First it was McDonald's receiving the rebranding treatment in Russia, and now it is Starbucks reappearing under a different name.
The world's largest coffee chain company pulled out of Russia in May after about 15 years in the country, owing to the conflict with Ukraine and subsequent sanctions from western countries.
The Seattle-based company had 130 stores in Russia, operated by its licensee, Kuwait's Alshaya Group, with about 2,000 employees in the country.
The assets were purchased by a partnership comprising rapper Timur Yunusov, better known as Timati, businessman Anton Pinsky and Sindica company, according to Russia's state news agency Tass, and have reopened under the name Stars Coffee.
"We, as Sindica Holding, always support proactive growth. Therefore, if [we] see our financial return forecasts are proving to be true, we will immediately start opening in new places, probably in new cities," said Sindica president Oleg Eskindarov.
"Moscow and St Petersburg will certainly remain the base ones for us."
A launch took place in Moscow, with Timati presenting the new brand, which has a logo consisting of a woman with a star above her head — very similar to that of Starbucks.
"People's perceptions may be different," said Mr Pinskiy. "But if you compare, then apart from the circle, you won't find anything in common."
The shops are due to open on Friday and will gradually open throughout the remainder of August and September.
Stars Coffee imports beans from Latin America and Africa, Mr Pinskiy told Reuters, with suppliers of other items based in Russia.
"We just found other suppliers, found the right roasters and because the baristas mixed it all correctly, we have a product that we think will be competitive," he said.
US fast-food company McDonald's also pulled out of Russia in May, along with a host of other western brands.
McDonald's reopened in June under the ownership of Vkusno i tochka, which translates into "Tasty and that's it".
The new outlets, sporting a fresh logo, offer burgers and chips, which some said tasted and appeared much the same as they did under the McDonald's branding.
However, after initial big queues, the restaurant chain has run into problems with sourcing potatoes due to supply chain disruption.
The company announced last week that it planned to reopen restaurants in Ukraine, having closed them in March.
It continued to pay the salaries of more than 10,000 employees, and said that the reopening would "support a small but important sense" of normality.
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
RESULTS
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More from Aya Iskandarani
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
About Krews
Founder: Ahmed Al Qubaisi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Founded: January 2019
Number of employees: 10
Sector: Technology/Social media
Funding to date: Estimated $300,000 from Hub71 in-kind support
AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
RESULTS
6.30pm: Handicap (rated 100 ) US$175,000 1,200m
Winner: Baccarat, William Buick (jockey), Charlie Appleby (trainer)
7.05pm: Handicap (78-94) $60,000 1,800m
Winner: Baroot, Christophe Soumillon, Mike de Kock
7.40pm: Firebreak Stakes Group 3 $200,000 1,600m
Winner: Heavy Metal, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer
8.15pm: Handicap (95-108) $125,000 1,200m
Winner: Yalta, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer
8.50pm: Balanchine Group 2 $200,000 1,800m
Winner: Promising Run, Pat Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor
9.25pm: Handicap (95-105) $125,000 1,800m
Winner: Blair House, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby
10pm: Handicap (95-105) $125,000 1,400m
Winner: Oh This Is Us, Tom Marquand, Richard Hannon
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
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