MUMBAI (AFP) - Bollywood superstar Aishwarya Rai has tested positive for the coronavirus, a Mumbai city authority official said on Sunday (July 12), just a day after her actor father-in-law Amitabh Bachchan said he was in hospital with the infectious disease.
Her eight-year-old daughter, Aaradhya, was also Covid-19 positive, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation official, who asked to remain anonymous, said.
Bachchan's actor son Abhishek, Rai's husband, said he too was positive but that both their cases were mild.
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan took the Miss World crown in 1994 and made her acting debut in the late 1990s.
She went on to become one of the most famous Bollywood faces abroad as well as in India and has been a regular on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival. She married Abhishek Bachchan in 2007.
The elder Bachchan, 77 - idolised in India and affectionately known as "Big B" - has a more than four-decade-long career in the film industry.
He was voted "actor of the millennium" in a BBC online poll in 1999 and became the first Indian actor to gain a lookalike at London's Madame Tussauds waxworks museum.
India on Sunday reported its highest single-day virus tally of more than 28,600 cases, for a nationwide total of just under 850,000 infections.
HONG KONG: Hundreds of thousands of Hong Kong citizens queued to cast ballots over the weekend in what the Chinese-ruled city's opposition camp says is a symbolic protest vote against tough national security laws directly imposed by Beijing.
The unofficial poll will decide the strongest pro-democracy candidates to contest Legislative Council elections in September, when they aim to ride a wave of anti-China sentiment stirred by the law to seize control for the first time from pro-Beijing rivals.
While the primaries are only for the opposition camp, observers are watching closely as they say the turnout will serve as a test of broader opposition to the law, which critics say will gravely undermine the city's freedoms.
"A high turnout will send a very strong signal to the international community, that we Hong Kongers never give up," said Sunny Cheung, 24, one of a batch of aspiring young democrats out lobbying and giving stump speeches.
"And that we still stand with the democratic camp, we still support democracy and freedom."
Defying warnings from a senior Hong Kong official that the vote might fall foul of the national security law, residents young and old flocked to over 250 polling stations across the city, manned by thousands of volunteers.
Long queues formed down streets, in residential estates and at businesses-turned-polling stations, with people casting an online ballot on their mobile phones after having their identities verified.
Organisers said 500,000 people had voted by late afternoon on Sunday, in the city of 7.5 million. The full turnout is expected to be announced on Monday morning after two full days of voting this weekend.
The law punishes what China describes broadly as secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces with up to life in prison and allows mainland security agents to operate officially in Hong Kong for the first time.
Despite this tactical vote to maximise their chances, some pro-democracy activists fear authorities will try to stop some candidates from running in September's election.
"They can arrest or disqualify any candidate they don't like under the national security law without a proper reason," said Owen Chow, a young democratic "localist" candidate.
At a time when Hong Kong authorities have barred public marches and rallies for months on end amid coronavirus social restrictions, and arrested individuals for shouting slogans and holding up blank sheets of paper, the vote is being seen as a crucial and rare window for populist expression.
"It's a proxy referendum against the national security law," said Democratic lawmaker Eddie Chu outside a metro station.
BANDUNG, Indonesia: Nearly 1,300 people at a military academy in Indonesia have tested positive for the coronavirus, an official said, as the country struggles to contain the epidemic.
The Indonesian Army Officer Candidate School in the country's most populated province of West Java has been quarantined and 30 people were initially hospitalised with mild symptoms, the army's chief of staff, General Andika Perkasa, said late Saturday (Jul 11).
Of the 1,280 confirmed infections, 991 were cadets and the rest were staff and their family members, he said. Most had no symptoms.
Seventeen were still in hospital on Saturday.
The outbreak was first detected when two cadets went to a medical facility after complaining of fever and back pain.
Both tested positive for COVID-19, sparking mass swab testing at the academy, which has 2,000 staff and cadets.
It is not clear how the cadets were infected, Perkasa said, but some staff live outside the military complex.
