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Defiance ETFs launches the first SPAC ETF

Paul Dellaquila, President of Defiance ETFs, joined The Final Round to discuss the company's newly launched ETF that focuses on SPACs and how to invest and evaluate the SPAC market.

Latest Stories

  • Venkaiah Naidu receives two action taken reports from Parliamentary panel

    New Delhi [India], November 30 (ANI): Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu on Monday received two action taken reports from Jairam Ramesh, Chairman of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

  • Centre planning to create 5 cr employment opportunities in MSME sectors

    New Delhi [India], November 30 (ANI): Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday said that the Central government is planning to create 5 crore more employment opportunities from Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sectors only.

  • Biden chooses an all-female senior White House press team

    WILMINGTON, Del. — President-elect Joe Biden will have an all-female senior communications team at his White House, reflecting his stated desire to build out a diverse White House team as well as what’s expected to be a return to a more traditional press operation.Biden campaign communications director Kate Bedingfield will serve as Biden’s White House communications director. Jen Psaki, a longtime Democratic spokeswoman, will be his press secretary.Four of the seven top communications roles at the White House will be filled by women of colour, and it’s the first time the entire senior White House communications team will be entirely female.President Donald Trump upended the ways in which his administration communicated with the press. In contrast with administrations past, Trump’s communications team held few press briefings, and those that did occur were often combative affairs riddled with inaccuracies and falsehoods.Trump himself sometimes served as his own press secretary, taking questions from the media, and he often bypassed the White House press corps entirely by dialing into his favourite Fox News shows.In a statement announcing the White House communications team, Biden said: “Communicating directly and truthfully to the American people is one of the most important duties of a President, and this team will be entrusted with the tremendous responsibility of connecting the American people to the White House.”He added: “These qualified, experienced communicators bring diverse perspectives to their work and a shared commitment to building this country back better.”Bedingfield and Psaki are veterans of the Obama administration. Bedingfield served as communications director for Biden while he was vice-president, and Psaki was a White House communications director and a spokesperson at the State Department.Others joining the White House communications staff are:— Karine Jean Pierre, who was Vice-President-elect Kamala Harris’ chief of staff, will serve as a principal deputy press secretary for the president-elect. She’s another Obama administration alum, having served as a regional political director for the White House office of political affairs.— Pili Tobar, who was communications director for coalitions on Biden’s campaign, will be his deputy White House communications director. She most recently was deputy director for America’s Voice, an immigration reform advocacy group, and was a press staffer for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.Three Biden campaign senior advisers are being appointed to top communications roles:— Ashley Etienne, a former communications director for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, will serve as Harris’ communications director.— Symone Sanders, another senior adviser on the Biden campaign, will be Harris’ senior adviser and chief spokesperson.— Elizabeth Alexander, who served as the former vice-president’s press secretary and his communications director while he was a U.S. senator from Delaware, will serve as Jill Biden’s communications director.After his campaign went virtual due to the coronavirus pandemic, Biden faced some of his own criticism for not being accessible to reporters. But near the end of the campaign, he answered questions from the press more frequently, and his transition team has held weekly briefings since he was elected president.The choice of a number of Obama administration veterans — many with deep relationships with the Washington press corps — also suggests a return to a more congenial relationship with the press.___Taylor reported from Washington.Alexandra Jaffe And Andrew Taylor, The Associated Press

  • Global Water Treatment Chemicals Market Report 2020-2030: Growing Incidence of Waterborne Diseases and Growing Popularity of Desalination is Driving the Market

