news--2020-04-28--Coronavirus: Up to 15 million more Britons can get tested for COVID-19 from today

Over-65s and those who need to leave home to do their job can get tested for coronavirus from today , as millions more people become eligible .
The programme is being ramped up as the government tries to meet a target of 100,000 COVID-19 tests per day by Friday .
Anyone who has symptoms and is over 65 - or has to leave home for work - is eligible .
People in their household with symptoms can also get a test .
Later today , the government will publish the combined number of coronavirus deaths in hospitals , care homes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There is currently an 11-day lag for data on the number of people who have died in care or in their own homes after contracting coronavirus , meaning daily totals released so far have only focused on hospitals .
As a result , pressure has grown over criticism that COVID-19 's impact on care homes is not being properly represented .
Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced the government 's expanded testing programme at the Downing Street briefing on Tuesday .
He said : `` From construction workers to emergency plumbers , from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the expansion of access to testing will protect the most vulnerable and help keep people safe . ''
Mr Hancock also announced the expansion of testing to all those working on the front line in the NHS and social care , as well as hospital patients and care home residents , irrespective of whether they have symptoms .
Previously , aside from some pilot schemes , only those with COVID-19 symptoms in these groups were being tested .
A government source said an additional 15 million Britons could now be eligible for coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the total to 25 million .
Professor John Newton , the co-ordinator of the national testing programme , described how `` intensive studies '' of infections in care homes showed `` the presence of symptoms was not really a good marker ... both among residents and staff , for the presence of the virus '' .
He said : `` There were significant numbers who were asymptomatic who had the virus and so we have massively increased the amount of testing available . ''
Prof Newton added 25,000 residents in care homes had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secretary said the government was `` on track '' to meet its target of 100,000 tests per day by the end of this month , despite just 43,453 tests being conducted on Monday .
Mr Hancock said there was now capacity for 73,400 COVID-19 tests on a daily basis .
Outlining how the government hopes to fulfil this capacity , the health secretary said a further 48 drive-in testing centres would open this week , adding to the 41 centres currently in place .
The number of home testing kits - which can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will also be expanded from 5,000 per day to 25,000 per day by the end of the week .
And there are plans for the army to run 70 mobile testing centres by the end of the week , up from the 17 currently travelling around the country .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker On Tuesday , Mr Hancock said 21,678 people have died in hospital with coronavirus - an increase of 586 since Monday 's figures were released .
Earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were 4,343 coronavirus-related deaths reported by care home providers in England in the fortnight to 24 April .
Labour 's shadow minister for social care , Liz Kendall , welcomed the government 's action on testing and intent to publish more comprehensive death figures .
She said : `` What 's measured is what counts , and for families and care workers struggling to cope with this awful virus , every death counts . ''
But Ms Kendall added : `` More needs to be done to ensure all care staff get the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ensure social care is properly funded to deal with the extra costs of the pandemic .
`` The government must also introduce a strategy for intermediate care , to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by people who are discharged from hospital and help struggling care homes . ''

Over-65s and those who need to leave home to do their job can get tested for coronavirus from today, as millions more people become eligible.
The programme is being ramped up as the government tries to meet a target of 100,000 COVID-19 tests per day by Friday.
Anyone who has symptoms and is over 65 - or has to leave home for work - is eligible. People in their household with symptoms can also get a test.
Image: Construction workers are among those now eligible for tests
Later today, the government will publish the combined number of coronavirus deaths in hospitals, care homes and the community for the first time.
There is currently an 11-day lag for data on the number of people who have died in care or in their own homes after contracting coronavirus, meaning daily totals released so far have only focused on hospitals.
As a result, pressure has grown over criticism that COVID-19's impact on care homes is not being properly represented.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced the government's expanded testing programme at the Downing Street briefing on Tuesday.
He said: "From construction workers to emergency plumbers, from research scientists to those in manufacturing, the expansion of access to testing will protect the most vulnerable and help keep people safe."
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:17 Hancock announces expansion of COVID-19 testing
Mr Hancock also announced the expansion of testing to all those working on the front line in the NHS and social care, as well as hospital patients and care home residents, irrespective of whether they have symptoms.
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Previously, aside from some pilot schemes, only those with COVID-19 symptoms in these groups were being tested.
A government source said an additional 15 million Britons could now be eligible for coronavirus tests under the expanded programme, bringing the total to 25 million.
Professor John Newton, the co-ordinator of the national testing programme, described how "intensive studies" of infections in care homes showed "the presence of symptoms was not really a good marker... both among residents and staff, for the presence of the virus".
He said: "There were significant numbers who were asymptomatic who had the virus and so we have massively increased the amount of testing available."
Prof Newton added 25,000 residents in care homes had been tested so far.
The health secretary said the government was "on track" to meet its target of 100,000 tests per day by the end of this month, despite just 43,453 tests being conducted on Monday.
Mr Hancock said there was now capacity for 73,400 COVID-19 tests on a daily basis.
Outlining how the government hopes to fulfil this capacity, the health secretary said a further 48 drive-in testing centres would open this week, adding to the 41 centres currently in place.
The number of home testing kits - which can be booked via the gov.uk website - will also be expanded from 5,000 per day to 25,000 per day by the end of the week.
And there are plans for the army to run 70 mobile testing centres by the end of the week, up from the 17 currently travelling around the country.
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On Tuesday, Mr Hancock said 21,678 people have died in hospital with coronavirus - an increase of 586 since Monday's figures were released.
Earlier, the Care Quality Commission revealed there were 4,343 coronavirus-related deaths reported by care home providers in England in the fortnight to 24 April.
Labour's shadow minister for social care, Liz Kendall, welcomed the government's action on testing and intent to publish more comprehensive death figures.
She said: "What's measured is what counts, and for families and care workers struggling to cope with this awful virus, every death counts."
But Ms Kendall added: "More needs to be done to ensure all care staff get the personal protective equipment they need and to ensure social care is properly funded to deal with the extra costs of the pandemic.
"The government must also introduce a strategy for intermediate care, to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by people who are discharged from hospital and help struggling care homes."


news--2020-04-29--Coronavirus: Barclays sets aside £2bn to cover loans going bad as it counts cost of crisis

Barclays has set aside £2.1bn to cover loans going bad as it counts the cost of the coronavirus crisis on the economy .
The provision for credit impairment resulted in a 38 % fall in pre-tax profits for the first quarter to £913m - lower than analysts had expected - and is the latest snapshot of how COVID-19 is taking a toll on major lenders .
Chief executive Jes Staley also warned of a `` challenging '' rest of the year impacted by the fallout from the crisis .
Barclays told investors it expects UK GDP to shrink by 8 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take impairments totalling £4.5bn for the year as a whole .
Banks are having to put aside billions to account for the likelihood that loans to businesses and households will default .
Meanwhile big interest rate cuts implemented by central banks to try to mitigate the impact of coronavirus make it harder for them to make profits .
Mr Staley said : `` Given the uncertainty around the developing economic downturn and low interest rate environment , 2020 is expected to be challenging . ''
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Spreaker He also signalled that the crisis could mean a permanent change in the way the bank works after the widespread move to home working during the lockdown .
`` There will be a long-term adjustment in how we think about our location strategy , '' Mr Staley told reporters .
`` The notion of putting 7,000 people in a building may be a thing of the past . ''
The bank 's £2.1bn credit impairment provision for the first quarter compared to a £448m charge for the same period last year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impact of a revised macroeconomic scenario as well as £300m to reflect a slump in oil prices with the remainder covering previously existing uncertainty about the economic outlook as well as loans that had already turned sour during the first quarter .
Barclays revealed that it has lent £737m to companies as part of the government-backed coronavirus business interruption loan scheme .
It has also approved more than 238,000 mortgage and loan payment holidays , and six million customers are not paying charges on personal or business overdrafts .
Shares rose more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lender 's investment banking arm .
Another bank , Standard Chartered - based in London but focused on Asia , Africa and the Middle East - sounded a slightly more upbeat note about the global economy .
`` We expect a gradual recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic ... before the global economy moves out of recession in the latter part of 2020 , most likely led and driven by markets in our footprint , '' the lender said .
However , it also took a hit from expected loan losses , helping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down to $ 1.22bn ( £1.11bn ) - 12 % lower than in the same period a year ago .
Elsewhere , Deutsche Bank reported a loss of €43m ( £37m ) for the quarter , down from a €97m ( £83m ) profit in the same period a year ago - blamed both on costly restructuring and the impact of the coronavirus crisis on revenues .
The results come a day after HSBC put aside $ 2.4bn ( £2.2bn ) to cover the impact of the pandemic and warned that the crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 11bn ( £8.7bn ) for the year as a whole .

