skynewsus--2020-05-01--Trump's China threats over coronavirus fuels FTSE slide

Britain 's stalled housing market and investor jitters over Donald Trump threatening fresh tariffs against China has hit leading UK-listed stocks .
The top-flight FTSE 100 index was dragged down a further 2.3 % after suffering its worst one-day loss for a month on Thursday as the effects of COVID-19 lockdowns on the global economy became clearer .
It wiped out gains seen earlier in the week after signs of several countries easing coronavirus restrictions .
The slide continued after the US president ramped up the anti-China rhetoric again as he warned of retaliatory tariffs against Beijing as punishment for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump claimed to have seen evidence that coronavirus originated in a Wuhan laboratory , but declined to give details .
Meanwhile back home , fresh data showed the number of mortgages being approved to home buyers plunged to a seven-year low in March .
The sharp fall came amid signs that households were belt-tightening and getting their finances in order by making large repayments on other types of borrowing such as credit cards .
Figures from the Bank of England show that 56,161 mortgages were approved for house purchase in March .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 24 % ) compared with the previous month , and the lowest monthly total since 54,341 approvals were recorded in March 2013 .
Households also paid back a total £3.8bn of consumer credit in March , including personal loans , overdrafts and credit cards , which represented the largest net repayment the Bank 's money and credit report has recorded .
Separate data indicated manufacturers suffered the biggest fall in output and orders for at least three decades in April .
The closely watched Purchasing Managers ' Index ( PMI ) for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with anything below 50 viewed as a sign of a contracting industry .
The drop , from 47.8 in March , is one of the steepest since the IHS Markit/CIPS surveys were first carried out 28 years ago , according to those who compile it .
It also beats the previous lowest score of 34.5 , which was recorded in February 2009 during the financial crisis , and means UK manufacturing has been in decline for 10 of the past 12 months .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Spreaker Rob Dobson , director at IHS Markit , which compiles the survey , said : `` UK manufacturing suffered its worst month in recent history in April , as output , order books and employment all fell at rates far surpassing anything seen in the PMI survey 's 28-year history . ''
He added : `` The outstanding question remains how long the current restrictions will need to remain in place , and which sectors can start to safely reopen .
`` The pressure is mounting as the longer the global economy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cost to industry will grow , and the greater the likelihood that more jobs will be cut . ''

Britain's stalled housing market and investor jitters over Donald Trump threatening fresh tariffs against China has hit leading UK-listed stocks.
The top-flight FTSE 100 index was dragged down a further 2.3% after suffering its worst one-day loss for a month on Thursday as the effects of COVID-19 lockdowns on the global economy became clearer.
Image: The number of mortgage approvals plunged to a seven-year low in March
It wiped out gains seen earlier in the week after signs of several countries easing coronavirus restrictions.
The slide continued after the US president ramped up the anti-China rhetoric again as he warned of retaliatory tariffs against Beijing as punishment for failing to contain the outbreak.
Mr Trump claimed to have seen evidence that coronavirus originated in a Wuhan laboratory, but declined to give details.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:42 Trump confident COVID-19 originated in Wuhan lab
Meanwhile back home, fresh data showed the number of mortgages being approved to home buyers plunged to a seven-year low in March.
The sharp fall came amid signs that households were belt-tightening and getting their finances in order by making large repayments on other types of borrowing such as credit cards.
Figures from the Bank of England show that 56,161 mortgages were approved for house purchase in March.
This was a drop-off of nearly a quarter (24%) compared with the previous month, and the lowest monthly total since 54,341 approvals were recorded in March 2013.
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Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 6:09 The process of getting back to work
Households also paid back a total £3.8bn of consumer credit in March, including personal loans, overdrafts and credit cards, which represented the largest net repayment the Bank's money and credit report has recorded.
Separate data indicated manufacturers suffered the biggest fall in output and orders for at least three decades in April.
The closely watched Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for the sector fell to 32.6 last month, with anything below 50 viewed as a sign of a contracting industry.
The drop, from 47.8 in March, is one of the steepest since the IHS Markit/CIPS surveys were first carried out 28 years ago, according to those who compile it.
It also beats the previous lowest score of 34.5, which was recorded in February 2009 during the financial crisis, and means UK manufacturing has been in decline for 10 of the past 12 months.
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Rob Dobson, director at IHS Markit, which compiles the survey, said: "UK manufacturing suffered its worst month in recent history in April, as output, order books and employment all fell at rates far surpassing anything seen in the PMI survey's 28-year history."
He added: "The outstanding question remains how long the current restrictions will need to remain in place, and which sectors can start to safely reopen.
"The pressure is mounting as the longer the global economy remains in lockdown, the greater the cost to industry will grow, and the greater the likelihood that more jobs will be cut."


skynewsus--2020-05-01--Politicians in 'bulletproof vests' as protesters with rifles enter govt building

A US senator has said some colleagues wore bulletproof vests as protesters with assault rifles entered the Michigan State Capitol on Thursday .
Hundreds of people , some of them armed , attended the `` American Patriot Rally '' against extending the coronavirus lockdown in the state .
Police allowed more than 100 to enter the building , where weapons are permitted .
Inside , they sang the national anthem and chanted `` let us work '' .
Senator Dayna Polehanki tweeted a picture from the chamber of `` men with rifles yelling at us '' .
`` Some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wearing them .
I have never appreciated our Sergeants-at-Arms more than today , '' she said .
Pictures show another senator , Sylvia Santana , appearing to be wearing a vest under her jacket .
Photos show protesters ignoring social distancing and yelling at police to let them in the chamber .
They were demonstrating over a request by Michigan 's governor to extend emergency powers to deal with the COVID-19 crisis .
The protesters want businesses to be allowed to reopen to get the economy going again .
But Gretchen Whitmer defied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lockdown to 28 May .
More than 3,700 people have died after being diagnosed with coronavirus in the state - the majority in the Detroit area - only New York and New Jersey have recorded more deaths .
The protest appeared to be the biggest in Michigan since thousands of Trump supporters jammed the streets around the capitol building two weeks ago for `` Operation Gridlock '' .

A US senator has said some colleagues wore bulletproof vests as protesters with assault rifles entered the Michigan State Capitol on Thursday.
Hundreds of people, some of them armed, attended the "American Patriot Rally" against extending the coronavirus lockdown in the state.
Police allowed more than 100 to enter the building, where weapons are permitted.
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Inside, they sang the national anthem and chanted "let us work".
Senator Dayna Polehanki tweeted a picture from the chamber of "men with rifles yelling at us".
"Some of my colleagues who own bulletproof vests are wearing them. I have never appreciated our Sergeants-at-Arms more than today," she said.
Pictures show another senator, Sylvia Santana, appearing to be wearing a vest under her jacket.
Photos show protesters ignoring social distancing and yelling at police to let them in the chamber.
Image: Protesters yelled at police to allow them into the chamber
Image: The governor ignored the protests and extended lockdown until 28 May
They were demonstrating over a request by Michigan's governor to extend emergency powers to deal with the COVID-19 crisis.
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The protesters want businesses to be allowed to reopen to get the economy going again.
But Gretchen Whitmer defied the state's Republican legislature and extended the lockdown to 28 May.
Image: Guns are allowed to be carried in the open in Michigan
More than 3,700 people have died after being diagnosed with coronavirus in the state - the majority in the Detroit area - only New York and New Jersey have recorded more deaths.
The protest appeared to be the biggest in Michigan since thousands of Trump supporters jammed the streets around the capitol building two weeks ago for "Operation Gridlock".


skynewsus--2020-05-01--Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande record COVID-19 charity duet

Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande have recorded a duet to raise money for the children of health and emergency workers dealing with the coronavirus pandemic .
The song , called Stuck With U , will be released on 8 May , with proceeds going to the First Responder Children 's Foundation .
The stars shared an image showing two figures sharing a house by the cartoonist Liana Finck .
Both the picture , and the song 's title , appear to refer to the coronavirus lockdown .
Bieber , 26 , said on Instagram that the money would `` fund @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responders who have been impacted by COVID-19 '' .
Grande , also 26 , said in a statement : `` We hope we make a big difference with this and we hope it uplifts you and makes you feel happy . ''
Together , they have 316 million followers on Instagram .
It is not the first time the pair have collaborated , after performing live together and remixing each other 's songs .
Scooter Braun , who manages both singers , said the single was the first in a series to benefit @ @

Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande have recorded a duet to raise money for the children of health and emergency workers dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.
The song, called Stuck With U, will be released on 8 May, with proceeds going to the First Responder Children's Foundation.
The stars shared an image showing two figures sharing a house by the cartoonist Liana Finck.
Image: Both singers posted this image. Pic: Ariana Grande/Instagram
Both the picture, and the song's title, appear to refer to the coronavirus lockdown.
Bieber, 26, said on Instagram that the money would "fund grants and scholarships for children of first responders who have been impacted by COVID-19".
Grande, also 26, said in a statement: "We hope we make a big difference with this and we hope it uplifts you and makes you feel happy."
Together, they have 316 million followers on Instagram.
Image: The proceeds will go to children of first responders. Pic: Ariana Grande/Instagram
It is not the first time the pair have collaborated, after performing live together and remixing each other's songs.
Scooter Braun, who manages both singers, said the single was the first in a series to benefit charities.


skynewsus--2020-05-01--You might think Amazon profits are soaring right now. You'd be wrong

Amazon has said it could record its first loss in five years despite a hike in revenue as it spends at least $ 4bn ( £3.2bn ) in response to the coronavirus outbreak .
While other traditional shops have been forced to shut because of the COVID-19 lockdown , the online retailing giant recruited an extra 175,000 workers to cope with a surge in orders during the pandemic .
In the current financial quarter , which has witnessed coronavirus lockdowns around the world , Amazon said it could see a 28 % increase in revenue to $ 81bn ( £65bn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company would earn an operating profit of at least $ 4bn ( £3.2bn ) over the period - but the eCommerce giant says its costs will rise by that amount or more as it responds to the pandemic .
The money is being spent on employing additional staff , overtime , buying protective equipment such as masks , and disinfecting its massive warehouses where orders are packed and sent out .
Amazon also has plans to test workers for COVID-19 , as part of measures aimed at ensuring the business can continue to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker The company forecasts its operating income will range from a loss of $ 1.5bn ( £1.2bn ) to a profit of $ 1.5bn , compared with $ 3.1bn ( £2.5bn ) in the same quarter last year .
It came as Amazon reported a profit fall of 29 % in the first quarter of the year as the costs of posting millions of packages to house-bound customers rose .
The Seattle-based company reported net income of $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , compared with $ 3.6bn ( £2.9bn ) a year ago , while revenue was up 26 % $ 75.5bn ( £60bn ) .
While the shares in the firm fell in response , they remain up overall by more than 10 % since mid-February , while the wider stock market has sunk .
Kim Khan , US markets analyst at Investing.com said : `` Amazon built its commanding position by spending all its cash to grow before it became the profit-making machine it is today .
`` It 's doing the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely come out a winner again . ''

Amazon has said it could record its first loss in five years despite a hike in revenue as it spends at least $4bn (£3.2bn) in response to the coronavirus outbreak.
While other traditional shops have been forced to shut because of the COVID-19 lockdown, the online retailing giant recruited an extra 175,000 workers to cope with a surge in orders during the pandemic.
In the current financial quarter, which has witnessed coronavirus lockdowns around the world, Amazon said it could see a 28% increase in revenue to $81bn (£65bn).
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 6:09 The process of getting back to work
In normal circumstances, the company would earn an operating profit of at least $4bn (£3.2bn) over the period - but the eCommerce giant says its costs will rise by that amount or more as it responds to the pandemic.
The money is being spent on employing additional staff, overtime, buying protective equipment such as masks, and disinfecting its massive warehouses where orders are packed and sent out.
Amazon also has plans to test workers for COVID-19, as part of measures aimed at ensuring the business can continue to operate, amid safety concerns.
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The company forecasts its operating income will range from a loss of $1.5bn (£1.2bn) to a profit of $1.5bn, compared with $3.1bn (£2.5bn) in the same quarter last year.
It came as Amazon reported a profit fall of 29% in the first quarter of the year as the costs of posting millions of packages to house-bound customers rose.
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The Seattle-based company reported net income of $2.5bn (£2bn) for the period, compared with $3.6bn (£2.9bn) a year ago, while revenue was up 26% $75.5bn (£60bn).
While the shares in the firm fell in response, they remain up overall by more than 10% since mid-February, while the wider stock market has sunk.
Kim Khan, US markets analyst at Investing.com said: "Amazon built its commanding position by spending all its
cash to grow before it became the profit-making machine it is today.
"It's doing the same thing during this lockdown period and will likely come out a winner again."


skynewsus--2020-05-01--Virtual reunion: Will Smith and Fresh Prince cast pay teary tribute to late Uncle Phil actor

Will Smith was left in tears during a virtual reunion with his Fresh Prince of Bel-Air co-stars as they remembered James Avery , who played Uncle Phil and died in 2013 .
The star shared a clip from his new Snapchat chat show `` Will At Home '' on his Instagram page as the cast marked 30 years since the start of the hit show .
Alfonso Ribeiro ( Carlton ) , Daphne Maxwell Reid ( Aunt Viv ) Joseph Marcell ( Geoffrey ) Karyn Parsons ( Hilary ) , Tatyana M. Ali ( Ashley ) and Smith 's sidekick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ video .
The actors appeared very pleased to see each other as they spoke from their homes during the coronavirus lockdown .
During the video they watched clips from the Fresh Prince showing Avery , who played Will 's father figure in the American comedy .
Avery died from complications after open heart surgery when he was 68 .
`` That just makes me teary , '' Smith said , wiping his eyes .
`` The first couple times that I 'm seeing clips of James , you know ? ''
`` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who played opposite Avery as Aunt Viv .
`` As James would say , 'Solid , ' '' added Marcell .
In a tribute on Instagram , Smith wrote : `` Our show would n't have been HALF what it was without the talent and light that was James Avery .
We all love and miss you , James . ''
At the start of the video Smith and Ribeiro both shouted `` he 's alive , he 's alive '' as Jazzy Jeff joined the Zoom call .
: : Listen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Earlier this week Jazzy Jeff told CNN he believed he had caught coronavirus while on a trip to Idaho in March .
He said he lost his sense of smell , had hallucinations and had been quite unwell .
Marcell told him `` you had us all scared '' , to which the DJ replied : `` Not as scared as I was . ''
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air first aired in September 1990 .
`` You guys are my second family , and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relationships , '' Smith said , before signing off .
`` When I look back , the best times in my life will have been on that set . ''

Will Smith was left in tears during a virtual reunion with his Fresh Prince of Bel-Air co-stars as they remembered James Avery, who played Uncle Phil and died in 2013.
The star shared a clip from his new Snapchat chat show "Will At Home" on his Instagram page as the cast marked 30 years since the start of the hit show.
Alfonso Ribeiro (Carlton), Daphne Maxwell Reid (Aunt Viv) Joseph Marcell (Geoffrey) Karyn Parsons (Hilary), Tatyana M. Ali (Ashley) and Smith's sidekick DJ Jazzy Jeff all featured in the video.
"I'm hyped, I'm hyped!" said Smith.
The actors appeared very pleased to see each other as they spoke from their homes during the coronavirus lockdown.
During the video they watched clips from the Fresh Prince showing Avery, who played Will's father figure in the American comedy.
Image: The Fresh Prince cast in 2005: (L-R) James Avery, Daphne Reid, Karyn Parsons, Tatyana Ali, Will Smith, Alfonso Ribeiro
Avery died from complications after open heart surgery when he was 68.
"That just makes me teary," Smith said, wiping his eyes. "The first couple times that I'm seeing clips of James, you know?"
"I loved that man," said Reid, who played opposite Avery as Aunt Viv.
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"As James would say, 'Solid,'" added Marcell.
In a tribute on Instagram, Smith wrote: "Our show wouldn't have been HALF what it was without the talent and light that was James Avery. We all love and miss you, James."
At the start of the video Smith and Ribeiro both shouted "he's alive, he's alive" as Jazzy Jeff joined the Zoom call.
Podcast Podcast , which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Podcast cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the This content is provided by, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enablecookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Podcast cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow Podcast cookies for this session only. Enable Cookies Allow Cookies Once
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Earlier this week Jazzy Jeff told CNN he believed he had caught coronavirus while on a trip to Idaho in March. He said he lost his sense of smell, had hallucinations and had been quite unwell.
Marcell told him "you had us all scared", to which the DJ replied: "Not as scared as I was."
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air first aired in September 1990.
"You guys are my second family, and I've been shaped by my interactions and relationships," Smith said, before signing off.
"When I look back, the best times in my life will have been on that set."


