Morning Minutes: What will make headlines, Feb 2, 2016

Singaporean of the Year 2015 nominees. PHOTO: ST DIGITAL

Good morning! Morning Minutes is a round-up of stories that will break on Tuesday, Feb 2, and which we think you'd be interested in.

It appears on weekdays, available by 7am.

First Singaporean of the Year award to be announced

The first Singaporean of the Year will be announced today (Feb 2) at a ceremony graced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Organised by The Straits Times and sponsored by UBS Singapore, the inaugural award celebrates a Singaporean who has made a meaningful difference to the lives of others. Ten finalists have been shortlisted for this year's award. They range from philanthropists and sportsmen to environmentalists and ordinary Singaporeans who have made a positive impact on their community. The winner will receive $20,000 in cash and a trophy, while the other finalists will each receive $5,000 from UBS Singapore. - Olivia Ho and Charissa Yong

Rome to host meeting to discuss ISIS

John Kerry (left) and Paolo Gentiloni (right) will host the ministerial meeting in Rome.

Rome will host a ministerial meeting of the so-called anti-Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) coalition on Tuesday (Feb 2), hosted by Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni and United States Secretary of State John Kerry.
The meeting "will review its progress to date and discuss ways to further intensify commitments across all lines of effort to degrade and defeat" the militant group, US State Department spokesman John Kirby said. The meeting will also include Australia, Britain, Canada, Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

Singapore's PMI data to be announced

An aerial view of PSA International and its containers at Tanjong Pagar Terminal. PHOTO: ST FILE

The purchasing managers' index (PMI) - an indicator of manufacturing activity - is due out today. The data will shed light on the performance of Singapore manufacturers in January. The PMI had increased slightly to 49.5 in December from 49.2 in the previous month. Nevertheless, factory activity had remained in contraction for a sixth consecutive month, as new orders, new export orders and production output declined further due to sluggish global growth.

The Economic Development Board's year-in-review press conference

EDB's performance for last year and discuss its targets and outlook for 2016 will be presented. PHOTO: EDB

The Economic Development Board is holding its annual year-in-review press conference today, during which its chairman Dr Beh Swan Gin and managing director Yeoh Keat Chuan will present EDB's performance for last year and discuss its targets and outlook for 2016. The investment-promotion agency had targeted some S$9 billion to S$11 billion worth of inbound investments in 2015 last year.

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