The governor of West Java apologised for the outbreak and urged residents to restrict their movements in and out of the neighbourhood where the academy is located until it is brought under control.
Indonesia is the hardest hit country in Southeast Asia with more than 74,000 known cases of COVID-19 and over 3,500 deaths.
The real toll is widely believed to be much higher, however, with experts saying limited testing was understating the true scale of the crisis.
The World Health Organization recently urged Indonesia to do more testing.
LONDON: Hong Kong expatriates living in Britain have welcomed London's pledge of "a pathway to future citizenship" for millions of the territory's residents after China imposed a controversial security law there.
But they warned this "message of hope" would not help many, including those born after Hong Kong's 1997 return to Chinese rule and now aged over 18 – people at the forefront of protests against Beijing.
"It is helpful – it sends a strong message of hope to Hong Kongers, many of whom are waiting to be rescued from their city," a 35-year-old financial analyst living in London since 2005, who asked to remain anonymous, told AFP.
With relatives still in Hong Kong, he is very worried about their fate, especially those of university age.
"These guys won't be helped directly by this but they are the ones who are more vulnerable – they stopped their university degrees to join the movement," he added, referring to protests that erupted last year.
Beijing enacted the sweeping security law for the restless city of around 7.5 million people on Jun 30, banning acts of subversion, secession, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces.
The move has sparked international condemnation.
The UK has said in response it will allow anyone with British National (Overseas) (BNO) status and their dependants – husbands, wives, civil partners and children under 18 years old – to come to Britain.
They will be able to remain and work for five years, compared to the current limit of six months, before being able to apply for citizenship.
More than 350,000 people currently have BNO passports, and the government estimates there are around 2.9 million eligible for the status in total in Hong Kong.
"MAIN TARGET"
"This proposal will definitely help some of the people who fear for their life – at least they have somewhere safe to go," said Abby Yau, 40, a naturalised British citizen after 19 years in the UK.
"But at the same time I wonder how much it will benefit the majority of the people who are oppressed by the (Chinese) government."
Britain created the BNO status ahead of Hong Kong's 1997 handover, allowing its residents to apply for a form of British nationality and a BNO passport.
But it conferred no automatic right to citizenship, could only be applied for before the end of 1997 and cannot be passed on to future generations.
Critics of Britain's proposed changes note they still fail to help swathes of people who missed out on that opportunity.
"The British government forgets the fact that most of the protesters are from my generation, in particular citizens born between 1997 and 2002," said another 22-year-old former Hong Kong resident studying in the UK since 2015.
Secondary school students march near a school campus to protest against a teacher's release over 'her political beliefs' as they said, in Hong Kong, Jun 12, 2020. (Photo: REUTERS/Tyrone Siu)
"These generations have suffered the most throughout the years and now they are the main target of the (Hong Kong) government.
"The British government needs to consider this generation or otherwise, this proposal won't be meaningful."
However, he expected "a wave of people fleeing" to Britain once the new immigration measures are formalised.
"Social media such as Facebook has been flooded with questions regarding working in the UK," he added, noting it reflected "how anxious and hopeless Hong Kongers are at the moment".
"VALUABLE WORKFORCE"
Yau said she too had been contacted by friends asking about life in Britain, and argued the new arrivals "could be an unbelievably valuable workforce for the UK post-Brexit".
But she does not expect large numbers to leave Hong Kong, noting not everyone can afford to relocate and navigate Britain's costly immigration system while others may not want such a different lifestyle.
The 22-year-old Hong Kong emigre echoed the sentiment.
"It will be a big challenge and sacrifice for the sandwich-class in Hong Kong as they work hard throughout their entire life to promote their social status," he said, referring to the city's middle class.
"Immigrating to (Britain) would mean restarting a new life as second-class citizens, and their social status might be dropped if they are not professional or wealthy."
