Z, I know you got killers, please don't send
them at my head. Just call me. Talk to me like a man."

Drake, Bieber win big, Selena Gomez gets emotional at AMAs

The 2016 American Music Awards featured a number of pop stars strumming their guitars, Drake making a rare awards show appearance, an
emotional speech from Selena Gomez and political moments about President-elect Donald Trump.
Drake, who has skipped his fair share of awards shows in recent years, was the big winner with four awards and debuted a new commercial for Apple Music.
"For our genre, I just like to keep things excited and keep making music. Shout out to everybody that's trying to do the same thing," said Drake, who broke
Michael Jackson's record for most AMA
nominations after scoring 13 nominations.
Bieber, who performed from his tour in Zurich, Switzerland, also won four awards.
Gomez, who lost artist of the year to Ariana Grande but won favorite female artist — pop/rock, gave a heartfelt speech onstage that earned a loud
applause from the audience at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
"I think it's safe to say that most of you know a lot of my life whether I liked it or not, and I had to stop, 'cause I had everything, and I was absolutely
broken inside. And I kept it all together to where I never let you down. But I kept it too much together where I let myself down," said 24-year-old Gomez, who recently took time off to treat depression and anxiety.
"I don't want to see your bodies on Instagram. I want to see what's in here," she added, pointing to her heart. "And I have to say thank you so much to my fans because you guys are so damn loyal, and I don't know what I did to deserve you. If you are broken, you don't have to stay broken."
Grande was shaking onstage as she collected artist of the year at the fan-voted show that aired live on ABC, beating Adele, Rihanna, Carrie Underwood and Bieber. "With or without this, I love you from the bottom of my heart," she said to her fans.
Green Day was one of many big-named acts promoting new albums at the AMAs, including Bruno Mars, the Weekend, Lady Gaga, Sting, John
Legend and The Chainsmokers. But Green Day got political during their performance of "Bang Bang" as band leader Billie Joe Armstrong sang "No KKK, no fascist USA, no Trump" during the show.
The show's hosts — former "Saturday Night Live" comic Jay Pharaoh and model Gigi Hadid — also mentioned the Trump family when telling jokes:
After Pharaoh impersonated Jay Z, Hadid acted like Melania Trump.
"I love my husband, President Barack Obama, and our children, Sasha and Malia," she said, scrunching up her face.
Strumming guitars while singing was one of the night's themes: One Direction's Niall Horan slowed
things down for his acoustic-folk solo single, "This Town": James Bay sang his smoky single, "Let It Go"; and Shawn Mendes performed his hit "Treat You Better" and switched to piano for the aching "Mercy."
But the best singer-guitarist was Gaga, who beautifully belted the lyrics to her latest single, "Million Reasons." She earned a rousing applause from the audience.
Sting also impressed, who performed "Message In a Bottle," ''Every Breathe You Take" and his new single, "I Can't Stop Thinking About You." He received the American Music Award of Merit, which was presented to him by Robert Downey Jr.
"American music lit the musical spark in my young mind," the English singer said after his performance. "My musical soul is all American!"
Other highlights included double winners twenty one pilots and Mars, who kicked off the AMAs with his groovy hit, "24K Magic," backed by his band
who matched his slick, upbeat dance moves.
Grande and Nicki Minaj got steamy during their performance of the reggae-tinged "Side to Side":
Grande's background dancers danced closely on her, and one male dancer even pulled up her skirt, while Minaj, who rapped from a chair, spread her
legs widely.
Other performers included Maroon 5 with Kendrick Lamar; DJ Khaled with Minaj, Future, Rick Ross and August Alsina; and Fifth Harmony, who won
collaboration of the year for "Work from Home" with Ty Dolla $ign.
Prince's 1984 "Purple Rain" album, which gained new attention after his death in April, won top soundtrack. His sister, Tyka Nelson, collected his
trophy onstage and cried as she spoke to the audience.
"We'll keep this for you at Paisley Park until we see you again," she said weeping and naming her siblings. "This is for you."
Other winners included Tim McGraw, the
Chainsmokers and Florida Georgia Line. Rihanna, who didn't attend, won three awards. Adele and Beyonce were also absent but both won an award.
Zayn, who has won a handful of AMAs with his One Direction bandmates, took home new artist of the year.
"Wow. This one just has my name on it, right?" he said. "This has been a crazy year ... I didn't expect anyone to vote for me, so thank you for voting for me."

