Good morning! Morning Minutes is a round-up of stories that will break on Sept 16 and which we think you'd be interested in.

It appears on weekdays, available by 7am.

Deepavali Santa is coming to town

Visitors to Little India during Deepavali this year will be entertained by stories told by the Deepavali Thatha (Tamil for grandfather), the Hindu version of Santa Claus. They can also watch an outdoor catwalk show and street music and dance performances.
The Little India Shopkeepers and Heritage Association will be unveiling the details of the area's celebrations for the Hindu Festival of Lights today. - MELODY ZACCHEUS

World leaders continue arriving in New York for UN General Assembly

World leaders continue to stream in to New York on Wednesday (Sept 16) for the UN General Assembly, which opened a session on Tuesday marking the United Nations' 70th birthday. Most of the 170 leaders attending the session are expected to arrive closer to the end of the month, when a summit on the sustainable development goals, the successor to the Millennium Development Goals, is held. Pope Francis will address the assembly on Sept 25. His packed schedule will see him crisscross New York, presenting an unprecedented security challenge to the US authorities, media reported.

Daughter of Philippine film star to announce run for presidency

The adopted daughter of a Philippine film star is expected to announce on Wednesday (Sept 16) she would run for presidency, and analysts say she could ride her father's popularity to a stunning win despite little political experience. Ms Grace Poe, 46, has been a senator for just over two years and faces legal challenges over her nationality. But her status as the daughter of the late Fernando Poe makes her a serious wild card.

Britain and Ireland to resume efforts to kickstart talks between Northern Ireland's parties

Britain and Ireland will resume efforts to kickstart crisis talks between Northern Ireland's Catholic nationalist and Protestant unionist parties today to try and save the British province's power-sharing government. Northern Ireland's devolved administration is on the brink of collapse after a murder linked to former members of the paramilitary Irish Republican Army prompted its first minister, Peter Robinson, to step aside.

Thailand's central bank expected to keep interest rates steady

Thailand's central bank, which will announce its interest rates on Wednesday (Sept 16), is widely expected to keep them steady for a third straight meeting as the economy continues to struggle more than a year after a military coup ended months of political unrest. The one-day repurchase rate would be left unchanged at 1.50 per cent due to global market uncertainties, a weak baht and the country's recent stimulus to help the economy. Economists say the baht's weakness means the central bank has no need to do more for now.