news--2020-01-26--Coronavirus 'spread getting stronger' as number of deaths rise to 100

China has warned the ability of the coronavirus to spread is getting stronger as the death toll increased to 100 and the number of confirmed cases reached more than 2,700 .
Little is known about the new virus , and they are unclear on the risks posed by it mutating .
According to Chinese state television , Beijing has reported its first death from the coronavirus - a 50-year-old who had recently been to Wuhan , the city at the epicentre of the outbreak .
National Health Commission minister Ma Xiaowei said the incubation period for the coronavirus can range @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is infectious during this time .
This was not the case with the previous Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ( SARS ) outbreak , which also originated in China and killed nearly 800 people around the world in 2002 and 2003 .
`` According to recent clinical information , the virus 's ability to spread seems to be getting somewhat stronger , '' Mr Ma told reporters .
In response to the mounting crisis , containment efforts - which to date have included travel restrictions and the cancellation of major events - are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The US is also to evacuate its diplomatic staff from the central Chinese city of Wuhan in Hubei , the epicentre of the outbreak , and has offered a limited number of seats on the flight to its citizens at greater risk of coronavirus .
The UK Foreign Office has advised against `` all travel to Wuhan '' and said people should leave if they are able to do so .
The government is `` looking at all options '' to help stranded Britons , Home Secretary Priti Patel told Sky News .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ tested for coronavirus in the UK , but there are still no confirmed cases , according to the Department of Health .
France is also looking at repatriating around 800 of its nationals from Wuhan , the government has said .
China 's National Health Commission said on Monday morning there were 769 new cases confirmed in the 24 hours through midnight on Sunday .
So far 100 people in China have died in the latest outbreak , which has spread to other parts of the country including Beijing and Shanghai , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of cases have also been confirmed in Thailand , Japan , South Korea , the US , Vietnam , Singapore , Malaysia , Nepal , France , Australia and Canada .
In Wuhan , where 11 million residents are already on lockdown , most vehicle use has been banned and 6,000 taxis have been earmarked to help transport people if needed .
The Chinese military has sent 450 medical staff , some with experience in past outbreaks including SARS and Ebola , to to help treat patients , while supplies , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the city .
Two new dedicated hospitals are also being built in the city to cope with rising numbers of cases .
Medical workers have been among those infected - and according to Wuhan media reports , a 62-year-old doctor has died from the virus .
Chinese President Xi Jinping has described the situation as `` grave '' and said the government was stepping up efforts to restrict travel and public gatherings .
The outbreak has overshadowed the start of the Lunar New Year , when hundreds of millions of Chinese travel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ families , with public events cancelled and many tourist sites shut , including Beijing 's Forbidden City and part of the Great Wall .
Cruise operators have also cancelled some sailings due to embark from Chinese ports .
The Chinese government has also extended the Lunar New Year holiday by three days to next Sunday in an effort to contain the spread of the virus .
Hong Kong , which has six confirmed cases , has declared a virus emergency , scrapped celebrations and halted direct transport links with Wuhan .
In Beijing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shake hands but instead salute using a traditional cupped-hand gesture .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Canada has a `` presumptive '' confirmed case of the virus in a resident who had returned from Wuhan , while the US has registered four cases in Washington state , Chicago , Southern California and Arizona .
Australia , Japan and Malaysia have each declared four cases .
No deaths have been reported outside China .
Airports around the world have stepped up screening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health officials and experts have questioned the effectiveness of such screenings .
Doctors at a Paris hospital said two of the three Chinese nationals in France who have been diagnosed with the virus had arrived in the country without showing any symptoms .
A report by infectious disease specialists at Imperial College London on Saturday said the epidemic `` represents a clear and ongoing global health threat '' .
It added : `` It is uncertain at the current time whether it is possible to contain the continuing epidemic within China . ''

China has warned the ability of the coronavirus to spread is getting stronger as the death toll increased to 100 and the number of confirmed cases reached more than 2,700.
Little is known about the new virus, and they are unclear on the risks posed by it mutating.
According to Chinese state television, Beijing has reported its first death from the coronavirus - a 50-year-old who had recently been to Wuhan, the city at the epicentre of the outbreak.
Image: The incubation period can range from one to 14 days, and is infectious during this time
Image: The outbreak has so far killed 56 people in China
National Health Commission minister Ma Xiaowei said the incubation period for the coronavirus can range from one to 14 days, and it is infectious during this time.
This was not the case with the previous Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak, which also originated in China and killed nearly 800 people around the world in 2002 and 2003.
"According to recent clinical information, the virus's ability to spread seems to be getting somewhat stronger," Mr Ma told reporters.
In response to the mounting crisis, containment efforts - which to date have included travel restrictions and the cancellation of major events - are to be ramped up in China.
Image: The Lunar New Year holiday has been extended by three days in an effort to contain the virus' spread
The US is also to evacuate its diplomatic staff from the central Chinese city of Wuhan in Hubei, the epicentre of the outbreak, and has offered a limited number of seats on the flight to its citizens at greater risk of coronavirus.
The UK Foreign Office has advised against "all travel to Wuhan" and said people should leave if they are able to do so.
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The government is "looking at all options" to help stranded Britons, Home Secretary Priti Patel told Sky News.
More than 50 people have now been tested for coronavirus in the UK, but there are still no confirmed cases, according to the Department of Health.
France is also looking at repatriating around 800 of its nationals from Wuhan, the government has said.
Image: Travel restrictions have been imposed as part of efforts to contain the infection
Image: Virus-hit Wuhan, home to 11 million people, has banned all non-essential vehicle use
China's National Health Commission said on Monday morning there were 769 new cases confirmed in the 24 hours through midnight on Sunday.
So far 100 people in China have died in the latest outbreak, which has spread to other parts of the country including Beijing and Shanghai, with confirmed cases reaching 2,744.
A small number of cases have also been confirmed in Thailand, Japan, South Korea, the US, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Nepal, France, Australia and Canada.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:46 Drone captures coronavirus hospital construction
In Wuhan, where 11 million residents are already on lockdown, most vehicle use has been banned and 6,000 taxis have been earmarked to help transport people if needed.
The Chinese military has sent 450 medical staff, some with experience in past outbreaks including SARS and Ebola, to to help treat patients, while supplies, including 14,000 protective suits, are being rushed to the city.
Two new dedicated hospitals are also being built in the city to cope with rising numbers of cases.
Medical workers have been among those infected - and according to Wuhan media reports, a 62-year-old doctor has died from the virus.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has described the situation as "grave" and said the government was stepping up efforts to restrict travel and public gatherings.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:57 Coronavirus: What you need to know
The outbreak has overshadowed the start of the Lunar New Year, when hundreds of millions of Chinese travel at home and abroad to be with families, with public events cancelled and many tourist sites shut, including Beijing's Forbidden City and part of the Great Wall.
Cruise operators have also cancelled some sailings due to embark from Chinese ports.
The Chinese government has also extended the Lunar New Year holiday by three days to next Sunday in an effort to contain the spread of the virus.
Image: Hong Kong has declared a virus emergency and scrapped Lunar New Year celebrations
Hong Kong, which has six confirmed cases, has declared a virus emergency, scrapped celebrations and halted direct transport links with Wuhan.
In Beijing, people have been urged not to shake hands but instead salute using a traditional cupped-hand gesture.
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
Canada has a "presumptive" confirmed case of the virus in a resident who had returned from Wuhan, while the US has registered four cases in Washington state, Chicago, Southern California and Arizona.
Australia, Japan and Malaysia have each declared four cases.
France reported Europe's first cases on Friday.
No deaths have been reported outside China.
Image: Chinese police officers in front of Beijing's Tiananmen Gate
Airports around the world have stepped up screening of passengers from China, although some health officials and experts have questioned the effectiveness of such screenings.
Doctors at a Paris hospital said two of the three Chinese nationals in France who have been diagnosed with the virus had arrived in the country without showing any symptoms.
A report by infectious disease specialists at Imperial College London on Saturday said the epidemic "represents a clear and ongoing global health threat".
It added: "It is uncertain at the current time whether it is possible to contain the continuing epidemic within China."


news--2020-01-27--Intensifying coronavirus fears wipe £44bn off the value of the FTSE 100