Disney to open ‘Avatar’ park in the summer of 2017

Seven years is an eternity in the entertainment business, and that’s just how long it’s been since James Cameron’s Avatar arrived on the scene and did some rather boffo box office (as in biggest box office in movie history). But a lot has changed since then, movies come and go, and the public
consciousness is fleeting. Still, Cameron is pressing on with four planned sequels, and now we have more news of Disney involvement. Pandora — The
World of Avatar is opening next summer at Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Florida. No specific date has been announced yet.
According to io9.com , Pandora has been in the works for over five years, and it took three years just to ramp up construction. When your project
concerns a Disney theme park, it’s understood that you are getting into a massive undertaking.
Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Bob Chapek spilled the news at D23’s Destination D, also sharing concept artwork and park details. For example, the main restaurant will be called “Satu’li
Canteen, with a focus on Na’vi art and cultural items,” and there’s also something called Pongu Pongu, which is a “special drink location.” Just roll
with it for now; it’s Disney.
“Even if you haven’t seen the movie, you’ll still get it,” Chapek said in the Los Angeles Times. We would expect nothing less from the people behind the Magic Kingdom. The bridge that will
connect Animal Kingdom to the Avatar area:

Trump was 'awed' when Obama told him what he would have to handle as president

The Wall Street Journal previously cited sources saying that during Trump's private meeting with Obama last week, the president-elect was surprised
by the wide range of the president's job.
New Yorker editor David Remnick described some of the topics the two covered, as explained to him by
some of Obama's staff members:
"Obama told staff members that he had talked Trump through the rudiments of forming a cabinet and policies, including the Iran nuclear deal, counter-terrorism policy, health care — and that the
President-elect's grasp of such matters was, as the debates had made plain, modest at best. Trump, despite his habitual bluster, seemed awed by what
he was being told and about to encounter."
Despite Trump's apparent "loose grasp of policy," Remnick wrote, Obama and his team made sure to respect the traditional etiquette displayed during a
presidential transition — in part to preserve a shot at influencing Trump in the future, Remnick said.
Denis McDonough, the White House chief of staff, also painted a less-than-rosy picture of the Trump transition effort. On the day after Election Day, he
reportedly chatted with the person Trump sent to learn how to staff and run the White House — Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
"Everything's great!" McDonough told The New Yorker, evidently with a struggle.

Trump settles Trump University lawsuits for $25 million

President-elect Donald Trump has agreed to pay $25 million to former students of his for-profit Trump University as part of a settlement that
resolves three outstanding lawsuits against him, including one in which he was set to testify in a trial that was due to begin in San Diego later this month.
As part of the agreement, Trump will pay $1 million in penalties to the state of New York for violating state education laws by labeling his nonaccredited
school a “university” without registering as an educational institution with New York state officials, according to New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman, who announced the
settlement Friday afternoon. The deal includes no admission of wrongdoing.
“In 2013, my office sued Donald Trump for swindling thousands of innocent Americans out of millions of dollars through a scheme known as Trump University,” Schneiderman said in a
statement. “Donald Trump fought us every step of the way, filing baseless charges and fruitless appeals and refusing to settle for even modest
amounts of compensation for the victims of his phony university. Today, that all changes. Today’s $25 million settlement agreement is a stunning
reversal by Donald Trump and a major victory for the over 6,000 victims of his fraudulent university.”
The announcement came after days of frantic negotiations among the parties that began last week, after Trump was elected president and U.S. Judge Gonzalo Curiel — the U.S.-born judge whom Trump repeatedly attacked during the campaign as biased due to his “Mexican” heritage — began prodding the parties to resolve the cases. The first
of three lawsuits was scheduled to start in Curiel’s courtroom Nov. 28. Trump’s lawyers had filed motions urging that the trial date be postponed, arguing that their client was too busy assembling
his new administration to testify in a civil trial.
Trump attorney Daniel Petrocelli said Friday that Trump was determined to resolve the controversy.
“There’s an old saying that we lawyers have that nobody is happy in a settlement. But I don’t think this is true, this is a settlement we can all be happy
about and look forward to putting this behind us and moving forward. President-elect Trump is keenly interested in tackling the problems of our country and moving forward.”
The negotiations were a three-sided affair, involving Trump’s lawyers in Los Angeles, plaintiff’s lawyers in San Diego and Schneiderman’s office in New York, according to a source familiar with the talks. During the negotiations, Trump — who vowed during the campaign to never settle the cases — balked at the
wording of the proposed agreement and refused to accept that he was paying “penalties” for violating state laws, according to the source. Friday’s
announcement by Schneiderman used the word “penalties” for Trump’s alleged violation of state education laws. The final terms of the agreement, however, were presented to Curiel on Friday
afternoon. Curiel must still approve the settlement for it to take effect. Preliminary approval could
come in as few as 30 days, though final approval may take 30 to 60 days beyond that.

Nicole Kidman Reminds Jimmy Fallon He Didn’t Ask Her Out … Twice!

