Flood death toll now 684

A absolute of 684 humans were accepted asleep and three humans were missing in the floods that accept inundated the high allotment of the country back July 25 and hit southern ambit recently, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Administration said on Tuesday.

The calamity still prevails in 15 provinces, affecting, 4,733,137 people, according to the Department.

The ambit are Chai Nat, Angthong, Ayutthaya, Lopburi, Saraburi, Suphanburi, Nakhon Pathom, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Samut Sakhon, Nakhon Nayok, Chachoengsao, Bangkok, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Phatthalung.

The administration on Saturday, Dec 3, appear the assessment at 666.

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PM: Govt heeds King's advice

His Majesty the King thanks members of the royal family and
dignitaries from many sectors of society who gathered at
 the Chakri Maha Prasat Throne Hall in the Grand Palace on
Dec 5, 2011 to deliver their best wishes to him on his 84th birthday.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ROYAL HOUSEHOLD BUREAU

The government has taken on lath His Majesty the King's admonition and will see to it that all abounding areas are dry afore the end of the year, Prime Abbot Yingluck Shinawatra said afterwards today's chiffonier meeting.

Ms Yingluck said all chiffonier ministers, decidedly Interior Abbot Yongyuth Wichaidit, will appointment areas beneath their albatross to break flood-related problems. She said 80-100 communities were still flooded.

These communities have to be bound drained and dry by the end of the year so that the humans could appropriately bless the New Year.

The Finance Ministry had been instructed to accede how to best advice humans whose houses, cars and motorcycles were damaged by the flood, she said.

Asked about battle in the flood abatement operations, she said nJustice Abbot Pracha Promnok, the administrator of the Flood Abatement Operations Command (Froc), had been told to stick to analytic problems through peaceful means.

The prime abbot said the government's organisation of the ceremony of His Majesty the King's 84th altogether ceremony on Dec 5 has auspiciously brought the humans of all walks of activity together, enabling them to coin a bigger understanding.

She beneath to acknowledgment if asked about the achievability of a chiffonier reshuffle afterwards the New Year.

In his altogether accent delivered on Monday, His Majesty the King alleged on all abandon to put abreast their differences and plan in accord to advice flood victims and advance acceptable baptize administration mechanisms.

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King calls for unity, stability

Hundreds of thousands of well-wishers flock to palace - Flood crisis at forefront of His Majesty's birthday address

His Majesty the King has alleged on all abandon to put abreast their differences and plan in accord to admonition flood victims and to advance acceptable baptize administration mechanisms for the account of the humans and civic stability.

His Majesty the King thanks members of the royal family and dignitaries from many sectors of society who gathered at the Chakri Maha Prasat Throne Hall in the Grand Palace yesterday to deliver their best wishes to him on his 84th birthday. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ROYAL HOUSEHOLD BUREAU

Delivering a altogether bulletin afore hundreds of bags of well-wishers from the balustrade of the Chakri Head Hall at the Grand Palace at 10.59am, the autocrat thanked the humans for their acceptable wishes on his 84th birthday.

During the speech, the King said the humans aggregate afore him captivated important positions in both the government and military. They should be able-bodied acquainted that civic adherence is alone accessible if humans in the country accept a acceptable activity and beatitude after suffering.

He said it was the assignment of all abandon to plan calm at abounding force to accouterment whatever hardships afflicted the people.

"At present, humans are adversity from the floods," the King said. "Therefore, cooperation is bare to bound break the botheration and appear up with projects for acceptable baptize management. Those projects ahead mentioned are alone recommendations, not an order. However, the projects should be put into convenance if they are apparent as benign and cost-effective."

The King is broadly accepted to accept a agog absorption in baptize management. Many of the country's above irrigation projects are royally accomplished or congenital on aristocratic admonition to accompaniment agencies.

His Majesty reminded all anybody to put abreast their conflicts and accord moral abutment to anniversary added so their tasks could be accomplished for the beatitude of the humans and the adherence of the country.

The King admired the humans beatitude and prosperity, and again empiric the face-lifting of the adjuration of adherence by associates of the Aristocratic Guard.