Barclays has set aside £2.1bn to cover loans going bad as it counts the cost of the coronavirus crisis on the economy.
The provision for credit impairment resulted in a 38% fall in pre-tax profits for the first quarter to £913m - lower than analysts had expected - and is the latest snapshot of how COVID-19 is taking a toll on major lenders.
Chief executive Jes Staley also warned of a "challenging" rest of the year impacted by the fallout from the crisis.
Barclays told investors it expects UK GDP to shrink by 8% this year and said it could take impairments totalling £4.5bn for the year as a whole.
Banks are having to put aside billions to account for the likelihood that loans to businesses and households will default.
Meanwhile big interest rate cuts implemented by central banks to try to mitigate the impact of coronavirus make it harder for them to make profits.
Mr Staley said: "Given the uncertainty around the developing economic downturn and low interest rate environment, 2020 is expected to be challenging."
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:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
He also signalled that the crisis could mean a permanent change in the way the bank works after the widespread move to home working during the lockdown.
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"There will be a long-term adjustment in how we think about our location strategy," Mr Staley told reporters.
"The notion of putting 7,000 people in a building may be a thing of the past."
The bank's £2.1bn credit impairment provision for the first quarter compared to a £448m charge for the same period last year.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 3:02 How can the economy get back to work?
Its latest figure included the £1.2bn impact of a revised macroeconomic scenario as well as £300m to reflect a slump in oil prices with the remainder covering previously existing uncertainty about the economic outlook as well as loans that had already turned sour during the first quarter.
Barclays revealed that it has lent £737m to companies as part of the government-backed coronavirus business interruption loan scheme.
It has also approved more than 238,000 mortgage and loan payment holidays, and six million customers are not paying charges on personal or business overdrafts.
Shares rose more than 14% after a strong performance from the lender's investment banking arm.
Another bank, Standard Chartered - based in London but focused on Asia, Africa and the Middle East - sounded a slightly more upbeat note about the global economy.
"We expect a gradual recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic... before the global economy moves out of recession in the latter part of 2020, most likely led and driven by markets in our footprint," the lender said.
However, it also took a hit from expected loan losses, helping to push profits for the first quarter down to $1.22bn (£1.11bn) - 12% lower than in the same period a year ago.
Elsewhere, Deutsche Bank reported a loss of €43m (£37m) for the quarter, down from a €97m (£83m) profit in the same period a year ago - blamed both on costly restructuring and the impact of the coronavirus crisis on revenues.
The results come a day after HSBC put aside $2.4bn (£2.2bn) to cover the impact of the pandemic and warned that the crisis could cost it as much as $11bn (£8.7bn) for the year as a whole.


news--2020-04-29--Coronavirus: UK now has second highest number of COVID-19 deaths in Europe

More than 26,000 people have died with coronavirus in the UK , making it the second worst-hit country in Europe , new figures have shown .
A total of 26,097 people have died after contracting COVID-19 , according to government data which included deaths in care homes and the wider community for the first time .
The total is up from 21,678 coronavirus deaths in UK hospitals announced on Tuesday - but Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab insisted there had not been a `` sudden surge '' .
The latest deaths included a 14-year-old in England who had no known underlying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PHE ) said the new method of reporting deaths showed an additional 3,811 fatalities since the start of the coronavirus outbreak , about 70 % of which were `` outside hospital settings '' .
There were 765 deaths reported in the 24 hours to 5pm on Tuesday .
The total number of UK coronavirus deaths was recorded between 2 March and 28 April and was around 17 % higher than previous data showed , according to PHE .
Its medical director Professor Yvonne Doyle said she could not yet say whether deaths in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the daily Downing Street briefing : `` We should know that soon because the hospital curve has declined . ''
Prof Doyle said the figure for deaths in care homes may be revised up further .
She added : `` In due course those deaths sadly may occur on death certificates , so we may expect more than we are seeing at the moment . ''
The UK 's new coronavirus death total means it is the third worst-hit country in the world , behind Italy with 26,872 deaths and the US with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Johns Hopkins University , which is tracking the outbreak .
Nearly a third of all care homes in England have reported suspected or confirmed COVID-19 outbreaks .
Some 4,516 homes have reported outbreaks since 17 March up until Monday this week - around 29 % of the total care homes .
In every region in England more than a fifth of care homes had reported outbreaks .
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said on Tuesday he wanted to `` bring as much transparency as possible '' to the coronavirus death figures by including those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr Raab - standing in for Boris Johnson following the birth of the prime minister 's son - said there was a `` joint horror '' across the House of Commons at the number of people killed in the outbreak .
Chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance had suggested in March that keeping the UK 's death total below 20,000 would be a good outcome .
At Prime Minister 's Questions , Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said : `` We 're clearly way above that number and we 're only part way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on track to have one of the worst death rates in Europe . ''
He took issue with Mr Johnson 's comments about the `` apparent success '' of the UK 's strategy , adding : `` Far from success these latest figures are truly dreadful . ''
Meanwhile , Mr Raab said more than 52,000 coronavirus tests took place across the UK on Tuesday - just two days before the date the government set for reaching 100,000 a day .

More than 26,000 people have died with coronavirus in the UK, making it the second worst-hit country in Europe, new figures have shown.
A total of 26,097 people have died after contracting COVID-19, according to government data which included deaths in care homes and the wider community for the first time.
The total is up from 21,678 coronavirus deaths in UK hospitals announced on Tuesday - but Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab insisted there had not been a "sudden surge".
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:37 There have been 26,097 deaths from coronavirus in the UK
The latest deaths included a 14-year-old in England who had no known underlying health condition.
Public Health England (PHE) said the new method of reporting deaths showed an additional 3,811 fatalities since the start of the coronavirus outbreak, about 70% of which were "outside hospital settings".
There were 765 deaths reported in the 24 hours to 5pm on Tuesday.
The total number of UK coronavirus deaths was recorded between 2 March and 28 April and was around 17% higher than previous data showed, according to PHE.
Its medical director Professor Yvonne Doyle said she could not yet say whether deaths in care homes were falling.
She told the daily Downing Street briefing: "We should know that soon because the hospital curve has declined."
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Image: Prof Yvonne Doyle said she could not yet say whether deaths in care homes were falling.
Prof Doyle said the figure for deaths in care homes may be revised up further.
She added: "In due course those deaths sadly may occur on death certificates, so we may expect more than we are seeing at the moment."
The UK's new coronavirus death total means it is the third worst-hit country in the world, behind Italy with 26,872 deaths and the US with more than 59,000 fatalities, according to Johns Hopkins University, which is tracking the outbreak.
Nearly a third of all care homes in England have reported suspected or confirmed COVID-19 outbreaks.
Some 4,516 homes have reported outbreaks since 17 March up until Monday this week - around 29% of the total care homes.
In every region in England more than a fifth of care homes had reported outbreaks.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:31 Care worker: 'We lose someone every shift'
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said on Tuesday he wanted to "bring as much transparency as possible" to the coronavirus death figures by including those in care homes and the community.
Mr Raab - standing in for Boris Johnson following the birth of the prime minister's son - said there was a "joint horror" across the House of Commons at the number of people killed in the outbreak.
Chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance had suggested in March that keeping the UK's death total below 20,000 would be a good outcome.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:23 Raab and Starmer spar politely over exit strategy
At Prime Minister's Questions, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: "We're clearly way above that number and we're only part way through this crisis and we're possibly on track to have one of the worst death rates in Europe."
He took issue with Mr Johnson's comments about the "apparent success" of the UK's strategy, adding: "Far from success these latest figures are truly dreadful."
Meanwhile, Mr Raab said more than 52,000 coronavirus tests took place across the UK on Tuesday - just two days before the date the government set for reaching 100,000 a day.


news--2020-04-29--British jets intercept Russian aircraft - and RAF chief mocks Putin's planes as 'relics of the Cold

British jets intercept Russian aircraft - and RAF chief mocks Putin's planes as 'relics of the Cold War'

The head of the Royal Air Force dismissed two Russian patrol aircraft as `` relics of the Cold War '' in a rare public rebuke after British jets were forced to scramble to intercept them .
The Typhoon fighters launched from an airbase in Lossiemouth , Moray , as the Russian planes flew close to Norway , the Ministry of Defence said .
The Quick Reaction Alert ( QRA ) jets were supported by a refuelling tanker aircraft , which flew from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire .
Working with the Norwegian air force , the jets tracked the Tu-142 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ international airspace over the Norwegian Sea and the North Sea .
The Russian activity at a time of crisis because of the coronavirus pandemic was condemned by Air Chief Marshal Mike Wigston , Chief of the Air Staff .
`` These Russian bombers are relics of the Cold War , do not comply with international air traffic regulations and are a hazard to civilian and military aircraft , '' he said .
`` Despite the global pandemic , the Royal Air Force and our allies continue to ensure Russian military flights pose no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' The MoD also released a comment from one of the fast jet pilots .
`` After scrambling to intercept the two Russian aircraft , we were in close contact with battlespace managers from the RAF and Norway , who directed us towards the aircraft and relayed orders throughout , ensuring we could confirm where they were and what they were doing at all times , '' said the pilot , whose name has not been released .
Russian aircraft buzz UK airspace every few weeks , prompting the RAF to scramble , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Queen Elizabeth - one of the Royal Navy 's two largest warships - has set sail on a training exercise .
The aircraft carrier 's departure had been delayed by a couple of days to allow all of the crew to be tested for COVID-19 .
The military is taking extra care with the deployment after a US aircraft carrier and a French aircraft carrier were overwhelmed by outbreaks of the disease on board .
Armed forces minister James Heappey tweeted : `` HMS Queen Elizabeth sails this evening not in response to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threat , but because we need our armed forces trained and ready for the uncertain world that waits beyond . ''
The aircraft carrier is working up to become fully operational by the end of the year .

