Biden tops Trump in CNN polls for Michigan, Florida, Arizona

NEW YORK (BLOOMBERG) - Another wave of opinion polls released on Sunday (July 26) showed voters leaning to Democrat Joe Biden over President Donald Trump in Michigan, Florida and Arizona, three key states won by Trump in 2016.

Handling of the coronavirus spells trouble for Trump, according to pollsters, as US cases now exceed 4 million and deaths are over 146,000. The US election is 100 days away but early voting will start in some states in as few as five weeks.

Biden is ahead in Arizona by 49 per cent to 45 per cent among registered voters, according to a CNN poll conducted by SSRS, a survey and market research firm.

Another Arizona poll released on Sunday, from NBC News/Marist, put Biden up by 5 percentage points, 50 per cent to 45 per cent.

Arizona voters said Biden would do a better job handling the Covid-19 outbreak and race relations. Trump's supporters were more enthusiastic than Biden's, though - a factor that the president and his re-election campaign have emphasised.

Democrats also enjoy a wide advantage in Arizona's Senate contest between incumbent Republican Martha McSally and challenger Mark Kelly. Kelly, a NASA astronaut and husband of former Representative Gabrielle Giffords, had a 12-point lead over McSally, 53 per cent to 41 per cent, after having a 3-point edge in March, NBC said.

Trump carried Michigan in 2016 by a narrow 10,704-vote margin. The new CNN poll put Biden on top there by 52 per cent to 40 per cent. Another poll released on Sunday, from CBS/YouGov, showed Biden leading by 6 points.

Some 70 per cent of Michigan's registered voters reported disliking how the president handles himself personally. Biden is only mixed on that measure himself but does better than Trump by double digits.

Some surveys have shown that when voters dislike both candidates, more are leaning towards Biden.

CBS showed Trump up by 1 point over Biden in Ohio after winning the state by 8 points in 2016. Much of Biden's support in Michigan and Ohio came from people who are mainly voting against Trump rather than for Biden, CBS said.

In Florida, Biden is ahead 51 per cent to 46 per cent, according to the CNN survey. Like Arizona, Florida is dealing with a rapid rise in the level of coronavirus infections.

Fatigue with social distancing poses coronavirus containment challenge

CANBERRA (BLOOMBERG) - Psychological fatigue with social distancing is emerging as a major challenge for curbing a pandemic now into its eight month. That's especially so among young adults who are less fearful of the coronavirus, and suffer greater economic and social costs when they stay home.

From Japan to Spain and the United States, infections among millennials and Generation Z are driving new waves of cases which don't seem to be abating despite re-imposed restrictions.

The worrying trend reflects that social distancing curbs are proving untenable over a long period, despite their initial efficacy in flattening the virus curve across the world earlier this year.

"They are the people who are most economically and socially affected with lockdowns, but who are least affected by the disease," said Peter Collignon, a professor of clinical medicine at the Australian National University Medical School in Canberra. "The problem we've got is people we most need to change their behaviour are the 20 and 30-year-olds."

The fact that younger people are less at risk for a severe Covid-19 infection or death has emboldened them to breach the rules as job losses mount.

Young adults are stepping out for reasons that range from commuting for work or care-giving, to visiting bars and nightclubs and even disturbing instances of Covid-19 parties to deliberately get infected.

This has caused public figures like Anthony Fauci, director of US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, to ask the younger population to be more responsible and not be a "part of the propagation of a pandemic".

Too early to say with which countries Singapore will first lift Covid-19 travel restrictions: Lawrence Wong

SINGAPORE - Discussions about lifting travel restrictions between Singapore and other countries in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic are underway, but it is too early to say with which countries these curbs will first be relaxed.

National Development Minister Lawrence Wong said at a multi-ministry task force press conference on Friday (May 15) that the easing of restrictions must be done in a safe and controlled manner.

"All the countries we are discussing with feel exactly the same way," he added, in response to a question about which countries Singapore might lift flight restrictions with first.

Earlier this month, Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing and trade ministers from Australia, Canada, South Korea and New Zealand agreed to facilitate the resumption of essential cross-border travel while balancing public health considerations amid the pandemic.

Mr Wong added that they are discussing a combination of measures such as pre-departure testing, testing upon arrival and the tracking of a traveller in a country to keep transmission risks low.

"All these are measures that can be put in place and discussions are currently underway with all these countries," he said.

Retired actor Huang Yiliang tells court Bangladeshi worker he allegedly hit gave him 'right' to 'hammer him'

SINGAPORE - In an animated recounting of events, retired local actor-director Ng Aik Leong told the court that the Bangladeshi worker he is accused of voluntarily causing hurt had given him the "right" to "hammer him".

Ng, 59, better known as Huang Yiliang, claimed trial on Monday (July 27) to a charge of voluntarily causing hurt to one Mr Jahidul at the Singapore Islamic Hub (SIH) at around 4.20pm on Dec 11, 2018.

He allegedly attacked Mr Jahidul, a Bangladeshi who worked for him, by using a metal scraper with a wooden handle - hitting him twice in the abdomen and once on the head.

This caused an injury to Mr Jahidul's scalp, as well as an abrasion on his upper abdomen.

Ng represented himself, while Mr Jahidul was not present in court as he is currently being isolated at a foreign workers dormitory.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Chong Kee En called three witnesses to the stand on Monday - Mr Mohammad Akhtar Abdul Khalil, a security officer at SIH in Braddell Road, and two police officers who were first responders at the scene: Sergeant Wesley Teo, and Staff Sergeant Lim Rong Hoe.

Mr Akhtar told the court that he was stationed at the main counter of SIH when another security officer alerted him to a commotion.

When he arrived at the SIH canteen, he saw Mr Jahidul crying out and telling him that he had been injured by his boss, Ng.

Mr Akhtar added that Ng had allegedly told Mr Jahidul he was "stupid" and "did not know how to do work".

Sgt Teo told the court that the victim had seemed "distressed" and "teary-eyed", and deeply afraid of Ng, adding that he noted at the time the multiple injuries to the victim's abdomen and head.

Meanwhile, SSgt Lim said that when he asked Ng if any assault had taken place, the former actor said no and denied that he had used the metal scraper to hit Mr Jahidul.

Yes, Prime Minister! Stephen Fry cast as British leader in 24: Live Another Day

The actor and comedian will star alongside Jack Bauer in the second series

Stephen Fry has been cast as the British Prime Minister in the new series of acclaimed Fox drama 24, it has been revealed.

The actor and comedian, 56, will star alongside Kiefer Sutherland, who is returning to his role as counter-terrorist agent Jack Bauer.

Fry confirmed the news in a tweet after reading an exclusive article on Hollywood insider website Deadline.

He will play recurring character Prime Minister Trevor Davies, a “strong and charismatic leader” whose relationship with President James Heller, played by William Devane, becomes extremely strained as a result of “personal and political crises”.

The 12-part second series, 24: Live Another Day, will continue four years after the last ended, with Bauer on the run from the CIA in London.

Fox is due to air the first episode of 24: Live Another Day with a two-hour special on 5 May. UK fans will be able to watch it soon afterwards on Sky 1. All other episodes will last an hour.

While the action will once more take place over a single day, it will jump around in time rather than follow a rigid hour-by-hour structure.

Original cast members Mary Lynn Rajskub and Kim Raver will also appear in the new season.

Speaking about his return to the series, Sutherland told the Television Critics Association: "The response to 24 is unlike anything I have ever experienced as an actor before. There’s a great impetus for all of us to create something new with the show.

"To have the chance to reunite with the character Jack Bauer is like finding a lost friend.