AGP Executive Report

Fitness & consumer fallout: True Fitness and True Yoga are shutting down in Singapore after their Hong Kong parent cited mounting liabilities and fierce competition, with CASE saying members reported over S$609,000 in losses and hundreds of complaints pouring in. Sports spotlight: Singapore para athlete James Ethan Ang was unveiled as Team Singapore’s flag bearer for the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games (Oct 18–24). Rising star: China’s 13-year-old swimming sensation Yu Zidi, youngest-ever world champs medallist, eyes Asian Games domination and Olympic glory. Halloween entertainment: Resorts World Sentosa’s Festival of Thrills returns with Halloween Horror Nights, a Minions live show and racing experiences through Nov 1. Film & TV crossovers: A Japanese drama, Squall, is filmed entirely in Singapore for the first time, with Katong and wildlife-park scenes among the locations. Tech & games: Roblox will add tools for adult-focused 2D game creation, plus AI features to speed up building. Fashion meets sport: Tennis star Alex Eala continues her New York Fashion Week run, front-row at Tory Burch and Michael Kors. Local arts & reading: Joy Yong, the classically trained violinist behind The Violinist, reads in Chinese to train attention span. Crypto case: Singaporean Malone Lam pleaded guilty in US federal court over a $245m bitcoin theft scheme.

Singapore Film: Singapore has selected Anthony Chen’s We Are All Strangers as its entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 99th Academy Awards, capping his “Growing Up” trilogy (Ilo Ilo, Wet Season) with a rare three-film Oscar-submission run. Local Arts & Culture: Hong Kong Film Gala Presentation 2026 returns to Singapore for its fifth year, running Sept 11–13 at Shaw Theatres Lido with eight Hong Kong titles, including the dark comedy Dog Day Evening. Immersive Exhibition: Bloomyard by Graphic Rewilding lands at IMBA Theatre (Sept 10–Oct 25), turning oversized floral installations into a hands-on playground with mini-golf, table tennis and a DIY crepe-paper flower station. Fashion & Design: Sim Chi Yin’s revisionist photomontage work The Suitcase is a Little Bit Rotten features in 归舟: Longings, Returns, using magic-lantern imagery and personal archival fragments. Sports & Entertainment: True Fitness/True Yoga abruptly shut in Singapore; ex-employees and members are left seeking clarity on September salaries and CPF after provisional liquidation. Streaming: Lanterns episode 5 (“Lights Out”) premieres Monday, Sept 14 at 9am SGT on HBO Max. International Spotlight: Yu Zidi, China’s 13-year-old swimming prodigy, eyes Asian Games glory after historic world-championship success.

Fitness Closures: True Fitness and True Yoga are shutting all Singapore outlets after their parent company Kontafarma China Holdings moved them into provisional liquidation, citing fierce competition, rising customer-acquisition costs, and liquidity pressure. Local Culture & Media: Singapore Idol judge Ken Lim Chih Chiang has appealed his molestation conviction and 13-month jail term; the High Court reserved judgment after arguments over the victim’s reliability. Retail & Lifestyle: Japanese stationery giant Kokuyo opens its first Singapore store at Ann Siang Hill, bringing Campus notebooks, Harinacs staplers and more into a three-storey office/showroom. Pop Culture: Transformers franchise posted a new clip for “Optimus Prime: Awakening,” and the 4K re-release of “The Transformers: The Movie” lands in Singapore on Sept 17. Sports & Youth: 13-year-old Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi eyes Asian Games glory after her breakthrough at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. Entertainment Events: “Now You See Me Live” is set for a limited Broadway run starting Nov 11, after touring including Singapore. Food & Language: More Singaporeans are learning Malay, with schools and centres reporting steady enrolment growth since 2021.