skynewsus--2020-05-01--Possible tectonic activity detected on the moon

Tectonic activity has been detected on the moon by researchers who have discovered a system of moving ridges topped with boulders on its near side .
`` There 's this assumption that the moon is long dead , but we keep finding that that 's not the case , '' said Professor Peter Schultz at Rhode Island 's Brown University .
`` It appears that the moon may still be creaking and cracking - potentially in the present day - and we can see the evidence on these ridges , '' explained Professor Schultz who co-authored a study published in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the moon 's surface is covered by something called regolith , the powdery dust of rocks created by constant meteorite impacts .
Because the moon has no atmosphere to speak of , rocks and orbiting debris crash right into its surface and blow apart .
There are very few spaces on the lunar surface which are n't covered by regolith - but some seemingly new spots have recently been discovered .
Adomas Valantinas , a graduate student at the University of Bern who was a visiting scholar at Brown , used data gathered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LRO ) to spot these strange bare spots .
`` Exposed blocks on the surface have a relatively short lifetime because the regolith buildup is happening constantly , '' Mr Schultz said .
`` So when we see them , there needs to be some explanation for how and why they were exposed in certain locations . ''
`` Just as concrete-covered cities on Earth retain more heat than the countryside , exposed bedrock and blocky surfaces on the moon stays warmer through the lunar night than regolith-covered surfaces , '' the researchers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the LRO to measure the surface 's temperature , Mr Valantinas was able to discover more than 500 patches of exposed bedrock on narrow ridges following a pattern across the nearside of the moon .
Such ridges had been discovered before , but they were on the edges of very ancient lava-filled impact basins and could be explained by continued sagging in response to weight caused by the lava fill .
The new study found that these ridges are actually related to a mysterious system of tectonic features - ridges and faults - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The distribution that we found here begs for a different explanation , '' Professor Schultz said .
Mapping out all of these exposed ridges , Mr Valantinas and Prof Schultz discovered an interesting correlation between them and a previous NASA mission .
Back in 2014 , NASA 's GRAIL mission discovered a network of ancient cracks in the moon 's crust , which became channels for magma from the moon 's core to flow to the surface .
This network lined up almost perfectly with the blocky ridges .
`` It 's almost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` That makes us think that what we 're seeing is an ongoing process driven by things happening in the moon 's interior . ''
So the ridges , according to these scientists , are ancient magma flows which are still heaving upwards - breaking the surface and draining the regolith into cracks and voids , leaving the blocks exposed .
`` Because bare spots on the moon get covered over fairly quickly , this cracking must be quite recent , possibly even ongoing today , '' they say .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the scientists , the tectonic movements may actually have begun billions of years ago with a giant impact on the far side of the moon .
Professor Schultz had previously proposed such an impact had formed the 1500-mile South Pole Aitken Basin , and shattered the interior on the opposite side of the moon - the side facing the Earth .
Magma from the core then filled these cracks and controlled the pattern detected in the GRAIL mission .
The blocky ridges comprising this network now trace the continuing adjustments along these ancient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ridges responded to something that happened 4.3 billion years ago , '' Prof Schultz said .
`` Giant impacts have long lasting effects .
`` The moon has a long memory .
What we 're seeing on the surface today is testimony to its long memory and secrets it still holds . ''

Tectonic activity has been detected on the moon by researchers who have discovered a system of moving ridges topped with boulders on its near side.
"There's this assumption that the moon is long dead, but we keep finding that that's not the case," said Professor Peter Schultz at Rhode Island's Brown University.
"It appears that the moon may still be creaking and cracking - potentially in the present day - and we can see the evidence on these ridges," explained Professor Schultz who co-authored a study published in the journal Geology.
Image: The strange bare spots suggest an active tectonic process. Pic: NASA
The majority of the moon's surface is covered by something called regolith, the powdery dust of rocks created by constant meteorite impacts.
Because the moon has no atmosphere to speak of, rocks and orbiting debris crash right into its surface and blow apart.
There are very few spaces on the lunar surface which aren't covered by regolith - but some seemingly new spots have recently been discovered.
Image: Regolith is powdery dust covering the moon's surface
Adomas Valantinas, a graduate student at the University of Bern who was a visiting scholar at Brown, used data gathered by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) to spot these strange bare spots.
"Exposed blocks on the surface have a relatively short lifetime because the regolith buildup is happening constantly," Mr Schultz said.
"So when we see them, there needs to be some explanation for how and why they were exposed in certain locations."
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"Just as concrete-covered cities on Earth retain more heat than the countryside, exposed bedrock and blocky surfaces on the moon stays warmer through the lunar night than regolith-covered surfaces," the researchers said.
So using a tool on the LRO to measure the surface's temperature, Mr Valantinas was able to discover more than 500 patches of exposed bedrock on narrow ridges following a pattern across the nearside of the moon.
Such ridges had been discovered before, but they were on the edges of very ancient lava-filled impact basins and could be explained by continued sagging in response to weight caused by the lava fill.
The new study found that these ridges are actually related to a mysterious system of tectonic features - ridges and faults - unrelated to the lava-filled basins.
"The distribution that we found here begs for a different explanation," Professor Schultz said.
Mapping out all of these exposed ridges, Mr Valantinas and Prof Schultz discovered an interesting correlation between them and a previous NASA mission.
Back in 2014, NASA's GRAIL mission discovered a network of ancient cracks in the moon's crust, which became channels for magma from the moon's core to flow to the surface.
This network lined up almost perfectly with the blocky ridges.
"It's almost a one-to-one correlation," Prof Schultz said. "That makes us think that what we're seeing is an ongoing process driven by things happening in the moon's interior."
So the ridges, according to these scientists, are ancient magma flows which are still heaving upwards - breaking the surface and draining the regolith into cracks and voids, leaving the blocks exposed.
"Because bare spots on the moon get covered over fairly quickly, this cracking must be quite recent, possibly even ongoing today," they say.
But what is causing this? According to the scientists, the tectonic movements may actually have begun billions of years ago with a giant impact on the far side of the moon.
Professor Schultz had previously proposed such an impact had formed the 1500-mile South Pole Aitken Basin, and shattered the interior on the opposite side of the moon - the side facing the Earth.
Magma from the core then filled these cracks and controlled the pattern detected in the GRAIL mission. The blocky ridges comprising this network now trace the continuing adjustments along these ancient weaknesses.
"This looks like the ridges responded to something that happened 4.3 billion years ago," Prof Schultz said. "Giant impacts have long lasting effects.
"The moon has a long memory. What we're seeing on the surface today is testimony to its long memory and secrets it still holds."


skynewsus--2020-05-02--New York nursing home reports 98 COVID-19 deaths in 'horrifying' outbreak

A nursing home in New York has reported the deaths of 98 residents who are believed to have had coronavirus .
The `` horrifying '' death toll at the Isabella Geriatric Center in Manhattan is believed to be one of the worst outbreaks in the US .
Initially , state officials only recorded 13 deaths but staff at the 705-bed home later confirmed that up to 46 residents who tested positive for COVID-19 had died , and an additional 52 people who were suspected to have the virus .
Some died at the nursing home and others died after being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ de Blasio said : `` It is absolutely horrifying .
It 's inestimable loss , and it 's just impossible to imagine so many people lost in one place . ''
The number of bodies became so overwhelming the home ordered a refrigerator lorry to store them because funeral homes have been taking days to pick up those who have died .
Audrey Waters , a spokeswoman for the nursing home , wrote in an email : `` Isabella , like all other nursing homes in New York City , initially had limited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to quickly diagnose our residents and staff .
`` This hampered our ability to identify those who were infected and asymptomatic , despite our efforts to swiftly separate anyone who presented symptoms . ''
Isabella was also struggling with staffing shortages and was forced to hire carers from outside agencies and found it difficult to obtain personal protective equipment for employees .
Ms Waters said the home is finally `` getting more access to testing '' now .
Nursing homes have been known since the earliest days of the outbreak to be vulnerable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hit in New York , which had at least 3,065 nursing home deaths according to figures compiled up to Thursday .
The state Department of Health said it has received `` outbreak reports '' from 239 nursing homes , including at least six facilities with death tolls of 40 patients or more .
The mayor added : `` The one thing we now know about the nursing homes is the status quo can not continue to say the least .
Something very different has to happen . ''
Adriano Espaillat , a New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the public and elected officials in the dark about the outbreak .
He sent a letter to governior Andrew Cuomo and New York Attorney General Letitia James urging them to investigate the `` information sharing practices '' of New York nursing homes .
The centre said it `` could not speculate '' as to why a state survey previously listed only 13 COVID-19 deaths at its facility and added that it `` truthfully and accurately reported '' its death toll to state officials .
An updated data set is being compiled by officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detailed insight into nursing home deaths .
Mr Cuomo referred to a `` vagueness '' in some reporting of suspected COVID-19 cases but warned nursing homes not to misrepresent their death tolls .
He said : `` They submit these numbers under penalty of perjury .
`` They can be prosecuted criminally for fraud on any of these reporting numbers . ''
Isabella said it kept family members informed about changes in their loved ones ' conditions despite the circumstances .
Ms Waters said : `` When we believe their loved one is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a resident 's primary contact and ask if they would like to say goodbye in person or via phone or an app .
`` In-person goodbye visits were never interrupted and continue to happen . ''

