AGP Executive Report

Barefoot Running Trend: A Hong Kong community is ditching hi-tech shoes for unshod road and trail runs, with Singapore-linked endurance athlete Leo Chan saying it feels more natural after building up from 1km to a shoeless full marathon. Shangri-La Dialogue Ripples: Coverage from Singapore’s Shangri-La Dialogue points to big-power posturing and AUKUS updates, including Australia’s shift toward buying used US submarines and a new push on underwater drone systems. Music Publishing Leadership: Universal Music Publishing Group names Singapore-based Sunita Kaur president, Asia, tasking her with driving growth across the region’s digital music ecosystem. Fashion Runway News: Chanel confirms it will bring its Resort 2027 collection to Sydney, spotlighting ocean-and-surf styling and “barefoot shoes” ahead of a major press-and-industry event. Screen Tourism: Agoda spotlights “screen tourism” with South Korean filming locations tied to K-dramas and films, including Yeongwol’s boost after “The King’s Warden.” World Cup Broadcast Watch: Bangladesh’s World Cup 2026 rights appear close to being secured after negotiations, easing fears of a blackout. Sports Spotlight: Commonwealth Games swimmer Leah Schlosshan is named in England’s Glasgow 2026 squad, while badminton sees PV Sindhu advance at the Indonesia Open as Lakshya Sen exits early.

BTS & Live Cinema: Singapore fans rushing for BTS’ Busan concert screenings as tickets for June 13 showings at Shaw and Golden Village are nearly sold out, with only front-row seats still available. Pop Culture & Music: Belle and Sebastian release Scotland’s World Cup anthem “It Only Takes One Lion,” a disco-pop track built around the team’s long wait and fan emotions. Local Sports Spotlight: Singapore bowler Cherie Tan ends a two-year title drought, winning the PWBA Lilac City Open in the US. Family Entertainment at Changi: Changi Airport rolls out a sports-themed Peanuts experience with Snoopy and friends running 29 May–12 July, featuring immersive installations and character meet-and-greets. Design & Retail Buzz: Jewel Changi’s Lego Botanicals returns with 800,000 brick-made flowers across Jewel Forest Valley and Canopy Park through 30 Aug. Arts & Heritage: T’ang Quartet violist Lionel Tan dies at 60, marking a loss for Singapore’s chamber-music scene. International Arts/Stage: Singapore’s Nathania Ong and Iman Fandi make Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia, with Ong set for Legally Blonde at Singapore Repertory Theatre in July.

K-pop & Live Music: Seventeen’s Vernon and The8 are launching their V8 subunit with a debut album dropping June 29 and a first live tour hitting Hong Kong at AsiaWorld-Expo on July 18–19. Sports & Mindset: Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty credit calm, “we will lose as champions” thinking for their Singapore Open comeback win, and they’re now set to lead India at the Indonesia Open. Local Arts & Culture: Singapore is hosting the inaugural Taiwan International Plant-Based Festival (May 30–Sep 30), pairing Taiwanese produce with fine-dining and floral exhibitions. Food & Lifestyle: Tokyo’s “steak-on-rice” Hikiniku To Come opens in Singapore, built around “Just Ground, Just Grilled, Just Cooked.” Broadcast Industry: beIN Media Group won two Asia-Pacific Broadcasting+ Awards in Singapore for digital transformation and IP broadcast solutions. Music Scene: Singaporean EDM producer MANSA drops “Way Back,” a late-night bass anthem aimed at festival energy. Tech & Entertainment: Sharpa unveiled dexterous humanoid robot hands for NVIDIA’s Isaac GR00T reference design, pushing faster development for real-world skills.

Local Arts & Culture: National Gallery Singapore opens “Passion is Volcanic: Desire in Southeast Asian Art,” its first age-restricted (18) show, running to Aug 30 and exploring sexuality through 70+ works from pre-modern to contemporary. Arts Festival Buzz: Singapore International Festival of Arts wrapped its 16-day run with “Legacy: Let’s Play,” mixing local and international theatre, dance and interactive formats like Jo Tan and Krish Natarajan’s “Makan Culture.” Design & Markets: CHIJMES hosts Design Assembly’s Summer Market (45+ homegrown designers) with fashion, beauty, ceramics, fine arts and artisanal food, plus a mini exhibition spotlighting local female photographers. Immersive Exhibition: “The Portals Experience” at Fever Exhibition Hall brings 300+ sci-fi and fantasy artworks and 10,000+ books/miniatures to eight themed realms, with “Future Singapore: 2126” prints by Kristal Melson. Singapore Events & Community: Clementi Stadium will close from July 7 to 2030 for redevelopment, with ActiveSG suggesting nearby alternatives for workouts. Sports Tourism (Regional): Bacolod City ramps up security for the FIBA U18 Women’s Asia Cup SEABA qualifiers (June 2–6) featuring teams including Singapore.