ASEAN Health & Tobacco Control: Singapore earned a Special Recognition at the second ASEAN Smoke-Free Awards, as Baguio City took the Gold and other regional cities won Silver and Bronze for enforcing smoke-free policies. Local Environment: NEA reported central Singapore’s 24-hour PSI slipped back into the unhealthy range (up to 105) amid haze drifting from southern Sumatra, with moderate conditions elsewhere. Tech & Consumer AI: HONOR Malaysia says AI adoption hinges on linguistic relevance and easy, prompt-free use, calling for openness across devices, telcos and platforms to build a safer regional AI ecosystem. Cybersecurity: A set of malicious Chrome/Firefox extensions targeted Axiom Trade and Padre users to steal session tokens and wallet data, funneling info to attacker-controlled deployments. US Immigration Policy: The Trump administration proposed scrapping the 60-day H-1B grace period after job loss, forcing certain temporary workers to leave sooner. Luxury & Craft: Edinburgh’s new Balfour Cairns launched premium leather “essential kit” for the gentleman adventurer, aiming for global growth. Performing Arts (Ukraine): Alexei Ratmansky stages Balanchine’s “Donizetti Variations” as the National Opera of Ukraine opens its 159th season. Music Industry: MusiCares named U2 as its 2027 Persons of the Year, with the gala set for Feb 5, 2027 in Los Angeles. Football (Regional): FIFA confirmed the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 (Sept 24–Oct 5) across Bandung, Jakarta and Hong Kong, featuring Singapore among Division 1 teams. K-pop on Screen: BTS will bring its “ARIRANG” live tour to cinemas in South America for the first-ever Argentina live viewing and additional Brazil screenings.

Mandopop & Design: OCT Ent.’s 35th-anniversary Mandopop tour Mai Meng (Treasure The Moment) won a Gold A’ Design Award for Event and Happening Design, spotlighting how Singapore and regional live entertainment is leaning into immersive, heritage-meets-contemporary experiences. Film & Awards: Asia Pacific Screen Awards 2026 nominations include Singapore co-productions The Violinist, 9 Temples To Heaven, Four Seasons In Java and Hearing, while Malaysian-born Singapore-based actress Yeo Yann Yann is nominated for We Are All Strangers. Fashion Debuts: Thai label Gentlewoman opens its first Singapore store on Oct 15 at 313@Somerset, bringing collaborations and lightweight fabric lines. Music Night Out: TOKEN2049’s closing event AFTER 2049 lands at Marina Bay Sands SkyPark on Oct 9 with Claptone and Crusy plus ANONM, Leon (FR), Milam and Mo-Shi. Family Play: Bloomyard by Graphic Rewilding x IMBA opens at Gardens by the Bay (Sept 10–Oct 25), turning the gallery into a climb-in botanical playground. Tech for Creatives: MAYFEYR launches MAYFEYR Mirror, an AI tool letting shoppers preview full designer outfit combinations before buying. Sustainability & Ownership: Singlife-SGFIN’s Sustainable Future Index 2026 says personal ownership drives most sustainable action among Singaporeans. Local Arts Calendar: A September roundup highlights exhibitions worth braving the rain, including León Gallery International’s Undergrowth and Modeka Art’s moving-image show Beyond Existing Forces. Travel & Culture: EgyptAir plans Singapore–Cairo–Sydney direct service from early 2027, aiming to boost North Africa connectivity for the region.

Singapore Arts & Culture: A Singapore arts guide (Sept 9–20) spotlights Tangent Moves staging Hildegard von Bingen and Aphex Twin, plus a run of kid-friendly arts picks. Music & Pop Culture: The Weeknd’s After Hours Til Dawn tour raked in over US$345m across Europe and the UK, drawing 2.3m fans in 11 countries—proof of stadium-scale pull. Fashion: New York Fashion Week 2026 kicks off with a Sept 9 prelude and runs through Sept 15, featuring a big roster of labels and digital add-ons. Local Sports Spotlight: The Football Association of Singapore boosts the Singapore Premier League prize pot to a record $1m for 2026–27, with the season starting Sept 11. Global Screen Buzz: Marvel’s Avengers: Doomsday release date is under pressure after mass reshoots, while Apple’s “Surprise and Shine” event lands today—expected to unveil iPhone 18 Pro, a foldable iPhone Duo, Apple Watch Series 12 and more. Arts & Heritage: Christie’s Asia Week New York programming spotlights rare Chinese porcelain, including a “bats and peaches” bowl estimated up to $600,000.