Meanwhile the financial analyst who left Hong Kong 15 years ago agreed there will be "reluctance" to start over in Britain, but noted two of his relatives who had long been mulling relocating have finally been convinced by recent events.
"Can you call a place home when someone has taken away its core values, freedom and spirit?" he said.
"To me, that place ceased to be home – and the real home for Hong Kongers is where we can carry on contributing as a world citizen."
BETHESDA: President Donald Trump, who has avoided wearing a mask in public even as the coronavirus pandemic spread, donned one on Saturday (Jul 11) at a military medical facility outside Washington where he was to meet with wounded soldiers and front-line health-care workers.
The visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center marked Trump's first public appearance with a face covering since the virus began sweeping across the United States earlier this year.
Trump had previously refused to wear a mask in public or ask other Americans to do so, saying it was a personal choice, although he had said he would if he was in a crowd and could not maintain distance from others.
"I think when you are in a hospital, especially in that particular setting when you are talking to a lot of soldiers, people that in some cases just got off the operating table, I think it’s a great thing to wear a mask," Trump told reporters at the White House just before his visit to Walter Reed.
US President Donald Trump visits Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, on Jul 11, 2020. (Photo: REUTERS/Tasos Katopodis)
At the medical facility, Trump walked by media gathered for a photo opportunity wearing a navy blue mask emblazoned with a presidential seal embossed in gold. He said only "thank you" as he passed.
Top public health officials have urged the use of masks to slow the spread of the virus, which by Friday had claimed nearly 134,000 American lives. Critics say Trump's refusal to wear one showed a lack of leadership.
Even as other officials in his administration called for the use of masks and social distancing, Trump, who faces re-election in November, pressured states to reopen closed economies.
But since many states relaxed coronavirus restrictions, the virus has found a new toehold. New US cases of COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus, rose by more than 69,000 on Friday, a third straight daily record.
As of Friday, the number of confirmed US infections topped 3 million, according to a Reuters tally.
SINGAPORE: There are “clearly messages” in the vote swing towards the opposition in this year’s General Election that the People’s Action Party (PAP) must seek to understand, said Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam on Saturday (Jul 11).
Mr Shanmugam - who led a five-member People’s Action Party (PAP) team to victory in Nee Soon GRC - said the party would “carefully study” the results, as it usually does.
“The first thing you have to do is to get the facts, understand the reasons and that we need to do,” he said, speaking to the media at the PAP’s Chong Pang branch ahead of a walkabout with his Nee Soon teammates to thank residents for their support.
“But in all these things that are clearly messages that the voters are sending us, and it will be wrong if we don't understand the messages,” he added.
“I think it requires a lot of soul searching and reflection.”
The PAP took 61.24 per cent of the votes in this year’s General Election, down from 69.9 per cent in the 2015 polls.
Aside from the popular vote, the PAP also ceded ground in terms of seats, with four going to the opposition when the Workers’ Party (WP) claimed a second group representation constituency, winning the newly-formed Sengkang GRC with 52.13 per cent of the votes there.
On whether this represented an appetite for alternative voices, Mr Shanmugam noted there has always been a “very substantive desire in the population” for two things - a PAP government in power and an opposition presence in Parliament.
This is “not surprising in the context of Sengkang”, said Mr Shanmugam, though he noted the loss of labour chief Ng Chee Meng - who led the PAP team in Sengkang - would have a “substantial impact”.
Towards the end of the nine-day campaign period, the PAP released a statement on WP candidate Raeesah Khan, who was under investigation by the police for allegedly making comments on social media promoting “enmity between different groups on grounds of religion or race”.
In the statement, the PAP asked why the WP considered Ms Khan - part of the four-member team that won Sengkang GRC - “worthy of consideration as an MP”.
When asked by a reporter if the PAP statement on Ms Khan backfired, Mr Shanmugam declined to comment. Instead, he offered his thoughts on the “broader question of race relations”.
“The older generation of Singaporeans take one approach to how issues of race and religion are discussed, and we have a framework within the law. But it's also clear that the younger generation takes a different approach,” he said.