Singapore Tourism x Music: STB and Universal Music Singapore ink a three-year MoU to boost Singapore’s global pull through music-led campaigns, fan activations and local talent spotlights. K-pop Ticket Buzz: BTS returns to Singapore for four National Stadium dates in December; ticket sales open in stages from June 3 (ARMY presale), then June 4 (Live Nation) and June 5 (public). Badminton Spotlight: Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty win the Singapore Open men’s doubles, ending a two-year title drought with a final win over Indonesia’s Alfian/Fikri. Arts & Culture Review: Wild Rice’s Young & Wild graduation showcase “All You Can Eat” at Ngee Ann Kongsi Theatre mixes standout new writing/performances with some predictable, less gripping pieces. Fashion Moment: Zara Larsson turns heads in a Vogue Singapore shoot, including a Louis Vuitton bodysuit look that’s already going viral. Entertainment on Screen: Channel 4 thriller “Tip Toe” premieres with David Morrissey and Alan Cumming in a five-part story about neighbourly rivalry. Pride Month Energy: MGI All Stars finalists Gazini Ganados and Faith Maria Porter share Pride plans and support for the LGBTQIA+ community ahead of June.

Singapore Digital Habits: PM Lawrence Wong launched “Screen Smart From The Start” to help families manage children’s screen time, with a new “Be Screen Smart” portal and practical rules like no phones at meals and delaying smartphones. Badminton (Singapore Open): Satwik-Chirag ended a two-year title drought by beating Indonesia’s Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri 18-21, 21-17, 21-16 in the men’s doubles final, snapping a tough run of near-misses. ASEAN Digital Economy: ASEAN wrapped up talks on the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement, set for signing at the ASEAN Summit in November, covering AI, fintech and trusted cross-border data flows. Regional Sports: Nepal thrashed China by 221 runs in Asian Games qualifier cricket, while India’s U18 women’s hockey team beat Korea 3-1. Arts & Culture (MGI All Stars): MGI All Stars finalists Faith Maria Porter and Gazini Ganados looked ahead to June Pride Month, celebrating the pageant’s queer community roots. Entertainment (K-drama): “Filing for Love” episode 12 airs May 31, with a new counterattack plotline for Haemu Group.

Singapore Arts & Culture: SIFA’s festival director Chong Tze Chien talks up the Singapore International Festival of Arts’ next chapter as it heads into its 50th-year milestone, aiming for stories that pull in both casual viewers and visiting artists. Classical Music: Orchestra of the Music Makers’ Esplanade concert spotlights Singapore cellist Qin Li-Wei in Shostakovich’s First Cello Concerto, with Alexandre Bloch conducting without a baton. Books & Writing: Ovidia Yu’s The Tembusu Tree Mystery lands as the 10th Crown Colony instalment, continuing its Peranakan mystery-and-history formula. Fashion & Pop Culture: Nike and BTS announce a collaboration tied to the ARIRANG World Tour, with a “Nike By You” customisation angle and BTS-inspired motifs. Gaming: Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is set to overhaul the modern-day story, reframing it around Edward Kenway. Local Community: Eunos seniors get active with chair Zumba and other Active Ageing programmes run by the People’s Association. Sports (Singapore Open): Satwik-Chirag reach the men’s doubles final after beating Korea’s world champions; Aaron-Wooi Yik fall to China’s pair.

MPs’ Gift Register Oddities: New Zealand MPs must declare gifts and hospitality over $500, and this year’s list includes a “Mongolian horse (kept in Mongolia)” plus brass elephants and even “Arabian dates (x10)”—a reminder that politics is also theatre. Local Sports Leadership: Anjan Dhamala, once a national Taekwondo athlete, has built a global path into sports administration and governance, moving from training in WTF/ITF to international roles. Regional Business Shift: Rising costs are nudging firms to relocate from Singapore to Malaysia—Gardenia’s Johor move and H&M’s HQ shift highlight the trade-offs: jobs and investment, but tougher competition for skilled workers. Changi Goes Peanuts: Changi Airport’s Peanuts Summer Sports run (to July 12) brings Snoopy, sports-themed photo spots, and pop-up merch across T3 and T2. Music/Media Industry: TuneCore expands its international leadership for Europe and APAC, backing more non-US releases. TV & Film Buzz: “Hacks” finale review talk is all about its spoiler-heavy emotional pivot. Singapore Open Badminton: Loh Kean Yew’s comeback win keeps the KFF Singapore Badminton Open momentum going for home fans.

