A dismal year on Wall Street has been further confirmed by the latest business-by-business report card.

Investment banking revenues at the top-12 banks fell to $118.1 billion during the first three quarters of 2017, according to data from industry consultant Coalition.

Banks saw a strong first quarter in 2017, but it's been downhill since.

Third-quarter revenues dropped 11% from 2016 to $36 billion, according to the latest data from Coalition. That follows a trying second-quarter in which revenues fell 5% from the previous year to $39.5 billion.

The culprit for the down year hasn't changed in recent months: Trading teams have been hammered, especially on the Fixed Income, Currency, and Commodities (FICC) side of the business.

Through three quarters, FICC trading is down $4.1 billion, or 7%, to $54.9 billion. 

Fourth quarter projections look just as bleak, with high-yield credit markets showing warning signs in recent weeks that could compound the trading woes.

The Coalition data includes revenues for: Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Barclays, BNP Paribas, Citigroup, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, HSBC, JPMorgan, Morgan Stanley, Societe Generale, and UBS.

Here's the full breakdown:

Despite a hot start, Wall Street revenues fell 1% to $118.1 billion through the first nine months of the year. An 11% decline in the third quarter — including 21% and 3% fall-offs in FICC and equities trading, respectively — erased a 4% gain on the investment banking side.

FICC trading has been the most dire part of the business in 2017, falling $4.1 billion, or 7%, to $54.9 billion through three quarters. Most of that decline can be attributed to G10 rates and G10 FX, thanks in part to low volatility, especially compared to 2016. Commodities continued to get clobbered, falling 35% from last year and 50% from 2015.

Equities also declined, although much more modestly at 3%, a $1 billion retreat. Depressed demand from clients and slower trading contributed to struggles in cash equities and prime services, which fell 7% and 2%, respectively.

Everybody who is anybody in the nation's capital lives in the neighborhood of Kalorama — at least, it must feel that way sometimes.

Situated north of Dupont Circle, the historic neighborhood is home to numerous bigwigs in media, politics, diplomacy, and lobbying.

Barack and Michelle Obama moved there in January after exiting the White House, while Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump moved to the neighborhood after President Donald Trump took office.

But they are far from the only big names in the neighborhood, which counts Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, Bloomberg Media CEO Justin Smith, Fox News host Chris Wallace and countless others among its residents.

We took a walk through Kalorama on a recent trip to Washington, D.C. to see why the area is such a coveted destination.

Kalorama is located in northwest Washington D.C., just above Dupont Circle. It's actually two neighborhoods: Sheridan-Kalorama (in yellow) and Kalorama Triangle (in purple).

We started our tour in Kalorama Triangle, around 20th St NW and Wyoming Ave. Most Kalorama residents consider the "real" Kalorama to be in Sheridan-Kalorama.

But Kalorama Triangle houses one of the city's oldest luxury apartment buildings, The Mendota, which was first built in 1901 and has long had upper-class residents.

Owning a vacation home is a hallmark of the 1%.

While most Americans will shell out hundreds of dollars a weekend for hotel rooms or home rentals in the most popular ski towns, the richest of the rich can afford to put down roots.

Realtor.com recently published a list of the most expensive ski towns in the US and how much it would cost to buy a home there this winter season.

The site started with a list of more than 300 ski resorts and then located the nearest town or city in those areas, eliminating any with less than 50 homes for sale and including only one city per state.

Below, check out 10 of the most expensive ski towns to buy a home this season, with prices ranging from $598,000 to over $2 million.

SEE ALSO: 16 of the most luxurious ski resorts to visit this winter

DON'T MISS: One of the best times to get travel deals all year happens the week after Thanksgiving

10. Stowe, Vermont

Median listing price: $598,000

9. Sun Valley, Idaho

Median listing price: $622,000

8. Mahwah, New Jersey

Median listing price: $658,000

Not all pictures on the internet are what they seem.

Some are photoshopped, like a lot of celebrity Instagram posts or magazine covers.

Others are part of the mysteries of the internet, like a famous viral photo that suggested a group of friends were missing a pair of legs.

Here are 11 photos that will make you do a double-take — along with explanations of what's really going on.

Something weird is going on with the cover for Ariana Grande's album "My Everything."

Grande's second record had a cover of her sitting on a stool. But something's off.

There's no way she could sit on a stool like that.

