Thailand morning news for November 6, 2019

Thai English skills dip for third year
Thailand’s English proficiency has fallen for the third year in a row, according to the annual English Proficiency Index conducted by the global education company EF Education First.
— Bangkok Post

Smog returns to Bangkok today with excessive PM2.5 in 20 areas
Smog returned to Bangkok today (Tuesday), with the level of PM2.5 dust particles exceeding safety levels in 20 areas, the Pollution Control Department reports.
— Thai PBS News

US accuses ASEAN nations of trying to “embarrass” Trump with meeting snub
An American diplomat, speaking anonymously, says the US is concerned by the ASEAN nations’ partial boycott of the ASEAN-US summit held in Bangkok yesterday. It was certainly an intentional rebuff to the US after sending …
— The Thaiger

Phuket’s water supply running on empty
Phuket shuffles into the high season with meagre water reserves and no concrete, sustainable plans to meet the upcoming seasonal water demands.
— The Thaiger

Thailand’s FDI applications up 69% in the first nine months of 2019
Thailand continued to attract rising foreign direct investment (FDI) in the first nine months of 2019, with increased number of investment project applications according to public agency Thailand Board of Investment (BOI).
— ThailandBusinessNews

Thailand can ‘do more’ for Rohingya
Muhammad Faruk Khan, chairman of Bangladesh’s parliamentary committee on foreign affairs, shares his views on the repatriation of Rohingya refugees in light of the 35th Asean Summit and Related Summits in Bangkok and Nonthaburi, which ended on Monday, in an exclusive interview with the Bangkok Post.
— Bangkok Post

Court upholds jail term for mayor who forced reporter to strip
The Appeal Court on Tuesday upheld the lower court’s sentencing of former Ban Phai municipality mayor Premsak Piayura to two months in jail without suspension for detaining and humiliating a journalist who reported his engagement to a schoolgirl.
— Bangkok Post

PM meets Japanese leader upgrading ASEAN – Indo-Pacific cooperation
The Prime Ministers of Thailand and Japan have held talks on the topics of ASEAN’s outlook on Indo-Pacific, the development of smart cities and human resources, environmental management, and SMEs and startups promotion, after signing 6 agreements.
— Newsline (video)

50,000 baht reward offered for information leading to arrest of American Bart Allen Helmus and two other Thai fugitives who escaped from Pattaya Court in Thailand
Regional and local police at the command center for the hunt for three escaped fugitives have offered a 50,000 baht reward for any information leading to the capture or location of the three escaped prisoners from Pattaya Provincial Court yesterday.
— The Pattaya News

The Opposition to censure Government between 18th and 20th December
The seven opposition parties have settled on their planned censure motion against the Government with the debate taking place between December 18th and 20th , opposition chief whip and Pheu Thai MP Suthin Klangsaeng said today (Tuesday).
— Thai PBS News

Japan takes lion’s share in EEC foreign investment
Foreign investment via their joint ventures with Thai partners (foreign shareholding at 49 per cent) in the EEC stood at Bt752.780 billion.
— ThailandBusinessNews

Chuan does not recognize this Constitution, but disagrees with dumping it
House Speaker Chuan Leekpai said today that he has not recognized the existing Constitution from the beginning, while disagreeing with a rewrite of the entire document “because that won’t be useful at all”.
— Thai PBS News

Student resigns from Maejo over violent hazing
The mother of a first-year student studying fishery technology and aquatic resources at Maejo University has told Workpoint News that her son is about to resign after facing violent hazing for many weeks.
— Prachatai English

China, Thailand pledge closer cooperation in multilateral platforms, promoting freer world economy
China and Thailand on Tuesday said they will further enhance cooperation in multilateral mechanisms and join hands to cope with growing protectionism to push forward a more open and balanced world economy.
— Xinhuanet

Malaysia detains two Cambodian dissidents en-route to Thailand
Malaysian authorities have detained two Cambodian opposition activists while they were waiting to board a flight to Thailand in what is seen as part of a crackdown on exiled dissidents in Southeast Asia, rights groups said on Tuesday,
— Reuters

