skynewsus--2020-06-22--'He was like a magnet who brought people together' - stabbing victim's father

The father of one of the three victims of the knife attack in Reading has described his son as `` marvellous , loving and caring '' and `` like a magnet '' , bringing people together .
Robert Ritchie , a retired police chief inspector , was speaking to Sky News from the family home in the US city of Philadelphia .
He said of his son Joe Ritchie-Bennett : `` Well he was an absolute marvellous individual .
Loving , caring person .
We described him as almost like a magnet , he just brought people together .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him I could truly say became friends with him . ''
Mr Ritchie-Bennett , 39 , was stabbed and killed in a Reading park on Saturday evening in an incident being treated as `` terror related '' .
Mr Ritchie said he and his wife , Charlene , last spoke to their son on Friday night .
`` I spoke to him almost every day so I last spoke to him Friday , the day before he was murdered . ''
`` He was fine .
He was great .
He was telling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was always excited and enthusiastic about everything that he did , '' Mr Ritchie said .
Mr Ritchie-Bennett was born and raised in Pennsylvania and after college in Toronto , Canada , he moved to the UK .
`` There was a group of them - they were friends and they went to the UK and some of them live in London and Joe wound up in Reading , '' his father said .
`` And he met his partner there , Ian Bennett .
And he initially worked for a law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to commute by train and then about 10 years ago , he started work for a pharmaceutical company whose UK headquarters is in Reading .
So that was a real break for him '' .
Mr Ritchie-Bennett married Ian Bennett in the UK in November 2006 .
Mr Bennett died , aged 32 , in 2014 , after a short battle with colon cancer .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Reflecting on trips to Reading to see his son , Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with him in that park , his mother and I .
We have been all around Reading and I think it 's a lovely place .
We always enjoyed visiting over there .
`` It was his adopted country .
His adopted home .
My sense is that he loved it and everything about it .
He loved the United States also .
He had a great childhood here and still enjoyed many , many friends here in Philadelphia . ''
As neighbours and friends delivered flowers and food to the family house @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been some of the worst days of my life , you know , hearing that my son was murdered .
`` We have had some sleepless nights and you know everything is still to be determined and you know however this will play out and so forth and you know we 're gon na bring him back here and bury him here because we want him close by .
`` I want to be able to visit his grave for his birthday and Christmas and things like that .
That 's about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point . ''
As the conversation drew to a close , Mr Ritchie said he imagined his son and his husband were together once again .
`` They certainly are .
I picture them in beach chairs , sipping margaritas looking at the sunset over the Serengeti .
They used to love to travel . ''

The father of one of the three victims of the knife attack in Reading has described his son as "marvellous, loving and caring" and "like a magnet", bringing people together.
Robert Ritchie, a retired police chief inspector, was speaking to Sky News from the family home in the US city of Philadelphia.
He said of his son Joe Ritchie-Bennett: "Well he was an absolute marvellous individual. Loving, caring person. We described him as almost like a magnet, he just brought people together.
"And everyone who knew him and met him I could truly say became friends with him."
Mr Ritchie-Bennett, 39, was stabbed and killed in a Reading park on Saturday evening in an incident being treated as "terror related".
Mr Ritchie said he and his wife, Charlene, last spoke to their son on Friday night.
"I spoke to him almost every day so I last spoke to him Friday, the day before he was murdered."
"He was fine. He was great. He was telling us his plans for the weekend and he was always excited and enthusiastic about everything that he did," Mr Ritchie said.
Mr Ritchie-Bennett was born and raised in Pennsylvania and after college in Toronto, Canada, he moved to the UK.
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"There was a group of them - they were friends and they went to the UK and some of them live in London and Joe wound up in Reading," his father said.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:10 Police arrest Reading terror attack suspect
"And he met his partner there, Ian Bennett. And he initially worked for a law firm in London and so he used to commute by train and then about 10 years ago, he started work for a pharmaceutical company whose UK headquarters is in Reading. So that was a real break for him".
Mr Ritchie-Bennett married Ian Bennett in the UK in November 2006. Mr Bennett died, aged 32, in 2014, after a short battle with colon cancer.
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Reflecting on trips to Reading to see his son, Mr Ritchie said: "We have been with him in that park, his mother and I. We have been all around Reading and I think it's a lovely place. We always enjoyed visiting over there.
"It was his adopted country. His adopted home. My sense is that he loved it and everything about it. He loved the United States also. He had a great childhood here and still enjoyed many, many friends here in Philadelphia."
As neighbours and friends delivered flowers and food to the family house, Mr Ritchie said: "This has been some of the worst days of my life, you know, hearing that my son was murdered.
"We have had some sleepless nights and you know everything is still to be determined and you know however this will play out and so forth and you know we're gonna bring him back here and bury him here because we want him close by.
"I want to be able to visit his grave for his birthday and Christmas and things like that. That's about what we are left with at this point."
Image: Police officers are investigating the attack in Reading
As the conversation drew to a close, Mr Ritchie said he imagined his son and his husband were together once again.
"They certainly are. I picture them in beach chairs, sipping margaritas looking at the sunset over the Serengeti. They used to love to travel."


skynewsus--2020-06-22--NASCAR stars rally around black driver after noose left in his garage

NASCAR stars have rallied around driver Bubba Wallace after a noose was left in his garage stall , as the FBI investigates the incident .
The noose was found in Wallace 's stall at the Talladega circuit in Alabama , where a race was to be held on Sunday before being postponed due to storms .
Following the incident , Wallace - the sport 's only full-time African-American driver - posted a selfie on Twitter in front of his racing car surrounded by his NASCAR rivals with the caption : `` Together '' .
NASCAR driver Ryan Blaney and champion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 43 car to the front of the pit road , before the entire 40-driver field and all their crew members followed .
After the car came to a stop , Wallace climbed out , sat on the window ledge and sobbed .
Richard Petty , his NASCAR Hall of Fame team owner , placed a hand on Wallace 's shoulder .
Seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson said : `` The news has disturbed us all and of course we want justice and know who and why .
And we want to stand with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Talladega Superspeedway to investigate the discovery of the noose .
Wallace had successfully pushed two weeks ago for NASCAR to ban the contentious Confederate flag at its tracks and properties amid protests against the killing of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis .
Though the sanctioning body has not outlined plans on how it will enforce the restriction , disgruntled fans with Confederate flags drove past the main entrance to the Alabama race track prior to Sunday 's race .
A plane also flew above the track pulling a banner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
NASCAR President Steve Phelps said security has been stepped up for Wallace .
His team had been granted access to its car on Monday morning to ensure it had not been tampered with overnight .
Mr Phelps said the FBI director had told agents in Birmingham , Alabama to `` use all their resources '' to find the culprit .
`` Unequivocally they will be banned from this sport for life , '' he added .
`` There is no room for this at all .
We wo n't tolerate it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ do n't care who they are , they will not be here . ''
Alabama Govenor Kay Ivey said she was `` shocked and appalled '' by the `` vile act '' against Wallace .
: : Listen to Divided States on Apple podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , and Spreaker '' There is no place for this disgusting display of hatred in our state , '' Ms Ivey said .
Following the discovery of the noose , Wallace posted a statement on social media in which he said `` the despicable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incredibly saddened '' .
The 26-year-old said the incident `` serves as a painful reminder of how much further we have to go as a society and how persistent we must be in the fight against racism '' .
`` As my mother told me today , 'They are just trying to scare you ' , '' he wrote .
`` This will not break me , I will not give in nor will I back down .
I will continue to proudly stand for what I believe in . ''