As many other people have pointed out, there's no way Grande could be sitting on a stool in the way she appears to be on the album cover. Comedian-writer Jesse McLaren even attempted to recreate the pose, inspiring other failed attempts.

A promotional image for Grande's single "Focus" also seemed off. One of her hands looked disproportionately large.

Kendall Jenner seems to be happily hanging out with Hailey Baldwin and Kylie, right?

InStyle magazine's Instagram photo of the three models hanging out together after the Golden Globes went viral for a reason, though.

• People across the US just received some extra time off thanks to Thanksgiving.

• Business Insider spoke with several productivity and work experts to get tips on how to bounce back from a long weekend.

• They recommended hitting the ground running on your first day back.

A long weekend makes snapping out of weekend mode that much harder.

There's a lot to be said about how you should — or shouldn't— spend long weekends.

But it's equally important to plan out the days that follow a long weekend.

When you're coming back from some time off and you have a shorter week to get everything done, it usually helps to hit the ground running.

With that in mind, here are six things that successful people do first when they return from long weekend:

DON'T MISS: 11 things unsuccessful people do over long weekends

SEE ALSO: 8 things successful people do after getting back from vacation

They get to work early

When it comes to holidays like Labor Day, almost everyone has time off. So you won't be falling behind by showing up to work at your usual time.

But coming in early is a good idea if you want to be as productive as possible after a holiday weekend.

"That will mitigate the workload avalanche and give you a head start, sans distraction," Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert and the author of "Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant: How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job," tells Business Insider.

They scrutinize their to-do lists

Productive people know that long, unwieldy to-do lists are essentially useless. There's no better time to start cutting items from your list than the day you get back from long weekend.

"Now that you've spent a good bit away from your desk, you have tangible proof that those tasks you're always putting off aren't holding up your ceiling," freelance reporter Kevin Purdy writes in Fast Company.

They double check their schedules

Don't forget to double check your schedule. Remember, you'll likely be dealing with a shortened work week. Don't try to cram too many items onto your weekly schedule, or you might wind up burning yourself out.

The holidays are upon us so that means it’s time to take in the movies that studios and distributors hope will find award season attention — along with a few popcorn movies mixed in (we’re looking at you “Bright” and “Star Wars: The Last Jedi”).

From Pixar’s latest “Coco” to “I, Tonya,” which depicts the troubled life of disgraced figure skater Tonya Harding, and Paul Thomas Anderson’s anticipated “Phantom Thread,” the rest of the year has some movies you should be excited to check out.

Here are 19 movies we think are worth your time:

SEE ALSO: How a Netflix documentary got inside New York City's intensely insular Hasidic community

“Coco” — In Theaters

The new Pixar movie weaves a story about family and never forgetting loved ones who have passed on, while celebrating the Mexican holiday Dia de los Muertos. It’s perfect for the whole family.

“Darkest Hour” — In Theaters

Gary Oldman gives a master class (and is almost unrecognizable) playing Winston Churchill. Set at the time the Nazis have the allies on the run, Oldman plays Churchill as a man driven to not give into his critics, and continue to fight though all the odds seem against him. It’s one of the best performances of the year and could earn Oldman his first-ever Oscar win.

“Roman J. Israel, Esq.” — In Theaters

Starring Denzel Washington as a defense attorney whose life is turned upside down after his partner at his law firm becomes ill, the actor gives a powerful performance as a man who in his fight for justice turns to a darker path.

A good book is like food for the soul. When you want to curl up by the fire with a truly great one, look no further than this list furnished by members of the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

If you've got an entrepreneur or two in your life, these might make good holiday gifts, too:

SEE ALSO: 24 CEOs and execs on the daily habits that made them successful

1. Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don't, by Jim Collins

Collins and his team did a rigorous study of businesses that excelled as compared to those that stayed mediocre. In his words, "Some of the key concepts discerned in the study fly in the face of our modern business culture and will, quite frankly, upset some people."

2. The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers, by Ben Horowitz

Cofounder of VC firm Andreessen Horowitz keeps it real in this practical book that draws heavily on his own experiences in the Valley. It lives up to its description as "wisdom for managing the toughest problems business school doesn't cover."