There needs to be a way in which the viewpoints of younger Singaporeans can be addressed, said Mr Shanmugam, noting they are “going to be in charge of Singapore”.
“If people feel that there's a different way of discussing these things beyond the traditional, then we need to work out what the trade-offs are and then see what's the approach (we want to take),” he said.
Mr Shanmugam was asked if the law or home affairs ministries would address the use of police reports as a political tool.
“I haven't seen the police reports, for obvious reasons,” he said.
“If there was anything to be done about it from a policy perspective, it will be brought up to my attention. So far it hasn’t come to my attention,” he added.
The PAP team led by Mr Shanmugam won 61.9 per cent of the votes in Nee Soon GRC in Friday's vote, clinching victory over a team fielded by the Progress Singapore Party.
SINGAPORE: The leader of the defeated People's Action Party (PAP) team for Sengkang GRC, Ng Chee Meng, on Saturday (Jul 11) congratulated his Workers' Party (WP) opponents on their victory in the 13th General Election.
Mr Ng, who is labour chief, headed the PAP team which includes political office-holders Lam Pin Min and Amrin Amin, as well as new face Raymond Lye.
"Congratulations to the Workers' Party team in Sengkang. I hope residents will be ably served by them in the new term," said Mr Ng in a Facebook post.
He added that it has been "wonderful" walking the ground in Sengkang town and speaking to residents in the past few weeks.
"The smiles, the welcoming hellos and especially the kids that I met really warmed my heart," said Mr Ng.
Reiterating what he said in the wee hours of Saturday after the results were announced, Mr Ng wrote that the PAP's Sengkang team will "evaluate and regroup to see how we can do better".
"In the days to come, we will spend some time looking at what may be the plan for the future," he added.
It was one of the largest upsets for the PAP this General Election.
The WP’s victory in the newly formed Sengkang GRC marks the first time that an opposition party will hold two GRCs. The WP also held on to Aljunied GRC and Hougang SMC, winning a total of 10 seats in Parliament.
Mr Ng previously represented Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, part of which was carved out to form Sengkang GRC along with the former single seats of Sengkang West and Punggol East.
"For those that voted for us, I humbly thank you for the trust and support for the PAP team," said Mr Ng.
"A heartfelt thank you to all the different volunteers and activists who have walked the journey with us. You have done your best, you can hold your head up high."
In a Facebook post, Dr Lam also thanked residents, community leaders and party activists for their support, saying it has been his "greatest privilege and honour" to have been able to serve in Sengkang West for the last 14 years.
He urged Singaporeans to give the PAP Government their support to navigate challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Many lives will be affected. I pray that all Singaporeans will put all our differences aside, come together as One People, and give PM Lee Hsien Loong and his team your fullest support to see us through this difficult and trying period," said Dr Lam, Senior Minister of State for the health and transport ministries.
The People's Action Party (PAP) team contesting in Sengkang GRC led by Ng Chee Meng, arrive at St Anthony's Canossian School on Jun 30, 2020. (Photo: Hanidah Amin)
Mr Amrin, who was from Sembawang GRC, said it has been an "honour" to serve in Parliament in the last five years, while new candidate Mr Lye thanked residents for "the time and grace you've shown me and my PAP teammates over the course of this election campaign".
"I respect the election results and will like to congratulate the Workers' Party team on their victory. It was a good fight," Mr Lye added.
"But we will not stay in our comfort zones. We will continue to demand for transparency and accountability. We will continue to work for a diverse and inclusive Singapore. A fair and equitable Parliament. A party that continues be a voice for the voiceless. We will stay grounded and we will go forward together," she added.
After the results were announced, Dr Lim had thanked voters, promising that they will "work for a brighter future for Sengkang and Singapore".
Ms He, who led the Sengkang team, thanked voters for their "leap of faith".
"We will work hard to make sure that this trust is not misplaced," she added.
