Good morning! Morning Minutes is a round-up of stories that will break today and which we think you'd be interested in.
It appears on weekdays, available by 7am.
Q1 flash estimates for HDB resale and private property prices
The first-quarter flash figures for HDB resale prices will be released today. The Urban Redevelopment Authority is also releasing the first-quarter flash estimates for the property price index on private homes. - JANICE HENG/RENNIE WHANG
City Harvest trial continues
The City Harvest trial continues today. Deputy Public Prosecutor Mavis Chionh is expected to continue her cross-examination of the church's deputy Tan Ye Peng. Tan, along with five other church leaders including founder Kong Hee, are charged with misusing $50 million of church funds. - DANSON CHEONG
Indonesian child star Tegar Septian holds press conference
Tegar Septian, the Indonesian child star who alleged that his former manager had sexually abused him, will be holding a press conference today. The 13-year-old filed a police report against Mr Arif Dollah, a Singaporean, and has sought assistance from Indonesian's National Commission for Child Protection. Tegar became famous when a video of his original song, Aku Yang Dulu Bukan Yang Sekarang, was viewed more than 11 million times on YouTube. - HOE PEISHAN
Media executives accused of sedition in Malaysia
Malaysia police are expected to apply for a remand order this morning for two top media executives for publishing an allegedly seditious article on the implementation of hudud, the Islamic penal code that includes stoning and amputation. The Edge's publisher, Ho Kay Tat, and The Malaysian Insider's chief executive officer, Jahabar Sadiq were arrested on Tuesday. Three TMI editors were also arrested but released late on Tuesday after a judge rejected a remand request for them. The arrests were over an article last month that said Malaysia's monarchy had rejected a proposal to amend a federal law that could allow the use of hudud in Malaysia. Journalist groups and NGOs denounced the detentions as intimidation of the media. - LEE SEOK HWAI
Malaysia finally rolls out GST
The Malaysian government officially rolls out a Goods and Services Tax today after a nearly two-decade delay. The tax, set at 6 per cent, is aimed at making taxes fairer and more transparent, given that only an estimated 1.7 million Malaysians out of a workforce of 12 million pay income tax. But the tax regime is expected to curb consumption, raise inflation, and hurt growth, at least in the short term. It has also caused confusion among consumers and businesses, partly over long lists of GST-exempted and zero-rated items. While consumers have rushed to stock up on non-perishable goods in recent weeks, businesses are griping over the anticipated paperwork. Some small retailers, fearful of onerous tax-filing demands, have even closed for good. - LEE SEOK HWAI
Canon Singapore's expansion plans
Mr Kensaku Konishi, President and CEO, Canon Singapore Private Limited will be making a significant announcement about the expansion of Canon's business in Singapore. - ARIEL LIM
Bayer Healthcare's growth strategy for 2015
Bayer Healthcare is holding a press briefing detailing its growth strategy for 2015, including efforts at transforming itself into a pure Life Science company through further research and development, and product innovation for various difficult-to-treat diseases prevalent in Asia such as cancer, stroke and elderly eye diseases. - FELICIA LEE
National dragonboat inks sponsorship deal
The Singapore national dragonboat team will be signing a sponsorship deal to don the Under Armour brand for the upcoming SEA Games. The sport is gaining popularity following the women's team's bronze medal at the 2013 SEA Games in Myanmar. Can they improve on their showing on home soil at the upcoming SEA Games? - CHARLES ONG
Basketball: San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat in face-off
The San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat were battling for the NBA title just a year ago, yet both teams find themselves struggling to regain their swaggering form of the previous season. They face each other today, looking for victories to confirm their participation in the play-offs. - WIRES