Singapore: HDB resale and BTO, private launches and developer sales, government land sales, en bloc, and the cooling measures that move them.
True Fitness and True Yoga in Singapore are set to close, with their Hong Kong parent company Kontafarma China Holdings citing “fierce” market competition and rising costs in attracting customers. The companies, collectively referred to as the True Singapore Group, operate 10 fitness and yoga outlets in Singapore across three brands – True Fitness, TFX and Yoga Edition – and the centres are expected to cease operations as part of the liquidation process. According to a bourse listing by Kontafarma on 10 Sep 2026, the directors of True Fitness and True Yoga passed resolutions stating that they were unable to continue business due to their liabilities.
Singapore billionaires Raj Kumar and his son Kishin have acquired the Scotts Square retail mall in the Orchard Road area for S$310 million through a share purchase. The freehold mall has a gross floor area of 130,875 sq ft and a net leasable area of nearly 76,660 sq ft.
Microsoft plans to expand its data-centre capacity to roughly 38 gigawatts by 2032, more than triple its current 12GW, according to a Bloomberg News report. Only about 2GW of its existing capacity is dedicated to AI-specific chips, a share expected to rise to about a third of the 2032 target. The co
OpenAI has launched ChatGPT for Financial Services, a version of its AI model built for investment bankers and equity researchers. Developed with Morgan Stanley and Evercore, the product integrates datasets from LSEG, PitchBook and Daloopa, and is powered by the new GPT-6 Astra model.
IBM and NASA have released an open-source AI model to help scientists analyse decades of lunar data. The model, trained on data from nine instruments across four NASA missions, can identify ice deposits and map craters with up to 23 per cent greater accuracy than existing methods.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said the PAP government does not believe in using higher pay to draw people into politics, but competitive salaries prevent candidates from having to upend their financial responsibilities. He made the remarks during the parliamentary debate on Singapore's revised politi
Perennial Living has opened a S$265 million assisted-living development at Parry Avenue, offering 200 private apartments alongside medical care, rehabilitation and social activities. The 195,000 sq ft centre targets Singapore's rapidly ageing population with monthly rents ranging from S$8,000 to S$1
The Singapore Food Agency is studying the feasibility of allowing food past its quality-based date marks to be donated. Parliament passed a motion on Wednesday calling for enhanced food resilience and waste reduction through partnerships across society.
The government has no current plans to designate Tagore forest as a nature reserve, said National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat. The site, zoned for residential use, was proposed for protection by scientists in 2024.
Marina Budiman of Indonesia is the wealthiest woman in South-east Asia with a net worth of US$6 billion, followed by Thailand's Somurai Jaruphnit and Vietnam's Pham Thu Huong, each at US$4.4 billion. The ranking comes from Forbes' real-time data and includes heiresses and self-made billionaires from
A wave of new wealth from AI-focused companies such as OpenAI and Anthropic is reshaping luxury markets, with buyers prioritising private jets, expedition yachts and customised supercars over champagne and white-glove service. Property prices in San Francisco have surged, with the median single-fami
AI coding startup Cognition AI has raised US$2 billion in a Series E funding round, valuing the company at US$48 billion. The round was led by Andreessen Horowitz and Accel, with existing backers also participating. Cognition's run-rate revenue has grown to nearly US$900 million since its last round
Twelve countries, including Britain, Canada and France, announced Tuesday they would impose trade sanctions on Israeli settlements in the West Bank, citing rising settler violence against Palestinians. The move includes import bans and restrictions on companies providing services for settlement expa
Singapore's parliament passed the Land Titles (Strata) (Amendment) Bill on Sep 8, lowering collective sale consent thresholds to 70% for developments aged 40-59 years and 65% for those aged 60 years and above. The law also tightens rules, including halving the signature collection timeline to six mo
ASML has begun construction of the BIC North production campus on 35 hectares near Eindhoven Airport, adding capacity for up to 20,000 workers. The expansion comes as the chip-equipment maker races to fulfill orders for EUV lithography tools booked through 2027, driven by surging AI demand.
