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.

First look at brand new Indian Heritage Centre, which opens next month

The Indian Heritage Centre at Campbell Street in Little India will be officially opened by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on May 7, and the public can visit it from the following day. Ahead of its opening, The Straits Times gets a sneak peek today at its five permanent exhibition galleries showcasing the history of the Indian community here. - MELODY ZACCHEUS

24-hour round-island rowing event hopes to raise $750,000 for charity

From today, 32 people will start taking turns to row around Singapore in 24 hours, in the first such charity event of its kind. Mission Row Around Singapore Island 2015 is a 140km challenge that aims to raise $750,000 for international charity organisation The Mission to Seafarers. The group provides practical and emotional support for sailors who spend months at sea. - RACHEL TAN

Second Asian-African Summit opens in Jakarta

Leaders from some 30 Asian and African countries will attend the second Asian-African Summit in Jakarta today.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo will deliver the opening speech, and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is among the visiting leaders who will speak.

The summit marks the 60th anniversary of the 1955 Bandung conference when leaders from 29 newly independent countries in Asia and Africa met. - ZAKIR HUSSAIN

All eyes on China's Xi, Japan's Abe at Asian-African Summit amid WWII statement tension

Japanese Premier Shinzo Abe attends the Asia-Africa conference in Jakarta today, where he is expected to offer further clues on whether he will repeat a formal apology for Japan's wartime aggression to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II later this year.

The nationalist leader hinted in a TV interview on Monday that he "need not" repeat the apology that had been proffered by some of his predecessors, drawing criticisms from China and South Korea on Tuesday. Observers say the lack of a formal apology in Mr Abe's statement for the anniversary will further damage Japan's frosty relations with its two neighbours. - LEE SEOK HWAI

Singapore creative showcase opens in Beijing

The Singapore Tourism Board opens Singapore: Inside Out, a five-day showcase of contemporary creative disciplines, in Beijing today. The event will see artists from China and Singapore participate in panel discussions, live music showcases and other creative presentations. Award-winning flim producer Tan Siok Siok and Chinese novelist Ning Ken are among the artists who will talk about their collaborations.

Mr Tan Chuan-Jin, Minister for Manpower and Minister for Social and Family Development, and Mr Lionel Yeo, STB's chief executive, will give speeches at the launch. - ESTHER TEO

Lim Hng Kiang to speak at bank association's annual meeting

Mr Lim Hng Kiang, Minister for Trade & Industry, will give the keynote address at the Association of Banks in Singapore's annual meeting today. - RACHAEL BOON

SGX to announce Q3 results

The Singapore Exchange will release its third quarter results today. - WONG WEI HAN

Asean Para Games to announce partnership with ComChest

Preparations are under way as Singapore prepares to host the Asean Para Games this year, the first time the Republic has hosted the event. The Games are also expected to announce a partnership with the Community Chest. - CHARLES ONG