AGP Executive Report

Singapore Stories: Two new graphic novels revisit the tiger killed at Raffles Hotel in 1902 and a little-known 1967 episode of mass hysteria, using archival research to explore the city’s past. Food & Drink: Greenwood Fish Market will open its first mall outlet at VivoCity on Nov 4, with a bistro menu and plans to test the concept for overseas growth. Spanish restaurants are also multiplying, as well-travelled diners seek out regional dishes beyond familiar tapas. Haze & Well-being: With outdoor ActiveSG facilities closed amid worsening haze, residents are being encouraged to exercise indoors; officials say schools could close if conditions reach hazardous levels. Local Finds: Retirees are giving Queensway Shopping Centre new character with thrift, hobby and specialist shops alongside its sports stores. Coming Soon: Starbucks’ limited-edition Winnie the Pooh collection launches in Singapore on Oct 20, with 20 drinkware and lifestyle items.

Haze and Daily Life: With air quality worsening, the Government may close schools and reschedule O-Level papers if forecasts reach hazardous levels. Platform workers should not lose pay or jobs for haze-related delays, says Acting Manpower Minister Jasmin Lau. Live Music: BigBang’s Singapore concerts are set to provide masks and water points as fans prepare for shows during the haze. Stories and Identity: The Singapore Writers Festival will welcome Chinese guest speakers, while a personal essay explores the shifting challenge of proving one’s Singaporean-ness. Food Heritage: A look at Singapore’s oldest hawker centres celebrates the city’s enduring flavours; meanwhile, The Coconut Club marks 10 years since its nasi lemak helped spark debate over the value of local food.

Singapore Writers Festival: Chinese writers Shuang Xuetao, Liang Hong and Wang Zhanhei will join more than 300 guests at the festival, running Nov 13–22 with over 200 events themed “Hidden in Plain Sight.” Local Food: The Coconut Club marks its 10th anniversary with a hawker residency from Oct 24, a S$10 birthday bash on Oct 25 and collaborations celebrating Singapore’s blended food heritage. Food & Drink: Vino Village, a Singapore-made app that teaches wine through grape characters, stories and quizzes, launches for curious drinkers. At Tanglin Mall, Serbian chef Đorđo Ćetković brings his take on Greek and Mediterranean cooking to Pano Kato. Lifestyle: Starbucks Singapore’s Winnie-the-Pooh drinkware and accessories collection arrives Oct 20. On Screen: “Crazy Rich Asians” is set to return as an HBO Max series, with Michelle Yeoh, Constance Wu and Henry Golding among the cast expected to reprise their roles; production is planned for 2027.

Haze and Daily Life: Smoke from Indonesian fires pushed Singapore’s PSI to 212, disrupting outdoor activities and raising health concerns as residents weigh fresh air against keeping polluted air out. Festival Traditions: Bengali communities are keeping Durga Puja alive overseas, including in Singapore, where families share homemade bhog and rituals across generations. What’s On: Singapore’s arts guide for Oct 14 to Dec 6 includes Objectifs’ first short-film festival. Local Life: Starbucks’ limited-edition Winnie-the-Pooh collection launches here on Oct 20, with 20 drinkware and lifestyle items celebrating the character’s 100th anniversary. Heritage: The Singapore History Gallery has reopened with new exhibits and interactive displays, while the Temasek Foundation–NUS Heritage Champions Programme marks a year of documenting lesser-known stories from the nation’s past.

Creative Industry: Ubisoft plans to cut 70 jobs at its Singapore studio as part of a wider restructuring, raising fresh questions about the future of local game development. Social Cohesion: PM Lawrence Wong warned that extremist influences are becoming more diverse and urged Singaporeans to guard against racial and religious divisions. Arts Calendar: Objectifs is organising its first short-film festival, featured in a new Singapore arts guide covering events through Dec 6. Local Lifestyle: Home-grown froyo brand Sogurt is set to return in December at One Holland Village. Theatre: Singaporean playwright Chay Yew’s musical Long Season, about a Filipino migrant worker, is still taking shape after a dramatic reading in Manila.

