Good morning! Morning Minutes is a round-up of stories that will break today and which we think you'd be interested in.
It appears on weekdays, available by 7am.
Setting the stage for global energy discussions
The Singapore International Energy Week will be launched on Monday. The event will include a panel discussion on key energy trends this year. - FENG ZENGKUN
Mercury Capital gives insights on asset management
The management of Mercury Capital will share insights about tangible developments it had in place for the respective businesses, in investment, fund management, leasing & micro-financing and renewable energy. - REME AHMAD
British election campaign kicks off
An opinion poll pitting Prime Minister David Cameron's Conservatives against the Labour Party's Ed Miliband and the divisive UKIP anti-immigration, anti-EU leader Nigel Farage shows that Labour has taken a four-point lead over the Conservatives. The poll, by YouGov for the Britain's Sunday Times, put Labour at 36 per cent, the Conservatives at 32 per cent, the Liberal Democrats, which are in coalition with the Conservatives, at 8 per cent, and the UKIP at 13 per cent. Britain's future in the European Union could depend on the outcome of the May 7 election. Mr Cameron is pledging to hold a referendum on EU membership. - DAVID FOGARTY
Indian defence minister visits Japan to boost "defence diplomacy"
Indian defence minister Manohar Parrikar begins a two-day visit to Japan today as part of India's effort to step up on "defence diplomacy". The overseas trip will be Mr Parrikar's first as defence chief since taking office in November 2014, and the first by an Indian defence minister since November 2013.
India is negotiating the purchase of Soryu-class diesel-electric submarines and US-2 amphibious aircraft from Japan, an issue which is likely to feature in Mr Parrikar's meeting today with his Japanese counterpart, Mr Gen Nakatani. Mr Parrikar's choice of Japan for his first international visit is also of strategic importance, given that both have often-tense relations with a common giant neighbour, China. - LEE SEOK HWAI
