Good morning! Morning Minutes is a round-up of stories that will break on Friday, Oct 23, which we think you'd be interested in.

It appears on weekdays, available by 7am.

Rewarding the dedication of volunteers

The commitment, dedication and generosity of some exemplary volunteers, donors and sponsors will be recognised at the Lions Befrienders Appreciation and Awards Presentation 2015 tonight (Friday). A total of 158 awards will be given out to various in-kind donors,cash donors, outstanding volunteers and long service volunteers. - LESTER HIO

Inflation set to be negative again

Singapore's consumer price index is expected to have contracted for the 11th consecutive month. Out today, September inflation is likely to be down, due to lower certificate of entitlement prices and housing costs.

Najib to present government's 2016 annual budget

Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak will on Friday (Oct 23) present the government's annual budget for 2016, when he will look to shore up economic growth and appease voters unhappy with his leadership and rising living costs. Investors have been disillusioned with the country's economy, reflected by the ringgit's 20 per cent drop since the start of the year to levels unseen since the Asian financial crisis in the late 1990s. While the government would like to show it is business as usual, passage of the budget could test the support Datuk Seri Najib commands in his ruling Umno party as he fends off corruption allegations over indebted state-fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).