DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Chelsea reportedly loses $25 million crypto sponsorship deal as FTX's collapse hammers other platforms
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Crypto lender Amber will end its $25 million sponsorship of Chelsea soccer club, Bloomberg reported Friday. In March, Amber agreed to pay 20 million pounds ($25 million) for its flagship crypto exchange WhaleFin to become Chelsea's official sleeve sponsor. As the prices of digital asset prices surged last year, digital asset companies sealed sponsorship deals with top sports franchises. In addition to the job cuts and cutting the Chelsea deal, Amber will pivot to focus on institutional investors and wealthy individuals, per Bloomberg. Read more: FTX's rescue by Binance is a red flag for sports heavyweights that signed sponsorship deals with the crypto exchange

PRICE FLOORNeither climate campaigners nor the industry are happy with the new windfall tax. Benchmark Brent oil prices are trading above $80 a barrel, far below a spike well above $100 shortly after the Ukraine war began. Jacques Tohme, director and founder of Tailwind, a North Sea producer, said he did not object to a higher tax but a lack of stable rules created the risk of "flight of investment" from the North Sea. "We're happy to pay higher tax, but we need a floor of $75 to $100 a barrel above which a true windfall tax can be applied," Tohme said. Companies including Shell (SHEL.L) and Equinor have already said they will review their North Sea investments.

☆ With 2026 on the horizon future looks bright for young Americans
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-03 | by ( Steve Keating | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/5] Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 - Round of 16 - Netherlands v United States - Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar - December 3, 2022 United States players applaud fans after the match as United States are eliminated from the World Cup REUTERS/Annegret HilseAL RAYYAN, Qatar, Dec 3 (Reuters) - The United States exited the World Cup with a Round of 16 loss to the Netherlands on Saturday but looking towards the 2026 horizon, a bright future is rising for the young Americans. With defender DeAndre Yedlin, who played in Brazil in 2014, the only link to the country's World Cup past, the Americans' lack of experience was glaring at moments but offset by exuberance and a breathless work rate. A gritty, politically charged win over Iran and draws against England and Wales carried the United States into the last 16 but more will be expected on home soil. "We're just not there yet, we have to use this World Cup to establish ourselves. The loss to the Netherlands underscored the hard work ahead if the Americans plan to venture beyond the Round of 16 in 2026.

☆ Urals oil discount widens as freight rates for Russian oil jump - traders, Reuters calculations
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MOSCOW, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Russian Urals oil's discount to dated Brent have widened significantly, under pressure from record high freight rates for tankers carrying Russian oil and sending sellers' revenues well below an agreed EU price cap, two traders said on Friday and Reuters calculations showed. EU governments on Friday agreed to a price cap of $60 per barrel for the Russian crude. Therefore, freight cost for this voyages went up to some $20 per barrel for India and $25 per barrel for China, according to Reuters calculations. Fearing to disrupt a yet-to-be-established mechanism, many shipowners have refrained from handling Russian oil, reducing tanker availability and driving up shipping costs on key Urals export routes. Freight rates for 80,000 Aframax class tankers on routes from Black Sea's Novorossiysk to Augusta were at the highest level since March - 475 Worldscale points.

☆ China says it drove away U.S. cruiser near Spratly Islands
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING, Nov 29 (Reuters) - China's military said on Tuesday it drove away a U.S. guided-missile cruiser that "illegally intruded" into waters near the South China Sea's Spratly Islands. Tian said the U.S. cruiser's intrusion showed that the United States was a "security risk maker" in the South China Sea and "is another iron-clad proof of its hegemony in the navigation and militarization of the South China Sea". China's military said its troops would remain on high alert, the Southern Theatre Command said on its WeChat social media account. China claims nearly all of the South China Sea and it has become one of many flashpoints in the testy relationship between it and the United States. U.S. warships have passed through the South China Sea with increasing frequency in recent years, in a show of force against the Chinese claims.

☆ England suffer reality check in 0-0 draw with U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

AL KHOR, Qatar, Nov 25 (Reuters) - England suffered a sobering reality check as they were outplayed for long periods by a youthful United States side in a tense 0-0 draw in their second World Cup Group B game on Friday. A 6-2 thrashing of Iran on Monday sent fans' hopes soaring but Gareth Southgate's side were fortunate not to suffer a repeat of their 1950 World Cup calamity against the Americans. England captain Harry Kane sent a late header wide that would have given England a first World Cup win over the U.S. at the third attempt but it would have been a travesty. "Wasn't the best performance for sure," Kane, who remains two behind Wayne Rooney's England record 53 goals, said. Haji Wright, the only change to Gregg Berhalter's line-up from the opening draw with Wales, headed wide and England had a huge let-off when McKennie half-volleyed over.

