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Read our review Read Our Review A looong arrow, pointing rightThe Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card comes with an increased limited-time welcome bonus and good perks for a no-annual-fee card, but unless paying an annual fee is a dealbreaker for you, other Marriott cards — like the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, or Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card — are a better deal. Review: Is the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card the Best Credit Card for You? How to Earn Points With the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit CardThe Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card doesn't have as generous an earning structure as other Marriott credit cards, but you'll still have the opportunity to earn bonus points when you travel. Generally, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card requires a good to excellent credit score to be eligible, which means a FICO score of at least 670.Who is eligible for the Marriott Bonvoy Bold? You're also not eligible if you already have a Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, or Marriott Bonvoy® Premier credit card (not available to new applicants) open, or earned the welcome bonus from one in the past 24 months.

Review: Is the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card the Best Credit Card for You? Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Benefits and FeaturesThe Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card comes with a host of benefits and travel perks. You're also not eligible if you already have a Marriott Bonvoy Boundless, Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card, or Marriott Bonvoy® Premier credit card (not available to new applicants) open, or earned the welcome bonus from one in the past 24 months. Within the past 90 days, you've been approved for the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, or Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card. Within the past 24 months, you've earned a welcome bonus/upgrade bonus for the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card.

Sand is the most exploited natural resource on Earth, after water. The Cambodian government is using sand dredged from the Mekong to fill in lakes around Phnom Penh. One community is fighting to save their homes on the city's largest natural lake. In Cambodia, the government is using sand to fill in lakes around its capital, Phnom Penh, to create prime real estate for villas and shopping malls. Now, one community is fighting to save their homes on the city's largest natural lake.

☆ My family of 4 spent $600 a night at Disney's Beach Club Resort, and it's one of our favorite hotels
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-28 | by ( Kari Becker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

My family of four stayed in a club-level suite at Disney's Beach Club Resort for $600. Themed after a New England-style beach resort, it's located in the Epcot area around Crescent Lake, our favorite resort area to stay in. Here's a look at our recent stay in a club-level suite and why Beach Club has become a top pick for my family. Beach Club is a great resort for groups of all sizesWe'll definitely be returning to Beach Club. After this trip, it's fair to say that Beach Club is one of my family's favorite hotels.

☆ Sam Bankman-Fried gave $400 million to an obscure crypto-trading firm cofounded by a Jane Street trader just 2 years out of college, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Sam Bankman-Fried sent $400 million to Modulo Capital, an obscure crypto trading firm. A spreadsheet shared by the Financial Times in December 2022 showed that Alameda Research, the trading firm cofounded by Bankman-Fried, invested two separate sums in Modulo — $250 million and $150 million. CoinDesk first reported that Modulo's founders used to work at Jane Street Capital, the trading firm where Bankman-Fried began his career, but didn't publish their identities. Court documents reviewed by Insider show that FTX spent $5.8 million at the Albany in nine months up to September 2022. Federal prosecutors have already seized over $500 million from Bankman-Fried, including $50 million kept in the tiny Farmington State Bank, but they're still searching for more.

☆ The Fyre Festival fraudster is launching his latest thing, and it looks like a party on an island
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( Jake Traylor | Jake Traylor Is An Associate Producer For Msnbc. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +8 min

He’s using different words, but he’s selling the same thing,” said Shiyuan Deng, a former product designer at Fyre Media, the company behind Fyre Festival. Deng resigned from Fyre Media shortly before it collapsed. Another former Fyre Media employee who asked to withhold their name out of concerns of retaliation also said PYRT reminded them of Fyre Festival. “The similarities are there around the vague mysterious promotion,’’ said the former employee of Fyre Media. McFarland said he believes PYRT will look considerably different from Fyre Festival.

