Coronavirus: MPs call for emergency funding for cultural organisations March 23, 2020 MPs today called for urgent government support for cultural organisations hit by closures and postponements due to the coronavirus outbreak. The Tate galleries, V&A and Natural History Museum are among scores of cultural institutions that have been forced to close their doors due to the pandemic. The National Trust yesterday reversed its decision to keep [...]
US Federal Reserve announces unlimited bond-buying to tackle coronavirus slowdown March 23, 2020 The US Federal Reserve has pledged to buy a potentially unlimited amount of government debt and ramp up lending support to businesses in its latest massive intervention in an economy ravaged by coronavirus. “Aggressive efforts must be taken across the public and private sectors to limit the losses to jobs and incomes and to promote [...]
New York Times buys audio news platform Audm March 23, 2020 The New York Times today said it has acquired audio news platform Audm as it looks to tap into the growing popularity of on-demand listening. Audm, which was founded in 2016, turns longform written articles into audio tracks, which are then narrated by professional voice actors. The audio app gives subscribers access to hours of [...]
Coronavirus: Closed pubs and restaurants face multi-million pound rent bill March 23, 2020 The hospitality industry has urged the government to ban commercial landlord sanctions, as pubs and restaurants are facing a multi-million pound rent bill due this week. Pubs, bars and restaurants, which suffered a dramatic drop in footfall before they were forced to close on Friday night to slow the spread of coronavirus, are preparing to [...]
Alex Salmond acquitted of all sexual assault charges March 23, 2020 Former Scottish first minister Alex Salmond has been acquitted of all charges in his sexual assault trial. Salmond was facing a combined 13 charges of sexual assault and attempted rape against nine different women. The jury at the Scottish High Court in Edinburgh found him not guilty of all charges this afternoon, leaving him to [...]
Coronavirus: All non-essential stores reportedly set to close March 23, 2020 The government is reportedly set to order the closure of all non-essential shops in a bid to slow the spread of coronavirus. The decision to close all stores except for supermarkets and pharmacies is being discussed at an emergency Cobra meeting today and is expected to be announced at this evening’s government press conference, the [...]
Softbank plans £35bn emergency asset sale to cut debt amid coronavirus rout March 23, 2020 Softbank is launching an emergency ¥4.5 trillion (£35bn) asset sale to buy back shares and reduce debt in a bid to restore investor confidence as the global stock market rout pummels its shares and portfolio companies. The measures come as the Japanese investment giant and its $100bn Vision Fund, which has recorded two consecutive quarterly [...]
US stocks drop despite massive coronavirus stimulus from Federal Reserve March 23, 2020 US stocks have fallen once again despite the Federal Reserve unveiling another huge package of measures to try to boost the economy throughout the coronavirus pandemic. Wall Street’s S&P 500 was down 1.1 per cent in early trading, the Dow Jones was 1.3 per cent lower but the Nasdaq index had gained 0.2 per cent. [...]
Oil prices wallow near 20-year lows amid coronavirus price war March 23, 2020 Oil prices came close to hitting 20-year lows today, as Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) dropped under the growing coronavirus economic panic. Brent crude fell as low as $25 a barrel before falling 2.2 per cent down at $26.40. That is still a level not seen since 2003. WTI, a US oil benchmark, [...]
ExCel London could be used as a hospital to treat coronavirus patients March 23, 2020 The ExCel London centre may be turned into a makeshift hospital to deal with the coronavirus outbreak. The ExCel is located in the Docklands, between London City Airport and Canary Wharf, and is on a 100-acre site. NHS bosses and military planners met yesterday to discuss how the centre could help with the health service’s [...]