A nursing home in New York has reported the deaths of 98 residents who are believed to have had coronavirus.
The "horrifying" death toll at the Isabella Geriatric Center in Manhattan is believed to be one of the worst outbreaks in the US.
Initially, state officials only recorded 13 deaths but staff at the 705-bed home later confirmed that up to 46 residents who tested positive for COVID-19 had died, and an additional 52 people who were suspected to have the virus.
Some died at the nursing home and others died after being treated in different hospitals.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said: "It is absolutely horrifying. It's inestimable loss, and it's just impossible to imagine so many people lost in one place."
Image: The outbreak is believed to be one of the worst in the United States
The number of bodies became so overwhelming the home ordered a refrigerator lorry to store them because funeral homes have been taking days to pick up those who have died.
Audrey Waters, a spokeswoman for the nursing home, wrote in an email: "Isabella, like all other nursing homes in New York City, initially had limited access to widespread and consistent in-house testing to quickly diagnose our residents and staff.
"This hampered our ability to identify those who were infected and asymptomatic, despite our efforts to swiftly separate anyone who presented symptoms."
Isabella was also struggling with staffing shortages and was forced to hire carers from outside agencies and found it difficult to obtain personal protective equipment for employees.
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Ms Waters said the home is finally "getting more access to testing" now.
Nursing homes have been known since the earliest days of the outbreak to be vulnerable to COVID-19 and have been particularly hard hit in New York, which had at least 3,065 nursing home deaths according to figures compiled up to Thursday.
The state Department of Health said it has received "outbreak reports" from 239 nursing homes, including at least six facilities with death tolls of 40 patients or more.
The mayor added: "The one thing we now know about the nursing homes is the status quo cannot continue to say the least. Something very different has to happen."
Adriano Espaillat, a New York Democrat, accused Isabella of keeping the public and elected officials in the dark about the outbreak.
He sent a letter to governior Andrew Cuomo and New York Attorney General Letitia James urging them to investigate the "information sharing practices" of New York nursing homes.
The centre said it "could not speculate" as to why a state survey previously listed only 13 COVID-19 deaths at its facility and added that it "truthfully and accurately reported" its death toll to state officials.
An updated data set is being compiled by officials in a bid to offer a more detailed insight into nursing home deaths.
Mr Cuomo referred to a "vagueness" in some reporting of suspected COVID-19 cases but warned nursing homes not to misrepresent their death tolls.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:29 Where did the coronavirus come from?
He said: "They submit these numbers under penalty of perjury.
"They can be prosecuted criminally for fraud on any of these reporting numbers."
Isabella said it kept family members informed about changes in their loved ones' conditions despite the circumstances.
Ms Waters said: "When we believe their loved one is nearing death, we do reach out to a resident's primary contact and ask if they would like to say goodbye in person or via phone or an app.
"In-person goodbye visits were never interrupted and continue to happen."


skynewsus--2020-05-01--Ebola drug given 'emergency approval' to treat COVID-19 in the US

US regulators will allow experimental drug remdesivir to be used on seriously ill COVID-19 patients .
US President Donald Trump announced the news alongside Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Stephen Hahn , who said the drug would be available for patients receiving hospital treatment for COVID-19 .
Remdesivir is an antiviral drug that was originally developed to tackle ebola .
A government-sponsored study has showed that remdesivir shortened recovery time by 31 % - about four days on average - for patients in hospital with the virus .
The study of 1,063 patients is the largest of remdesivir , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that those given the drug were able to leave hospital in 11 days on average , compared with 15 days for the control group .
It is not yet clear whether remdesivir is preventing COVID-19 deaths but it is the first drug to show promise in fighting COVID-19 , which has killed more than 235,000 people worldwide .
Remdesivir has been authorised by the Food and Drug Administration under its emergency powers .
Normally , `` substantial evidence '' - usually in the form of more studies - would be required to prove @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But , due to the pandemic , the FDA only requires a drug maker to prove that the drug 's potential benefits outweigh its risks .
It will still need full approval but the FDA can give this if Gilead Sciences or other researchers provide more evidence of remdesivir 's safety and effectiveness .
The drug , which is given intravenously in hospital , has not been tested on people with the milder form of the virus .
Cathy Burgess , a lawyer specialising in FDA issues , said : `` This is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you would n't expect to have any sort of full approval at this point .
`` But obviously they want to get this out to patients as quickly as possible . ''
The news comes as Mr Trump said he was hoping for fewer than 100,000 US deaths from the coronavirus , more than the 60,000 to 70,000 he had talked about on Monday .
Gilead Sciences chief executive Daniel O'Day called the move an important first step and said the company was donating 1.5 million vials of the drug .
Late in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hydroxychloroquine , for emergency use after Mr Trump repeatedly touted it as a cure .
But no studies have shown it to work and some have even shown significant safety concerns .
In April , the regulator warned doctors against prescribing it aside from in hospital or for research , due to the risk of those side effects .

US regulators will allow experimental drug remdesivir to be used on seriously ill COVID-19 patients.
US President Donald Trump announced the news alongside Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Stephen Hahn, who said the drug would be available for patients receiving hospital treatment for COVID-19.
Remdesivir is an antiviral drug that was originally developed to tackle ebola.
A government-sponsored study has showed that remdesivir shortened recovery time by 31% - about four days on average - for patients in hospital with the virus.
The study of 1,063 patients is the largest of remdesivir, which belongs to Gilead Sciences.
It found that those given the drug were able to leave hospital in 11 days on average, compared with 15 days for the control group.
It is not yet clear whether remdesivir is preventing COVID-19 deaths but it is the first drug to show promise in fighting COVID-19, which has killed more than 235,000 people worldwide.
Remdesivir has been authorised by the Food and Drug Administration under its emergency powers.
Normally, "substantial evidence" - usually in the form of more studies - would be required to prove the drug's safety and effectiveness.
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But, due to the pandemic, the FDA only requires a drug maker to prove that the drug's potential benefits outweigh its risks.
It will still need full approval but the FDA can give this if Gilead Sciences or other researchers provide more evidence of remdesivir's safety and effectiveness.
The drug, which is given intravenously in hospital, has not been tested on people with the milder form of the virus.
Cathy Burgess, a lawyer specialising in FDA issues, said: "This is a very, very early stage so you wouldn't expect to have any sort of full approval at this point.
"But obviously they want to get this out to patients as quickly as possible."
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:40 April: Gilead - drugs trials 'starting to show some results'
The news comes as Mr Trump said he was hoping for fewer than 100,000 US deaths from the coronavirus, more than the 60,000 to 70,000 he had talked about on Monday.
Gilead Sciences chief executive Daniel O'Day called the move an important first step and said the company was donating 1.5 million vials of the drug.
Late in March the FDA authorised malaria drug, hydroxychloroquine, for emergency use after Mr Trump repeatedly touted it as a cure.
But no studies have shown it to work and some have even shown significant safety concerns.
In April, the regulator warned doctors against prescribing it aside from in hospital or for research, due to the risk of those side effects.


skynewsus--2020-05-01--'I own Gene Wilder's old house and my gf is mad at me': Elon Musk's tweets wipe $13bn off Tesla's va

'I own Gene Wilder's old house and my gf is mad at me': Elon Musk's tweets wipe $13bn off Tesla's value

