Good morning! Morning Minutes is a round-up of stories that will break on Friday, Sept 23, and which we think you'd be interested in.

It appears on weekdays, available by 7am.

Launch of consumer awareness talks

The Consumers Association of Singapore (Case) and the five Community Development Councils are launching a series of Consumer Awareness Talks. The talks will help consumers understand their rights as well as promote consumer responsibilities. Topics covered will include dealing with errant contractors, pressurised door-to-door sales tactics and misrepresentation by travel agencies and beauty salons. Consumers will also be taught what to look out for when buying products or services. The first to kick off the series today (Sept 23) is a talk on Case Trust Accreditation Scheme and Mediation.

July consumer prices out today

Singapore's consumer prices for July will be released today (Sept 23). Prices have fallen for 21 straight months, as the cost of housing and utilities pulled the inflation basket lower. In July, inflation fell by 0.7 per cent from a year ago, while core inflation - which strips out volatile items - rose 1 .0 per cent year on year.

India to sign air force deal with France

India is slated to sign a final deal with France today (Sept 23) to buy 36 French-made Rafale fighter jets that will help modernise the Indian Air Force. Under the deal, which is much smaller than the 126 planes previously negotiated, India will get 36 Rafale jets ready to go straight into service, Reuters cited a source as saying. India's fighter aircraft fleet is made up of Russian, British and French planes but has only 33 squadrons - 12 short of the air force's requirement of 45 to counter threats from Pakistan and China. The deal will be signed by French defence minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and his Indian counterpart, Manohar Parrikar in New Delhi, the Reuters source said.