Thailand Live Wednesday 21 Nov 2012

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China keen on Thailand's high-speed railway project

BANGKOK: -- Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jibao on Wednesday expressed "special interest" in Thailand's high-speed rail plans during talks with Thai Premier Yingluck Shinawatra.

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RT @KristieKenney: Nov 22, offices @USEmbassyBKK & @USConsChiangMai will be closed in honor of US Thanksgiving Day.

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His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej will make public appearance at Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall on Dec 5, his 85th birthday /MCOT

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His Majesty to grant public audience on Dec 5

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej will grant a public audience on his birthday this year.

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SET index closed at 1276.39, down 0.02; Bt/USD30.58; GBP48.56; AUD31.56; EUR38.96; CAD30.49; HKD3.94; SGD24.78; JPY37.16

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Thailand, China sign key pacts to boost cooperation

By Digital Media

BANGKOK, Nov 21 – Thailand and China today signed four MoUs aimed at strengthening the diplomatic relationship between the two countries, exchanging ratifications on the transfer of convicts, and cooperation on educational development and rice trading.

Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her Chinese counterpart Wen Jiapao gave a joint press conference after the signing ceremony.

Ms Yingluck said both countries agreed on enhancing their relationship and expanding cooperation on investment, education and tourism including the opening of additional aviation routes to facilitate travellers.

“China was asked to import agricultural produce including rice, tapioca and rubber from Thailand. One of the MoUs touched on Thailand’s rice export to China,” the Thai premier said.

She added that China was also invited to invest in major projects such as the Dawei deep sea port on Thai-Myanmar border, a high-speed train and a disaster prevention system while Bangkok is keen on exporting ethanol to Beijing.

China has offered to host a joint economic forum on trade and investment, she said.

Mr Wen complimented Thailand on its economic revival and pledged to support Thailand in every aspect for regional stability.

China is Thailand's second-largest trading partner after Japan.

The Chinese premier arrived for a two-day visit to Thailand on Tuesday as part of a regional tour before he steps down next year. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-11-21

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RT @Reuters: FLASH: Israeli ambulance service reports "apparent explosion" on Tel Aviv bus

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RT @mpoppel: Jerusalem Post says at least 3 people seriously injured in Tel Aviv bus blast

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RT @mpoppel: Haaretz newspaper now says at least 15 people injured in Tel Aviv bus blast

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Security tight as southern train service resumes

The Nation

YALA: -- Heavy security has been imposed to protect the Yala to Sungai-Kolok train service, which resumed operation Wednesday after three people were killed and 35 were injured in an insurgent attack last weekend in Narathiwat's Rue Soh district.

Thanongsak Pongprasert, deputy director of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), said officials took three days to repair the carriages from the No 435 train and railway tracks damaged by a buried bomb detonated by insurgents on Sunday while the train was travelling between Rue Soh and Laloh stations.

Army and Air Force security officials were deployed, with helicopters flying overhead to guard the carriages in all risky spots that have experienced insurgent attacks in the past, especially along a 40km stretch between Balaw and Tanyongmas stations.

Although the railway track at the site of the attack in Rue Soh district has been repaired, the train must slow down while passing over it, heightening the security risk. Security officials were stationed there to prevent a repeat attack.

To prevent infiltration by insurgents, all security officials have been asked to provide clear proof of identity, especially from Balaw to Rue Soh station.

The SRT has also asked security officials to check hilly areas or bridges for explosive devices before trains pass and requested that the military's geographic coordinate system be synchronised with that used by the SRT.

The agency also requested radio devices to allow train staff and military officials to communicate.

Thanongsak said trains from Songkhla to Narathiwat have experienced more than 100 attacks, causing more than Bt100 million in damage and many casualties since 2004, when insurgent separatists in the southern border provinces began their latest campaign.

With five main stations and 22 sub-stations, the 200km stretch of the southern train route from Songkhla to Narathiwat has witnessed many attacks, with most concentrated in the stretch from Balaw to Raman, and the stretch leading to Sungai-Kolok station.

-- The Nation 2012-11- 21

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Few will be laid off due to wage increase: officials

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The authorities believe that the imminent hike in minimum daily wage will likely cost some people their jobs but the number will be relatively low.

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Thailand Live Thursday 22 Nov 2012