On Thursday’s Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, the 49-year-old actress stopped by to promote her new movie Lion — her first appearance on the show
since a painfully awkward interview in January 2015 in which she reminded Fallon that the two had once gone on a date.
“You wouldn’t talk,” she told Fallon then. “You wouldn’t say anything, and then you put a video game on or something … and so after about an hour and a half, I thought, ‘He has no interest, this is so embarrassing’ and then I was like, ‘Maybe he’s gay.’ ”
Fallon teased Kidman about the failed date on Thursday — but the Oscar winner didn’t appear to be laughing. “I so didn’t want to come back,” she
said.
She then reminded the 42-year-old comedian that their date wasn’t the only time he blew her off.
“You had a chance to ask for my number a second time and you didn’t,” she said.
“We were at David Fincher’s house — I think it was David’s house,” she explained. “And it was when Brad and Jen were still together, so it was a long
time ago. And you could have asked for my number then because it was round two — second chance.
And you still didn’t ask for it.”
He appeared to not remember — which only seemed to upset Kidman more. “That’s even more offensive that you don’t remember,” she said. “You’re
kidding, aren’t you? Do not pretend!”
The Oscar winner gave more details of he encounter.
“Do you remember the kitchen and the buffet? They had the food laid out in the kitchen — it was a big dinner party. And my agent had said, ‘Jimmy’s gonna be there and you’ll see — he can ask for
your number.’ And we were lurking in the kitchen cause everyone went out. And I’m waiting and waiting and waiting. And you’re at the buffet — and you still didn’t ask for my number.”
“You were so not interested,” Kidman added, pointing out how the audience was shocked. “It’s okay… it’s okay…”
Fallon said that the real reason the audience is shocked is because “You were out of my league.”
“They’re like, ‘He wouldn’t have a chance in hell with Nicole Kidman! Why would I even ask you?’ ”
Both Kidman and Fallon are happily married now.
But to twist the knife in a little more, Kidman decided to bring out her husband — Keith Urban — for protection.
“He wanted to come and take care of me while I’m on the show,” she said, sitting on his lap.
Fallon appeared thrown, laughing uncomfortably throughout the appearance even as Urban asked how he was doing. “You have no problem ignoring my wife in the kitchen,” the 49-year-old singer teased Fallon.

Kylie Jenner Throws Tyga a Surprise Birthday Party

On Thursday, Kylie Jenner threw her longtime boyfriend a surprise 27th birthday party — two days early — with the help of his adorable 4-year-old son, King Cairo.
The Keeping Up with the Kardashians star happily shared the special event with fans via her Snapchat.
The first video shows Tyga unexceptionally walking into the decorated kitchen fiesta in shock as Jenner is screaming Happy Birthday. In the clip she is seen holding King by the counter as he adorably chants for his father.
One of the best videos is the one with Tyga unwrapping a handmade gift from his sonwhile asking, “You painted this yourself?” “Yeah…,” King softly replied back.
Jenner has been documenting her and King’s hangouts a lot lately. Just last week, the 19-year- old took to Snapchat to share a handful of videos of the pair spending time together the same day her half-brother Rob Kardashian, 29, and his fiancée Chyna (King’s mom) welcomed their daughter Dream .
The makeup mogul also helped ring in King’s big 4th birthday by helping Tyga throw the youngster a Ferrari theme party in October. She shared cute photos from the event along with a picture featuring the duo with a very happy King.

LeBron James sat on the second half of a back-to-back

LeBron James didn’t play basketball on Wednesday night , even though he was fully capable of playing it better than anyone else in the world on that
particular evening.
The malady in this case was “rest,” as provided by James’ Cleveland Cavaliers in explanation and as accepted by Adam Silver’s NBA by rote. As a result, James sat out a game in Indianapolis against the Pacers – the third such game (out of
five) in Indy that he’s sat out due to rest since re- joining the Cavs back in the summer of 2014.
The Pacers won, not quite handily but with aplomb, by a 103-93 score . Helpers and former All-Stars Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving contributed a combined 51 points for the Cavs, but it wasn’t enough to top a sensible Pacers attack, and the home team emerged the victor. Still, the home team’s move back to .500 was probably not enough for those
that made a point to circle this game on the calendar, those that helped vault the Pacers (a typical attendance thus far: 16,400) up over 17,000 in passing the turnstiles.
Watching the game, you couldn’t have helped wonder how many of those 17K-strong had made a point to pounce on this ticket all the way back in August, mindful of the enhanced price due to the
champs’ and (mostly) James’ presence. A price that no doubt vaulted ahead of the toll it would take to have seen Elfrid Payton’s hair on Monday night in a Pacer win over Orlando, or Devin Booker’s racing-stripe sideburns (and game) in a contest against Phoenix on Friday evening.