Earlier in the ceremony, His Aristocratic Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn led the Aristocratic Family in adulatory His Majesty a blessed birthday.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra told the King that Thai humans realised the claim of his contributions to association and guidelines and that they would acknowledge to the King's generosity by announcement accord in the nation.

Parliament admiral Somsak Kiatsuranont promised to do his best in honouring the King, to assure the throne, accommodated His Majesty's wishes and advance capitalism in the country.

A absolute of 240 Aristocratic and Honour guards were present at the ceremony.

Maj Gen Pisit Sitthisan, administrator of the 1st Division, King's Guard, said although there was no array by the Aristocratic Guard yesterday, it "was abundant for the soldiers to accomplish a vow" to assure and advance the aristocratic institution.

Army arch Prayuth Chan-ocha said Thai humans should extend their best wishes to the King and do acceptable as his Majesty has been accomplishing for the Thai humans for a actual continued time.

The King larboard the Chakri Head Hall and alternate to Siriraj Hospital, area he has been blockage back September 2009, by aristocratic van at 11.50am.

Crowds waited forth the two abandon of Ratchadamnoen Avenue and Na Pralarn Road to get a glimpse of His Majesty the King and the Aristocratic Family, coiled civic and aristocratic flags and again chanted "Long Live the King" as the aristocratic celebration boring anesthetized by.

Source From Bangkok Post

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Yingluck's Facebook team left red-faced

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's Facebook aggregation has issued an acknowledgment for abominably announcement pictures of the backward King Ananda to accompany the premier's bulletin agreeable all humans to accompany civic celebrations of King Bhumibol's 84th altogether today.

"The prime minister's Facebook aggregation fabricated a aberration by announcement the amiss pictures. We accept appear the absurdity to the prime minister," the aggregation said on facebook.com/Y.Shinawatra aboriginal yesterday.

Two photos of King Ananda, King Bhumibol's ancient brother, sitting on the head were acquaint on the prime minister's Facebook page at 10pm on Saturday, but removed anon after.

The photos accompanied a bulletin from the prime abbot saying: "On Dec 5, all Thais will get calm to absolve His Majesty."

The ashamed advisers said Ms Yingluck had been abreast about the error.

She has assigned her secretary Buntoon Supatkavanit to address to His Majesty gluttonous a absolution for her team's error.

The letter will be conveyed through His Majesty's clandestine secretary's office. Many humans accept larboard comments in acknowledgment to the blunder. Most accursed the premier's aggregation for authoritative the mistake, while others abhorrent Ms Yingluck herself.

Source From Bangkok Post

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Joy as His Majesty is 84 today

The King to arise at Chakri Head Hall at 10.30am - Hundreds of bags of well-wishers to band streets - Kingdom unites for seven canicule of celebrations

After two months of an constant flood adversity which afflicted about 5 actor people, all Thais will rejoice today and bless His Majesty the King's 84th birthday.

Alight in the darkness 

A large boat adorned with His Majesty the King’s portrait, giant lotus lanterns and lighting decorations is lit up in the middle of the Chao Phraya River in Pathum Thani province. Launched by the local administration as part of the King’s birthday celebrations, the boat also serves as a stage forkhon performances and visitors are allowed on board to take pictures. PONGPATWONGYALA

Hundreds of bags of well-wishers are accepted to assemble at Siriraj Hospital, Sanam Luang and the Grand Alcazar to actualization their adulation and account for the King. Today His Majesty will biking from Siriraj Hospital to the Grand Alcazar and arise at the balustrade of Chakri Head Hall at 10.30am to accost his subjects.

This year, Dec 5 is even added advantageous as it aswell marks the seventh-cycle commemoration of His Majesty.

The autocrat has rarely fabricated accessible appearances afterward his acceptance to Siriraj Hospital due to fever, fatigue and absent of appetence on Sept 19, 2009.

Despite his ailments, the King has never chock-full alive over the accomplished two years. He accepted audiences to accompaniment admiral to accord admonition on abounding issues, abnormally baptize management.

When the flood adversity addled the axial ambit two months ago, His Majesty carefully monitored the bearings every day.

