Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra apologises for leaked phone call; 2 Zika cases in Woodlands: Singapore live news

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Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has apologised after a leaked phone call with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen triggered political backlash and provoked widespread anger. The conservative Bhumjaithai party, a key ally in her coalition government, withdrew its support on Wednesday (18 June), saying Paetongtarn's conduct in the call had wounded the country and the army's dignity.
Two local Zika cases have been confirmed in Woodlands Street 11 and Street 32, according to a joint update by the National Environment Agency (NEA) and Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) on 19 June.
After being notified of the cases, NEA began wastewater testing and mosquito surveillance in the surrounding residential area. The results revealed persistent Zika virus signals, which suggest this is an area with likely Zika transmission.
Read more in our live blog below, including the latest local and international news and updates.
Singapore's universities continue to impress on the global stage, with the National University of Singapore (NUS) maintaining its position at eighth place in the Britain-based Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings 2026. Nanyang Technological University (NTU) also made significant progress, climbing three spots to 12th place following an 11-position jump last year.
The rankings, which assess 1,500 institutions worldwide, continue to be dominated by US and Britain universities, with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) holding the top spot for the 14th consecutive year.
NUS remains the highest-ranked university in Asia.
The QS rankings are based on nine indicators: academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty-student ratio, citations per faculty, international faculty ratio, international student ratio, international research network, employment outcomes and sustainability.
NUS president Tan Eng Chye said, "We are particularly heartened to be ranked amongst the best in Asia for academic reputation, and to have made notable advances in employer reputation and international research partnerships."
NTU president Ho Teck Hua said, "NTU's strong showing in this year's QS rankings reflects its constant efforts to reimagine itself amidst a rapidly changing world."
For more on the rankings of other Singapore universities, read here.
Two local Zika cases have been confirmed in Woodlands Street 11 and Street 32, according to a joint update by the National Environment Agency (NEA) and Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) on 19 June.
After being notified of the cases, NEA began wastewater testing and mosquito surveillance in the surrounding residential area. The results revealed persistent Zika virus signals, which suggest this is an area with likely Zika transmission.
NEA's surveillance efforts, which include the use of gravitraps in HDB estates to catch Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, are part of regular operations to curb the spread of vector-borne diseases. As of 12 June, seven Zika cases have been reported in Singapore in 2025, with the latest confirmed on 11 June.
The agency advised residents to seek medical advice early if they show symptoms such as rash, fever, joint pain, or conjunctivitis.
While there is no specific treatment for Zika, the CDA advised pregnant women to consult their obstetricians promptly due to the risk of congenital issues like microcephaly in babies.
For more information on the Woodlands Zika cases, read here.
Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has apologised after a leaked phone call with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen triggered political backlash and provoked widespread anger. Paetongtarn said the call was made from her personal phone and she had no idea it would be recorded and made public. She said the government was ready to support the country's military in all ways.
The conservative Bhumjaithai party, a key ally in her coalition government, withdrew its support on Wednesday (18 June), saying Paetongtarn's conduct in the call had wounded the country and the army's dignity. With the loss of Bhumjaithai's 69 MPs, Paetongtarn is left clinging to a razor-thin parliamentary majority, and Thailand could be heading for yet another snap election.
The controversial phone call – in which Shinawatra addressed Hun Sen as 'uncle' and referred to a Thai army commander as her 'opponent' – sparked outrage online, particularly on Pheu Thai page and Royal Thai Army page.
She is facing intense pressure to resign.
For more on Thai PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra's phone call, read here.
Microsoft is planning another wave of job cuts, with thousands of roles – particularly in sales – expected to be affected. According to sources familiar with the matter, the layoffs are likely to be announced in early July, shortly after the company's fiscal year ends in June. The cuts are also not expected to be limited to just one department.
The reductions are part of the company's latest move to trim its workforce amid heavy spending on artificial intelligence.
This follows a separate round of layoffs in May that saw 6,000 roles axed, mostly in product and engineering.
Sales and marketing staff were largely spared then. However, in April, Microsoft informed employees that it would increasingly rely on third-party vendors to handle software sales for smaller clients.
For more on the expected Microsoft job cuts, read here.
Amazon has officially joined the growing list of companies warning that artificial intelligence will reshape the workforce — and not always in a good way.
In a memo released on Tuesday (17 June), CEO Andy Jassy said the tech giant expects AI-driven efficiency gains to lead to a leaner corporate workforce in the years ahead. While there are no immediate layoffs, the writing is on the wall: jobs that can be automated may soon disappear.
