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☆ I traveled to every country in the world, including North Korea, in 558 days. These are my top 10 travel tips.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Hannah Towey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Cassie De Pecol has traveled to all 193 sovereign nations in addition to Taiwan, Kosovo, and Palestine. These are some of her top travel tips — from her favorite airlines to how to stay safe as a solo traveler. So I decided to go after the Guinness World Record for traveling to every country in the fastest amount of time. How I traveled to 193 countries in just over 18 monthsCassie De Pecol in North Korea. If you can, pack lightFor my trip around the world, I traveled with just a backpack.

☆ Frappart ends 92-year wait for a female referee at a men's World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Manasi Pathak | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

AL KHOR, Qatar, Dec 1 (Reuters) - France's Stephanie Frappart made history on Thursday when she became the first woman to take charge of a men's World Cup finals game during Costa Rica's Group E match against Germany. Frappart, 38, led the first all-female refereeing team in a men's World Cup in the game at the Al Bayt Stadium alongside assistants Neuza Back from Brazil and Mexico's Karen Diaz. Frappart entered the history books when she became the first woman to referee a French Ligue 1 match in 2019, officiating a game between Amiens and Strasbourg. The same year, Frappart also took charge of the UEFA Super Cup between Liverpool and Chelsea, becoming the first woman to officiate in a major men's European match. "The men's World Cup is the most important sporting competition in the world," said Frappart, who was also the fourth official during Mexico's goalless draw with Poland at the Qatar World Cup.

☆ Hong Kong sees IPO slowdown reversing; eyes international issuers
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Sumeet Chatterjee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

China's economic slowdown, a sweeping regulatory crackdown that has tightened scrutiny over companies' fundraising outside mainland China and geopolitical tensions have all resulted in a bleak year for new listings in Hong Kong. "In other words, we will make ourselves much more diversified (with) many more international companies and that will be our strategy." International investors account for about 42% of investments in Hong Kong's equity market, and that share is "a lot higher" in the derivatives market, Cha said. Years of strict COVID restrictions have also badly hit Hong Kong's economy, but the city has lifted most of its curbs in the last couple of months. "So for us, there was, like the rest of Hong Kong, a higher attrition rate about 12 months ago, and that has come down now."

☆ China's BYD to sell EVs in Mexico in 2023, aims for up to 30,000 sales in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Kylie Madry | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/4] The interior of the BYD HAN EV is displayed as the Chinese electric-vehicle producer announces its expansion to the consumer market next year in Mexico, in Toluca, Mexico November 29, 2022. As per Mexico's Automotive Industry Association, just 4.5% of cars sold in the first eight months of this year were hybrid, or around 31,000 of nearly 693,000 sold in total. While BYD declined to name starting prices of its vehicles in Mexico, Zou stressed the company's affordability. BYD's Zou also said the company aimed to sell cars through 15 licensed dealers in Mexico by the end of 2023 and hit 30 by 2024. Zou said as U.S. states such as California go fully electric, Mexico — which produces a vast amount of cars for its northern neighbors — will likely follow.

☆ Spain's youngsters to draw on Olympics experience for Japan clash
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Anita Kobylinska | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A number of Spain's under-23 squad from Tokyo are now in Qatar, and remember their semi-final clash with Japan all too well. Spain won 1-0 and eventually took the silver medal, while Japan lost out in the bronze medal match. We played a bit in a similar way," Torres said. Between tournament duties, the young Spanish players have been soaking up the experience, and not only on the pitch. "Germany's defeat against Japan, Argentina's one against Saudi Arabia show that the level in this World Cup is very high.

☆ Stéphanie Frappart to make history as the first woman to referee a men’s World Cup match
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

But Stéphanie Frappart’s traditional anonymity has been broken for a different reason – she will make history on Thursday as the first woman to referee a men’s World Cup match. FIFA announced their appointment back in May, when Frappart found out that she was going to the 2022 Qatar World Cup. “It’s a surprise, you cannot believe it and after two or three minutes, you realize that you are going to the World Cup. Mukasanga and Yamashita have also been the fourth official at two and four games of this World Cup respectively. I don’t know how life is there but I didn’t make the decision to go there or to organize the World Cup,” Frappart says.