The head of the Royal Air Force dismissed two Russian patrol aircraft as "relics of the Cold War" in a rare public rebuke after British jets were forced to scramble to intercept them.
The Typhoon fighters launched from an airbase in Lossiemouth, Moray, as the Russian planes flew close to Norway, the Ministry of Defence said.
The Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) jets were supported by a refuelling tanker aircraft, which flew from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.
Working with the Norwegian air force, the jets tracked the Tu-142 'BEAR-F' aircraft, which stayed in international airspace over the Norwegian Sea and the North Sea.
The Russian activity at a time of crisis because of the coronavirus pandemic was condemned by Air Chief Marshal Mike Wigston, Chief of the Air Staff.
Image: A Russian Tupolev TU-142. File pic
"These Russian bombers are relics of the Cold War, do not comply with international air traffic regulations and are a hazard to civilian and military aircraft," he said.
"Despite the global pandemic, the Royal Air Force and our allies continue to ensure Russian military flights pose no threat to NATO and UK airspace."
The MoD also released a comment from one of the fast jet pilots.
"After scrambling to intercept the two Russian aircraft, we were in close contact with battlespace managers from the RAF and Norway, who directed us towards the aircraft and relayed orders throughout, ensuring we could confirm where they were and what they were doing at all times," said the pilot, whose name has not been released.
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Russian aircraft buzz UK airspace every few weeks, prompting the RAF to scramble, intercept and escort.
Image: HMS Queen Elizabeth sets sail from Portsmouth harbour
Separately, HMS Queen Elizabeth - one of the Royal Navy's two largest warships - has set sail on a training exercise.
The aircraft carrier's departure had been delayed by a couple of days to allow all of the crew to be tested for COVID-19.
The military is taking extra care with the deployment after a US aircraft carrier and a French aircraft carrier were overwhelmed by outbreaks of the disease on board.
Armed forces minister James Heappey tweeted: "HMS Queen Elizabeth sails this evening not in response to COVID-19, nor to counter any immediate threat, but because we need our armed forces trained and ready for the uncertain world that waits beyond."
The aircraft carrier is working up to become fully operational by the end of the year.


news--2020-06-22--George Floyd death: House of Lords boss Edward Ollard forced to apologise for 'misjudged' comments

A House of Lords boss has been forced to apologise for comments about the killing of George Floyd , admitting they were a `` misjudgement '' .
Edward Ollard , clerk of the parliaments , said his initial response to the unarmed black man being choked to death , and subsequent protests in the US and UK , `` did not reflect the seriousness of the events '' .
Black Lives Matter campaigners have called for more action by governments and organisations to tackle racial inequality in recent weeks .
Following George Floyd 's death in Minneapolis on 25 May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ollard addressed the issue in an email to staff on 6 June .
A copy seen by Sky News showed it came as part of a longer note on efforts to move some Lords proceedings online during the coronavirus pandemic .
At the end , Mr Ollard wrote : `` Finally , I can not finish this message without acknowledging the unease and upset amongst colleagues arising from events surrounding the death of George Floyd .
`` I know that this event has deeply troubled , and had very real impact , on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ committed to ensuring that the administration is an inclusive and diverse place where all are respected and valued . ''
But Mr Ollard later admitted that `` some colleagues felt that I was seeking to hide or downplay such a significant and serious issue and its impact , particularly on black colleagues '' .
In a follow-up email sent to staff , also seen by Sky News , he said : `` That was not the case , but I have reflected carefully on these comments and concluded that the communication was misjudged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last thing I wanted to do was amplify any pain and hurt I know black , and other , colleagues are feeling .
I am truly sorry that I did so ... '' I know that there are inequalities within the administration that we must address .
`` I recognise that my experiences are very different from many of yours : as a result , my view will be partial and my understanding incomplete .
I , and others , must educate ourselves .
`` We must listen to you and hear your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issues they raise .
And when we have listened , we need to learn and act . ''
Mr Ollard advertised an all-staff call for 22 June - where one person who was on the line and wanted to remain anonymous said he was accused by workers of being `` out of touch '' and asked if he was the right person for the job .
A House of Lords spokesperson confirmed to Sky News that Mr Ollard said sorry for `` including brief comments on the events surrounding the death of George @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proceedings of the house '' .
They added : `` While his initial comments were intended to be supportive , following feedback from staff , Ed recognised that this was a misjudgement as the issue warranted its own separate communication from him and his initial email did not reflect the seriousness of the events , or their impact particularly on black colleagues .
`` In today 's meeting , he also reiterated his commitment to ensuring that the House of Lords is an open , inclusive and respectful place for everyone and to @ @ @ @ @ @ @

A House of Lords boss has been forced to apologise for comments about the killing of George Floyd, admitting they were a "misjudgement".
Edward Ollard, clerk of the parliaments, said his initial response to the unarmed black man being choked to death, and subsequent protests in the US and UK, "did not reflect the seriousness of the events".
Black Lives Matter campaigners have called for more action by governments and organisations to tackle racial inequality in recent weeks.
Following George Floyd's death in Minneapolis on 25 May and ensuing demonstrations in Westminster, Mr Ollard addressed the issue in an email to staff on 6 June.
A copy seen by Sky News showed it came as part of a longer note on efforts to move some Lords proceedings online during the coronavirus pandemic.
Image: George Floyd was choked to death. Pic: Shutterstock
At the end, Mr Ollard wrote: "Finally, I cannot finish this message without acknowledging the unease and upset amongst colleagues arising from events surrounding the death of George Floyd.
"I know that this event has deeply troubled, and had very real impact, on many of you.
"I remain committed to ensuring that the administration is an inclusive and diverse place where all are respected and valued."
But Mr Ollard later admitted that "some colleagues felt that I was seeking to hide or downplay such a significant and serious issue and its impact, particularly on black colleagues".
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Image: Protesters have demonstrated around the world for weeks against racial inequality
In a follow-up email sent to staff, also seen by Sky News, he said: "That was not the case, but I have reflected carefully on these comments and concluded that the communication was misjudged, and I apologise.
"The last thing I wanted to do was amplify any pain and hurt I know black, and other, colleagues are feeling. I am truly sorry that I did so...
"I know that there are inequalities within the administration that we must address.
"I recognise that my experiences are very different from many of yours: as a result, my view will be partial and my understanding incomplete. I, and others, must educate ourselves.
"We must listen to you and hear your reactions to these events and the wider issues they raise. And when we have listened, we need to learn and act."
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 55:57 Documentary: 8 Minutes and 46 Seconds
Mr Ollard advertised an all-staff call for 22 June - where one person who was on the line and wanted to remain anonymous said he was accused by workers of being "out of touch" and asked if he was the right person for the job.
A House of Lords spokesperson confirmed to Sky News that Mr Ollard said sorry for "including brief comments on the events surrounding the death of George Floyd in an all-staff email about hybrid proceedings of the house".
They added: "While his initial comments were intended to be supportive, following feedback from staff, Ed recognised that this was a misjudgement as the issue warranted its own separate communication from him and his initial email did not reflect the seriousness of the events, or their impact particularly on black colleagues.
"In today's meeting, he also reiterated his commitment to ensuring that the House of Lords is an open, inclusive and respectful place for everyone and to addressing inequalities within the administration."


news--2020-06-22--Apple WWDC: iPhones chases Google Android features with new iOS updates

Apple came out chasing Google in an event on Monday which announced dozens of new features for the iPhone , iPad , Apple Watch and Mac lines .
With attendees forced to tune in remotely for its annual worldwide developers conference due to the COVID-19 pandemic , the company stressed its products ' privacy features and performance .
The company 's chief executive Tim Cook opened WWDC with a keynote address dedicated to those campaigning in the US against racism in all levels of society , expressing his company 's corporate initiatives to address systemic problems especially facing African Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make the world a better place , '' he said .
`` And we 're committed to being a force for change . ''
Among the key claims which the company made on Monday was that its Safari browser was now 50 % faster than Google Chrome , as well as much more privacy conscious .
Safari will also feature an in-browser translate function , similar to Chrome , and a range of measures to tackle web-tracking cookies - which Google is known to use to profile web-users for advertising purposes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ lagged behind Google 's Android with a number of features , but this year 's WWDC aimed to address most of them with iOS 14 .
Widgets , a staple of the Android home screen , and calls as floating notifications instead of events which hijack the full screen of the device have been available on Android devices for years - but will be available on iPhones too from this autumn .
Another new feature , App Clips , was heralded for iOS 14 as small apps which do n't need to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for instance - pay for a coffee or parking without downloading the vendor 's full app , something which was already available on Android phones with Instant Apps .
New app tracking controls will be introduced to the App Store too , similar to the nutrition labels on food , giving a detailed view of what data each app uses to track users .
This is one area in which Apple stands out from Google quite obviously as advertising based on user profiles is n't a key part of the company 's revenue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and camera will also have to give a lot more permission about doing so , and iPhones will light up to show when these hardware features are in use .
A redesign of the iPhone home screen will also make a new feature called the `` App Library '' automatically organise various apps into groups , from social media apps through to streaming ones .
The picture-in-picture feature will also potentially allow iPhone users watching YouTube videos to continue to listen to them without keeping that app open on the screen , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to subscribe to YouTube Premium .
The company also confirmed that it was moving away from using Intel processors on its Mac computers and would begin to ship Macs using Apple silicon before the end of the year .
The company 's shares were trading up 2.4 % following the presentation .