About $ 13bn ( £10.3bn ) was wiped off Tesla 's shares after chief executive Elon Musk tweeted that the electric car company 's `` stock price is too high '' .
In a series of other tweets , Mr Musk , 48 , also said he was `` selling almost all physical possessions '' and `` will own no house '' .
He added his girlfriend was `` mad at me '' .
The subsequent 9 % drop in Tesla share prices erased about $ 3bn ( £2.4bn ) from Mr Musk 's own stake .
Nevertheless , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ start of April .
The Wall Street Journal said Mr Musk responded to an email asking whether he was joking , or whether his tweet was vetted , by saying : `` No . ''
It is not the first time Mr Musk has sent provocative tweets .
In April 2019 , he posted : `` My Twitter is pretty much complete nonsense at this point . ''
In August 2018 , he tweeted that he had secured funding to possibly take Tesla private .
It led to a fraud case by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr Musk settled by agreeing to pay $ 20m ( £16m ) and have a Tesla lawyer pre-screen tweets with important information about the company .
The latest posts on social media are not the only controversy Mr Musk has found himself in this week .
He described coronavirus lockdowns as `` forcibly imprisoning people in their homes '' and `` fascist '' .
Mr Musk said he did not know when Tesla could resume production in California and called the state 's stay-at-home order a `` serious risk '' to the business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they can not leave their house and they will be arrested if they do , this is fascist .
`` This is not democratic , this is not freedom .
Give people back their goddamn freedom ! ''

About $13bn (£10.3bn) was wiped off Tesla's shares after chief executive Elon Musk tweeted that the electric car company's "stock price is too high".
In a series of other tweets, Mr Musk, 48, also said he was "selling almost all physical possessions" and "will own no house".
He added his girlfriend was "mad at me".
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The subsequent 9% drop in Tesla share prices erased about $3bn (£2.4bn) from Mr Musk's own stake.
Nevertheless, they remain almost 50% up from the start of April.
The Wall Street Journal said Mr Musk responded to an email asking whether he was joking, or whether his tweet was vetted, by saying: "No."
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:06 How Tesla's making ventilators with car parts
It is not the first time Mr Musk has sent provocative tweets.
In April 2019, he posted: "My Twitter is pretty much complete nonsense at this point."
In August 2018, he tweeted that he had secured funding to possibly take Tesla private.
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It led to a fraud case by the US Securities and Exchange Commission, which Mr Musk settled by agreeing to pay $20m (£16m) and have a Tesla lawyer pre-screen tweets with important information about the company.
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The latest posts on social media are not the only controversy Mr Musk has found himself in this week.
He described coronavirus lockdowns as "forcibly imprisoning people in their homes" and "fascist".
Mr Musk said he did not know when Tesla could resume production in California and called the state's stay-at-home order a "serious risk" to the business.
He added: "To say that they cannot leave their house and they will be arrested if they do, this is fascist.
"This is not democratic, this is not freedom. Give people back their goddamn freedom!"


skynewsus--2020-05-03--Pompeo says 'significant evidence' COVID-19 came from China lab

US secretary of state Mike Pompeo claims there is a `` significant amount of evidence '' that COVID-19 came from a laboratory in the Chinese city of Wuhan .
The comments , which echo those of Donald Trump three days ago , contradict a statement from US intelligence agencies this week saying COVID-19 did not appear to be man-made or genetically modified .
Neither President Trump nor his secretary of state have produced any evidence .
During an interview with ABC 's This Week , Mr Pompeo said : `` There is a significant amount of evidence that this came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The best experts so far seem to think it was man-made .
I have no reason to disbelieve that at this point . ''
When the interviewer pointed out that this was not the conclusion of US intelligence agencies , Pompeo quickly backtracked : `` I 've seen what the intelligence community has said .
I have no reason to believe that they 've got it wrong . ''
It comes after President Trump claimed he had seen evidence the virus originated in a Wuhan laboratory , but refused to give more detail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been man-made has been promoted by anti-China activists and some supporters of President Trump , who have claimed it was developed in a Chinese government biological weapons laboratory .
The Wuhan Institute of Virology has dismissed the allegations and other US officials have downplayed their likelihood .
On Thursday , the Office of the Director of National Intelligence , the clearinghouse for the web of US spy agencies , said it had ruled out the virus being man-made , but was still investigating the precise source of the global pandemic .
: @ @ @ @ @ @ @ podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , and Spreaker US officials familiar with intelligence reporting and analysis have said for weeks that they do not believe Chinese scientists developed the virus in a government biological weapons lab .
They believe it was either introduced through human contact with animals at a meat market in the central city of Wuhan , or could have escaped from one of two Wuhan government laboratories believed to be conducting civilian research into possible biological hazards .

US secretary of state Mike Pompeo says there is a "significant amount of evidence" that COVID-19 came from a laboratory in the Chinese city of Wuhan.
His comments come after US, UK and other intelligence agencies said they were investigating the possibility the virus had originated from a lab, among other theories.
During an interview with ABC's This Week, Mr Pompeo said: "There is a significant amount of evidence that this came from that laboratory in Wuhan.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:27 Trump confident COVID-19 came from China lab
"The best experts so far seem to think it was man-made. I have no reason to disbelieve that at this point."
When the interviewer pointed out that this was not the conclusion of US intelligence agencies, Pompeo quickly backtracked: "I've seen what the intelligence community has said. I have no reason to believe that they've got it wrong."
Last week the Office of the Director of National Intelligence in the US said: "The Intelligence Community... concurs with the wide scientific consensus that the COVID-19 virus was not man-made or genetically modified."
It comes after President Trump said he had seen evidence the virus originated in a Wuhan laboratory, but refused to give more detail.
The theory that the virus has been man-made has been promoted by anti-China activists and some supporters of President Trump, who have claimed it was developed in a Chinese government biological weapons laboratory.
The Wuhan Institute of Virology has dismissed the allegations.
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On Thursday, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the clearing house for the web of US spy agencies, said it had ruled out the virus being man-made, but was still investigating the precise source of the global pandemic.
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US officials familiar with intelligence reporting and analysis have said for weeks that they do not believe Chinese scientists developed the virus in a government biological weapons lab.
They believe it was either introduced through human contact with animals at a meat market in the central city of Wuhan, or could have escaped from one of two Wuhan government laboratories believed to be conducting civilian research into possible biological hazards.


skynewsus--2020-05-03--Billionaire investor Warren Buffett sells all his stakes in US airlines

Warren Buffett 's company Berkshire Hathaway has sold all its stakes in the four largest US airlines because of the coronavirus crisis .
Speaking at the company 's annual meeting , the business tycoon said `` the world has changed '' for the aviation industry due to the global pandemic .
He also revealed he made the wrong decision in investing billions of dollars in the aviation industry .
Berkshire Hathaway , a multinational conglomerate based in Nebraska , had held sizeable positions in the airlines .
According to the company 's filings , it had an 11 % stake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of American Airlines Co , 10 % of Southwest Airlines Co and 9 % of United Airlines at the end of 2019 .
The company was also one of the largest individual holders in the four airlines and in 2016 disclosed it had begun investing in the four carriers after avoiding the aviation sector for years .
Buffett said : `` We made that decision in terms of the airline business .
We took money out of the business basically even at a substantial loss .
`` We will not fund a company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to chew up money in the future . ''
The coronavirus pandemic has led to airline stocks becoming deeply impacted by the near collapse of US travel demand as countries across the world remain in lockdown .
US airlines have cut hundreds of thousands of flights and parked their planes as the demand for US travel falls by around 95 % .
There is currently no clear timetable for when travel will return to pre-crisis levels .
Last month , Berkshire Hathaway disclosed it had sold about 18 % of its Delta @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shares .
Buffett said Berkshire had made the mistake of investing around $ 7bn ( £5.5bn ) or $ 8bn ( £6.3bn ) amassing stakes in the four airlines including American Airlines Group Inc .
He said : `` We did not take out anything like $ 7bn or $ 8bn and that was my mistake .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker '' I am the one who made the decision . ''
The billionaire investor said he had previously considered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a blow to have essentially your demand dry up ... it is basically that we shut off air travel in this country , '' he added .
Delta said in a statement it was aware of the sale and has `` tremendous respect for Mr Buffett and the Berkshire team '' .
During Saturday 's press conference , housing secretary Robert Jenrick said the government wanted to support the aviation sector `` in any way we can '' .
He said the industry was `` grappling with what the longer term demand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ age in which social distancing will be important and in which business travel , for example , might be different '' .