☆ 'We need to have fun' - Luis Enrique says streaming part of Spain's relaxed vibe
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Martin Petty | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Luis Enrique took the unusual step of starting a daily Twitch livestream when his squad arrived for the World Cup to reach out directly to Spain fans. "My streaming sessions and posting, everyone can have their own reading or interpretation, I didn't start doing this with any specific goal," he told a news conference. He said it was vital for players to be able to have a release from all the pressures that a World Cup brings. "The only goal I set for my players...before this training camp 16 days ago, I told them we need to have fun, fun. They have family children, who have to act with normalcy"Having a day off after 10 days of a training camp.

HANOI, Dec 1 (Reuters) - Every Tuesday, 79-year-old Nguyen Thi Loc joins a group of grey-haired students to study English at a house in Hanoi, with the aim of socialising and keeping her brain sharp. The informal classes are free and are taught by Phung Thi Yen, who trained as an English teacher but currently works as an office worker. Loc has never studied a foreign language before, but with her newly acquired skills she chants in chorus with her classmates: "Never too old to learn English". English is Vietnam's most commonly taught foreign language after having become a mandatory subject at school in the 1990s. "Even though we are old, we still should try to study, because studying helps the brain," she said.

China on Friday launched its first private pension scheme in 36 cities as it grapples with a rapidly ageing population, allowing individuals to open retirement accounts at banks to buy pension products ranging from deposits to mutual funds. The move marked the official launch of China's version of IRA, or Individual Retirement Accounts in the United States, a private pension scheme that offers tax advantages for individuals saving for retirement. As part of the new system, local domestic workers covered by China's public pension insurance can participate in the private pension scheme and contribute up to 12,000 yuan ($1,680) per year to their individual accounts and receive tax benefits. Eddy Wong, chief executive of China International Fund Management (CIFM), a joint venture between JPMorgan and Shanghai International Trust Co., said China's individual pension market has "huge potential and room for development". "The first movers in China's pension market enjoy an advantage," said Howhow Zhang, Greater China wealth and asset management strategy and transactions leader at consultancy EY.

☆ After the tears, South Korea turn eyes to Portugal
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( William Schomberg | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

South Korea must beat the 2016 European champions - as they did at the 2002 World Cup on home soil - and hope that the result of the other final Group H match between Ghana and Uruguay goes their way too. Assistant coach Sergio Costa said South Korea would bounce back from their disappointment. South Korea have only one point after drawing their opening game against Uruguay and must beat Portugal to have any chance of progressing. At the World Cup 20 years ago, South Korea beat a 10-man Portugal - whose team included Bento - in their final group game. Portugal opened their campaign in Qatar with a 3-2 victory against Ghana before enjoying a more controlled 2-0 win over Uruguay on Monday.

☆ First female referee is 'positive step' says Costa Rica coach Suarez
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

AL RAYYAN, Qatar, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Stephanie Frappart's appointment as match referee for Thursday's crunch World Cup clash between Germany and Costa Rica is a step forward for women in a "sexist sport", according to Costa Rica manager Luis Fernando Suarez. The 38-year-old Frappart will be joined by Brazil's Neuza Back and Mexico's Karen Diaz as she puts down another marker for female officials having also been the first woman to referee a men's World Cup qualifier in March. Last week, she became the first female official at a men's World Cup when she was fourth official for the Poland v Mexico Group C tie, but on Thursday she will be more in the spotlight. "I think it's great and it's a huge achievement for women globally," Borges, who is playing in his third World Cup for the Costa Ricans, told reporters. "I just hope she has a good match and that we can help her make it an easy match."

☆ Fact Check-Images of dressing rooms strewn with rubbish are not Japanese soccer team’s changing room after Costa Rica World Cup match
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Images circulating online of dressing rooms strewn with rubbish do not show the Japanese national soccer team’s changing room and the images pre-date the Qatar World Cup. However, some online users were duped into thinking that the images showed the Japanese team’s changing room after losing to Costa Rica on Nov 27. FIFA has images showing Japan’s changing room after the team’s opening match against Germany, with no rubbish viewable (here), (here), (here). Images online do not show rubbish in Japan’s World Cup changing room after a match. The images were captured in Italy following the national soccer team’s loss to North Macedonia in March 2022.