    Dublin, Nov. 30, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Water Treatment Chemicals Market Research Report: By Type, Application, End User - Global Industry Analysis and Demand Forecast to 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. In 2019, the global water treatment chemicals market generated a revenue of $48,938.1 million, growing at a CAGR of 5.2% from 2020 to 2030 and attain a valuation of $85,341.8 million by 2030. The market is being driven by the rising concerns being raised among people over the growing incidence of waterborne diseases and the growing popularity of desalination across the world. Desalination has become very popular, especially in the countries having limited availability of freshwater reserves such as the U.A.E., Saudi Arabia, and many sub-African countries. This process is used for changing the brackish water or seawater into freshwater or potable water. Many water treatment chemicals are used in the desalination process. The growing population in these water-starved countries is fueling the requirement for high-quality potable and freshwater, which is, in turn, causing the boom of the water treatment chemicals market. Additionally, the increasing implementation of strict government regulations in various countries regarding water treatment is boosting the advancement of the market around the world. These stringent regulations are aimed at restricting the discharge of toxic chemicals into the water bodies in order to ensure proper water treatment and make the water suitable for human consumption. Moreover, with increasing industrialization, these regulations are more important now than ever for preventing the pollution of water bodies. Depending on type, the water treatment chemicals market is divided into corrosion inhibitors, chelating agents, scale inhibitors, biocides and disinfectants, anti-foaming agents, oxidants, pH adjusters and stabilizers, and oxygen scavengers, and coagulants and flocculants. Out of these, the coagulants and flocculants category registered the highest revenue growth in the market in the years gone by and this trend is likely to continue in the forthcoming years, mainly because of the ability of coagulants and flocculants to eliminate solids from water. Geographically, the water treatment chemicals market is predicted to record the highest growth in Asia-Pacific (APAC) in the upcoming years. This would be a result of the existence of numerous industries and the high living standards of the people living in this region. In addition to this, the growing requirement for clean water is pushing up the demand for water treatment chemicals. Japan and China are some of the biggest consumers of water treatment chemicals in the APAC region. Furthermore, the rising implementation of strict government policies and regulations regarding water treatment and the increasing awareness among the people in the developing nations about the importance of treated water and the various diseases caused because of the consumption of polluted and untreated water are boosting the growth of the market in the region. The Japanese government is enacting stringent environmental protection policies for mandating the proper treatment of the wastewater released from industries and residential buildings. Hence, it can be said with full surety that the market would demonstrate rapid advancement all over the world in the upcoming years, primarily because of the rising requirement for water treatment, on account of the growing incidence of water-borne diseases and the soaring public awareness about the harmful effects of consuming untreated water around the world. Key Topics Covered: Chapter 1. Research Background 1.1 Research Objectives 1.2 Market Definition 1.3 Research Scope 1.4 Key Stakeholders Chapter 2. Research Methodology 2.1 Secondary Research 2.2 Primary Research 2.3 Market Size Estimation 2.4 Data Triangulation 2.5 Currency Conversion Rates 2.6 Assumptions for the Study 2.7 Notes & Caveats Chapter 3. Executive Summary Chapter 4. Industry Outlook 4.1 Definition of Market Segments 4.1.1 By Type 4.1.1.1 Coagulants and flocculants 4.1.1.2 Corrosion inhibitors 4.1.1.3 Scale inhibitors 4.1.1.4 Chelating agents 4.1.1.5 Biocides and disinfectants 4.1.1.6 pH adjusters and stabilizers 4.1.1.7 Anti-foaming agents 4.1.1.8 Oxidants 4.1.1.9 Oxygen scavengers 4.1.1.10 Others 4.1.2 By Application 4.1.2.1 Raw water treatment 4.1.2.2 Water desalination 4.1.2.3 Cooling 4.1.2.4 Boiler 4.1.2.5 Effluent water treatment 4.1.2.6 Others 4.1.3 By End User 4.1.3.1 Power generation 4.1.3.2 Municipal water treatment 4.1.3.3 Chemical processing 4.1.3.4 Pulp and paper 4.1.3.5 Food and beverages 4.1.3.6 Metal and mining 4.1.3.7 Oil and gas 4.1.3.8 Construction 4.1.3.9 Others 4.2 Value Chain Analysis 4.3 Market Dynamics 4.3.1 Trends 4.3.1.1 Development of new chemical water treatment technology 4.3.2 Drivers 4.3.2.1 Stringent government regulations 4.3.2.2 Increasing desalination across the globe 4.3.2.3 Growing concern of waterborne diseases 4.3.2.4 Impact analysis of drivers on market forecast 4.3.3 Restraints 4.3.3.1 Availability of alternative technologies 4.3.3.2 Impact analysis of restraints on market forecast 4.3.4 Opportunities 4.3.4.1 Growing urbanization and industrialization in developing countries 4.4 Impact of COVID-19 Chapter 5. Global Market Size and Forecast 5.1 By Type 5.2 By Application 5.3 By End User 5.4 By Region Chapter 6. North America Market Size and Forecast Chapter 7. Europe Market Size and Forecast Chapter 8. APAC Market Size and Forecast Chapter 9. LATAM Market Size and Forecast Chapter 10. MEA Market Size and Forecast Chapter 11. Competitive Landscape 11.1 Market Share Analysis of Key Players 11.2 Competitive Benchmarking of Players 11.3 List of Other Players 11.4 Recent Strategic Developments of Key Players 11.4.1 Mergers and Acquisitions 11.4.2 Product Launches 11.4.3 Partnerships 11.4.4 Facility Expansions Chapter 12. Company Profiles * Akzo Nobel N.V. * BASF SE * Buckman Laboratories International Inc. * The Dow Chemical Company * Ecolab Inc. * Kemira Oyj * SNF s.a.s. * Solenis LLC * Solvay S.A. * SUEZ SAFor more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/cka0y6Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. CONTACT: CONTACT: ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900