Global stock markets have tumbled as concerns over the impact of China 's coronavirus intensify , with the FTSE 100 seeing nearly £44bn wiped off the value of its constituent companies .
Trading screens from Tokyo to London and New York turned red after China - the world 's second biggest economy - announced a sharp rise in cases of the illness .
Fears that the spread of the virus could put the brakes on global growth saw the price of oil slide , with Brent crude dipping below $ 60 a barrel to reach its lowest level since October @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Royal Dutch Shell and BP lower - helping the FTSE 100 lose 2.3 % , or 174 points , by the close on Monday .
That was its biggest percentage fall since October .
British Airways owner International Airlines Group was hardest hit - down more than 5 % - with rival airline easyJet down by just under 5 % .
Cruise ship operator Carnival and Holiday Inn to Crowne Plaza owner Intercontinental Hotels Group each fell by 5 % too .
Mining giants such as Rio Tinto and Anglo American , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rise of China and its appetite for resources , saw similar falls .
Other Asia-linked stocks , from HSBC and Standard Chartered in the banking sector to fashion house Burberry , also saw significant share price dips .
In Europe , luxury groups such as Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy ( LVMH ) , Christian Dior , Hermes and Gucci owner Kering - all reliant on Chinese demand - turned lower too .
On Wall Street , the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 1.6 % , or 453 points , lower , with casino @ @ @ @ @ @ @ together with airlines such as United and American Airlines .
The markets rout began in Asia overnight , where Japan 's Nikkei fell 2 % , before spreading to Europe where indices in Paris , Frankfurt , Madrid and Milan saw similar sell-offs .
Chinese stock markets were closed for the Lunar New Year holiday .
With the oil price under pressure , Saudi energy minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman al Saud said members of OPEC ( the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries ) could respond to steady the oil market if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` primarily driven by psychological factors and extremely negative expectations adopted by some market participants despite [ the virus 's ] very limited impact on global oil demand '' .
Andy Critchlow , head of news in EMEA for S & P Global Platts , told Sky 's Ian King Live that , compared to when the SARS outbreak hit in 2002/03 , China has a larger consumer base and it is , as a result , a larger consumer of crude oil .
He said : `` It really is the strong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moment - in many respects it is the only narrative in the oil market .
`` That 's why oil traders are so worried about this : if China 's economy wobbles as a result of this virus then over 2020 all the forecasts about Chinese oil demand growth will have to be revised . ''
The market reaction came as China tightened travel restrictions in an effort to contain the virus .
With an increasing number of Chinese cities in lockdown , analysts at S & P Global estimated that if spending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country falls 10 % over the period , the country 's growth will slow by 1.2 percentage points .

Global stock markets have tumbled as concerns over the impact of China's coronavirus intensify, with the FTSE 100 seeing nearly £44bn wiped off the value of its constituent companies.
Trading screens from Tokyo to London and New York turned red after China - the world's second biggest economy - announced a sharp rise in cases of the illness.
Fears that the spread of the virus could put the brakes on global growth saw the price of oil slide, with Brent crude dipping below $60 a barrel to reach its lowest level since October.
That sent London-listed oil heavyweights such as Royal Dutch Shell and BP lower - helping the FTSE 100 lose 2.3%, or 174 points, by the close on Monday.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:52 Why oil traders are worried about China virus
That was its biggest percentage fall since October.
British Airways owner International Airlines Group was hardest hit - down more than 5% - with rival airline easyJet down by just under 5%.
Cruise ship operator Carnival and Holiday Inn to Crowne Plaza owner Intercontinental Hotels Group each fell by 5% too.
Mining giants such as Rio Tinto and Anglo American, whose fortunes are closely linked to the rise of China and its appetite for resources, saw similar falls.
Image: A fall in spending over the lunar new year could impact Chinese economic growth
Other Asia-linked stocks, from HSBC and Standard Chartered in the banking sector to fashion house Burberry, also saw significant share price dips.
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In Europe, luxury groups such as Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy (LVMH), Christian Dior, Hermes and Gucci owner Kering - all reliant on Chinese demand - turned lower too.
On Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 1.6%, or 453 points, lower, with casino and hotel groups among the worst hit together with airlines such as United and American Airlines.
The markets rout began in Asia overnight, where Japan's Nikkei fell 2%, before spreading to Europe where indices in Paris, Frankfurt, Madrid and Milan saw similar sell-offs.
Chinese stock markets were closed for the Lunar New Year holiday.
With the oil price under pressure, Saudi energy minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman al Saud said members of OPEC (the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) could respond to steady the oil market if necessary.
He said markets were being "primarily driven by psychological factors and extremely negative expectations adopted by some market participants despite [the virus's] very limited impact on global oil demand".
Image: Oil prices fell to their lowest level since October
Andy Critchlow, head of news in EMEA for S&P Global Platts, told Sky's Ian King Live that, compared to when the SARS outbreak hit in 2002/03, China has a larger consumer base and it is, as a result, a larger consumer of crude oil.
He said: "It really is the strong narrative behind the oil market at the moment - in many respects it is the only narrative in the oil market.
"That's why oil traders are so worried about this: if China's economy wobbles as a result of this virus then over 2020 all the forecasts about Chinese oil demand growth will have to be revised."
The market reaction came as China tightened travel restrictions in an effort to contain the virus.
With an increasing number of Chinese cities in lockdown, analysts at S&P Global estimated that if spending on new year holiday-related services in the country falls 10% over the period, the country's growth will slow by 1.2 percentage points.


news--2020-06-24--Bond, 100-year bond: Is Austria's offer the bet of the century?

It is something of which every finance director dreams - having a sufficiently good credit rating that you can borrow money that need not be repaid for 100 years .
So-called `` century bonds '' are not a new idea .
The British government actually went one better in the 18th and 19th centuries by issuing `` Consols '' which carried no maturity date - in other words , the principal never required repaying .
In fact , when the London Stock Exchange - the world 's first regulated stock exchange - launched in 1801 , British government debt was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Such bonds were issued , for example , to pay for conflicts such as the Napoleonic wars .
In more recent times , though , as borrowing costs have tumbled to historic lows , both institutions and countries have sought to take advantage by locking in an ultra-low interest rate for up to a century .
American companies with a rock-solid credit rating , such as Coca-Cola and Disney , began issuing such bonds in the 1990s .
They were followed in the early 2000s by highly rated European companies including the French @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pharmaceuticals group Bayer .
They in turn have been followed during the last decade or so by academic or research-based institutions including the Wellcome Trust , the University of Oxford , the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of California .
More recently still , countries have been getting in on the act , with more than a dozen countries having now issued such bonds .
They include not only countries with solid credit ratings - such as Israel , Chile , Belgium , South Korea and the Republic of Ireland - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reputation for defaulting in the past , such as Argentina and Mexico .
Among the earliest nations to issue century bonds during this period was Austria which , in September 2017 , sold €3.5bn worth of bonds not due for repayment until 2117 .
It sold another €1bn tranche - admittedly now asking investors to wait just the 98 years for repayment - in June last year .
Today , it returned to the well , seeking to sell a new 100-year bond .
Demand was brisk : Vienna was seeking to raise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ €16bn ( £14.5bn ) worth of orders .
And this for a yield of 0.88 % - lower even than the 2.112 % yield achieved in 2017 .
It looks like a big sign of investor confidence .
: : Listen to the The World Tomorrow on Apple podcasts , Spotify , and Spreaker As Michael Leister , head of interest rate strategy at German lender Commerzbank , told Reuters : `` It underscores that the market has normalised and recovered from the [ COVID-19 ] crisis , because two months ago they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this bond in that size . ''
But think about the raw numbers for a moment .
Investors were prepared to lend money to the Austrian government for a century for an interest rate of just 0.88 % .
It is taking a lot on trust , not least that the next century will not see a re-emergence of inflation , the bond investor 's enemy .
Other events are equally unpredictable .
Had an investor bought a century bond from Vienna in 1919 , when the First Austrian Republic was founded in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they would have lost the lot less than 20 years later when the country was occupied by the Nazis .
Nor is political uncertainty a thing of the past .
When Austria issued a second tranche of its first century bond a year ago , eyebrows were raised in markets at the extent of demand given the country 's recent unpredictable politics , which had recently seen the country 's chancellor , Sebastian Kurz , ousted ( he has since returned to office ) .
So why take the risk ?
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a sound security in which to put their money .
The European Central Bank is buying eurozone sovereign debt in the markets in huge quantities in a bid to stimulate post-pandemic growth and so anyone buying these bonds will not struggle to sell them , should they wish to do so , subsequently .
Secondly , a lot of comparable securities do not pay any rate of interest at all .
Nearly half of all German government bonds are trading with a negative yield , in other words , investors are effectively paying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
All bonds issued by Austria with a maturity of less than 20 years are all trading today with a negative yield .
It is becoming increasingly rare to be able to buy any bond issued by a top-graded issuer , such as Austria , offering any kind of yield at all .
Thirdly , Austria 's first century bond issue turned out to be a pretty good investment .
By August last year , that 2117 bond was trading at twice its face value , such was its popularity among investors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % - the yield on a bond falls as the price rises - which is significantly less than the 2.112 % yield when first issued .
Investors who bought in 2017 have made good money and , on that basis , investors looking to buy this time around can not be blamed for doing so .
And yet anyone who remembers how inflation blighted Western economies in the 1970s and 1980s will struggle not to feel uneasy at the demand in this auction .
Another risk this time around - although , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , not one troubling investors too much - is that , at some point in the future , the eurozone adopts full-blown `` debt mutualisation '' with countries like Germany and Austria becoming responsible for the debts of other nations in the single currency zone , such as Italy and Spain .
That seems unlikely .
A country like Germany would sooner leave the eurozone rather than see its taxpayers saddled with the borrowings of , say , Greece .
Moreover , Austria is a member of the EU 's so-called `` frugal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the Netherlands , all of whom want to tighten their grip on how money is spent in the EU .
In particular , they want to see the EU 's proposed new recovery fund disbursing money not as grants , but as loans with tight conditions attached .
Investors will hope the frugal four continue to get their way .

