TODAY’s brief, Tuesday, Sept 1
Nomination Day
Nomination Day
Shortly after 12 noon today (Sept 1), voters will know for sure who the candidates vying for their votes are, and the hustings will well and truly begin. Candidates will fan out across nine Nomination Centres to file their papers for electoral battles for all 89 seats, barring last-minute withdrawals or change of plans.
GE2015: Applications for rally sites open
Applications for rally sites will open today. There will be eight days for political parties to ballot for slots to hold rallies. Sept 9 is the last day, which is traditionally the hottest, given it is the last chance for candidates to make their case to voters.
Manhunt for Bangkok Blast suspects continues
The manhunt in Thailand for the suspects of a deadly Bangkok bombing on Aug 17 continues, as authorities yesterday issued arrest warrants for a 26-year old Thai woman and a foreign man in his 40s. This comes after Thai police arrested a foreigner believed to be linked to Turkey and seized explosives and stacks of passports over the weekend.
Contract for Indonesia’s first high-speed rail to be awarded
President Joko Widodo is expected to announce today who will build Indonesia’s first high-speed rail project connecting Jakarta and Bandung. Japan and China have been lobbying strongly for their companies to be awarded the contract worth an estimated US$5 billion (S$7 billion). According to Indonesian government sources, China appears to have the edge.
China to open high-speed rail link to North Korean border
China will open a high-speed rail line to the North Korean border today, in what is seen by analysts as the latest effort to boost economic ties despite tension between the two countries. Beijing-Pyongyang ties have been blighted after a third nuclear test by North Korea in 2013, defying warnings from the international community.
Weather forecast
The day is expected to be partly cloudy. Temperatures will likely range between 27°C and 33°C.