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Almost all the funds, some $7.8 billion, flowed between Binance and Iran's largest crypto exchange, Nobitex, according to a review of data from leading U.S. blockchain researcher Chainalysis. The scale of Binance's Iranian crypto flows – and the fact that they are continuing – has not been previously reported. The total volume of Iranian transactions flowing through Binance is far greater than through any other exchange, the data show. The vast majority of the $8 billion in Iranian crypto transactions identified by Reuters involved the main Binance exchange. This October, the Treasury fined Seattle-based crypto exchange Bittrex $24 million for violating sanctions on Iran and other countries by processing crypto transactions worth over $260 million.

Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X). Show more Regular APR 19.99% - 26.99% Variable Editor's Rating 4.65 /5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 4.65 out of 5 Stars Our editor's ratings analyze fees, bonuses, rewards, and benefits to highlight the simplest and most valuable credit cards available. Show more Regular APR 18.99% - 25.99% Variable Editor's Rating 4.8 /5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 4.8 out of 5 Stars Our editor's ratings analyze fees, bonuses, rewards, and benefits to highlight the simplest and most valuable credit cards available. You'll earn 3% back (3x Chase Ultimate Rewards points) at restaurants and drugstores, and 5% cash back (5x points) on travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards. Review: US Bank Cash+ card reviewThe new Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is a great choice if you're new to credit and looking for a cash-back card that earns bonus rewards in popular categories.

Note that credit card lenders may use many different variations of credit score models when considering your application. If you're looking for Chase small-business card but don't want to meet the hefty spending requirement on the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, the no-annual-fee Ink Business Cash® Credit Card is a great alternative. If you're considering opening a new rewards credit card, do your research to see whether the card you want has previously offered a higher bonus. A credit card sign-up bonus can be a great incentive to apply, especially if you're looking at a card that has an annual fee, but not every good credit card offers an intro bonus. Before you apply for a new credit card, make sure you understand how credit card applications affect your credit score.

☆ U.S.-Canada Border Frequent Traveler Program Sparks Diplomatic Rift
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( Paul Vieira | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

OTTAWA—A disagreement between the U.S. and Canada over border security, which has simmered for months behind the scenes, has escalated into a public diplomatic spat that is disrupting plans for business travelers who frequently cross the border. The snarl revolves around the U.S.-Canada trusted-traveler program, called Nexus, that expedites entry of previously screened passengers into either country. Nexus centers in Canada haven’t reopened since they were closed at the start of the pandemic, because the U.S.—which has long wanted more legal protection for American border agents working at Canadian centers—hasn’t sent its agents back.

$0 Annual Fee View Full Details $0 Annual Fee Apply now On Wells Fargo's websiteWells Fargo Active Cash® Card Apply now On Wells Fargo's website Best card for flat-rate cash rewards earning Details Rewards Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases. Show more Regular APR 18.99% - 25.99% Variable Editor's Rating 4.8 /5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 4.8 out of 5 Stars Our editor's ratings analyze fees, bonuses, rewards, and benefits to highlight the simplest and most valuable credit cards available. Show more Regular APR 19.99% - 26.99% Variable Editor's Rating 4.65 /5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 4.65 out of 5 Stars Our editor's ratings analyze fees, bonuses, rewards, and benefits to highlight the simplest and most valuable credit cards available. Show more Regular APR 25.99% Variable Editor's Rating 5 /5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 5 out of 5 Stars Our editor's ratings analyze fees, bonuses, rewards, and benefits to highlight the simplest and most valuable credit cards available. $0 Annual Fee View Full Details Learn moreBest card for college students Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card 4.2 /5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 4.2

If you're trying to decide if a credit card annual fee is worth it, look at its benefits and assess how many you'll use. This card's $650 annual fee is extremely high for a hotel credit card (or any credit card, for that matter). Credit cards with annual fees frequently asked questions (FAQ)What is a credit card annual fee? Credit card annual fees are effectively a paywall you have to breach if you want to enjoy enhanced (and sometimes super exclusive) benefits you won't find on a no-annual-fee credit card. If you won't use the benefits and perks of an annual fee-incurring credit card, no annual fee credit cards are the way to go.