NASCAR stars have rallied around driver Bubba Wallace after a noose was left in his garage stall, as the FBI investigates the incident.
The noose was found in Wallace's stall at the Talladega circuit in Alabama, where a race was to be held on Sunday before being postponed due to storms.
Following the incident, Wallace - the sport's only full-time African-American driver - posted a selfie on Twitter in front of his racing car surrounded by his NASCAR rivals with the caption: "Together".
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NASCAR driver Ryan Blaney and champion Kyle Busch had pushed Wallace's Number 43 car to the front of the pit road, before the entire 40-driver field and all their crew members followed.
After the car came to a stop, Wallace climbed out, sat on the window ledge and sobbed.
Image: NASCAR drivers have rallied around to support Bubba Wallace
Richard Petty, his NASCAR Hall of Fame team owner, placed a hand on Wallace's shoulder.
Seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson said: "The news has disturbed us all and of course we want justice and know who and why. And we want to stand with our friend."
Image: Wallace appeared overcome with emotion
Federal authorities descended on Talladega Superspeedway to investigate the discovery of the noose.
Wallace had successfully pushed two weeks ago for NASCAR to ban the contentious Confederate flag at its tracks and properties amid protests against the killing of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis.
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Image: Wallace was greeted by fellow NASCAR driver Kevin Harvick
Though the sanctioning body has not outlined plans on how it will enforce the restriction, disgruntled fans with Confederate flags drove past the main entrance to the Alabama race track prior to Sunday's race.
A plane also flew above the track pulling a banner of the flag that read Defund NASCAR.
NASCAR President Steve Phelps said security has been stepped up for Wallace. His team had been granted access to its car on Monday morning to ensure it had not been tampered with overnight.
Image: Wallace is NASCAR's only full-time African-American driver
Mr Phelps said the FBI director had told agents in Birmingham, Alabama to "use all their resources" to find the culprit.
"Unequivocally they will be banned from this sport for life," he added.
"There is no room for this at all. We won't tolerate it. They won't be here. I don't care who they are, they will not be here."
Alabama Govenor Kay Ivey said she was "shocked and appalled" by the "vile act" against Wallace.
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:: Listen to Divided States on Apple podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Spreaker
"There is no place for this disgusting display of hatred in our state," Ms Ivey said.
Following the discovery of the noose, Wallace posted a statement on social media in which he said "the despicable act of racism and hatred leaves me incredibly saddened".
The 26-year-old said the incident "serves as a painful reminder of how much further we have to go as a society and how persistent we must be in the fight against racism".
"As my mother told me today, 'They are just trying to scare you'," he wrote.
"This will not break me, I will not give in nor will I back down. I will continue to proudly stand for what I believe in."


skynewsus--2020-06-22--How police are trying to rebuild trust in LA gang territory

The passenger seat of a police cruiser is an interesting place from which to observe the tension in America right now .
When it 's a Los Angeles Police Department ( LAPD ) car patrolling gang territory in a historically troubled community , there is undoubtedly an extra intensity .
Watts , in south-central Los Angeles , will always be linked with a defining moment in the history of racial tension in the United States .
What started with a confrontation between a black motorist and a white traffic cop in August 1965 exploded into days of riots .
Tensions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Further riots occurred over police brutality in 1992 , after the trials of four officers accused of beating a black man called Rodney King resulted in no convictions .
Today , Watts is the focus of an initiative to lower the modern-day tensions .
The LAPD 's Community Safety Partnership ( CSP ) has put one hundred officers on the streets with the aim of building trust between the police and community .
Tactics like de-escalation , the focus of so much discussion in the national debate following the death of George Floyd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's playbook for years .
LAPD has temporarily banned the use of chokeholds pending a review in the wake of Mr Floyd 's death .
Veteran CSP officer John Coughlin describes what happened to Mr Floyd as `` evil '' .
He says the CSP 's work in Watts has made a `` massive improvement '' in relationships .
Still , the slow drive past a group of known 'Bloods ' gang members , the catcalls and gestures , would hardly qualify as a cordial encounter .
But CSP is largely welcomed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ respect the effort to keep children out of the cycle of violence .
`` The police come through , they do their job .
They see someone doing something that ai n't right , of course they 're going to stop them , '' Watts resident Jesse Snead told me .
`` The cops , they 're ok. '' He 's not as hopeful about nationwide change .
`` There 's always some bad apples in the bunch , '' he added .
At a playground , officers stopped to chat to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 12 .
The youngsters press their claim to join a football team supported by the CSP , another updates them on the progress of the strawberry plant given to him by an officer .
On another block , sisters Aracelli and Marilyn prepare to take up college scholarships secured by the programme .
It is a path out of the projects .
They are undoubtedly positive impacts in a place with a history of strife .
Giving youngsters an option for a different life is a CSP aim .
No-one pretends there 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there is a gritty reality to policing a place with a history of violent crime - but CSP is a hopeful story .
Its commander , himself African American , says the programme provides a model .
`` No doubt , '' said Gerald Woodward .
`` As you build authentic relationships with the community , enlist their concerns and ask how do we come up with some solutions for you , there 's an impact and you see the crime actually reduces .
`` There 's almost like a halo effect .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ moment for the country , brought about by those 8 minutes and 46 seconds in Minneapolis .
`` I explained it to my kids and it 's impacted me deeply and I 've got to go to work , put on the same uniform and be professional , '' he said .
`` That 's the hard part .
Being a person of colour , when you take the uniform off , you 're still African American .
In reality we need more people to reflect the community that we are serving .
@

The passenger seat of a police cruiser is an interesting place from which to observe the tension in America right now.
When it's a Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) car patrolling gang territory in a historically troubled community, there is undoubtedly an extra intensity.
Watts, in south-central Los Angeles, will always be linked with a defining moment in the history of racial tension in the United States.
Image: Riots took place against racial inequalities in Watts, south central LA, in 1956
What started with a confrontation between a black motorist and a white traffic cop in August 1965 exploded into days of riots. Tensions over inequality and discrimination boiled over.
Further riots occurred over police brutality in 1992, after the trials of four officers accused of beating a black man called Rodney King resulted in no convictions.
Today, Watts is the focus of an initiative to lower the modern-day tensions.
Image: Sky's Greg Milam on patrol with Officer John Coughlin in Watts, south central Los Angeles
The LAPD's Community Safety Partnership (CSP) has put one hundred officers on the streets with the aim of building trust between the police and community.
Tactics like de-escalation, the focus of so much discussion in the national debate following the death of George Floyd, has been part of the CSP's playbook for years.
LAPD has temporarily banned the use of chokeholds pending a review in the wake of Mr Floyd's death.
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Veteran CSP officer John Coughlin describes what happened to Mr Floyd as "evil".
He says the CSP's work in Watts has made a "massive improvement" in relationships.
Image: Officer Coughlin is one of a number whose work aims to improve relations with the police
Still, the slow drive past a group of known 'Bloods' gang members, the catcalls and gestures, would hardly qualify as a cordial encounter.
But CSP is largely welcomed. Even gang members, officers say, respect the effort to keep children out of the cycle of violence.
"The police come through, they do their job. They see someone doing something that ain't right, of course they're going to stop them," Watts resident Jesse Snead told me. "The cops, they're ok."
Image: Jesse Snead, a resident of Watts, said police do the job they need to do
He's not as hopeful about nationwide change.
"There's always some bad apples in the bunch," he added.
At a playground, officers stopped to chat to a group of children, aged five to 12.
Image: The police work includes talking to children
The youngsters press their claim to join a football team supported by the CSP, another updates them on the progress of the strawberry plant given to him by an officer.
On another block, sisters Aracelli and Marilyn prepare to take up college scholarships secured by the programme. It is a path out of the projects.
They are undoubtedly positive impacts in a place with a history of strife. Giving youngsters an option for a different life is a CSP aim.
Image: Sisters Aracelli and Marilyn are among those to benefit from college scholarships secured by the CSP programme
No-one pretends there's not another side to the story - there is a gritty reality to policing a place with a history of violent crime - but CSP is a hopeful story.
Its commander, himself African American, says the programme provides a model.
"No doubt," said Gerald Woodward. "As you build authentic relationships with the community, enlist their concerns and ask how do we come up with some solutions for you, there's an impact and you see the crime actually reduces.
Image: Commander Gerald Woodyard says the aim of the project is to come up with solutions for the community, which leads to crime reduction
"There's almost like a halo effect."
He acknowledges this is a pivotal moment for the country, brought about by those 8 minutes and 46 seconds in Minneapolis.
"I explained it to my kids and it's impacted me deeply and I've got to go to work, put on the same uniform and be professional," he said.
Image: LA was hit by riots against police brutality in 1992
"That's the hard part. Being a person of colour, when you take the uniform off, you're still African American. In reality we need more people to reflect the community that we are serving."


skynewsus--2020-06-22--Apple chases 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.
Advertisement
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.


skynewsus--2020-06-22--Inhaled version of 'promising' COVID-19 treatment to be trialled

Gilead Sciences is to trial an inhaled version of remdesivir , a drug which it says shows promise in the treatment of COVID-19 .
The pharmaceutical company said in an open letter that it would screen healthy volunteers for Phase 1 trials this week , and aim to start them in August .
Chairman and chief executive Daniel O'Day said : `` If the trials are successful , this could represent important progress .
`` Remdesivir , our investigational antiviral medicine , is currently given to patients intravenously through daily infusions in the hospital .
`` An inhaled formulation would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could potentially allow for easier administration outside the hospital , at earlier stages of disease .
`` That could have significant implications in helping to stem the tide of the pandemic . ''
In May , US regulators gave permission for remdesivir to be used on seriously ill COVID-19 patients in hospital after a government-sponsored study showed that it could shorten recovery time by 31 % - about four days on average .
The antiviral drug was originally developed to tackle Ebola .
Trials will also look at how remdesivir could be used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with people receiving it in outpatient settings .
Mr O'Day said : `` Our hope is that earlier intervention could help patients avoid hospitalisation altogether . ''
Work is also under way to look at how the drug could be used in combination with other treatments .
Mr O'Day added : `` Based on our knowledge of the disease so far , it seems that in the earlier stages of COVID-19 , the virus itself is the primary driver of illness .
`` In the later stages , the body 's inflammatory response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aspects of the disease .
It is important , therefore , to have tools that can work together to fight both aspects of the disease : an antiviral to target the virus itself and another therapy to tackle the inflammatory response . ''
He added that news last week of the success of the steroid dexamethasone appeared to `` support the study of complementary approaches for treating COVID-19 '' .
The company expects to have more than two million courses of remdesivir by the end of the year and aims for `` many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ O'Day said voluntary licensing agreements with nine generic manufacturers and would try to make sure remdesivir is accessible and affordable to world governments .
`` All of us at Gilead feel the full weight of our responsibility with remdesivir and this will continue to guide all our future actions , '' he added .