3. Big Science: Ernest Lawrence and the Invention That Launched the Military-Industrial Complex, by Michael Hiltzik

Don't let the title fool you—this book is more entertaining than it seems. Part biography, part adventure story, part history book, it really is, "[t]he epic story of how science went 'big'." 

Millions dream about what it would be like to date — and eventually marry — a royal, but only a select few ever do. That's why the world was captivated when Prince Harry began dating American actress and philanthropist Meghan Markle — and excitement went into overdrive when they announced their engagement in November 2017.

The two have been secretive about their relationship, but the little insight we have gotten shows that they're a couple that is head-over-heels for each other. 

The royal wedding apparently won't be happening until the Spring of 2018, so for now, catch up on everything you need to know about their royal love story.

October 2016: It was first reported that they were dating.

People went totally crazy when The Sunday Express reported that the country's single prince was dating American actress, philanthropist, and blogger Meghan Markle. A source told the publication that he was "happier than he's been for many years" with his new lady love. 

November 2016: Meghan called herself the "luckiest girl in the world."

While they still had not publicly announced that they were dating, Meghan made headlines when she told The Vancouver Sun in a Q&A that "my cup runneth over and I'm the luckiest girl in the world!"

Of course, everyone took this to be a shout-out to rumored new boyfriend, Harry. 

November 2016: Harry secretly visited Meghan in Toronto, Canada.

Harry arrived as secretly as possible to the Toronto airport to visit Meghan while she was filming "Suits." While The Star reported that the pair attended a Halloween party in the city, Us Weekly reported that Meghan and Harry stayed put in her apartment all weekend getting cozy. 

Actor Meghan Markle's life has undoubtedly changed since she began dating Prince Harry last year, but with news of their recent engagement, her life is about to change in an even bigger way.

We've rounded up all of the major ways Markle's life will be altered when we finally get another royal wedding. 

SEE ALSO: Everything to know about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's royal love story

She may have to give up her career.

Markle is an accomplished actor, philanthropist, blogger, and fashion designer. And although the Crown loves ambitious partners for royals, wives of royals are often "encouraged" to give that up and focus on royal pursuits once they marry into the family. 

Many have noted that Markle shut down her blog, "The Tig," in the past few months and has started using her platform to speak about charities she is passionate about — a career more in line with what she'd be encouraged to do as a royal. 

There's nothing explicitly saying she'd have to give up on acting, but Grace Kelly notably abandoned her acting career when she became Princess of Monaco. 

She can't be active in politics.

Though Markle is outspoken about social issues and racial issues, she would not be able to be an active participant in politics when she marries Harry. 

Royals are apparently forbidden from discussing specific political views publicly and they don't vote. Members of the royal family are also prevented from running for office. So, alas, Meghan won't be making her presidential run anytime soon. 

She can never play Monopoly at home.

This is an odd, but true fact. The royal family is expressly forbidden from playing the board game "Monopoly" with each other because the games apparently got "too vicious." 

Hopefully Harry tipped her off to this before she brings the game as a fun activity over the holidays. 

Turns out that Cinderella doesn't need a ball to meet her prince — she could find him in a bar.

At least, that's how Mary Elizabeth Donaldson, who's now the crown princess of Denmark, found her prince.

And then there's Kate Middleton. Her 2011 wedding to Prince William captivated millions of people around the globe. The two of them met in college.

Now, actress Meghan Markle will soon join the royal ranks when she marries Prince Harry in the spring of 2018.

We've rounded up 19 commoners who married into royal families — and an explainer for why Princess Diana isn't one of them:

Grace Kelly — Princess of Monaco

Grace Kelly began her acting career in 1950, but retired in 1956 to marry Rainier III, the prince of Monaco. They had met during a photo shoot at the Cannes Film Festival in 1955, one she almost skipped. The couple had three children.

She suffered a minor stroke while driving and was killed in 1982 when the car went over the edge of a 45-foot embankment.

Charlene Wittstock — Princess of Monaco

Charlene is a former South African Olympic swimmer. She met Prince Albert II, Grace Kelly's son, during a swimming meet in Monaco in 2000. The couple went public in 2006, at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics, and married in July 2011. Wittstock gave birth to fraternal twins in 2014.

Kate Middleton — Duchess of Cambridge

Kate was studying art history at the University of St Andrews when she met Prince William in 2001. After dating on and off for numerous years, the couple married on April 29, 2011, and millions of people around the world tuned in to watch the ceremony. They have two children: Prince George, born in July 2013, and Princess Charlotte, born in May 2015.