Apple came out chasing Google in an event on Monday which announced dozens of new features for the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Mac lines.
With attendees forced to tune in remotely for its annual worldwide developers conference due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the company stressed its products' privacy features and performance.
The company's chief executive Tim Cook opened WWDC with a keynote address dedicated to those campaigning in the US against racism in all levels of society, expressing his company's corporate initiatives to address systemic problems especially facing African Americans.
"Our mission has always been to make the world a better place," he said. "And we're committed to being a force for change."
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:04 Tim Cook addresses the issue of racism
Among the key claims which the company made on Monday was that its Safari browser was now 50% faster than Google Chrome, as well as much more privacy conscious.
Safari will also feature an in-browser translate function, similar to Chrome, and a range of measures to tackle web-tracking cookies - which Google is known to use to profile web-users for advertising purposes.
Apple's mobile operating system iOS had lagged behind Google's Android with a number of features, but this year's WWDC aimed to address most of them with iOS 14.
Image: Widgets are another Android feature coming to iOS
Widgets, a staple of the Android home screen, and calls as floating notifications instead of events which hijack the full screen of the device have been available on Android devices for years - but will be available on iPhones too from this autumn.
Another new feature, App Clips, was heralded for iOS 14 as small apps which don't need to be downloaded but can enable people to - for instance - pay for a coffee or parking without downloading the vendor's full app, something which was already available on Android phones with Instant Apps.
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New app tracking controls will be introduced to the App Store too, similar to the nutrition labels on food, giving a detailed view of what data each app uses to track users.
This is one area in which Apple stands out from Google quite obviously as advertising based on user profiles isn't a key part of the company's revenue streams.
Image: App Clips will allow people to use an app without downloading it
Apps which use the microphone and camera will also have to give a lot more permission about doing so, and iPhones will light up to show when these hardware features are in use.
A redesign of the iPhone home screen will also make a new feature called the "App Library" automatically organise various apps into groups, from social media apps through to streaming ones.
The picture-in-picture feature will also potentially allow iPhone users watching YouTube videos to continue to listen to them without keeping that app open on the screen, a feature which Google has reserved for users to subscribe to YouTube Premium.
The company also confirmed that it was moving away from using Intel processors on its Mac computers and would begin to ship Macs using Apple silicon before the end of the year.
The company's shares were trading up 2.4% following the presentation.


news--2020-06-16--Coronavirus: Spuds off the menu in Germany after 'catastrophic' fall in sales

Germany has experienced a sharp fall in demand for potatoes and potato products during the coronavirus crisis .
Germany is typically a huge consumer of the humble spud and is the biggest producer of them in Europe .
Currywurst with a serving of chips is especially popular with tourists wanting a taste of fast-food German cuisine .
However , there has been a `` catastrophic reduction in sales '' of frozen , chilled and dry potato products since the COVID-19 outbreak , the German Association of the Fruit , Vegetable and Potato Processing Industry ( BOGK ) said .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potatoes as animal feed or for making biogas - a type of biofuel that is naturally produced from the decomposition of organic waste - instead .
BOGK chief executive Horst-Peter Karos said : `` Several hundred thousand tonnes of processing potatoes could not be used .
`` Valuable food must be used for animal feed , biogas production or disposed of in other ways '' , he added , which has caused the industry millions of euros in losses .
Mr Karos said the potato-processing industry needed government help under its economic recovery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , large numbers of restaurant bankruptcies are expected as demand from large events and exports is not expected to recover quickly .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker In a bid to revive the economy and travel safely , the German government appealed to the public to download a new app to help break the chain of coronavirus infections on Tuesday .
The new Covid-Warn-App uses Bluetooth short-range radio to measure close contacts between people and issues a warning if one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Germany has experienced a sharp fall in demand for potatoes and potato products during the coronavirus crisis.
Germany is typically a huge consumer of the humble spud and is the biggest producer of them in Europe.
Currywurst with a serving of chips is especially popular with tourists wanting a taste of fast-food German cuisine.
However, there has been a "catastrophic reduction in sales" of frozen, chilled and dry potato products since the COVID-19 outbreak, the German Association of the Fruit, Vegetable and Potato Processing Industry (BOGK) said.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:37 Germans arrive in Spain as part of a trial scheme
The country is now using the surplus of potatoes as animal feed or for making biogas - a type of biofuel that is naturally produced from the decomposition of organic waste - instead.
BOGK chief executive Horst-Peter Karos said: "Several hundred thousand tonnes of processing potatoes could not be used.
"Valuable food must be used for animal feed, biogas production or disposed of in other ways", he added, which has caused the industry millions of euros in losses.
Mr Karos said the potato-processing industry needed government help under its economic recovery programme.
While German restaurants have reopened, large numbers of restaurant bankruptcies are expected as demand from large events and exports is not expected to recover quickly.
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:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
In a bid to revive the economy and travel safely, the German government appealed to the public to download a new app to help break the chain of coronavirus infections on Tuesday.
The new Covid-Warn-App uses Bluetooth short-range radio to measure close contacts between people and issues a warning if one of them later tests positive for COVID-19.


news--2020-06-22--Coronavirus: Bank of England rescued government, reveals governor

The government would have struggled to fund itself if the Bank of England had not intervened during the market `` meltdown '' of COVID-19 , the Bank 's governor has told Sky News .
In an exclusive interview , Andrew Bailey said that in the early stages of the virus , Britain came within a whisker of not being able to sell its debt - something many would characterise as effective insolvency .
Talking to the new Sky News podcast , The World Tomorrow , the governor also warned that many viable British companies will not survive the COVID-19 recession @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economy will be left permanently scarred by the crisis .
Mr Bailey , who started as governor as the crisis began , talked extensively about the early days of the economic crisis , when markets were in freefall and for a period it looked as if the government would not be able to sell its debt to private investors , something unheard of .
While there was an uncovered gilt auction in 2009 - in other words , the government was unable to find buyers for all of the debt it was selling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a one-off .
Mr Bailey warned that the dislocation in markets in March was even more serious , prompting the Bank to intervene with £200bn of quantitative easing - the biggest single cash injection in its history .
The governor said : `` We basically had a pretty near meltdown of some of the core financial markets .
`` We had a lot of volatility in core markets : the core exchange rate , core government bond markets .
`` We were seeing things that were pretty unprecedented , certainly in recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disorder . ''
Asked what would have happened had the Bank not intervened , Mr Bailey said : `` I think the prospects would have been very bad .
It would have been very serious .
`` I think we would have a situation where in the worst element , the government would have struggled to fund itself in the short run . ''
That , he added , had never happened in living memory .
The Bank 's decision to create so much money and use it to buy government bonds , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , has prompted some to ask whether it is in effect financing the government 's borrowing .
Mr Bailey rejected the accusations of `` monetary financing '' .
`` At no point have we thought that our job was just to finance whatever debts the government issue , '' he said , pointing out that the objective was to ensure economic stability .
In the podcast , the governor also said that the UK needs to brace itself for the end of the jobs miracle that has seen unemployment drop below 4 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economy would be changed by the crisis .
He said many indebted companies will struggle to finance themselves in the coming months , but that the problems went beyond those with balance sheet problems : `` There will be some activities which people did before COVID which they will just not go back to .
It 's not going to be the same for some period of time .
`` So I think there 'll be some activities and companies who say they had a perfectly viable business model before and were n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changed .
`` There will be companies who wo n't survive - that 's unfortunately the case . ''
The governor said that he expected some `` structural change which will cause jobs to be lost '' .
The remarks are significant because the Bank 's existing scenario for the virus aftermath assumes that after a sharp rise in unemployment during the lockdown , the jobs market gradually returns to normal .
Mr Bailey 's comments imply he is no longer as confident about that full recovery .
He said that the UK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brexit .
`` With COVID we could find that there are activities that worked in the economy prior to COVID , which turn out to be just not viable , or people do n't want to do them in the in the world to come , '' he said .
`` And that could change the parts of the structure of the economy - it could change the way we travel .
`` I think Brexit could lead to some changes in the trade patterns of the country over time .
And again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happen . ''
He added that one paradoxical consequence of this is that productivity , which has been low in recent years , could actually rise meaningfully for the first time in a decade .
`` One of the puzzles of the post-financial crisis period has been very weak productivity growth and very strong employment .
`` We 've been mis-forecasting the labour market for some time because the traditional models just did n't seem to hold .
`` I do wonder whether a shock of this size - and the fact that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ furloughed whose jobs are now suspended - will cause some change in the labour market where some companies will have to cut costs and we 'll get some shake-out , which might ironically cause productivity to increase , at the expense of higher unemployment . ''
The governor signalled that the government may need to consider finding a vehicle to resolve the many bad debts left by companies that fail over the COVID-19 period .
`` If ( a bad bank ) were to be contemplated , it would be as a sort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how do we manage small firms through a problem that they would get as a result of the loans that they 've taken on to deal with the crisis ? ''
Andrew Bailey was talking to former chancellor Sajid Javid and our economics editor Ed Conway for Sky News ' new podcast , The World Tomorrow .

