Good morning! Morning Minutes is a round-up of stories that will break on Friday, Oct 30, which we think you'd be interested in.
It appears on weekdays, available by 7am.
Annual Defence Technology Prize awards ceremony to be held today
Individuals and teams who have made significant technological contributions to the defence capability of Singapore will be recognised at the annual Defence Technology Prize awards ceremony today (Oct 30). The prestigious awards are given out by the Ministry of Defence. Past years' winning ideas include one that extends the lifespan of Singapore's ageing missile corvettes as well as a chemical formula that ensures explosives are safer to handle. -- JERMYN CHOW
Winners of Singapore Prestige Brand Awards to be unveiled today
Minister for Social and Family Development Tan Chuan-Jin is guest of honour at tonight’s Singapore Prestige Brand Awards presentation ceremony, in which the overall winners will be unveiled. In its 14th year, the awards are meant to recognise local brands that have successfully implemented sustainable and effective branding initiatives. - CHONG KOH PING
UOB to unveil third-quarter financial statement
United Overseas Bank will unveil its third-quarter financial statement today. - WONG WEI HAN
Japan to publish inflation and unemplyment numbers today
Japan will publish inflation and unemployment figures today, as its central bank holds policy review meeting on whether to unleash more stimulus in the face of slowing global growth. BoJ has kept its interest rate at 0% for a long time. Analysts are split on whether BoJ will boost monetary stimulus today, even as latest data from the country shows the economy, which has been teetering on the edge of recession, has not quite recovered.
Major players in Syrian conflict to meet
Top diplomats from the US, Russia, as well as from European and Arab nations meet in Vienna today to conduct a broad new round of negotiations aimed at resolving the war in Syria, with Iran taking part for the first time. It will be the first time all the major players in the conflict will hold talks together, though neither the Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad nor the opposition are expected to be represented.