• Wall Street billionaire Stanley Druckenmiller has sold his Greenwich, Connecticut home. 
• It sold for $25 million after listing for $31.5 million.
• Druckenmiller was formerly a exec with Soros Fund Management.

Billionaire trader Stanley Druckenmiller, formerly a top investment strategist to George Soros, has sold his palatial Greenwich, Connecticut, estate for $25 million, according to the Real Deal.

That price is merely $2 million above the price he paid for it in 2004. It's just the third Greenwich sale above $20 million this year, listing agent Leslie McElwreath of Sotheby's International Realty told the magazine.

The estate has 12,238 square feet of living space and eight bedrooms in total. It sits on nearly 20 acres and is technically three lots combined into one.

Druckenmiller and his wife sold the home because they don't get enough use out of it, McElwreath said.

Druckenmiller is the former president of Duquesne Capital Management, which he founded before joining Soros Fund Management.

SEE ALSO: A hedge fund manager just put his $70 million Hamptons beach house on the market — take a look inside

The estate, known as Sabine Farm, was built by publisher H.J. Fisher in 1910.

After Druckenmiller and his wife bought the estate in 2004, they renovated the mansion.

The home has 12,238 square feet of living space.

Flight Network — Canada's largest online travel website — has launched its first annual list of The World’s 50 Best Beaches, chosen by 632 of the world’s top travel professionals, including experienced travel journalists, travel agents, and bloggers.

Calling the list "a diverse collection of off-the-beaten-path slices of paradise from every hidden corner of our planet," the ranking is made up of places that ranked highly on three scores (out of 10) — Sheer Untouched Beauty, Remoteness, and Sand and Water Quality.

Average Days of Sunshine and Average Annual Temperature were also taken into consideration.

Including powder-white beaches and stunning blue waters from all over the world, "this is truly the most up to date and definitive list in the world," according to Flight Network.

Scroll down to see the 10 best beaches in the world, according to the list, then click here to see the full top 50 ranking.

10. Trunk Bay, US Virgin Islands.

The beach was donated to the National Park Service more than five decades ago and remains one of the best-preserved in the world, according to Flight Network. You'll find a 205-metre underwater snorkelling trail, "silky sands," clear water, and colourful sea creature to make your trip picture-perfect.

"This amazing beach in the US Virgin Islands offers spectacular snorkeling, extraordinary views, and so much more beauty that you have to see it to believe it," said Michelle of blog Making Sense of Cents.

9. Hidden Beach, Mexico.

Influencer The Product Poet called Mexico's hidden beach "A true secret paradise invisible from the outside," adding: "Playa del Amor is filled with hidden water tunnels to explore for hours."

The beach, only reachable by boat (or by swimming or kayaking) is tucked away inside a "cave with a cavernous opening in the roof to let the perfect amount of sunlight enter," according to Flight Network, who said that the hole in the roof of the cave was reportedly made when Mexican forces were engaging in bombing practice during World War I.

8. Hyams Beach, Australia.

With "the whitest sand I’ve ever seen against a beautiful backdrop," according to Jemma York of Academy Travel (and the Guinness Book of World Records), Hyams Beach — located on the south coast of New South Wales — is the perfect relaxation spot. 

• Royal engagement rings have ranged from incredibly expensive to surprisingly simple.
• Princess Diana's ring was from a catalogue anyone could have ordered from, while the Prince of Denmark gifted his fiancée with a ring reminiscent of the Danish flag.
• Grace Kelly's 10.5-carat diamond from the Prince of Monaco has been displayed in museums.
• Prince Harry designed Meghan Markle's engagement ring with diamonds from one of his mother's brooches.

From elaborate dresses to enormous cakes, royal weddings are usually lavish affairs. And while a royal couple's engagement might be a more understated celebration, it often involves the gifting of priceless family heirlooms.

Over the years, royal engagement rings have ranged from mind-blowingly expensive diamonds to surprisingly simple pieces of jewelry. Here are 10 photos of royal couples and their rings.

The Prince of Monaco proposed to actress Grace Kelly with an engagement ring of interlocking diamonds and rubies, but then bought her a bigger 10.5-carat diamond.