☆ Analysis: Shocked by Ukraine war, Russian neighbour Kazakhstan looks west
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Olzhas Auyezov | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

Out of total exports of 68 million tonnes a year, 53 million tonnes of Kazakh oil move through it. The chief executive of Khazakhstan's state oil firm KazMunayGaz said this week that the target of 20 million tonnes was a "medium-term" aim. But getting Kazakh oil to Baku requires either tanker shipments across the sea or the construction of a trans-Caspian pipeline. Smailov said last week that Kazakhstan would start by sending an additional 1.5 million tonnes a year via BTC starting from 2023, gradually rising to 6-6.5 million tonnes. Kazakhstan's Aktau port, the only one equipped to load oil tankers, can handle up to 5.5 million tonnes.

For more than 70 days this summer, a marine heatwave cooked the waters of the western Mediterranean. "We've been witnessing marine heatwaves during the last 20 years," said Garrabou, who's also coordinator of the T-MEDNet marine monitoring network. A 2016 marine heatwave along Chile's southern coast caused huge algae blooms that wiped out fish farms and cost the aquaculture industry some $800 million, said scientist Kathryn Smith with the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. As the world warms, marine heatwaves are expected to become more frequent, according to the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Though economists have yet to account fully for the impacts of marine heatwaves, recent experience has many concerned.

☆ Willock stunner sinks Chelsea in gritty Newcastle win
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEWCASTLE, England, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Joe Willock's thunderous second-half goal earned Newcastle United a gritty 1-0 win over Chelsea at St James' Park on Saturday and consolidated third place in the Premier League in their final fixture before the World Cup. After a fifth straight league win, Newcastle have 30 points and sit two points behind second-placed Manchester City while Chelsea are level on 21 points with Brighton & Hove Albion but behind them in eighth place, having played a game more. Newcastle had a penalty appeal turned down after defender Dan Burn's cross hit Trevoh Chalobah's flailing arm late in the first half while Chelsea forward Armando Broja registered the only shot on target in an otherwise uneventful opening period. Five minutes after the restart, Newcastle came close to taking the lead when Joelinton kept alive Kieran Trippier's cross but Chris Wood was unable to connect and Mendy scrambled the ball away. Reporting by Hritika Sharma in Bengaluru Editing by Christian RadnedgeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Maddison, Wilson and Rashford named in England World Cup squad
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] The tournament's official logo for the 2022 Qatar World Cup is seen on the Doha Tower, in Doha, Qatar, September 3, 2019. REUTERS/Naseem Zeitoun/File PhotoNov 10 (Reuters) - England have included in-form Leicester City midfielder James Maddison in their squad for the World Cup in Qatar, with forwards Callum Wilson and Marcus Rashford also selected. Maddison and Newcastle United striker Wilson have not played for England since 2019, but have been rewarded for fine starts to the domestic season in the run-up to this month's tournament. Brentford striker Ivan Toney received his first call up for Nations League fixtures against Italy and Germany in September, but missed out on selection with Wilson and Rashford preferred. England begin their World Cup group campaign against Iran on Nov. 21 and also face the United States and Wales.

☆ Alves makes Brazil World Cup squad, Firmino left out
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Nov 7 (Reuters) - Brazil have included 39-year-old defender Daniel Alves but left out Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino in their 26-man World Cup squad which was named by coach Tite on Monday. After leaving Barcelona at the end of last season, Alves went to Mexico to try to keep his dream of playing in his fourth World Cup with five-times champions Brazil. Alves has been working on his recovery with the Barcelona academy medical and technical staff over the last few weeks. According to Tite, Alves' long history with Brazil and leadership qualities in the changing room were valuable but not the main reason he got a spot in the squad. The squad and Tite will gather on Nov. 14 at Juventus' training facilities in Turin, where Brazil will hold a five-day training camp before flying to Doha on Nov. 19.

☆ Arsenal return to top, Salah earns Liverpool win at Spurs
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-06 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

A second-half goal by Brazilian defender Gabriel earned Mikel Arteta's side their 11th win in 13 league games and they have now beaten Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Chelsea. Gabriel's 63rd minute toe-poke by Gabriel was enough to lift Arsenal to 34 points from 13 games. "We're not in a fantastic moment as we speak and in the end Arsenal deserved to win because they were the better team overall," Potter said. But despite constant pressure they could not equalise as Liverpool held on for their first away league win of the season. Tottenham are in fourth place with 26 points from 14 games while Liverpool rose to eighth with 19 points.

