DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Bublik smashes three racquets in Montpellier meltdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MONTPELLIER, Feb 9 (Reuters) - A raging Alexander Bublik laid waste to three racquets in a row at the Open Sud de France in Montpellier on Wednesday as the defending champion exited the ATP 250 event in the first round. Bublik, who was born in Russia but represents Kazakhstan, lost 4-6 7-6(12) 6-7(3) to local hope Gregoire Barrere. World number 50 Bublik saved three match points in a marathon second-set tie-breaker to level the contest and the 25-year-old was leading 4-2 in the third. Barrere wrapped up the match on his sixth match point, while Bublik finished with 14 double faults. Reporting by Manasi Pathak in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter RutherfordOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Former New York stockbroker convicted of leaving the US to join ISIS as a weapons instructor and sniper
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A New Yorker was convicted on Tuesday of providing material support to the Islamic State in Syria. He abandoned his family and job as a stockbroker in Brooklyn to go to Syria, per AP. Ruslan Maratovich Asainov trained an estimated 100 fighters on how to use weapons, the DOJ said. According to the DOJ, Asainov converted to Islam in 2009. Prosecutors say this man is Ruslan Maratovich Asainov, pictured between June 2014 and April 2015, in Tabqa, Syria.

☆ U.S. to Remove Sanctions on Former Kazakhstan Subsidiary of Russia’s Sberbank
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( Mengqi Sun | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +3 min

The U.S. Treasury Department said it would remove sanctions imposed on a former Kazakhstan subsidiary of Russia’s Sberbank because the entity is now wholly owned by a Kazakh company. The entity, previously called Subsidiary Bank Sberbank of Russia Joint Stock Co., is a commercial bank in Kazakhstan and was sanctioned as a foreign subsidiary of Sberbank last February, after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The unusual step made by the U.S. to remove the former subsidiary from the sanctions list highlights the impact of sanctions on Russia as Sberbank was forced to divest itself of some assets. PREVIEWThe U.S. imposed sanctions on Sberbank, Russia’s largest bank, in an effort to cripple Russia’s economy, military and elites after Moscow’s Ukraine invasion. The former Sberbank subsidiary is one of the largest banks in Kazakhstan and is seen as systemically important to Kazakhstan’s financial sector, a Treasury spokesperson said.

☆ China says it will set up yuan clearing arrangements in Brazil
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING, Feb 7 (Reuters) - China's central bank has signed a memorandum of understanding on setting up yuan clearing arrangements in Brazil, it said on Tuesday, in a move to help boost the currency's global clout. The establishment of such arrangements for the renminbi (RMB), or the yuan, would be beneficial to cross-border transactions, and further promote bilateral trade and investment facilitation, the People's Bank of China said on Tuesday. China has in recent months signed similar yuan clearing deals with Pakistan, Kazakhstan and Laos. Two-way trade between China and Brazil reached $172 billion in 2022, according to data from Chinese customs. Reporting by Beijing Newsroom, Liangping Gao and Kevin Yao, Editing by Louise Heavens, Kirsten DonovanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ U.S. grabs 2-0 lead in Davis Cup at Uzbekistan
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

February 4 - The United States moved to the brink of advancing out of its Davis Cup qualifying series by winning both singles matches against host Uzbekistan on Friday in Tashkent. Mackenzie McDonald beat Sergey Fomin 6-4, 6-1 before Tommy Paul, fresh off reaching the Australian Open semifinals, defeated Khumoyun Sultanov 6-1, 7-6 (6). In other Friday action, Germany and Switzerland split their first two singles matches in Trier, Germany. Switzerland's Marc-Andrea Huesler rallied past Oscar Otte 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 before Germany's Alexander Zverev downed Stan Wawrinka 6-4, 6-1. Serbia holds a 2-0 lead on host Norway in Oslo, and host Sweden is up 2-0 on Bosnia and Herzegovina in Stockholm.

LONDON, Feb 3 (Reuters) - China was a net exporter of refined zinc last year for the first time since 2007, while exports of refined lead remained super strong for the second year running. China's net trade in refined leadTRADE SWITCHChina exported 116,500 tonnes of refined lead last year, the highest-volume outflow since 2007. The Flin Flon zinc smelter in Canada produced its last zinc in 2022 after more than 25 years of activity. That of the Florence secondary lead plant in South Carolina in 2021, by contrast, was an unexpected hit to the U.S. supply chain. If China gets there first, last year's east-west imbalances in both zinc and lead markets may last longer than expected.

