“2016 Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipients Announced”

President Obama named the recipients of the 2016 Presidential Medal of Freedom on Wednesday, a list that includes cultural, athletic and philanthropic luminaries like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Ellen DeGeneres, Tom Hanks and Bill and Melinda Gates. It is the last time Mr. Obama will award the nation’s highest civilian honor. The medals will be presented during a White House ceremony on Nov. 22. The Presidential Medal of Freedom was established by President John F. Kennedy in 1963 and is awarded annually to people who have made exceptional contributions to the national interest, to world peace or to cultural or other significant endeavors. Mr. Obama said in a statement that the Medal of Freedom was “a tribute to the idea that all of us, no matter where we come from, have the opportunity to change this country for the better.” The 2016 recipients had “helped push America forward, inspiring millions of people around the world along the way,” he added. The complete list of the 21 honorees can be found on the White House website.

In Other News A superyacht so extravagant it looks more like something out of a sci-fi movie than real life has taken another step towards its launch as a fully-operational ocean-going vessel. Sailing Yacht A, Russian billionaire Andrey Melnichenko's latest venture, started its sea testing in Strande, Germany last month ahead of its proposed 2017 delivery. At 143 meters, it will be the eighth longest superyacht in the world, while its three carbon masts -- each measuring more than 90 meters -- are the tallest of any boat. All the sails together have the same square footage of a football field and will be able to withstand three times the weight of a commercial Boeing Dreamliner wing. The yacht is designed for a cruising speed of 16 knots (18 mph) and top speed of 21 knots (24 mph). For Amazon, Black Friday deals are starting early and ending just days before Christmas. Starting Wednesday, the e-commerce giant is offering deals on a variety of products, including toys, electronics, kitchen and home goods and video games. However, the company said many of its top deals will be offered during the "Turkey 5," which starts on Thanksgiving Day and runs through the Monday following the holiday -- known as Cyber Monday.

RMS Canned Food Drive! Ends TOMORROW