Good morning! Morning Minutes is a round-up of stories that will break on Friday, March 18, and which we think you'd be interested in.

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Symposium on maritime piracy in Asia

The Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) 10th anniversary symposium is taking place in Singapore today.

Participants will discuss issues surrounding maritime piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia.

The focus will be on strengthening regional cooperation and coordination among governmental agencies and industry, and enhancing partnerships, among others. - JERMYN CHOW

Singaporean, Australian ministers meet in Sydney

Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen and Trade and Industry Minister Lim Hng Kiang will meet their Australian counterparts at the ninth Singapore-Australia Joint Ministerial Committee in Sydney today. The ministers will be reviewing the progress of a strategic partnership signed in June 2015. Another area for possible discussion is new initiatives and cooperation in innovation and research and development.

China to release housing price data

China will release its February home price index today, which measures the average prices of new homes in 70 Chinese cities.

Housing markets in Tier 1 cities have been rising in China, with a 2.5 per cent year-on-year jump in prices in January - the fourth straight month of gain and the highest rise since July 2014. Markets in Tier 2 cities have been less buoyant.