☆ Latvia says traders use Turkey, Kazakhstan, Armenia to dodge Russia sanctions
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( Andrius Sytas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

VILNIUS, Feb 3 (Reuters) - Traders are using Turkey, Kazakhstan and Armenia to evade European Union sanctions on Russia in a tactic that breaches these countries' compliance with the bloc's embargo, Latvia's prime minister said on Friday. Krisjanis Karins made the assertion following talks with counterparts from fellow EU members Estonia and Lithuania, which along with Latvia have been among most vocal supporters of sanctions on Russia following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. "It seems quite clear that traders are finding ways to legally trade goods, say with Turkey, Kazakhstan or Armenia which are then resent to Russia, because these countries are not adhering to the sanctions regime", Karins told reporters in the Estonian capital Tallinn. There was no immediate response from the foreign ministries of Turkey and Kazakhstan to requests for comment on the remarks by Karins. At the same time, it opposes Western sanctions on Russia and has close ties with both Moscow and Kyiv, its Black Sea neighbours.

☆ Kazakh yurts in Ukraine irk Russia as crowdfunded aid pours in
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"They asked us to comment and we said we saw no reason to do that," a Kazakh foreign ministry spokesman said. A year ago - just before Russia invaded Ukraine - Astana demonstrated its reliance on Moscow by briefly inviting in Russian troops to help put down street unrest. A poll carried out late last year showed 22% of Kazakhs supported Ukraine, against 13% for Russia, while 59% remained neutral. Her "Nation's Future" group started collecting aid the day after Russia invaded Ukraine, and has raised about $1.5 million in cash and donated items from about 20,000 people. "We are helping ourselves in the first place by helping Ukraine, we are supporting our independence, our decolonisation, and the image of our country."

☆ Western tankers ramp up Russian oil shipments under price cap
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The Group of Seven nations (G7), Australia and the 27 European Union countries placed a price limit on Russian crude oil of $60 per barrel on Dec. 5. The cap allows non-EU countries to import seaborne Russian crude oil, but prohibits Western shipping and insurance companies from handling cargoes of the crude unless it is sold at or below that price. Russia has said it will not accept an oil price cap. GREEK RELIEFGreek-owned ships run by Greek management firms handled at least 21 voyages of Russian crude in January to a range of destinations. NGM said its tanker, the Ace, had discharged crude oil in Bulgaria.

☆ Russia is preventing migrant workers from leaving the country as authorities consider more military call-ups, UK intel says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Russia is keeping dual-citizen migrant workers from leaving the country, UK military intel says. It cited a report that said Kyrgyz workers were stopped by border guards as they tried to leave. Russia is "keeping open the option" of another round of military call-ups, per the update. The UK defense ministry said these reports come as Russian authorities are "keeping open the option" of another round of military call-ups. But this latest UK military update said that Russia's leadership is "highly likely" to continue looking for ways to meet the huge numbers of personnel required to launch any future offensive in Ukraine.

☆ Rybakina to enter top 10 but says career boost won't change her
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-28 | by ( Shrivathsa Sridhar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"I don't think tomorrow I'm going to feel different just because of the ranking now," she told reporters. I'm going to be seeded. Rybakina said reaching a second major final so quickly after her first had eased some of the pressure of expectations. Even I would say I'm trying to not think about expectations and everything," Rybakina said. "Hopefully this great performance at the Australian Open will mark the start of a successful year of play for Elena."

☆ Belarusian Sabalenka crowned first 'neutral' Grand Slam champion
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-28 | by ( Ian Ransom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The big-hitting Belarusian overhauled Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina 4-6 6-3 6-4 in the final at Rod Laver Arena on Saturday while barred from representing the eastern European nation. Had Rybakina not switched allegiance to Kazakhstan in 2018, the Russia-born player would also have competed as a neutral. "I think everyone still knows that I'm Belarusian player. Asked whether missing Wimbledon made her Australian Open win sweeter, Sabalenka was non-committal. The Belarus tennis federation was quick to extend congratulations to the country's second tennis player to win a Grand Slam, following on from twice Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka, who was knocked out in the semi-finals.

