Dear reader,
First, congratulations to my co-founder, Charmaine Poh, for winning the Villa Romana Prize, just the latest accolade in an already decorated arts career. (How she finds time to also do all her great work here is beyond me.)
Today we have a longish “build-in-public” newsletter, first reflecting on...
NGO exposes horrible worker exploitation; the deplorable practices of Singtel-owned Optus; storied soup shop closes; Singapore swaps land with Johor regent; enabling arts access for all; Indonesia’s new sovereign wealth fund; and more.
Dear reader,
It’s the middle of June. Sweltering heat, parents and kids with time off, many on holiday, other people revelling in the gentler morning traffic, and lower ridesharing fares. Barrels of durians from across the border appear in our hoods, their familiar pungency now accompanied by eye-watering prices,...
Brave survivor, inspired by Gisèle Pelicot, speaks; a new study into the stresses of girlhood; a rich, diverse public discourse on rents; Anthony Reid, South-east Asia historian passes on; a Singaporean imprint on an award-winning Thai film; Grab’s two-pronged strategy; and more.
Dear reader,
Jom Cakap. 7-9pm, Tuesday, June 24th 2025. The Economist’s Sue-Lin Wong in conversation with Jom’s Corrie Tan about “Scam Inc”.
We’re down to our last 30 tickets. Get yours now. For a taste of what to expect, check out our blurb below on money mules...
Singapore criticises Israel; the lowly cogs propelling the global scam juggernaut; a promising clinical trial for a cure for Parkinson’s disease; ASEAN powers up; mermaids, sirens, and Terumbu Pandan; local theatre interrogates masculinity; Circles targets ambitious double listing; and more.