TMZ Posted The Photo Of Taylor Swift Allegedly Being Groped

Well, so much for Taylor Swift fighting for her privacy or a judge granting her motion to seal a photo that shows her allegedly being groped. TMZ went ahead and posted the pic.
The gossip hounds have shared the controversial photo, which is central to the legal battle between the pop star and former radio DJ David Mueller.
Mueller originally filed a civil slander lawsuit against Swift in Colorado, claiming that her allegations that he groped her during a meet-and-greet cost him his job. The singer filed a
countersuit , with the photo in question being submitted as evidence.
Though Swift's request to keep the personal image out of the public eye was granted, TMZ took the liberty of posting it online. What's more, the site
claims that "it's hard to see how this pic unduly prejudices anyone."
It seems that TMZ doesn't understand the sensitive nature of this lawsuit. According to Swift, this photo captures the moment she was sexually assaulted.
"Right as the moment came for us to pose for the photo, he took his hand and put it up my dress and grabbed onto my ass cheek and no matter how much I scooted over, it was still there," she said in her videotaped deposition. "It was completely intentional, I've never been so sure of anything in my life."
“I remember being frantic, distressed, feeling violated in a way I had never experienced before,”
Swift told the court. “A meet-and-greet is supposed to be a situation where you’re thanking people for coming. You’re supposed to be welcoming people into your home, which is the arena for that day, and for someone to violate that hospitality in that way, I was completely stunned.”

Pamela Anderson Visits WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange Again, Bearing More Treats

Pamela Anderson made another visit to the controversial mastermind behind WikiLeaks with goodies in hand.
The 49-year-old model and actress was
photographed making a trip to see Julian Assange , the WikiLeaks editor-in-chief, at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London on Sunday. Just like her visit
nearly a month ago , Anderson had plenty of treats in tow.
Dressed in a yellow knit dress that hit below the knee and a camel coat slung over her shoulders, Anderson carried a tray full of snacks.
During her previous visit, Anderson called herself a supporter of Assange and joked of providing him with the meal. “He said I tortured him with bringing him vegan food,” the longtime vegan said.
“Pamela has visited Julian a number of times,”
Anderson’s publicist said in a statement.
“She likes to make him smile — she is a dear supporter of his. She is concerned for his well being, and believes he’s committed no crime and has been treated unkind, and unfairly.”
Assange has claimed political asylum at the embassy since 2012 in order to avoid facing extradition to Sweden over a rape allegation he has long refuted. According to the Associated Press ,
Assange fears being sent to the U.S. to face espionage charges in relation to WikiLeaks.
Previously, the controversial Australian
journalist couldn’t even step out onto the building’s balcony. Until October of 2015, he was even under round-the-clock police guard.
WikiLeaks has been at the center of much of the controversy surrounding this year’s presidential election in the United States. The website has published thousands of hacked emails from major political figures, including Hillary Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta and members of the Democratic National Convention.

Petition Asks Electoral College to Vote Clinton

In fewer than two days, an online petition asking the Electoral College to elect Hillary Clinton instead of Donald Trump for president of the United States
has amassed over 3.5 million signatures.
"Mr. Trump is unfit to serve," the petition argues. "His scapegoating of so many Americans, and his impulsivity, bullying, lying, admitted history of sexual assault, and utter lack of experience make him a danger to the Republic."
"Secretary Clinton won the popular vote and should be president," it continues. "The only reason Trump 'won' is because of the Electoral College. But the
Electoral College can actually give the White House to either candidate. So why not use this most undemocratic of our institutions to ensure a democratic result?"
As the petition explains, despite Clinton winning the popular vote on Tuesday, Trump was ultimately able to secure more electoral votes, thus making him the winner and 45th president-elect. But
technically, the Electoral College doesn't vote until Dec. 19, and the electors have the power to choose Clinton instead of Trump - thus overturning the "results" of the election.
Specifically, those who have signed the petition are asking some electors to vote against their states in order to make Clinton the winner. But even if the
petition reaches its goal of 4.5 million signatures, which it is definitely on track to do, it's still highly unlikely the Electoral College will vote Clinton into
office.
Historically, 99% of electors in the Electoral College have "voted as pledged," and those who haven't have never actually made enough of a difference to sway an election. As the Independent Review Journal so eloquently explains it, "The last time an
elector voted against his pledge was in 2004, when one elector voted for John Kerry's running mate, John Edwards, instead of Kerry. His vote, like the votes of every other faithless elector in American history, had no effect on the outcome of the election."
The other big reason why the Electoral College might decide not to vote against Trump is, perhaps, more obvious: In some states, it is illegal for an elector not to vote as pledged - but as critics of the petition argue, a fine pales in comparison to how Trump and his supporters might react if electors were to vote against him after he's already "won."
But the message the petition sends is nonetheless an important one, and further highlights just how many people are shocked, terrified, and angry about
the results of this election. It is also an
empowering reminder of the importance of democracy, and yet another reminder of how important it is to make your voice heard at the polls.

Samsung’s Prepping A Galaxy S8 PLUS Model

In a bid to undo the damage done by the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 debacle, Samsung plans on hitting back big time in 2017 with a new, larger model of the Galaxy S8 called the Galaxy S8 Plus.

This means, in 2017, there will be two Galaxy S8 handsets: the standard Galaxy S8 and the new Galaxy S8 Plus. Both models will feature EDGE displays and, thanks to new design and display technology, will feature a bezel-less design so the overall size of the handset should not be much bigger than current Galaxy S7 models.