The trend towards AI superiority can already be felt in the job market. Shopify's CEO said new hires must prove AI can't do the job better. Duolingo plans to replace contractors with AI, while Salesforce won't be hiring engineers in 2025 because their current hires are getting more done with AI tools.
Christian Schneider, the CEO of New York-based startup fileAI, told BI that he's already seeing job losses in corners of the tech industry, and he expects AI to exacerbate the trend.
"I'm totally expecting a tightening. I think when we look into tech layoffs, it's so apparent that something is changing," said Schneider.
That said, it's not all doom and gloom. Experts say while some jobs will vanish, others will evolve – and workers may find themselves moving into more people-centric roles or overseeing AI-generated results rather than doing the grunt work.
For more on AI reshaping the work force, read here.
Three Australian men suspected of gunning down a man in a Bali villa were briefly held in Singapore before being deported back to Indonesia.
On 14 June, two masked men stormed a villa in Badung and fatally shot 32-year-old Australian Zivan Radmanovic. Another man, 34-year-old Sanar Ghanim, was seriously injured in the same attack. The suspects, believed to have worn masks, then fled the scene and linked up with a third accomplice, who helped them escape.
One of the suspects, a 27-year-old identified only by his initials DFJ, was arrested at Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport while trying to board a flight to Cambodia via Singapore. DFJ is alleged to have played a key role in planning the attack and escape.
The other two men (also identified by their initials), 22-year-old MC and 27-year-old PMT, managed to leave for Cambodia after transiting through Singapore on 16 June. However, Cambodian authorities denied them entry, and they were placed on a return flight to Indonesia, again transiting through Singapore.
The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) confirmed it took the pair into custody during their stopover and deported them to Indonesia on 17 June, in accordance with international civil aviation protocols.
For more on the suspects, read here.
A 42-year-old cyclist is under police investigation for wilful trespass after he was hit by a bullet on 15 June while cycling through a restricted zone in the Central Catchment Nature Reserve (CCNR). The area was gazetted for Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) live firing.
The incident occurred while the SAF was conducting an exercise at Nee Soon Range, about 2.3km away from where the man was injured. The bullet struck his lower left back and was later removed at National University Hospital the same day. The injury was not life-threatening, and the man is currently stable after surgery.
The Ministry of Defence has reminded everyone that these live-firing areas are strictly off-limits under the Military Manoeuvres Act, and signs are clearly posted to warn people to stay out for their own safety.
The Woodcutter's Trail, which lies within CCNR is an unofficial route that's popular among cyclists for its challenging slopes and winding paths. Though there are warning signs around the park, some cyclists and hikers have been known to ignore them, reported The Straits Times.
For more on the investigation on the cyclist, read here.
Singapore's universities continue to impress on the global stage, with the National University of Singapore (NUS) maintaining its position at eighth place in the Britain-based Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings 2026. Nanyang Technological University (NTU) also made significant progress, climbing three spots to 12th place following an 11-position jump last year.
The rankings, which assess 1,500 institutions worldwide, continue to be dominated by US and Britain universities, with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) holding the top spot for the 14th consecutive year.
NUS remains the highest-ranked university in Asia.
The QS rankings are based on nine indicators: academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty-student ratio, citations per faculty, international faculty ratio, international student ratio, international research network, employment outcomes and sustainability.
NUS president Tan Eng Chye said, "We are particularly heartened to be ranked amongst the best in Asia for academic reputation, and to have made notable advances in employer reputation and international research partnerships."
NTU president Ho Teck Hua said, "NTU's strong showing in this year's QS rankings reflects its constant efforts to reimagine itself amidst a rapidly changing world."
For more on the rankings of other Singapore universities, read here.
Two local Zika cases have been confirmed in Woodlands Street 11 and Street 32, according to a joint update by the National Environment Agency (NEA) and Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) on 19 June.
After being notified of the cases, NEA began wastewater testing and mosquito surveillance in the surrounding residential area. The results revealed persistent Zika virus signals, which suggest this is an area with likely Zika transmission.
NEA's surveillance efforts, which include the use of gravitraps in HDB estates to catch Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, are part of regular operations to curb the spread of vector-borne diseases. As of 12 June, seven Zika cases have been reported in Singapore in 2025, with the latest confirmed on 11 June.
The agency advised residents to seek medical advice early if they show symptoms such as rash, fever, joint pain, or conjunctivitis.
While there is no specific treatment for Zika, the CDA advised pregnant women to consult their obstetricians promptly due to the risk of congenital issues like microcephaly in babies.
For more information on the Woodlands Zika cases, read here.
Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has apologised after a leaked phone call with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen triggered political backlash and provoked widespread anger. Paetongtarn said the call was made from her personal phone and she had no idea it would be recorded and made public. She said the government was ready to support the country's military in all ways.
The conservative Bhumjaithai party, a key ally in her coalition government, withdrew its support on Wednesday (18 June), saying Paetongtarn's conduct in the call had wounded the country and the army's dignity. With the loss of Bhumjaithai's 69 MPs, Paetongtarn is left clinging to a razor-thin parliamentary majority, and Thailand could be heading for yet another snap election.
The controversial phone call – in which Shinawatra addressed Hun Sen as 'uncle' and referred to a Thai army commander as her 'opponent' – sparked outrage online, particularly on Pheu Thai page and Royal Thai Army page.
She is facing intense pressure to resign.
For more on Thai PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra's phone call, read here.
Microsoft is planning another wave of job cuts, with thousands of roles – particularly in sales – expected to be affected. According to sources familiar with the matter, the layoffs are likely to be announced in early July, shortly after the company's fiscal year ends in June. The cuts are also not expected to be limited to just one department.
The reductions are part of the company's latest move to trim its workforce amid heavy spending on artificial intelligence.
This follows a separate round of layoffs in May that saw 6,000 roles axed, mostly in product and engineering.
Sales and marketing staff were largely spared then. However, in April, Microsoft informed employees that it would increasingly rely on third-party vendors to handle software sales for smaller clients.
For more on the expected Microsoft job cuts, read here.
Amazon has officially joined the growing list of companies warning that artificial intelligence will reshape the workforce — and not always in a good way.
In a memo released on Tuesday (17 June), CEO Andy Jassy said the tech giant expects AI-driven efficiency gains to lead to a leaner corporate workforce in the years ahead. While there are no immediate layoffs, the writing is on the wall: jobs that can be automated may soon disappear.
The trend towards AI superiority can already be felt in the job market. Shopify's CEO said new hires must prove AI can't do the job better. Duolingo plans to replace contractors with AI, while Salesforce won't be hiring engineers in 2025 because their current hires are getting more done with AI tools.
Christian Schneider, the CEO of New York-based startup fileAI, told BI that he's already seeing job losses in corners of the tech industry, and he expects AI to exacerbate the trend.
"I'm totally expecting a tightening. I think when we look into tech layoffs, it's so apparent that something is changing," said Schneider.
That said, it's not all doom and gloom. Experts say while some jobs will vanish, others will evolve – and workers may find themselves moving into more people-centric roles or overseeing AI-generated results rather than doing the grunt work.
For more on AI reshaping the work force, read here.
Three Australian men suspected of gunning down a man in a Bali villa were briefly held in Singapore before being deported back to Indonesia.
On 14 June, two masked men stormed a villa in Badung and fatally shot 32-year-old Australian Zivan Radmanovic. Another man, 34-year-old Sanar Ghanim, was seriously injured in the same attack. The suspects, believed to have worn masks, then fled the scene and linked up with a third accomplice, who helped them escape.
One of the suspects, a 27-year-old identified only by his initials DFJ, was arrested at Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport while trying to board a flight to Cambodia via Singapore. DFJ is alleged to have played a key role in planning the attack and escape.
The other two men (also identified by their initials), 22-year-old MC and 27-year-old PMT, managed to leave for Cambodia after transiting through Singapore on 16 June. However, Cambodian authorities denied them entry, and they were placed on a return flight to Indonesia, again transiting through Singapore.
The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) confirmed it took the pair into custody during their stopover and deported them to Indonesia on 17 June, in accordance with international civil aviation protocols.
For more on the suspects, read here.
A 42-year-old cyclist is under police investigation for wilful trespass after he was hit by a bullet on 15 June while cycling through a restricted zone in the Central Catchment Nature Reserve (CCNR). The area was gazetted for Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) live firing.
The incident occurred while the SAF was conducting an exercise at Nee Soon Range, about 2.3km away from where the man was injured. The bullet struck his lower left back and was later removed at National University Hospital the same day. The injury was not life-threatening, and the man is currently stable after surgery.
The Ministry of Defence has reminded everyone that these live-firing areas are strictly off-limits under the Military Manoeuvres Act, and signs are clearly posted to warn people to stay out for their own safety.
The Woodcutter's Trail, which lies within CCNR is an unofficial route that's popular among cyclists for its challenging slopes and winding paths. Though there are warning signs around the park, some cyclists and hikers have been known to ignore them, reported The Straits Times.
For more on the investigation on the cyclist, read here.