Gilead Sciences is to trial an inhaled version of remdesivir, a drug which it says shows promise in the treatment of COVID-19.
The pharmaceutical company said in an open letter that it would screen healthy volunteers for Phase 1 trials this week, and aim to start them in August.
Chairman and chief executive Daniel O'Day said: "If the trials are successful, this could represent important progress.
"Remdesivir, our investigational antiviral medicine, is currently given to patients intravenously through daily infusions in the hospital.
"An inhaled formulation would be given through a nebuliser, which could potentially allow for easier administration outside the hospital, at earlier stages of disease.
"That could have significant implications in helping to stem the tide of the pandemic."
In May, US regulators gave permission for remdesivir to be used on seriously ill COVID-19 patients in hospital after a government-sponsored study showed that it could shorten recovery time by 31% - about four days on average.
The antiviral drug was originally developed to tackle Ebola.
Trials will also look at how remdesivir could be used to treat earlier stages of COVID-19, with people receiving it in outpatient settings.
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Mr O'Day said: "Our hope is that earlier intervention could help patients avoid hospitalisation altogether."
Image: Gilead Sciences is trialling a promising treatment for COVID-19
Work is also under way to look at how the drug could be used in combination with other treatments.
Mr O'Day added: "Based on our knowledge of the disease so far, it seems that in the earlier stages of COVID-19, the virus itself is the primary driver of illness.
"In the later stages, the body's inflammatory response may cause some of the most life-threatening aspects of the disease. It is important, therefore, to have tools that can work together to fight both aspects of the disease: an antiviral to target the virus itself and another therapy to tackle the inflammatory response."
He added that news last week of the success of the steroid dexamethasone appeared to "support the study of complementary approaches for treating COVID-19".
Image: Daniel O'Day is chairman and chief executive of Gilead Sciences
The company expects to have more than two million courses of remdesivir by the end of the year and aims for "many millions more" by 2021.
Mr O'Day said voluntary licensing agreements with nine generic manufacturers and would try to make sure remdesivir is accessible and affordable to world governments.
"All of us at Gilead feel the full weight of our responsibility with remdesivir and this will continue to guide all our future actions," he added.


skynewsus--2020-06-22--Joel Schumacher: Batman and Robin and Lost Boys director dies aged 80

Hollywood director Joel Schumacher , who made two Batman films after rising to fame with hits including St Elmo 's Fire and The Lost Boys , has died aged 80 .
A representative for the flamboyant US filmmaker said he died in New York on Monday after a year-long battle with cancer .
The director 's first film St Elmo 's Fire in 1985 helped make a name for the so-called `` Brat Pack '' group of young actors as it starred Rob Lowe , Demi Moore , Emilio Estevez and Ally Sheedy .
Schumacher became one of the pre-eminent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1987 vampire horror comedy The Lost Boys .
The filmmaker directed Flatliners and A Time To Kill as well two Batman films - 1995 's Batman Forever and 1997 's Batman & Robin - which were considered among the most cartoonish movies in the DC Comics franchise .
Schumacher also helmed the thrillers Tigerland and Phone Booth , along with The Phantom Of The Opera in 2004 .
More recently .
he directed two episodes of Netflix 's House of Cards in 2013 .
Schumacher was raised by his mother in Queens , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when he was four-years-old .
He quickly became entangled in the city 's nightlife as a teenager .
Schumacher told New York magazine earlier this year : `` The street was my education .
`` You could ride your bike over the 59th Street Bridge then .
So I rode my bike everywhere .
`` I was in Manhattan all the time and all over Queens .
If you 're a kid on a bike , anything can happen , and predators come out of the woodwork , my God .
I looked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Schumacher later went on to dress New York department store windows before turning his hand to filmmaking .

Hollywood director Joel Schumacher, who made two Batman films after rising to fame with hits including St Elmo's Fire and The Lost Boys, has died aged 80.
A representative for the flamboyant US filmmaker said he died in New York on Monday after a year-long battle with cancer.
The director's first film St Elmo's Fire in 1985 helped make a name for the so-called "Brat Pack" group of young actors as it starred Rob Lowe, Demi Moore, Emilio Estevez and Ally Sheedy.
Schumacher became one of the pre-eminent filmmakers of the 1990s after directing the 1987 vampire horror comedy The Lost Boys.
Image: St Elmo's Fire starred 'Brat Pack' actors including Rob Lowe, far left, Demi Moore, second left, Emilio Estevez, third left, and Ally Sheedy, second from right
Image: The Lost Boys starred Jason Patric, left, Kiefer Sutherland, centre, and Jami Gertz, right
The filmmaker directed Flatliners and A Time To Kill as well two Batman films - 1995's Batman Forever and 1997's Batman & Robin - which were considered among the most cartoonish movies in the DC Comics franchise.
Schumacher also helmed the thrillers Tigerland and Phone Booth, along with The Phantom Of The Opera in 2004.
More recently. he directed two episodes of Netflix's House of Cards in 2013.
Image: Schumacher's 1997 film starred George Clooney as Batman and Chris O'Donnell as Robin
Schumacher was raised by his mother in Queens, New York, after his father died when he was four-years-old.
He quickly became entangled in the city's nightlife as a teenager.
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Schumacher told New York magazine earlier this year: "The street was my education.
"You could ride your bike over the 59th Street Bridge then. So I rode my bike everywhere.
"I was in Manhattan all the time and all over Queens. If you're a kid on a bike, anything can happen, and predators come out of the woodwork, my God. I looked very innocent, but I wasn't."
Schumacher later went on to dress New York department store windows before turning his hand to filmmaking.


skynewsus--2020-06-23--Trump threatens statue 'anarchists' with 10 years in jail

Donald Trump has said he has authorised police to arrest anyone who vandalises or destroys statues - and threatened them with 10 years in prison .
The US president announced he will issue an executive order to protect monuments after a wave of demonstrations by Black Lives Matter supporters across the US , sparked by the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May .
On Monday night , anti-racism protesters tried to pull down a statue of Andrew Jackson near the White House .
He was America 's president from 1829 to 1837 and was a Tennessee slave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be one of Mr Trump 's favourite former US leaders .
Demonstrators scaled the bronze monument in Lafayette Park and wrapped ropes around it , while chanting : `` Hey , hey , ho , ho , Andrew Jackson 's got to go . ''
Officers in riot gear moved in and used pepper spray to disperse the activists before they were able to topple it .
Mr Trump has been clear that he opposes the removal of monuments of leaders of the Confederacy , or from other distasteful aspects of American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who vandalises monuments can be punishable with 10 years in jail .
The president told reporters he would `` have an executive order shortly that will reinforce what is already there but in a more unified way '' .
`` Last night we stopped the attack on Andrew Jackson in Lafayette Park , '' said Mr Trump on Tuesday .
`` I want to thank the police .
Numerous people are in jail or will go to jail .
We are looking at long-term sentences .
`` These are anarchists and other things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it , we are willing and able to help . ''
Earlier on Twitter , Mr Trump wrote : `` I have authorised the federal government to arrest anyone who vandalises or destroys any monument , statue or other such federal property in the US with up to 10 years in prison , per the veteran 's memorial preservation act , or such other laws that may be pertinent .
`` This action is taken effective immediately , but may also be used retroactively for destruction or vandalism already caused .
There will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officers were hurt on Monday evening while they tried to clear protester tents near Lafayette Square .
Two men were arrested during the unrest .
Mr Jackson signed a law that led to the expulsion of Native Americans east of the Mississippi River in which they were forcibly moved west by the federal government .
According to the Library of Congress , about 4,000 people died on the march that became known as the `` Trail of Tears '' .
Mr Trump has expressed admiration for Mr Jackson , who was a populist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Hermitage , which was the site of Mr Jackson 's plantation .
Mr Jackson owned about 150 slaves at the time of his death , according to the Hermitage .