Singapore Pop Culture & Live Music: K-pop girl group Izna will bring its first-ever Singapore concert to the Capitol Theatre on Nov 8, as part of the Who Dat Girl? tour. International Film & Singapore Talent: Tokyo’s TIFFCOM has partnered with Fantasia’s Frontières to add horror and thriller projects to the Tokyo Gap-Financing Market, including Singapore director Boo Junfeng’s Trinity. Theatre & Major Touring Shows: MJ The Michael Jackson Musical is set for a limited run at Marina Bay Sands from Aug 2027, revisiting the Dangerous World Tour era with more than 25 Jackson hits. Sports Spotlight: Filipino tennis star Alex Eala says her breakout year taught her how to handle obstacles and hopes her journey inspires youth; she’ll next play the Singapore Open before representing the Philippines at the Asian Games. Food & Lifestyle: Fico opens a second seaside outpost at Tanjong Beach Club on Sept 28, bringing its Puglian coastal dining vibe to a new stretch of Singapore. Arts Business: Huella appoints Kartik Mehta as mentor to scale its Creative AdTech and Connected TV work across Southeast Asia, with Singapore as a hub.

Street Dance Workshops: Vancouver dancers Simran Sachar and Sevrin Emnacen-Boyd are bringing free w*acking and breakdance sessions to Revelstoke this weekend, spotlighting street dance’s LGBTQ+ roots and its Olympic-era momentum. Teen Reading Woes: A new OECD PISA 2025 report links slumping teen reading to more screen time and less reading for pleasure, with scores at the lowest since 2000. Table Tennis in Macao: WTT Champions Macao 2026 kicked off at the East Asian Games Dome, with Chen Yi and Chen Yuanyu advancing to the round of 16 after straight-sets wins, and Singapore’s Zeng Jian facing Miwa Harimoto. Film & Festival Buzz (NYC): The Downtown Festival announced its 2026 lineup, including films by Paul Schrader and Ethan Hawke, running Oct 9–18 with one-night screenings and filmmaker talks. Fashion Spotlight: Iris van Herpen’s no-flagship, couture-only approach is in focus, with a Brooklyn Museum exhibition highlighting her “grown, not made” sculptural garments. Sports & Culture (UAE at Asian Games): The UAE Olympic Committee confirmed 165 athletes across 23 sports for Aichi–Nagoya 2026, including esports and padel tennis. Tech for Creators: Singapore’s YYForce is launching drone-and-AI facade inspection via a new JV, pointing to how automation is reshaping service work.

Live Music Economics: YouGov data shows concert culture is booming across APAC, but most fans don’t stand in front of stages regularly—so the “after” matters, from merch and collectibles to shared experiences. Luxury Craft in Focus: Hemmerle brings its unconventional high jewellery to Singapore, spotlighting years of experimentation and craftsmanship behind each piece. Teen Safety Online: A policy debate is heating up over how to protect teens on social media, weighing harms like bullying and misinformation against benefits like connection. Art Beyond Borders: Chinese artist Jiang Miao opens her first New York solo show, with carved acrylics exploring time and Taoist philosophy. Local Theatre for Families: There’s a Monster in Your Show heads to Abergavenny, an interactive musical built for young families. Comedy on Stage: Just For Laughs Singapore returns with Trevor Noah and other big names across October to December. Singapore Arts & Pop Culture: Ayden Sng discusses his Singapore roots while his career expands in China, and The Walking Dead: Dead City Season 3 finale details land for fans. Fashion Retail Watch: Izipizi opens its first stand-alone store in Tokyo, signalling deeper global expansion. Jewellery & Philanthropy Research: New findings on Asia’s wealth and giving highlight how families steward wealth and fund impact.