The standard Galaxy S8 will feature a 5.7in OLED display, while the Galaxy S8 Plus will pack in a larger 6.2in panel. But – and this is the kicker – the overall size will not be impacted too much by the inclusion of what is a very large panel, thanks to new design language that will see Samsung eradicate bezels from the handset’s design. Think something like this.

Interestingly, Apple is expected to be doing something similar with its iPhone 8 models in 2017. Both models will apparently feature an all-touch front panel with the Home key embedded inside the new OLED display. This will open up lots more room for display and create a more engaging viewing experience.

So why is Samsung making a new Plus model Galaxy S8? Simple: it wants to win back disgruntled Galaxy Note 7 users early on in 2017. How Samsung will differentiate the two models remains to be seen, but given the lack of interest in its Galaxy S6 EDGE+ handset it seems likely the larger, more costly phone will have to feature a couple of interesting USPs in order to encourage adoption.

Other notable features said to be inside the Galaxy S8 are Viv, Samsung’s new digital assistant technology, a dual-lens camera, new processor technology, improved RAM, Android Nougat, and improved optimisation for overall better performance and stronger battery life.

Here's the official line on VIV from the people that made it:

"Viv is an artificial intelligence platform that enables developers to distribute their products through an intelligent, conversational interface. It’s the simplest way for the world to interact with devices, services and things everywhere. Viv is taught by the world, knows more than it is taught, and learns every day."
When will these phones launch? That’s the million dollar question. But given the damage the Galaxy Note 7 has caused to Samsung’s bottomline, the company will almost certainly push for an early release in order to quell the damage caused by the Galaxy Note 7 being taken out of contention in 2016.

Beyond this, Samsung has also confirmed that the Galaxy Note range will return in 2017. Between now and then we have the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus to look forward to, as well as new releases from LG, HTC and, potentially, Nokia….

What do you want to see inside the new Galaxy S8?

Hillary Couldn't Stop Crying, Told Friend She Blames Obama For Loss

Hillary Clinton "couldn't stop crying" once she learned of her loss to Donald Trump on Tuesday, best-selling conservative author Ed Klein told Newsmax TV on Wednesday.

"About 6:30 this morning she called an old friend," he began on "The Steve Malzberg Show" in an interview. "She was crying, inconsolably.

"She couldn't stop crying.

"Her friend said — her female friend from way, way, back — said that it was even hard to understand what she was saying, she was crying so hard.

"This is Hillary we're talking about," Klein said.
"Eventually," he continued, "her friend said she could make out that she was blaming James Comey, the director of the FBI, for her loss — and this I don't understand exactly — and the president of the United States for not doing enough."


Klein said his source then asked further about President Barack Obama.

"She said: 'Well, she felt, Hillary felt, that the president could have stopped Comey a long time ago, because that's what [former President] Bill [Clinton] said."

Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo signs LIFE contract with Nike

Just days after signing a contract extension with Real Madrid, superstar Cristiano Ronaldo now appears to have signed another major contract -- this time with his sponsor Nike. Ronaldo took part in the unveiling of his new signature cleats over the weekend where he described it as the "best contract of my career." He also suggested that his new deal with the sportswear company is "for life."
According to reports, the deal could be worth over $1 billion.
That's right. That's a ton of cash.
Ronaldo has been a member of the swoosh family since 2003 and along with Brazilian star Neymar, he's one of the faces of the company. The report also suggests exactly what Ronaldo stated on the video above -- that the duration of the deal is similar to NBA superstar LeBron James' lifetime pact.
It's been quite a week for CR7. On Monday, he signed a new contract extension with Real Madrid, and per Forbes, he's the highest paid athlete in the world.
Now that he struck new deal with Nike, this might help him solidify his name atop that list.

Trump defeats Clinton in stunning White House upset

Republican Donald Trump stunned the world by defeating heavily favored Hillary Clinton in Tuesday's presidential election, ending eight years of Democratic rule and sending the United States on a new, uncertain path.

A wealthy real-estate developer and former reality TV host, Trump rode a wave of anger toward Washington insiders to win the White House race against Clinton, the Democratic candidate whose gold-plated establishment resume included stints as a first lady, U.S. senator and secretary of state.

Worried a Trump victory could cause economic and global uncertainty, investors were in full flight from risky assets such as stocks, and the U.S. dollar sank. U.S. stock futures dived 5 percent at one point, worse than the sell-off caused by the British vote to leave the European Union in June that wiped trillions of dollars off world markets.

Trump collected enough of the 270 state-by-state electoral votes needed to win a four-year term that starts on Jan. 20, taking battleground states where presidential elections are traditionally decided, U.S. television networks projected.

Trump, appearing with his family before cheering supporters in a New York hotel ballroom, said it was time to heal the divisions caused by the campaign and find common ground after a campaign that exposed deep differences among Americans.

"It is time for us to come together as one united people," Trump said. "I will be president for all Americans."

He said he had received a call from Clinton to congratulate him on the win and praised her for her service and for a hard-fought campaign.

His comments were an abrupt departure from his campaign trail rhetoric in which he repeatedly slammed Clinton as "crooked" amid supporters' chants of "lock her up."