Warren Buffett's company Berkshire Hathaway has sold all its stakes in the four largest US airlines because of the coronavirus crisis.
Speaking at the company's annual meeting, the business tycoon said "the world has changed" for the aviation industry due to the global pandemic.
He also revealed he made the wrong decision in investing billions of dollars in the aviation industry.
Image: Buffett's company, Berkshire Hathaway, had an 11% stake in Delta Air Lines
Berkshire Hathaway, a multinational conglomerate based in Nebraska, had held sizeable positions in the airlines.
According to the company's filings, it had an 11% stake in Delta Air Lines, 10% of American Airlines Co, 10% of Southwest Airlines Co and 9% of United Airlines at the end of 2019.
The company was also one of the largest individual holders in the four airlines and in 2016 disclosed it had begun investing in the four carriers after avoiding the aviation sector for years.
Buffett said: "We made that decision in terms of the airline business. We took money out of the business basically even at a substantial loss.
"We will not fund a company... where we think that it is going to chew up money in the future."
The coronavirus pandemic has led to airline stocks becoming deeply impacted by the near collapse of US travel demand as countries across the world remain in lockdown.
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US airlines have cut hundreds of thousands of flights and parked their planes as the demand for US travel falls by around 95%.
There is currently no clear timetable for when travel will return to pre-crisis levels.
Last month, Berkshire Hathaway disclosed it had sold about 18% of its Delta stake and 4% of its Southwest shares.
Buffett said Berkshire had made the mistake of investing around $7bn (£5.5bn) or $8bn (£6.3bn) amassing stakes in the four airlines including American Airlines Group Inc.
He said: "We did not take out anything like $7bn or $8bn and that was my mistake.
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:: Listen to Divided States on Apple podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Spreaker
"I am the one who made the decision."
The billionaire investor said he had previously considered investing in additional airlines.
"It is a blow to have essentially your demand dry up... it is basically that we shut off air travel in this country," he added.
Southwest, American and United declined to comment.
Delta said in a statement it was aware of the sale and has "tremendous respect for Mr Buffett and the Berkshire team".
During Saturday's press conference, housing secretary Robert Jenrick said the government wanted to support the aviation sector "in any way we can".
He said the industry was "grappling with what the longer term demand for its services might be in an age in which social distancing will be important and in which business travel, for example, might be different".


skynewsus--2020-04-30--Trump 'very confident' vaccine will be developed this year contrary to scientific advice

Donald Trump says he is `` very confident '' that a vaccine for the coronavirus will be developed by the end of the year .
The US president appeared at a primetime virtual town hall hosted by the Fox News network in the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington .
His own scientific advisers have consistently agreed with international experts that a vaccine could take 12 to 18 months to appear .
But the president struck an optimistic tone .
`` We are very confident that we are going to have a vaccine at the end of the year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have a vaccine by the end of this year and we are pushing very hard .
`` We are pushing supply lines .
Many companies are , I think , close . ''
Mr Trump said the search for a vaccine was an international effort that he did n't care if another country was first to find the solution .
`` I 'll take my hat off to them . ''
The two-hour event was branded `` Returning To Work '' , as Mr Trump pushed his plan for states to reopen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get it back open safely , but as quickly as possible . ''
: : Listen to Divided States on Apple podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , and Spreaker In the week that saw the highest nationwide death toll in a 24-hour period in the US - 2,909 reported deaths on Friday - the president again defended his administration 's response .
`` It is all working out .
It is horrible to go through , but it is working out . ''
Mr Trump again blamed authorities in China for what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the alarm about the virus .
He said earlier this week that he has seen evidence that the virus emerged from the Wuhan Virology Laboratory .
Asked if he was alleging `` something nefarious '' , he said he believed it was the result of a `` mistake '' .
Mr Trump promised more details about the origins of the outbreak would soon be released by the US intelligence services but offered no details .
Mr Trump has been accused of ignoring repeated warnings about the risks of the virus in his presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was told it was `` not a big deal '' .
With exactly six months to go until the presidential election , Mr Trump lamented how the lockdown had prevented him from holding campaign rallies .
But , appearing on one of his favourite television networks , he was able to hit familiar campaign themes , including trade and his border wall .
He also described a phone call with British prime minister Boris Johnson after his recovery from a `` vicious '' battle with coronavirus .
`` He thought it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Donald Trump says he is "very confident" that a vaccine for the coronavirus will be developed by the end of the year.
The US president appeared at a primetime virtual town hall hosted by the Fox News network in the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington.
His own scientific advisers have consistently agreed with international experts that a vaccine could take 12 to 18 months to appear.
But the president struck an optimistic tone. "We are very confident that we are going to have a vaccine at the end of the year.
"We think we are going to have a vaccine by the end of this year and we are pushing very hard.
"We are pushing supply lines. Many companies are, I think, close."
Mr Trump said the search for a vaccine was an international effort that he didn't care if another country was first to find the solution. "I'll take my hat off to them."
The two-hour event was branded "Returning To Work", as Mr Trump pushed his plan for states to reopen their economies.
"We have to get it back open safely, but as quickly as possible."
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In the week that saw the highest nationwide death toll in a 24-hour period in the US - 2,909 reported deaths on Friday - the president again defended his administration's response.
"It is all working out. It is horrible to go through, but it is working out."
Mr Trump again blamed authorities in China for what he described as their failure to raise the alarm about the virus.
He said earlier this week that he has seen evidence that the virus emerged from the Wuhan Virology Laboratory.
Asked if he was alleging "something nefarious", he said he believed it was the result of a "mistake".
Mr Trump promised more details about the origins of the outbreak would soon be released by the US intelligence services but offered no details.
Mr Trump has been accused of ignoring repeated warnings about the risks of the virus in his presidential daily briefings throughout January. He claimed he was told it was "not a big deal".
With exactly six months to go until the presidential election, Mr Trump lamented how the lockdown had prevented him from holding campaign rallies.
But, appearing on one of his favourite television networks, he was able to hit familiar campaign themes, including trade and his border wall.
He also described a phone call with British prime minister Boris Johnson after his recovery from a "vicious" battle with coronavirus. "He thought it was over," Mr Trump said.


skynewsus--2020-05-04--Coronavirus antibody test 'with almost 100% accuracy' could be in UK in weeks

A coronavirus antibody test said to be 99.8 % accurate has been approved for use in the US , amid reports it could be available within weeks in the UK .
Roche Diagnostics ' new serology test detects antibodies in patients who have been exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19 , which could help to indicate if a person has gained immunity against the disease .
The Swiss firm says the test - called Elecsys - has a specificity greater than 99.8 % and sensitivity of 100 % , meaning it gives no false negative results and only one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ antibody test is thought to be crucial in easing coronavirus lockdowns .
And as the kits were approved for emergency use by the US Food and Drug Aministration ( FDA ) , the company reportedly said it was `` in dialogue '' with the NHS and the UK government with a view to a `` phased roll-out of the test from mid-May '' .
`` We will be able to provide hundreds of thousands of antibody tests to the UK per week , '' a spokesman was quoted by the Daily Mail as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can run the test on fully-automated equipment already widely installed by Roche Diagnostics at sites across the UK with results provided in 18 minutes . ''
: : Listen to Sophy Ridge on Sunday on Apple podcasts , Google podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker It comes after Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England Dr Jenny Harries said officials did not have enough information yet on the issue of immunity .
`` The WHO ( World Health Organisation ) position is very similar to the one we would have , which basically says we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be very clear on the immune status , '' she said .
She added that signs of immunity could vary from patient to patient but that doctors would expect people to have some immunity about 10 days after being ill .
Professor John Newton , the UK 's testing effort co-ordinator , said it was `` encouraging '' to see evidence from South Korea that suggests people are developing immunity , although it remains unclear how long any protection lasts .
Geoff Twist , managing director of Roche Diagnostics UK & Ireland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the crucial next step in helping us to understand the spread of the virus and to provide much-needed reassurance to our valued key workers , enabling them to continue providing their vital support .
`` More than ever , it is critical that industry works in collaboration with the NHS to help alleviate pressures and provide a solution , and we are extremely proud to be able to deliver our high quality antibody test , which will lead to greater confidence as we move into the next phase .
`` We will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , public health bodies and the UK government to enable the roll out of the test across the UK . ''
The government previously admitted that 3.5 million antibody tests it ordered from China were `` not good enough to be worth rolling out in very large scale '' .
Roche said it would provide `` high double-digit millions of tests '' in May for countries accepting the CE mark and in the US , while continuing to increase capacity .
Public Health England has been contacted for comment .