☆ Luxury hotel booking programs from Amex, Capital One, Visa, and more can get you free elite benefits like room upgrades and on-property credits — here's how
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Eric Rosen | Tessa Campbell | Read More | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +39 min

David Slotnick/Business InsiderMany travel rewards cards offer elite-like hotel benefits when you book with their online portals. The prices through credit card travel portals are often on par with booking directly through hotels. However, it's only available to Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Spark Travel Elite cardholders. Bottom lineYou might not have a premium hotel credit card or elite status with one of the major loyalty programs. However, that doesn't mean you can't take advantage of credit card booking portals to enjoy perks like room upgrades, free breakfast, and on-property credits.

One such perk is an annual travel credit — statement credits that reimburse you for qualifying travel purchases up to a certain dollar amount each year. What are credit card annual travel credits? Credit cards that offer an annual travel credit will reimburse you up to a certain dollar amount for applicable travel purchases each year. If that sounds good to you, here are six credit card annual travel credits you need to know about. Annual travel credit can effectively shave $300 off the annual fee if you use it Check mark icon A check mark.

☆ America's 'Zoomtowns' are running out of water
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( Kelli María Korducki | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Remote workers aren't just driving up housing prices but also adding more of a burden to already water-strapped regions. Running out of waterAmerica's water crisis, which has been bubbling for years, has become dire. The lack of fresh snow means that less water makes its way into the river and its massive reservoirs — Lake Mead and Lake Powell — upon which the region depends for water. They found that statewide COVID-19 stay-at-home orders triggered "significant increases" in residential water consumption — a trend the researchers attributed, in large part, to remote workers. While population growth does increase water usage, it's (pardon the pun) a drop in the bucket of the bigger-picture crisis.

The first Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club will open at Hong Kong International Airport Terminal 1 on October 25, 2022. The wait is now over — the first Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club will open at Hong Kong International Airport Terminal 1 on Tuesday, October 25, 2022 (Hong Kong time). Chase Sapphire Lounge opening in Hong KongChase Sapphire Reserve and Priority Pass members will be able to access comfortable seating and upscale amenities at the Hong Kong Chase Sapphire Lounge. How to access the Chase Sapphire Lounge in Hong KongChase Sapphire Reserve® cardholders, as well as Priority Pass members (including those with membership from cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express and Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card) and LoungeKey members, will be able to access the Hong Kong Chase Sapphire Lounge. And, if the Chase Sapphire Lounge is as upscale as promised, it will be a big competitor to the Hong Kong Amex Centurion Lounge (currently closed).

☆ How Google's former CEO Eric Schmidt helped write AI laws in Washington without publicly disclosing investments in AI start-ups
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( Eamon Javers | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +18 min

'Conflict of interest'Schmidt's investment was just the first of a handful of direct investments he would make in AI start-up companies during his tenure as chairman of the AI commission. Altogether, Schmidt and entities connected to him made more than 50 investments in AI companies while he was chairman of the federal commission on AI. To Poulson, Schmidt was simply given too much power over federal AI policy. The new entity would continue the work of the congressionally created federal commission, with many of the same goals and much of the same staff. More than a dozen staffers from the federal commission followed Schmidt to the new private sector project.

Chase, American Express, Citi, Capital One, and other banks are currently offering elevated credit card bonuses, and there are dozens of other lucrative deals available. Note that credit card lenders may use many different variations of credit score models when considering your application. Note that credit card lenders may use many different variations of credit score models when considering your application. How to pick a credit card bonusCredit card limited time offersCredit card intro bonuses aren't always the same. For a flexible all-around card with a six-figure bonus and modest annual fee, the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is a terrific choice.

View of a COP27 sign on the road leading to the conference area in Egypt's Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh town as the city prepares to host the COP27 summit next month, in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt October 20, 2022. The Nov. 6-18 summit in Sharm el-Sheikh is the first annual U.N. climate conference to be held after the easing of COVID-19 restrictions. CONCRETE BARRIERAnother concern among activists is the difficulty ordinary citizens may face accessing Sharm el-Sheikh. A petition led by 12 Egypt-focussed rights groups has called on Egypt to address restrictions on civil society, saying "effective climate action is not possible without open civic space". "Certainly we're very alive to the fact that Sharm el-Sheikh is an enclosed space, very controlled, very curated," she said.