Source: InStyle

That diamond ring was displayed at the "Grace, Princess of Monaco: A Tribute to the Life and Legacy of Grace Kelly" exhibit at Sotheby's in New York in 2007.

The diamonds in Queen Elizabeth II's 3-carat engagement ring came from a tiara that belonged to Prince Phillip's mother, Princess Andrew of Greece.

Source: Vogue

Salvatore "Toto" Riina — the long-time "boss of bosses" of the Sicilian Mafia who was serving 26 life sentences related to dozens of murders he orchestrated — died at an Italian hospital prison ward on November 17.

His death, a day after his 87th birthday, puts the spotlight back on Cosa Nostra, which waged a bloody campaign in the 1980s and 1990s to counter Italy’s crackdown on the Mafia.

Cosa Nostra only lost its pre-eminence as its top bosses were captured and became turncoats, helping give rise in recent decades to the powerful Calabrian ’Ndrangheta crime group.

Here are five things to know about Riina and the Sicilian Mafia he once ruthlessly controlled:

SEE ALSO: Italian police busted a mafia group trying to smuggle over a billion dollars' worth of cocaine into Europe

The cradle of Cosa Nostra

The Italian town of Corleone, Riina’s birthplace, has been Cosa Nostra’s stronghold during both his reign and that of reputed chieftain Bernardo Provenzano, who died last year a decade after his capture in Sicily following some 40 years of hiding in the countryside near the hill town.

The town inspired the fictional crime clan’s name in “The Godfather” novel and hit movies. The Italian government last year dissolved Corleone’s municipal government on suspicion that Mafiosi had infiltrated it. Using intimidation tactics, the Cosa Nostra frequently influences decisions and public contract bidding and delivers votes, prompting some politicians to curry the mob’s favor.

Beware the nickname

Mafia “dons” all sport colorful nicknames, many in the Sicilian dialect. Salvatore “Toto” Riina was no exception.

Recognized as the “boss of bosses” of the Cosa Nostra, he was also known as “The Beast (La Belva)” for the ruthless bloodbaths he instigated against anti-Mafia prosecutors and law enforcement. Those included the 1992 murders of anti-Mafia prosecutors Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino. He also was known as “u curto,” Sicilian for “the short one,” for his physical stature.

A power struggle is unleashed

Top anti-Mafia prosecutors say Riina’s death is sure to spark a power struggle in the Sicilian Mafia, even if the strict terms of his imprisonment would have prevented him from exercising day-to-day control for the last 24 years.

Prosecutors won’t discuss who they think the top contenders might be, but long-time Cosa Nostra fugitive Matteo Messina Denaro remains Italy’s most-wanted Mafioso. The 55-year-old, whose power base is in Trapani, in western Sicily, has evaded arrest since 1993. He is wanted for his role in the bombing assassination of magistrates in the 1990s as well as other Mafia hits and crimes.

• Cyber Monday is the perfect time to get great deals on all kinds of holiday gifts, including kitchen gadgets and appliances.
• From blenders to slow cookers, many must-have kitchen items are on sale.
  
• You can get a KitchenAid Stand Mixer for $199 — usually they are around $360.

Cyber Monday is famous for deals on all kinds of products, including all types of kitchen gadgets and appliances. From smaller items like immersion blenders and electric tea kettles to larger investments like standing mixers and slow cookers, there's probably a deal for the item you've been eyeing.

These deals can be found all over the internet, from all-online retailers like Amazon and Wayfair to the websites of popular stores like Target and Walmart.

Keep reading for the 15 best kitchen items to buy this Cyber Monday. 

KitchenAid 2 Speed Hand Blender, $29.99

This convenient handheld blender is great for pureeing and blending.

It's currently on sale for $29.99 from $59.99 at Macy's.

ThermoPro TP07 Wireless Remote Digital Cooking Food Meat Thermometer, $28.79

This handy meat thermometer allows you to monitor cooking temperatures from up to 300 feet away.

It's currently on sale for $28.79 from $59.99 on Amazon.

Nutri Ninja Auto iQ Pro Complete Personal Blender/Extractor, $89.99

The cup on this powerful blender can be used as a travel mug for easy preparation and clean up.

It's currently on sale for $89.99 from $129.99 at Target.