QES Group Bhd's Singapore unit has agreed to acquire two freehold Clean Industrial (B1) units at Space Nova for S$5.47 million (RM17.49 million). The fifth-storey units at 21 New Industrial Road will provide additional office and product-demonstration space to support the company's expansion in Sing
Singapore's Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) has introduced the Digital Infrastructure Bill in parliament, proposing licensing regimes for data centres and major cloud services. Operators of data centres with a critical IT load of at least 3MW must meet energy efficiency requir
Jaguar Land Rover has announced plans to cut around 4,000 roles over the next two years, citing geopolitical uncertainty, US tariffs and the aftermath of a cyberattack. The voluntary redundancy scheme targets management roles, with most cuts expected in the UK.
Phu My Hung has unveiled Casa Luna, a 49-unit ultra-luxury condominium in Ho Chi Minh City’s Phu My Hung urban area, with apartments priced from VND100 billion (US$3.84 million). The two-tower project, part of the developer’s “2.0” phase, targets senior executives and offers units spanning more than
Richard Eu Yee Ming and his three siblings have sold a freehold Good Class Bungalow at Bishopsgate for S$40 million, or S$2,480.72 psf. The buyer is a family member of Nippon Paint Holdings co-president Wee Siew Kim.
Singapore's five richest billionaires saw their combined net worth fall 7% to US$90.6 billion as the wealthiest man, Eduardo Saverin, lost US$10.1 billion. Kwek Leng Beng and family retained second place with US$16.1 billion, reducing the gap with Saverin to US$16.8 billion from US$28.7 billion last
Pham Thu Huong, wife of Southeast Asia’s richest man Pham Nhat Vuong, ranked 963rd on Forbes’ real-time billionaire list on Friday. Her net worth rose nearly US$200 million in a single day as Vingroup shares hit a record high.
Singapore's tax revenue rose 9.4% year-on-year to S$97.3 billion in the 2025/2026 financial year, driven by stronger economic activity and consumer spending. The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore reported that corporate income tax remained the largest contributor at S$34.4 billion, followed by G
A land betterment charge estimated at over S$2 billion is complicating the sale of 16.6 hectares held by Johor crown prince Tunku Ismail between Holland Road and Tyersall Avenue. Some prospective buyers baulk at bearing the cost, and the uncertainty has pushed his representatives to seek buyers in t
Microseries platform aTwist launched on Thursday with 10 original series and curated library content, targeting mobile-first viewers. The platform, formerly known as MicroCo, is available in eight markets including the US, UK, India and Australia.
Hongkong Land is in talks to enter Japan's property market with deals exceeding US$1 billion for mixed-use complexes in prime Tokyo locations, as part of parent Jardine Matheson's pivot towards becoming an investment firm. The developer has struggled to find suitable properties or partners amid Japa
Enterprise AI operating system provider Wonderful has raised US$550 million in a funding round led by Insight Partners, more than doubling its valuation to US$5 billion. The company will use the capital for product development and expansion, having grown to 650 employees across 35 markets since its
Mapletree Investments has secured more than $500 million in equity commitments at the first close of a logistics development strategy targeting $2.1 billion in assets across Malaysia, Vietnam and India. The fund, MEGA, will target high-growth markets amid growing domestic consumption and supply-chai
Singapore has committed another S$112 million to built environment research and innovation under the RIE 2030 plan. The Building and Construction Authority also announced a refreshed Green Mark scheme and mandatory accredited site supervision for large-scale projects from 2028.
A joint venture between UOL Group, Singapore Land Group, and CapitaLand Development has made the highest offer of S$1.43 billion for a 99-year leasehold residential site on New Upper Changi Road in Bedok. The bid, 13.8 per cent above the next closest offer, could set a record for the highest price e
IOI Properties Group has exercised its call option to acquire MVKimi, the holding company of Asia Square Tower 2, for an estimated S$1.19678 billion. The 46-storey integrated development at 12 Marina View includes offices, retail space and the Westin Singapore hotel on a master lease.
Frasers Property will close Yishun 10 on 2 Mar 2027 for redevelopment into a mixed-use project with about 110 residential units and a retail podium. The new development, set for launch in mid-2027 and completion in mid-2031, will be the first residential launch in Yishun Central in over a decade.
The median resale price rose to S$635,000, up 0.8 per cent month on month in August 2026, while transaction volume fell 4.9 per cent to 2,521. Million-dollar sales totalled 201, accounting for 8.0 per cent of all transactions.