Best overall for travel rewards Annual Fee Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Best small-business travel rewards card Annual Fee Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Show more Regular APR 18.24% - 25.24% Variable Editor's Rating 4.8 /5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 4.8 out of 5 Stars Our editor's ratings analyze fees, bonuses, rewards, and benefits to highlight the simplest and most valuable credit cards available. Show more Regular APR 19.99% - 26.99% Variable Editor's Rating 4.65 /5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 4.65 out of 5 Stars Our editor's ratings analyze fees, bonuses, rewards, and benefits to highlight the simplest and most valuable credit cards available. That's $1,200 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®$300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.

☆ Chase Pay Yourself Back gets you up to 50% more value when you redeem points for Airbnb, dining, phone, internet, and more — here's how it works
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( Holly Johnson | Jasmin Baron | Freelance Writer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +17 min

You'll get 50% more value with the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, and 25% more with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card. Here's what to know about Pay Yourself Back to help you decide if you want to redeem your Chase Ultimate Rewards® points this way. Let's say for a moment that you have 50,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points in your Chase Sapphire Reserve® account. You'll also earn 10x points on Lyft rides with the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and 5x points on Lyft rides with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card through March 2025. Pair Chase cards for even more valueIf you have a Chase Sapphire Reserve® or Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you should also consider applying for another Chase card that could help you maximize this benefit.

Show more Regular APR 18.24% - 25.24% Variable Editor's Rating 4.8 /5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 4.8 out of 5 Stars Our editor's ratings analyze fees, bonuses, rewards, and benefits to highlight the simplest and most valuable credit cards available. Read our review Read Our Review A looong arrow, pointing rightRewards on food delivery: You'll earn 4 points per dollar on restaurants, which includes most US food delivery services. Show more Regular APR 19.99% - 26.99% Variable Editor's Rating 4.65 /5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 4.65 out of 5 Stars Our editor's ratings analyze fees, bonuses, rewards, and benefits to highlight the simplest and most valuable credit cards available. Read our review Read Our Review A looong arrow, pointing rightRewards on food delivery: You'll earn 4 points per dollar on takeout, food delivery, and dining. Review: U.S. Bank Altitude Go card reviewFood delivery credit cards frequently asked questions (FAQ)Which is the best credit card for food delivery?

☆ The Chase Sapphire Reserve's 80K bonus is effectively a blank airline ticket — here's how to use it to get (almost) anywhere in the world
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Joseph Hostetler | Credit Cards Reporter | Read More | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

By transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards® points to airline partners, you can fly just about anywhere on earth. Show more Regular APR 19.99% - 26.99% Variable Editor's Rating 4.65 /5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 4.65 out of 5 Stars Our editor's ratings analyze fees, bonuses, rewards, and benefits to highlight the simplest and most valuable credit cards available. By transferring 80,000 Chase points to Southwest, you can expect an average value of $1,120 in free flights. You can save quite a few Chase points if you're willing to pay a bit in taxes, however. Bottom lineThe 84,000 Chase points you'll have after opening the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and meeting its minimum spending requirement is basically a blank airline ticket to nearly anywhere on earth's surface.

☆ The credit score you need for popular rewards cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve, Amex Platinum, and Capital One Venture
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( Caroline Lupini | Freelance Reporter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +31 min

Knowing the credit score you'll need to be considered for popular rewards credit cards can help you decide which to apply for. Crystal Cox/Business InsiderIt's good to know the credit score you'll need to get approved for a credit card before you apply. Not all rewards credit cards require a high credit score, however. Capital One says you'll need excellent credit to be approved for the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. However, we don't recommend that you dive into rewards credit cards until your score is at least 700.