Earlier endure month, the King suffered a abdomen drain which doctors doubtable was acquired by the accent of continuously afterward the flood news.

On Nov 19, aristocratic physicians appear that His Majesty was diagnosed with deepening of the diverticulum of the ample intestine, a accepted action a allotment of the elderly.

The King's altogether actualization today will not alone accommodate a healing force for his capacity in these harder times of flooding, but aswell affluence the people's affair over his health.

Many streets in the capital as lit up, particularly in the Rattanakosin Island and Ratchadamnoen (above) areas.

The government is organising a week-long anniversary for this advantageous break active until Friday.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said bygone that she would burden from talking backroom during this aeon as the nation celebrates.

The red and chicken camps will aswell append their accepted political activities and accompany the civic celebration. Over 1,000 red shirts, led by United Foreground for Democracy adjoin Dictatorship baton Kwanchai Praipana, will biking from Udon Thani to accompany the celebrations at Sanam Luang today, while the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy will alter their political talkshow on the ASTV approach with documentaries to advance aristocratic projects.

Celebrations for His Majesty the King's birthday, which aswell marks Father's Day, begins with a clandestine angelic baptize commemoration at 7am at the Grand Palace.

At 10am, the King will abandon from Siriraj Hospital to the celebrated Chakri Head Hall.

Although His Majesty's adventure will be advertisement live, hundreds of bags of well-wishers are accepted to about-face out to accost the King forth the way, on anchorage that accept been busy with civic and aristocratic flags.

Large screens will be installed at abounding places forth the avenue from the hospital to Wiset Chaisi Gate abreast Sanam Luang to acquiesce humans to bigger beam their admired monarch.

Around 8,000 honorary guests of the accompaniment as able-bodied as 10,000 associates of the accessible and 480 aristocratic guards will delay in foreground of the Chakri Head Hall for the King's actualization on the balcony.

At 7.19pm, Ms Yingluck will administer over a candle-lit commemoration at Sanam Luang to adjure for His Majesty's constancy and happiness.

Private and accessible breadth offices will aswell abutting armament to organise a advanced array of projects and activities throughout the Kingdom to accurate their acknowledgment for His Majesty's active adherence to convalescent people's active altitude throughout his reign.

On Saturday, the Office of the Aristocratic Household and the government launched a 3D across-the-board multimedia presentation alleged the Illusion Reside Bank on a 200m amplitude of the Grand Palace's bank on Na Phra Lan Road.

The 20-minute actualization is about the accord and abundance of the Kingdom beneath His Majesty's reign. Traditional khon dancing involving over 150 performers will aswell be captivated reside on date at Sanam Luang for 90 account every day throughout the week-long celebrations, said Rattanawut Watcharothai, administrator of accessible relations and promotions at the Office of the Aristocratic Household.

As allotment of the celebrations, humans will aswell be accustomed for the aboriginal time to adore the majesty of the Grand Alcazar at night.

Visitors will be able access the close breadth of the alcazar and yield photos from today until Friday from 7pm to midnight.

World honours our King

Many of the world's arresting abstracts and royals accept beatific their best wishes to His Majesty the King on his 84th altogether today.

In a altogether message, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom wrote: "It gives me abundant amusement to action my warmest congratulations to Your Majesty as you bless the advantageous break of your 84th birthday."

The 85-year-old Queen Elizabeth, who has been on the head for 59 years, appear that she had been afterward the letters of the floods in Thailand with affair and would like to action condolences to His Majesty and to the Thai humans in this time of tragedy.

Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands aswell beatific a altogether bulletin to the King, adulatory for the abundance of His Majesty and of the Thai people. Pope Benedict XVI continued affable greetings to His Majesty, the aristocratic ancestors and to the Thai humans on the break of His Majesty's birthday.

"Aware of the adverse floods that accept afflicted your country, I assure Your Majesty of my adherence and that of the Catholic Church," the Pope said in the message.

Chinese President Hu Jintao conveyed his aboveboard congratulations and best wishes to the King and to all Thai humans on the advantageous break of His Majesty's birthday.

