MORNING MINUTES: What will make headlines, Oct 19, 2015

Good morning! Morning Minutes is a round-up of stories that will break on Monday, Oct 19, which we think you'd be interested in.

It appears on weekdays, available by 7am.

Companies to be awarded for contribution to healthcare sector

Eleven companies will be honoured on Monday for their contributions to the healthcare sector. The Healthcare Supplier Awards, organised by National Healthcare Group, National University Hospital, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital and the Agency for Integrated Care, recognises companies which have helped to improve the healthcare supply chain. Among the winners is RAS Pharma and Biochem, who introduced a new system for urine tests, allowing patients the option to offer a smaller 100ml vial for testing rather than a 3- litre container. - JASMINE OSADA

Xi Jinping on state visit to Britain

China's President Xi Jinping inspects honour guards during a welcoming ceremony outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, on 14 Oct, 2015. He begins a four-day state visit to Britain on Monday. PHOTO: REUTERS

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in London on Monday for the first state visit to Britain by a Chinese president since 2005. Mr Xi's four-day trip is expected to further boost warm bilateral ties which Prime Minister David Cameron has described as being in a "golden era". The two sides will discuss business deals including a £25 billion (S$53.42 billion) nuclear reactor in England, financial cooperation, and engage in football diplomacy. During his visit, Mr Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan will stay at Buckingham Palace as guests of Queen Elizabeth II.

China to release Q3 growth figures

Investors at a brokerage in Shanghai, China, on Aug 26, 2015. The world's second-largest economy was likely hit by a slowdown in its financial services sector, triggered by a massive stock market rout in the third quarter. PHOTO: REUTERS

China will release its third-quarter gross domestic product figures on Monday. Markets will likely be jittery as growth is expected to fall below 7 per cent for the first time since the global financial crisis. The world's second-largest economy was likely hit by a slowdown in its financial services sector, triggered by a massive stock market rout in the quarter.

NATO holds biggest drill in more than a decade

A man looks at a mannequin dressed in a T-shirt with an aerial view of Russian airsrikes in Syria and bearing the words 'Support Assad' at a Russian Army Store in Moscow on Oct 16, 2015. NATO's military drill comes as Russia flexes its muscles in Syria. PHOTO: EPA

NATO and its allies will kick off on Monday their biggest military drill in more than a decade involving 36,000 troops, 160 aircraft and more than 60 ships. The exercise, Trident Juncture, comes as Russia flexes its muscles in Syria. A key part of the drill is to test Nato's newly established "spearhead" force that has air, maritime and special operations components. The 5,000-strong force can deploy in less than a week in response to an eastern threat.

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