A trove of literary works has been unearthed in Singapore’s oldest book repository, including several manuscripts that are thought to have been written by the founders of modern Singapore. The National Library of Singapore said in a statement that the manuscripts were found in its Central Bindery at the Old National Library Building in a storage room on the third floor. The National Library added that the manuscripts are “important historical documents” and will be preserved for future generations.
The winners of the 2023 Earthshot Prize were announced at a star-studded awards ceremony in Singapore, with Accion Andina, GRST, WildAid Marine Program and S4S Technologies taking home the top prizes. The event was held at Mediacorp Theatre and was co-hosted by Hannah Waddingham and three-time Emmy winning actor Sterling K. Brown. The ceremony featured performances by Bastille, OneRepublic and Bebe Rexha.
The inaugural Dr Alan HJ Chan Spirit of Singapore Book Prize was launched by the National University of Singapore’s (NUS) School of Humanities and Social Sciences on April 18. The prize, funded by a $1 million donation from Confucian scholar Alan Chan, is awarded to authors who “champion mindsets and values that are important to shaping Singapore.” SUSS named the values as equality, diversity, religious harmony, meritocracy, pragmatism, resilience and an emphasis on education, innovation and community.
A record number of 224 entries were received this year, with an increase of 30 per cent compared to last year. In addition to the judges’ picks, readers voted for their favorites in the Readers’ Choice category, with four winners—Ali bin Salim, Daryl Qilin Yam, Pan Zheng Lei and rma cureess—winning the top spots. Each winner will receive $1,000 in cash, and their voters get a chance to win book-purchase vouchers worth $50.
In keeping with the theme of sustainability, the award ceremony was held at the state-owned Mediacorp Theatre and had a green carpet, with actors wearing sustainable fashions, including Donnie Yen in a 10-year-old suit and Cate Blanchett in a vintage gown made by eco-friendly designer Stella McCartney. The ceremony was also broadcast live on SBC. Among other highlights of the evening was a performance by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by the renowned British conductor Nicholas Collon. See the full list of winners here. Follow the hashtag #EarthshotSGP2023 to find out more about this year’s inspiring work to combat climate change and promote a sustainable future. The competition’s 15 finalists were selected from over 50 nominations submitted by organisations and individuals around the world. The finalists are addressing challenges in the areas of forestry, food security, biodiversity and water, climate adaptation and energy efficiency. For more information on this year’s prize, visit the website.