Donald Trump has said he has authorised police to arrest anyone who vandalises or destroys statues - and threatened them with 10 years in prison.
The US president announced he will issue an executive order to protect monuments after a wave of demonstrations by Black Lives Matter supporters across the US, sparked by the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May.
On Monday night, anti-racism protesters tried to pull down a statue of Andrew Jackson near the White House.
He was America's president from 1829 to 1837 and was a Tennessee slave owner - and he is also thought to be one of Mr Trump's favourite former US leaders.
Image: Protesters tried to pull down the Andrew Jackson statue near the White House
Demonstrators scaled the bronze monument in Lafayette Park and wrapped ropes around it, while chanting: "Hey, hey, ho, ho, Andrew Jackson's got to go."
Officers in riot gear moved in and used pepper spray to disperse the activists before they were able to topple it.
Mr Trump has been clear that he opposes the removal of monuments of leaders of the Confederacy, or from other distasteful aspects of American history.
Federal law already says anyone who vandalises monuments can be punishable with 10 years in jail.
The president told reporters he would "have an executive order shortly that will reinforce what is already there but in a more unified way".
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Image: Demonstrators clashed with police in Washington DC
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:: Listen to Divided States on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
"Last night we stopped the attack on Andrew Jackson in Lafayette Park," said Mr Trump on Tuesday.
"I want to thank the police. Numerous people are in jail or will go to jail. We are looking at long-term sentences.
"These are anarchists and other things. If the states can't handle it, we are willing and able to help."
Image: A man was injured following clashes close to the White House
Earlier on Twitter, Mr Trump wrote: "I have authorised the federal government to arrest anyone who vandalises or destroys any monument, statue or other such federal property in the US with up to 10 years in prison, per the veteran's memorial preservation act, or such other laws that may be pertinent.
"This action is taken effective immediately, but may also be used retroactively for destruction or vandalism already caused. There will be no exceptions!"
Four police officers were hurt on Monday evening while they tried to clear protester tents near Lafayette Square.
Two men were arrested during the unrest.
Image: Andrew Jackson was president from 1829 to 1837 and was a Tennessee slave owner
Mr Jackson signed a law that led to the expulsion of Native Americans east of the Mississippi River in which they were forcibly moved west by the federal government.
According to the Library of Congress, about 4,000 people died on the march that became known as the "Trail of Tears".
Mr Trump has expressed admiration for Mr Jackson, who was a populist, including during a 2017 visit to the Hermitage, which was the site of Mr Jackson's plantation.
Mr Jackson owned about 150 slaves at the time of his death, according to the Hermitage.


skynewsus--2020-06-23--Trump administration's reputation among traders takes a hit after adviser's bombshell TV appearance

When is a trade deal `` over '' ?
That was the key question during an extraordinary few hours in which a key adviser to US President Donald Trump managed to sow confusion on Wall Street in a way seldom seen .
The saga began on Monday evening when Peter Navarro , Mr Trump 's chief trade adviser , gave an interview to Fox News .
During the interview , Mr Navarro criticised China 's government for its handling of COVID-19 , prompting Martha MacCallum , the anchor , to ask whether the trade deal that China and the US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ replied : `` It 's over .
Yes .
I think that - here is , I think , the turning point .
They [ the Chinese trade negotiators ] came here on 15 January to sign that trade deal .
And that was a full two months after they knew the virus was out and about .
It was at a time when they had already sent hundreds of thousands of people to this country to spread that virus .
`` And it was just minutes after wheels up , when that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to hear about this pandemic .
`` And I think everybody here inside their perimeter and around this country now understands that China lied , Americans died . ''
His comments immediately sent US stock futures prices sharply lower - US equity markets had closed for the day - with the Dow Jones future pointing to a fall of 400 points .
The yield on US Treasuries fell as investors reached for a traditional safe haven .
Elsewhere , the Chinese yuan wobbled against the US dollar , while stocks in Shanghai were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prices fell included copper and crude oil - two key barometers of economic activity .
The shocked reaction of investors immediately sparked what Dow Jones Newswires described as a `` scramble '' in the White House .
Senior Trump administration officials , including Larry Kudlow , director of the president 's National Economic Council , were quickly wheeled out to tell reporters that the agreement had not been scrapped .
Mr Navarro issued a statement to the media in which he said : `` My comments have been taken wildly out of context @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do with the phase one trade deal , which remains in place .
I was simply speaking to the lack of trust we now have of the Chinese Communist Party after they lied about the origins of the China virus and foisted a pandemic upon the world . ''
Meanwhile , Mr Trump reached for his favourite communications medium , tweeting : `` The China trade deal is fully intact .
Hopefully they will continue to live up to the terms of the agreement ! ''
His message poured oil on troubled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ session went on , equity markets recovered .
Most Asian stock indices closed higher with the Hang Seng in Hong Kong swinging in one of the biggest ranges in its history .
The episode nonetheless has not helped the Trump administration 's reputation among investors .
Peter Cardillo , chief market economist at broker and wealth manager Spartan Capital , told clients in his daily note : `` It appears this administration is ever so confused as the president says one thing and [ his ] trade adviser says another .
`` These @ @ @ @ @ @ @ round of unsettled markets in spite of the Fed 's printing presses working at full speed . ''
And Kenny Tang Sing-hing , chief executive of the fund manager China Hong Kong Capital Asset Management , told the South China Morning Post : `` US-China trade tensions will continue to roil the markets this year…there will continue to be some noise . ''
While the US-China trade deal lives on , though , the episode is also a pointer to the volatility that can be expected ahead of this autumn 's US presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the Japanese bank MUFG , said : `` Last night 's price action does highlight that the foreign exchange market remains sensitive to trade policy uncertainty .
It remains a potential trigger for higher volatility . ''
Moreover , the two are deeply interconnected , with many political economists believing that Mr Trump needs a trade deal with the Chinese to help him secure victory in November - a view given more credence by the recent revelations from John Bolton , Mr Trump 's former national security adviser , that the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's president , to win re-election .
So , as the election draws closer , investors will be watching closely for signs that a deal is more or less likely .
And mixed messaging from the administration is likely to trigger more upheaval .

When is a trade deal "over"?
That was the key question during an extraordinary few hours in which a key adviser to US President Donald Trump managed to sow confusion on Wall Street in a way seldom seen.
The saga began on Monday evening when Peter Navarro, Mr Trump's chief trade adviser, gave an interview to Fox News.
Image: Peter Navarro is Donald Trump's chief trade adviser
During the interview, Mr Navarro criticised China's government for its handling of COVID-19, prompting Martha MacCallum, the anchor, to ask whether the trade deal that China and the US have been negotiating was over.
He replied: "It's over. Yes. I think that - here is, I think, the turning point. They [the Chinese trade negotiators] came here on 15 January to sign that trade deal. And that was a full two months after they knew the virus was out and about. It was at a time when they had already sent hundreds of thousands of people to this country to spread that virus.
"And it was just minutes after wheels up, when that plane took off, that we began to hear about this pandemic.
"And I think everybody here inside their perimeter and around this country now understands that China lied, Americans died."
His comments immediately sent US stock futures prices sharply lower - US equity markets had closed for the day - with the Dow Jones future pointing to a fall of 400 points. The yield on US Treasuries fell as investors reached for a traditional safe haven. Elsewhere, the Chinese yuan wobbled against the US dollar, while stocks in Shanghai were also sent lower. Other assets whose prices fell included copper and crude oil - two key barometers of economic activity.
The shocked reaction of investors immediately sparked what Dow Jones Newswires described as a "scramble" in the White House.
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Image: US President Donald Trump has been accused of seeking China's help in winning the next election
Senior Trump administration officials, including Larry Kudlow, director of the president's National Economic Council, were quickly wheeled out to tell reporters that the agreement had not been scrapped.
Mr Navarro issued a statement to the media in which he said: "My comments have been taken wildly out of context.
"They had nothing at all to do with the phase one trade deal, which remains in place. I was simply speaking to the lack of trust we now have of the Chinese Communist Party after they lied about the origins of the China virus and foisted a pandemic upon the world."
Meanwhile, Mr Trump reached for his favourite communications medium, tweeting: "The China trade deal is fully intact. Hopefully they will continue to live up to the terms of the agreement!"
His message poured oil on troubled waters and, as the Asian trading session went on, equity markets recovered. Most Asian stock indices closed higher with the Hang Seng in Hong Kong swinging in one of the biggest ranges in its history.
The episode nonetheless has not helped the Trump administration's reputation among investors.
Peter Cardillo, chief market economist at broker and wealth manager Spartan Capital, told clients in his daily note: "It appears this administration is ever so confused as the president says one thing and [his] trade adviser says another.
"These types of uncertainties could lead to another round of unsettled markets in spite of the Fed's printing presses working at full speed."
Image: The Chinese yuan wobbled against the US dollar following Mr Navarro's interview
And Kenny Tang Sing-hing, chief executive of the fund manager China Hong Kong Capital Asset Management, told the South China Morning Post: "US-China trade tensions will continue to roil the markets this year…there will continue to be some noise."
While the US-China trade deal lives on, though, the episode is also a pointer to the volatility that can be expected ahead of this autumn's US presidential election.
Lee Harman, currency analyst at the Japanese bank MUFG, said: "Last night's price action does highlight that the foreign exchange market remains sensitive to trade policy uncertainty. It remains a potential trigger for higher volatility."
Moreover, the two are deeply interconnected, with many political economists believing that Mr Trump needs a trade deal with the Chinese to help him secure victory in November - a view given more credence by the recent revelations from John Bolton, Mr Trump's former national security adviser, that the president sought help from Xi Jinping, China's president, to win re-election.
So, as the election draws closer, investors will be watching closely for signs that a deal is more or less likely. And mixed messaging from the administration is likely to trigger more upheaval.


