Singapore Prize and Singapore FinTech Hackcelerator 2023 Winners Announced
Several buildings in Singapore lit up green to mark the return of Britain’s Prince William for his annual Earthshot Prize awards ceremony. The heir to the British throne created the competition three years ago to support inventors who create technologies that can combat climate change and protect the environment. His office at Kensington Palace says he chose Singapore to host this year’s event because of its role as a “hub for innovation” in Southeast Asia. During his visit, the prince will meet local groups that are working to protect and restore the planet.
He wore a dark green 10-year-old suit by Alexander McQueen. Other celebrities including South African actress Mbatha opted for bright navy blue dresses by eco-friendly label Stella McCartney. The glitzy ceremony at state-owned Media Corp theater was co-hosted by actors Hannah Waddingham and Sterling K. Brown, with bands One Republic and Bastille performing, as well as US singer Bebe Rexha. The prize was given to five finalists that work on a range of projects aimed at creating a waste-free world, fixing the climate, reviving oceans and protecting and restoring nature.
This is the fifth time the award has been presented. The winners will receive up to S$1.7 million (US$1.1 million) in funding.
The Monetary Authority of Singapore and the Singapore FinTech Association have announced the winners of the Global FinTech Hackcelerator 2023. The winners, which include financial institutions and FinTechs, were recognized for their innovative solutions that address challenges in the financial services industry.
Almost half of this year’s shortlisted writers are making their debut in the Singapore Literature Prize, an awards program for writers in the nation’s four official languages. The prize’s 30th year sees a lower submission level than the 192 titles that were sent in 2020, which prize organizers say reflects the impact of the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic on publishing in the country.
The 2022 biennial competition includes categories for Chinese, English, Malay and Tamil. This year’s shortlist included 12 titles in each language. In the literary categories, Clara Chow became the first writer in the program’s history to be shortlisted in two categories and two languages: English fiction and English creative nonfiction, as well as Chinese poetry.
In the television category, Unchained Medley (TVB; Hong Kong) won best comedy program and The Glory (Netflix, Hwa & Dam Pictures; Korea) took the best drama series award. Modern Love Chennai-Memory is but a Bird (Films of the Sun & Channel V; India) won best anthology episode, and Manila Luzon won best entertainment presenter for Dragden With Manila Luzon (Cornerstone Entertainment & Project 8, Amazon Prime Video; Philippines). The best factual program award went to Nature’s Hidden Miracles: The Secret Life of Plants (NHK, Curiosity, Autentic, Rai; Japan). The awards were handed out on Aug 25 at Victoria Theatre in Singapore. The full list of winners can be found here.