Regional News

Digital travel platform Agoda has launched a curated guide spotlighting some of Asia’s most serene urban parks, providing a tranquil retreat from the bustling city life. The guide, aimed at travellers seeking relaxation and a connection with nature, features five must-visit parks across the region.

Tainan Park in Taiwan is renowned for its vibrant flora and picturesque landscapes, offering serene walking paths and beautiful ponds. In South Korea, Deokjin Park in Jeonju captivates visitors with its stunning lotus flowers and leisurely boat rides. India’s Rock Garden in Chandigarh presents a unique blend of art and nature, with intricate sculptures crafted from recycled materials.

Thailand’s Singha Park in Chiang Rai spans vast acres of rolling hills and tea plantations, offering activities such as cycling and ziplining. Meanwhile, Burnham Park in Baguio, Philippines, is celebrated for its serene atmosphere, boating opportunities, and colourful flower beds.

Jun Dong, Associate Vice President at Agoda, stated, “Agoda invites travellers to discover the hidden gems of Asia’s parks, where our competitive prices make it easy to enjoy the tranquillity and beauty of these unique landscapes.”

Agoda’s platform offers over 6 million holiday properties, more than 130,000 flight routes, and over 300,000 activities, all of which can be combined in a single booking. With the growing appeal of slow travel, Agoda’s guide encourages travellers to unwind and create lasting memories in these urban oases.
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Renowned Singaporean lingerie brand XIXILI has launched an extensive sleepwear collection, designed to offer elegance and all-night comfort. The collection features soft nightgowns and tailored pyjama sets, crafted from breathable fabrics and gentle silhouettes to promote self-love and indulgence.

XIXILI’s spokesperson, Lay Hong, emphasised the brand’s commitment to empowering women to reclaim their femininity at any time of day. “Women deserve a calming nighttime ritual, and nothing sets the mood better than slipping into something silky, sensual, and comfortable,” she stated.

The collection includes the Amy Midnight Slip and Rubie Soft Lacey Slip, both modern takes on the classic slip dress. The Amy Midnight Slip boasts a sleek microfibre finish with delicate lace and a playful V-neckline, ideal for warm Singaporean nights. The Rubie Soft Lacey Slip, meanwhile, features floral stretch lace and soft mesh, designed to accentuate natural curves.

Additionally, the Zinnia Satin Loungewear Set remains a signature piece, bridging the gap between loungewear and sexy lingerie with its silky finish and sculpted cut. XIXILI also offers matching robes and accessories for added coverage and comfort, reflecting the brand’s inclusive approach.

XIXILI, a proudly Malaysian brand, is known for its inclusive sizing and dedication to helping women feel confident and supported. The brand also offers a 3D Avatar Try-On Tool, allowing women to virtually try on lingerie tailored to their unique body type. The full collection is available online and in boutiques across Malaysia.
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PropNex Realty, Singapore’s largest listed real estate agency, is set to host its first International Property XPO on 6 and 7 September 2025 at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront. This pioneering event is dedicated to overseas real estate, providing Singaporeans with direct access to international investment opportunities. The exhibition will showcase over 15 projects from the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, and Malaysia, offering a variety of investment options, including house-and-land packages and hotel residences.

The event will feature international experts and notable developers who will provide insights into taxation, legal frameworks, and investment types across different markets. Renowned developers such as Berkeley Group from the UK, MQDC from Thailand, and Tropicana from Malaysia will present their latest developments and highlight emerging opportunities.

A significant highlight of the XPO is a panel discussion on the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ). This session will include Krishnamoorthy Kuppusamy, Senior Vice President of Iskandar Investment Berhad, alongside PropNex’s Executive Chairman Ismail Gafoor and Head of International Sales Chua Shir Yee. They will explore the economic and real estate prospects of this strategic initiative.

Chua Shir Yee noted, “Since the tightening of ABSD in April 2023, we have observed a clear uptick in interest among Singaporeans exploring overseas property investment.” Ismail Gafoor added, “The International Property XPO is designed to give investors confidence, bringing together reputable developers, experts, and thought leaders.”

The event underscores PropNex’s mission to empower investors with the necessary knowledge and trusted partners to expand their property portfolios internationally.
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Nuveen Private Capital, a collaboration between Churchill Asset Management and Arcmont Asset Management, has announced a strategic partnership with Hunter Point Capital and Temasek. This alliance involves minority investments from Hunter Point Capital and Temasek, with the latter also providing long-term capital commitments to Nuveen’s strategies.