☆ Rybakina meets Sabalenka in clash of big hitters for Australian Open crown
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( Shrivathsa Sridhar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

While that victory brought prestige and financial reward, it did not boost her up the rankings. Rybakina would have climbed into the top 10 had the ranking points been available but she has proved she belongs in the spotlight at Melbourne Park, knocking out three Grand Slam champions en route to this year's title clash. "I think it was a great challenge for me because for sure, they have experience of winning Grand Slams, so it was nothing new for them," Rybakina, who beat Azarenka 7-6(4) 6-3 in the semi-finals, said. With Russian and Belarusian players only allowed to compete as individual athletes without national affiliation at Melbourne Park, Sabalenka could become the first neutral athlete to win a Grand Slam. Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Melbourne; Editing by Peter RutherfordOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Rybakina takes down Azarenka to reach first Australian Open final
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Ian Ransom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The 22nd-seeded Rybakina was broken as she served for the set but Azarenka double-faulted to concede three match points in the next game, allowing the Kazakh to close out an emphatic win. Rybakina shrugged it off then broke Azarenka twice, repeatedly outrallying the powerful Belarusian. Running full tilt, she saved a set point with a forehand passing shot and put the pressure back on Rybakina. Though failing to land a first serve 11 times in succession, Rybakina saved three break points at 5-5 before momentum shifted again when Azarenka tightened up in the tiebreak. Rybakina wobbled when serving out the match, a double-fault coughing up three break points and opening the door for Azarenka.

☆ Russian gold miner Polymetal's Q4 revenue jumps on inventory clearance
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Polymetal has not been directly targeted by Western sanctions imposed on Moscow after it sent thousands of troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24. But, along with other Russian commodity producers, it has suffered from their impact as Western banks and shippers have reduced dealings with Russian companies. For the full year, Polymetal's output increased by 2% to 1.712 million ounces of GE, in line with its production guidance. But the company's revenue for 2022 fell by 3% to $2.8 billion on the back of lower average gold and silver prices. The company reiterated its current production guidance for 2023 of 1.7 million ounces of GE and saw capital spending of $700-750 million.

☆ Former McDonald's restaurants reopen without branding in Kazakhstan
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/6] A view shows a fast food restaurant, which used to operate under the McDonald's brand and reopened with no branding weeks after the U.S. company left the local market, in Almaty, Kazakhstan January 23, 2023. REUTERS/Pavel MikheyevALMATY, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Several restaurants which used to operate under the McDonald's (MCD.N) brand in Kazakhstan reopened on Monday with no branding to serve fast food under generic names such as "Cheeseburger", weeks after the U.S. company left the local market. McDonald's and Food Solutions KZ terminated their licence agreement this month, citing supply issues. Sources earlier told Reuters that McDonald's Kazakhstan had stopped buying supplies from Russia and had trouble replacing them. Food Solutions KZ did not say on Monday whether it has replaced any components such as beef patties with Kazakh produce, and declined to comment on any questions not addressed in its statement.

☆ Russia ramps up January oil exports, India remains top buyer
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Around 70% of January cargoes of Urals oil are heading to India, according to traders' data and Reuters calculations. India has been a top buyer of the Russian grade for several months now, filling the void left by EU buyers. In December India's oil imports jumped to a five-month record amid active buying of the Russian oil. Russia loaded 4.7 million tonnes of Urals and KEBCO from Baltic ports in December, traders said and Refinitiv data showed. Last year Kazakhstan changed the name of the oil it exports via Russian sea ports, from Urals to Kazakhstan Export Blend Crude Oil (KEBCO), dissociating it from oil originating in Russia to avoid sanction risks and issues with financing.

☆ Jessica Pegula Is Suddenly a Favorite in Australia as Top Seeds Falter
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-22 | by ( Joshua Robinson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

MELBOURNE, Australia—When Jessica Pegula woke up on Sunday morning here, she was still in the hardest section of the Australian Open. Potential matches against world No. 1 Iga Swiatek or fellow American Coco Gauff lay ahead if Pegula could just stick around long enough. But by the time she took the court for her fourth-round match, the draw was collapsing around her. Swiatek had fallen apart against the surprise Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan, and Gauff had lost to Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia, the player who won the 2017 French Open and hasn’t reached a Grand Slam final since.

☆ Top seed Swiatek knocked out by Wimbledon champ Rybakina
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MELBOURNE, Jan 22 (Reuters) - World number one Iga Swiatek crashed out of the Australian Open on Sunday with a 6-4 6-4 defeat by Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina on Rod Laver Arena. Kazakhstan's Rybakina advanced to the quarter-finals of the season's opening Grand Slam for the first time with an impressive display against the misfiring Pole. "It was a really tough match and I really respect Iga because of the strike she has and the Grand Slams," said Rybakina. The Russia-born right-hander broke Swiatek again at 4-4 in the second set before holding her own serve in convincing fashion to close out the match. Rybakina's win sees her progress to a third Grand Slam quarter-final having also reached the last eight at the 2021 French Open before winning Wimbledon last year.