  • Australian leader calls China's graphic tweet 'repugnant'

    WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Monday a tweet by a Chinese official which shows a fake image of an Australian soldier appearing to slit a child's throat is “truly repugnant." Morrison said he is seeking an apology from the Chinese government. The incident is further increasing tensions between the two nations in a relationship that was already under strain. The graphic image was posted Monday by Zhao Lijian, a spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry. It shows a grinning soldier holding a bloodied knife to the throat of a veiled child, who is holding a lamb. Zhao wrote a caption with the tweet saying: “Shocked by murder of Afghan civilians & prisoners by Australian soldiers. We strongly condemn such acts, & call for holding them accountable.” Zhao was referring to a disturbing report by Australia's military earlier this month which found evidence that elite Australian troops unlawfully killed 39 Afghan prisoners, farmers and civilians during the conflict in Afghanistan. The report recommended 19 soldiers be referred to federal police for criminal investigation. Morrison said the tweet was “utterly outrageous” and a terrible slur against Australia's military. It “is truly repugnant. It is deeply offensive to every Australian, every Australian who has served in that uniform,” he told reporters in Canberra. “The Chinese government should be totally ashamed of this post. It diminishes them in the world’s eyes.” Morrison said it had contacted Twitter asking them to take the post down. The post had a warning tag on it Monday afternoon but was still able to be viewed. Zhao's account comes with a Twitter label stating that it's a Chinese government account. Despite China blocking Twitter and other U.S. social media platforms within the county, Chinese diplomats and state media have established a strong presence on them. Zhao was criticized by the U.S. in March after tweeting a conspiracy theory that U.S. soldiers may have brought the coronavirus to China. He is considered a leading representative of China’s high-pitched new strain of assertive foreign relations. Morrison acknowledged there were tensions between China and Australia. “But this is not how you deal with them," he said. “Australia has patiently sought to seek to address the tensions that exist in our relationship in a mature way, in a responsible way, by seeking engagement at both leader and ministerial level.” The rift between the two nations has been growing this year after the Australian government called for an independent inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic. China has since imposed tariffs on a number of Australian exports. Nick Perry, The Associated Press

  • Preliminary data on early redemptions (prepayments)

    To Nasdaq Copenhagen A/S                                                                                           30 November 2020                                                                                                                                                  Announcement no. 116/2020 Preliminary data on early redemptions (prepayments) Pursuant to S. 24 of the Capital Markets Act, we hereby publish preliminary data on early redemptions (prepayments) in bonds issued by Jyske Realkredit. Please find the data in the attached file. The information will also be available on Jyske Realkredit’s web site at jyskerealkredit.com. For further information about format of data and content of the file we refer to the web site of Nasdaq at www.nasdaqomxnordic.com. Questions may be addressed to Christian Bech-Ravn, Head of Investor Relations, tel. (+45) 89 89 92 25. Yours sincerely Jyske Realkredit Please observe that the Danish version of this announcement prevails Attachment * 116_FortIndf20201127JYK

  • Currys PC World Cyber Monday deals 2020: Best offers on Nintendo Switch, Samsung, Bosch and Shark

    From Shark kitchen appliances to TVs, these are the deals worth snapping up before the event ends