This is the first World Cup tournament held in the Middle East, and the last before the World Cup expands to 48 teams in 2026. How to watch the 2022 World CupYou can watch the 2022 World Cup on Fox and Fox Sports 1 in the US. 2022 World Cup scheduleWe'll be updating our World Cup schedule every week with more upcoming matches, so be sure to check back for the latest details. ET Fox Sports 12022 World Cup groupsGroup AQatarEcuadorSenegalNetherlandsGroup BEnglandIranUnited StatesWalesGroup CArgentinaSaudi ArabiaMexicoPolandGroup DFranceAustraliaDenmarkTunisiaGroup ESpainCosta RicaGermanyJapanGroup FBelgiumCanadaMoroccoCroatiaGroup GBrazilSerbiaSwitzerlandCameroonGroup HPortugalGhanaUruguaySouth KoreaWhat's the tournament format for the 2022 World Cup? Where is the 2022 World Cup?

The average cost of travel insurance has increased over the past week, according to travel agency Squaremouth. Travel insurance weekly rates at a glance:Average premium: $268.70Average trip cost: $5,654.61Average trip length: 16 daysAverage cost of travel insurance by most popular destinationsSome countries are naturally more expensive travel destinations due to higher flight and lodging costs, which could ultimately increase your travel insurance costs. When calculating your travel insurance premium, travel insurance providers consider the likelihood of a medical emergency. Before getting a travel insurance policy, it's essential to make sure that the terms match your needs or concerns. Read the fine print of any travel insurance policy before purchasing.

Adobe Analytics expects consumers to spend between $11.2 billion and $11.6 billion on Cyber Monday. Overall, Black Friday sales topped $8.9 billion last year, versus $10.7 billion on Cyber Monday 2021. Meanwhile, e-commerce giant Amazon said sales on Black Friday broke a record, underscoring the appeal of shopping online. Sarah Hymer, a mother of two in Utah, said she hadn’t planned on any in-store Black Friday shopping. Rega, holding multiple bags, said Black Friday prices struck her as “comparable” to a year ago.

☆ Exclusive: Tesla readies revamped Model 3 with project 'Highland' -sources
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

[1/2] A Tesla Model 3 sedan, its first car aimed at the mass market, is displayed during its launch in Hawthorne, California, U.S. March 31, 2016. Tesla’s Shanghai Gigafactory will put the redesigned Model 3 into production in the third quarter of 2023, they said. CHANGE YOU CAN SEEThe redesign for the Model 3 builds on the revamp of the Model S -- Tesla’s premium EV sedan -- that was released last year. The Model 3, Tesla’s cheapest EV starting at just under $47,000 in the United States, had been the automaker’s best-seller but is being overtaken by the Model Y crossover. KEEP IT SIMPLEMusk has pushed a simplified approach to design and production at Tesla that the Highland project extends, said the people with knowledge of the development.

It fell as far as $73.60 earlier, its lowest since Dec. 22, 2021. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies including Russia, known as OPEC+, will meet on Dec. 4. read moreInvestors also focused on Western plans for a price cap on Russian oil. On Thursday, EU governments were split on the level at which to cap Russian oil prices. The price cap is due to come into effect on Dec. 5 when an EU ban on Russian crude also takes effect.

☆ Evergrande aims to win approval for restructuring proposals early next year
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( Xie Yu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

HONG KONG, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Embattled property developer China Evergrande Group (3333.HK) aims to win creditors' support for its debt restructuring proposals by as early as the end of February, the company's lawyers said on Monday. Its $22.7 billion worth of offshore debt, including loans and private bonds, is deemed to be in default after missed payments late last year. With few fresh funding options and slowing property sales, Evergrande, which has $300 billion in total liabilities, began one of China's biggest debt-restructuring processes this year. Evergrande expects to firm up debt restructuring proposals by end-February or early-March, lawyers for the developer told a Hong Kong court, which adjourned a winding-up lawsuit against the developer to March 20, 2023. Evergrande and its major offshore credit group have opposed to the winding-up petition, saying the developer was actively pushing forward with the offshore debt restructuring work in the interest of all creditors.

☆ Fernandes double fires perfect Portugal through to World Cup last 16
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( Martin Petty | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

For a Portugal whose World Cup narrative has so far been crafted by the controversy and brilliance of Cristiano Ronaldo, the night belonged to Fernandes, who shone throughout and always looked threatening. The win was the third time at a World Cup that Portugal have won two successive group stage matches, and the previous two times led to streaks into the semi-finals. Fernandes played down talk of his starring role and said his focus was the next match against South Korea and getting a perfect nine points for Portugal. "Our objective is to think match after match and we have to do our best because we obviously want to win all the matches." Portugal were dangerous on the approach and controlled both flanks, with Bernardo Silva, Fernandes and an industrious Joao Felix combining well and each frustrated in their efforts to put Portugal ahead.

