Chikungunya cases double in Singapore as outbreak sparks travel warnings; Coffee prices may rise in Singapore by year-end: Singapore live news

Live5 updates

• Singapore braces for coffee price hikes

  

  From hawker stalls to cafés, your coffee in Singapore may cost more soon. (Photo: Getty Images)

  Singaporeans may soon pay more for their daily kopi, as global and local pressures mount across the coffee industry. Starbucks’ latest earnings reveal shrinking margins and rising costs, signalling broader challenges that could trickle down to hawker stalls and cafés.

  Labour costs, inflation, and supply chain disruptions are squeezing profits. While Starbucks insists price hikes are a last resort, analysts warn that smaller operators may have no choice but to pass on rising costs.

  Josh Gilbert, Market Analyst at trading platform eToro, believes Starbucks’ latest earnings offer a glimpse into deeper challenges facing the global coffee industry – challenges that may soon trickle down to Singapore’s hawker stalls, local chains and cafés.

  “Starbucks’ Q3 FY 2025 results highlight mounting headwinds,” Gilbert explained. “Shrinking operating margins driven by rising labour costs, weakening customer traffic, and inflation across supply and distribution.”

  Gilbert cautions that the financial pressures outlined in its report could ripple across the industry – impacting Singapore’s coffee scene in the months ahead.

  Singapore’s food service inflation rose 1.2 per cent year-on-year in June, with coffee-related production costs surging 12.5 per cent. Kopi-O at Ya Kun starts at $2, while Toast Box charges up to $3.20. A cappuccino at a café averages $6 and Starbucks’ oat version hits $7.60.

  Government dashboards show average prices for kopi-o without milk at $1.20, and $1.39 with condensed milk. But real-world prices vary widely.

  With operational costs rising and import prices still elevated, a hawker kopi edging toward $2 or a café latte nearing $7.50 may soon be the new normal.

• Singapore monitors chikungunya surge after 17 cases reported in August

  

  Singapore reported 17 chikungunya cases, most linked to overseas travel. Local transmission remains low. (Photo: ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP via Getty Images)

  Singapore is seeing an increase in chikungunya cases, with 17 reported by 2 August, more than double the count from the same period last year. Health authorities recorded a steady increase in cases that saw nine infections May, 13 in June and 16 in July.

  Most infections are linked to travellers returning from outbreak zones, including China and Indian Ocean islands like La Réunion and Mayotte. Local transmission remains limited, but the presence of Aedes mosquitoes keeps health officials on high alert.

  Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne virus that causes fever, rash and debilitating joint pain. Though rarely fatal, it can lead to long-term disability. Symptoms are managed with rest and fluids.

  The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued a global warning, urging countries to ramp up mosquito control and public awareness. China, facing its largest outbreak since 2008, has reported over 8,000 cases, mostly in Foshan.

  The Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) advises travellers to use insect repellent, wear protective clothing and seek medical attention if symptoms arise. Preventing mosquito breeding at home is also key.

  Read on the rising chikungunya cases here.

• Vape bins rolled out across Singapore universities

  

  Universities join forces to curb student vaping with discreet disposal bins. (Photo: Straits Times)

  Singapore’s six autonomous universities have installed vape disposal bins as part of the “Bin the Vape” campaign, a joint initiative by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) and People’s Association (PA). With youth vaping cases doubling to 2,000 in 2024, the move aims to offer a discreet, penalty-free way for students to surrender e-vaporisers.

  Each university has placed at least one bin on campus, with plans to expand based on demand. The campaign also extends to 23 community clubs islandwide. Students caught vaping still face disciplinary action, but those who voluntarily dispose of devices or seek help are spared penalties.

  Institutions like NUS and NTU have tightened rules, including suspensions and housing bans for offenders. Orientation sessions now include anti-vape education, and some campuses use CCTV and whistleblowing channels to monitor activity.

  The Ministry of Health (MOH) is also classifying etomidate, a sedative found in some vapes, as a Class C controlled drug. An amnesty period allows users to surrender devices before the law kicks in.

  With vaping increasingly linked to synthetic drug abuse and aggressive behaviour, Singapore’s universities are stepping up enforcement and support, joining the broader vape war against smugglers at land checkpoints and peddlers near schools.

• Thu, 7 August 2025 at 11:16 pm GMT-4

  CPF’s new planning tool helps you plan your big life decisions

  

  From buying a home to planning retirement, PLAN with CPF helps Singaporeans navigate big financial decisions with clarity and confidence. (Photo: Chong Jun Liang/Straits Times)

  Singaporeans facing major milestones – marriage, home ownership, retirement – now have a digital ally. The Central Provident Fund (CPF) Board’s new platform, PLAN with CPF, offers personalised financial guidance for every stage of life.

  Accessible via Singpass, the dashboard integrates housing, healthcare and retirement planners. It helps users assess affordability, project future costs, and understand trade-offs.

  For homebuyers, the tool estimates loan eligibility and shows how mortgage choices affect retirement savings. For healthcare, it compares Integrated Shield Plans and forecasts premium hikes.

  The platform’s strength lies in its clarity. It doesn’t just crunch numbers, it connects dots between decisions and long-term impact.

  With PLAN, financial planning becomes less daunting, and more empowering.

  Read on how CPF's new tool helps you make smarter decisions here.

• Thu, 7 August 2025 at 10:55 pm GMT-4

  Singapore revives historic nightlife districts with late hours

  

  Singapore pushes nightlife revival with 4am liquor extension for bars and clubs in Boat Quay, Clarke Quay and Upper Circular Road. (Photo: Getty Images)

  Singapore’s historic nightlife zones are getting a major glow-up. Starting 18 August, bars and clubs in Boat Quay, Clarke Quay and Upper Circular Road can apply to serve alcohol until 4am on weekends.

  The move is part of a one-year pilot to revive the city’s after-dark economy. It’s a strategic push to attract tourists, support F&B businesses, and inject vibrancy into heritage-rich districts.

  Previously capped at 3am, the new liquor hours offer venues a competitive edge, especially ahead of major events like the Singapore F1 Grand Prix. Authorities say the change balances economic opportunity with public safety.

  Businesses must meet planning and licensing requirements, and precinct manager Singapore River One will coordinate patrols and crowd control.

  If successful, the pilot could expand to other zones, signalling a broader shift in Singapore’s approach to nightlife and urban planning.

  Read on Singapore's push to awaken its nightlife here.