At Clinton's election event at the Javits conference center a mile away from Trump's event, an electric atmosphere among supporters expecting a Clinton win slowly grew grim as her losses piled up.

Clinton opted not to appear at her event, instead sending campaign chairman John Podesta out to tell her supporters to go home. "We're not going to have anything more to say tonight," he said.

Clinton was expected to speak on Wednesday morning, an aide said.

Victorious in a cliffhanger race that opinion polls had forecast was Clinton's to win, Trump won avid support among a core base of white non-college educated workers with his promise to be the "greatest jobs president that God ever created."

In his victory speech, he said he had a great economic plan, would embark on a project to rebuild American infrastructure and would double U.S. economic growth.

His win raises a host of questions for the United States at home and abroad. He campaigned on a pledge to take the country on a more isolationist, protectionist "America First" path. He has vowed to impose a 35 percent tariff on goods exported to the United States by U.S. companies that went abroad.

Trump, who at 70 will be the oldest first-term U.S. president, came out on top after a bitter and divisive campaign that focused largely on the character of the candidates and whether they could be trusted to serve as the country's 45th president.

The presidency will be Trump's first elected office, and it remains to be seen how he will work with Congress, even though Republicans were set to retain control of both chambers. During the campaign Trump was the target of sharp disapproval, not just from Democrats but from many in his own party.

Television networks projected Republicans would retain control of the U.S. House of Representatives, where all 435 seats were up for grabs. In the U.S. Senate, the party also put up an unexpectedly tough fight to protect its majority in the U.S. Senate.

CLINTON'S WEAKNESSES

Trump entered the race 17 months ago and survived a series of seemingly crippling blows, many of them self-inflicted, including the emergence in October of a 2005 video in which he boasted about making unwanted sexual advances on women. He apologized but within days, several women emerged to say he had groped them, allegations he denied. He was judged the loser of all three presidential debates with Clinton.

A Reuters/Ipsos national Election Day poll offered some clues to the outcome. It found Clinton underperformed expectations with women, winning their vote by only about 7 percent, similar to President Barack Obama when he won re-election in 2012.

And while she won Hispanics, black and millennial voters, Clinton did not win those groups by greater margins than Obama did in 2012. Younger blacks did not support Clinton like they did Obama, as she won eight of 10 black voters between the ages of 35 and 54. Obama won almost 100 percent of those voters in 2012.

TOUTS HIS BUSINESS ACUMEN

During the campaign, Trump said he would "make America great again" through the force of his personality, negotiating skill and business acumen. He proposed refusing entry to the United States of people from war-torn Middle Eastern countries, a modified version of an earlier proposed ban on Muslims.

His volatile nature, frequent insults and unorthodox proposals led to campaign feuds with a long list of people, including Muslims, the disabled, Republican U.S. Senator John McCain, Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly, the family of a slain Muslim-American soldier, a Miss Universe winner and a federal judge of Mexican heritage.

A largely anti-Trump crowd of about 400 to 500 people gathered outside the White House after his victory, many visibly in shock or tears. Some carried signs that read "stand up to racism" and "love trumps hate."

The election was unprecedented in the way it turned Americans against each other, according to dozens of interviews in rural United States and across some of the most politically charged battleground states.

Throughout his campaign - and especially in his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention in July - Trump described a dark America that had been knocked to its knees by China, Mexico, Russia and Islamic State. The American dream was dead, he said, smothered by malevolent business interests and corrupt politicians, and he alone could revive it.

He has vowed to win economic concessions from China and to build a wall on the southern U.S. border with Mexico to keep out undocumented immigrants.

As financial markets absorbed the prospect of Trump's win during Tuesday evening and into the early hours of Wednesday, the Mexican peso plunged to its lowest-ever levels. The peso had become a touchstone for sentiment on the election as Trump threatened to rip up a free trade agreement with Mexico.

His triumph was a rebuke to Obama, a Democrat who spent weeks flying around the country to campaign against him, repeatedly casting doubt on his suitability for the White House. Obama will hand over the office to Trump after serving the maximum eight years allowed by law.

Trump promises to push Congress to repeal Obama's troubled healthcare plan and to reverse his Clean Power Plan. He plans to create jobs by relying on U.S. fossil fuels such as oil and gas.

CLINTON'S FAILED SECOND BID

Trump's victory marked a frustrating end to the presidential aspirations of Clinton, 69, who failed for the second time to be elected the first woman U.S. president.

In a posting on Twitter during Tuesday evening, she acknowledged a battle that was unexpectedly tight given her edge in opinion polls going into Election Day.

"This team has so much to be proud of. Whatever happens tonight, thank you for everything," she tweeted.

The wife of former President Bill Clinton and herself a former U.S. senator, she held a steady lead in many opinion polls for months. Voters perceived in her a cautious and calculating candidate and an inability to personally connect with them.