It is something of which every finance director dreams - having a sufficiently good credit rating that you can borrow money that need not be repaid for 100 years.
So-called "century bonds" are not a new idea. The British government actually went one better in the 18th and 19th centuries by issuing "Consols" which carried no maturity date - in other words, the principal never required repaying. In fact, when the London Stock Exchange - the world's first regulated stock exchange - launched in 1801, British government debt was the only security traded on it. Such bonds were issued, for example, to pay for conflicts such as the Napoleonic wars.
In more recent times, though, as borrowing costs have tumbled to historic lows, both institutions and countries have sought to take advantage by locking in an ultra-low interest rate for up to a century.
Image: Austria's chancellor Sebastian Kurz
American companies with a rock-solid credit rating, such as Coca-Cola and Disney, began issuing such bonds in the 1990s. They were followed in the early 2000s by highly rated European companies including the French utility giant GDF Suez and the German pharmaceuticals group Bayer.
They in turn have been followed during the last decade or so by academic or research-based institutions including the Wellcome Trust, the University of Oxford, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of California.
More recently still, countries have been getting in on the act, with more than a dozen countries having now issued such bonds. They include not only countries with solid credit ratings - such as Israel, Chile, Belgium, South Korea and the Republic of Ireland - but even some countries with an unfortunate reputation for defaulting in the past, such as Argentina and Mexico.
Among the earliest nations to issue century bonds during this period was Austria which, in September 2017, sold €3.5bn worth of bonds not due for repayment until 2117. It sold another €1bn tranche - admittedly now asking investors to wait just the 98 years for repayment - in June last year.
Today, it returned to the well, seeking to sell a new 100-year bond.
Demand was brisk: Vienna was seeking to raise €2bn (£1.8bn), but received €16bn (£14.5bn) worth of orders. And this for a yield of 0.88% - lower even than the 2.112% yield achieved in 2017.
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It looks like a big sign of investor confidence.
:: Listen to the The World Tomorrow on Apple podcasts, Spotify, and Spreaker
As Michael Leister, head of interest rate strategy at German lender Commerzbank, told Reuters: "It underscores that the market has normalised and recovered from the [COVID-19] crisis, because two months ago they would not have been able to sell this bond in that size."
But think about the raw numbers for a moment. Investors were prepared to lend money to the Austrian government for a century for an interest rate of just 0.88%. It is taking a lot on trust, not least that the next century will not see a re-emergence of inflation, the bond investor's enemy.
Other events are equally unpredictable. Had an investor bought a century bond from Vienna in 1919, when the First Austrian Republic was founded in the aftermath of the First World War, they would have lost the lot less than 20 years later when the country was occupied by the Nazis.
Nor is political uncertainty a thing of the past.
When Austria issued a second tranche of its first century bond a year ago, eyebrows were raised in markets at the extent of demand given the country's recent unpredictable politics, which had recently seen the country's chancellor, Sebastian Kurz, ousted (he has since returned to office).
So why take the risk?
The answer is that investors see this as a sound security in which to put their money. The European Central Bank is buying eurozone sovereign debt in the markets in huge quantities in a bid to stimulate post-pandemic growth and so anyone buying these bonds will not struggle to sell them, should they wish to do so, subsequently.
Image: American companies with a rock-solid credit rating, such as Coca-Cola, began issuing such bonds in the 1990s
Secondly, a lot of comparable securities do not pay any rate of interest at all. Nearly half of all German government bonds are trading with a negative yield, in other words, investors are effectively paying Berlin for the right to lend to it. All bonds issued by Austria with a maturity of less than 20 years are all trading today with a negative yield. It is becoming increasingly rare to be able to buy any bond issued by a top-graded issuer, such as Austria, offering any kind of yield at all.
Thirdly, Austria's first century bond issue turned out to be a pretty good investment. By August last year, that 2117 bond was trading at twice its face value, such was its popularity among investors. It was tonight yielding just 0.766% - the yield on a bond falls as the price rises - which is significantly less than the 2.112% yield when first issued. Investors who bought in 2017 have made good money and, on that basis, investors looking to buy this time around cannot be blamed for doing so.
And yet anyone who remembers how inflation blighted Western economies in the 1970s and 1980s will struggle not to feel uneasy at the demand in this auction.
Another risk this time around - although, to judge from demand in today's auction, not one troubling investors too much - is that, at some point in the future, the eurozone adopts full-blown "debt mutualisation" with countries like Germany and Austria becoming responsible for the debts of other nations in the single currency zone, such as Italy and Spain.
That seems unlikely. A country like Germany would sooner leave the eurozone rather than see its taxpayers saddled with the borrowings of, say, Greece. Moreover, Austria is a member of the EU's so-called "frugal four" along with Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands, all of whom want to tighten their grip on how money is spent in the EU. In particular, they want to see the EU's proposed new recovery fund disbursing money not as grants, but as loans with tight conditions attached.
Investors will hope the frugal four continue to get their way.


news--2020-06-24--Coronavirus: McLaren in talks about Bahraini bank loan

The British supercar-maker and Formula One ( F1 ) team-owner McLaren Group is in talks to secure a loan from a major Gulf-based bank that would deliver a long-awaited boost to its coronavirus-hit finances .
Sky News has learnt that McLaren is in detailed negotiations to borrow more than £150m from the National Bank of Bahrain ( NBB ) as it races to shore up its balance sheet .
The company , which has been forced to lay off more than a quarter of its workforce since the pandemic struck , has been exploring a range of options to raise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its valuable heritage car collection and spectacular Surrey headquarters .
Sources said that an agreement between McLaren and the Bahraini lender remained far from certain .
The NBB is part-owned by Mumtalakat , Bahrain 's sovereign wealth fund , which is also McLaren 's largest shareholder - meaning that an agreement would strengthen the Gulf state 's interest in one of the most prestigious names in British manufacturing .
A loan deal for the automotive group would not preclude it from continuing to pursue other options in the short-to-medium term , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its existing assets such as cars driven by the likes of the F1 legend Ayrton Senna .
Sky News revealed last week that McLaren was also starting to examine the sale of a minority stake in its F1 team .
Capital could also be raised from existing bondholders , some of which have objected to the mortgage proposal because they argue they already hold security over it .
McLaren has gone to court to seek a ruling in favour of its ability to pursue that deal .
The McLaren name is among the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and during more than half a century of competing has won eight F1 constructors ' championships .
The team 's drivers have included the likes of Mika Hakkinen , Lewis Hamilton and Alain Prost .
It has fallen on leaner times on the track during the last decade , although under its current racing boss , Zak Brown , its fortunes have begun to revive .
The stalled F1 season is due to get underway in Austria next month , with two Grands Prix scheduled to take place at Silverstone as part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operations , which include its participation in the Indianapolis 500 race , account for roughly 20 % of the group 's annual revenues .
The team 's drivers this year are Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz Jr .
It has struck sponsorship deals with companies including Darktrace , the cybersecurity software provider , and upgraded British American Tobacco to a `` principal partnership '' - despite the ban on tobacco advertising in the sport .
McLaren recorded a £133m loss in the first quarter of the year , as its F1 and road-car @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Last month , it cut 1,200 jobs across its operations as part of a restructuring plan affecting more than a quarter of its workforce .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker McLaren 's drive to access new funding has been accelerated in the wake of a request for a £150m loan from the government being rejected .
Sky News revealed in April that McLaren had approached the Department for Business , Energy and Industrial Strategy ( BEIS ) with the funding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evaporate .
Orders are said to have rebounded strongly in recent weeks .
McLaren is a major British exporter , supporting thousands of jobs across the UK supply chain .
The talks about financing options comes not long after McLaren parachuted in Paul Walsh , the heavyweight former boss of Diageo , as executive chairman - a move that stoked speculation that McLaren 's shareholders ultimately wanted to take the company public .
McLaren 's road-car division , which was previously a semi-independent company called McLaren Automotive , makes some of the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including the Senna - named after its legendary former F1 driver , Ayrton Senna .
The unit , which is run by Mike Flewitt , represents the majority of the group 's sales .
The British company saw its separate divisions reunited following the departure in 2017 of Ron Dennis , the veteran McLaren boss who had steered its F1 team through the most successful period in its history .
He became one of Britain 's best-known businessmen , expanding McLaren 's technology ventures into a wide range of other industries through lucrative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stake in a £275m deal following a bitter dispute with fellow shareholders .
He had presented to McLaren 's board a £1.65bn takeover bid from a consortium of Chinese investors , but did not attract support for it from boardroom colleagues .