Haze and Schools: With fine-particle readings reaching very high levels in western Singapore, several schools have cancelled outdoor activities; Workers’ Party MP Kenneth Tiong renewed his call for air-conditioned classrooms to better protect pupils. Arts Calendar: Objectifs is holding its first short-film festival, part of a new Singapore arts guide covering events from Oct 14 to Dec 6. Heritage: A Temasek Foundation-NUS programme marks a year of documenting lesser-known stories from Singapore’s past. Screen Culture: Recent discussion of The Sandbox—screened to just seven moviegoers—and a review of Singapore-led animated film The Violinist spotlight the challenges and promise of local filmmaking. Community Cohesion: PM Lawrence Wong warned that extremist influences are becoming more diverse and that overseas conflicts can strain relationships at home, urging Singaporeans to guard against racial and religious intolerance.

Arts on Arrival: Marina Bay Cruise Centre and the National Arts Council are teaming up for three years of performances, murals and multicultural music at the cruise terminal. Living Heritage: A Temasek Foundation–NUS programme is marking a year of student projects on overlooked Singapore stories, from Southern Islanders to ice-cream hawkers, engaging more than 1,000 people. Local Finds: Hong Kong jewellery label Luah will open its first Singapore store at ION Orchard on Nov 12, its first retail outlet outside Hong Kong. Food & History: A guide to the city’s oldest hawker centres celebrates heritage flavours, while the Singapore History Gallery has reopened with new exhibits and interactive displays. On Stage and Screen: Attack on Titan: The Musical makes its Southeast Asian debut in Singapore next April; a sparse turnout at local film The Sandbox has also prompted fresh debate about support for Singapore cinema. Haze Disruption: Indonesian fires continue to cloud daily life across the region, with Singapore facing unhealthy air and West Kalimantan residents suing officials for failing to protect their right to clean air.

K-pop in Singapore: BigBang fans can find pop-ups, exclusive merchandise and Marina Bay Sands light shows around the city. Stage and Screen: Attack on Titan: The Musical will make its Southeast Asian debut in Singapore in April 2027, while a screening of local film The Sandbox drew just seven moviegoers and renewed calls to support Singapore cinema. Heritage and Arts: The Singapore History Gallery has reopened with interactive exhibits, and Goodman Arts Centre is hosting open studios, workshops and live music. The planned jewellery store at Komala Vilas’ former premises also puts the future of the heritage Indian eatery in focus. Living with Haze: Mosques will remain open for prayers, with outdoor activities and arrangements adjusted if air quality worsens.

Singapore Film: An intimate screening of local indie film The Sandbox drew just seven moviegoers, prompting cast members to urge audiences to support Singapore films in cinemas rather than assume they will reach streaming platforms. Live Performance: Attack on Titan: The Musical makes its South-east Asian debut at Marina Bay Sands in April 2027, with tickets starting at $58. Arts & Heritage: A new science-and-art exploration of “flow” and the reopened Singapore History Gallery, featuring interactive exhibits, offer fresh reasons to explore local culture. Pop Culture: A Williams F1 collaboration with anime franchise DAN DA DAN and TWICE’s Tzuyu reflects the Singapore Grand Prix’s growing reach beyond motorsport. Travel: Singapore Airlines and Scoot will offer more than 380,000 discounted tickets to 125 destinations at the Time To Fly fair, running Oct 23–25. Haze: Indonesian peatland fires continue to affect Singapore and the region, with unhealthy air raising health concerns and prompting precautions.

Heritage: The Singapore History Gallery has reopened after its first major overhaul since 2006, tracing more than 700 years of history through personal stories, interactive displays and objects including a restored 1970s HDB lift and composer Zubir Said’s piano. Food & Drink: TWG Tea has unveiled its largest flagship and a first-of-its-kind Tea Museum at Changi. Community: Mosques remain open for daily and Friday prayers during the haze, but will suspend non-essential outdoor activities if the 24-hour PSI reaches the very unhealthy range; worshippers at higher risk are urged to take precautions. Music & Giving: G-Dragon’s JusPeace Foundation is holding a three-day pop-up at Leisure Park Kallang, selling charity bracelets to support youth recovery, mental wellness and emerging artists. BigBang is set to perform at the National Stadium on Oct 17 and 18. Everyday Style: Singapore Airlines will replace female cabin crew’s sandals and slingbacks with closed-toe wedge shoes from January 2027, while keeping the sarong kebaya and its batik motif.