A coronavirus antibody test said to be 99.8% accurate has been approved for use in the US and could be available within weeks in the UK.
Roche Diagnostics' new serology test detects antibodies in patients who have been exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19, which could help to indicate if a person has gained immunity against the disease.
The Swiss firm says the test - called Elecsys - has a specificity greater than 99.8% and sensitivity of 100%, meaning it gives no false negative results and only one in 500 false positives.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:40 Could this antibody test provide answers?
An effective antibody test is thought to be crucial in easing coronavirus lockdowns.
It is currently being independently evaluated by Public Health England at its laboratory at Porton Down in Wiltshire with initial results expected by the end of this week.
Discussions are also taking place between Roche and the NHS and the UK government about a phased roll-out from mid-May.
The test received 'CE mark' certification last week - meaning it complies with EU safety rules and can be made available in countries including the UK.
It is understood that hundreds of thousands of tests could be provided across the UK each week.
The prime minister's spokesman said that "progress had certainly been made" on antibody testing, but added it would need to pass "certain criteria" before it could be used.
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It comes after Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England Dr Jenny Harries said officials did not have enough information yet on the issue of immunity.
"The WHO (World Health Organisation) position is very similar to the one we would have, which basically says we actually don't have enough information yet to be very clear on the immune status," she said.
She added that signs of immunity could vary from patient to patient but that doctors would expect people to have some immunity about 10 days after being ill.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:46 Can you catch COVID-19 twice?
Professor John Newton, the UK's testing effort co-ordinator, said it was "encouraging" to see evidence from South Korea that suggests people are developing immunity, although it remains unclear how long any protection lasts.
Geoff Twist, managing director of Roche Diagnostics UK & Ireland, said: "Reliable antibody testing is the crucial next step in helping us to understand the spread of the virus and to provide much-needed reassurance to our valued key workers, enabling them to continue providing their vital support.
"More than ever, it is critical that industry works in collaboration with the NHS to help alleviate pressures and provide a solution, and we are extremely proud to be able to deliver our high quality antibody test, which will lead to greater confidence as we move into the next phase.
"We will continue to work closely with the NHS, public health bodies and the UK government to enable the roll out of the test across the UK."
The government previously admitted that 3.5 million antibody tests it ordered from China were "not good enough to be worth rolling out in very large scale".
Roche said it would provide "high double-digit millions of tests" in May for countries accepting the CE mark and in the US, while continuing to increase capacity.
Public Health England has been contacted for comment.
Image: Burley and Hancock
This week Kay Burley will be hosting a live Q&A with Health Secretary Matt Hancock. You can put your questions to Mr Hancock about the coronavirus and its impact on your life live on Sky News.
Email us your questions - or you can record a video clip of your question on your phone - and send it to AskTheHealthSecretary@sky.uk


skynewsus--2020-05-04--Leaked US documents predict 3,000 COVID-19 deaths a day by June

An internal US government document predicts 3,000 daily coronavirus deaths in the country by early June , according to The New York Times .
The document from the Trump administration appears to project that deaths will nearly double from the current level of about 1,750 .
It seems to predict about 200,000 new coronavirus cases per day by the end of this month , up from about 25,000 currently .
The leaked document could throw into question the relaxation of social distancing measures across a number of states , as Donald Trump has pressed for economies to reopen and anti-lockdown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health systems in some areas have struggled to cope with an influx of patients , and in some cases sufferers have been treated on stretchers in hospital corridors .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has warned there `` remains a large number of counties whose burden continues to grow '' , although there has been some improvement in places such as New York City , New Orleans and Detroit .
So far , more than 67,000 people have died in the US and more than a million have been infected .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Washington 's IHME predictive model projected a first wave of 72,400 coronavirus-related deaths .
On Sunday , Mr Trump said up to 100,000 people could die with coronavirus in the US - doubling the number he had forecast two weeks ago .
`` We 're going to lose anywhere from 75 , 80 to 100,000 people , '' he told a virtual town hall on Fox News .
`` That 's a horrible thing .
We should n't lose one person over this . ''
His figures are still less than what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration has responded to the New York Times report , denying the document 's authenticity .
The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health said : `` These preliminary analyses were provided to FEMA to aid in scenario planning - not to be used as forecasts - and the version published is not a final version .
`` These preliminary results are not forecasts , and it is not accurate to present them as forecasts .
`` The information illustrates that there are some scenarios , including the premature relaxation of social distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increases in the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in the United States . ''
White House spokesperson Judd Deere said : `` This is not a White House document nor has it been presented to the Coronavirus taskforce or gone through inter-agency vetting .
`` This data is not reflective of any of the modelling done by the taskforce or data that the task force has analysed .
`` The president 's phased guidelines to open up America again are a scientific driven approach that the top health and infectious disease experts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` The health of the American people remains President Trump 's top priority and that will continue as we monitor the efforts by states to ease restrictions . ''
: : Listen to Divided States on Apple podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , and Spreaker Officials said the projections assumed that states resumed normal activities immediately , not according to the phased guidelines unveiled last month .
Mr Trump has been accused of ignoring warnings about the risks of the virus in his daily briefings throughout January , and also has not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to find a vaccine .
World leaders , organisations and banks have pledged to give $ 8bn ( £6.4bn ) .
Former foreign secretary David Miliband described the America 's absence from the global pledge as a `` mystery '' .
`` At the moment , the US is not a good advertisement for the kind of global leadership or national reaction that would historically have been the case , '' he said .
Mr Miliband continued : `` Sadly so far the reaction to the crisis has been to compound the problem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Although it 's obviously right that every government has in the first instance to look after its own citizens , this disease shows that unless there is a global response then there wo n't be a return to anything like economic or social normality . ''

An internal US government document predicts 3,000 daily coronavirus deaths in the country by early June, according to The New York Times.
The document from the Trump administration appears to project that deaths will nearly double from the current level of about 1,750.
It seems to predict about 200,000 new coronavirus cases per day by the end of this month, up from about 25,000 currently.
Image: Donald Trump has urged economies to reopen
The leaked document could throw into question the relaxation of social distancing measures across a number of states, as Donald Trump has pressed for economies to reopen and anti-lockdown protests were held over the weekend.
Health systems in some areas have struggled to cope with an influx of patients, and in some cases sufferers have been treated on stretchers in hospital corridors.
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:: Listen to Divided States on Apple podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Spreaker
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has warned there "remains a large number of counties whose burden continues to grow", although there has been some improvement in places such as New York City, New Orleans and Detroit.
So far, more than 67,000 people have died in the US and more than a million have been infected.
As of last week, the University of Washington's IHME predictive model projected a first wave of 72,400 coronavirus-related deaths.
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Image: Paramedics unload a patient at a hospital in Brooklyn
On Sunday, Mr Trump said up to 100,000 people could die with coronavirus in the US - doubling the number he had forecast two weeks ago.
"We're going to lose anywhere from 75, 80 to 100,000 people," he told a virtual town hall on Fox News. "That's a horrible thing. We shouldn't lose one person over this."
His figures are still less than what the government document predicts.
The Trump administration has responded to the New York Times report, denying the document's authenticity.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:52 Protests continue in the US against lockdown
The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health said: "These preliminary analyses were provided to FEMA to aid in scenario planning - not to be used as forecasts - and the version published is not a final version.
"These preliminary results are not forecasts, and it is not accurate to present them as forecasts.
"The information illustrates that there are some scenarios, including the premature relaxation of social distancing, that are likely to cause significant increases in the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in the United States."
White House spokesperson Judd Deere said: "This is not a White House document nor has it been presented to the Coronavirus taskforce or gone through inter-agency vetting.
"This data is not reflective of any of the modelling done by the taskforce or data that the task force has analysed.
"The president's phased guidelines to open up America again are a scientific driven approach that the top health and infectious disease experts in the federal government agreed with.
"The health of the American people remains President Trump's top priority and that will continue as we monitor the efforts by states to ease restrictions."
Officials said the projections assumed that states resumed normal activities immediately, not according to the phased guidelines unveiled last month.
Mr Trump has been accused of ignoring warnings about the risks of the virus in his daily briefings throughout January, and also has not yet joined a global pledge for research to find a vaccine.
World leaders, organisations and banks have pledged to give $8bn (£6.4bn).
Former foreign secretary David Miliband described Mr Trump's absence from the global pledge as a "mystery".
"At the moment, the US is not a good advertisement for the kind of global leadership or national reaction that would historically have been the case," he said.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:44 Risk of 3m deaths in 'wartorn' countries
Mr Miliband continued: "Sadly so far the reaction to the crisis has been to compound the problem rather than to tackle it.
"Although it's obviously right that every government has in the first instance to look after its own citizens, this disease shows that unless there is a global response then there won't be a return to anything like economic or social normality."


