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On February 4, Messi’s absence from the match between Inter Miami and the Hong Kong XI team sparked significant backlash. Many on Weibo questioned how the star was able to make such a quick recovery three days after the Hong Kong game. Others lashed out against what they saw as disrespect for Hong Kong – and China. In Monday’s video, Messi denied that his absence was due to political reasons and reiterated that he was unable to make the game because of an inflamed adductor that had worsened the day before the game in Hong Kong. “I’ve had a very close and special relationship with China and I’ve done a lot of things in China,” Messi said in the video.

Persons: Lionel Messi, Messi, Weibo, “ I’ve, ” Messi, “, Hong Kong, XFEST, CNN’s Simone McCarthy, Chris Lau Organizations: CNN, Inter Miami, Hong Kong XI, Argentina’s, Vissel, Weibo Locations: Hong Kong, Weibo, Vissel Kobe, Tokyo, China, China’s Sichuan, Beijing

Tickets for the game cost up to 4,880 Hong Kong dollars ($624) each. In its statement, Tatler Asia said it would refund 56 million Hong Kong dollars ($7.2 million) in total, resulting in a loss of 43 million Hong Kong dollars ($5.5 million). Before the refund, its net income stood at 13 million Hong Kong dollars ($1.7 million), the organizer said. In response to the announcement, the Hong Kong government welcomed the arrangement in a statement, calling it as a responsible move. “One theory is that their actions have political motives, as Hong Kong intends to boost economy through the event and external forces deliberately wanted to embarrass Hong Kong through this incident,” it said.

Persons: Lionel Messi, Messi, Messi’s, “, Regina Ip, “ Messi, Hong Kongers, ___ Organizations: Inter, Global Times, Tatler Asia, Tatler, Hong Kong, Hong, Inter Miami, Associated Press, Weibo, Messi, ”, Executive, Miami, Newell’s Old Locations: HONG KONG, Hong Kong, China, Argentina, Tokyo, Asia, Japan, Tatler Asia, Inter Miami, Beijing, Regina, Weibo, El Salvador, Dallas, Saudi Arabia, Florida, Rosario

☆ Chinese city cancels Argentina soccer match after Messi backlash in Hong Kong
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —A city in mainland China has canceled its plan to host a soccer match featuring Argentina’s national team amid a growing backlash in the country against star player Lionel Messi. Messi has faced an outpouring of criticism after he remained on the bench during an exhibition game featuring his Major League Soccer team Inter Miami in Hong Kong. Public relations nightmareMessi stayed on the substitute bench when Inter Miami played the Hong Kong team on February 4, despite repeated requests from the Hong Kong government and organizer, Tatler Asia, for him to get on the field. Messi later said this had been a “shame,” and that he had wanted to participate. “Our aspiration was to create an iconic moment in support of the government’s efforts to remind the world how relevant and exciting Hong Kong is.

Persons: Lionel Messi, Messi, jeered, hasn’t, XFEST, ” Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Argentina’s, Major League Soccer, Inter Miami, Hangzhou Sports Bureau, Hangzhou Olympic Sports, Argentina, Beijing Workers, Hong Kong, Hong, Tatler Asia, Vissel Locations: Hong Kong, China, Hangzhou, Argentina, Nigeria, Ivory, Vissel Kobe, Japan, Beijing, Asia

☆ Hong Kong officials demand answers for Lionel Messi no-show
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —The Hong Kong government’s repeated requests for Lionel Messi to play in a sell-out soccer match went unanswered Sunday, a city official said, as cheers turned to jeers for the Argentine soccer legend. Meanwhile, the Hong Kong government, which provided more than $2 million in grants to the match organizer, also said it was “extremely disappointed” the star did not play. Fans make their feelings clear after Lionel Messi's Hong Kong no-show. ‘We do feel a bit scammed’“Messi mania” had captured Hong Kong with Inter Miami’s arrival on Friday as fans swarmed the Major League Soccer team’s hotel. Meanwhile, the stadium reached full capacity during the Inter Miami’s open training session the evening before the match.