The British supercar-maker and Formula One (F1) team-owner McLaren Group is in talks to secure a loan from a major Gulf-based bank that would deliver a long-awaited boost to its coronavirus-hit finances.
Sky News has learnt that McLaren is in detailed negotiations to borrow more than £150m from the National Bank of Bahrain (NBB) as it races to shore up its balance sheet.
The company, which has been forced to lay off more than a quarter of its workforce since the pandemic struck, has been exploring a range of options to raise funds in recent months, including mortgaging its valuable heritage car collection and spectacular Surrey headquarters.
Sources said that an agreement between McLaren and the Bahraini lender remained far from certain.
The NBB is part-owned by Mumtalakat, Bahrain's sovereign wealth fund, which is also McLaren's largest shareholder - meaning that an agreement would strengthen the Gulf state's interest in one of the most prestigious names in British manufacturing.
A loan deal for the automotive group would not preclude it from continuing to pursue other options in the short-to-medium term, according to insiders.
Those would include borrowing against its existing assets such as cars driven by the likes of the F1 legend Ayrton Senna.
Sky News revealed last week that McLaren was also starting to examine the sale of a minority stake in its F1 team.
Image: McLaren could also borrow against existing assets such as its vintage F1 cars
Capital could also be raised from existing bondholders, some of which have objected to the mortgage proposal because they argue they already hold security over it.
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McLaren has gone to court to seek a ruling in favour of its ability to pursue that deal.
The McLaren name is among the most historic in the F1 paddock, and during more than half a century of competing has won eight F1 constructors' championships.
The team's drivers have included the likes of Mika Hakkinen, Lewis Hamilton and Alain Prost.
It has fallen on leaner times on the track during the last decade, although under its current racing boss, Zak Brown, its fortunes have begun to revive.
The stalled F1 season is due to get underway in Austria next month, with two Grands Prix scheduled to take place at Silverstone as part of the truncated campaign.
McLaren's on-track operations, which include its participation in the Indianapolis 500 race, account for roughly 20% of the group's annual revenues.
The team's drivers this year are Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz Jr.
It has struck sponsorship deals with companies including Darktrace, the cybersecurity software provider, and upgraded British American Tobacco to a "principal partnership" - despite the ban on tobacco advertising in the sport.
McLaren recorded a £133m loss in the first quarter of the year, as its F1 and road-car operations were hurt by the coronavirus pandemic.
Last month, it cut 1,200 jobs across its operations as part of a restructuring plan affecting more than a quarter of its workforce.
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McLaren's drive to access new funding has been accelerated in the wake of a request for a £150m loan from the government being rejected.
Sky News revealed in April that McLaren had approached the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) with the funding request after seeing sales of its supercars evaporate.
Orders are said to have rebounded strongly in recent weeks.
McLaren is a major British exporter, supporting thousands of jobs across the UK supply chain.
The talks about financing options comes not long after McLaren parachuted in Paul Walsh, the heavyweight former boss of Diageo, as executive chairman - a move that stoked speculation that McLaren's shareholders ultimately wanted to take the company public.
McLaren's road-car division, which was previously a semi-independent company called McLaren Automotive, makes some of the world's most expensive cars, with models including the Senna - named after its legendary former F1 driver, Ayrton Senna.
The unit, which is run by Mike Flewitt, represents the majority of the group's sales.
The British company saw its separate divisions reunited following the departure in 2017 of Ron Dennis, the veteran McLaren boss who had steered its F1 team through the most successful period in its history.
He became one of Britain's best-known businessmen, expanding McLaren's technology ventures into a wide range of other industries through lucrative commercial partnerships.
Mr Dennis offloaded his stake in a £275m deal following a bitter dispute with fellow shareholders.
He had presented to McLaren's board a £1.65bn takeover bid from a consortium of Chinese investors, but did not attract support for it from boardroom colleagues.
McLaren declined to comment.


news--2020-06-24--Coronavirus: Airport ground handling firm Swissport plans to axe 4,556 jobs

Airport ground handling firm Swissport is planning to axe 4,556 jobs in the UK and Ireland - half its workforce - due to the impact of the coronavirus .
Staff were being informed of the cuts on Wednesday morning .
In a memo seen by Sky News , Swissport 's chief executive for western Europe , Jason Holt , said it had been `` hit hard '' by COVID-19 with revenues `` almost completely lost '' .
Mr Holt said : `` The unfortunate fact is that there simply are n't enough aircraft flying for our business to continue running @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and there wo n't be again for some time to come .
`` We must adapt to this new reality . ''
He pointed to industry forecasts suggesting traffic may not recover to 2019 levels until as late as 2024 .
While it had survived previous tough periods such as the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks and the financial crisis , the current collapse was of a different scale to anything in living memory , Mr Holt said .
`` We are now facing a long period of uncertainty and reduced flight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place to the way people travel and the way goods move around the world , '' he added .
`` There is no escaping the fact that the industry is now smaller than it was , and it will remain so for some time to come . ''
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Annual revenues are expected to be almost 50 % lower than last year , Mr Holt said .
`` Hence , we must adapt by reducing the size @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to survive as a company , '' he added .
Swissport employs around 8,500 people in the UK and Ireland , with operations across London as well as regional airports , and the jobs being lost represent 53 % of the workforce .
The group employed more than 60,000 people globally prior to the crisis .
Trade unions Unite and GMB described the announcement as `` devastating news '' .
Unite 's national officer , Oliver Richardson , called on the government to intervene urgently with a financial package and an extension @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which is due to start tapering off at the end of July - for the aviation industry .
Thousands of jobs have already been lost across the sector as a result of the crisis , with British Airways announcing 12,000 will go , easyJet axing up to 4,500 staff and Ryanair shedding 3,000 .
The impact of the crisis on aviation was also blamed by Rolls-Royce as it said last month that it planned to cut 9,000 jobs , while Heathrow has launched a voluntary severance scheme for workers after a slump in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Operators Association ( AOA ) , which represents more than 50 airports , said analysis of its members suggested up to 20,000 jobs were at risk and called for the government to scrap its controversial quarantine regime .

Airport ground handling firm Swissport is planning to axe 4,556 jobs in the UK and Ireland - half its workforce - due to the impact of the coronavirus.
Staff were being informed of the cuts on Wednesday morning.
In a memo seen by Sky News, Swissport's chief executive for western Europe, Jason Holt, said it had been "hit hard" by COVID-19 with revenues "almost completely lost".
Mr Holt said: "The unfortunate fact is that there simply aren't enough aircraft flying for our business to continue running as it did before the COVID-19 outbreak, and there won't be again for some time to come.
"We must adapt to this new reality."
He pointed to industry forecasts suggesting traffic may not recover to 2019 levels until as late as 2024.
While it had survived previous tough periods such as the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks and the financial crisis, the current collapse was of a different scale to anything in living memory, Mr Holt said.
"We are now facing a long period of uncertainty and reduced flight numbers, along with significant changes taking place to the way people travel and the way goods move around the world," he added.
"There is no escaping the fact that the industry is now smaller than it was, and it will remain so for some time to come."
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Annual revenues are expected to be almost 50% lower than last year, Mr Holt said.
"Hence, we must adapt by reducing the size of Swissport's workforce if we're going to survive as a company," he added.
Swissport employs around 8,500 people in the UK and Ireland, with operations across London as well as regional airports, and the jobs being lost represent 53% of the workforce.
The group employed more than 60,000 people globally prior to the crisis.
Trade unions Unite and GMB described the announcement as "devastating news".
Unite's national officer, Oliver Richardson, called on the government to intervene urgently with a financial package and an extension of the 80% furlough scheme - which is due to start tapering off at the end of July - for the aviation industry.
Thousands of jobs have already been lost across the sector as a result of the crisis, with British Airways announcing 12,000 will go, easyJet axing up to 4,500 staff and Ryanair shedding 3,000.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:38 British Airways considers redundancies
The impact of the crisis on aviation was also blamed by Rolls-Royce as it said last month that it planned to cut 9,000 jobs, while Heathrow has launched a voluntary severance scheme for workers after a slump in demand.
On Wednesday, the Airport Operators Association (AOA), which represents more than 50 airports, said analysis of its members suggested up to 20,000 jobs were at risk and called for the government to scrap its controversial quarantine regime.


