Tokyo confirmed 1,592 new cases of new coronavirus infection on January 17, down from 1,809 the day before, but the highest on Sunday.
The previous record for Sunday was 1,494 recorded a week ago.
The capital listed 138 severely ill patients, an increase of 2 from the previous day.
Tokyo defines a severe case as a machine that requires a ventilator or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), which circulates blood through an artificial lung.
(Reuters) – Athletes around the world have been looking for ways and places to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic and prepare for the Tokyo Olympics, but surfers Brisa Hennessy and Michel Bourez may have found two of the best.
While some exercised in backyard pools or turned cramped basements into weightlifting spaces, Hennessy and Bourez, temporarily eligible for the COVID-delayed Tokyo Olympics, fled to heaven.
Hennessy, a self-described nomad from Costa Rica, flees to a small island in Fiji while Bourez, who is surfing to France, hides in Tahiti.
“As long as the pandemic we are in Australia and my dad is fine, I will book the flights we have to do to get out of here, we need to get back to Fiji and we have to do it now,” said Hennessy at the International Surfing Association State of America briefing. Olympic Surfing on Thursday.
For Hennessy, the move is an opportunity to recharge her “mind, body and spirit” and surf every day, providing a reminder of why she fell in love with the sport, which she was introduced to from an early age by parents who are both surfing instructors.
The 21-year-old Costa Rican man believes many of his fellow surfers will be swept away by the same energy surge and will be even better prepared for Tokyo where surfing will make his Olympic debut.
“It gives me a greater appreciation for what I can do as an athlete,” said Hennessy. “I’m sure the athletes will come back and be more talented, more excited. They will be more motivated. “
Despite the rare luxury of spending time at home with his family, Bourez doesn’t find the same connection and the 35-year-old Tour Championship veteran feels lost.
“It is the first time in 15 years now that I have spent a full year at home so for me it was incredible and difficult at the same time,” said Bourez.
“I have my wife, my two children at home and it is strange for them too to see me every day but I am a little bit lost.
“At one point I didn’t know where I was going, there was no more passion. I’m fine, I’m up for what? “
The new year, however, brings new goals.
“There’s a lot of fire still burning,” said Bourez. “We’ve waited almost two years now just to be able to compete in the Olympics.
“When I went on the Tour, I basically surfed for myself then Tahiti and France and now I’m 100% focused on surfing for France.”
Reporting by Steve Keating in Toronto, Editing by Ed Osmond
SYDNEY, Jan 15 (Reuters) – The Australian and New Zealand dollars stood firm on Friday as promises of massive US fiscal stimulus brightened the outlook for global growth and resource prices.
President-elect Joe Biden on Thursday unveiled a $ 1.9 trillion package to kickstart the economy.
That’s a boon for growth-sensitive currencies like the Aussie, which held at $ 0.77774, having hit $ 0.7805 overnight. It was up from a low of $ 0.7666 earlier in the week, and is not far from a recent high of $ 0.7819.
It also hit several important milestones on the cross rate, hitting highs since late 2018 against the euro and yen while breaking major chart resistance.
The kiwi dollar strengthened to $ 0.7218, but struggled to clear resistance at $ 0.7240. Support comes in at a week low of $ 0.7148, while the recent peak at $ 0.7314 stands as a major chart barrier.
The US currency was also undermined by the dovish view of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, who shows no tendency to reduce asset purchases anytime soon.
The prospect of more US borrowing is damaging the Treasury and sees local bonds outperform.
Australian 10-year yield edged up to 1.09% but US yields rose even more so the difference between the two moved to -3 basis points. It had hit +11 basis points in December.
The very rapid recovery in the domestic economy means the Australian government will need to borrow far less than previously projected.
Data out Friday showed home loan commitments surged 5.6% in November to an all-time high as the lowest interest rates sparked demand in a suddenly heated market again.
“The positive momentum in the property market is anticipated to continue,” said Maree Kilroy, Economist at BIS Oxford Economics.
“Price growth has returned to all major markets with optimism for home buyers increasing. This all bodes well for loan requests, both for established homes and new ones in the new year. “
This in turn is a driver of consumer spending and a windfall in government tax revenue.
The Australian government on Friday confirmed it would borrow A $ 230 billion ($ 178.71 billion) in the 2020/21 fiscal year, much lower than had been feared when the pandemic first hit last year.