ICC applauds Thailand’s National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights
The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) welcomes Thailand’s National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights (NAP) and commitment to the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs).
— ICC

Officials Discuss Drug Problem in Thailand’s Golden Triangle
Thailand’s Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) has discussed improving solutions to the drug problem in the Golden Triangle with China and Myanmar.
— Chiang Rai Times

Indo Pacific Business Forum, a promising future for intercontinental investment
Senior US officials, Thai government officials, and international business leaders have come together at the Indo-Pacific Business Forum, to deepen and strengthen investment in the region.
— Newsline (video)

Thailand’s Transport Minister Does U-Turn on Compulsory GPS
Thailand’s Transport Ministry has made an about-face after it announced on Monday the proposed installation of GPS devices in private cars and motorbikes will be on a voluntary basis.
— Chiang Rai Times

Thailand discusses investment promotion with U.S., Russia
The Thai Prime Minister has held talks with delegates from the United States and Russia on investment promotion, especially in S-Curve industries according to Thailand 4.0 model, as well as the request for the US to reconsider its decision to revoke to Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) benefits given to Thailand.
— Newsline (video)

Opposition plots vote to oust coalition
The opposition plans to launch a no-confidence debate against the government, tentatively scheduled for Dec 18-20, saying that while it has little chance of winning, the debate will expose flaws in the ruling coalition.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand Defense Industry Ambition in the Headlines With Technology Transfer Prioritization
Last week, the Thai defense ministry suggested that technology transfer would be prioritized in the country’s defense deals and arrangements under the current government, which secured a controversial election win earlier this year.
— The Diplomat

Thailand’s Battle to Curb Strong Baht Increases Rate-Cut Chances
Thailand’s battle to keep its surging currency at bay is increasing the odds of a second interest-rate cut this year.
— Bloomberg (paywall)

Thailand passes sustainability torch to Vietnam
The 35th Asean Summit and Related Summits culminated yesterday with the handover of the Asean chairmanship to Vietnam. Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha handed a gavel, the symbol of the bloc’s leadership, to Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and hugged each other cordially.
— Bangkok Post

Power trade talks with Thailand are planned
Cambodia is planning talks with the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) to purchase 300MW of power, Ministry of Mines and Energy official Victor Jona said on Tuesday.
— The Phnom Penh Post

‘Lucky’ Buddhist statue topples over and crushes religious leader as he unveils it in Thailand
A Buddhist statue collapsed and killed the religious leader who had just unveiled it in a freak accident in Thailand yesterday.
— Daily Mail

1,500 Energy Experts Gather in Bangkok
On November 27-28, 1,500 renewable energy leaders from across Thailand will come together at The Future Energy Show Thailand 2019, a free-to-attend event to help Thailand achieve its renewable energy potential.
— Scoop

Chinese premier urges closer exchanges with Thailand
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Tuesday met here with Chuan Leekpai, president of the Thai National Assembly and speaker of the House of Representatives, and called for closer exchanges between the two nations.
— Xinhuanet

IMF chief advises ‘timely’ policy push
Thailand’s strong macroeconomic fundamentals give policymakers space to use both fiscal and monetary policy to drag the economy out of the doldrums, according to the IMF chief.
— Bangkok Post

PM Prayut thanks Bahrain for support in solving southern crisis
The Prime Minister has met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain, to thank Bahrain for its support in solving southern unrest in Thailand within the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation’s framework.
— Newsline (video)

USDA Reduces Thailand Rice Production And Exports For M 2019/20
The latest forecast of United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimated Thailand rice production revised down to 20.5 million metric tons due to a reduced production of the main rice crop caused by flooding during August – September 2019.
— IIFL

China Focus: Belt and Road Initiative boosts China-Thailand education cooperation
When Ma Chi returned to China in 2012 to recruit students for Thailand’s Chiangmai University, there were few applicants. However, the number has been increasing markedly since 2013, Ma said.
— Xinhuanet