  • Biden looks to fill out economic team with diverse picks

    President-elect Joe Biden is expected in the coming days to name several of his most senior economic advisers, a group that includes several liberal economists and policy specialists who established their credentials during the previous two Democratic administrations. Biden, who has placed a premium on diversity in his selection of Cabinet nominees and key advisers, is looking to notch at least a few firsts with his economic team selections. The Biden campaign has not yet announced the picks, but these are some of the individuals he's expected to select to high-profile positions on his economic team, according to people familiar with the transition process who were granted anonymity to speak freely about the president-elect’s deliberations: JANET YELLEN, Treasury secretary Yellen became Federal Reserve chair in 2014 when the economy was still recovering from the devastating Great Recession. In the late 1990s, she was President Bill Clinton’s top economic adviser during the Asian financial crisis. Under Biden she would lead the Treasury Department with the economy in the grip of a surging pandemic. If confirmed, Yellen would become the first woman to lead the Treasury Department in its nearly 232-year history. She would inherit an economy with still-high unemployment, escalating threats to small businesses and signs that consumers are retrenching as the pandemic restricts or discourages spending. NEERA TANDEN, Office of Management and Budget director Tanden is the president and CEO of the liberal think-tank Center for American Progress. She was the director of domestic policy for the Obama-Biden presidential campaign, but she first made her mark in the Clinton orbit. Tanden served as policy director for Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign. Before that, she served as legislative director in Clinton’s Senate office and deputy campaign manager and issues director for Clinton’s 2000 Senate campaign. She also served as a senior policy adviser in the Bill Clinton administration. If confirmed, she would be the first woman of colour and the first South Asian woman to lead the OMB, the agency that oversees the federal budget. BRIAN DEESE, director of the White House National Economic Council Deese, a former senior economic adviser in the Obama administration and now the managing director and global head of sustainable investing at BlackRock, would be the top economic adviser in the Biden White House. He worked on the auto bailout and environmental issues in the Obama White House, where he held the title of deputy director of both the NEC and the OMB. CECILIA ROUSE, chairwoman of the Council of Economic Advisers Rouse is a labour economist and head of Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs. She served on the CEA from 2009 to 2011, and served on the NEC from 1998 to 1999 in the Clinton administration. Notably, she organized a letter earlier this year signed by more than 100 economists calling for more government action to mitigate the fallout for Americans caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Rouse, who is Black, would be the first woman of colour to chair the CEA. Biden is also expected to name Heather Boushey, the president and CEO of the Washington Center for Equitable Growth, and Jared Bernstein, who served as an economic adviser to Biden during the Obama administration, to serve on the council. Both Boushey and Bernstein advised Biden during the presidential campaign. ___ Associated Press writers Alexandra Jaffe, Christopher Rugaber and Michael Balsamo contributed to this report. Aamer Madhani, The Associated Press

  • Capco lines up more retailers to open shops in Covent Garden

    Covent Garden landlord Capco has revealed a number of new lettings in a rare bit of good news for the troubled retail sector. Capital & Counties Properties said four more brands will open on its estate in December in time for Christmas day. Commitment to invest in new shops comes despite a horrible year for retail, with footfall hurt by lockdowns, and firms having to spend money on making sites ‘Covid-secure’.

  • FOREX-Dollar hits two and a half year low even as equity rally stalls

    The dollar hit its lowest in two and a half years in early London trading on Monday while riskier currencies dipped slightly as the global equities rally paused for breath. Global market sentiment surged in November, causing the dollar to fall and riskier currencies to benefit, as investors' risk appetite was boosted by Joe Biden's victory in the U.S. presidential election, a series of positive COVID-19 vaccine developments and hopes for further stimulus. The dollar was set for its biggest monthly loss against a basket of currencies since July, having wiped 2.5% off its value in November.

  • Jeremy Corbyn's brother Piers vows to fight coronavirus lockdown breach charges in court

    The brother of ex-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will fight lockdown breach charges at trial by claiming his right to protest should not be hampered by government rules, a court heard today. Piers Corbyn, 73, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court to deny two charges relating to protests he led at Speaker’s Corner in Hyde Park against the coronavirus lockdown laws. It emerged today that Corbyn was fined by police for an anti-lockdown protest outside St Thomas’ Hospital in south London on May 9, prior to his two high-profile arrests in Hyde Park on May 16 and May 30.

  • Headway leads renewed calls for concussion substitutes after David Luiz plays on

    Luiz was allowed to continue playing following a clash of heads with Raul Jimenez.