The government would have struggled to fund itself if the Bank of England had not intervened during the market "meltdown" of COVID-19, the Bank's governor has told Sky News.
In an exclusive interview, Andrew Bailey said that in the early stages of the virus, Britain came within a whisker of not being able to sell its debt - something many would characterise as effective insolvency.
Talking to the new Sky News podcast, The World Tomorrow, the governor also warned that many viable British companies will not survive the COVID-19 recession, his clearest signal yet that the economy will be left permanently scarred by the crisis.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:35 Bank governor defends independence
Mr Bailey, who started as governor as the crisis began, talked extensively about the early days of the economic crisis, when markets were in freefall and for a period it looked as if the government would not be able to sell its debt to private investors, something unheard of.
While there was an uncovered gilt auction in 2009 - in other words, the government was unable to find buyers for all of the debt it was selling to investors - it was widely seen as a one-off.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:49 Painful decisions for employers to come
Mr Bailey warned that the dislocation in markets in March was even more serious, prompting the Bank to intervene with £200bn of quantitative easing - the biggest single cash injection in its history.
The governor said: "We basically had a pretty near meltdown of some of the core financial markets.
"We had a lot of volatility in core markets: the core exchange rate, core government bond markets.
"We were seeing things that were pretty unprecedented, certainly in recent times. And we were facing serious disorder."
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Asked what would have happened had the Bank not intervened, Mr Bailey said: "I think the prospects would have been very bad. It would have been very serious.
"I think we would have a situation where in the worst element, the government would have struggled to fund itself in the short run."
That, he added, had never happened in living memory.
The Bank's decision to create so much money and use it to buy government bonds, including an extra £100bn only last week, has prompted some to ask whether it is in effect financing the government's borrowing. Mr Bailey rejected the accusations of "monetary financing".
"At no point have we thought that our job was just to finance whatever debts the government issue," he said, pointing out that the objective was to ensure economic stability.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:52 UK economy shrinks by 20.4% due to virus
In the podcast, the governor also said that the UK needs to brace itself for the end of the jobs miracle that has seen unemployment drop below 4%, and that the structure of the economy would be changed by the crisis.
He said many indebted companies will struggle to finance themselves in the coming months, but that the problems went beyond those with balance sheet problems: "There will be some activities which people did before COVID which they will just not go back to. It's not going to be the same for some period of time.
"So I think there'll be some activities and companies who say they had a perfectly viable business model before and weren't over-indebted, but sadly, habits have changed.
"There will be companies who won't survive - that's unfortunately the case."
The governor said that he expected some "structural change which will cause jobs to be lost".
The remarks are significant because the Bank's existing scenario for the virus aftermath assumes that after a sharp rise in unemployment during the lockdown, the jobs market gradually returns to normal.
Mr Bailey's comments imply he is no longer as confident about that full recovery.
He said that the UK was facing twin challenges from COVID-19 and Brexit.
"With COVID we could find that there are activities that worked in the economy prior to COVID, which turn out to be just not viable, or people don't want to do them in the in the world to come," he said.
"And that could change the parts of the structure of the economy - it could change the way we travel.
"I think Brexit could lead to some changes in the trade patterns of the country over time. And again, some point to structural adjustment could happen."
He added that one paradoxical consequence of this is that productivity, which has been low in recent years, could actually rise meaningfully for the first time in a decade.
"One of the puzzles of the post-financial crisis period has been very weak productivity growth and very strong employment.
"We've been mis-forecasting the labour market for some time because the traditional models just didn't seem to hold.
"I do wonder whether a shock of this size - and the fact that there are so many people who are furloughed whose jobs are now suspended - will cause some change in the labour market where some companies will have to cut costs and we'll get some shake-out, which might ironically cause productivity to increase, at the expense of higher unemployment."
The governor signalled that the government may need to consider finding a vehicle to resolve the many bad debts left by companies that fail over the COVID-19 period.
"If (a bad bank) were to be contemplated, it would be as a sort of an an asset management vehicle: how do we manage small firms through a problem that they would get as a result of the loans that they've taken on to deal with the crisis?"
Andrew Bailey was talking to former chancellor Sajid Javid and our economics editor Ed Conway for Sky News' new podcast, The World Tomorrow.


news--2020-06-22--Eight arrests after 100 drinkers barricade themselves in Liverpool pub

Eight arrests were made after up to 100 drinkers barricaded themselves into a Liverpool pub .
According to the police , officers had beer thrown at them when they arrived to break-up a group at the Britannia Hotel pub in the Vauxhall area of the city , in the early hours of Monday morning .
More than 100 people were reported to be inside when the police were called at 12.30am , playing loud music and causing a disturbance .
One woman and seven men , aged between 21 and 33 , have been arrested for violent disorder and drug-related @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end of March , but Matt Hancock , the health secretary , told Sky 's Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme that new rules such as wearing a face covering or ordering drinks on an app could help them re-open soon .
Detective Inspector Phil Atkinson , of Merseyside Police , said : `` This is appalling behaviour and saddens me to see officers being put at risk from those flouting government guidelines .
`` Restrictions have been eased but by no means is this pandemic over and nor should we treat it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the current climate , throwing things at officers will never be accepted .
Eight people were arrested and prosecution is likely .
`` If government advice had been followed , we would n't have had to attend this gathering and our resources could have been better used elsewhere . ''
: : Listen to Sophy Ridge On Sunday on Apple podcasts , Google podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker He continued : `` I hope those who both hosted and attended this event think twice about their actions and will avoid these gatherings in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the premises licence , officers have been in conversations with the landlord , premises licence holder and council .
`` The premises licence has been surrendered this afternoon .
I hope this also shows others in this industry that we will actively seek closure orders or reviews where necessary and those responsible will face punishment .
`` Anyone with information on those hosting or attending these unlicensed events should contact us at @ MerPolCC or contact @ CrimestoppersUK anonymously . ''

Eight arrests were made after up to 100 drinkers barricaded themselves into a Liverpool pub.
According to the police, officers had beer thrown at them when they arrived to break-up a group at the Britannia Hotel pub in the Vauxhall area of the city, in the early hours of Monday morning.
More than 100 people were reported to be inside when the police were called at 12.30am, playing loud music and causing a disturbance.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:59 Will there be app-based ordering in pubs?
One woman and seven men, aged between 21 and 33, have been arrested for violent disorder and drug-related offences.
Pubs have been closed since the end of March, but Matt Hancock, the health secretary, told Sky's Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme that new rules such as wearing a face covering or ordering drinks on an app could help them re-open soon.
Detective Inspector Phil Atkinson, of Merseyside Police, said: "This is appalling behaviour and saddens me to see officers being put at risk from those flouting government guidelines.
"Restrictions have been eased but by no means is this pandemic over and nor should we treat it like it is.
"Regardless of the current climate, throwing things at officers will never be accepted. Eight people were arrested and prosecution is likely.
"If government advice had been followed, we wouldn't have had to attend this gathering and our resources could have been better used elsewhere."
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:: Listen to Sophy Ridge On Sunday on Apple podcasts, Google podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
He continued: "I hope those who both hosted and attended this event think twice about their actions and will avoid these gatherings in the future.
"In regards to the premises licence, officers have been in conversations with the landlord, premises licence holder and council.
"The premises licence has been surrendered this afternoon. I hope this also shows others in this industry that we will actively seek closure orders or reviews where necessary and those responsible will face punishment.
"Anyone with information on those hosting or attending these unlicensed events should contact us at @MerPolCC or contact @CrimestoppersUK anonymously."


