TODAY’s brief, Fri, Jan 30
Park users drinking alcohol at East Coast Park. TODAY file photo
Parliament debates liquor control laws
Proposed laws to ban public boozing after 10.30pm, which caused a stir when announced last week, are set to be debated in Parliament today (Jan 30). The Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Bill, which will also prohibit the sale of alcohol after 10.30pm, has drawn brickbats from some but a poll by government feedback unit REACH found that eight in 10 supported the proposed restrictions.
‘Messiah’ hacker to be sentenced
Hacker James Raj Arokiasamy who pleaded guilty to 39 charges of computer misuse, will be sentenced today. James Raj, who goes by the moniker “Messiah”, had hacked into the web servers of Fuji Xerox, pop star Sun Ho’s fan site, and government-related websites in 2013.
Japanese hostage situation still confounds Japan, Jordan
The Japanese hostage situation in the Middle East continues to confound the country as well as Jordan. The Islamic State group released a message late Wednesday purportedly extending the deadline for Jordan’s release of an Iraqi would-be hotel bomber linked to Al Qaeda. Read by a voice claiming to be Japanese hostage Kenji Goto, the recording in English, says the Jordanians must present bomber Sajida Al Rishawi at the Turkish border by sunset yesterday or Jordanian pilot Mu’as Al Kasaseabeh will be killed.
Greece throws down gauntlet to international creditors
Leftist Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras threw down an open challenge to international creditors on Wednesday by halting privatisation plans agreed under the country’s bailout deal, prompting a third day of heavy losses on financial markets. A swift series of announcements signalled the newly installed government would stand by its anti-austerity pledges, setting it on a collision course with European partners, led by Germany, which has said it will not renegotiate the aid package needed to help Greece pay its huge debts.
Gorbachev warns West risking war with Russia
Ex-Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev says the confrontation between Russia and the West could spill into all-out war. More than 5,100 people have been killed in a bloody conflict in eastern Ukraine between government troops and pro-Russian separatists. Ukraine accuses Russia of aiding the separatists while Russia says the West is behind Ukraine’s attempts to retake the rebel-held areas. Mr Gorbachev, in comments to the Interfax news agency, said yesterday the West has “dragged” Russia into a new Cold War and warned of risks of a military confrontation. “I can no longer say that this Cold War will not lead to a ‘Hot War’. I fear that they could risk it,” he was quoted as saying.
Djokovic faces Wawrinka for Australian Open final place
World No 1 and top seed Novak Djokovic is just two wins away from a fifth Australian Open title, but he must first overcome defending champion Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland in today’s semi-finals at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena. Serbia’s Djokovic remains the favourite to meet Britain’s Andy Murray in Sunday’s final, but will be wary of the threat posed by Wawrinka, who sent Japan’s world No 5 Kei Nishikori packing in the quarter-finals.
Platini behind Figo’s move to unseat Blatter?
When UEFA president Michel Platini declared last year that he was not interested in running against FIFA president Sepp Blatter for football’s top job, it seemed the most credible opposition to the Swiss’ 17-year hold on power had gone. But Ben Rumsby of the Daily Telegraph argues that the shock news that retired Portugal, Real Madrid and Barcelona star Luis Figo’s decision to run for the FIFA presidency in May is being backed by Platini himself as part of the Frenchman’s elaborate plans to ultimately unseat Blatter and possibly pave the way for his own possible candidacy in 2019.
G.E.M. performs tonight
G.E.M. kicks off the first of three concerts in Singapore tonight. The young Hong Kong singer became very popular after taking part in I Am A Singer, a reality singing competition in China. She was originally scheduled to perform just one night in Singapore on Jan 31 but organisers arranged for a second gig on Feb 1 due to overwhelming demand. They later added another gig tonight. This makes G.E.M. the first Asian female artiste to stage three consecutive concerts in Singapore.
Thundery showers in the afternoon
Thundery showers are expected mainly over southern, western and central Singapore in the afternoon. The temperature is expected to be between 24°C and 31°C.
