The Singapore Prize and the World Building of the Year Awards

The Singapore Prize is the largest prize in Asia for individuals, companies and organisations that have made significant contributions to sustainable development. The prize, which was launched in 2022, honours sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region and is named after former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, whose vision of a greener, cleaner Singapore helped shape a sustainable society. The winner of the prize will receive a cash award of US$100 million and will have their work featured in a global exhibition.

A redevelopment of a housing complex for senior citizens has won the World Building of the Year prize at this year’s World Architecture Festival in Amsterdam. The project, known as Kampung Admiralty, is an integrated hub that includes public spaces, over 100 apartments for seniors and community facilities. It beat out flashier competition, including a stadium for the 2025 World Cup and Qatar’s National Library, to win the top prize.

Professor Rajeev Patke, who has contributed to scholarship on Anglophone literature and culture, was awarded the 2024 Singapore Literature Prize in the English category for his book The Great Divide (2023). It’s an account of how the literary imagination responds to and shapes political events in a time of civil war and dictatorship. Judges described the book as a “monumental undertaking”, adding that it weaves together personal, cultural, social and historical themes with “beautiful coherence”.

This is the first year that the prize has been awarded for a non-fiction work. It was established through a donation by Confucian scholar Alan Chan and was launched on April 18. It is Singapore’s richest literary prize and aims to promote books that champion mindsets that have contributed to the country’s success, including equality, diversity, religious harmony, meritocracy, pragmatism, education and community.

The first prize of the Singapore Water Prize was announced in 2022. It is named after former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yuw and recognises outstanding efforts to address the world’s water challenges. The prize was inaugurated at the UN Environment Assembly in Geneva and has since been awarded to a number of international institutions.

The SCCA Foundation – the not-for-profit arm of the Sports Car Club of America – is raising funds to support everything from the SCCA Archives to Women on Track scholarships and regional development grants. It’s done that by offering bucket-list sweepstakes with prizes that get progressively more amazing. The latest: a chance to join the drivers on the grid for the 2025 Singapore Grand Prix. Learn more about the contest here. The winnings will be announced on May 5.

The Hong Kong Prize for Science and Technology

Hong Kong has long been a leader in science and technology. The city has won a number of top prizes, including the Nobel Prize for Physics and Chemistry and the World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer Award. In addition to bringing home major awards, scientists here have also made significant contributions to the advancement of science and society.

Last week, no ticket holders won the first prize in the lottery draw, leaving a jackpot of about HK$102 million. That means the HK$102 million will be carried over to this week’s draw, creating an even bigger jackpot. This has prompted many people to try their luck and see if they can win the prize.

During the Hong Kong riots of 2019, hundreds and possibly thousands of people were injured or even killed by anti-government protesters. During the protests, police officers were attacked and public facilities like subway stations and street lights were vandalized.

A photo by Reuters has won the Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Photography. The photo shows a police officer standing next to an armoured vehicle in the middle of a crowd of protesters. The caption reads “Police officer takes a stand against pro-Beijing rioters in the heart of Hong Kong’s financial district”. The photo has been praised by many Chinese netizens but has also sparked controversy. Some netizens say the photo is offensive to the Chinese government and shows the brutality of Hong Kong’s police force.

Hong Kong is home to a large number of international schools and has become an education hub. Its students are among the best in the world, and its educators are trained to teach them to think critically and creatively. Many are also able to speak multiple languages. Some are even able to go on to pursue advanced degrees abroad.

The BOCHK Science and Technology Innovation Prize is a non-governmental merit-based reward for scientific research and technological innovation in Hong Kong. It aims to promote scientific development and the transformation of Hong Kong’s economy. The award is presented by BOC Hong Kong Limited. The BOCHK Science and Technology Innovation Prize 2024 will be awarded to five researchers in the fields of artificial intelligence and robotics, life and health, new materials and new energy, advanced manufacturing and fintech.

HKAA’s Yonge-Long Prize for Young Fellows recognises excellent research by young members of the Academy. The research must be published in the past 10 years and should reflect clinical practice or the underlying basic principles of medical sciences. The winning researchers will receive a cash prize and a trophy. The winners will be announced in October. This year’s theme is ‘Creatively Solving Complex Problems’. The competition is open to all Academy members aged below 50 at the time of submission. The winner will be selected by an independent review panel. The evaluation process is performed in accordance with scientific and rigorous standards. No organization or individual may exert undue influence on the review procedure. Nominees must support the basic laws of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and hold high social morality and professional ethics.