  • Shops to be allowed 24/7 trade as high street attempts pre-Christmas recovery

    Communities secretary Robert Jenrick said he wanted to remove the bureaucracy to encourage greater trade

  • Cyber Monday home appliance deals 2020: Best offers from Shark, Le Creuset and Dyson

    Whether you’re after a stand mixer or a new bean to cup coffee machine, today is the time to buy it

  • Sri Lankan prison riot leaves 6 inmates dead, 35 injured

    COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Six inmates were killed and 35 others were injured when guards opened fire to control a riot at a prison on the outskirts of Sri Lanka's capital, officials said Monday. Two guards were critically injured, they said.Pandemic-related unrest has been growing in Sri Lanka’s overcrowded prisons. Inmates have staged protests in recent weeks at several prisons as the number of coronavirus cases surges in the facilities.Police spokesman Ajith Rohana said inmates created “unrest” Sunday at Mahara prison, about 15 kilometres (10 miles) north of Colombo, and officials attempted to control the situation.But “the unrest situation turned into a prison riot,” he said, adding that prisoners tried to take control of the prison and hundreds attempted to escape.The inmates “reportedly destroyed most of the property including offices inside the prison,” Rohana said.The guards opened fire, and the clash left six inmates dead and 35 injured, he said. Two prison officers were critically injured.He said hundreds of additional police were deployed to help the guards and strengthen security around the prison.An inmate was killed in similar unrest at another prison last week. Another died in March.More than a thousand inmates in five prisons have tested positive for the coronavirus and at least two have died. About 50 prison guards have also tested positive.Senaka Perera, a lawyer with the Committee for Protecting Rights of Prisoners, said the inmates at Mahara prison had been frustrated because their pleas for coronavirus testing and separation of infected prisoners had been ignored by officials for more than a month.On Monday, about 500 relatives of inmates gathered in front of the prison and urged the authorities to provide information about the prisoners and ensure their safety.Sujeewa Silva said her son has been detained at the facility for seven months after being arrested on drug charges. “I want to know whether he is safe. I asked the officers, please tell me the condition of my son," she said.Sri Lankan prisons are highly congested with more than 26,000 inmates crowded into facilities with a capacity of 10,000.Sri Lanka has experienced an upsurge in the coronavirus since last month when two clusters — one centred at a garment factory and other at a fish market — emerged in Colombo and its suburbs.Confirmed cases from the two clusters have reached 19,449. Sri Lanka has reported a total number of 22,988 coronavirus cases, including 109 fatalities.Bharatha Mallawarachi, The Associated Press

  • Kingsoft Cloud to be Added to MSCI China Index

    BEIJING, Nov. 30, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kingsoft Cloud Holdings Limited ("Kingsoft Cloud" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: KC), a leading independent cloud service provider in China, today announced that it will be included in the MSCI China Index, effective after the U.S. market close on November 30, 2020. Kingsoft Cloud is one of only two US-listed Chinese companies selected for the MSCI China Index inclusion in this upcoming reconstitution. This is indeed a great milestone for the company and inclusion in MSCI China Index reflects company’s continued growth while enhancing its leading position as an independent cloud service provider in China.MSCI is a leading provider of research-based indexes and analytics worldwide. The indices cover thousands of securities from different geographic sub-areas and cap sizes that have good operational results and potential. The MSCI market cap weighted indices are amongst the most respected and widely used benchmarks in the financial industry, and the MSCI China Index is widely used among institutional investors.About Kingsoft Cloud Holdings Limited Kingsoft Cloud Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: KC) is a leading independent cloud service provider in China. Kingsoft Cloud has built a comprehensive and reliable cloud platform consisting of extensive cloud infrastructure, cutting-edge cloud products and well-architected industry-specific solutions across public cloud, enterprise cloud and AIoT cloud services.For more information, please visit: http://ir.ksyun.com.Safe Harbor Statement This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates” and similar statements. Among other things, the Business Outlook and quotations from management in this announcement, as well as Kingsoft Cloud’s strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. Kingsoft Cloud may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to fourth parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including but not limited to statements about Kingsoft Cloud’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: Kingsoft Cloud’s goals and strategies; Kingsoft Cloud’s future business development, results of operations and financial condition; the relevant government policies and regulations relating to Kingsoft Cloud’s business and industry; the expected growth of the cloud service market in China; the expectation regarding the rate at which to gain customers, especially Premium Customers; Kingsoft Cloud’s ability to monetize the customer base; fluctuations in general economic and business conditions in China; the impact of the COVID-19 to Kingsoft Cloud’s business operations and the economy in China and elsewhere generally; China’s political or social conditions and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Kingsoft Cloud’s filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release, and Kingsoft Cloud does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.For investor and media inquiries, please contact: Kingsoft Cloud Holdings Limited Nicole Shan Tel: +86 (10) 6292-7777 Ext. 6300 Email: ksc-ir@kingsoft.comChristensen Ms. Linda Bergkamp Phone: +1-480-614-3004 E-mail: lbergkamp@christensenir.com

