A researcher whose work refutes the common misperception that Singapore’s history began with the landing of Sir Stamford Raffles has won the inaugural Singapore prize. National University of Singapore (NUS) archaeologist Prof John Miksic received the top award for his book, Singapore and the Silk Road of the Sea, 1300-1800. The prize was established in 2014 with an endowment from a private donor. It is managed by NUS’ Department of History and casts a wide net in terms of the genres considered for the awards, including fiction, non-fiction and poetry.

The winner of Thursday’s US$13 million Powerball lottery jackpot was an individual from Singapore, a spokesman for the country’s national lotto said. The winning ticket was purchased from Rangoon Provision Shop located at 681 Race Course Road in Singapore. The bettor opted for the $7 Quick Pick ticket and will be rewarded with the fourth largest jackpot since 2014.

In the arts, violinists Dmytro Udovychenko and Anna Agafia Egholm have won the 2022 Singapore International Violin Competition. The two will each receive USD $110,000 in cash and concert engagements around the world.

This year’s award ceremony saw a return to normality after being postponed during the COVID-19 pandemic last year. The prize was handed out in person by the heir to Britain’s royal throne, Prince William, and hosted by actress Hannah Waddingham. The five winners of the Earthshot Prize were also announced during the event. They will receive catalytic support from the prince to scale their environmental solutions. The companies include a lithium-ion battery recycler and a program to stop illegal fishing.

Among the other winners this year were Liew Wei, for his book about the rise of the ruling People’s Action Party, and Ning Cai, who won for her novel titled The Mysterious Stone Box. Liew is an art historian and senior research associate at the Centre for Asia-Pacific Studies at NUS, while Ning is a Singaporean poet.

The organisers of the President’s Volunteerism and Philanthropy Awards are pleased to announce that Conservation International will join this year’s jury for the award, which celebrates cross-sector partnerships for good. The international organisation’s global reach, deep expertise in biodiversity and vast network will help the jury select the prize winners this November and shine a spotlight on their achievements across the region. Find out more about the awards here.