"As a acutely admired and admired King, Your Majesty has fabricated arresting contributions to bread-and-butter and amusing advance of Thailand as able-bodied as your people's abundance for a continued time," President Hu said in his message. "I ambition Your Majesty longevity, your country abundance and your humans happiness."

US President Barack Obama said he hoped this blissful break would advance healing and a boldness a allotment of Thais to clean as the country recovers from the floods.

The birthday celebrations for the monarch include this fabulous display of light at Wat Phra Kaew (The Grand Palace) near the river.

Source From Bangkok Post

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Afghan conference in Bonn as Nato troops eye exit

Only a small force of US trainers is scheduled
 to stay in Afghanistan after 2014

A above all-embracing appointment on Afghanistan's approaching is due to accessible in the German city-limits of Bonn on Monday.

It comes 10 years afterwards a agnate acquisition captivated in the city, weeks afterwards the Taliban fell from power.

Organisers wish to bolster abiding all-embracing assurance with Afghanistan and abutment efforts to restore security.

But key amateur Pakistan is boycotting the talks in beef at a Nato advance on a bound checkpoint endure month.

Nato apologised for the air bang on 26 November in which 24 Pakistani troops were killed.

The US and added Western nations accept continued doubtable Pakistan of harbouring the Taliban and added anarchical groups, including the Haqqani network, abhorrent for attacks on the Afghan ancillary of the border.

Taliban talks?

Many assemblage attention a abiding charge to Afghanistan as critical, as a lot of Western armament adapt to leave the country by 2014.

About 1,000 assembly from 100 countries and all-embracing organisations are demography allotment in Monday's gathering.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is a part of some dozens of chief ministers in attendance.

Much of the affliction angry in the decade-long battle takes abode in eastern Afghanistan, abutting to the Pakistani border.

More than 500 Nato troops accept been dead so far this year in Afghanistan.

"Our cold is a peaceful Afghanistan that will never afresh become a safe anchorage for all-embracing terrorism," German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said.

Former UN agent to Afghanistan Lakhdar Brahimi says he argued 10 years ago in favour of actual moves appear chat with the Taliban - which were ousted by the US aggression of Afghanistan in 2001.

Mr Brahimi told the BBC: "We should accept approved to acquisition out area they had gone and what they were cerebration and if they were absorbed conceivably to see if we can accomplish allowance for them."

Efforts to barrage talks with the Taliban are beneath way, but accept brought no actual aftereffect so far.

Reconciliation efforts suffered a above setback in September, with the assassination of above President Burhanuddin Rabbani, who was arch Kabul's accomplishment to agent accord with the insurgents.

"Right now we don't apperceive their address. We don't accept a door, to beating on," Afghanistan's agent to the US, Eklil Hakimi, told AP account agency.

Source from BBC News

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Pakistan buries 24 troops killed in Nato airstrike

Pakistan has active 24 of its troops who were dead in a Nato airstrike at a checkpoint on the Afghan border.

Army arch General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani led mourners in burial prayers at aggressive address in the north-western city-limits of Peshawar.

Nato has called the deaths of 24 Pakistani soldiers as "tragic and unintended"

The adventure on Saturday has acute already close relations amid Pakistan and the US and Nato.

Nato has apologised, calling it a "tragic adventitious incident", and is investigating what happened.

Nato arch Anders Fogh Rasmussen said he had accounting to Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to "make it bright that the deaths of Pakistani cadre are as unacceptable and afflictive as the deaths of Afghan and all-embracing personnel".

It follows a collective account by US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who offered their condolences for the accident of life, backed the analysis into the adventure and fatigued the "importance of the US-Pakistani partnership, which serves the alternate interests of our people".

'Special armament mission'

Pakistan has reacted angrily to the attack, which took abode at two limited bound posts in Pakistan's affiliated commune of Mohmand in the aboriginal hours of Saturday morning.

Prime Minister Gilani alleged it a "grave contravention of Pakistan's sovereignty".

A affair of the cabinet's defence committee, convened by Mr Gilani, said it had absitively to cut key accumulation curve to Nato in Afghanistan. Reports after appeared to affirm that Nato cartage was not getting accustomed through Pakistan's two bound crossings with Afghanistan, at Torkham and Chaman.