Nuveen Private Capital, established in March 2023, has rapidly grown into an $87 billion private capital platform, investing over $21 billion in more than 400 companies over the past year. The firm supports US and European private equity firms and serves over 5,000 investors globally. Bill Huffman, CEO of Nuveen, expressed pride in the partnership, stating it validates the platform’s growth and commitment to investors.

Ken Kencel and Anthony Fobel, co-CEOs of Nuveen Private Capital, highlighted the partnership’s role in enhancing value for investors and sponsors. Avi Kalichstein, CEO of Hunter Point Capital, praised Nuveen’s market expertise and expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration’s future growth.

The transaction ensures Nuveen retains majority ownership of Nuveen Private Capital, with no changes to its investment strategy or operations. BofA Securities acted as financial adviser for the deal.
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Valerie Abend has been named the new Chief Executive Officer of FS-ISAC, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to enhancing cybersecurity and resilience in the global financial system. Her appointment, effective 3 September 2025, follows a planned succession after the retirement of Steven Silberstein. Abend brings over 30 years of experience in both the private and public sectors, having previously served as Accenture’s Global Financial Services Security Lead.

Abend’s extensive background includes advising senior executives on cyber risk management, developing security strategies, and fostering public-private partnerships. She has also served on various international boards, including the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s Cyber Security Advisory Panel. Her expertise is expected to guide FS-ISAC’s 5,000-plus member financial firms through the complexities of today’s cybersecurity landscape.

Kristopher Fador, Board Chair of FS-ISAC and Chief Information Security Officer at Bank of America, expressed confidence in Abend’s leadership, stating, “We are thrilled to have such a dynamic successor in Valerie, a trusted leader in our community with both the breadth and depth of experience needed to lead FS-ISAC into the future.”

Abend expressed her enthusiasm for the role, saying, “I am deeply honoured for the opportunity to lead FS-ISAC and grateful to Steve for his counsel through this transition. As we look ahead, FS-ISAC is uniquely positioned to advance the financial sector’s security and resilience in the face of growing cyber threats and complex geopolitical and technology change.”

FS-ISAC, founded in 1999, continues to play a crucial role in protecting financial institutions worldwide, representing $100 trillion in assets across 75 countries. With Abend at the helm, the organisation aims to further strengthen its mission amidst evolving global challenges.
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StarHub has teamed up with Vectra AI to introduce an AI-powered threat detection platform designed to bolster cybersecurity for enterprises in Singapore. This collaboration, announced on 5 September 2025, combines Vectra AI’s renowned Network Detection and Response (NDR) technology with StarHub’s IT expertise, offering businesses enhanced protection against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.

The partnership aims to equip enterprises with advanced tools for smarter and faster threat detection and response. By integrating continuous monitoring and incident response capabilities, the joint solution promises to safeguard digital infrastructures, providing businesses with peace of mind in a complex threat landscape.

Beyond enterprise protection, the collaboration seeks to fortify the broader digital ecosystem. As cyber threats become more targeted, the focus extends to protecting not just infrastructure but also the employees who rely on secure systems for their roles. This ensures a secure environment for maintaining business operations.

The new solution is now available as part of StarHub’s cybersecurity services. Enterprises interested in exploring the platform or scheduling a demonstration can contact StarHub for further information. More details are available at starhub.com/cybersecurity.
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HDB resale prices and transaction volumes experienced a decline in August 2025, according to the latest 99-SRX Media Flash Report. Prices decreased by 0.1% from July, with Mature Estates and Non-Mature Estates seeing reductions of 0.3% and 0.1%, respectively. Despite this, year-on-year prices have risen by 6%, indicating sustained demand for resale flats.

The report highlights a 14.3% drop in resale transactions from July, with 2,211 flats sold in August. This decline is partly attributed to seasonal factors, such as the Hungry Ghost Festival, which often sees a slowdown in property deals. Luqman Hakim, Chief Data & Analytics Officer at 99.co, noted that the market might be taking a “short breather” after a strong performance in July.

In terms of room types, 3-room flats saw a 0.1% price decrease, whilst 5-room and Executive flats increased by 0.8% and 0.2%, respectively. The highest transacted price for the month was S$1,600,000 ($___) for an Executive flat at The Pinnacle@Duxton.

