The finalists of the 2023 Singapore Prize have been announced in 12 categories for works of literature written in Chinese, English, Malay and Tamil. This is the program’s 30th year, and it is aiming to honour writers who are at the top of their game in terms of creativity and reader engagement. This year’s theme, which is a first for the program, is resonance, which organisers say is intended to focus on how literary work can trigger emotions and memories in readers.
In the English category, Clara Chow is the first writer in the history of the program to be shortlisted in three categories and two languages – the highest number of nominations ever received by a single author. She is up against authors like John Le Carré and Margaret Atwood. The judging panel for the prize has also been expanded to include four women, a change from previous years when it was all men.
A housing complex designed for elderly residents has beaten flashier competition to win the World Building of the Year award at this year’s World Architecture Festival (WAF). Kampung Admiralty in Singapore was praised by the jury for its integration of public facilities and community space, as well as over 100 apartments for seniors, on a site split into two 11-story-high blocks. This is the third time a project has claimed the title, with other past winners including a post-earthquake reconstruction project in China and an extension to a national museum in Poland.
Created by Britain’s Prince William in 2020, the Earthshot prize supports projects aimed at protecting the planet, and this year’s awards show will be held in Singapore on November 7. It will also be accompanied by a week-long series of events that will form Earthshot Week.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, some companies were quick to launch new products and services to meet consumer needs, and one such business is Pollisum Engineering, which has developed an app that lets shoppers scan barcodes on their mobile devices to receive digital receipts for purchases made at participating stores. The app can also be linked to their e-wallet accounts, allowing them to pay for goods or services with the tap of a button. It has since won multiple awards for its innovation and has a partnership with the government-backed Infocomm Media Development Authority to develop additional apps.