Trump declares national emergency amid coronavirus outbreak March 14, 2020 US President Donald Trump has declared a national emergency in a bid to contain the coronavirus outbreak. The move will allow the federal government to tap up to $50bn (£40bn) in emergency relief funds. It will loosen the regulations around the provision of healthcare, making more people eligible for government healthcare. It is also hoped [...]
Coronavirus and football: What happens if the Premier League is cancelled? March 14, 2020 As Liverpool’s footballers emerged from the dugout at Anfield on Wednesday evening, fans stretched their hands down towards them from the flanking stands in search of a high five. Most players ignored them. Sadio Mane, Liverpool’s second highest goalscorer of the season and African player of the year, reached up to grant one supporter his [...]
Coronavirus: Mass gatherings could be banned in UK from next week March 14, 2020 The government is considering implementing a ban on mass gatherings as early as next week to slow the spread of coronavirus. Ministers are drawing up plans for the move, which is likely to see a ban on more than 500 people gathering together. It is hoped it will ease pressure on emergency services as the [...]
London mayoral election delayed for one year over coronavirus March 13, 2020 The London mayoral election and all local and mayoral elections in England have been postponed for a year because of the coronavirus outbreak. The Electoral Commission yesterday called for local and mayoral UK elections to be delayed until the autumn to “mitigate” the spread of coronavirus. The London election was due to take place on [...]
This week: GBP / EUR Update March 13, 2020 | City Talk Brexit concerns faded into the background this week as the market focused on the coronavirus pandemic. At the beginning of the week, UK equities opened around 9% below Friday’s closing levels, putting pressure on sterling. The emergency rate cut from the Bank of England midweek had an immediate effect, pushing the pound lower before it [...]
We tried out the Hästens bed that Beyoncé is said to sleep on March 13, 2020 | Sponsored Imagine if you could have the best sleep of your life, every night. To climb into a bed that is tailored to your every need; so comfortable it feels as if you are floating in mid-air the moment you sink in. No lumpy mattress; no squeaking springs. If your sleeping partner is tossing and turning, [...]
BA boss warns coronavirus worse than financial crisis for airlines March 13, 2020 The boss of British Airways (BA) has warned that the coronavirus pandemic will have a bigger impact on the airline industry than the financial crisis. BA chief executive Alex Cruz reportedly told staff that the outbreak is a “crisis of global proportions like no other we have known”. The spread of Covid-19 will force the [...]
FTSE miners lead recovery as China’s infection rate slows March 13, 2020 FTSE miners led London’s blue-chip index higher today as traders welcomed a lower rate of new coronavirus infections in China. Evraz, BHP, Anglo American, Glencore and Petra Diamonds all posted double-digit gains as the FTSE 100 surged over eight per cent higher following yesterday’s record sell-off. Online trader IG analyst Joshua Mahony linked the jump [...]
Housing secretary Robert Jenrick slams Sadiq Khan’s London homes plan March 13, 2020 The housing secretary has slammed Sadiq Khan’s proposals for new London’s homes, saying a focus on small flats will push families out of the capital. Robert Jenrick MP has blocked the publication of the London mayor’s housing plan until “significant improvements” have been made. In a damning letter to Khan, Jenrick said housing delivery in [...]
Keith Wade: Is the world now heading for recession? March 13, 2020 | City Talk As I returned to the UK last weekend, my taxi driver talked of panic-buying and impending food shortages. Having wondered if I had stepped off at the wrong airport, it subsequently became clear that his thinking was very close to that of the markets. On Monday (9 March), equities sold off and credit spreads widened [...]