Faith & Haze: Mosques will remain open for daily and Friday prayers, MUIS says, though non-essential outdoor activities will stop if the PSI reaches “very unhealthy” levels. Food & Heritage: Food Opera at ION Orchard is getting a $5 million makeover aimed at preserving local food culture, as hawkers face mounting pressures. Performance & Screen: Singapore’s Yi Wei teams took second place in two categories at the MGM Cup Lion Dance Championship. The F1 weekend brought Kim Kardashian to Marina Bay, while HBO has ordered a Crazy Rich Asians series with original stars returning. Cole Sprouse and Kiko Mizuhara are among the guests expected at SGIFF 2026.

Haze & Schools: Air quality remains unhealthy, and MOE says schools could close or exams be postponed if the next-day PSI forecast exceeds 300. Race-Week Culture: Singapore’s Grand Prix brought a global crowd to Marina Bay; Visit Qatar’s Garden Souq at Raffles Hotel drew more than 1,700 visitors with Qatari food, crafts and live oud music. Food Heritage: Food Opera at ION Orchard is getting a S$5 million makeover aimed at preserving local food culture, as hawker businesses face mounting pressure. Arts & Nightlife: Goodman Arts Centre is hosting open studios, workshops and live music, while Jigger & Pony and Nutmeg & Clove have earned places on the World’s 50 Best Bars list. Screen Culture: Riverdale star Cole Sprouse and Japanese actress Kiko Mizuhara are set to visit Singapore for SGIFF 2026.

Race Weekend: Singapore’s Grand Prix brings culture alongside the track, with Lewis Hamilton’s Plus44 exhibition and a G-Dragon–Toy Story collaboration making their South-east Asian debut here. Food & Drink: Jigger & Pony and Nutmeg & Clove landed on the World’s 50 Best Bars list, while ION Orchard’s Food Opera is getting a S$5 million makeover aimed at preserving local food culture. Arts & Screen: Goodman Arts Centre is hosting open studios, workshops and live music; Cole Sprouse and Kiko Mizuhara are also set to visit for the Singapore International Film Festival, which will close with Sprouse’s Vintage Violence. On Screen: HBO has greenlit a Crazy Rich Asians series, with original film stars returning. Community: A new youth space in Yishun offers a place to build friendships and connections. Outdoors: Haze has pushed Singapore’s air quality into the unhealthy range, putting outdoor plans in doubt.

Haze and Health: Showers eased Singapore’s air quality slightly, but the PSI remains in the unhealthy to high-unhealthy range as smoke from Indonesian fires drifts over the island. Youth and Community: The Chop Community, a new free hangout in Yishun for people aged 15 to 35, offers activities from karaoke to art jamming. Food Culture: Food Opera at ION Orchard is getting a $5 million makeover, with a focus on preserving local food culture. Race Weekend: Max Verstappen took sprint pole at Marina Bay, while the Singapore Grand Prix continues under the haze. Arts and Screen: Riverdale star Cole Sprouse and Japanese actress Kiko Mizuhara will attend the Singapore International Film Festival for the Asian premiere of Vintage Violence. City Nights: Singapore bars Nutmeg & Clove and Jigger & Pony feature in a guide to the city’s cocktail scene, as local bartenders draw on Singapore’s flavours and stories.

Mental Health: IMH will be redeveloped by 2040 and become Singapore’s National Centre for Mental Health in 2027, as youth community support more than doubles. Health Minister Ong Ye Kung says seeking help is a sign of strength; mindline 1771 receives about 9,000 calls a month. Haze Watch: Air quality remained unhealthy across Singapore on Oct 10, with authorities advising people to limit strenuous outdoor activity. Food Culture: Ion Orchard’s Food Opera has reopened after a $5 million makeover, giving hawker stalls 1970s-inspired identities. But rising costs and thin margins continue to threaten the hawker trade. Screen: Crazy Rich Asians is returning as an HBO series, with Michelle Yeoh, Constance Wu and Henry Golding reprising their roles; production is expected to begin in 2027. Arts & Heritage: Goodman Arts Centre is hosting open studios, workshops and live music, while the National Museum’s revamped Singapore History Gallery reopens with hands-on ways to explore the nation’s past.