news--2020-06-24--Coronavirus: DJ Graeme Park says government's plans for reopening live music sector are 'shambles'

A leading British DJ has told Sky News the government 's plans for reopening the live music sector have been a `` shambles '' .
Graeme Park said he was extremely frustrated by the lack of any kind of road map or indication as to when they would be able to get back to anything resembling business as usual .
He was due to be playing a summer of festivals and gigs along with long-time musical collaborator Peter Hook , bassist from the bands Joy Division and New Order .
But instead the pair , along with thousands of other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and uncertainty .
Park said : `` It 's a shambles .
This government is not giving us any information , nothing , not even any nuggets about live entertainment and live venues , and about when they may reopen .
`` I 've seen cabinet ministers being asked direct questions about live entertainment and they 've completely skirted around it and said something else like cabinet ministers do .
It 's really frustrating .
We 're sat here speculating , it might be this , it might be that .
`` Surely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and come up with potential solutions so people can get back to clubbing , get back to seeing live bands , and we the performers , artists and creators can get on that stage or get behind those decks .
`` Get back to what we do , and share the joy and share the love of music to our clubbing and live music community . ''
Hook told Sky News he wanted some honesty from politicians and an admittance that they did n't know `` what was going on '' .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ watching these ministers defending themselves in an impossible task .
They are ill-informed and they do n't know what they 're talking about and you 're just going 'ca n't you just say you do n't know what 's happening ' .
`` It 's like baffling you with bull*** that just does n't work .
We know it does n't work .
I have no work for a year .
It 's the saddest thing in the world to think about and live with . ''
Hook admitted the future was looking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world will never be the same again I do n't think .
I 'm in a business which is one of the worst affected , because it 's going to be the last that comes back '' .
The pair were due to perform together with Hacienda Classical , the group which re-works club classics of the legendary Manchester Hacienda club with the backing of a massive orchestra , Manchester Camerata .
They 've known each other for years , and sitting in the Castlefield Bowl in Manchester where they were supposed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their disbelief at the lack an official plan for the sector was palpable .
Park told Sky News he could n't believe the music industry was being overlooked .
He said : `` There is nothing , absolutely nothing .
More than anything it 's frustrating and in terms of financial help , other areas of the economy have been given lots of financial help .
`` But the live and night-time economy is worth over £100bn to the UK economy…so I think a conversation has to be had . ''
Hook said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks of the COVID-19 outbreak `` every single festival I had , and I must have had about 150 gigs in all '' were either postponed or cancelled all together , and he 's obviously far from alone in his experience .
`` Talking to friends of mine who you would consider to be successful musicians , DJs , some of them are waking up in the middle of the night in cold sweats wondering how they 're going to pay they mortgages . ''
Promoter Daryl Robinson from SJM concerts , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who were organising the Hacienda Classical concert as part of the Sounds of the City series of gigs , told Sky News the industry needs some workable solutions .
He said : `` When you 're looking at shows that have already been on sale where we 've already sold out , I mean how can we socially distance a sold-out show ?
`` And , when you look at rock or indie stuff where the whole joy of it is being in a packed crowd , jumping all in unison - that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ca n't see how we 're going to be able to be in that situation and have social distancing .
`` But we are a creative industry - we find solutions to problems . ''
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Following Prime Minister Boris Johnson 's announcement that lockdown restrictions in England would be eased , UK Music acting chief executive Tom Kiehl also urged the government to act swiftly to ensure the music industry was not treated like a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if there was n't well targeted support , venues would close for good , with thousands of job losses and `` the loss of irreplaceable musical talent and technical skills '' .
He said : `` There is a real risk that music will be left swinging in the wind unless the government moves quickly to agree a detailed plan with the sector to reopen .
`` We can not afford for music which is so culturally , socially and economically important to be treated like some kind of forgotten relative while so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blueprint for them to emerge from lockdown . ''

A leading British DJ has told Sky News the government's plans for reopening the live music sector have been a "shambles".
Graeme Park said he was extremely frustrated by the lack of any kind of road map or indication as to when they would be able to get back to anything resembling business as usual.
He was due to be playing a summer of festivals and gigs along with long-time musical collaborator Peter Hook, bassist from the bands Joy Division and New Order.
Image: Park told Sky News he couldn't believe the music industry was being overlooked
But instead the pair, along with thousands of other musicians, are facing months of cancellations and uncertainty.
Park said: "It's a shambles. This government is not giving us any information, nothing, not even any nuggets about live entertainment and live venues, and about when they may reopen.
"I've seen cabinet ministers being asked direct questions about live entertainment and they've completely skirted around it and said something else like cabinet ministers do. It's really frustrating. We're sat here speculating, it might be this, it might be that.
"Surely we have enough people to come together and come up with potential solutions so people can get back to clubbing, get back to seeing live bands, and we the performers, artists and creators can get on that stage or get behind those decks.
"Get back to what we do, and share the joy and share the love of music to our clubbing and live music community."
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:31 Peter Hook: 'I've got no work for a year'
Hook told Sky News he wanted some honesty from politicians and an admittance that they didn't know "what was going on".
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He said: "I'm sick of watching these ministers defending themselves in an impossible task. They are ill-informed and they don't know what they're talking about and you're just going 'can't you just say you don't know what's happening'.
"It's like baffling you with bull*** that just doesn't work. We know it doesn't work. I have no work for a year. It's the saddest thing in the world to think about and live with."
Hook admitted the future was looking quite bleak, adding: "The world will never be the same again I don't think. I'm in a business which is one of the worst affected, because it's going to be the last that comes back".
The pair were due to perform together with Hacienda Classical, the group which re-works club classics of the legendary Manchester Hacienda club with the backing of a massive orchestra, Manchester Camerata.
They've known each other for years, and sitting in the Castlefield Bowl in Manchester where they were supposed to be on stage together in July, their disbelief at the lack an official plan for the sector was palpable.
Image: Hacienda Classical have played at the Glastonbury Festival
Park told Sky News he couldn't believe the music industry was being overlooked.
He said: "There is nothing, absolutely nothing. More than anything it's frustrating and in terms of financial help, other areas of the economy have been given lots of financial help.
"But the live and night-time economy is worth over £100bn to the UK economy…so I think a conversation has to be had."
Hook said he watched as over the first six weeks of the COVID-19 outbreak "every single festival I had, and I must have had about 150 gigs in all" were either postponed or cancelled all together, and he's obviously far from alone in his experience.
"Talking to friends of mine who you would consider to be successful musicians, DJs, some of them are waking up in the middle of the night in cold sweats wondering how they're going to pay they mortgages."
Image: Promoter Daryl Robinson says the industry needs some workable solutions
Promoter Daryl Robinson from SJM concerts, a major player in the live music sector who were organising the Hacienda Classical concert as part of the Sounds of the City series of gigs, told Sky News the industry needs some workable solutions.
He said: "When you're looking at shows that have already been on sale where we've already sold out, I mean how can we socially distance a sold-out show?
"And, when you look at rock or indie stuff where the whole joy of it is being in a packed crowd, jumping all in unison - that's going to be very difficult. I can't see how we're going to be able to be in that situation and have social distancing.
"But we are a creative industry - we find solutions to problems."
Podcast Podcast , which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Podcast cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the This content is provided by, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enablecookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Podcast cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow Podcast cookies for this session only. Enable Cookies Allow Cookies Once
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Following Prime Minister Boris Johnson's announcement that lockdown restrictions in England would be eased, UK Music acting chief executive Tom Kiehl also urged the government to act swiftly to ensure the music industry was not treated like a "forgotten relative".
He warned if there wasn't well targeted support, venues would close for good, with thousands of job losses and "the loss of irreplaceable musical talent and technical skills".
He said: "There is a real risk that music will be left swinging in the wind unless the government moves quickly to agree a detailed plan with the sector to reopen.
"We cannot afford for music which is so culturally, socially and economically important to be treated like some kind of forgotten relative while so many other sectors are being given a blueprint for them to emerge from lockdown."


news--2020-06-24--Pilots in Pakistan plane crash were distracted by coronavirus worries, minister says

