UK government considers buying equity in airlines to keep them afloat March 21, 2020 The UK government is considering buying equity stakes in airlines and other companies hardest hit by the coronavirus. It comes after warnings that the measures announced by chancellor Rishi Sunak earlier this week will not be enough to save them from collapse. The plans under consideration would see billions of pounds of taxpayer money injected [...]
Goldman Sachs chief David Solomon gets 20 per cent pay rise to $27.5m for his work in 2019 March 21, 2020 Goldman Sachs chief executive David Solomon has been rewarded for his work leading the bank in 2019 with a 20 per cent pay rise. It sees his remuneration package reach a total of $27.5m, which includes $17.85m in performance-linked stock units. That comes on top of his $2m annual salary and a $7.65m cash bonus, the [...]
Coronavirus: Spain cases surge to 25,000 as country suffers biggest jump in daily deaths March 21, 2020 Spain has seen a 25 per cent rise in the number of coronavirus cases in just one day. It was confirmed on Saturday that almost 5,000 new people tested had positive for Covid-19 to bring the total number of coronavirus cases to 24,926, according to the country’s health minister. Spain also saw its biggest jump [...]
European Union to suspend bloc’s budget rules in order to fight coronavirus March 21, 2020 The European Union has formalised an agreement reached by the bloc’s finance ministers earlier this month to suspend EU budget rules. The legislation placed limits on government borrowing but its suspension will now give countries a free hand in fighting the coronavirus. The European Commission proposed late on Friday to activate the “general escape clause” [...]
‘You are not invincible’: WHO chief sends stern coronavirus warning to young people March 21, 2020 The World Health Organisation director-general has warned young people they are “not invincible” to the threat posed by coronavirus. In a stern warning, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that Covid-19 could still hospitalise or kill young people, despite older and more vulnerable people being most affected. Speaking at an online news conference from WHO headquarters [...]
Wall Street suffers worst week since 2008 as US imposes coronavirus restrictions March 21, 2020 Wall Street saw further losses on Friday to continue the recent rout as it suffered its worst week since the financial crisis of 2008. The S&P 500 and Dow Jones indexes were down more than four per cent on Friday despite making gains earlier on. All three major indexes registered their biggest weekly declines since [...]
Government’s coronavirus business interruption loan scheme ‘not fit for purpose’, says consultancy March 20, 2020 The government’s coronavirus business interruption loan scheme “is not fit for purpose”, according to international consultancy and economic analysis firm Fideres. The London-based company, which specialises in competition economics, says the government’s strategy fails to meet three basic criteria. Fideres argues that the loan scheme is not simple, fast or fair. The consultancy says it [...]
Coronavirus: UK death toll rises by 39 to 177 March 20, 2020 A further 39 people to have tested positive for coronavirus have passed away today, according to NHS England. It brings the death toll in the UK to 177 with 167 of those coming in England. There have been six deaths in Scotland, three in Wales and one in Northern Ireland. The majority of them are believed to be in [...]
Coronavirus: Spain death toll surpasses 1,000 as Germany threatens curfews March 20, 2020 The death toll in Spain due to coronavirus has surpassed 1,000 as it climbed by 235 today. There are now 19,980 confirmed cases of Covid-19 across the country, while Germany has threatened to impose strict curfews. More than a third of the cases in Spain are in the capital of Madrid. Army specialists were sent [...]
Coronavirus: RFU ends all rugby competitions in England except for Premiership March 20, 2020 The Rugby Football Union has today confirmed that all competitions in England except for the Gallagher Premiership will end early following the coronavirus outbreak. The move applies to “all league, cup and county rugby in England”, while a decision on the Premiership will be taken in due course. In a statement, the RFU said it [...]