The board has aswell asked the United States to vacate, aural 15 days, the Shamsi air base, which the US aggressive has acclimated to barrage drones - although the BBC's Orla Guerin in Islamabad addendum that Pakistan has fabricated a agnate appeal afore and the abject may already be empty.

The board added said it would "revisit and undertake a complete analysis of all programmes, activities and branch arrange with US/Nato/Isaf, including diplomatic, political, aggressive and intelligence".

Pakistan's government aswell summoned the US ambassador.

Fresh blow

The night-time advance took abode at the Salala checkpoint, about 1.5 afar (2.5 km) from the Afghan border, at about 02:00 on Saturday morning bounded time (21:00 GMT Friday).

The Pakistani army said helicopters and fighter aircraft hit two bound posts, killing 24 humans and abrogation 13 injured. Bounded admiral said the two posts were about 300m afar on a abundance top.

Pakistani admiral said there had been no active action in the area, and a lot of of the Pakistani soldiers were asleep. They aswell said Nato had the filigree references of the posts and accordingly should not accept fired.

Military sources told the BBC's Quentin Sommerville in Paktika arena in Afghanistan that a US-Afghan appropriate armament mission had been in the area, breadth they believed a Taliban training affected was operating.

They said the mission came beneath blaze from a position aural Pakistan, and they accustomed permission from the address of Nato's Isaf mission to blaze back.

The adventure looks set to accord a beginning draft to US-Pakistan relations, which had alone just amorphous to balance afterward a unilateral US arrest that dead Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan in May.

Pakistani troops are complex in angry the Taliban in the acute bound arena area. Hundreds of militants accept been afraid attempts by the aegis armament to bright them from southern and south-eastern locations of the district.

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Warning to Democrats not to attack Yingluck

CENSURE TO FOCUS ON PM AND FROC CHIEF

The government will try to absorber Prime Abbot Yingluck Shinawatra in Sunday's admonishment debate, arguing she should not be included in the opposition's advance on the administering of the flood crisis.

After weeks of flooding, altercation over how the adversity was managed and allegations of irregularities in the administering of abatement supplies, the action is beneath burden to abode accessible concerns.

See also: Big accoutrements are a problem

Saving orchards: Pomelo growers face distress

Foreign aid: Japanese experts to devise new flood plans

Source From Bangkok Post

And now in the South: Songkhla on top alert

The admonishment agitation takes abode just two canicule afore the break of the accepted House affair on Tuesday.

In its motion, the action Democrat Affair has singled out Pol Gen Pracha in his accommodation as the administrator of the Flood Abatement Operation Command (Froc).

The accommodation not to cover Ms Yingluck in the admonishment agitation is partly technical.

A built-in claim stipulates that the action abide a prime apostolic applicant if it seeks to admonishment the sitting premier.

This was accounted inappropriate for the Democrats because of the party's aural defeat in the accepted acclamation four months ago.

However, the action is accepted to attack to accomplish Ms Yingluck the focus of the agitation because she active the adjustment appointing Pol Gen Pracha as Froc director.

Her leadership, in giving that albatross to Pol Gen Pracha, is accepted to be scrutinised.

A Democrat antecedent said 10 MPs, including the Democrats baton Abhisit Vejjajiva, his agent Apirak Kosayodhin and Trang MP Sathit Wongnongtoey, accept been called for the debate, which aims to authorize any atrocity in the government's flood management.

"The accident acquired by calamity is about 20% [natural], and the blow was acquired by the government's mismanagement," said the source.

Mr Sathit said bygone that the Democrats accept three accuse adjoin Pol Gen Pracha _ corruption, bootless administering and abuse of laws.

He said the admonishment would aswell blow on the decree gluttonous a aristocratic absolution for convicts, which is beneath the albatross of Pol Gen Pracha.

It is believed that the decree was planned to favour Thaksin.

The Democrat MP accepted that Pol Gen Pracha is acceptable to survive the admonishment agitation due to cutting abutment for him in the House.

But Mr Sathit said: "We achievement the admonishment will accomplish the humans see some ablaze and advance to changes in the administration."

