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☆ Nations reach accord to protect marine life on high seas
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-05 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea came into force in 1994, before marine biodiversity was a well-established concept. The treaty will create a new body to manage the conservation of ocean life and establish marine protected areas in the high seas. "For the first time, we are getting a binding agreement for the high seas, which until now have hardly been protected," Lemke said. Several marine species — including dolphins, whales, sea turtles and many fish — make long annual migrations, crossing national borders and the high seas. The high seas have long suffered exploitation due to commercial fishing and mining, as well as pollution from chemicals and plastics.

Below, they weigh in on today's tipping culture, who gets a gratuity and how much. Dr. Peters adds that tipped employees may also include most front-of-house restaurant employees, bellhops, parking attendants, airport service workers and food delivery workers. most restaurants), consider using the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card. Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card Learn More Information about the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication. And when it comes to using delivery services, consider a card that gives cardholders money they can use to tip delivery workers.

Add to that mix the classic 60/40 portfolio model — a standard investing benchmark — that helps investors achieve that last point. Below, CNBC Select spoke to two financial professionals about how novices can put a 60/40 portfolio strategy in action. Once you're ready to invest, here are four simple ways to start putting money into a 60/40 portfolio. Vanguard Learn More Minimum deposit and balance Minimum deposit and balance requirements may vary depending on the investment vehicle selected. Wealthfront Learn More Minimum deposit and balance Minimum deposit and balance requirements may vary depending on the investment vehicle selected.

During the pandemic, mortgage rates plummeted below 3%, flooding the real estate market with homebuyers trying to snag a good rate. "Mortgage rates have trended down in the past couple of months," he says. So... [for] someone waiting for a 3% or 4% mortgage rate, it's not going to happen." For example, Rocket Mortgage is currently offering a mortgage rate buydown program called Inflation Buster. Evaluate whether you're buying for the right reasons and determine if you and your budget are ready for this important milestone.

Here's what credit score you'll need to qualify for the various Delta SkyMiles American Express cards. Small business owners have three Delta SkyMiles cards to choose from: Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card. Luckily, the business and personal Delta cards are considered separate products so if you had the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, for example, you'd still be able to earn the welcome bonus with the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card. Bottom lineTo qualify for an Delta SkyMiles American Express card, you'll probably need a FICO® score of 670 or higher. For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card card, click here.

The Capital One Spark Travel Elite, a premium travel business card, will be joining the Venture cards and getting a new name: the Capital One Venture X Business. Capital One Venture X Business benefitsThe Capital One Venture X Business will be a premium metal card with a new design. Here are some key features of the card: The Venture X Business is a charge card. Alternatively, you can look into the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card Learn More Information about the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.

How to get Citi presale tickets for Beyoncé's Renaissance World TourSince demand for Beyoncé's tour is so high, she's using Verified Fan to help boost your shot of getting tickets. How to sign up for Citi Verified Fan Registration Visit the ticketing website during the registration period and choose which group you'd like to move forward with for Citi Verified Fan Registration. The Citi presale will run from Feb. 7 at 10 a.m. through Feb. 8 at 6 p.m., or while supplies last. The Citi presale will run from Feb. 7 at 10 a.m. through Feb. 8 at 6 p.m., or while supplies last. The Citi presale will run from Feb. 14 at 10 a.m. through Feb. 15 at 6 p.m., or while supplies last.

This story is part of Select's New & Notable column, where we highlight our favorite product launches, major sales, what we're buying and some of our latest recommendations and advice. This week, we’ve highlighted Ninja’s latest kitchen appliance, Caraway steamers, new bags in the Béis Sport collection and more. The brand is offering 20% off products in the following categories to previous customers: Cordless stick vacuums, upright vacuums, canister vacuums, air purifiers, supersonic hair dryers and Corrale straighteners. For National Puzzle Day (Jan. 29), Jiggy Puzzles is offering 30% purchases of $75 or more, plus free shipping. To recommend the best hair dryers, we spoke to hairstylists about which you should buy depending on your hair type.

This story is part of Select's New & Notable column, where we highlight our favorite product launches, major sales, what we're buying and some of our latest recommendations and advice. This week, we’ve highlighted Harry’s new razor handle, Parachute’s Spanish-inspired leather chair, Starface’s latest pimple patches, a new towel collection from Onsen and more. Starface, a Select favorite pimple patch brand, launched Micro-Cloud pimple patches. The towels are made from Turkish-grown aegean cotton and come in four sizes: Bath sheet, bath towel, hand towel and face towel. New users who purchase a Fiture mirror between Jan. 1 and Jan. 31 can get a one-year membership for free.

When shopping for products to help address issues like under-eye puffiness, dark circles and fine lines, it’s important to buy items specifically designed for the under-eye area, said Dr. Karen Burke, a board-certified dermatologist and research scientist. According to the medical experts we consulted, under-eye patches work by targeting dark circles, crow’s feet, wrinkles and fine lines. The best under eye patches and masks of 2023Below are a handful of expert-recommended under-eye patches that are formulated to nourish the under-eye area. The experts we spoke to gave these eye patches a thumbs up when it comes to combating puffiness thanks to a cooling cucumber extract. These under-eye patches can be reused up to 10 times, according to the brand.