Persons: Hong Kong government’s, Lionel Messi, jeers, –, Messi, Ballon, Kevin Yeung, XFEST, Lionel Messi's, Justin Chin, Yeung, “, ” Yeung, Gerardo “ Tata ” Martino, ‘, ’ “ Messi, ”, Ada Kam, Luis Suárez Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Hong Kong, Inter Miami’s, Hong, Hong Kong XI, Culture, Bloomberg, Getty, Inter, Major League Soccer team’s, CNN, Nigeria Locations: Hong Kong, Hong, Argentine, Lionel Messi's Hong Kong, Miami, Inter Miami’s, Tokyo, China, Argentina, Hangzhou, Ivory Coast, Beijing

☆ Lionel Messi no-show ignites booing and calls for refunds at Inter Miami match in Hong Kong
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-04 | by ( Andrew Mcnicol | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Hong Kong CNN —Thousands of soccer fans in Hong Kong were left disappointed when Argentine superstar Lionel Messi failed to take to the field in a friendly match for Inter Miami on Sunday. What started with overwhelming cheers and rapture ended in boos and calls for refunds in the sold-out, 40,000-seat Hong Kong Stadium. Inter Miami — out to prove a point having gone winless during a worldwide pre-season tour — comfortably defeated a Hong Kong XI 4-1 in an event branded as Tatler XFEST Hong Kong. According to Reuters, tickets went on sale in December and cost between 880 and 4,880 Hong Kong dollars (about $113 and $624). “This whole Messi in Hong Kong thing has been building up for quite some time.

Persons: Lionel Messi, —, Messi, Ballon, Hong, “ Messi, Luis Suárez, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, Louise Delmotte, David Beckham, Messi ”, ”, XFEST, Suárez, “, Gerardo “ Tata ” Martino, Leo, Luis, ” Martino, apologetically, Hong Kong, “ Leo, Suarez, ” Suárez, Martino, Yapp Hung, Yapp, Messi superfan Christer Leung, ” Leung, Lionel, Lam Yik, Reuters “ Messi Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Argentine, Inter Miami, Hong Kong Stadium, Inter Miami —, Hong, Reuters, CNN, Miami, Al, MLS, Major League Soccer, Hong Kong XI, fai, Messi, Argentina, ’, Inter, USA, Sports, Ardent, Argentina national, Australia, Nigeria, Vissel Kobe Locations: Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, America, China, Beijing, Argentina, Ivory Coast, Hangzhou, Japan

☆ Here's an exclusive look at the 10-slide pitch deck a startup that offers mental health coaching for kids used to raise its seed round
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Samantha Stokes | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The children's mental health market is booming as part of a larger cultural shift toward transparency around mental health and well-being. The startup uses a gamified curriculum that helps kids build relationships, manage their emotions, and develop academic skills. Indeed, the demand for youth mental health services has grown substantially in the past few years, according to data compiled by mental health investor Telosity. Parallel Learning, Daybreak Health, and Hopscotch all provide various mental health services for children and their families. At tapouts, children and teens ages 4 to 16 participate in weekly, 30-minute group coaching sessions centered on themes including expressing emotions, resiliency, and identifying unhelpful thoughts.

Persons: tapouts, George Mornger, Mornger, Morgner Organizations: Business, Venture Partners, Sidespin, Tatler Asia Group, Capital, Telosity, Centers for Disease Control, Health Locations: Los Angeles, tapouts

☆ Rupert Murdoch's new girlfriend always had a touch of glamour even as a research scientist in the 2000s, former colleague says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Marianne Guenot | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A former colleague told Insider he was aware she had a glamorous lifestyle. Rupert Murdoch's new flame, 66-year-old former scientist Elena Zhukova, always had a touch of glamor about her, but didn't flaunt it when she worked in the lab, a former colleague told Insider. Lee Slice, who shared an office with Zhukova in UCLA in the 2000s, told Insider he "wasn't really surprised" to see the retired molecular biologist on Murdoch's arm. "That was sort of a circle she interacted with, as well as the scientific community," Slice told Insider. Zhukova took her work as a scientist seriouslySlice said that at work, Zhukova was a fairly private person and that her lifestyle was not really visible in the office.

Persons: Elena Zhukova, Ruper, Rupert Murdoch's, Lee Slice, wasn't, Zhukova, Rupert Murdoch, Ann Lesley Smith, Westwood, Alexander Zhukova, Slice, It's, Dasha, Roman Abramovich, Stavros Niarchos II, Stavros Niarchos Organizations: Morning, Zhukova, UCLA, Fox Corp, Guardian, National Institutes of Health, Playboy, Yorker, Baylor College of Medicine, University of California, Financial Times, Tatler, Chelsea FC, Dasha Locations: Bethesda, Westwood, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Moscow, Soviet Union, Houston, British, Russian

☆ The life of Rupert Murdoch's new girlfriend Elena Zhukova — a scientist who used to be mother-in-law to oligarch Roman Abramovich
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Tom Porter | Marianne Guenot | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

She is the mother of Dasha Zhukova, the ex-wife of the oligarch Roman Abramovich. The pair had a daughter, Dasha Zhukhova. Per the Financial Times, Zhukova left the Soviet Union in 1990, when she was in her thirties. Elena also has twins, a boy and a girl, from another relationship, according to a Guardian profile of Dasha Zhukhova. Murdoch has been married five times, divorcing Jerry Hall, ex wife of Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger, in 2022.