Pheu Thai MP Paichit Sriworakhan said the affair is acquisition advice for added chiffonier ministers who may allegation to abode the House.

He warned the Democrat Affair not to try to barbecue Ms Yingluck and Thaksin.

"[Ms Yingluck] is not the ambition of the debate, but we are OK with a little criticism," said Mr Paichit.

"As for the ex-prime abbot [Thaksin], he should be larboard abandoned because he is an outsider."

Pol Gen Pracha bygone played down the debate, adage it was annihilation but a set of questions he would answer.

"They accomplish inquiries and I answer. It is annihilation but a set of facts," he said.

He said that he did not affliction how the affiliation parties vote.

"If the humans wish me to do the job, I break on. If they don't, I stop. I became an MP through elections, not a advantageous draw," Pol Gen Pracha said.

He said he was summoned to analyze the flood ascendancy methods afore the House committees and was larboard with little time to do his plan at the Froc.

Pol Gen Pracha said that the Froc's operations absorb several ministers, including Interior Abbot Yongyuth Wichaidit, who is in allegation of flood abatement supplies, Transport Abbot ACM Sukumpol Suwanatat, who is in allegation of the big bag flood barrier, and Agriculture and Cooperatives Abbot Theera Wongsamut, who oversees reservoirs.

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Pakistan orders Nato and US review after deadly border strike

Pakistan has ordered a analysis of all co-operation with the US and Nato afterwards the accord addled a Pakistani army checkpoint, killing at atomic 24 people.

A board chaired by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani aswell absitively to cut accumulation curve to Nato in Afghanistan.

Mr Gilani alleged the advance a "grave contravention of Pakistan's sovereignty".

Lorries carrying supplies to Nato have been stopped at the Torkham border crossing

A Nato agent accepted it was "highly likely" that Nato aircraft were abaft the bang at the Afghan border.

Brig Gen Carsten Jacobson beatific condolences to Pakistan and said Nato was investigating how the adventure occurred.

Ambassador summoned

The BBC's Orla Guerin in Islamabad says this could be a actual cher aberration by Nato, which relies heavily on the avenue through Pakistan to accumulation its cadre complex in the war in Afghanistan.

A affair of the cabinet's defence committee, convened by Mr Gilani, absitively the government would "revisit and undertake a complete analysis of all programmes, activities and branch arrange with US/Nato/Isaf, including diplomatic, political, aggressive and intelligence".

It "decided to abutting with actual aftereffect Nato/Isaf acumen accumulation lines", according to a account issued by Mr Gilani's office.

Reports appeared to affirm that Nato cartage was not getting accustomed through Pakistan's two bound crossings with Afghanistan, at Torkham and Chaman.

The board aswell said the United States would be asked to vacate, aural 15 days, the Shamsi air base, which the US has acclimated to barrage drones.

However, our contributor addendum that Pakistan has fabricated a agnate appeal afore and the abject may already be empty.

Pakistan's government aswell summoned the US ambassador.

Special forces

The night-time advance took abode at the Salala checkpoint, about 1.5 afar (2.5 km) from the Afghan border, at about 02:00 on Saturday morning bounded time (21:00 GMT Friday).

The Pakistani army said helicopters and fighter aircraft hit two bound posts, killing 24 humans and abrogation 13 injured. Bounded admiral said the two posts were about 300m afar on a abundance top.

Pakistani admiral said there had been no active activity in the area, and a lot of of the Pakistani soldiers were asleep. They aswell said Nato had the filigree references of the posts and accordingly should not accept fired.

Gen Jacobson said a accumulated force of Afghan and Nato troops were in the breadth if "a appropriate bearings developed on the ground", admitting he gave no added details.

He said abutting air abutment was alleged in, and "we're acquainted it's awful acceptable this acquired casualties".

Military sources told the BBC's Quentin Sommerville in Paktika arena in Afghanistan that a US-Afghan appropriate armament mission had been in the area, breadth they believed a Taliban training affected was operating.

They said the mission came beneath blaze from a position aural Pakistan, and they accustomed permission from the address of Nato's Isaf mission to blaze back.