Compare the Chase Sapphire cards Chase Sapphire Preferred® CardChase Sapphire Reserve® Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Apply now On Chase's website Apply now On Chase's websiteThe Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve® got makeovers last year, adding new or improved bonus categories and additional benefits. Neither card got an annual fee increase: You'll still pay $550 per year for the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and $95 for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. While the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card costs only $95 a year, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® has an annual fee of $550. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card fee is $95, while the Chase Sapphire Reserve® fee is $550.

The new 80,000-point bonus on the Chase Sapphire Reserve card is worth at least $1,200 in travel. You can use your Chase Sapphire Reserve travel credit toward expenses like airport parking and online travel agencies. Sapphire Reserve cardholders get airport lounge accessChase Sapphire Reserve® cardholders receive a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, which gets them access to more than 1,300 airport lounges worldwide. The Chase Sapphire Reserve increases the value of your Chase pointsIf you already have other Chase cards that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points, including no-annual-fee cards like the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and Chase Freedom Unlimited®, you can combine your points into your Chase Sapphire Reserve® account and unlock better redemption options. Chase Sapphire Reserve application restrictionsLike other Chase cards, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is subject to application restrictions, most notably the Chase 5/24 rule.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers insurance and benefits that are useful for frequent travelers. Here's a look at the top features that make the Chase Sapphire Reserve a must-have for frequent travelers. When you make the reservation with the Chase Sapphire Reserve, however, that insurance is a hard pass. In addition, Chase added $10 per month in Gopuff credit to many of its cards through December 2023, including the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. The Chase Sapphire Reserve® has one perk that can save you tens of thousands of dollars should you ever need to use it.

☆ Electric vehicles will become power plants on wheels by providing backup power for homes and the grid
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( Catherine Boudreau | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Electric vehicles in the coming years will be capable of powering homes and the grid. Backup power from EVs can help during storms and support electric grids strained by extreme weather. A new business unit, GM Energy, has a line of electric-vehicle chargers that can also feed power back to homes and the electric grid. "There's a value stack in EV batteries: supporting the grid, serving as backup power for your home, and also reducing greenhouse-gas emissions." The Ford F-150 Lightning also has bidirectional charging, which proved useful after Hurricane Ian pummeled southwest Florida's power grid.

☆ U.N. Security Council considers Haiti sanctions, targeting gang leader 'Barbecue'
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"Cherizier and his G9 gang confederation are actively blocking the free movement of fuel from the Varreux fuel terminal," the text says. Health experts say the gang blockade is making it more difficult to control the outbreak, which was announced this month. The 15-member Security Council could vote as early as Monday on the draft sanctions resolution, diplomats said. China has been pushing for the Security Council to impose an arms embargo on criminal gangs in Haiti. U.N. peacekeepers were deployed to Haiti in 2004 after a rebellion led to the ouster and exile of then-President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

☆ Shopify's latest fintech product looks to demystify sales tax rules that have grown increasingly complex for merchants and rivals like Amazon
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( Madeline Stone | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The launch of Shopify Tax comes as collecting sales tax has grown increasingly complex for Shopify merchants — and for the company's e-commerce rivals, like Amazon. "The world of sales tax has gotten a lot more complicated," Lauren Stinson, a partner and national leader in sales and use tax at Cherry Bekaert, said to Insider. Sales tax rules reveal a key difference between Shopify and AmazonShopify's biggest rival, Amazon, didn't collect sales tax on its third-party marketplace sales for years. But new laws for marketplaces introduced over the last several years have changed Amazon's responsibilities regarding sales tax. Amazon — and other marketplaces like Etsy and Walmart — are now considered "marketplace facilitators," according to Diane Yetter, founder of the Sales Tax Institute and president of Yetter Tax, a sales tax consulting and education business.

Review: Is the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass card the best credit card for you? Or, for flexibility, consider a card that earns American Express Membership Rewards points like The Platinum Card® from American Express (which also offers Hilton Gold status**) or the American Express® Gold Card . Amex Hilton Honors Express Surpass benefits and featuresThe Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card comes with a lot of useful perks that can improve your travel experience and save you money. If you already have a Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card open, you won't be able to open another one. So, for example, if you already have The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card, Hilton Honors American Express Card, or Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, you could still qualify for the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card.

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