skynewsus--2020-06-23--Ex-US marine jailed in Russia for spying 'hopes to be freed through prisoner swap'

Former US Marine Paul Whelan will not appeal against his jail sentence for spying in Russia and hopes instead to be released through a future prisoner swap with the US , his lawyer has said .
The 50-year-old , who has UK citizenship , as well as US , Canadian and Irish passports , has been in custody in Russia since he was arrested in a Moscow hotel room on 28 December 2018 .
Police said they caught him `` red-handed '' with a computer memory stick containing a list of secret Russian agents .
He was convicted of espionage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maximum security prison .
He had pleaded not guilty , claiming he was set up by a sting operation and that he had been given the USB drive by someone else , thinking it only contained holiday photos .
On Tuesday , his lawyer Vladimir Zherebenkov said Whelan would not be lodging an appeal against the sentence and was hoping to be freed as part of a prisoner swap , according to Interfax news agency .
Whelan 's brother David had vowed to appeal against last week 's verdict , asking the US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bring him home '' .
US Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan described the case against Whelan as a `` mockery of justice '' .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker He said he was `` crestfallen '' by the judge 's decision , adding : `` An American citizen has been sentenced to a term of 16 years for a crime for which we have not seen evidence . ''
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted : `` Outraged by the decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ basis of a secret trial , with secret evidence , and without appropriate allowances for defence witnesses .
`` Paul 's treatment by Russian authorities continues to be appalling , and we demand his immediate release . ''
Sky News ' Moscow correspondent Diana Magnay said Whelan 's sentence was `` no great surprise '' .
`` The fact it was not the 18 years the prosecution requested is hardly a concession , '' she said .
`` The process was held entirely behind closed doors , essentially a secret trial in which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he holds say no evidence of his guilt has been presented .
`` Whelan has always maintained the trial was a sham and piece of political theatre . ''

Former US Marine Paul Whelan will not appeal against his jail sentence for spying in Russia and hopes instead to be released through a future prisoner swap with the US, his lawyer has said.
The 50-year-old, who has UK citizenship, as well as US, Canadian and Irish passports, has been in custody in Russia since he was arrested in a Moscow hotel room on 28 December 2018.
Police said they caught him "red-handed" with a computer memory stick containing a list of secret Russian agents.
Image: Vladimir Zherebenkov, Paul Whelan's lawyer, has said his client hopes to be freed as part of a prisoner swap with the US
He was convicted of espionage and sentenced to 16 years in a maximum security prison.
He had pleaded not guilty, claiming he was set up by a sting operation and that he had been given the USB drive by someone else, thinking it only contained holiday photos.
On Tuesday, his lawyer Vladimir Zherebenkov said Whelan would not be lodging an appeal against the sentence and was hoping to be freed as part of a prisoner swap, according to Interfax news agency.
Whelan's brother David had vowed to appeal against last week's verdict, asking the US government to "immediately take steps to bring him home".
US Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan described the case against Whelan as a "mockery of justice".
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
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He said he was "crestfallen" by the judge's decision, adding: "An American citizen has been sentenced to a term of 16 years for a crime for which we have not seen evidence."
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted: "Outraged by the decision today to convict Paul Whelan on the basis of a secret trial, with secret evidence, and without appropriate allowances for defence witnesses.
"Paul's treatment by Russian authorities continues to be appalling, and we demand his immediate release."
Sky News' Moscow correspondent Diana Magnay said Whelan's sentence was "no great surprise".
"The fact it was not the 18 years the prosecution requested is hardly a concession," she said.
"The process was held entirely behind closed doors, essentially a secret trial in which he and all four ambassadors whose citizenship he holds say no evidence of his guilt has been presented.
"Whelan has always maintained the trial was a sham and piece of political theatre."


skynewsus--2020-06-22--'They're sipping margaritas': Reading victim's dad says his son is now with his husband who died fro

'They're sipping margaritas': Reading victim's dad says his son is now with his husband who died from cancer


skynewsus--2020-06-22--'Inconsequential': Megan Fox defends dancing in bikini for Michael Bay aged 15

Actress Megan Fox has said the resurfaced TV interview where she describes being asked to dance in a bikini and heels aged 15 `` casts a sinister shadow '' on the truth .
The 2009 clip from Jimmy Kimmel Live shows the Transformers actress describing working with director Michael Bay for the first time , where she talks about a scene in Bad Boys II .
Fox says : `` I had just turned 15 and I was an extra in Bad Boys II .
They were shooting this club scene and they brought me in and I was wearing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ red cowboy hat and six-inch heels .
`` [ Bay ] approved it and they said 'Michael , she 's 15 so you ca n't sit her at the bar and she ca n't have a drink in her hand ' , so , his solution to that problem was to then have me dancing underneath a waterfall getting soaking wet . ''
The audience then laugh , and Kimmel replies : `` Perfectly wholesome . ''
Clarifying her age , Fox goes on : `` At 15 , I was in 10th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ microcosm of how Bay 's mind works . ''
Fox has since posted a statement on Instagram saying she felt the need to `` clarify some of the details '' which had been mishandled by `` the media and society '' after the resurfaced clip went viral .
Fox had previously spoken about auditioning for the the first Transformers movie , which came out in 2007 , by re-enacting a scene from the film on Bay 's own Ferrari in a car park .
She said she was not underage at the time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made to 'wash ' or work on someone 's cars in a way that was extraneous from the material in the actual script '' .
Fox described these particular experiences as `` inconsequential '' , adding : `` I have endured some genuinely harrowing experiences in a ruthlessly misogynistic industry '' .
Twitter user liz w , who shared the 2009 footage , described the video in her post as : `` A clip from 2009 where Megan Fox tells a story about Michael Bay sexualising her as a 15 y/o .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ men has never been taken seriously and still is n't . ''
The post , which has been retweeted over 50,000 times , caused the names Megan Fox and Michael Bay to trend on Twitter .
Fox has previously hit out at Bay - who she worked for in both Bad Boys II and the Transformers franchise - describing him as wanting to `` be like Hitler on his sets '' and `` a nightmare to work for '' during a 2009 interview with Wonderland magazine .
Following her comments , an open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ purporting to be from three anonymous members of the film crew , criticising Fox for unprofessional behaviour on set .
The letter credited Bay with `` granting her the starring role in Transformers '' and so making her `` one of the most googled and oogled women on earth '' .
It went on to describe her as `` the queen of talking trailer trash '' and then compared her to a `` porn star '' , calling her `` thankless , classless and graceless '' .
: : Listen to the Backstage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Spotify , Spreaker After appearing in the first two Transformers films , Fox was replaced by British model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in the third movie , which was filmed in 2011 .
Fox has gone on to play April O'Neil in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise , and star in the TV series New Girl .
She has most recently appeared in a music video for her boyfriend , American rapper Machine Gun Kelly .
Sky News has contacted Megan Fox , Michael Bay and Jimmy Kimmel for comment .