The pilots of a Pakistan airliner that crashed last month were having a discussion about coronavirus while preparing for their first failed attempt to land , the country 's aviation minister has said .
Ninety-seven people died when the Airbus A320 of Pakistan International Airlines crashed on 22 May in the southern city of Karachi .
It came down just over half a mile short of the runway on its second try , leaving two survivors .
Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan told parliament on Wednesday that the engines of the aircraft had touched the ground as it landed without its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taking off again .
The flight data showed the landing gear was lowered at 10 nautical miles but then raised again five nautical miles from the runway , which Mr Khan described as `` beyond comprehension '' .
He said the aircraft was `` 100 % fit to fly '' and there was no technical fault , and that the pilots were not `` focused '' because of the pandemic .
`` The discussion throughout was about corona , '' Mr Khan said , referring to a conversation between the pilot and co-pilot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voice recorder .
`` Corona was dominant over their mind .
Their family was affected . ''
The report did not spell out the pilots ' conversation on the virus , but noted they did not follow set protocols .
`` Several warnings and alerts such as over-speed , landing gear not down and ground proximity alerts , were disregarded , '' the report added .
`` The landing was undertaken with the landing gear retracted .
The aircraft touched the runway surface on its engines . ''
: : Listen to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker The report states there was no sign of any malfunction in the landing gear system on the plane , which had taken off from the eastern city of Lahore .
It said both engines failed one-by-one shortly after the engines scraped the runway .
Mr Khan said : `` When the plane took off again , both engines had been damaged ; and when the plane was making an approach for a second landing it did n't have that power and fell on the residential area . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ who both died in the crash , were experienced and medically fit .
They dismissed warnings from air traffic controllers and `` started discussing corona again '' , Mr Khan added .
The secretary of the Pakistan Airline Pilots ' Association , Imran Narejo , told Reuters that pilots were expected to not be distracted during crucial procedures such as landing , but said other factors should also be investigated for the complete report .
He said : `` It was pointed out the pilots were busy talking about corona , and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` But other reasons were also there , like them not being provided proper support from air traffic control '' .

The pilots of a Pakistan airliner that crashed last month were having a discussion about coronavirus while preparing for their first failed attempt to land, the country's aviation minister has said.
Ninety-seven people died when the Airbus A320 of Pakistan International Airlines crashed on 22 May in the southern city of Karachi.
It came down just over half a mile short of the runway on its second try, leaving two survivors.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:21 'Mayday, mayday': Final audio before plane crash
Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan told parliament on Wednesday that the engines of the aircraft had touched the ground as it landed without its wheels on the first attempt, before taking off again.
The flight data showed the landing gear was lowered at 10 nautical miles but then raised again five nautical miles from the runway, which Mr Khan described as "beyond comprehension".
He said the aircraft was "100% fit to fly" and there was no technical fault, and that the pilots were not "focused" because of the pandemic.
"The discussion throughout was about corona," Mr Khan said, referring to a conversation between the pilot and co-pilot he had listened to on the cockpit voice recorder.
"Corona was dominant over their mind. Their family was affected."
The report did not spell out the pilots' conversation on the virus, but noted they did not follow set protocols.
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"Several warnings and alerts such as over-speed, landing gear not down and ground proximity alerts, were disregarded," the report added.
"The landing was undertaken with the landing gear retracted. The aircraft touched the runway surface on its engines."
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The report states there was no sign of any malfunction in the landing gear system on the plane, which had taken off from the eastern city of Lahore.
It said both engines failed one-by-one shortly after the engines scraped the runway.
Image: Men walk on the debris at the site of the passenger plane crash on 22 May
Mr Khan said: "When the plane took off again, both engines had been damaged; and when the plane was making an approach for a second landing it didn't have that power and fell on the residential area."
He said the captain and co-pilot, who both died in the crash, were experienced and medically fit.
They dismissed warnings from air traffic controllers and "started discussing corona again", Mr Khan added.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:39 CCTV captures moment of Pakistan plane crash
The secretary of the Pakistan Airline Pilots' Association, Imran Narejo, told Reuters that pilots were expected to not be distracted during crucial procedures such as landing, but said other factors should also be investigated for the complete report.
He said: "It was pointed out the pilots were busy talking about corona, and that they may have overlooked a few things.
"But other reasons were also there, like them not being provided proper support from air traffic control".


news--2020-06-24--President Trump's use of 'Kung Flu' is embodiment of path he has chosen in divided times

President Trump 's use of 'Kung Flu ' is embodiment of path he has chosen in divided times President Trump 's use of 'Kung Flu ' is embodiment of path he has chosen in divided times Trump says 'Kung Flu ' again despite criticism Donald Trump was fully aware of the controversy that preceded his Arizona rally and once again he has embraced his instinct for escalation .
His use of the term `` Kung Flu '' at his under-attended Oklahoma rally has rightly been labelled as outright racist .
His own White House counsellor Kellyanne Conway has , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as `` hurtful '' , `` unhelpful '' and `` offensive '' .
When asked why Mr Trump uses the racist phrase , his press secretary Kayleigh McEnany oddly insisted `` the president does n't '' .
She then went on to say that what he 's trying to do ( in using that phrase ) is point out the origin of the virus .
But `` Kung Flu '' does way more than that .
For many Asian Americans , it 's a well-worn racist trope used to bully and undermine - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ language as you could hope to get .
But this president is not known for heeding criticism .
He always favours a doubling down over a considered retraction .
So when , in front of young fans in Phoenix , Arizona , he reached the bit about how many names COVID-19 has been given , you could sense the anticipation in the crowd as to whether the president would go there again .
`` I could give you 19 or 20 names , '' he mused before running through a list of six @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the crowd seemed to be egging him on to deliver and so he obliged , repeating `` Kung-Flu '' three times .
The response was rapturous .
So why is he doing this ?
As John Bolton , his former national security adviser , points out in his new book , Mr Trump is solely focused on his own re-election .
As the left continue to pound him , he knows that expanding his support is more of a lost cause than ever .
His coronavirus response has been criticised for being inadequate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have died and half of the 50 states are seeing rises in infection rates .
With a tanked economy and turmoil on the streets , his foundation for re-election is shaky .
Blaming someone else is the crudest but surest way of making sure his base does n't desert him when he 'll need them most .
His use of `` Kung Flu '' is the embodiment of the path Mr Trump has chosen in these divided times .
He is not choosing to be a leader for a multi-racial country in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not a uniter .
He is president solely for his largely white support base - repeatedly firing with laser focus at their worst instincts .
But this should n't be seen as just calculated strategy .
These are Mr Trump 's own instincts at play .
: : Listen to Divided States on Apple podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , and Spreaker His racism has been clearly displayed for decades : his placement of a newspaper ad calling for the execution of five black and latino men accused of rape , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ His birther campaign against Barack Obama whom he claimed was not born in the US .
He tried to ban Muslims from entering the US and bestowed moral equivalence to white supremacists .
Acts that have consistently sabotaged his own repeated claims to be the `` least racist person in the world '' .

He is president solely for his largely white support base - repeatedly firing with laser focus at their worst instincts.
President Trump's use of 'Kung Flu' is embodiment of path he has chosen in divided times
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Donald Trump was fully aware of the controversy that preceded his Arizona rally and once again he has embraced his instinct for escalation.
His use of the term "Kung Flu" at his under-attended Oklahoma rally has rightly been labelled as outright racist.
His own White House counsellor Kellyanne Conway has, in the past, referred to the term as "hurtful", "unhelpful" and "offensive".
When asked why Mr Trump uses the racist phrase, his press secretary Kayleigh McEnany oddly insisted "the president doesn't".
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:47 White House defends Trump's 'Kung Flu' comment
She then went on to say that what he's trying to do (in using that phrase) is point out the origin of the virus.
But "Kung Flu" does way more than that.
For many Asian Americans, it's a well-worn racist trope used to bully and undermine - about as far from "presidential" language as you could hope to get.
But this president is not known for heeding criticism. He always favours a doubling down over a considered retraction.
So when, in front of young fans in Phoenix, Arizona, he reached the bit about how many names COVID-19 has been given, you could sense the anticipation in the crowd as to whether the president would go there again.
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"I could give you 19 or 20 names," he mused before running through a list of six.
"Wuhan...coronavirus..." the crowd seemed to be egging him on to deliver and so he obliged, repeating "Kung-Flu" three times. The response was rapturous.
Image: There were many young supporters in the crowd
So why is he doing this?
As John Bolton, his former national security adviser, points out in his new book, Mr Trump is solely focused on his own re-election.
As the left continue to pound him, he knows that expanding his support is more of a lost cause than ever.
His coronavirus response has been criticised for being inadequate and slow.
More than 120,000 people have died and half of the 50 states are seeing rises in infection rates.
With a tanked economy and turmoil on the streets, his foundation for re-election is shaky.
Blaming someone else is the crudest but surest way of making sure his base doesn't desert him when he'll need them most.
Image: President Trump was speaking at a rally in Phoenix, Arizona
His use of "Kung Flu" is the embodiment of the path Mr Trump has chosen in these divided times.
He is not choosing to be a leader for a multi-racial country in the middle of unprecedented crises.
He is not a uniter.
He is president solely for his largely white support base - repeatedly firing with laser focus at their worst instincts.
But this shouldn't be seen as just calculated strategy. These are Mr Trump's own instincts at play.
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His racism has been clearly displayed for decades: his placement of a newspaper ad calling for the execution of five black and latino men accused of rape, who were later shown to be innocent.
His birther campaign against Barack Obama whom he claimed was not born in the US.
As president, Mr Trump has called African nations "s***hole countries".
He tried to ban Muslims from entering the US and bestowed moral equivalence to white supremacists.
Acts that have consistently sabotaged his own repeated claims to be the "least racist person in the world".