Even though the FBI found no grounds for criminal charges after a probe into her use of a private email server rather than a government system while she was secretary of state, the issue allowed critics to raise doubts about her integrity. Hacked emails also showed a cozy relationship between her State Department and donors to her family's Clinton Foundation charity.

Trump seized on the emails to charge that Clinton represented a corrupt political system in Washington that had to be swept clean.

Trump's national security ideas, opposed by most of the elite voices across the political spectrum, have simultaneously included promises to build up the U.S. military while at the same time avoiding foreign military entanglements.

He wants to rewrite international trade deals to reduce trade deficits. He has taken positions that raise the possibility of damaging relations with America's most trusted allies in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

He has promised to warm relations with Russia that have chilled under Obama over Russian President Vladimir Putin's intervention in the Syrian civil war and his seizure of Ukraine's Crimea region.

Putin sent Trump a congratulatory note on Wednesday, saying he hoped that they can get the U.S.-Russian relationship out of crisis.

Six-Year-Old Boy Dies of Polio-Like Symptoms As Disease is On the Rise in the U.S.

A 6-year-old boy died on Sunday from polio-like symptoms that has affected seven other children in the state of Washington.
Daniel Ramirez was taken to Seattle Children’s Hospital in October afflicted with an unknown virus that caused his brain to swell. He was placed in a
medically induced coma, according to the GoFundMe page created by his family.
“It saddens us to announce that Daniel passed away on Sunday, October 30, 2016, surrounded by his family,” the family wrote on their sons Facebook page. “Daniel was an amazingly sweet
little boy, who could put a smile on anyone’s face.
He had a personality that made him loved by everyone who ever met him. Daniel was taken from us too soon, but his memory will live on, and he will never be forgotten. Rest In Peace Sweet
Daniel!”
The rare condition has been documented in 33 states that have confirmed cases of Acute Flaccid
Myelitis (AFM) in 89 patients, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most of those patients have been children.
“It’s something that’s very scary for people because it’s a polio-like illness and it can show up in otherwise healthy children,” Dr. Aaron Michael Milstone, the Associate Professor Pediatrics at
John Hopkins University School of Medicine, said in early October.
AFM is very similar to polio in its target of the nervous system, spinal chord and symptoms of limp weakness, paralysis and respiratory failure.
“We’ve been talking about this for a couple years now, we first noticed it two years ago,” Milstone, who conducts research on AFM, said. “The speculation is that Enterovirus D68 is the cause of the virus.”
That Paralyses Children on the Rise
Milestone’s advice for parents concerned their children are at risk for contracting the virus is to implement good health practices such as washing
hands frequently and avoiding contact with people who are sick. This includes letting common cold symptoms pass and being on alert for limb weakness.

People Are Pissed About the Starbucks Holiday Cup

Over the weekend, what seemed to be a leaked photo of this year’s Starbucks holiday cup went viral on Imgur and everyone thought they were in on a big secret.
In the same way that the pumpkin spice latte signals the beginning of fall, the arrival of the Starbucks red cup signals the start holiday season.
But for as many people who are obsessed with "red cup season," there are just as many who hate it and find it to be exclusive to certain religious
groups.
Well, that might all be changing: This year, the "red" cups are actually green.
It’s not red, it’s green - and even better, the cup is all about inclusiveness. *Starbucks mic drop*.
Starbucks chariman and CEO Howard Schultz said that the cup - which has an illustration of a large group of diverse people standing closely together -
is a reminder of our "shared values, and the need to be good to each other." He also said that during a hostile time in our country (hello, 2016 election) the cup was created as a symbol of unity.

New York, UPS spar over proposed $872 million fine for cigarette shipments

New York state and city authorities
sparred with United Parcel Service Inc on Wednesday during closing arguments in a trial over whether the world's largest package delivery
company should be fined for allegedly delivering untaxed cigarettes from smoke shops on Native-American reservations.
The closing arguments came in a lawsuit over whether UPS illegally shipped more than 683,000 cartons of untaxed cigarettes, mostly from
reservation smoke shops. The suit is part of a broader effort by the state to combat smuggling of cigarettes from lower-tax areas.
John Oleske, a lawyer for New York state, urged U.S. District Judge Katherine Forrest in Manhattan to impose an $872 million fine. He said such a steep penalty was justified because the company acted with an "entitled sense of disregard" in failing to vet shipments from entities with a history of dealing in contraband.
Attorneys for UPS countered that no penalty was appropriate because the company had abided by a prior agreement with the state on compliance.
Jamie Levitt, an attorney for UPS, said that if any fine were levied, it should be a small fraction of what the state had proposed.
"The penalties that are sought here are excessive and unconstitutional," Levitt said.
UPS has denied the allegations. The company said in a statement it is "vigorously" fighting the case and believes the state and city are overreaching.
In addition to financial damages, the lawsuit, which was filed in February 2015, seeks a court-appointed monitor to police compliance.
On Wednesday, Forrest, who will decide the case, said she would consider such a measure cautiously.
"I think a monitor on a corporation is a very big deal," the judge said. Forrest also questioned the state's and city's arguments, including how to reconcile evidence that the bulk of some shipments were cigars instead of cigarettes.