☆ TUI: Luxury holiday demand boosts sales
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BERLIN, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Travel giant TUI (TUIGn.DE) reported on Friday a boost in demand for luxury holidays, driving sales for the winter 2022/23 period higher than they had been in the corresponding 2018/19 period, before the COVID-19 pandemic hit international travel. "Demand is currently particularly strong," said Steffen Boehnke, director of airtours, TUI's luxury travel segment, in a statement. Sales for the summer 2023 period were above the level seen last year following strong bookings in the first weeks of January, according to the statement. "Our guests are booking more high-quality and for longer," said Boehnke, adding that trips were two and a half days longer on average and that around one in four travellers were choosing accommodation with villas or suites with a private pool. Reporting by Klaus Lauer, Writing by Rachel More, Editing by Maria SheahanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Dubai property price rises may slow further in 2023, real-estate consultancy says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-15 | by ( Yousef Saba | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Dubai's property sector surged in 2020 as it opened up again during the pandemic before most major cities and as rich buyers snapped up luxury units, boosting a sector that had been sluggish since the 2014-15 oil price crash. Buyers from Pakistan were sixth, Lebanon seventh, China eighth, the United States and Canada ninth and Kyrgyzstan 10th, Betterhomes said in a report. Among residents of Dubai, Indians were the top buyers, followed by Britons, Russians, Italians and Canadians. Concerns of oversupply have long plagued the sector which saw a property bubble burst in 2009-2010, causing prices to plunge by more than half. Waind expects 30,000-35,000 new units in 2023, which he viewed as "a lack of supply in this market with population growth".

Earn 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy™ program. $95 Apply now On Wells Fargo's website Learn More Apply now On Chase's websiteHow to earn points with the Amex Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant cardThe Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card offers a straightforward earning structure, earning bonus points at eligible Marriott Bonvoy properties and in other useful categories. Read our review Read Our Review A looong arrow, pointing rightMarriott Bonvoy Brilliant card fees and costsThe Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card has a $650 annual fee. You also aren't eligible for the welcome bonus offer on this card if any of the following apply to you: You are a current cardmember, or were a previous cardmember within the last 30 days, of The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card from JPMorgan or J.P. Morgan Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit CardYou've opened the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card, or Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card in the last 90 daysIn the last 24 months, you've received a new cardmember bonus offer or upgrade offer for the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card, or Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ CardIs the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card worth it? There are also two new mid-range Marriott cards to consider (Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card and Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card) which both have a $250 annual fee).

Review: Is the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express card the best credit card for you? With the launch of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card (and its new sibling card, the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card ), there are now a whopping six Marriott credit cards available to new applicants. The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card, with a $250 annual fee, is positioned as a mid-tier card between the popular Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card ($95 annual fee) and premium Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card ($650 annual fee). On other Marriott Bonvoy cards, like the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, the free anniversary night certificate is one of the best perks, so its absence on the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card really sticks out. If have or have had The Ritz-Carlton® Credit Card from JPMorgan, J.P. Morgan Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus Credit Card from Chase, Marriott Bonvoy® Premier Credit Card from Chase, Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy® Premier Plus Business Credit Card from Chase, or the Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus Business Credit Card from Chase in the last 30 days, you won't be eligible for the $250.

☆ Meet a 36-year-old broker who rents luxury vacation villas to tech billionaires and celebrities paying up to $25,000 a night
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Hannah Towey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Now, she manages a private portfolio of luxury villas in Greece that cost up to $25,000 a night. Categorized by five, six, and seven-star properties, Kennedy's multi-million dollar villas are not your typical vacation rental — and you won't find them on Airbnb. Nightly rates for her portfolio of ten villas in Greece range, for example, from $4,000 to $25,000. A spokesperson said Elon Musk has also stayed in one of the Mykonos villas, but declined to share documentation or additional details regarding his trip, citing NDA restrictions. Not all rich people are made equalTesla CEO Elon Musk was photographed on board a luxury yacht this July in Mykonos, Greece.

☆ Netflix lists 'Glass Onion' island compound for $450 million on Zillow
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-23 | by ( Nicolas Vega | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Just in time for the streaming debut of its hotly anticipated "Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery," the streaming service's marketing team has listed the film's eponymous Greek island compound on the popular real estate site. "Sleek architecture and sophisticated design, with an equal eye toward nature and extravagance, provide an unparalleled luxury living experience accessible only by boat and crowned by a Glass Onion atrium," the listing reads. Of course, even if you have the millions to shell out, the "Glass Onion" estate doesn't exist. A link to "learn more" about the listing brings visitors to the "Glass Onion" page on Netflix's website. But viewers will be able bring the villa to their living rooms: "Glass Onion" hits Netflix on Dec. 23.

