US breaks daily record for coronavirus cases as total infections hit nine million October 30, 2020 The United States broke its single-day record for new coronavirus infections yesterday, with the country reporting over 91,000 new cases. Thursday’s surge in cases, which comes less than a week before the US election, also hospitalisations hit new highs in many states, according to a tally by Reuters. The previous one-day record for US cases [...]
FSB: banks must ‘step up’ support for new Bounce Back Loan applications October 30, 2020 The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has called for the government to introduce further support measures and for banks to “step up” to ensure small businesses can access the financing they need. The organisation said it was “particularly concerned” by the number of small businesses that were struggling to access government-backed Bounce Back Loans (BBLs) [...]
The City A.M. Punter Podcast EP:22 Champions Day at Ascot October 30, 2020 British Champions Day takes place at Ascot on Saturday with four Group 1 races to look forward to. Trainer Roger Teal talks about Oxted in the Champions Sprint and David Menuisier discusses the chances of his filly Wonderful Tonight in the Fillies & Mares. Both horses have already won Group 1 races this season. Racing [...]
Twice as many young people want permanent flexible working post-Covid October 30, 2020 The rapid acceleration of home working caused by the coronavirus pandemic has sparked a generational divide in how employees would prefer to work post-Covid, a new survey suggests. Twice as many under-35s want permanent flexible working options post-pandemic compared to over-55s, according to new research by Deloitte. Some 64 per cent of under-35s said they [...]
Don’t panic: Verbier will open its slopes today October 30, 2020 This may have been among the worst years in living memory, but at least Verbs is open for business. The famous Verbier ski-resort, the slopes of choice for City bankers and Sloane Rangers alike, will open today, despite surging Swiss Covid cases. This, coupled with today’s news that UK travellers will no longer have to [...]
A hidden mental health epidemic is threatening our children October 30, 2020 The Covid-19 pandemic and resulting lockdown restrictions have given rise to a mental health epidemic that has swept through the UK. The restrictive measures imposed earlier this year have already adversely affected children’s mental health, and continue to intensify the glaring disadvantages experienced by those living in some of the country’s poorest communities. The figures [...]
As Georgia heads to the polls, democracy and prosperity hang in the balance October 30, 2020 Georgia has been one of the success stories in Eastern Europe after the Cold War. It is now a vigorous, multi-party democracy where elections are fiercely fought but the electorate’s decision respected. Sound economic policies have pushed Georgia near to the top of the World Bank’s league of the best places in the world in [...]
For Corbyn and antisemitism, “sorry” still seems to be the hardest word October 30, 2020 One of the markers of genuine leadership is being able to recognise when you have been wrong, to apologise, and to commit to a change of course. This is an attribute that Jeremy Corbyn had multiple opportunities to demonstrate as the Labour party lurched from one antisemitism crisis to the next under his leadership. Each [...]
Scrapping the VAT refund for tourists would be catastrophic for the UK economy October 30, 2020 Retail, hospitality and tourism are three of the sectors that have been hardest hit by Covid-19 and the ongoing lockdown restrictions. Employing close to six million people, job losses in these sectors are expected to be devastating. The government should be doing all it can to support these businesses at this critical time. Instead, it [...]
The City A.M. Punter Podcast EP:21 Newmarket Cesarewitch & Dewhurst Meeting October 30, 2020 Irish trainer Gavin Cromwell has four runners declared in this year’s Cesarewitch Handicap over 2 miles & 2 furlongs at Newmarket on Saturday, and he joins us in today’s programme. Racing Editor Bill Esdaile previews the top weekend races and Wally Pyrah looks at Sunday’s 10-race card in Hong Kong. Hosted by Chris Barnett About [...]