Singapore Arts Calendar: Goodman Arts Centre’s Artventure launches 6 June with three self-guided trails plus an Open Studio Day (10am–8pm) featuring 27 artist tenants, from live dance rehearsals and manga drawing to graffiti demos and shadow puppetry. Museum & Immersive Learning: Science Centre Singapore debuts ONE Ocean: Every Action Ripples (30 May 2026–3 Jan 2027), a multi-sensory, interactive walk-through built on Tara Ocean Foundation research, with hands-on coral colour changes, theatre projections, colouring animation and AI photo booths. Visual Arts Spotlight: Singapore Art Museum hosts Hiroshi Sugimoto’s Form Is Emptiness (mandala-structured show running to 4 Oct), inviting visitors to slow down and rethink how they perceive reality. Pop Culture & Fashion: Ariana Grande’s “hate that i made you love me” rollout is dissected as a carefully paced, fan-honed reveal leading to a June 1 video. Music in Singapore: K-pop group iKON announces a July Singapore stop, with ticket sales starting 30 May. Charity Visibility: Selected IPC charities can run free campaigns across SMRT’s network for three years under a new MCCY–SMRT partnership.

Wicked Boundaries: Cynthia Erivo says she’s “burned out” on the Wicked franchise after two years of promotion, calling the constant questions “ad nauseam” and hinting she wants to talk about other things. SIFA 2026 Inclusion: Teatro La Plaza’s Hamlet at SIFA 2026 reworks Shakespeare through a Down syndrome cast, with the company describing it as a “form of inclusiveness” shaped by a year of listening. Singapore Open Buzz: PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen and Satwik-Chirag storm into quarter-finals, while Khai Xing-Aaron’s upset win headlines the latest Singapore Open results. Local Culture, Global Stage: The Film Academy of the Philippines meets international partners at Cannes as it settles into its new government-agency form, focusing on worker protection and training. Community Arts & Play: Singapore’s ActiveSG “Sport for All” push faces a cricket snag, with calls to allow tennis-ball cricket on school fields. Music & Fandom Tech: Singapore-based VAYLA secures investor and ecosystem backing to build a blockchain-powered music and fandom platform centred on fan participation. Weekend Singapore Picks: A guide spotlights Singapore hawker centres and free attractions, from budget-friendly bites to low-cost ways to explore the city.

Singapore Arts & Culture: Sang Kancil and the Enchanted Forest lands as a free-roaming VR experience touring seven NLB libraries and Enabling Village from 6 June to 2 Aug, created by Avventura with Maya Dance Theatre and designed for up to five participants at a time. Music & Nightlife: Silent Disco Asia’s 10th birthday returns to Marina Bay Sands’ SkyPark Observation Deck, letting revellers switch between three headphone channels for a skyline-backed dance night. Family Fun: FunFam SportFest brings a Heroes of Active City theme to Singapore Expo with sports try-outs, obstacle challenges, coach-led workouts and a special appearance by national footballer Hassan Sunny. Local Spotlight: Singapore Youth Flying Club’s control-line teams made a historic third-place finish at the 2026 F2 FAI World Championships in Perth. Global Screen & Streaming: Apple TV’s Star City premieres with episodes 1–2 on 29 May, dropping at 3pm SGT. Stage & Society: Icon Singapore’s 2026 Icon Ball (Starlit Dreamscape) showcased couture looks and creativity at Resorts World Convention Centre. Sports (Singapore Open): PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen and Satwik-Chirag advanced to quarter-finals, with Tanisha Crasto and Dhruv Kapila staging a standout comeback.