When you think about depression, it’s easy to envision a person who is the human embodiment of Eeyore: gloomy, pessimistic, and run-down. But in reality the condition can be much more nuanced than that: people with depression often appear totally fine to outsiders. It’s part of what makes the mood disorder so insidious.

For a condition that’s still sometimes misunderstood, depression is pretty common. In the United States, approximately 16 million adults, or about 6.7% of the population, has coped with at least one episode of major depression, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

Because the condition affects so many people, myths about depression can be harmful. For instance, if a depressed person has misconceptions about the treatment options that are available, and decides counseling is just too big of a commitment, then they may miss out on legitimately helpful treatment. Understanding the reality of depression can help you and your loved ones approach the condition from a better perspective.  

To learn more, INSIDER spoke with Debra Kissen of the Light on Anxiety CBT Treatment Center, who is also a member of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), who took down some of the most common myths about depression.

Depressed people are disheveled and messy

When a character in a movie or show gets depressed, you can tell with a few different signs. They lie on the couch in a heap, surrounded by layers of takeout containers and junk food. Maybe they endure bouts of hysterical crying while they sit around in the same pajamas for days. This image does not always reflect reality,

The truth is, many depressed people still function pretty normally. Often they manage to go to work and keep up basic dress and hygiene standards, as Kissen explained. Surprisingly, a person who appears put-together and grounded may very well struggle with the feelings of hopelessness, lack of pleasure, and low energy that often characterize depression. Because the condition affects people internally, its effects are not always obvious to others.

Depression affects everyone the same way

Picture the average commercial for antidepressants. The lead actress wears a sad expression, the outside world is sad, because it’s dreary and rainy outside, and heck, even the dog looks sad. Granted, commercials have to convey a lot of information in a small amount of time, but depression is not a one-note condition.

In reality, depression can show up in a variety of different ways, and a depressed person does not always appear outwardly sad. In fact, depression may even manifest as crankiness or hostility, as Kissen said.

As it turns out, that person you know who gets annoyed by everything – from the brand of coffee you drink to the way the sun shines in the morning — may actually be suffering from depression. Sometimes this diagnosis even surprises the patient.  

Being positive will make depression go away

The belief that depression can be overcome with positivity tends to hurt the depressed person in two ways. First, well-meaning friends and family members often tell them to look on the bright side of life. Although this advice comes from a place of goodwill, depression is not the same as feeling blue or being in a bit of a funk.

Depression has to go on for a certain amount of time, and it involves a level of impairment, distress, and concentration and/or cognitive problems, as Kissen explained. In other words, feeling blue for a couple of days is normal for most anyone. But having trouble concentrating, feeling like your brain is fuzzy, and losing interest in favorite activities for several months on end may point to problems with depression, not just a passing frame of mind. Although a positive platitude might help fight a crummy mood, depression needs more serious treatment.

Kissen also explained that self-judgment — and the expectation that you can just snap out of depression with a little effort — also can make depressed people feel even worse.

“The depressed people then feel guilty over having no reason to be upset because so many people have it worse like they have no right to feel bad because their life on paper is good,” said Kissen. This self-condemnation just makes the person feel weak, dramatic, or unable to cope, and may ultimately deepen the depression.

On the heels of the Black Friday sales, Cyber Monday is here — and in some cases, it's not just a day but rather an entire week of discounts on items.

Since it can be overwhelming to comb through the many sales to find the best ones, we've done the legwork for you and compiled a list of the stores you should spend your time browsing.

From deals on clothing to furniture, here are the best stores to shop online that can save you some major money.

Walmart

The superstore's Cyber Monday deals include Google Home products and an LED TV at a steal, but they're going fast.

Read our list of the best things to buy in Walmart's Cyber Monday sale. And visit Walmart's website here.

Lucky Brand

Lucky Brand's deal is a good one whether you're planning to buy something in the sale or at full price: Either way, you get a discount, with 50% off regular-price items and 60% off sale items.

Amazon

Amazon usually offers pretty competitive pricing on regular, non-sale shopping days — and it's even more competitive when it comes to sales like Cyber Monday. This year, you can find some especially good deals on toys as well as home and tech products.

Read our list of the best things to buy in Amazon's Cyber Sale. And visit Amazon's website here.

More than 200 members of Saudi Arabia's elite, including 11 princes, are now being detained at what is quite literally a gilded prison — the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Riyadh.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is widely seen to be the muscle behind the recent anti-corruption purge, as he consolidates power in a way Saudi Arabia hasn't seen in decades.