The company also plans to sell new bonds in November 2032 through a syndication, extending a record offering that has attracted strong demand from overseas funds.
$ 1 = 1.2870 Australian dollars Edited by Sam Holmes
ISLAMABAD: The Japanese government has acted to crack down on imported car licenses with fake and fake documents in Pakistan, he said on Thursday.
The Pakistani Embassy in Tokyo, in a statement, said it would take all legal action both in Pakistan and Japan to address the matter under applicable law and to reduce any possible inconveniences that legal trade may cause.
Pakistani Customs in Karachi recently uncovered fraud related to used vehicle permits on the basis of fake / fake documents and in response to increased agitation among the Pakistani business community in Japan.
“On 24 December 2020, the Trade and Investment Advisor (TIC) reported to the relevant authorities in Pakistan – Karachi Head of Customs Collector (Assessment), Federal Revenue Council and Ministry of Commerce, submission of false / fake documents for vehicle permits in Karachi with seal / stamp fake embassy and fake signature from TIC, “said the Indonesian Embassy.
“As a result of the investigation carried out by FBR / Customs into this incident report, additional fraud cases have also been discovered by the authorities where legal action has been initiated by Pakistani Customs in Karachi in the form of an FIR against a customs clearing agent. involved.”
Japan is a major source of used car imports to Pakistan. Cars are imported in Pakistan under baggage rules or a reward scheme as commercial imports are not allowed.
However, the government has weak systems in place to ensure that resettlement policies and gift and baggage schemes are not abused.
In Japan, the Trade and Investment Department has reported the matter to the relevant authorities for further verification and investigation.
“While intimidating the customs authorities in time to avoid the wrong permits of vehicles fraudulently on the basis of false / false documents, the mission has proposed reviewing a used vehicle import scheme in Pakistan and automating the vehicle permit process as a module. from WEBOC [web-based one customs) to avoid such exploitation and frauds in future,” said the embassy.
“In order to support and facilitate legitimate commercial activity, Trade and Investment Section has been processing all valid cases submitted by overseas Pakistanis living in Japan in routine without any delays and the Embassy will continue to support efficient clearance on the ports.”
The customs authorities in Karachi have assured the Embassy of smooth clearance of genuine cases of import of used vehicles in Pakistan.
In case of any issue faced in this regard by any Pakistani living in Japan, Trade and Investment Section may be contacted at [email protected] for help.
(Adding comment from NZ finance minister, share price)
January 14 (Reuters) – Global miner Rio Tinto said on Thursday it had reached an agreement with electricity provider Meridian Energy to allow aluminum smelters in New Zealand to continue operations through December 2024.
Rio Tinto had said in July that it would close New Zealand’s Aluminum Smelter (NZAS), which is the country’s biggest electricity user, due to high costs and a challenging market. The move will put more than a thousand jobs on the line and deal a blow to the country’s main power producer.
The decision to close the smelter has disappointed politicians and local power companies as the COVID-19 pandemic begins to cripple the economy.
The miner said that while talks were ongoing with the government to address high transmission costs, an agreement with Meridian on electricity prices would make the plant economically viable.
The smelter directly employs more than 1000 people and creates another 1,600 indirect jobs at Tiwai, which is in the southernmost region of the country in Southland.
“This agreement enhances Tiwai Point’s competitive position and guarantees an extension of operations through December 2024,” Rio Tinto Aluminum chief executive Alf Barrios said in a statement.
The government says the extension provides time for a managed transition while also protecting jobs.
“Today’s news is very welcome given the economic uncertainty created by the global COVID-19 pandemic,” Treasury Secretary Grant Robertson said in a statement.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who won a second term last year, said she would negotiate with Rio Tinto to extend smelter operations.
This is a joint venture between Rio and Sumitomo Chemical Co. Japan suffered a loss of NZ $ 46 million ($ 33.1 million) in 2019 arising from it.
In a separate statement, Meridian Energy and fellow electricity provider Contact Energy said they welcomed the move to extend smelter operations.
Meridian shares rose more than 3% to lead gains on the NZ benchmark. ($ 1 = 1.3910 New Zealand dollars)
Reporting by Praveen Menon and Shashwat Awasthi; Edited by Amy Caren Daniel