☆ Gabriel goal at Chelsea sends Arsenal back to the top
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

LONDON, Nov 6 (Reuters) - A 63rd-minute toe-poke on the goal line from Brazilian defender Gabriel earned Arsenal a 1-0 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday and lifted them back to the top of the Premier League. Gabriel, lurking at the far post, got on the end of a Bukayo Saka corner that flew past a line of Chelsea defenders. Arsenal, pressing hard and moving the ball at pace, had the better of a highly-charged London derby but were profligate in front of goal, with Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli and Ben White missing chances against Graham Potter's side. Chelsea's best efforts came on the counter-attack but they could produce only half-chances for Kai Havertz, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Raheem Sterling. Reporting by Clare Lovell, editing by Ed OsmondOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ England used to pre-tournament injury nightmares in past, just not on this scale
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( Peter Hall | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Now, Southgate is going further and further down his list just to fill seats on the plane. "The Chelsea medical staff have not given me a percentage of my chance of being back for the World Cup. Maguire has been a regular throughout Southgate's tenure, but has been demoted at United, starting only three league games this season. Rooney later suggested that going to the 2002 World Cup injured and playing through the pain was a mistake. Southgate's dilemma is does he risk defenders who have served him so well but aren't at 100%, or give others a chance.

☆ A submerged buoy-like device is harnessing the sea's 'epic amounts of energy' in Scottish trial
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Anmar Frangoul | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Sea-based trials of a wave energy converter weighing 50 metric tons have produced "highly encouraging results," according to the company behind its development. On Tuesday, Scotland-based AWS Ocean Energy said the average amount of power its device was able to capture "during a period of moderate wave conditions" came to more than 10 kilowatts, while it also recorded peaks of 80 kW. In addition, AWS said its Waveswing was able to operate in more challenging conditions, including Force 10 gales. The piece of kit — which has been described as a "submerged wave power buoy" — has a diameter of 4 meters and stands 7 meters tall. The Waveswing, AWS Ocean Energy says, "reacts to changes in sub-sea water pressure caused by passing waves and converts the resulting motion to electricity via a direct-drive generator."

☆ 'Captain America' Pulisic faces sky-high World Cup expectations
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Amy Tennery | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

NEW YORK, Nov 2 (Reuters) - The pressure is on for "Captain America" Christian Pulisic to put on a superhero performance on his World Cup debut in Qatar, building on years of sky-high expectations from his U.S. fans. He was the youngest man to feature in a U.S. World Cup qualifier six years ago aged 17 before suffering the bitter disappointment of failing to qualify for the 2018 edition. The U.S. will be praying he does not pick up an injury ahead of the World Cup with Chelsea involved in so many matches. "And, you know, everything will fall into place once the World Cup comes around." He's seen it all, done it all and I think the World Cup will be a great moment for him."

☆ Factbox: World Cup 2022: which major football players are missing FIFA tournament?
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( Alan Baldwin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Nov 14 (Reuters) - Following is a list of players who have been ruled out or are doubtful for the Nov. 20-Dec. 18 World Cup through injury. The 29-year-old resumed training but on Oct. 31 his agent said the midfielder would not return to action for Juventus nor the world champions before the World Cup. PEDRO NETO (PORTUGAL)The 22-year-old Wolverhampton Wanderers winger will undergo surgery on an ankle injury sustained against West Ham United in October. BOUBACAR KAMARA (FRANCE)The Aston Villa midfielder suffered a knee ligament injury in September that will keep him out until after the World Cup. SADIO MANE (SENEGAL)Sadio Mane has been named in Senegal's squad for the World Cup despite suffering an injury playing for Bayern Munich.

☆ De Bruyne puts Manchester City top, Liverpool suffer shock defeat
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-29 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Liverpool's second successive defeat against a team in the bottom three, following last week's reverse at Nottingham Forest, left them in ninth place, eight points off the top four. Chelsea also lost ground as Graham Potter's return to Brighton & Hove Albion ended in a 4-1 hammering. Manchester City have 29 points from 12 games, one point more than Arsenal who host bottom club Nottingham Forest on Sunday. Spurs moved to 26 points from 13 games with Newcastle, who have lost only once all season, on 24. Fulham could have moved level on points with Chelsea but were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Everton.

☆ Saudi Arabia has a strong tourism market, but minister holds out hope for Chinese travelers
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Sprawling mountains in the south, redevelopment of the Red Sea's coastal jewel city Jeddah and a futuristic smart city NEOM by 2030 — these are just some of the highlights that Saudi Arabia's minister of tourism hopes will be the main draws for future tourists. The Arab kingdom has a "very strong domestic market" for tourism, Saudi Arabia's Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al Khateeb told CNBC's Dan Murphy on Wednesday on the sidelines of the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh. The minister added that he hopes China eases Covid restrictions, which could lead to an influx of Chinese tourists. "We definitely have [a] very strong religious market, people visiting the two holy cities," Al Khateeb said.