☆ Rybakina eyes Swiatek's No.1 ranking after Australian Open win
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Rybakina advanced to the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park for the first time with her win at Rod Laver Arena and will meet Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko for a place in the last four. Rybakina said there were still "many things to improve" on but that she was a match for anyone if she could continue her current form. Sunday was the first time Kazakhstan's Rybakina appeared on one of the two main showcourts at Melbourne Park during this tournament, with the Russia-born player starting her campaign on an outer court. "When you play against the number one, I think you have really nothing to lose," Rybakina added. "So I was trying to just attack her from the first ball, and it really worked well."

☆ U.S. approves design for NuScale small modular nuclear reactor
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( Timothy Gardner | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Companies Nuscale Power Corp FollowWASHINGTON, Jan 20 (Reuters) - The U.S. nuclear power regulator has certified the design for the NuScale Power Corp's (SMR.N) small modular reactor, the first such approval in the country for the next generation technology. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission's approval, published in the Federal Register late on Thursday, clears a hurdle for NuScale. The company plans to build a demonstration small modular reactor (SMR) power plant at the Idaho National Laboratory. The U.S. Department of Energy has provided more than $600 million since 2014 to support the design, licensing and siting of NuScale's power plant and other small modular reactors. "SMRs are no longer an abstract concept," said Kathryn Huff, assistant secretary for nuclear energy at the Energy Department.

☆ SLB wins Russia business as oilfield rivals exit after Ukraine invasion
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Liz Hampton | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Jan 19 (Reuters) - Following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, world's largest oilfield firm SLB (SLB.N) has boosted its business in Russia by cherry-picking service and equipment contracts from rivals who left, according to company documents and people familiar with its operations. For example, SLB's Russia and Central Asia reservoir performance division in the third quarter of 2022 grew revenue by 25% over the prior quarter. The company said in March that, while it is continuing operations in Russia, it has halted new investments there. One reason SLB is finding new success in Russia is that rivals have exited the region. "The message from HQ is to take mostly exclusive contracts with high revenue," said a SLB employee involved in the business wins.

☆ One of Russia's main allies closed a visa loophole used by Russians fleeing conscription to fight in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

It's ending a program allowing Russians to remain indefinitely if they renew their visas every 90 days. Thousands fled to the Central Asian country after Russia invaded Ukraine, many evading conscription. More than 100,000 Russians, many of them men fleeing conscription to fight in Ukraine, fled to Kazakhstan, according to reports. The government in Kazakhstan has refused to back Russia's invasion of Ukraine, straining ties with the Kremlin. Russia said in October that its initial draft of 300,000 men to fight in Ukraine was complete, with no more planned.

☆ Russia's rebranded McDonald's may expand into Kazakhstan after McDonald's reportedly banned its restaurants there from selling Russian meat, forcing them to close
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Fast-food chain Vkusno & Tochka replaced some of McDonald's restaurants in Russia after they all closed. Alexander Govor, a Russian businessperson, bought Russia's closed McDonald's restaurants in May and rebranded them as Vkusno & Tochka, which translates as "tasty and that's it." Pavel Mikheyev/Getty ImagesMcDonald's confirmed to Insider that its contract with Food Solutions had been terminated. Kazakh news outlet Tengrinews, however, reported that Food Solutions' director said the company didn't plan to rebrand its restaurants as Vkusno & tochka. The chain said in December, however, that it was working on a substitute for McDonald's trademark Big Mac.

☆ Kazakhstan ends unlimited stay for Russians
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

ALMATY, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Kazakhstan will no longer allow Russian citizens to stay in the Central Asian country indefinitely by doing so-called visa runs every three months, according to a government directive published this week. Tens of thousands of Russians, mostly young and middle-aged men, relocated to Kazakhstan last year as Moscow, embroiled in the Ukraine conflict, launched its first conscription campaign since World War Two. The Russian language is widely spoken in Kazakhstan and the two countries share the world's longest continuous land border, making Kazakhstan a popular choice among Russians fleeing the draft. The ability to stay in the country de facto indefinitely - by leaving it and reentering every 90 days - has been another important factor. However, the country has struggled to cope with the influx of Russians.

Search resuls for: "KAZAKHSTAN"

25 mentions found