Actress Megan Fox has said the resurfaced TV interview where she describes being asked to dance in a bikini and heels aged 15 "casts a sinister shadow" on the truth.
The 2009 clip from Jimmy Kimmel Live shows the Transformers actress describing working with director Michael Bay for the first time, where she talks about a scene in Bad Boys II.
Fox says: "I had just turned 15 and I was an extra in Bad Boys II. They were shooting this club scene and they brought me in and I was wearing a stars and stripes bikini and a red cowboy hat and six-inch heels.
"[Bay] approved it and they said 'Michael, she's 15 so you can't sit her at the bar and she can't have a drink in her hand', so, his solution to that problem was to then have me dancing underneath a waterfall getting soaking wet."
Image: Michael Bay directed Fox in Bad Boys II and two Transformers films
The audience then laugh, and Kimmel replies: "Perfectly wholesome."
Clarifying her age, Fox goes on: "At 15, I was in 10th grade. That's kind of a microcosm of how Bay's mind works."
Fox has since posted a statement on Instagram saying she felt the need to "clarify some of the details" which had been mishandled by "the media and society" after the resurfaced clip went viral.
Fox had previously spoken about auditioning for the the first Transformers movie, which came out in 2007, by re-enacting a scene from the film on Bay's own Ferrari in a car park.
She said she was not underage at the time of the audition and was "not made to 'wash' or work on someone's cars in a way that was extraneous from the material in the actual script".
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Fox described these particular experiences as "inconsequential", adding: "I have endured some genuinely harrowing experiences in a ruthlessly misogynistic industry".
Twitter user liz w, who shared the 2009 footage, described the video in her post as: "A clip from 2009 where Megan Fox tells a story about Michael Bay sexualising her as a 15 y/o.
"The crowd laughs, and Kimmel makes gross jokes.
"Teen girls being preyed on by older men has never been taken seriously and still isn't."
Image: Jimmy Kimmel has hosted ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live since 2003
The post, which has been retweeted over 50,000 times, caused the names Megan Fox and Michael Bay to trend on Twitter.
Fox has previously hit out at Bay - who she worked for in both Bad Boys II and the Transformers franchise - describing him as wanting to "be like Hitler on his sets" and "a nightmare to work for" during a 2009 interview with Wonderland magazine.
Following her comments, an open letter appeared on Bay's website, purporting to be from three anonymous members of the film crew, criticising Fox for unprofessional behaviour on set.
The letter credited Bay with "granting her the starring role in Transformers" and so making her "one of the most googled and oogled women on earth".
It went on to describe her as "the queen of talking trailer trash" and then compared her to a "porn star", calling her "thankless, classless and graceless".
:: Listen to the Backstage podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
After appearing in the first two Transformers films, Fox was replaced by British model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in the third movie, which was filmed in 2011.
Fox has gone on to play April O'Neil in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise, and star in the TV series New Girl.
She has most recently appeared in a music video for her boyfriend, American rapper Machine Gun Kelly.
Sky News has contacted Megan Fox, Michael Bay and Jimmy Kimmel for comment.


skynewsus--2020-06-23--'Troubling questions': US politician investigates Farage trip to Trump rally

A US congressman has launched an investigation after Nigel Farage apparently flew to America to attend a Donald Trump rally during the coronavirus pandemic .
Bennie G Thompson , chairman of the House of Representatives ' committee on homeland security , said the decision to allow the visit raised `` numerous troubling questions '' at the time of travel restrictions from the UK .
The US has barred entry to arrivals from Britain , with the exception of US citizens , their family members and `` individuals who meet specified exceptions '' .
Brexit Party leader Mr Farage posted a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caption : `` In the USA , only twenty four hours from Tulsa '' - the destination of the US president 's rally over the weekend .
Mr Thompson said he had sent a letter to Chad Wolf , acting secretary of homeland security , requesting `` all relevant documents '' on the decision to `` waive the travel ban for Mr Farage '' .
He said : `` The decision of the Trump administration to admit Mr Farage to the United States to enable him to attend a campaign rally at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kingdom to the US has been suspended raises numerous troubling questions , as does the claim that such travel was in the national interest . ''
Mr Thompson , a Mississippi Democrat , said a statement provided to his staff by America 's Customs and Border Protection ( CBP ) confirmed Mr Farage was initially denied boarding while attempting to fly from the UK to the US , due to the coronavirus travel restrictions .
According to the congressman , the CBP said the Department of Homeland Security conducted a review and determined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' as his entry to the US `` would be in the national interest '' and he was allowed to board the flight .
In his letter to Mr Wolf , Mr Thompson has requested that the Department of Homeland Security provide `` all communication '' since 14 March related to Mr Farage 's trip to the US .
He also requests documents on `` the individual who ultimately approved travel to the US by Mr Farage '' and `` the determination and justification '' that the trip `` was a matter of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contacted the Brexit Party for comment .
: : Listen to Divided States on Apple podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , and Spreaker Mr Farage previously appeared alongside Mr Trump to give a speech at a rally in Mississippi in August 2016 before the last US presidential election .
At the time , he spoke about his role in the campaign for Britain to leave the European Union , but stopped short of endorsing Mr Trump for president .
It was announced earlier this month that Mr Farage will no longer host @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presented since January 2017 .

A US congressman has launched an investigation after Nigel Farage apparently flew to America to attend a Donald Trump rally during the coronavirus pandemic.
Bennie G Thompson, chairman of the House of Representatives' committee on homeland security, said the decision to allow the visit raised "numerous troubling questions" at the time of travel restrictions from the UK.
The US has barred entry to arrivals from Britain, with the exception of US citizens, their family members and "individuals who meet specified exceptions".
Brexit Party leader Mr Farage posted a photograph of himself on Saturday with the caption: "In the USA, only twenty four hours from Tulsa" - the destination of the US president's rally over the weekend.
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Mr Thompson said he had sent a letter to Chad Wolf, acting secretary of homeland security, requesting "all relevant documents" on the decision to "waive the travel ban for Mr Farage".
He said: "The decision of the Trump administration to admit Mr Farage to the United States to enable him to attend a campaign rally at a time when most travel from the United Kingdom to the US has been suspended raises numerous troubling questions, as does the claim that such travel was in the national interest."
Mr Thompson, a Mississippi Democrat, said a statement provided to his staff by America's Customs and Border Protection (CBP) confirmed Mr Farage was initially denied boarding while attempting to fly from the UK to the US, due to the coronavirus travel restrictions.
Image: Bennie G Thompson has requested information on who approved Mr Farage's visit
According to the congressman, the CBP said the Department of Homeland Security conducted a review and determined Mr Farage's travel was "permissible" as his entry to the US "would be in the national interest" and he was allowed to board the flight.
In his letter to Mr Wolf, Mr Thompson has requested that the Department of Homeland Security provide "all communication" since 14 March related to Mr Farage's trip to the US.
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He also requests documents on "the individual who ultimately approved travel to the US by Mr Farage" and "the determination and justification" that the trip "was a matter of national interest".
Sky News has contacted the Brexit Party for comment.
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Mr Farage previously appeared alongside Mr Trump to give a speech at a rally in Mississippi in August 2016 before the last US presidential election.
At the time, he spoke about his role in the campaign for Britain to leave the European Union, but stopped short of endorsing Mr Trump for president.
It was announced earlier this month that Mr Farage will no longer host his LBC Radio show which he had presented since January 2017.


skynewsus--2020-06-23--Jimmy Kimmel apologises for using blackface makeup

US TV host Jimmy Kimmel has apologised for using blackface makeup to impersonate stars including Snoop Dogg and Oprah Winfrey .
Kimmel said he had thought of his behaviour on Comedy Central 's The Man Show , which aired between 1999 and 2004 , `` as impersonations of celebrities and nothing more '' .
The 52-year-old added he wanted to say sorry to those who had been `` genuinely hurt or offended '' .
Kimmel said he had delayed apologising because he thought that it `` would be celebrated as a victory by those who equate apologies with weakness and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ divide us '' .
He added : `` That delay was a mistake . ''
Kimmel hosts a late-night talk show on US channel ABC and presented the Oscars in 2017 and 2018 .
The popular television personality also impersonated the black basketball player Karl Malone on The Man Show .
Kimmel said his impression of Malone , known as the Mailman , started on the radio .
He said : `` On KROQ radio in the mid-90s , I did a recurring impression of the NBA player Karl Malone .
In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on TV .
`` We hired makeup artists to make me look as much like Karl Malone as possible .
I never considered that this might be seen as anything other than an imitation of a fellow human being , one that had no more to do with Karl 's skin colour than it did his bulging muscles and bald head .
`` I 've done dozens of impressions of famous people , including Snoop Dogg , Oprah , Eminem , Dick Vitale , Rosie , and many others .
`` In each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impersonations of celebrities and nothing more .
Looking back , many of these sketches are embarrassing , and it is frustrating that these thoughtless moments have become a weapon used by some to diminish my criticisms of social and other injustices . ''
Kimmel said he believed he had `` evolved and matured over the last 20 years , and I hope that is evident to anyone who watches my show '' .
The TV host 's use of blackface make-up came under renewed scrutiny after fellow presenter Jimmy Fallon issued a similar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ episodes of the sitcom `` 30 Rock '' featuring blackface will be removed from streaming at the request of its creators Tina Fey and Robert Carlock .
Fey said in a statement : `` As we strive to do the work and do better in regards to race in America , we believe that these episodes featuring actors in race-changing make up are best taken out of circulation . ''
In the UK , Little Britain creators David Walliams and Matt Lucas , and Ant and Dec , have apologised for imitating people @ @ @ @