Persons: Rupert Murdoch, Elena Zhukova, Dasha Zhukova, Roman Abramovich, Ann Leslie Smith, Murdoch, Zhukova, Wendi Deng, Alexander Zhukhov, Dasha Zhukhova, Alexander, Elena, Abramovich, Dasha, Stavros Niarchos II, Stavros Niarchos, Deng, Jerry Hall, Mick Jagger Organizations: Daily Mail, Guardian, British, Yorker, Soviet, Financial Times, Baylor College of Medicine, University of California, Chelsea FC, The New Locations: Russian, Moscow, Soviet Union, Houston, Los Angeles, New York City

☆ This Asian MMA promotion wants to crack the US market -- without the blood and trash-talking
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Andrew Mcnicol | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Could 2023 be the year mixed-martial arts (MMA) in the United States finally returns to its pure, humble beginnings nurtured in Asia nearly 5,000 years ago? “I can’t wait for the US fans to be exposed to true martial arts. Fighting on American soil, it’s amazing to be able to headline this landmark event,” said the former longtime UFC champion, who joined One in 2018. Courtesy Aaron Pan/ONE ChampionshipWhat “true martial arts” means in new-era combat sports is certainly up for interpretation. That’s more true to the spirit of martial arts and its traditional values.

☆ Putin's rumored god-daughter, who fled Russia, said she could be 'in big trouble' and was cut off from friends and family
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A prominent Russian media star who fled the country posted saying she is in "big trouble." In her Telegram post on Saturday, Sobchak wrote: "My thoughts are with my family, who I have been separated from." Possibly, in big trouble." In her most recent post referring to her situation, Sobchak decried a backlash she had received in Russian media, as Russian newspaper Kommersant reported. Possibly, in big trouble.

☆ Putin's rumored god-daughter, a star of Russian media, fled the country after an order for her arrest
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A Russian media star with strong ties to Putin fled the country, per multiple reports. Ksenia Sobchak, rumored to be Putin's god-daughter, is in Lithuania, an official there said. Ksenia Sobchak left Russia and entered Lithuania using an Israeli passport late on Tuesday, state-controlled media outlet TASS reported, citing unnamed law-enforcement officials. Putin has since described Sobchak as a mentor, and Ksenia has long been rumored to be Putin's god-daughter. Putin has clamped down hard on Russian media outlets in the last years, an effort that has, as of the invasion of Ukraine, all but silenced independent journalism in the country.

☆ New UK PM Rishi Sunak is a child of privilege, married into almost $1 billion in tech money, and takes over a country struggling to afford heating
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | Yoonji Han | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Rishi Sunak will soon become the new prime minister of the UK. It's a union that made Sunak the first frontline UK politician to enter The Sunday Times' annual wealth listing. Sunak and his wife, Akshata Murthy, celebrating the British Asian Trust at the British Museum on February 2022. But despite his attempts to portray a down-to-earth image, the British public has had numerous reminders that Sunak has a very different experience with money than most people. His supporters, including British chancellor Jeremy Hunt, argue that Sunak's experience in finance and at the treasury make him the right man for the job.

☆ New money is pouring into Singapore, but a series of recent multimillion-dollar real-estate transactions show the old status symbols are as popular as ever
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-07 | by ( Nidhi Pandurangi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Good Class Bungalows, or GCBs, are powerful status symbols for old and new money alike in Singapore. With land this scarce, the most elite level of property on the island is the Good Class Bungalow, or GCB. New money, old status symbolWith new money pouring into Singapore, a series of recent multimillion-dollar real-estate transactions show these old status symbols are as popular as ever. And in 2019, British billionaire inventor James Dyson purchased an SG$50 million bungalow opposite Singapore's Botanic Gardens, per the Straits Times. Moreover, some prospective Good Class Bungalow renters are not even living in these properties.

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