news--2020-05-13--Trump's Operation Warp Speed: Hopes of coronavirus vaccine by end of year

Donald Trump has said he is hopeful of having a coronavirus vaccine on the market by the end of the year .
The vaccine hunt is part of what the US president described as a `` momentous medical initiative '' called Operation Warp Speed .
At an event in the White House Rose Garden , in which many officials wore face masks but the president did not , he announced the project in a speech peppered with promises .
Explaining the name Operation Warp Speed , he said `` that means big and it means fast '' , adding : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're doing now within our country since the Second World War .
Incredible . ''
There are a number of promising trials around the world seeking a vaccination against coronavirus , which has killed more than 300,000 people worldwide and Mr Trump said `` we 'd love to see if we could do it prior to the end of the year '' .
The US government will invest in all the top coronavirus vaccine candidates , and a list has been narrowed to 14 promising potential vaccines with a plan to narrow it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that the US was working `` very strongly '' with other countries , although he did not say which ones , and that those other countries were `` viewing us as the leader '' .
He added : `` We 've got countries that are allies ... we have some countries , frankly , that are n't allies where we 're working very closely together .
`` We have no ego .
Whoever gets it , we think it 's great .
We 're going to work with them .
They 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : : Listen to Divided States on Apple podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , and Spreaker Mr Trump , who initially dismissed the seriousness of COVID-19 , has faced criticism for his apparent lack of interest in helping co-ordinate a global strategy .
There was no US representative at a virtual meeting of world leaders last week , which aims to raise funds to find a vaccine and clear the way for mass production and distribution .
There are fears that if a vaccine for coronavirus was developed within the US , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ share it with the rest of the world .
Speaking on the Sky News Daily podcast , Beth Cameron - who led the NSC 's strategy regarding the response to potential pandemics between 2014 and 2017 - said : `` Most frustrating to me is that the US is n't helping to be the leader in the global response .
`` We are one of a number of countries that can and should lead during a crisis like this because we have a lot of expertise and the ability to work collaboratively with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Ebola epidemic we really led on that , working with partners like the UK , France , Germany and others , but right now it seems we have really ceded some of that leadership role and are not really at the table . ''

Donald Trump has said he is hopeful of having a coronavirus vaccine on the market by the end of the year.
The vaccine hunt is part of what the US president described as a "momentous medical initiative" called Operation Warp Speed.
At an event in the White House Rose Garden, in which many officials wore face masks but the president did not, he announced the project in a speech peppered with promises.
Image: Donald Trump is keen to reopen the US economy - with or without a vaccine
Explaining the name Operation Warp Speed, he said "that means big and it means fast", adding: "Nobody's seen anything like we're doing now within our country since the Second World War. Incredible."
There are a number of promising trials around the world seeking a vaccination against coronavirus, which has killed more than 300,000 people worldwide and Mr Trump said "we'd love to see if we could do it prior to the end of the year".
The US government will invest in all the top coronavirus vaccine candidates, and a list has been narrowed to 14 promising potential vaccines with a plan to narrow it further, he said.
He also said that the US was working "very strongly" with other countries, although he did not say which ones, and that those other countries were "viewing us as the leader".
He added: "We've got countries that are allies... we have some countries, frankly, that aren't allies where we're working very closely together.
"We have no ego. Whoever gets it, we think it's great. We're going to work with them. They're going to work with us."
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:: Listen to Divided States on Apple podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Spreaker
Mr Trump, who initially dismissed the seriousness of COVID-19, has faced criticism for his apparent lack of interest in helping co-ordinate a global strategy.
There was no US representative at a virtual meeting of world leaders last week, which aims to raise funds to find a vaccine and clear the way for mass production and distribution.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:47 PM urges countries to pull together
There are fears that if a vaccine for coronavirus was developed within the US, the president would be unwilling to immediately share it with the rest of the world.
Speaking on the Sky News Daily podcast, Beth Cameron - who led the NSC's strategy regarding the response to potential pandemics between 2014 and 2017 - said: "Most frustrating to me is that the US isn't helping to be the leader in the global response.
"We are one of a number of countries that can and should lead during a crisis like this because we have a lot of expertise and the ability to work collaboratively with countries around the world.
"During the Ebola epidemic we really led on that, working with partners like the UK, France, Germany and others, but right now it seems we have really ceded some of that leadership role and are not really at the table."


news--2020-05-16--Kenny Sansom: Former Arsenal and England defender in hospital

Kenny Sansom , the former Arsenal and England left back , is in hospital .
The 61-year-old is not suffering from coronavirus according to a message on his Twitter account that said he is receiving treatment .
News reports on Friday night claimed that Sansom , who has 86 caps for his country , suffered a serious head injury at home .
The message on his Twitter account read : `` Kenny is currently ill in hospital .
He is being well cared for and does not have COVID-19 . ''
`` Kenny 's family and close friends kindly ask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ privacy , plus that of the healthcare workers treating Kenny , '' it added .
Sansom played at both the 1982 and 1986 World Cups for England , and won the League Cup with Arsenal in 1987 .
All but two of Sansom 's caps came in the 1980s , and only 11 other players have appeared more times for England .
He started his career at Crystal Palace , where he made 172 appearances and helped the team win the Second Division in 1979 .
He moved to Arsenal the next year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making 314 appearances .
Sansom went on to play for Newcastle , QPR , Coventry , Everton , Brentford and Watford before retiring in 1994 .

Kenny Sansom, the former Arsenal and England left back, is in hospital.
The 61-year-old is not suffering from coronavirus according to a message on his Twitter account that said he is receiving treatment.
News reports on Friday night claimed that Sansom, who has 86 caps for his country, suffered a serious head injury at home.
The message on his Twitter account read: "Kenny is currently ill in hospital. He is being well cared for and does not have COVID-19."
"Kenny's family and close friends kindly ask the media to respect his and their privacy, plus that of the healthcare workers treating Kenny," it added.
Sansom played at both the 1982 and 1986 World Cups for England, and won the League Cup with Arsenal in 1987.
All but two of Sansom's caps came in the 1980s, and only 11 other players have appeared more times for England.
He started his career at Crystal Palace, where he made 172 appearances and helped the team win the Second Division in 1979.
He moved to Arsenal the next year and would stay for eight seasons, making 314 appearances.
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Sansom went on to play for Newcastle, QPR, Coventry, Everton, Brentford and Watford before retiring in 1994.


news--2020-05-16--Coronavirus: Barack Obama hits out at Trump administration response to pandemic

Barack Obama has criticised the US response to the coronavirus pandemic , without naming Donald Trump or any other officials .
In a livestreamed event , the former president told college graduates that the COVID-19 outbreak showed many officials `` are n't even pretending to be in charge '' .
His comments were made during Show Me Your Walk , HBCU Edition , a two-hour event for historically black colleges and universities which was broadcast on social media .
`` More than anything , this pandemic has fully , finally torn back the curtain on the idea that so many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they 're doing , '' he said .
`` A lot them are n't even pretending to be in charge , '' he added .
The US has become the global epicentre of the pandemic , with more than 1.49 million confirmed cases and more than 89,000 deaths .
The 44th president congratulated the graduates and commiserated with them over the difficult world they faced .
: : Listen to Divided States on Apple podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , and Spreaker He noted the shooting of Ahmaud Arbery , a 25-year-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jogging through a residential street in Georgia .
A former police officer and his adult son have been charged with murder following the killing .
`` Let 's be honest , '' said Mr Obama .
`` A disease like this just spotlights the underlying inequalities and extra burdens that black communities have historically had to deal with in this country .
`` We see it in the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on our communities , just as we see it when a black man goes for a jog and some folks feel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shoot him if he does n't submit to their questioning . ''
Mr Obama is also going to deliver a commencement address for the high school Class of 2020 , in an hour-long televised event which will also feature LeBron James and Malala Yousafzai .