news--2020-06-22--Hackers leak thousands of secret FBI and police documents

Hackers have leaked almost 270 GB of FBI and police documents online , covering more than 20 years ' worth of potentially sensitive law enforcement information and intelligence .
The documents have been collected under the title `` BlueLeaks '' and were uploaded to the Distributed Denial of Secrets ( DDoSecrets ) project , an alternative to WikiLeaks that is popular with so-called hacktivists .
Almost three thousand items contain the phrase `` TOP SECRET '' on DDoSecrets ' searchable online database , but these seem to indicate the clearance level of email contacts in the documents and not the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Twitter , the project said the database `` provides unique insights into law enforcement and a wide array of government activities , including thousands of documents mentioning COVID-19 '' .
The data appears to have been collected following a breach of a web services company in Houston , Texas , which counts a number of law enforcement agencies as customers .
It was released on 19 June , also known as Juneteenth , which is not a federally recognised holiday in the US , but is celebrated to commemorate the Union army proclaiming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 1865 , during the American Civil War .
The day before the release the project 's Twitter account tweeted in support of the # BlackLivesMatter movement .
The DDoSecrets account told Sky News that it understands the data it has published `` was n't stored on a system cleared for classified information '' .
Its release follows weeks of renewed focus on racism in America , especially on law enforcement 's conduct towards black people after the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis on 25 May .
There are more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ database , including a threat assessment regarding a memorial event .
Few , if any , of these appear to directly relate to the death of Mr Floyd , and most cover the protests which took place across the US in response to it .
There have been multiple allegations of police brutality during the course of these protests , with one incident involving an elderly man who was shoved to the ground by police at a protest in New York , suffering a brain injury as a result .
There is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which is incidental and informative rather than based on intelligence .
One unclassified FBI report warns that civil unrest in response to Mr Floyd 's death could threaten law enforcement supporters ' safety .
It cites `` an identified Twitter account dedicated to anarchist ideology '' which posted : `` See a blue lives matter flag , destroy a blue lives matter flag challenge . ''
Another tweet it mentioned said : `` Truck with 'blue lives matter ' crap on it just got all the windows smashed out .
Give em hell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 500 of the hundreds of thousands of documents mention Antifa , a collective of militant anti-fascist protesters which President Donald Trump has moved to designate as a terrorist organisation .
If you would like to contact Alexander Martin regarding a story , you can email him at aj.martin @ sky.uk or message him securely using the private messaging app Signal on +44 ( 0 ) 7970 376 704

Hackers have leaked almost 270 GB of FBI and police documents online, covering more than 20 years' worth of potentially sensitive law enforcement information and intelligence.
The documents have been collected under the title "BlueLeaks" and were uploaded to the Distributed Denial of Secrets (DDoSecrets) project, an alternative to WikiLeaks that is popular with so-called hacktivists.
Almost three thousand items contain the phrase "TOP SECRET" on DDoSecrets' searchable online database, but these seem to indicate the clearance level of email contacts in the documents and not the contents of the documents themselves.
On Twitter, the project said the database "provides unique insights into law enforcement and a wide array of government activities, including thousands of documents mentioning COVID-19".
The data appears to have been collected following a breach of a web services company in Houston, Texas, which counts a number of law enforcement agencies as customers.
It was released on 19 June, also known as Juneteenth, which is not a federally recognised holiday in the US, but is celebrated to commemorate the Union army proclaiming all slaves in Texas to be free in 1865, during the American Civil War.
The day before the release the project's Twitter account tweeted in support of the #BlackLivesMatter movement.
Twitter Twitter , 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 Twitter 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 Twitter cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow Twitter cookies for this session only. Enable Cookies Allow Cookies Once
The DDoSecrets account told Sky News that it understands the data it has published "wasn't stored on a system cleared for classified information".
Its release follows weeks of renewed focus on racism in America, especially on law enforcement's conduct towards black people after the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis on 25 May.
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There are more than 6,500 documents mentioning George Floyd in the database, including a threat assessment regarding a memorial event.
Few, if any, of these appear to directly relate to the death of Mr Floyd, and most cover the protests which took place across the US in response to it.
There have been multiple allegations of police brutality during the course of these protests, with one incident involving an elderly man who was shoved to the ground by police at a protest in New York, suffering a brain injury as a result.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:50 Police officer uses 'chokehold' on black man
There is a large volume of material, much of which is incidental and informative rather than based on intelligence.
One unclassified FBI report warns that civil unrest in response to Mr Floyd's death could threaten law enforcement supporters' safety.
It cites "an identified Twitter account dedicated to anarchist ideology" which posted: "See a blue lives matter flag, destroy a blue lives matter flag challenge."
Another tweet it mentioned said: "Truck with 'blue lives matter' crap on it just got all the windows smashed out. Give em hell tonight. #AvengeGeorgeFloyd."
Fewer than 500 of the hundreds of thousands of documents mention Antifa, a collective of militant anti-fascist protesters which President Donald Trump has moved to designate as a terrorist organisation.
If you would like to contact Alexander Martin regarding a story, you can email him at aj.martin@sky.uk or message him securely using the private messaging app Signal on +44 (0)7970 376 704


news--2020-06-22--Stonehenge: Circle monument dating back 4,500 years found near sacred site

A circle of prehistoric shafts dug thousands of years ago has been discovered two miles from Stonehenge .
Analysis of the 20 or more shafts suggests the features are Neolithic and excavated more than 4,500 years ago - around the time the nearby ancient settlement of Durrington Walls was built .
The shafts , around more than 10 metres in diameter and five metres deep , form a circle of more than 1.2 miles around the Durrington Walls and Woodhenge monuments on Salisbury Plain , near Amesbury in Wiltshire .
Archaeologists believe the shafts may have served as a boundary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ henge enclosure and to guide worshippers to the monuments .
Academics from universities including St Andrews , Birmingham , Warwick , Glasgow and the University of Wales Trinity Saint David worked together on the Stonehenge Hidden Landscape Project to unearth the secrets of the site .
The finding has been described as an `` astonishing discovery '' and `` a rich and fascinating archive '' .
Dr Nick Snashall , National Trust archaeologist for the Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site , said : `` As the place where the builders of Stonehenge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to unlocking the story of the wider Stonehenge landscape , and this astonishing discovery offers us new insights into the lives and beliefs of our Neolithic ancestors .
`` The Hidden Landscape team have combined cutting-edge , archaeological fieldwork with good old-fashioned detective work to reveal this extraordinary discovery and write a whole new chapter in the story of the Stonehenge landscape . ''
Dr Richard Bates , from the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences at St Andrews , said : `` Yet again , the use of a multidisciplinary effort with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us an insight to the past that shows an even more complex society than we could ever imagine .
`` Clearly sophisticated practices demonstrate that the people were so in tune with natural events to an extent that we can barely conceive in the modern world we live in today . ''
Tim Kinnaird , of the same school , added : `` The sedimentary infills contain a rich and fascinating archive of previously unknown environmental information .
`` With optically stimulated luminescence profiling and dating , we can write detailed narratives of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years . ''
The announcement follows the Summer Solstice , which took place online this year with the annual gathering at Stonehenge cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic .
English Heritage , which has provided access to the event at the World Heritage site since 2000 , urged visitors not to travel and instead enjoy a virtual celebration - but dozens defied the advice and turned up .
More than 3.6 million people around the world tuned in to the livestream from Stonehenge on Saturday night and Sunday morning .
The ancient attraction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officially reopen to tourists on 4 July .

A circle of prehistoric shafts dug thousands of years ago has been discovered two miles from Stonehenge.
Analysis of the 20 or more shafts suggests the features are Neolithic and excavated more than 4,500 years ago - around the time the nearby ancient settlement of Durrington Walls was built.
The shafts, around more than 10 metres in diameter and five metres deep, form a circle of more than 1.2 miles around the Durrington Walls and Woodhenge monuments on Salisbury Plain, near Amesbury in Wiltshire.
Image: The new circle of prehistoric shafts has been discovered a short distance from Stonehenge
Archaeologists believe the shafts may have served as a boundary to a sacred area connected to the henge enclosure and to guide worshippers to the monuments.
Academics from universities including St Andrews, Birmingham, Warwick, Glasgow and the University of Wales Trinity Saint David worked together on the Stonehenge Hidden Landscape Project to unearth the secrets of the site.
The finding has been described as an "astonishing discovery" and "a rich and fascinating archive".
Dr Nick Snashall, National Trust archaeologist for the Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site, said: "As the place where the builders of Stonehenge lived and feasted Durrington Walls is key to unlocking the story of the wider Stonehenge landscape, and this astonishing discovery offers us new insights into the lives and beliefs of our Neolithic ancestors.
Image: Tests suggest the 20 or more shafts are Neolithic
"The Hidden Landscape team have combined cutting-edge, archaeological fieldwork with good old-fashioned detective work to reveal this extraordinary discovery and write a whole new chapter in the story of the Stonehenge landscape."
Dr Richard Bates, from the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences at St Andrews, said: "Yet again, the use of a multidisciplinary effort with remote sensing and careful sampling is giving us an insight to the past that shows an even more complex society than we could ever imagine.
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"Clearly sophisticated practices demonstrate that the people were so in tune with natural events to an extent that we can barely conceive in the modern world we live in today."
Image: The finding has been hailed as an 'extraordinary discovery'
Tim Kinnaird, of the same school, added: "The sedimentary infills contain a rich and fascinating archive of previously unknown environmental information.
"With optically stimulated luminescence profiling and dating, we can write detailed narratives of the Stonehenge landscape for the last 4,000 years."
The announcement follows the Summer Solstice, which took place online this year with the annual gathering at Stonehenge cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Image: This year's Summer Solstice celebrations at Stonehenge were cancelled by English Heritage due to the coronavirus pandemic
English Heritage, which has provided access to the event at the World Heritage site since 2000, urged visitors not to travel and instead enjoy a virtual celebration - but dozens defied the advice and turned up.
More than 3.6 million people around the world tuned in to the livestream from Stonehenge on Saturday night and Sunday morning.
The ancient attraction is currently closed, but due to officially reopen to tourists on 4 July.


