Good morning! Morning Minutes is a round-up of stories that will break on Friday, Feb 26, and which we think you'd be interested in.

It appears on weekdays, available by 7am.

US TO RELEASE KEY ECONOMIC DATA

The US will today (Feb 26) unveil key economic data that will be scrutinised by investors over the health of the economy. Data to be released tonight will include gross domestic product for the fourth quarter as well as personal income and spending of Americans.

If the numbers surprise markets on the upside, talk of a US recession will be dampened. Too strong a reading, however, could renew speculation that the Fed may raise interest rates sooner than expected.

ST ATHLETE OF THE YEAR TO BE UNVEILED

The Straits Times Athlete of the Year award for 2015 will be presented at a lunch ceremony today at the Fairmont Hotel. The nominees are sprinter Shanti Pereira, bowler Shayna Ng, para-athletes Khairul Anwar and Yip Pin Xiu, as well as swimmer Joseph Schooling, who won the accolade last year.

STUDENTS SHOWCASE GREEN IDEAS

The best green ideas from students who took part in the annual Sembcorp Marine Green Wave Environment Care competition will be showcased today. Launched in 2003, the competition has attracted more than 12,000 participants over the years. It serves to increase awareness among students and generate ideas to improve the environment.

IRAN TO ELECT NEW PARLIAMENT

Iran will elect a new Parliament and the Assembly of Experts, the body that will pick the next supreme leader, today. The elections are key tests for President Hassan Rouhani, and have assumed an importance well beyond the perennial battles between hardliners entrenched in power and reformists seeking to unseat them.