Barack Obama has criticised the US response to the coronavirus pandemic, without naming Donald Trump or any other officials.
In a livestreamed event, the former president told college graduates that the COVID-19 outbreak showed many officials "aren't even pretending to be in charge".
His comments were made during Show Me Your Walk, HBCU Edition, a two-hour event for historically black colleges and universities which was broadcast on social media.
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"More than anything, this pandemic has fully, finally torn back the curtain on the idea that so many of the folks in charge know what they're doing," he said.
"A lot them aren't even pretending to be in charge," he added.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:40 Trump attacks COVID expert
The US has become the global epicentre of the pandemic, with more than 1.49 million confirmed cases and more than 89,000 deaths.
The 44th president congratulated the graduates and commiserated with them over the difficult world they faced.
Podcast Podcast , which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Podcast cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the This content is provided by, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enablecookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Podcast cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow Podcast cookies for this session only. Enable Cookies Allow Cookies Once
:: Listen to Divided States on Apple podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Spreaker
He noted the shooting of Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old black man, who was killed while jogging through a residential street in Georgia.
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A former police officer and his adult son have been charged with murder following the killing.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 44:04 Coronavirus: America's Reckoning
"Let's be honest," said Mr Obama. "A disease like this just spotlights the underlying inequalities and extra burdens that black communities have historically had to deal with in this country.
"We see it in the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on our communities, just as we see it when a black man goes for a jog and some folks feel like they can stop and question and shoot him if he doesn't submit to their questioning."
Mr Obama is also going to deliver a commencement address for the high school Class of 2020, in an hour-long televised event which will also feature LeBron James and Malala Yousafzai.


news--2020-05-16--Coronavirus: JCPenney forced to file for bankruptcy protection

The financial pressure of the coronavirus pandemic has forced US department store chain JCPenney to file for bankruptcy protection .
Stores will be closed down following the Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing , which allows companies to reorganise in order to meet debts .
The 118-year-old company said that some of its more than 800 stores will be closed in phases throughout the Chapter 11 process .
It is the largest of four household-name retail companies to file for bankruptcy reorganisation since the pandemic landed in the US .
Luxury retailer Neiman Marcus , alongside J.Crew and Stage Stores , have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` The coronavirus pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for our families , our loved ones , our communities , and our country , '' said Penney 's chief executive Jill Soltau .
`` As a result , the American retail industry has experienced a profoundly different new reality , '' she explained .
However market analysts are n't convinced that the company will survive even if it reduces it debt burden by closing stores .
: : Listen to Divided States on Apple podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , and Spreaker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ base has been the hardest hit by the pandemic layoffs in the US .
`` This is a long , sad story , '' said Ken Perkins , president of research firm Retail Metrics .
`` Penney offers no reason to shop there compared to its competitors , whether it 's Macy 's or TJ Maxx or Walmart .
How are they going to survive ? ''
he asked .
According to US Department of Labor figures , more than 36 million Americans have filed for unemployment since the beginning of March .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 14.7 % according to official figures , the worst it has been since the Great Depression in the 1930s .

The financial pressure of the coronavirus pandemic has forced US department store chain JCPenney to file for bankruptcy protection.
Stores will be closed down following the Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, which allows companies to reorganise in order to meet debts.
The 118-year-old company said that some of its more than 800 stores will be closed in phases throughout the Chapter 11 process.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 44:04 Coronavirus: America's Reckoning
It is the largest of four household-name retail companies to file for bankruptcy reorganisation since the pandemic landed in the US.
Luxury retailer Neiman Marcus, alongside J.Crew and Stage Stores, have also filed for bankruptcy during the outbreak.
"The coronavirus pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for our families, our loved ones, our communities, and our country," said Penney's chief executive Jill Soltau.
"As a result, the American retail industry has experienced a profoundly different new reality," she explained.
However market analysts aren't convinced that the company will survive even if it reduces it debt burden by closing stores.
Podcast Podcast , which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Podcast cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the This content is provided by, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enablecookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Podcast cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow Podcast cookies for this session only. Enable Cookies Allow Cookies Once
:: Listen to Divided States on Apple podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Spreaker
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They note that its middle-to-low income customer base has been the hardest hit by the pandemic layoffs in the US.
"This is a long, sad story," said Ken Perkins, president of research firm Retail Metrics.
"Penney offers no reason to shop there compared to its competitors, whether it's Macy's or TJ Maxx or Walmart. How are they going to survive?" he asked.
According to US Department of Labor figures, more than 36 million Americans have filed for unemployment since the beginning of March.
Unemployment in the country now stands at more than 14.7% according to official figures, the worst it has been since the Great Depression in the 1930s.


news--2020-05-16--Donald Trump fires state department watchdog 'investigating Mike Pompeo'

Donald Trump has fired a top state department official whose office has been critical of his administration .
In his role as inspector general , Steve Linick served as watchdog for the department - responsible for detecting and looking into cases of fraud , abuse and other mismanagement .
Mr Linick had been appointed in 2013 , during Barack Obama 's second term , and his office has made accusations of political bias in the state department since Mr Trump was inaugurated .
Congress was informed in a letter from the president on Friday that he no longer had full @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be removed from his post within 30 days .
The dismissal has prompted outcry from Democrats , with one senior congressman suggesting that the sacking was retaliation for an apparent investigation Mr Linick had opened into US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo .
New York 's Elliot Engel , who chairs the House foreign affairs committee , said : `` This firing is the outrageous act of a president trying to protect one of his most loyal supporters , the secretary of state , from accountability .
`` I have learned that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opened an investigation into Secretary Pompeo .
`` Mr Linick 's firing amid such a probe strongly suggests that this is an unlawful act of retaliation . ''
The congressman offered no details of the alleged investigation , but Mr Linick 's office had issued several reports criticising the state department 's personnel matters .
Among them were accusations that some of Mr Trump 's appointees had retaliated against career officials for not being supportive enough of the president 's policies .
The sacking has also been criticised by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` punished for honourably performing his duty to protect the constitution and our national security '' .
According to the Associated Press , former career foreign service officer Stephen Akard will replace Mr Linick .
The new appointment reportedly has close ties to Vice President Mike Pence .
The sacking of Mr Linick is the latest in an increasingly long line of inspector generals losing their jobs , with Mr Trump having now fired three this year .
Michael Atkinson , the inspector general for the intelligence community , was sacked in April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that led to the president being impeached .
Mr Trump has since fired the defence department 's acting inspector general Glenn Fine , which also saw him removed from his post as chairman of the pandemic response accountability committee .
That committee was set up to ensure government funding to respond to the coronavirus was not misspent .

Donald Trump has fired a top state department official whose office has been critical of his administration.
In his role as inspector general, Steve Linick served as watchdog for the department - responsible for detecting and looking into cases of fraud, abuse and other mismanagement.
Mr Linick had been appointed in 2013, during Barack Obama's second term, and his office has made accusations of political bias in the state department since Mr Trump was inaugurated.
Image: Steve Linick was the state department's inspector general
Congress was informed in a letter from the president on Friday that he no longer had full confidence in Mr Linick and that he would be removed from his post within 30 days.
The dismissal has prompted outcry from Democrats, with one senior congressman suggesting that the sacking was retaliation for an apparent investigation Mr Linick had opened into US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
New York's Elliot Engel, who chairs the House foreign affairs committee, said: "This firing is the outrageous act of a president trying to protect one of his most loyal supporters, the secretary of state, from accountability.
"I have learned that the office of the inspector general had opened an investigation into Secretary Pompeo.
"Mr Linick's firing amid such a probe strongly suggests that this is an unlawful act of retaliation."
The congressman offered no details of the alleged investigation, but Mr Linick's office had issued several reports criticising the state department's personnel matters.
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Among them were accusations that some of Mr Trump's appointees had retaliated against career officials for not being supportive enough of the president's policies.
Image: Mr Linick is said to have opened an investigation into US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo
The sacking has also been criticised by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who said Mr Linick had been "punished for honourably performing his duty to protect the constitution and our national security".
According to the Associated Press, former career foreign service officer Stephen Akard will replace Mr Linick.
The new appointment reportedly has close ties to Vice President Mike Pence.
The sacking of Mr Linick is the latest in an increasingly long line of inspector generals losing their jobs, with Mr Trump having now fired three this year.
Michael Atkinson, the inspector general for the intelligence community, was sacked in April for his role in the whistleblower complaint that led to the president being impeached.
Mr Trump has since fired the defence department's acting inspector general Glenn Fine, which also saw him removed from his post as chairman of the pandemic response accountability committee.
That committee was set up to ensure government funding to respond to the coronavirus was not misspent.