news--2020-06-22--'Urgent action' call as figures show just 1.5% of top managers are black

Just 1.5 % of top private sector managers are black and the proportion has barely changed since 2014 , according to a new report .
That is despite black people making up more than 3 % of people in England and Wales .
It shows the need for `` urgent action '' by employers , said Business in the Community , which produced the figures .
In 2014 , 1.4 % of top management positions at private sector companies were held by black people .
The figures also revealed that just 1 % of public sector leaders are black , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only white directors .
There was a similar lack of diversity among journalists , senior civil servants , judges , academics and the police force .
Sandra Kerr , race director at Business in the Community - which launched a campaign for better representation 25 years ago - said : `` It is clear that black people continue to be under-represented at a senior level .
`` This lack of diverse leadership has a direct impact on decision-making .
`` This is more crucial than ever when the evidence shows that BAME people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Black livelihoods matter and employers need to take urgent action to ensure that their organisation is inclusive and a place where people of any ethnic background can thrive and succeed . ''
The figures have been released to coincide with the 72nd anniversary of the arrival of the Windrush , which brought Caribbean migrants to the UK .
They also coincide with global protests against racial inequality , sparked by the death of George Floyd in the US .
The outcry has prompted many businesses to express their commitment to equality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their historic links to slavery .
Last week , insurance market Lloyd 's of London said sorry for its `` shameful '' role in the slave trade while pubs and restaurants operator Greene King apologised over the actions over one of their founders who profited from it .
Meanwhile , the Bank of England also issued an apology - for the `` inexcusable '' connections some former governors and directors had with the slave trade .
It said it would remove any images of them from display .

Just 1.5% of top private sector managers are black and the proportion has barely changed since 2014, according to a new report.
That is despite black people making up more than 3% of people in England and Wales.
It shows the need for "urgent action" by employers, said Business in the Community, which produced the figures.
In 2014, 1.4% of top management positions at private sector companies were held by black people.
The figures also revealed that just 1% of public sector leaders are black, while 62% of charity boards have only white directors.
There was a similar lack of diversity among journalists, senior civil servants, judges, academics and the police force.
Image: Greene King and Lloyd's of London apologised last week
Sandra Kerr, race director at Business in the Community - which launched a campaign for better representation 25 years ago - said: "It is clear that black people continue to be under-represented at a senior level.
"This lack of diverse leadership has a direct impact on decision-making.
"This is more crucial than ever when the evidence shows that BAME people continue to be disproportionately affected by COVID-19.
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"Black livelihoods matter and employers need to take urgent action to ensure that their organisation is inclusive and a place where people of any ethnic background can thrive and succeed."
The figures have been released to coincide with the 72nd anniversary of the arrival of the Windrush, which brought Caribbean migrants to the UK.
They also coincide with global protests against racial inequality, sparked by the death of George Floyd in the US.
The outcry has prompted many businesses to express their commitment to equality and in a number of cases re-examine their historic links to slavery.
Last week, insurance market Lloyd's of London said sorry for its "shameful" role in the slave trade while pubs and restaurants operator Greene King apologised over the actions over one of their founders who profited from it.
Meanwhile, the Bank of England also issued an apology - for the "inexcusable" connections some former governors and directors had with the slave trade.
It said it would remove any images of them from display.


news--2020-06-22--Online car retailer Cazoo becomes fastest British 'unicorn'

An online car retailer launched just six months ago will this week lay claim to the status of becoming Britain 's fastest-ever technology `` unicorn '' after raising another £25m from investors .
Sky News has learnt that Cazoo , which was founded by Alex Chesterman , the entrepreneur behind successful start-ups Lovefilm and Zoopla , will announce on Tuesday its latest injection of funding , taking its valuation to more than $ 1bn .
The new money includes an investment from Draper Esprit , the listed technology company backer , as well as existing shareholders such as DMG Ventures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ability to raise money at inexorably higher valuations for a business operating against a difficult industry backdrop during the coronavirus pandemic underlines Cazoo 's investors ' faith in his long-term vision for the company .
Cazoo , which was recently unveiled as Premier League club Everton 's shirt sponsor for next season , says it is transforming the little-changed method of buying a used car by having it delivered to a customer 's door within as little as 72 hours .
It claims to have become `` the country 's leading online car @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the market for new cars has plummeted to sales levels not seen since the immediate aftermath of the Second World War .
The company was established 18 months ago by Mr Chesterman , offering free delivery and a seven-day money-back guarantee .
It owns and reconditions all of the vehicles it sells , and provides financing and part-exchange to buyers .
Cazoo argues that it enjoys several advantages over traditional second-hand car dealers because of its deployment of technology in helping consumers choose and finance their vehicles .
The latest equity-raise takes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr Chesterman came up with the idea for the business in 2018 to more than £200m .
Cazoo 's march to unicorn status makes it one of a rarefied group of British tech companies to reach that level .
Others include Deliveroo , Ovo Energy and The Hut Group .
The average time taken to achieve a unicorn valuation is six years , reinforcing the astonishing pace at which Cazoo has reached the milestone .
Its other backers include Mubadala Ventures , an arm of one of Abu Dhabi 's sovereign wealth funds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funding as recently as March this year .
Speaking about the previous fundraising , one investor said the disruption to consumer spending and the possible advent of a global recession had not proved a deterrent to potential investors in Cazoo .
They added that on a relative basis , the business had become more attractive because of the prospective shift of consumers to digital channels once the pandemic abates .
Mr Chesterman came up with the idea for Cazoo soon after leaving the property portal Zoopla , which he sold in a deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buyout firm Silver Lake in 2018 .
`` Used cars are one of the last remaining consumer markets yet to benefit from any digital transformation , '' the entrepreneur said last December .
`` Cazoo makes used car buying simple and convenient like buying any other product online today .
`` We take away the need to travel , to haggle , to spend countless hours at a dealership and to risk any buyer 's remorse . ''

An online car retailer launched just six months ago will this week lay claim to the status of becoming Britain's fastest-ever technology "unicorn" after raising another £25m from investors.
Sky News has learnt that Cazoo, which was founded by Alex Chesterman, the entrepreneur behind successful start-ups Lovefilm and Zoopla, will announce on Tuesday its latest injection of funding, taking its valuation to more than $1bn.
The new money includes an investment from Draper Esprit, the listed technology company backer, as well as existing shareholders such as DMG Ventures and General Catalyst.
Mr Chesterman's ability to raise money at inexorably higher valuations for a business operating against a difficult industry backdrop during the coronavirus pandemic underlines Cazoo's investors' faith in his long-term vision for the company.
Cazoo, which was recently unveiled as Premier League club Everton's shirt sponsor for next season, says it is transforming the little-changed method of buying a used car by having it delivered to a customer's door within as little as 72 hours.
It claims to have become "the country's leading online car retailer" since its launch, even as the market for new cars has plummeted to sales levels not seen since the immediate aftermath of the Second World War.
The company was established 18 months ago by Mr Chesterman, offering free delivery and a seven-day money-back guarantee.
It owns and reconditions all of the vehicles it sells, and provides financing and part-exchange to buyers.
Cazoo argues that it enjoys several advantages over traditional second-hand car dealers because of its deployment of technology in helping consumers choose and finance their vehicles.
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Image: Cazoo was recently unveiled as Premier League club Everton's shirt sponsor for next season
The latest equity-raise takes the total sum invested in Cazoo since Mr Chesterman came up with the idea for the business in 2018 to more than £200m.
Cazoo's march to unicorn status makes it one of a rarefied group of British tech companies to reach that level.
Others include Deliveroo, Ovo Energy and The Hut Group.
The average time taken to achieve a unicorn valuation is six years, reinforcing the astonishing pace at which Cazoo has reached the milestone.
Its other backers include Mubadala Ventures, an arm of one of Abu Dhabi's sovereign wealth funds.
The company raised a round of funding as recently as March this year.
Speaking about the previous fundraising, one investor said the disruption to consumer spending and the possible advent of a global recession had not proved a deterrent to potential investors in Cazoo.
They added that on a relative basis, the business had become more attractive because of the prospective shift of consumers to digital channels once the pandemic abates.
Mr Chesterman came up with the idea for Cazoo soon after leaving the property portal Zoopla, which he sold in a deal worth more than £2bn to the tech-focused buyout firm Silver Lake in 2018.
"Used cars are one of the last remaining consumer markets yet to benefit from any digital transformation," the entrepreneur said last December.
"Cazoo makes used car buying simple and convenient like buying any other product online today.
"We take away the need to travel, to haggle, to spend countless hours at a dealership and to risk any buyer's remorse."
A Cazoo spokesman declined to comment on Monday.