Man Found Living with 12 Girls Allegedly ‘Groomed’ Them to Think He Was a Prophet

While Lee Kaplan lived with 12 girls in his Pennsylvania home , authorities say, he allegedly brainwashed them to believe he was a prophet of God — grooming several of them for sex and calling six of them his “wives.”
Prosecutors this week revealed these and other harrowing details of the girls’ years of alleged mental and sexual abuse, as the investigation of Kaplan continues and he faces multiplying charges.
“This guy set up a virtual feeding ground of victims,” Bucks County District Attorney Matthew Weintraub says . “He preyed upon one by one.”
Kaplan, who was charged with sex crimes after police rescued the girls from his home in June, is now accused of not only fathering two children
with the eldest of the girls but also sexually abusing five of her younger sisters, Weintraub announced on Monday.
That same day Kaplan pleaded not guilty to more than a dozen new charges, including rape of a child, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and
indecent assault, Weintraub says.
“He took these children into his home not too far from where we stand here today,” Weintraub alleged at a news conference. “Over time he played
on their trust and affection for him. He groomed them to believed that he was a religious, cult-like figure for whom they should submit their will.”
Weintraub says that Kaplan allegedly
brainwashed the girls, using tactics similar to Stockholm syndrome, by taking advantage of their innocence and abusing his position of authority.
“They to accept it,” Weintraub says. “I’m saddened.
I’m sickened, but I’m not surprised.”
Kaplan, 51, was originally charged with statutory sexual assault, unlawful contact with a minor and aggravated indecent assault after authorities rescued the girls, who ranged in age
from six months to 18 years old, from his home in Feasterville, Pennsylvania. (Authorities were tipped off anonymously.)
After Kaplan’s arrest, the eldest of the girls told investigators she was 14 when her parents handed her over to Kaplan after he helped them financially.
She told police she and Kaplan have two children together: a 3 year-old girl and a 10-month-old infant.
The eldest girl also said that years before moving into his home, Kaplan had his own bedroom in her parents’ Lancaster County home in Pennsylvania. She alleged that the sexual abuse
started one night when she was 10. It didn’t stop until her rescue this summer.
Nine of the 11 other girls living in
Kaplan’s home were her sisters, according to authorities; the remaining two were her daughters.
Newly released court documents obtained shows the sisters, who were quiet during initial interviews, recently opened up to investigators about their years of living with Kaplan.
Authorities had been unsure if he had harmed any of the 11 other girls, but six of the sisters, including the eldest, told police they were Kaplan’s “wives,”
according to the documents.
The youngest is 10.

Ben Simmons' year at LSU shows the worst of the college basketball system

The more Ben Simmons speaks about his lone season at LSU, the clearer his legacy in college basketball becomes.
This year’s No. 1 draft pick is a living,
breathing monument to the hypocrisy of the flawed one-and-done system.
He arrived at LSU with little desire to achieve anything more than showcasing his talents to NBA scouts. He stopped attending classes as soon as he had guaranteed his eligibility for the entirety of his freshman season. And he escaped punishment for it because LSU was more interested in profiting from his presence on its basketball team than
making sure he received an education during his brief time on campus.
In “One and Done,” a documentary about his path to the NBA that will air Friday on Showtime, Simmons grouses that for him college was “pointless” and “wasting time.” ESPN.com received the documentary ahead of time and provided the following excerpts .

“Everybody’s making money except the
players. We’re the ones waking up early
as hell to be the best teams and do
everything they want us to do and then
the players get nothing. They say
education, but if I’m there for a year, I
can’t get much education.
“I’m here to play. I’m not here to go to
school.”

Simmons kept his GPA high enough to remain eligible after the fall semester of his freshman year, however, he seldom went to class during spring semester. At one point in the trailer, he remarks, “I
have to be getting better every day. I’m not worried about my oceanography class.”
Even though Simmons has a strong
argument about the need to relax rules preventing college athletes from earning what they’re worth, here’s what rings hollow about his stinging criticism of the NCAA: For him, attending a U.S.
college was a choice, not a necessity.
Simmons could have entered the 2015 NBA draft had he attended high school in his native Australia instead of enrolling at a prep school in Florida. Or
he could have turned pro after his senior year at Montverde Academy and spent a year playing in the D-League or overseas.
But instead, Simmons chose to play last season at LSU, where his godfather David Patrick was an assistant coach. And while that doesn’t negate his right to lambast an exploitative system, it does make it tougher to swallow some of his complaints about being forced to play for free or being made to attend classes.
By making no attempt to complete the spring semester, Simmons revealed plenty about his own character. He clearly had no qualms about damaging LSU’s APR score, which if it drops low
enough could saddle his former teammates and coaches with scholarship restrictions or even a
postseason ban.