WTI's trading range is expected to fall to $70-$75, he said, adding the market could stay volatile depending on the outcome of the OPEC+ meeting and the price cap on Russian oil. read moreInvestors also focused on Western plans for a price cap on Russian oil. Group of Seven(G7) and European Union diplomats have been discussing a price cap on Russian oil of between $65 and $70 a barrel, with the aim of limiting revenue to fund Moscow's military offensive in Ukraine without disrupting global oil markets. On Thursday, EU governments were split on the level at which to cap Russian oil prices. The price cap is due to come into effect on Dec. 5 when an EU ban on Russian crude kicks off.

☆ Morning Bid: Red alert
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Reuters Graphics Reuters GraphicsEuropean markets are likely to take a cue from the wave of red splashed across Asian markets on Monday, while investors will also scrutinise Wednesday's euro zone inflation data to see if the worst of the price surge is behind. While economists at Citi expect headline inflation to post the first decline since mid-2020, driven by falling energy inflation, European Central Bank's top economic thinkers have been sparring on the outlook for inflation and rates. Though U.S. inflation may be close to peaking, euro area price pressures remain strong. Inflation in the euro zone was 10.6% in October, more than five times the ECB's 2% target. The comments come after Switzerland's second-largest bank flagged a hefty loss last week as wealthy clients turn their back on the embattled bank.

☆ My husband and I quit our jobs in Miami to secretly travel the world while working remotely. It's allowed us to pay off debt and improve our quality of life.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( Hannah Towey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

It's allowed him and his husband to save money and pursue a more exciting lifestyle, he said. My husband and I quit our in-person jobs to accept remote positions and secretly moved to South America about four months ago. We use an external VPN router through which my work computer connects. Paying for VPN software itself wouldn't be sufficient, as the work computer would easily allow the company to see that the software had been installed. Our reasoning for wasting that much money on flights to pick up a work computer?

☆ Analysis: Timid Moriyasu in the spotlight as Costa Rica tear up the script
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-27 | by ( Nick Mulvenney | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

DOHA, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu, hailed as a tactical mastermind after the victory over Germany, was left with egg on his face on Sunday after Costa Rica produced a similarly stunning upset to blow World Cup Group E wide open. Although Moriyasu made five changes for the Costa Rica match in a squad rotation ahead of their final group match against Spain, only Ritsu Doan of the substitutes who came on to transform the Germany match was given a start. The Samurai Blue looked clueless as they tried to break down a Costa Rica side determined to avoid further embarrassment and who kept 10 men behind the ball for much of the time. It was Costa Rica's first shot on goal in the entire match but that, ultimately, was more than Japan managed over the 90 minutes. Moriyasu was unapologetic about his team's insipid display only a few days after one of their greatest victories.

☆ Germany salvages draw against Spain but World Cup hopes still hang in the balance
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-27 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Niclas Füllkrug’s late strike was enough to salvage a point for Germany against Spain as qualification from Group E goes down to the wire. Germany needs to beat Costa Rica and hope Spain defeats Japan or, if Japan earns a draw, ensure it has a superior goal difference. Álvaro Morata celebrates after scoring the opening goal against Germany. But just when it looked as though Germany was growing into the match, Spain found the breakthrough thanks to substitute Morata, who ran onto Jordi Alba’s low cross and poked the ball past Neuer. Germany will know only a victory against Costa Rica will do – but even that might not be enough.

☆ Costa Rica shocks Japan with a 1-0 victory
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-27 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Straight after half-time, however, the pace immediately lifted with the introduction of two new faces for Japan – Takuma Asano and Hiroki Ito. Hidemasa Morita shimmied his way to the penalty box and lined up a shot on goal that was batted away by Keylor Navas. Costa Rica bounced back from a 7-0 defeat against Spain in its opening match. With just nine minutes of regular time remaining, Japan saw its hopes of sealing a spot in the knockout stages slip away, and a chance late on with the ball ricocheting around the box was marshalled by Navas as Costa Rica held on for the win. With Spain and Germany playing later on Sunday, both teams’ fates will be decided in the last round of fixtures.

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