skynewsus--2020-05-04--173 years on, Irish repay favour to coronavirus-hit Native Americans

Native American tribes badly hit by coronavirus have received an unlikely boost after donations poured in from Ireland to repay a favour from 173 years ago .
More than 70 deaths linked to COVID-19 have been reported in Navajo Nation across Utah , New Mexico and Arizona .
A GoFundMe campaign to provide food , water and other essential supplies for families in the territory has raised more than $ 1.5m ( £1.2m ) - and organisers have singled out Irish people for praise following their support .
The campaign has received several donations inspired by the Great Hunger Famine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Native American tribe Choctaw Nation provided $ 170 ( equivalent to $ 5,000 today ) of relief aid to Irish people .
About 60,000 Native Americans had just suffered through the Trail of Tears - a series of compulsory relocations from their ancestral homelands which saw thousands die from hunger , disease , and exhaustion during forced marches - which made them empathetic to Irish people suffering the worst effects of the famine .
A message from one Irish donor , Pat Hayes , said : `` From Ireland , 170 years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ To our Native American brothers and sisters in your moment of hardship . ''
One of the campaign 's organisers , Vanessa Tulley , said : `` The heartache is real .
We have lost so many of our sacred Navajo elders and youth to COVID-19 .
`` It is truly devastating .
And a dark time in history for our nation .
`` In moments like these , we are so grateful for the love and support we have received from all around the world .
: : Listen to the Daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Spotify , Spreaker '' Acts of kindness from indigenous ancestors passed being reciprocated nearly 200 years later through blood memory and interconnectedness .
`` Thank you Ireland for showing solidarity and being here for us . ''
In Ireland , more than 1,300 people have died after contracting coronavirus , with nearly 22,000 confirmed cases of the virus .

Native American tribes badly hit by coronavirus have received an unlikely boost after donations poured in from Ireland to repay a favour from 173 years ago.
More than 70 deaths linked to COVID-19 have been reported in Navajo Nation across Utah, New Mexico and Arizona.
A GoFundMe campaign to provide food, water and other essential supplies for families in the territory has raised more than $1.5m (£1.2m) - and organisers have singled out Irish people for praise following their support.
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The campaign has received several donations inspired by the Great Hunger Famine in Ireland when, in 1847, the Native American tribe Choctaw Nation provided $170 (equivalent to $5,000 today) of relief aid to Irish people.
About 60,000 Native Americans had just suffered through the Trail of Tears - a series of compulsory relocations from their ancestral homelands which saw thousands die from hunger, disease, and exhaustion during forced marches - which made them empathetic to Irish people suffering the worst effects of the famine.
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
A message from one Irish donor, Pat Hayes, said: "From Ireland, 170 years later, the favour is returned! To our Native American brothers and sisters in your moment of hardship."
One of the campaign's organisers, Vanessa Tulley, said: "The heartache is real. We have lost so many of our sacred Navajo elders and youth to COVID-19.
Image: Relief workers load supplies for Navajo families quarantined in their homes
Image: A mural warns Navajo residents of the danger of coronavirus disease
"It is truly devastating. And a dark time in history for our nation.
"In moments like these, we are so grateful for the love and support we have received from all around the world.
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"Acts of kindness from indigenous ancestors passed being reciprocated nearly 200 years later through blood memory and interconnectedness.
"Thank you Ireland for showing solidarity and being here for us."
In Ireland, more than 1,300 people have died after contracting coronavirus, with nearly 22,000 confirmed cases of the virus.


skynewsus--2020-05-04--Trump is all-in on blaming China for coronavirus as election looms

Donald Trump 's claim that coronavirus came from a Wuhan lab has been backed by his secretary of state - as the blame game between the US and China continues in full swing .
Mike Pompeo has failed to provide any of the `` enormous evidence '' he says proves that COVID-19 originated in a Chinese lab .
This has angered Beijing , which continues to fire back .
Chinese media have been avoiding direct criticism of the US president , and instead hit out at Mr Pompeo - a China hawk - accusing him of losing his `` moral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tabloid The Global Times , Hu Xijin , said Mr Pompeo should present his `` evidence '' to the world .
US intelligence previously made its assessment public , saying it agrees with the `` wide scientific consensus '' that COVID-19 was not manmade , before Mr Trump and Mr Pompeo made their unproven claims .
The Trump administration is not known for its love of scientific consensus - especially in an election year that is also seeing the president 's prize-jewel economy slide into a coma .
Blaming China works because China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far from exemplary - it has been accused of silencing whistleblowers , withholding information and acting too late .
But bad handling from China and America is not mutually exclusive .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Mr Trump continues to herald his own efforts in tackling the crisis , rejecting any criticism that he acted too slowly .
Members of his administration have appeared tone deaf at times in their attempts to back the president in his claims .
His son-in-law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recently called the US response a `` success story '' - a cringeworthy comment as the number of deaths is now close to 70,000 , with cases surpassing one million .
This devastating crisis would be no picnic for any president , but it can not be overstated how much the impact of coronavirus on the economy has delivered Mr Trump his worst nightmare .
He was banking on the old certainty that even in the face of his numerous controversies and weak poll numbers , people would enter November ballot boxes with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blame game was kicked off by China when it publicised its own conspiracy theory that the virus had originated in the US and was brought to China by American soldiers .
But now the Trump administration seems more than happy to keep the war of words going .
Mr Trump had initially wavered on China 's culpability , frequently praising President Xi Jinping in the early days of the outbreak .
Now he 's all in on blaming America 's main economic rival .
The 2020 election could see Donald Trump and Joe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China .
Mr Trump 's campaign is already test-driving this strategy , calling the presumptive democratic nominee `` Beijing Biden '' .
Blaming China is also a strategy that could ultimately serve useful in the `` wartime president '' narrative .
With this strategy , it would promote the idea that Mr Trump did the best he could with a catastrophic pandemic dumped on America 's doorstep by a foreign enemy .

Donald Trump's claim that coronavirus came from a Wuhan lab has been backed by his secretary of state - as the blame game between the US and China continues in full swing.
Mike Pompeo has failed to provide any of the "enormous evidence" he says proves that COVID-19 originated in a Chinese lab.
This has angered Beijing, which continues to fire back.
Image: Mike Pompeo says there is 'enormous evidence'
Chinese media have been avoiding direct criticism of the US president, and instead hit out at Mr Pompeo - a China hawk - accusing him of losing his "moral compass".
The editor of state-run tabloid The Global Times, Hu Xijin, said Mr Pompeo should present his "evidence" to the world.
US intelligence previously made its assessment public, saying it agrees with the "wide scientific consensus" that COVID-19 was not manmade, before Mr Trump and Mr Pompeo made their unproven claims.
The Trump administration is not known for its love of scientific consensus - especially in an election year that is also seeing the president's prize-jewel economy slide into a coma.
Blaming China works because China's handling of the crisis has been far from exemplary - it has been accused of silencing whistleblowers, withholding information and acting too late.
But bad handling from China and America is not mutually exclusive.
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Mr Trump continues to herald his own efforts in tackling the crisis, rejecting any criticism that he acted too slowly.
Members of his administration have appeared tone deaf at times in their attempts to back the president in his claims.
His son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner, recently called the US response a "success story" - a cringeworthy comment as the number of deaths is now close to 70,000, with cases surpassing one million.
This devastating crisis would be no picnic for any president, but it cannot be overstated how much the impact of coronavirus on the economy has delivered Mr Trump his worst nightmare.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:28 'Vicious virus should not have left China'
He was banking on the old certainty that even in the face of his numerous controversies and weak poll numbers, people would enter November ballot boxes with their pockets as the priority.
The blame game was kicked off by China when it publicised its own conspiracy theory that the virus had originated in the US and was brought to China by American soldiers.
But now the Trump administration seems more than happy to keep the war of words going.
Mr Trump had initially wavered on China's culpability, frequently praising President Xi Jinping in the early days of the outbreak.
Now he's all in on blaming America's main economic rival.
The 2020 election could see Donald Trump and Joe Biden trying to out-tough each other on China.
Mr Trump's campaign is already test-driving this strategy, calling the presumptive democratic nominee "Beijing Biden".
Blaming China is also a strategy that could ultimately serve useful in the "wartime president" narrative.
With this strategy, it would promote the idea that Mr Trump did the best he could with a catastrophic pandemic dumped on America's doorstep by a foreign enemy.