BGRIM, Petrovietnam to jointly develop LNG project and 3,000 MW power plant in Vietnam
Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, H.E. Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc, and Deputy Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, H.E. Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul
— Bangkok Post

Thailand to get AI-driven managed services solution
The Thai branch of a Swedish multinational networking and telecommunications company recently signed a deal to implement an advanced, customer-centric network operations model in Thailand starting from January 2020.
— OpenGov

Egat talks power trade with Cambodia, Myanmar
The state-run Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) is planning to talk with power authorities in Cambodia and Myanmar to trade electricity from Thailand at a combined capacity of 500 megawatts.
— Bangkok Post

Thailand has fiscal, monetary room to help growth: IMF chief
Thailand has sufficient fiscal and monetary policy space to support its economy, the chief of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Tuesday.
— Bangkok Post

Chiang Mai Police forced into investigating hazing incident at University
Chiang Mai Police report that they are investigating a hazing attack on a junior student at Mae Jo University in Chiang Mai.
— The Thaiger

Fifteen year old Thai girl extorted for 50,000 baht by copyright troll scam artist after making cartoon character Krathongs
A local copyright holder of Japanese cartoon character franchise said Tuesday it was not behind an alleged attempt to extort a 15-year-old girl of 50,000 baht for copyright infringement.
— The Pattaya News

Navy to get new drones next year
The Royal Thai Navy has confirmed its plan to purchase two sets of Austrian-made vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned air systems (UAS) from Schiebel Group at a cost of 600 million baht.
— Bangkok Post

Quack doc jailed for fatal boob job
The Criminal Court has ordered a quack surgeon to be jailed for five years for performing a breast augmentation surgery that caused the death of a female patient, and has sentenced an accomplice to two years in jail for assisting him during the procedure.
— Bangkok Post

Kenyan held for cocaine at Suvarnabhumi
A Kenyan woman was arrested at Suvarnabhumi airport on Saturday with more than one kilogramme of cocaine in her stomach, according to the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB).
— Bangkok Post

RCEP trade deal hits snag over India’s demand
RCEP negotiations hit a snag as India has grown wary of an expected influx of goods from China, with which the South Asian country runs a massive trade deficit.
— ThailandBusinessNews

Bang Sue-Tha Phra extension opens next month
The Bang Sue-Tha Phra extension of the MRT mass transit line will open for a public trial run next month, completing the Blue Line’s planned loop around the centre of Bangkok.
— Bangkok Post

China, Thailand agree to advance ties, jointly promote regional connectivity
China and Thailand on Tuesday pledged to expand cooperation in various areas and work together to facilitate trade and investment to boost regional connectivity and build a more open world economy.
— China.org.cn

Local startups smothered by internet giants
As regional and global players take over Thailand’s internet economy, local startups appear to be struggling as only US$50 million was raised to help them in the first half of this year, unchanged from the same period a year earlier, according to the e-Conomy SEA 2019 report.
— Bangkok Post

5,000 Samui residents diagnosed with depression in 2019
Thailand’s second largest island may be renowned for its beautiful beaches and laid-back atmosphere, but a new report indicates that the number of people diagnosed with depression on Koh Samui has increased to over 5,000 this year.
— The Thaiger

Finn leads charge in Thailand to reduce, reuse, and recycle
Finland, the world’s first country to launch a national roadmap for its transition to a circular economy by 2025, is encouraging Thailand to adopt the model where resources are continually reused for the sustainable future of our planet.
— Myanmar Times

Thai-Chinese industrial zone helps local staff achieve life’s dreams
Nine years later, as he enters the gate of New Thai Wheel Manufacturing Co., Ltd (NTW) everyday, Saard Jaroenthangsaksri still remembers the distant sunny morning on Nov. 28, 2010 when he set foot on this field for the first time.
— Xinhuanet

Thailand name 24-man squad for 2022 World Cup Qualifiers against Malaysia, Vietnam
Head coach Akira Nishino has named a 24-man squad for Thailand’s 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers ties against Malaysia and Vietnam this month.
— FOX Sports Asia