US TV host Jimmy Kimmel has apologised for using blackface makeup to impersonate stars including Snoop Dogg and Oprah Winfrey.
Kimmel said he had thought of his behaviour on Comedy Central's The Man Show, which aired between 1999 and 2004, "as impersonations of celebrities and nothing more".
The 52-year-old added he wanted to say sorry to those who had been "genuinely hurt or offended".
Kimmel said he had delayed apologising because he thought that it "would be celebrated as a victory by those who equate apologies with weakness and cheer for leaders who use prejudice to divide us".
He added: "That delay was a mistake."
Kimmel hosts a late-night talk show on US channel ABC and presented the Oscars in 2017 and 2018.
The popular television personality also impersonated the black basketball player Karl Malone on The Man Show.
Kimmel said his impression of Malone, known as the Mailman, started on the radio.
Image: The US TV host wore black face to impersonate the rapper Snoop Dogg
He said: "On KROQ radio in the mid-90s, I did a recurring impression of the NBA player Karl Malone. In the late 90s, I continued impersonating Malone on TV.
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"We hired makeup artists to make me look as much like Karl Malone as possible. I never considered that this might be seen as anything other than an imitation of a fellow human being, one that had no more to do with Karl's skin colour than it did his bulging muscles and bald head.
"I've done dozens of impressions of famous people, including Snoop Dogg, Oprah, Eminem, Dick Vitale, Rosie, and many others.
"In each case, I thought of them as impersonations of celebrities and nothing more. Looking back, many of these sketches are embarrassing, and it is frustrating that these thoughtless moments have become a weapon used by some to diminish my criticisms of social and other injustices."
Image: Kimmel impersonated the popular TV personality Oprah Winfrey
Kimmel said he believed he had "evolved and matured over the last 20 years, and I hope that is evident to anyone who watches my show".
The TV host's use of blackface make-up came under renewed scrutiny after fellow presenter Jimmy Fallon issued a similar apology in May.
It comes as episodes of the sitcom "30 Rock" featuring blackface will be removed from streaming at the request of its creators Tina Fey and Robert Carlock.
Fey said in a statement: "As we strive to do the work and do better in regards to race in America, we believe that these episodes featuring actors in race-changing make up are best taken out of circulation."
In the UK, Little Britain creators David Walliams and Matt Lucas, and Ant and Dec, have apologised for imitating people of other races.


skynewsus--2020-06-23--Bill Cosby wins right to fight sexual assault conviction

Disgraced comedian Bill Cosby has won the right to fight his sexual assault conviction in a decision that could test the legal framework of # MeToo cases .
Cosby , 82 , has been in a Philadelphia prison for nearly two years after he was convicted of drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand in 2004 .
He is serving a sentence of between three and 10 years after his conviction in 2018 .
Pennsylvania Supreme Court has agreed to review two aspects of the case .
The first refers to the judge 's decision to let prosecutors call five other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trial , and whether the jury should have heard evidence Cosby gave the sedative Quaaludes to women .
Cosby 's lawyers have long complained the women 's testimonies were unreliable .
The court will also examine Cosby 's argument that he had an agreement with a former prosecutor that he would never be charged in the case .
Cosby says he relied on that agreement before agreeing to give evidence in Constand 's civil lawsuit .
The two aspects have been at the heart of the case since Cosby was charged in December @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 12-year statute of limitations expired .
The time frame refers to the maximum amount of years that can have passed within which legal proceedings may be initiated .
Dozens came forward in the years that followed to accuse Cosby of sexual misconduct .
Montgomery County Judge Steven O'Neill allowed just one of them to testify at Cosby 's first trial in 2017 which ended with an acquittal .
But a year later after the # MeToo movement exploded in the wake of reporting on Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein and other powerful men @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to testify at the retrial .
The jury convicted Cosby on all three felony sex-assault counts .
Lawyer Brian W Perry argued in the appeal that letting other accusers testify in # MeToo cases `` flips constitutional jurisprudence on its head , and the 'presumption of guilt , ' rather than the presumption of innocence , becomes the premise '' .
However , the judge said he found `` striking similarities '' in the women 's descriptions of their encounters with Cosby , and that the testimony was therefore permissible to show evidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr O'Neill wrote in a post-trial opinion : `` In each instance , ( he ) met a substantially younger woman , gained her trust , invited her to a place where he was alone with her , provided her with a drink or drug , and sexually assaulted her once she was rendered incapacitated .
Constand , who now does outreach work to help sex assault victims , asked the appeals court on Tuesday to not allow `` Cosby 's wealth , fame and fortune to win an escape from his maleficent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Spokesman Andrew Wyatt said Cosby was `` extremely thankful '' the court would hear the case .
He said the decision comes as demonstrators across the nation protest the death of Black people at the hands of police and expose the `` corruption that lies within the criminal justice system '' .
Mr Wyatt said in a statement : `` As we have all stated , the false conviction of Bill Cosby is so much bigger than him - it 's about the destruction of ALL Black people and people of colour @ @ @ @

Disgraced comedian Bill Cosby has won the right to fight his sexual assault conviction in a decision that could test the legal framework of #MeToo cases.
Cosby, 82, has been in a Philadelphia prison for nearly two years after he was convicted of drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand in 2004.
He is serving a sentence of between three and 10 years after his conviction in 2018.
Pennsylvania Supreme Court has agreed to review two aspects of the case.
The first refers to the judge's decision to let prosecutors call five other accusers to testify at the sexual assault trial, and whether the jury should have heard evidence Cosby gave the sedative Quaaludes to women.
Cosby's lawyers have long complained the women's testimonies were unreliable.
The court will also examine Cosby's argument that he had an agreement with a former prosecutor that he would never be charged in the case.
Cosby says he relied on that agreement before agreeing to give evidence in Constand's civil lawsuit.
The two aspects have been at the heart of the case since Cosby was charged in December 2015.
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It came just days before the 12-year statute of limitations expired.
Image: Andrea Constand is seen leaving court during the 2018 trial
The time frame refers to the maximum amount of years that can have passed within which legal proceedings may be initiated.
Dozens came forward in the years that followed to accuse Cosby of sexual misconduct.
Montgomery County Judge Steven O'Neill allowed just one of them to testify at Cosby's first trial in 2017 which ended with an acquittal.
But a year later after the #MeToo movement exploded in the wake of reporting on Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein and other powerful men, the judge allowed five other accusers to testify at the retrial.
The jury convicted Cosby on all three felony sex-assault counts.
Lawyer Brian W Perry argued in the appeal that letting other accusers testify in #MeToo cases "flips constitutional jurisprudence on its head, and the 'presumption of guilt,' rather than the presumption of innocence, becomes the premise".
However, the judge said he found "striking similarities" in the women's descriptions of their encounters with Cosby, and that the testimony was therefore permissible to show evidence of a "signature crime".
Image: Cosby has been serving his sentence in a Philadelphia prison
Mr O'Neill wrote in a post-trial opinion: "In each instance, (he) met a substantially younger woman, gained her trust, invited her to a place where he was alone with her, provided her with a drink or drug, and sexually assaulted her once she was rendered incapacitated.
"These chilling similarities rendered (their) testimony admissible."
Constand, who now does outreach work to help sex assault victims, asked the appeals court on Tuesday to not allow "Cosby's wealth, fame and fortune to win an escape from his maleficent, malignant and downright criminal past".
Spokesman Andrew Wyatt said Cosby was "extremely thankful" the court would hear the case.
He said the decision comes as demonstrators across the nation protest the death of Black people at the hands of police and expose the "corruption that lies within the criminal justice system".
Mr Wyatt said in a statement: "As we have all stated, the false conviction of Bill Cosby is so much bigger than him - it's about the destruction of ALL Black people and people of colour in America."


skynewsus--2020-06-23--'Disturbing surge' in US coronavirus cases, warns top White House expert