☆ Chelsea's Potter backs Loftus-Cheek for England's World Cup squad
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Oct 25 (Reuters) - Chelsea head coach Graham Potter has backed Ruben Loftus-Cheek for a place in the England squad at next month's World Cup in Qatar. "He has really impressed me, Ruben, on and off the pitch," Potter told reporters ahead of Chelsea's Champions League clash at Salzburg. Loftus-Cheek was part of the England squad that reached the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup and he said going to Qatar "would mean the world" to him. "As a player, after going into the 2018 World Cup, you see your trajectory to go upward and to be at the next World Cup if everything goes well," Loftus-Cheek told reporters. "If I go to the World Cup, it would mean the world, but that is not at the forefront of my mind at the moment."

☆ Schedule ahead of World Cup is 'crazy,' says Chelsea's Azpilicueta
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Oct 25 (Reuters) - Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta said the number of games being crammed into the schedule ahead of the World Cup next month is "crazy" and that player welfare is being jeopardised. Azpilicueta's team mate N'Golo Kante has been ruled out of the World Cup after undergoing an operation on a hamstring injury, while Reece James is in a race to be fit for the tournament after injuring his knee. Chelsea have three league fixtures, two Champions League games and a League Cup tie before the World Cup in Qatar begins on Nov. 20. "We are fighting a lot for player welfare because the schedule is crazy. Azpilicueta is expected to feature in Spain's squad for the World Cup, where they have been drawn into Group E alongside Germany, Costa Rica and Japan.

☆ Nunez earns points for Liverpool, Man Utd outclass Tottenham
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Impressive Newcastle United bolstered their place in the top-six with a 1-0 victory at home to struggling Everton. Nunez also rattled the post with a ferocious shot but West Ham could easily have taken a point. Liverpool moved up to seventh with 16 points from 10 games, two points behind Newcastle and three behind Manchester United. UNITED TAKING SHAPEAfter a difficult start Man Utd are slowly taking shape under Dutch manager Erik ten Hag and they added Tottenham to their wins already against Liverpool and leaders Arsenal. Che Adams's first-half header earned Southampton victory at Bournemouth -- their first win in six games moving them up to 14th place with 11 points.

☆ Confident Kepa relishing Chelsea run after fifth straight clean sheet
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Soccer Football - Premier League - Brentford v Chelsea - Brentford Community Stadium, London, Britain - October 19, 2022 Chelsea's Kepa Arrizabalaga and Ruben Loftus-Cheek in action with Brentford's Rico Henry REUTERS/Tony ObrienOct 20 (Reuters) - Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga said his confidence has been boosted by getting a run of starts for Chelsea after he kept a fifth straight clean sheet in Wednesday's 0-0 Premier League draw with Brentford. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register"Every player needs confidence, this push, and for the goalkeepers it is even more important," Arrizabalaga told Prime Video. "If you are playing in a row of games, it's important for your confidence and I'm playing well, I think. Kepa also impressed in Chelsea's draw at Brentford, twice denying in-form striker Ivan Toney with saves that earned praise from opposition manager Thomas Frank. Chelsea, who are fourth in the league, host fifth-placed Manchester United on Saturday.

☆ Historic drought marks California's parched landscape
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-14 | by ( Jeremy Schultz | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

An aerial view shows former docks on a Salton Sea beach, with the water line much further away, July 2021. The state's worst drought since 1977 has exacerbated an area already in decline. The Salton Sea's receding shoreline has caused an ecological...moreAn aerial view shows former docks on a Salton Sea beach, with the water line much further away, July 2021. The state's worst drought since 1977 has exacerbated an area already in decline. The Salton Sea's receding shoreline has caused an ecological crisis as exposed silt is carried into surrounding areas.

☆ Danish leadership suggests Nord Stream pipelines leaking natural gas into the Baltic Sea were purposefully sabotaged
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-27 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Damage to the Nord Stream pipelines was caused by intentional acts of sabotage, Denmark said. The Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines have been leaking natural gas into the Baltic Sea. The Danish military captured footage on Tuesday of natural gas swirling at the sea's surface, and published photographs of the massive spill. After Russia's late-February full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Moscow suspended gas flow through the newer Nord Stream 2, which wasn't yet operational. More recently, it has stopped gas flow through what was previously a fully operational Nord Stream 1.

Search resuls for: "SEA's"

25 mentions found