ASEAN–EU Diplomacy: PM Lawrence Wong says Singapore’s next ASEAN Chairmanship can deepen ASEAN-EU ties with Luxembourg, including cooperation on quantum, AI, space and satellite links. AI for Kids: Central Singapore CDC’s “My Digital Bootcamp” expands to 1,000 children, adding age-appropriate AI literacy alongside coding, robotics and digital art. Crypto Crime in the Spotlight: Singaporean Malone Lam, accused in a $240M Bitcoin theft via Gemini/Google impersonation, is set for a U.S. plea hearing as prosecutors detail a social-engineering scheme and alleged laundering spree. Sports & Asian Games Build-up: India’s Satwik-Chirag ride their China Masters win into the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, stressing fine-tuning and “no added pressure.” Arts & Culture Calendar: Kampong Gelam Festival spotlights Nusantara music, kebaya craft and Malay theatre; One Stage, Two Traditions brings Singapore Potehi puppetry together with Japan’s Awa Ningyo Joruri. Screen & Music Buzz: “Ted Lasso” season 4 episode 6 lands on Apple TV on Sept 9; ENHYPEN adds extra London and Berlin dates for its Blood Saga tour, with Singapore National Stadium on March 14.

K-pop on the big screen: A documentary on Blackpink’s Lisa, Always Lalisa, will screen in Singapore cinemas from Oct 12–17, with the EP Press Play also due Oct 23. Local arts & culture: National Library Board kicks off ReadSG and National Reading Month, urging Singaporeans to read 15 minutes a day through the ReadSG Challenge. Film festival spotlight: Tokyo International Film Festival adds new awards in Nippon Cinema Now and relaunches Crosscut Asia+ with international jury focus. Music & theatre: Global hit musical Cats returns to Korea in December after a three-year gap, with a tour planned for major cities including Busan, Sejong and Seoul. Design & hospitality: The St. Regis Singapore unveils its reimagined Presidential Suite, a 335 sq m biophilic residence inspired by the Botanic Gardens. Sports-meets-tech: Virtual taekwondo debuts at the Asian Games, letting athletes compete in both real and VR formats. Singapore business backdrop: Retail sales growth slowed to 1.5% y/y in July, with food and department store sales down.

Volcanic Travel Chaos: Singapore Airlines cancelled 19 flights to Jakarta and Scoot cancelled 12 on Sunday after Mount Anak Krakatau’s ash led to temporary closures at Soekarno-Hatta, disrupting hundreds of flights and tens of thousands of passengers. Badminton Spotlight: Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty stunned He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu 11-21, 21-13, 21-17 to win their maiden China Masters title, a confidence boost ahead of the Asian Games. Tennis in Singapore: Alex Eala, fresh off a US Open third-round exit, is set to headline the Singapore Tennis Open at Kallang this September alongside top WTA names. Music & Local Talent: Brb. will headline Homegrown 2026 (11–13 Sep) at Paya Lebar Quarter, joining acts like Regina Song and Forests. Fashion Talk: Sofia Richie Grainge wore a vintage Chanel Cruise 2014 dress—first seen on Kendall Jenner at Cannes in 2014—at a London wedding weekend. Sports Event Watch: WTT Champions Macao 2026’s draw is out, with singles action running 8–13 Sep at the Macao East Asian Games Dome.

Singapore Arts & Culture: OMM’s ambitious semi-staged Siegfried at the Esplanade Concert Hall signals strong local appetite for Wagner, following Das Rheingold and Die Walküre. Fashion & Society: Shein’s ultra-fast fashion IPO stumble—valuation slashed after a pivot to Hong Kong—adds fuel to the debate over ESG risk and whether “ultra-cheap” can ever become truly sustainable. Film & LGBTQIA+ Stories: Taiwanese-Singapore co-production Will You Still Be My Friend boards international sales via Moveria, with a trailer out and a stop in San Sebastián’s New Directors sidebar before Busan. Family-Friendly Arts: ChildAid 2026 Festival opens free outdoor Open Stage auditions (video submissions due Sept 12), with adults now eligible alongside youth performers. Music Pop Culture: Dolly Parton impersonator Kelly O’Brien says Dolly’s death leaves her “devastated” but with a “great responsibility” to carry on the legacy. Tech & Creativity: Colour analysis is going viral as a styling “palette” method, turning wardrobe choices into a personalised, shareable ritual.