The atmosphere at the luxury hotel is described by BBC reporter Lyse Doucet and cameraman Philip Goodwin as "very serious" in a new report.

Doucet and Goodwin the first journalists allowed into the hotel since its effective conversion to a luxury prison. The pair were under police escort and held to strict rules not to film anyone's face or quote anyone by name.

Here's a glimpse into what life in the gilded cage is like for its inhabitants:

SEE ALSO: Inside the rapid rise of Saudi Arabia's millennial crown prince who is now leading a TIME Magazine poll for its 2017 'Person of the Year'

Doucet and Goodwin were the first journalists to be allowed into the Riyadh Ritz-Carlton since it started to be used by the Saudi government as a gilded prison.

Since November 4, no one is allowed into the Ritz-Carlton without official permission.

Among the "guests" now are more than 200 individuals accused of abuse of power, corruption, and money laundering. The Saudi government is also putting up hundreds of experts to process the cases 24/7.

In 2018, Amazon will name one North American city as the future home of the company's second headquarters, dubbed HQ2. The company says HQ2 will bring 50,000 jobs, and recently launched an open call for city proposals that explain why the e-commerce giant should invest $5 billion in building a campus there.

The deadline for proposals was late last month, and the company received 238 bids.

In addition to offering huge swaths of land, financial incentives have become key parts of bids from many cities, states, and developers. A few incentive packages offer tax breaks that total in the billions.

Amazon likely won't pick a city unless it is offering some kind of economic deal, since that was one requirement the company laid out in its request. When Amazon has opened facilities or office spaces in other cities across the US, it has often accepted local subsidies.

From 2005 to 2014, the company received at least $613 million in local government subsidies to build warehouses, according to a 2016 report by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. The group, which pushes for local resources to be dedicated to community development, also found that Amazon received an additional $147 million in subsidies for its data centers.

It's not unusual for large companies to receive government subsidies in return for pledging to increase jobs and economic prosperity in the region (though that doesn't always happen).

Here are nine places that are offering Amazon incentive packages, in ascending order of monetary value.

SEE ALSO: Amazon could detonate a gentrification ‘prosperity bomb’ in the city it chooses for its new headquarters

Memphis, Tennessee — $60 million

Memphis will offer $60 million in economic incentives to Amazon, according to The Commercial Appeal.

The Memphis City Council voted on October 3 to offer the tax breaks for the company's headquarters, which may be supplemented by additional incentives from the development agency Economic Development Growth Engine, Shelby County, and the state of Tennessee.

California — $300 million to $1 billion

California's governor's office will offer $300 million to Amazon in tax breaks if it picks a city in the state, Reuters reports.

But a bill introduced on Thursday in California's state assembly could give the company even more — up to $1 billion in tax breaks over 10 years.

Chula Vista, California — $400 million

Chula Vista, a city 10 miles outside of downtown San Diego, California, is offering Amazon a $400-million tax incentive package, a spokesperson from the city told Business Insider.

Its 25-page bid, called "Welcome Home Amazon," also promises to give Amazon 8 million square feet of space and proposes the construction of "the world's first binational university" (with campuses in California and Mexico).

Meghan Markle is an American actress, philanthropist, and blogger — and now she's engaged to marry Prince Harry.

Since she first stepped into the public sphere in 2009, Markle has shown off her unique fashion sense that ranges from girly to edgy. Her style has already changed quite a bit in the past eight years, but it will likely become completely different before and after her spring 2018 wedding.

Keep scrolling to see how Markle's go-to looks went from patterned minidresses and crop tops to polished coats and blouses. 

In September 2009, Markle wore a button-up black romper to a pre-Emmy Awards event in Los Angeles, California.

The actress completed her casual ensemble with a pair of beige T-strap sandals and delicate gold jewelry.

In February 2012, Markle attended a USA Network event in a lace blue minidress that's similar to one that Kate Middleton owns.

The actress' style has changed a bit since 2012, but this outfit proves that she's always had royal instincts.

Changing things up a bit, she wore an off-the-shoulder, sequin dress to a "Suits" promotional event in June 2012.

To allow her metallic dress and accessories to shine, the actress styled her hair in a sleek ponytail.