The White House 's top expert on infectious diseases has warned the US is experiencing a `` disturbing surge '' in coronavirus cases .
Dr Anthony Fauci , whose comments on COVID-19 have often contradicted those of President Donald Trump since the pandemic began , offered the worrying assessment of America 's outbreak during a House committee session .
Giving evidence on Tuesday , Dr Fauci highlighted recent spikes in Republican-led states such as Florida and Texas , which are pressing ahead with the reopening of business despite reporting thousands of cases per day .
Dr Fauci told the House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in community transmission was partly to blame for the increase in coronavirus cases , which have begun to come down sharply in other states .
As part of his testimony , Dr Fauci heaped praise on New York , which has managed to bring down the number of coronavirus infections after being among the worst-hit states back in March and April .
But the national picture remains concerning , Dr Fauci said , with figures tracked by Johns Hopkins University showing that more than 2.3 million cases have now been recorded - the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The US has also recorded more deaths of people with COVID-19 than anywhere else at least 120,000 , which is now comfortably more than half of the total Dr Fauci predicted back in March .
Dr Fauci also appeared to break rank with Mr Trump again on Tuesday when he said more testing would be key to tackling the virus moving forward .
Asked if he had been asked to slow down testing , which Mr Trump appeared to suggest as a potential solution to reducing the number of cases during a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said : `` It 's the opposite , we 're going to be doing more testing , not less . ''
Dr Fauci - who is director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and head of the White House 's coronavirus taskforce - was more positive on the prospect of a vaccine for COVID-19 .
He said he was `` cautiously optimistic '' and that it was a case of `` when and not if '' a solution would emerge .
His comments on Tuesday formed part of an evidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were the heads of the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration , and a top official at the Department of Health and Human Services .
Dr Fauci has previously appeared to be at odds with Mr Trump on the issue of reopening America 's economy and whether the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine could be an effective treatment for coronavirus .

The White House's top expert on infectious diseases has warned the US is experiencing a "disturbing surge" in coronavirus cases.
Dr Anthony Fauci, whose comments on COVID-19 have often contradicted those of President Donald Trump since the pandemic began, offered the worrying assessment of America's outbreak during a House committee session.
Giving evidence on Tuesday, Dr Fauci highlighted recent spikes in Republican-led states such as Florida and Texas, which are pressing ahead with the reopening of business despite reporting thousands of cases per day.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:47 White House defends Trump's 'Kung Flu' comment
Dr Fauci told the House Energy & Commerce Committee that an increase in community transmission was partly to blame for the increase in coronavirus cases, which have begun to come down sharply in other states.
As part of his testimony, Dr Fauci heaped praise on New York, which has managed to bring down the number of coronavirus infections after being among the worst-hit states back in March and April.
But the national picture remains concerning, Dr Fauci said, with figures tracked by Johns Hopkins University showing that more than 2.3 million cases have now been recorded - the most of any country in the world.
The US has also recorded more deaths of people with COVID-19 than anywhere else at least 120,000, which is now comfortably more than half of the total Dr Fauci predicted back in March.
Dr Fauci also appeared to break rank with Mr Trump again on Tuesday when he said more testing would be key to tackling the virus moving forward.
Asked if he had been asked to slow down testing, which Mr Trump appeared to suggest as a potential solution to reducing the number of cases during a campaign rally on Saturday, Dr Fauci said: "It's the opposite, we're going to be doing more testing, not less."
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Dr Fauci - who is director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and head of the White House's coronavirus taskforce - was more positive on the prospect of a vaccine for COVID-19.
He said he was "cautiously optimistic" and that it was a case of "when and not if" a solution would emerge.
His comments on Tuesday formed part of an evidence session on Capitol Hill.
Also present were the heads of the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration, and a top official at the Department of Health and Human Services.
Dr Fauci has previously appeared to be at odds with Mr Trump on the issue of reopening America's economy and whether the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine could be an effective treatment for coronavirus.


skynewsus--2020-06-23--'Noose' found in black NASCAR driver's garage was not a crime - FBI

No charges will be brought over a purported noose found hanging in the garage of a black NASCAR driver after it emerged it had been there since October .
The FBI launched an investigation after the rope was discovered in Bubba Wallace 's garage stall at the Talladega circuit in Alabama on Sunday .
Wallace , the sport 's only full-time African-American driver , had called the discovery at the time a `` despicable act of racism and hatred '' .
But in a statement on Tuesday , US authorities said an investigation had concluded `` no federal crime was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the `` noose '' had been in the garage as early as October 2019 and `` nobody could have known Mr Wallace would be assigned '' to the stall , according to a joint statement from US attorney Jay E Town and FBI special agent Johnnie Sharp Jr. NASCAR said the FBI had concluded Wallace `` was not the target of a hate crime '' and the item was `` a garage door pull rope fashioned like a noose '' .
The motor sport body added that it was `` thankful to learn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racist act against Bubba '' .
However , a defiant Wallace said there was no confusion and the rope had been fashioned into a noose , a symbol connected to lynching and America 's slave history .
He told CNN : `` It was a noose .
Whether it was tied in 2019 ... it is a noose . ''
The 26-year-old driver never saw the rope but said NASCAR president Steve Phelps came to see him on Sunday night with `` tears running down his face '' .
`` The evidence he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crime has been committed , quote-on-quote , '' Wallace said .
`` NASCAR was worried about Talladega .
We had that one circled on the radar with everything going on . ''
The Wood Brothers Racing team said one of its employees alerted the team on Monday that he recalled `` seeing a tied handle in the garage pull down rope '' when NASCAR raced at Talladega in October .
The team said it immediately alerted NASCAR and assisted the investigation .
A crew member from Richard Petty Motorsports found the rope on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sent 15 agents to the track to investigate .
The discovery came after Wallace had successfully pushed the racing car series to ban the Confederate flag at its venues less than two weeks ago .
It prompted some disgruntled fans with Confederate flags to drive past the main entrance to the Alabama race track prior to Sunday 's race .
A plane also flew above the track pulling a banner of the flag that read Defund NASCAR .
: : Listen to Divided States on Apple podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ purported noose on Sunday , Wallace posted a statement on social media in which he said `` the despicable act of racism and hatred leaves me incredibly saddened '' .
Wallace said the incident `` serves as a painful reminder of how much further we have to go as a society and how persistent we must be in the fight against racism '' .
`` As my mother told me today , 'They are just trying to scare you , ' '' he wrote .
`` This will not break me , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back down .
I will continue to proudly stand for what I believe in . ''

No charges will be brought over a purported noose found hanging in the garage of a black NASCAR driver after it emerged it had been there since October.
The FBI launched an investigation after the rope was discovered in Bubba Wallace's garage stall at the Talladega circuit in Alabama on Sunday.
Wallace, the sport's only full-time African-American driver, had called the discovery at the time a "despicable act of racism and hatred".
Image: Wallace said he was 'incredibly saddened' after the purported noose was found
But in a statement on Tuesday, US authorities said an investigation had concluded "no federal crime was committed".
Video evidence had revealed the "noose" had been in the garage as early as October 2019 and "nobody could have known Mr Wallace would be assigned" to the stall, according to a joint statement from US attorney Jay E Town and FBI special agent Johnnie Sharp Jr.
NASCAR said the FBI had concluded Wallace "was not the target of a hate crime" and the item was "a garage door pull rope fashioned like a noose".
The motor sport body added that it was "thankful to learn that this was not an intentional, racist act against Bubba".
However, a defiant Wallace said there was no confusion and the rope had been fashioned into a noose, a symbol connected to lynching and America's slave history.
He told CNN: "It was a noose. Whether it was tied in 2019... it is a noose."
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Image: Wallace insisted the rope was a noose despite the FBI's findings
The 26-year-old driver never saw the rope but said NASCAR president Steve Phelps came to see him on Sunday night with "tears running down his face".
"The evidence he brought to me was that a hate crime has been committed, quote-on-quote," Wallace said.
"NASCAR was worried about Talladega. We had that one circled on the radar with everything going on."
The Wood Brothers Racing team said one of its employees alerted the team on Monday that he recalled "seeing a tied handle in the garage pull down rope" when NASCAR raced at Talladega in October.
The team said it immediately alerted NASCAR and assisted the investigation.
Image: Wallace was offered support by his fellow NASCAR drivers after the noose was found
A crew member from Richard Petty Motorsports found the rope on Sunday and contacted the FBI, which sent 15 agents to the track to investigate.
The discovery came after Wallace had successfully pushed the racing car series to ban the Confederate flag at its venues less than two weeks ago.
It prompted some disgruntled fans with Confederate flags to drive past the main entrance to the Alabama race track prior to Sunday's race.
A plane also flew above the track pulling a banner of the flag that read Defund NASCAR.
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Following the discovery of the purported noose on Sunday, Wallace posted a statement on social media in which he said "the despicable act of racism and hatred leaves me incredibly saddened".
Wallace said the incident "serves as a painful reminder of how much further we have to go as a society and how persistent we must be in the fight against racism".
"As my mother told me today, 'They are just trying to scare you,'" he wrote.
"This will not break me, I will not give in nor will I back down. I will continue to proudly stand for what I believe in."