☆ It's Not ChatGBT's Time to Shine — yet. Here's Why.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-21 | by ( Diamond Naga Siu | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Within weeks of taking over, he dramatically transformed Twitter's company culture and started major projects — seemingly with one foot already out the door. Although a successful future for any technology is not guaranteed, ChatGPT feels like a tipping point for generative AI. Roomba, an automatic vacuum cleaner, took multiple sensitive photos that were shared on social media. After short-video apps like TikTok became the dominant platforms for fans to listen to new songs in 2022, music-industry execs are now setting their sights on social media as the next big money-making opportunity. Here are 15 power players using social media to shape the music industry.

☆ Exclusive: Afghan government officials helped smugglers sneak almost $1 billion in cash and gold out of Afghanistan as the US-backed government neared collapse, documents show
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( Mattathias Schwartz | Edris Lutfi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

The office of Ashraf Ghani, the US-backed Afghan president, had been informed about the problem, insiders say. The smuggling flouted Afghan laws requiring travelers to declare cash or gold worth $10,000 or more and a strict ban on exporting $20,000 or more. The documents identify the two men as being part of the 2021 smuggling ring; they do not allege who was behind the $824 million smuggled in 2019 and 2020. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani meets with President Joe Biden in June 2021. The UAE is also the home of Ghani and Noor, the former provincial governor with alleged ties to the Hairatan smuggling ring.

☆ Welcome to Elon Musk's Fan Club
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( Jordan Parker Erb | Diamond Naga Siu | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

We didn't think refreshing Elon Musk's Twitter feed was how we'd spend it. Today, we're taking you inside the latest club in Silicon Valley: Elon Musk's fan club. Welcome to the Elon Musk fan club. Cue Musk's Twitter takeover: slashing headcount, revoking benefits, and cranking up productivity. Elon Musk is being forced to choose a company.

☆ Most Gulf markets fall on Fed hawkishness; Abu Dhabi gains
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Dec 15 (Reuters) - Most stock markets in the Gulf dropped in early trade on Thursday after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said the central bank would deliver more rate increases next year. Saudi Arabia's benchmark index (.TASI) fell as much as 0.6%, and was on course to fall after two sessions of gains. The Saudi Central Bank said on Wednesday it increased its key interest rates by 50 basis points, following Fed's move as the Saudi riyal is pegged to the dollar. The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates also increased its base rate by 50 basis points to 4.4%, effective Thursday, mirroring Fed's move. The Qatari benchmark index (.QSI) dropped 0.7%, with petrochemical maker Industries Qatar (IQCD.QA) declining 2.1%.

☆ Bali governor says new Indonesia laws pose no risk to tourists
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

JAKARTA, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Visitors to Bali will not be put at risk by Indonesia's newly ratified criminal code, the island's governor said, dismissing concerns that revised laws which include articles criminalising sex outside marriage may scare away tourists from its shores. Seeking to reassure visitors, Bali Governor Wayan Koster in a statement on Sunday noted the new laws, which come into affect in three years, could only be prosecuted if there was complaint by a parent, spouse or child. Those who "visit or live in Bali would not need to worry with regard to the entry into force of the Indonesian Criminal Code", he said. The governor said provisions in the criminal code on this issue had been altered from an earlier, stricter version so "would provide a better guarantee of everyone's privacy and comfortableness." Decades in the making, legislators hailed the passage of the criminal code as a much-needed overhaul of a vestige of Dutch colonial rule.

☆ Convicted Fyre Festival cofounder Billy McFarland says the Netflix and Hulu shows about his disastrous party were screened in his prison — but he was 'too scared' to watch
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-10 | by ( Kate Duffy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Convicted Fyre Festival cofounder Billy McFarland was interviewed by British entrepreneur Steven Bartlett. McFarland said he still hadn't seen the Netflix and Hulu shows about his disastrous party. He told Bartlett he was still not ready to watch the documentaries. Fyre Festival was touted as a luxurious music fiesta in the Bahamas and was promoted by influencers and models such as Kendall Jenner and Bella Hadid. He told Bartlett he'd chosen the latter.

