Durian mooncake recalled due to high bacteria levels; Singapore forms specialised emergency medical team: Singapore live news

The Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix is just around the corner.

A record 302,000 fans turned up for the first post-pandemic race weekend in Singapore back in 2022.

Last year’s attendance figures dropped to 264,108 but this was due to less seats being available because of renovation work – the event was still a sell-out.

The Singapore GP continues to be well-attended thanks to its mix of race drama and night-race glamour – and of course the stellar entertainment.

This year is no exception with names like OneRepublic, Kylie Minogue and Lenny Kravitz among the star performers.

Popular one-stop travel service provider Trip.com believes, in a media note sent on Friday, their data indicates a “healthy growth in F1 attendance numbers” for next weekend’s race.

"Based on the booking numbers on Trip.com Group’s platforms, we believe there will be healthy growth in F1 attendance numbers this year,” said Edmund Ong, general manager for Trip.com Singapore.

“We have observed an almost 60% increase in the total booking volume for all products in Singapore for this year’s F1 week [16-22 September 2024] compared to last year’s F1 week [11-17 September 2023], with the number of inbound flight bookings for the week spiking by almost 90%,” he said.

The regular influx of F1 fanatics also means hotel prices routinely spike for stays during race week.

A report published today found room rates for some hotels near the track during the period 20-22 September have more than doubled.

Hotel representatives who were interviewed also revealed they were getting bookings as early as last year.

Your bank balance might disagree but Singapore is not the most expensive country in the world to live. It’s also not the second most expensive or even third most expensive country to live in.

According to a new list published by UK-based Love Money, Singapore comes in as the fourth most expensive country to live in.

Love Money compiled the list using data from Numbeo's Cost of Living Index.

The index scores are relative percentages of the cost of living when compared to New York City, which has an index score of 100. Countries scoring below 100 are cheaper to live in than New York while countries scoring above 100 are more expensive.

Singapore scored 76.7 while Switzerland was deemed the most expensive country in the world with a score of 101.1.

Commenting on Singapore’s place in their report, Love Money said: “The cost of living in city-state Singapore spiked from mid-2022 to mid-2023, with its index score rising from 79.09 to 85.9 – though its score in the latest rankings is a far less alarming 76.7.”

Love Money added: “Renting a one-bed apartment in the city centre costs an average of almost US$2,800 (£2.2k) per month, while buying a new car is more expensive in Singapore than in almost any other country due to the government saddling purchases with taxes and tariffs as a form of traffic control.”

You can read the full report of 30 most expensive countries to live in, here.

Top 5 most expensive countries to live in (Love Money)

1. Switzerland (101.1)

2. Bahamas (85)

3. Iceland (83)

4. Singapore (76.7)

5. Barbados (76.6)

Pope Francis left Singapore for Rome on 13 September after an eventful three-days which included presiding over Holy Mass at the National Stadium yesterday afternoon.

On Friday morning, the 87-year-old pontiff was at St Theresa’s Home, a Catholic welfare facility caring for elderly people when families are no longer able to.

In the final public engagement before heading home for an admirable four-nation tour of Asia Pacific, Pope Francis paid a visit to Singapore's Catholic Junior College (CJC).

He participated in an inter-religious dialogue with the youth present, encouraging them to get out of their comfort zones and take risks.

Here's a collection of photos from Pope Francis' final day in Singapore.

As we roll into the weekend, you may want to consider visiting West Coast Park for some much needed relaxation.

On 12 September, NParks opened what it calls a therapeutic garden at West Coast Park. It’s a 7,600 sqm garden to escape the hustle and bustle of modern life, and to soak up the natural greenery for the good of your mental health.

“Studies have shown that nature has a restorative effect on our mental health and well-being,” said Desmond Lee, Minister for National Development, at the opening of West Coast Park’s therapeutic garden.

The landscape mounds scattered across the therapeutic garden at West Coast Park aim to create semi-enclosed spaces for visitors to engage in activities such as exercise, for play, or just to unwind.

According to NParks, these mounds can also be used as a way-finding feature for children with special needs to observe and familiarise themselves with the area before engaging in activities.

There’s also a wheelchair-friendly zone for seniors which includes a sensory path and a planting area.