SKIP AHEAD How to shop for cold brew coffee makers |Top-rated cold brew coffee makers | What is cold brew? If you’re thinking about becoming an at-home barista — or want to buy a cold brew maker as a gift for the coffee lover in your life — we spoke to coffee experts about how to make cold brew and rounded up top-rated cold brew coffee makers based on their guidance. How to shop for a cold brew coffee makerCold brew coffee makers “offer a way for coffee to brew by immersion, which means the coffee and water sit together for a period of time,” said Marco Suarez, CEO and CXO for Methodical Coffee in Greenville, South Carolina. Choosing the best cold brew coffee maker for you depends on your personal preferences. According to Holmquist, bottle brewers like the Takeya Cold Brew Coffee Maker have smaller grounds chambers that are tougher to scrub, while machines like the OXO Cold Brew Coffee Maker have larger chambers “that you can dump and rise out.”The best cold brew coffee makers to shop nowWith expert advice in mind, we highlighted the best cold brew coffee makers below across style and price points to help you find one that fits your needs.

☆ The Year in Pictures 2022
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-19 | by ( The New York Times | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +57 min

Every year, starting in early fall, photo editors at The New York Times begin sifting through the year’s work in an effort to pick out the most startling, most moving, most memorable pictures. But 2022 undoubtedly belongs to the war in Ukraine, a conflict now settling into a worryingly predictable rhythm. Erin Schaff/The New York Times “When you’re standing on the ground, you can’t visualize the scope of the destruction. Jim Huylebroek for The New York Times Kyiv, Ukraine, Feb. 25. We see the same images over and over, and it’s really hard to make anything different.” Kyiv, Ukraine, Feb 26.

Given the current economic outlook and interest rate environment, saving money and paying down high-interest debt have become more appealing. Select dives into what you should do with your money after the Fed's interest rate hike. But in a world of high interest rates, savings accounts can earn much more considerable returns. One of the best ways to save money during times with higher interest rates is to focus on paying down your debt with the highest interest rate first. With inflation, savings rates, and interest rates on debt all at elevated levels, you may have to balance building your savings with paying down debt.

If you're expecting a holiday bonus this year, you may already be looking forward to all the ways you can use this windfall of cash. If you haven't started building your emergency fund yet, it's generally advised to put your money in a high-yield savings account. So, it could be wise to use a portion of your holiday bonus to pay down some of that debt. This card even offers a welcome bonus: you can earn $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first three months. Bottom lineReceiving a year-end holiday bonus can be exciting but it's important to devise a plan for making the most of it.

Marriott Bonvoy loyalty members currently have the opportunity to bid Marriott points on Super Bowl LVII packages through the Marriott Bonvoy Moments program. Even better, now through Dec. 20, Chase is offering a 40% bonus when transferring points to Marriott, so you'll actually get 1.4 Marriott points for every Chase point you transfer. Bottom lineSuper Bowl tickets are expensive, but if you have a hoard of Marriott Bonvoy points you may be able to win packages available through the Marriott Bonvoy Moments program. These Super Bowl packages are being sold to the highest bidders and include tickets to the game, hotel accommodations, and exclusive experiences. Unfortunately, if you don't have enough Marriott points to win one of the Super Bowl packages you may have a tough time using them to save money on hotel stays.

If you're wrapping up holiday shopping — or just starting at the last minute — you may be trying your best to avoid going into to debt when purchasing gifts. Taking on too much additional debt can cause multiple negative effects, like a dip in your credit score if your credit utilization is too high. The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is a solid choice for earning 2% cash rewards on every purchase, plus it comes with a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $1,000 in the first three months. For balance transfers, the Active Cash Card has an introductory balance transfer fee of 3% ($5 minimum). To qualify for the intro 0% intro APR, balance transfers must be done within 120 days from account opening.

Below, Select shares insight on what you should consider to stay on track with your retirement savings as we close out 2022. So it's important to consider this carefully so you can avoid outliving your retirement savings — or even over-sacrificing when you're younger. Or perhaps you actually don't need to be as aggressive in your retirement savings next year. Wealthfront Learn More On Wealthfront's secure site Minimum deposit and balance Minimum deposit and balance requirements may vary depending on the investment vehicle selected. Betterment Learn More Minimum deposit and balance Minimum deposit and balance requirements may vary depending on the investment vehicle selected.