  • ‘Digital Covid passport’ linked to vaccine could revive travel

    As the UK and many other countries prepare to vaccinate tens of millions of citizens, airlines fear confusion over certification

  • Tokyo Games won't confirm added costs reported at $3 billion

    TOKYO — Organizers of the delayed Tokyo Olympics have declined to confirm widely circulated reports in Japan that the costs of the one-year postponement will be about $3 billion. The estimates have been published in the last several days by some of Japan’s top-circulation newspapers, the national broadcaster NHK, and the Japanese news agency Kyodo. All are citing similar figures and unidentified sources close to the games. “We are in the process of assessing the additional costs associated with the postponement of the games due to COVID-19 and therefore are not able to comment on any details at this time,” Tokyo organizers said Monday in a statement. The statement did not challenge any of the reports. The Tokyo Games are becoming very expensive. The official cost of putting on the Tokyo Olympics is $12.6 billion. However, a government audit last year said it was probably twice that much. All but $5.6 billion is public money. Tokyo said the games would cost $7.3 billion when it won the bid in 2013. The $3 billion for the delay only adds to the totals. A University of Oxford study published early this year — calculated before the postponement — said Tokyo was the most expensive Summer Olympics on record and the meter is still running. The Yomiuri newspaper and Kyodo on Sunday detailed added costs of 200 billion yen, about $2 billion, to renegotiate venues leases, pay staff salaries, and cover other operational expenditure. NHK and the Asahi newspaper on Monday said another 100 billion yen, about $1 billion, was needed for countermeasures against COVID-19. This could include the cost of vaccines, rapid testing, and countless precautions to guard against the coronavirus. The reported cost of the delay because of the pandemic is in line with repeated estimates of between $2 billion and $3 billion in Japan over the last several months. The organizers, the Tokyo metro government and the Japanese national government are expected to explain added costs in December and detail how they will be shared. Organizers in October said they had found cost-savings of about $280 million by simplifying and cutting some frills from next year’s postponed games. This was about 2% of the official costs. The International Olympic Committee has said it would chip in about $650 million to cover some of the costs of the delay, but has offered few public details. The Switzerland-based IOC is heavily dependent on revenue from selling broadcast rights, which account for almost three-quarters of its income. The unprecedented postponement has put financial pressure on the IOC, national Olympic committees, and international sports federations that heavily rely on the IOC for sustenance. The IOC and organizers have been campaigning over the last several months to convince sponsors and a skeptical Japanese public that the Olympics can be held safely in the middle of a pandemic. Domestic sponsors in Japan have paid a record of $3.3 billion to organizers, but there are reports of some balking at further payments during the pandemic-caused economic slide. The Olympics are to open on July 23, 2021, followed by the Paralympics on Aug. 24. They involve 15,400 athletes and ten of thousands of officials, judges, staff, VIPs, sponsors as well as media and broadcasters. Kyodo reported last week that the Japanese government may require visitors from abroad to have private health insurance to cover costs from any COVID-19 complications. IOC President Thomas Bach, who was in Tokyo a few week ago, has said a vaccine and improved rapid testing would help pull off the Olympics. But he cautioned they are not “silver bullets.” Athletes are expected to be closely monitored, held in quarantine-like conditions, discouraged from sightseeing and encouraged to leave as soon as they finish competing. Some fans are expected at the events, but it is unclear if many fans from abroad will be allowed to attend. Japan has controlled COVID-19 relatively well, but has seen a spike over the last several weeks in Tokyo and elsewhere. Tokyo set a one-day record for new infections on Friday with 570. About 2,000 deaths in Japan have been attributed to COVID-19. ___ More AP sports: https://apnews.com/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports Stephen Wade, The Associated Press

  • Japan's Recruit shareholders to sell down $4 billion worth of stock

    Japan's staffing agency Recruit Holdings Co Ltd said on Monday its shareholders will sell 416.8 billion yen ($4 billion) worth of shares in the company as they continue to unwind cross-shareholdings. Recruit's shareholders, which include Dentsu Group Inc, Toppan Printing Co and Japanese television networks, will sell as many as 94.7 million shares in Recruit, or 5.59% of its outstanding shares to overseas investors, Recruit said in a statement.

  • Amazon best Cyber Monday deals 2020 UK: AirPods, Kindle, Echo Dot and more available today

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