The game is in late October. No UFO alert appears on Geoscape when the little red triangle appears. This happens for all UFOs, also completed research and manufacturing. November first arrives and there is no funding screen.
This occurred following the blank Hire soldier screen. I didn't attempt any "work around" for that. I simply went back out to the Geoscape.
The first time this occurred, the game got as far as Nov 14th. Unfortunately, not sure what I pressed, but the funding screens, research, UFO alerts then all arrived at once.
On the second occasion, if the intercept button is pressed, then you can select a UFO on the Geoscape. This is followed shortly afterwards by a CTD.
Edit: I should have mentioned that the research, manufacturing is all going on in the background and that you can go in and out of the base and use the screens there normally.
Edit 2: No issues on third play through this morning.