This week, we’ve got an Amazon Alexa device for your car, a stand mixer from Instant, new cast iron cookware from Made In and more. Made In expanded its Enameled Cast Iron Collection with its new 11-inch round Enameled Cast Iron Skillet. The skillet’s cast iron cooking surface retains heat well and distributes it evenly, making it particularly helpful for searing, sautéing and making stir-fry, Made In says. Stitch Fix is calling the program Travel Style Insurance. Those interested in the program can contact Stitch Fix via email (Travel-Style-Insurance@stitchfix.com) and provide proof of their lost luggage from a flight taken between Dec. 5 and Jan. 5.

Delta Sky Club locationsWithin the U.S., there are more than 50 Delta Sky Club locations in 35 airports, with a new outpost scheduled to open at Kansas City International Airport (MCI) in 2023. Outside the U.S., there is just one Delta Sky Club lounge at Tokyo Haneda International Airport (HND). Upcoming changes to Sky Club access policy Starting Jan. 1, 2023, Delta Sky Club memberships will only be available for purchase if you have Delta Silver Medallion elite status or higher. While existing Delta Sky Club memberships may be renewed — regardless of elite status — through the end of 2022, next year you'll need to have elite status with the airline in order to renew your Delta Sky Club membership. Cards that offer Delta lounge access With the recently announced changes, the value of the few cards that come with Delta Sky Club access has increased tremendously.

Chase Ultimate Rewards® points are one of the highest regarded rewards currencies in the world of points and miles. Cards that earn Ultimate Rewards pointsBefore jumping in, let's start with a rundown of credit cards that earn transferrable Chase Ultimate Rewards® points:Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Learn More On Chase’s secure site Rewards $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3X points on dining, 2X points on all other travel purchases, and 1X points on all other purchasesWelcome bonus Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. Transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Marriott with a 40% bonusAt the time, I hardly had any Marriott points to my name. Bottom lineMarriott Bonvoy probably isn't the first transfer partner for which folks collect Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

When the Fed increases the interest rate, or the federal funds rate, it alters the interest rate on interbank lending. Now, the Fed's target interest rate range is around 4%, up from near-zero interest rates during the pandemic. High-yield savings accounts differ from traditional savings accounts because they offer significantly higher interest rates. Meanwhile, the high-yield savings accounts with the highest APYs have rates that are 18 times higher than the average APY on traditional accounts. Select ranked LendingClub High-Yield Savings and UFB High Rate Savings as some of the best high-yield savings accounts.

Pantone recently announced its 2023 Color of the Year: Viva Magenta. SKIP AHEAD Viva Magenta home products | Viva Magenta kitchen products | Viva Magenta beauty products | Viva Magenta apparel and accessoriesAs many sought to do with the 2022 Color of the Year, Very Peri, you may be interested in incorporating Viva Magenta into your wardrobe or home. Viva Magenta home productsThis expert-recommended rowing machine from Hydrow has a Viva Magenta option available for pre-order that is set to ship in February 2023, according to the brand. Pets can get in on the Viva Magenta trend with this plush bed, available in a color close to the new Pantone Color of the Year. Viva Magenta apparel and accessoriesPantone offers a handful of products in Viva Magenta, including this long keychain.

Best credit cards for seniors and retireesSubscribe to the Select Newsletter! How to redeem rewards: Points can be redeemed for cash back or gift cards at a rate of 1 cent per point. How to redeem rewards: Points can be redeemed at a rate of 1 cent per point toward travel, statement credits, gift cards or merchandise through the Rewards Center. Other great perks: Perks include special benefits through Silvercar Car Rental and the Luxury Hotel Collection, 24-hour service via the Visa Signature® Concierge, lost luggage reimbursement and exclusive access to fine dining and entertainment experiences. Find the best credit card for you by reviewing offers in our credit card marketplace or get personalized offers via CardMatch™.

If you use third-party payment platforms, like PayPal, Venmo or Cash App, to collect payments for your side gig or business, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) wants to remind you to report payments of at least $600. Before 2022, third-party transactions for business owners and side hustlers followed different thresholds: individuals needed to report gross payments exceeding $20,000 and report earnings if they had more than 200 such transactions, according to the IRS. According to the IRS, you should receive this form from each third-party payment platform you received transactions through. If you need to hire a professional, consider using a business credit card, like the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card or the American Express Blue Business Cash Card, so you can get rewarded for the business expense. The Ink Business card lets you earn 1.5% cash back on all business-related expenses and the Blue Business Cash card gives you 2% cash back on eligible business purchases.

☆ 19 best white elephant and Secret Santa gift ideas under $50
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( Mili Godio | Mili Godio Is An Associate Reporter For Select On Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +11 min

What is a white elephant gift exchange? A white elephant gift exchange — sometimes referred to as a Yankee swap — is a fun holiday activity in which everyone brings one wrapped gift and leaves with a different one. To help even the odds, most white elephant gift exchanges work best when all the gifts align in cost — typically within the $30-to-$75 range. What is a Secret Santa gift exchange? The best white elephant and Secret Santa gift ideasTo help you find the right gift for your white elephant and Secret Santa gift exchanges, we rounded up gift ideas based on our previous coverage and reader interest, all under $50.

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