Cruise & Culture: Seabourn Quest’s 138-day “Iconic Islands” world cruise is open for bookings, with stops including Easter Island, Bora Bora, Bali, Singapore (overnight), Sydney, Zanzibar and Cape Town, plus 20 extended stays and 8 overnight ports. Reality TV (Singapore access): Bigg Boss 20 premieres Sept 6 with Salman Khan returning, plus the Vardan “second chance” twist; the show will stream on JioHotstar and is also available in the UK, Canada and Singapore. Badminton (China Masters): Satwik-Chirag stormed into the China Masters final again, beating Malaysia’s Nur Mohd Azriyn and Tan Wee Kiong 21-15, 18-21, 21-11, setting up a title match against China’s Ren Xiang Yu and He Ji Ting. Arts & Theatre (local): Claire Teo’s Monstress (ART:DIS) at Esplanade Theatre Studio reframes “monstrous-feminine” themes through disability and caregiving. Music & Community: Jazz@Pangbourne spotlights saxophonist Karen Sharp with The Terry Hutchins Quartet. Sports Tech: World Taekwondo’s Virtual Championships head to Muju Taekwondowon in June 2027, with virtual taekwondo set as an official medal event at the 2026 Asian Games. Haze Watch: Moderate haze returned to Singapore with PSI in the unhealthy range in the central area.

Singapore Arts & Culture: Claire Teo’s Monstress at Esplanade Theatre Studio reframes “monstrous-feminine” horror through disability and caregiving, turning unseen struggles into stage empathy. Music & Live Jazz: Jazz@Pangbourne brings saxophonist Karen Sharp with The Terry Hutchins Quartet tomorrow night. Language & Identity: More young Singaporeans are signing up for dialect classes, with learners like Hainanese student Eldred Wee seeking identity and stronger family links. Family-Friendly Heritage: Singapore Botanic Gardens & Fort Canning Park Heritage Festival 2026 runs 5–13 Sept, featuring new exhibitions including Hidden World: Creepy Crawlies of Singapore and Funtastical World of Fungi. Local Film & Animation: Fann Wong and Christopher Lee reunite after 17 years for Library of Mystory, a Tang-dynasty-inspired 3D animated feature. Streaming & Pop Culture: JioHotstar launches globally in the UK, Canada and Singapore with 160,000+ hours of Indian content, while Bigg Boss 20 readies its premiere with confirmed contestants teased online. Local Spotlight: Hidden World exhibition opens at Fort Canning Centre, pairing big photography with live specimens for a close-up look at Singapore’s insects and arachnids.

K-pop & Local Talent: SM Universe Singapore says Michelle Garcia, 13, has joined its K-pop professional training programme, sharing how she flies in weekly from the Philippines for coaching in singing and dance. Art Fairs in Asia: Seoul Art Week’s PAVILION launches its first edition in the city, using a boothless, neighbourhood-style setup and QR-linked pricing to lower barriers for galleries and audiences. Fashion Meets Travel Retail: Kashkha will debut two destination-inspired collections at TFWA Cannes 2026, including silk scarves and printed cashmere wraps designed as “wearable souvenirs,” with the brand already operating at Changi and other airports. Global Pop Culture: Netflix’s Global Non-English TV list spotlights Youku’s workplace romance “The Early Spring,” which hit No. 2 for Aug 24–30 and topped charts in Singapore during the tracking week. Sports-Entertainment Crossover: F1 and Disney’s “Fuel the Magic” continues at Monza with Lightning McQueen making an honorary lap, tying Pixar’s Cars franchise to the Italian GP weekend.