And a zone for children which was purposely designed to cater for those with special needs.

"These spaces are thoughtfully designed with people in mind, with landscapes that engage the senses and provide mental relief," Lee added.

NParks has now opened 15 therapeutic gardens and plans to add another 15 more across Singapore by 2030.

Angry because you missed out on watching ‘Inside Out 2’ in cinemas? Or maybe you’re feeling sad because your kids are anxious to watch the Disney-Pixar film again?

Well, make room for new emotions as ‘Inside Out 2’ is set to stream on Disney+ on 25 September.

The movie, to put it lightly, was a blockbuster hit when it was released, becoming the fastest animated film to reach US$1 billion globally. ‘Inside Out 2’ is also the highest-grossing animated film of all-time after dethroning ‘Frozen II’.

It is a sequel to ‘Inside Out’ and returns with main character Riley who has just become a teenager – bringing with it the new emotion of Anxiety. You can watch the trailer for a more comprehensive introduction to the film.

Maya Hawke lends her voice to Anxiety, alongside Amy Poehler as Joy, Phyllis Smith as Sadness, Lewis Black as Anger, Tony Hale as Fear, and Liza Lapira as Disgust.

Cristiano Ronaldo is the first celebrity with a combined 1 billion social media followers across all platforms, just don't expect Erik Ten Hag to be one of them.

The former Manchester United favourite made the claim following the success of his YouTube channel which launched last month but already has 60.5m subscribers.

The 39-year-old, who now plies his trade in Saudi Arabia for football club Al Nassr, also has 638m followers on Instagram, 170m followers on Facebook and 113m followers on X for a grand total of 981.5m fans across those platforms and his new YouTube channel

However, Ronaldo also has social media accounts on Chinese platforms Weibo and Kuaishou which combined to push the Portuguese over the 1 billion followers mark.

“We’ve made history – 1 billion followers! This is more than just a number – it’s a testament to our shared passion, drive, and love for the game and beyond,” Ronaldo said in a post repeated on several of his social media accounts.

“From the streets of Madeira to the biggest stages in the world, I’ve always played for my family and for you, and now 1 billion of us stand together,” he said.

Time for Ronaldo's longtime rival Lionel Messi to up his social media game.

Singapore has formed a specialised team to provide rapid and expert medical support during local and international emergencies.

The Singapore Emergency Medical Team (SGEMT) was formally announced on 12 September by the Ministry of Health (MOH) who revealed the unit was aligned with World Health Organization’s (WHO) classification for Emergency Medical Teams (EMTs).

“This means that it has met the specific standards and criteria set by the WHO on aspects such as training, resourcing and operational procedures, as well as demonstrated its ability to operate effectively in emergency settings,” said MOH in a statement.

There are 40 other WHO-classified EMTs around the world.

“Akin to a field hospital, the SGEMT can provide comprehensive medical care, including emergency services, primary care, and maternal and child health outpatient care to more than 100 patients a day for up to two weeks,” said MOH.

The SGEMT can be deployed to crisis-affected regions within 72 hours, and while operating in challenging environments they have been trained to be self-sufficient such as being able to generate own electricity, produce clean water and manage waste disposal.

SGEMT can also be deployed locally to support the MOH’s Disaster Site Medical Command which would aid Singapore’s healthcare system's response to large-scale emergencies.

Mooncake season is here, and if you have recently bought Four Seasons Durian’s Mini D24 Durian Mooncakes you’ll want to know that this product has been recalled by the Singapore Food Agency (SFA).

The SFA issued a media statement on 12 September, that as part of regulatory sampling of mooncakes, it has detected Bacillus cereus (B. cereus) in the particular brand of Mini D24 Durian Mooncakes, at levels exceeding the maximum limits stipulated in Singapore’s Food Regulations.

B. cereus is a common cause of food poisoning with symptoms including nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhoea.

“As a precautionary measure, SFA has directed the manufacturer, Four Seasons Durian to recall the implicated products. The recall is ongoing,” said SFA in a statement.

The SFA added: “Those who have consumed the implicated products and have concerns about their health should seek medical advice.”

Consumers were also directed by SFA to contact their point of purchase for enquiries.