Forbes Under 30 Asia: Forbes has unveiled its 11th annual 30 Under 30 Asia list, spotlighting 300 young innovators across categories including Entertainment & Sports and The Arts (Art & Style, Food & Drink)—with Singapore’s Nathania Ong among the names. Wicked Backlash Talk: Cynthia Erivo says she’s “done talking” about Wicked and addresses the “insidious” jokes about her after the Singapore premiere incident, calling out how Black women are judged online. Jewel Changi LEGO Moment: Jewel Changi is rolling out “Celebrate Jewel Blooms with Lego Botanicals,” featuring about 800,000 Lego bricks and Southeast Asia’s largest Lego Botanicals showcase. Pokemon Trading Boom: At Singapore’s Kyo Cards Con, collectors trade and flip graded Japanese holo cards—showing how Pokemon has turned into a serious, cash-and-authentication hobby market. Singapore Open Badminton: HS Prannoy staged a comeback to beat World No. 5 Jonatan Christie, while Lakshya Sen and mixed doubles pair Dhruv Kapila–Tanisha Crasto also advanced. Community & Culture: PM Lawrence Wong thanked Singapore’s Muslim community for sustaining korban support during Aidiladha, while Pertapis distributed 1,000kg of meat to 500 lower-income families.

Jewel Changi Airport: Celebrate Jewel Blooms with Lego Botanicals is now on, turning the mall into a floral wonderland with about 800,000 Lego bricks, including two-metre Lego rose displays and themed gardens across Jewel’s spaces. Music & Pride: Club Café’s June 1 Pride kickoff features three short films and a talkback for “The Bonds of Mothers and Their Gay Sons,” with screenings followed by discussions. Pop culture collab: Hello Kitty x Jisoo’s pink “friendship exchange diary” pop-up opens at Wisma Atria (May 28–June 14), with photo ops and merchandise. Sports (Singapore Open): Pearly Tan–Thinaah and Aaron Chia–Soh Wooi Yik advanced to the second round at Singapore Open 2026, with Pearly noting room to improve strategy and coordination. Arts & culture debate: A Singapore-focused commentary asks, “Can we shape culture?” arguing cultures evolve through exchange and choice. Legal spotlight: Byju Raveendran was sentenced to six months in jail in Singapore for contempt of court, adding to the edtech collapse saga.

Singapore Arts & Community: Concert Viva returns with S’pore students taking the stage for the visually impaired, led by St Joseph’s Year 6 student Ryan Asher Koo ahead of a June 2 show at *Scape. Festival Buzz: SIFA 2026 keeps leaning into “theatre in everyday life,” with the Festival Village at Empress Lawn turning performances into street-level experiences. Regional Arts Spotlight: Singapore artist Ho Tzu Nyen wins Japan’s Fukuoka Grand Prize, recognised for work mapping Southeast Asian histories and myths. Global Culture & Pride: Sofia Pride Film Fest (2–12 June) announces its 15th edition lineup, with a women-focused programme and Audience Awards across feature and short competitions. Business of Art: Moment Factory and Mitsui Fudosan unveil a long-term fan-experience partnership, including a new Pokémon immersive experience debuting in Europe in spring 2027. Arts, but make it personal: A 17-year-old Mumbai student launches luxury label “Hangover,” betting on limited drops and Gen Z exclusivity.

Arts & Culture: NTCK’s Korea production of Ibsen’s “Hedda Gabler” lands in Singapore for the Singapore International Festival of Arts, running May 28–30 with Lee Hye-young reprising the title role. Music & Entertainment: Daniel Caesar’s SEA tour is drawing sharp backlash after fans say his Singapore and Manila shows felt like “expensive karaoke,” with complaints that he relied too much on the crowd. Sports Spotlight: Loh Kean Yew talks form struggles ahead of the KFF Singapore Open, while Singapore Open action continues with early exits for some Indian players. Tech & Media: RisingJoy says it has expanded microdrama licensing to 50+ platforms in 30+ countries, including new 2026 titles. Business/Leisure: PlayStation’s Days of Play 2026 starts May 27, and Resorts World Sentosa’s CSR “Paws for a Cause” adds a South Korean celebrity partner.

Housing & Economy: PM Mark Carney used a major B.C. business stage to float possible housing tax cuts while pitching a national plan built on energy, critical minerals, trade diversification and infrastructure. Microdrama Momentum: Singapore’s RisingJoy says it has licensed microdramas to 50+ apps across 30+ countries and is eyeing more original production after hitting 1B+ views on multiple flagship titles. Sports Spotlight (Singapore): The Singapore Open (BWF Super 750) kicks off Tuesday with PV Sindhu and Satwik-Chirag leading India’s push for ranking points, while local fans also track Aaron-Wooi Yik’s confidence of defending their title. Tech & Entertainment Business: JOYY reported Q1 2026 results—revenue up 12.4% YoY to US$555.7m—plus a new US$600m buyback and US$900m quarterly dividend plan. Regulation Watch: Indonesia blocked Polymarket, calling prediction markets online gambling in disguise, adding to a wider regional crackdown.