Villagers worship buffalo born with two heads in rural Thailand
Locals living in Buriram, Thailand, worshiped the corpse of a buffalo who was born with two heads on October 31, 2019. They believed that the birth of the conjoined animal was a lucky omen.
— South China Morning Post (video)

Are Thais worried about jobs?
In sharing their opinions regarding what their government should prioritise in the 2020 fiscal budget, 65.9 percent of Thais polled by the Super Poll Research Centre placed healthcare as their top concern.
— The Asean Post

New Airbnb guidelines for Thai landlords
Following on from its recent revelation that Buriram has taken third place on a list of top 20 global destinations to visit next year (see story HERE), Airbnb has issued some guidelines for landlords managing short-term rental properties in Thailand.
— The Thaiger

Thailand and Three Other APEC Members Ready for ARFP Passport Funds
According to the SEC press release, Thailand together with Japan, Australia and New Zealand are ready to take applications for registration as “passport funds” under the APEC[1]-led Asia Region Funds Passport (ARFP) initiative (background below).
— Lexology

Chinese Internet-culture gaining traction in Thailand
New icons of Chinese Internet-culture such as TikTok, fantasy novels and online dramas are gaining traction in Thailand, bringing fresh elements to the promotion of Chinese culture in the Southeast Asian country.
— Xinhuanet

Japan vows to boost aid, ties to Asean
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday pledged to support Asean in its efforts to strengthen regional cooperation, during talks with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha in Bangkok.
— Bangkok Post

NCL urges support for small business
MAI-listed NCL International Logistics Plc is calling on the government to support small businesses expanding overseas to rev up competitiveness and mitigate the effects of the baht’s appreciation.
— Bangkok Post

What’s the RCEP and what happened to the TPP?
When it comes to sweeping global free-trade agreements, President Donald Trump isn’t the only party-pooper. Two years after Trump withdrew the US from a 12-nation deal known as the TPP, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pulled India out of a 16-nation grouping led by China known as the RCEP.
— Bangkok Post

15 countries poised to sign onto the world’s largest trade bloc
Whilst the US is consumed with polarised internal politics and building walls, and the UK economy withers under nearly four years of paralysing Brexit farrago, leaders from 15 Asia Pacific countries, including South Korea, China, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, are poised to sign onto the world most powerful trade bloc – RCEP.
— The Thaiger

Thai GSP suspension drives mass migrant exodus: Central
The Centre for Alliance of Labour and Human Rights has identified the suspension of Thailand’s Generalised System of Preferences status with the United States as the primary factor behind a recent mass exodus of Cambodian migrants.
— Khmer Times

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This week’s Thailand morning news feature photo focuses on 35th Asean Summit and Related Summits, Bangkok, November 2-4, 2019

Find our previous morning news feature photos in the AEC News Today Morning News Feature Photos gallery where you will find a pictorial display of daily life throughout the Asean Economic Community (AEC).

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Thailand morning news for November 6 added by John Le Fevre on November 6, 2019
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John Le Fevre

Thailand editor at AEC News Today

John is an Australian national with more than 40 years experience as a journalist, photographer, videographer, and copy editor.

He has spent extensive periods of time working in Africa and throughout Southeast Asia, with stints in the Middle East, the USA, and England.

He has covered major world events including Operation Desert Shield/ Storm, the 1991 pillage in Zaire, the 1994 Rwanda genocide, the 1999 East Timor independence unrest, the 2004 Asian tsunami, and the 2009, 2010, and 2014 Bangkok political protests.

In 1995 he was a Walkley Award finalist, the highest awards in Australian journalism, for his coverage of the 1995 Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo) Ebola outbreak.

Prior to AEC News Today he was the deputy editor and Thailand and Greater Mekong Sub-region editor for The Establishment Post, predecessor of Asean Today.

In the mid-80s and early 90s he owned JLF Promotions, the largest above and below the line marketing and PR firm servicing the high-technology industry in Australia. It was sold in 1995.