☆ 2023 is shaping up to be a big year for dealmaking in live sports. Here's why.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Big deals for the big (and little) screen. Next year is shaping up to be a big one for media deals. Like many other industries, media quickly turned quiet on the dealmaking front this year as the economy soured. However, a stabilization of interest rates, along with money burning a hole in investors' pockets, could lead to a big 2023, insiders say. The landscape for media deals is fascinating when you consider the two opposing forces, as Lucia pointed out to me.

☆ Grenada's 'golden passport' comes with tax benefits and makes travel easier — but only if you invest $150,000 in the country first
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Zoe Rosenberg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Grenada's citizenship-by-investment, or CBI, program has accepted 1,500 residents yearly since 2013. Gaining Grenada citizenship takes about three months and is less costly than other CBI programs. To be a Grenadian tax resident, the country requires 183 days of residence on the island a year. Jafri added that with a Grenadian passport, a traveler doesn't need a visa to travel to China. The investment in hotel and resort projects costs less than other kinds of real-estate development to help drive tourism to the country, Hallam explained.

☆ A man in Alaska stranded while riding a snow machine was rescued after using his iPhone 14's emergency satellite SOS feature
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( Britney Nguyen | Antonio Villas-Boas | Junior Reporter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

He used Apple's iPhone Emergency SOS via satellite feature, on iPhone 14 and 14 Pro, to be rescued. The area where the stranded Alaska man was rescued using Apple's Emergency SOS via Satellite on iPhone 14. Apple's Emergency SOS via Satellite feature that communicates with Apple's Emergency Response Center allowed the rescue team to receive this information faster than a typical satellite communication device. The Emergency SOS via Satellite feature is available on iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models for free for two years after activating the phone. You can demo Apple's Emergency SOS via Satellite feature without actually alerting rescue services before setting off on an adventure or journey to get a feel for the feature and how it works.

The women's attorney, L. Chris Stewart, based in Atlanta, said the Americans died from carbon monoxide poisoning caused by a malfunctioning water heater. Investigators believe the trio died from carbon monoxide poisoning, Mexico City prosecutors said. Ben Jared / PGA TOUR via Getty Images fileAccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, carbon monoxide poisoning is almost entirely preventable. But carbon monoxide poisoning can be especially dangerous during power outages, when people use alternative sources of fuel or electricity, such as generators. A winter storm in Texas in mid-February 2021 resulted in one of the worst carbon monoxide poisoning incidents in recent history, experts said.

☆ These are shaping up to be the best and worst luxury real estate markets for 2023
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Robert Frank | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Wealthy investors betting on luxury real estate would do best by putting their money in Dubai or Miami next year, according to a new report. In a ranking 25 of the world's top luxury, or "prime," real estate markets, Dubai topped the list, with prices expected to increase 13.5% in 2023, according to real estate consultancy Knight Frank. The worst performers next year are expected to be Seoul and London, with prices expected to drop 3% for both. Across the 25 cities, Knight Frank expects prices to rise by an average of 2% in 2023, revised down from the 2.7% Knight Frank projected six months ago. Political and economic volatility in many countries will also lead to a flight to safety in real estate, "pushing buyers to mature and transparent luxury markets."

Cyber Monday is here, and that means deep discounts on premium-priced items like Apple devices. Instead, deals on popular Apple devices can be found at major retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and Target. We're constantly scouring the internet for the best deals on Apple devices during this Black Friday. For more ways to save, be sure to check out our Cyber Monday liveblog for the latest deals. Top Cyber Monday Apple deals right now

This is the lowest price we've seen since they hit stores. There are plenty of excellent Cyber Monday discounts on Apple devices worth considering but this is a particularly noteworthy deal, considering the original AirPods Pro, released in 2019, has averaged between $170 and $185 throughout 2022. Deal Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) The second-generation AirPods Pro are Apple's best premium earbuds yet, with much improved sound quality and noise cancellation. $199.99 from Amazon Originally $249.00 Save 20%The second-gen AirPods Pro is a significantly better set of wireless earbuds than the originals. Apple also gave the new AirPods Pro a touch-sensitive stem that lets you adjust volume without having to take out your iPhone.

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