Frasers Property has bought the Cuppage Terrace conservation shophouses on Orchard Road for S$175 million. The developer plans to integrate the 17-unit enclave with the adjacent The Centrepoint to create a larger lifestyle precinct aligned with the government's rejuvenation plans for the shopping di
More than 50 tenants at City Sprouts' Punggol East container park must cease operations by 31 Oct 2026, as the land is returned to the Singapore Land Authority. The social enterprise received notice in May and has secured alternative space at Pasir Ris Park, but tenants say the short notice has left
Sephora Singapore launches the Olive Young K-Beauty Edit on Sep 2, bringing over 180 products from 20-plus Korean beauty brands to stores. The partnership debuts in Southeast Asia with Sephora Ion Orchard serving as a regional K-Beauty Discovery Launchpad.
Pham Nhat Vuong, chairman of Vingroup, leads Southeast Asia's five wealthiest billionaires with a net worth of US$36.5 billion, according to Forbes. The combined wealth of the top five, including tycoons from the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand, totals US$110.7 billion.
BYD and Denza have launched a lifestyle card for selected customers, offering perks at 88 brands including Adidas, KFC and mewatch. The BYD and Denza Lifestyle Privilege Programme was announced on 31 Aug 2026, with eligible customers receiving their cards progressively from Tuesday.
Marina Square Shopping Mall will close on 31 Mar 2027 as part of a S$3 billion redevelopment by Singapore Land Group. The project will add 204 luxury homes, a 304-room hotel, 260 serviced apartments and Grade A offices, with completion targeted by 2031.
Sunway MCL, the Singapore property arm of Malaysia's Sunway Bhd, plans to secure several land parcels annually as it expands its residential pipeline. The developer has been active in government land sales, including a S$750.6 million bid for a River Valley Green site and a joint venture for the Bay
Analysts say VITRO REIT's delayed listing reflects deal execution and market timing rather than a change in PLDT's commitment. The data centre REIT now targets a 12 Oct listing on the Philippine Stock Exchange, with PLDT aiming to raise up to US$400 million from the offering.
Centurion Corporation has secured a second worker dormitory site in less than a month, paying S$221.7 million for a 30-year leasehold parcel at Lok Yang Way. The project adds 5,000 beds, bringing the company’s combined land outlay for two projects to S$564.7 million and expanding its Singapore capac
The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) found more than 600 buildings with structural defects each year from 2023 to 2025 out of over 7,000 inspected annually. About 91 per cent of buildings inspected over the three-year period had either no defects or only minor ones. Inspections use drones,
Bitcoin miner IREN reported AI Cloud Services revenue rose from US$16.4m in fiscal 2025 to US$128.8m in fiscal 2026, reflecting a shift from mining to cloud computing. The trend highlights growing convergence between cryptocurrency mining and AI infrastructure, both dependent on data centres and ene
Tay Ninh Provincial People's Committee has approved the investment policy for Tan Lan 3 Industrial Park, selecting IMG Long An Joint Stock Company as the investor. The 336-hectare multi-sector park in Tan Lan Commune requires VND8.45 trillion in total investment and will have a 50-year operating ter
OpenAI has been issued warrants estimated at US$5.5 billion in power infrastructure firm SB Energy, according to draft IPO documents reviewed by the Wall Street Journal. SoftBank Group and OpenAI are planned tenants in three SB Energy data centers, the report adds.
National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat says two BTO projects in Sin Ming and Toa Payoh will offer about 1,200 flats with waiting times of under three years. The launches are part of broader plans for more than 10,000 public and private homes in Toa Payoh West and Mount Pleasant over the next de
Singapore architect Chang Yong Ter, founder of Chang Architects, has spent over two decades creating distinctive homes shaped by nature, spirituality and a philosophy of doing things differently. His projects include the acclaimed Elok House and Moongate House, a Good Class Bungalow in Bukit Timah.
A Russian drone strike on a warehouse in the village of Myla near Kyiv sparked a massive detonation that killed at least 37 people and injured dozens on Friday night. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy vowed accountability, as the incident marks the second such strike-related explosion in the region in t
Japan's acclaimed live show Dinosaur Odyssey will stage its first large-scale indoor production outside the country at Resorts World Sentosa from 3 to 6 Dec 2026. The production features 15 ultra-realistic dinosaurs, including a T-rex, that move within arm's reach of audiences, with tickets priced f
Page 1 of 2 · 80 stories