news--2020-06-15--Coronavirus: Sweden demands tougher emissions goals for SAS bailout

Sweden has said an offer of support for SAS would be dependent on the airline agreeing to tougher emissions goals .
SAS is owned by the governments of Sweden and Denmark , with 14.8 % and 14.2 % respectively , and the remaining shares held by private investors .
The airline presented a recapitalisation plan on Monday , revealing that it needs about 12.5bn Swedish krona ( £1.07bn ) to get through the coronavirus pandemic .
Sweden 's leaders said they would ask parliament for up to 5bn krona and to increase its stake in the airline .
Financial markets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conditional on tougher emissions goals , adding : `` Let me be clear , Sweden will only go in with capital to SAS if clear , quantitative targets for reduced emissions are set in line with the Paris Agreement 's 1.5 degree goal . ''
Denmark is also backing the recapitalisation but did not say how much it will contribute , only saying it `` must be matched by a fair share of ownership '' .
SAS has also sought support from Norway , which sold its shares in the airline two years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ airline said in a statement : `` The aim of the plan is to ensure that SAS is fully funded and that shareholders ' equity will be at levels reported before the COVID-19 pandemic when anticipated business volumes return to pre-corona levels in 2022 . ''
SAS 's financial loss before tax for the February to April quarter was around three times the loss it reported at the same time the previous year .
Earlier this month , there was criticism after the Bank of England gave hundreds of millions of pounds to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Wizz Air without attaching environmental - or other - conditions .
The emergency funding was intended to help the sector survive the devastating economic effect of the coronavirus crisis .
Meanwhile , German airline Lufthansa is trying to reach agreements with employee representatives on how it can cut thousands of jobs .
The cuts would affect almost 5,000 jobs in flight operations - 600 pilots , 2,600 flight attendants and 1,500 ground staff , with more jobs to be axed from administration and at its headquarters .
The airline said : `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on board as possible throughout the crisis and avoid layoffs . ''
It is hoped the agreements can be reached by 22 June .
In May , Lufthansa agreed a €9bn ( £8bn ) rescue deal with the German government , which gives it a 20 % share in the ailing airline .

Sweden has said an offer of support for SAS would be dependent on the airline agreeing to tougher emissions goals.
SAS is owned by the governments of Sweden and Denmark, with 14.8% and 14.2% respectively, and the remaining shares held by private investors.
The airline presented a recapitalisation plan on Monday, revealing that it needs about 12.5bn Swedish krona (£1.07bn) to get through the coronavirus pandemic.
Sweden's leaders said they would ask parliament for up to 5bn krona and to increase its stake in the airline.
Financial markets minister Per Bolund said it would be conditional on tougher emissions goals, adding: "Let me be clear, Sweden will only go in with capital to SAS if clear, quantitative targets for reduced emissions are set in line with the Paris Agreement's 1.5 degree goal."
Denmark is also backing the recapitalisation but did not say how much it will contribute, only saying it "must be matched by a fair share of ownership".
SAS has also sought support from Norway, which sold its shares in the airline two years ago, and private investors.
The airline said in a statement: "The aim of the plan is to ensure that SAS is fully funded and that shareholders' equity will be at levels reported before the COVID-19 pandemic when anticipated business volumes return to pre-corona levels in 2022."
SAS's financial loss before tax for the February to April quarter was around three times the loss it reported at the same time the previous year.
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Earlier this month, there was criticism after the Bank of England gave hundreds of millions of pounds to airlines British Airways, easyjet, Ryanair and Wizz Air without attaching environmental - or other - conditions.
The emergency funding was intended to help the sector survive the devastating economic effect of the coronavirus crisis.
Meanwhile, German airline Lufthansa is trying to reach agreements with employee representatives on how it can cut thousands of jobs.
The cuts would affect almost 5,000 jobs in flight operations - 600 pilots, 2,600 flight attendants and 1,500 ground staff, with more jobs to be axed from administration and at its headquarters.
The airline said: "We want to keep as many colleagues on board as possible throughout the crisis and avoid layoffs."
It is hoped the agreements can be reached by 22 June.
In May, Lufthansa agreed a €9bn (£8bn) rescue deal with the German government, which gives it a 20% share in the ailing airline.


news--2020-06-22--Rare annular eclipse creates 'ring of fire' in sky on summer solstice

A rare annular eclipse was visible to millions of people celebrating the longest day of the year this weekend .
An annular eclipse is when the moon aligns with the sun but is too distant from the Earth to fully block it .
The eclipse was visible during the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere along a narrow band stretching from the Republic of Congo in West Africa across to the Arabian Peninsula , India and through to eastern China .
Across the world people viewed the eclipse with varying degrees of success depending on how clouded the skies were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ centre of the shadow .
Hindu devotees in India observed the eclipse through X-Ray films , presumably to prevent the most harmful aspects of the bright light around the edge of the moon from damaging their eyes .
Elsewhere people used tinted sunglasses to keep their eyes safe , while some - already protected by cloud cover - used telescopes to try and get a glimpse of the event .
The eclipse passed directly over a dozen countries as the sun , moon and Earth aligned on the 21 June - with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Because the moon did n't completely block the sun it created a spectacular `` ring of fire '' of sunlight shining around it .
Later this year a total eclipse will be visible from South America , when the moon will completely occlude the sun .
This eclipse began in the Democratic Republic of the Congo , before moving across South Sudan , Ethiopia and Eritrea before leaving Africa .
It passed over the Red Sea into Yemen and then through Pakistan , northern India and China , before crossing Taiwan and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ numbers able to observe the eclipse were kept low by the coronavirus pandemic , which in many countries means people are being told to remain inside rather than come together in large outings .
The area of maximum eclipse - when a perfect halo of light was visible around the moon - took place near Uttarakhand , near India 's border with China .
Last week at least 20 Indian soldiers were killed and more than 70 injured in a clash with Chinese forces near the Himalayan border between the two countries .

A rare annular eclipse was visible to millions of people celebrating the longest day of the year this weekend.
An annular eclipse is when the moon aligns with the sun but is too distant from the Earth to fully block it.
The eclipse was visible during the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere along a narrow band stretching from the Republic of Congo in West Africa across to the Arabian Peninsula, India and through to eastern China.
Image: The eclipse was visible in Hong Kong
Image: Hindu devotees observed the eclipse through X-ray film at Durgiana Temple
Across the world people viewed the eclipse with varying degrees of success depending on how clouded the skies were and how close they were to the centre of the shadow.
Hindu devotees in India observed the eclipse through X-Ray films, presumably to prevent the most harmful aspects of the bright light around the edge of the moon from damaging their eyes.
Elsewhere people used tinted sunglasses to keep their eyes safe, while some - already protected by cloud cover - used telescopes to try and get a glimpse of the event.
Image: Many of the X-Ray films had already been used
Image: Hindu devotees pray to the Sun God at the Sangam, where the rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati converge
Image: In some areas clouds prevented a clear view
The eclipse passed directly over a dozen countries as the sun, moon and Earth aligned on the 21 June - with the partial eclipse being visible from many more.
Because the moon didn't completely block the sun it created a spectacular "ring of fire" of sunlight shining around it.
Image: Hindu worshippers enjoyed the event at the Ganges
Image: Indonesian Muslims offered prayer during the eclipse
Later this year a total eclipse will be visible from South America, when the moon will completely occlude the sun.
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This eclipse began in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, before moving across South Sudan, Ethiopia and Eritrea before leaving Africa.
It passed over the Red Sea into Yemen and then through Pakistan, northern India and China, before crossing Taiwan and ending in the Pacific Ocean.
Image: X-Ray film was used by many to view the eclipse
Image: Protective masks were popularly used in China
The numbers able to observe the eclipse were kept low by the coronavirus pandemic, which in many countries means people are being told to remain inside rather than come together in large outings.
The area of maximum eclipse - when a perfect halo of light was visible around the moon - took place near Uttarakhand, near India's border with China.
Last week at least 20 Indian soldiers were killed and more than 70 injured in a clash with Chinese forces near the Himalayan border between the two countries.