August also recorded 141 million-dollar flat transactions, a decrease from 169 in July. These high-value sales accounted for 6.4% of the total resale volume, with Bukit Merah leading the count at 25 units. Other significant areas included Toa Payoh and Clementi, with 22 and 15 units, respectively.

The report suggests that whilst short-term fluctuations are evident, the overall trend remains positive, with year-on-year growth across all room types and estate categories.
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The tender for the Chuan Grove (2) residential site, which closed on 4 September, attracted five bids, with the highest bid of $1,331 per square foot per plot ratio (psf ppr) submitted by Sing Holdings Ltd. and Sunway Developments. This bid aligns with market expectations, according to Tricia Song, CBRE Head of Research, Southeast Asia. However, the interest was less robust compared to similar sites at Lakeside Drive and Bayshore Road, which received six and eight bids, respectively.

The adjacent Chuan Grove site, awarded on 17 July 2025 to the same top bidders for $1,376 psf ppr, saw seven bids, 3.4% higher than Chuan Grove (2). If Sing Holdings Ltd. and Sunway Developments secure the Chuan Grove (2) site, they may amalgamate both plots into a mega-project of over 1,000 units, pending approval.

The lower bid price for Chuan Grove (2) may be attributed to its irregular shape and distance from the MRT and main road. Despite this, there is demand for housing in the area. The nearby Chuan Park, launched in November 2024, sold 696 units (76%) over its launch weekend at an average price of $2,537 psf. To date, 779 units (85%) have been sold at a median price of $2,592 psf.

Chuan Grove (2) remains attractive due to its proximity to Lorong Chuan MRT and several primary schools. The site could appeal to potential downgraders from nearby landed estates and upgraders from Serangoon, Ang Mo Kio, and Toa Payoh HDB estates. The joint developers may launch a project at an average price of $2,750-2,850 psf.
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The Urban Redevelopment Authority has announced the results of the government land sales tender for the second Chuan Grove site, with Sing Holdings and Sunway Developments submitting the top bid of approximately $624m. This translates to a land rate of $1,331 per square foot per plot ratio (psf ppr). The tender attracted five bids, indicating sustained interest from developers despite an incoming supply of 555 units from the first Chuan Grove plot.

The top bid by Sing Holdings and Sunway Developments was 2.9% higher than the next highest bid from China Overseas Land & Investment Ltd (COLI) Singapore, which offered $1,293 psf ppr. The bid price spread was tight, with only a 7% difference between the top bid and the fourth bid by Sim Lian at $1,240 psf ppr, before widening to 33% against the final bid from Japura Development at $1,001 psf ppr.

The Chuan Grove sites are attractive due to their proximity to schools, the Lorong Chuan MRT station, and commercial amenities like the NTP+ mall. The robust sales at the nearby Chuan Park, which sold 76% of its units during its launch weekend in November 2024, have also bolstered developer confidence in the area’s private housing demand.

With the top bid land rate set at $1,331 psf ppr, the potential average selling price for the new project could exceed $2,600 psf. This reflects the strong demand for mass market homes, as evidenced by the nearly 7,600 new private homes sold by developers in 2025, surpassing the annual totals of the previous three years.
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The second Government Land Sales (GLS) tender for the Chuan Grove site in Singapore concluded with five bids, fewer than the seven received for the first site awarded in July 2025. Despite its strong location near an MRT station and amenities, the site attracted less interest, possibly due to its lack of frontage and access compared to the first site. The joint venture of Sing Holdings Residential and Sunway Developments submitted the highest bids for both tenders, potentially allowing them to combine the sites into a large project of over 1,000 units, pending necessary approvals.

The Chuan Grove project could appeal to retirees looking to downsize from nearby areas like Serangoon and Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1. Its proximity to Lorong Chuan MRT Station and nearby shopping centres like NTP+ and Bishan Junction 8 enhances its attractiveness. Additionally, the site’s location next to the Australian International School may draw leasing interest from families of foreign professionals.

The top bid of S$623.9m, or S$1,331 per square foot per plot ratio, was 3.3% lower than the first site’s winning bid but aligned with expectations. Launch prices are expected to start at S$2,800 per square foot, potentially averaging between S$2,900 and S$3,000 depending on specifications and demand. The earlier Chuan Park launch in November 2024 sold 84% of its units by July 2025, indicating strong interest in the area, which could support the new project’s launch.
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