MORNING MINUTES: What will make headlines, Nov 5, 2015

NTUC secretary-general Chan Chun Sing will launch a Workplace Safety and Health leadership programme on Thursday (Nov 4). ST PHOTO: SEAH KWANG PENG

Good morning! Morning Minutes is a round-up of stories that will break on Thursday, Nov 5, which we think you'd be interested in.

It appears on weekdays, available by 7am.

Workplace safety and Health leadership programme to be launched today

NTUC secretary-general Chan Chun Sing will launch a Workplace Safety and Health leadership programme and address recent workplace safety incidents at a conference on Thursday.

The programme is a joint collaboration between the National Trades Union Congress, the Employment and Employability Institute, and the Singapore Institution of Safety Officers (SISO), which is organising the annual conference at Marina Bay Sands. - OLIVIA HO

Xi Jinping will begin Vietnam visit today

Chinese President Xi Jinping will begin a two-day visit to Vietnam on Thursday (Nov 5). PHOTO: REUTERS

Chinese President Xi Jinping will begin a two-day visit to Vietnam on Thursday (Nov 5) amid heightened tensions in the South China Sea. During his visit, Mr Xi will meet the country's leaders, including Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang, according to Xinhua.

The two sides will also sign a host of agreements on infrastructure, economy, trade, investment, culture and education. Both sides are seeking to repair ties after a fierce row last year over China's deployment of an oil rig in a part of the South China Sea disputed by Vietnam.

US Defence Secretary to visit American carrier in South China Sea

US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter is on Thursday (Nov 5) set to visit an American aircraft carrier in the South China Sea. PHOTO: AFP

US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter is on Thursday (Nov 5) set to visit an American aircraft carrier in the South China Sea. The visit will take place amid escalating US-Chinese tensions over the waterway. Mr Carter told a regional summit on Wednesday he would fly out to the nuclear-powered USS Theodore Roosevelt, which "is conducting routine operations while transiting the South China Sea".

Last week Washington pressed its right to freedom of navigation by sending the guided missile destroyer USS Lassen to within 12 nautical miles of at least one of the artificial islets in the Spratlys chain in the Sea, angering China.

Indonesia to release gross domestic product data

Indonesia will release data on its gross domestic product today. PHOTO: REUTERS

Indonesia will release data on its gross domestic product today, as analysts predict 4.8 per cent growth in the three months through September from a year earlier. Indonesia is speeding up government spending to stimulate an economy growing at its slowest pace since 2009, and has released at least five stimulus packages in the last two months. Any pickup in the economy from the Joko Widodo government measures may reflect in the latest data.

Bank of England will publish new growth and inflation forecasts today

Bank of England will set borrowing costs and publish new growth and inflation forecasts today. PHOTO: REUTERS

The nine-member committee of Bank of England will set borrowing costs and publish new growth and inflation forecasts today. The bank is inching towards removing emergency stimulus and increasing rate, as strengthened services sector and subdued price pressures is likely to coax more policymakers into action before the end of the year, analysts say. Interest rates remain at a record low of 0.5% at present.

Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.