In a statement, Isaf administrator Gen John R Allen said the adventure "has my accomplished claimed absorption and my charge to thoroughly investigate it to actuate the facts".

"My a lot of aboveboard and claimed ardent condolences go out to the families and admired ones of any associates of Pakistan Aegis Armament who may accept been dead or injured."

The adventure looks set to accord a beginning draft to US-Pakistan relations, which had alone just amorphous to balance afterward a unilateral US arrest that dead Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan in May.

Pakistani troops are complex in angry the Taliban in the acute bound arena area. Hundreds of militants accept been afraid attempts by the aegis armament to bright them from southern and south-eastern locations of the district.

In October, Pakistan's army arch Ashfaq Kayani warned the US adjoin demography unilateral activity in adjacent North Waziristan.

Washington has for abounding years apprenticed Islamabad to accord with militants in the area.

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Opposition Labour Party concedes in NZ poll

PM John Key is celebrating victory

New Zealand's action Labour Affair baton Phil Goff has conceded achievement in the country's accepted election.

"The humans accept fabricated their accommodation and we amusement their accommodation with abasement and respect," Mr Goff said, according to the AFP account agency.

With about all votes counted, the cardinal Civic Affair was on advance to win 60 of 121 seats in Parliament, official abstracts showed.

The Civic Affair currently active a affiliation with three abate parties.

The Green Affair has aswell fabricated a able showing, with abutment at about 11%.

The autonomous New Zealand First affair has aswell afraid abounding observers, abiding to Parliament with 7% of the vote.

The acclamation opened at 09:00 bounded time on Saturday (20:00 GMT Friday) and bankrupt at 19:00.

Opinion acclamation afore the vote had put PM John Key's affair just over the 50% mark, with the action Labour Affair on 27%.

New Zealanders were aswell voting on whether to accumulate proportional representation for the country's elections.

Early after-effects announce a lot of voters accept autonomous not to change the system.

'Long year'

On the attack trail, both the big parties focused on the economy.

Mr Key has promised to accouterment civic debt by affairs stakes in accompaniment companies, while Mr Goff said he would acquaint a basic assets tax and adjournment alimony payments by two years to pay off debt.

But added accessible absorption focused on a row over the recording of a clandestine chat amid Mr Key and a aide afterwards a media event.

A cameraman said he larboard the recording accessory on the table by mistake. Police accept aback served seek warrants on four media outlets gluttonous the material. The capacity of the recording accept not been disclosed.

In the final amplitude of advancement on Friday, Mr Key said: "It has been a actual continued year if you go all the way aback to the Christchurch earthquakes, aggregate from the World Cup to the [stricken merchant address MV] Rena, it's been a lot accident this year."

Observers say voters accept broiled to Mr Key over his administration of both the Christchurch earthquakes and the baleful bang at the Pike River abundance in November 2010.

The All Blacks' win in the Rugby World Cup has aswell played in his favour, they believe.

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Nato helicopters 'kill Pakistan checkpoint soldiers'

Pakistani admiral accept accused Nato helicopters of battlefront on a aggressive checkpoint abreast Pakistan's Afghan border, killing 26 soldiers.

The "unprovoked and indiscriminate" advance took abode in Mohmand affiliated region, the Pakistani aggressive said.

In response, Pakistan has bankrupt the apprenticed bridge for food apprenticed for Nato armament in Afghanistan.

The Nato-led force in Afghanistan says it is investigating and has offered condolences to any afflicted families.

The declared advance took abode at the Salala checkpoint, about 1.5 afar (2.5 km) from the Afghan border, Reuters reports, at about 02:00 bounded time (21:00 GMT).

Two admiral were a allotment of the dead, admiral said, and seven soldiers were appear wounded.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani "has acerb accursed the Nato/Isaf (International Aegis Assistance Force) advance on the Pakistani post," the adopted admiral appear according to AFP account agency.

"On his directions, the amount in getting taken up by the adopted ministry, in the arch terms, with Nato and the US," it added.

The BBC's Shoaib Hasan in Karachi says Pakistani admiral are furious, arguing there was no active activity in the breadth at the time.

The adventure risks ambidextrous a beginning draft to US-Pakistan relations, which had alone just amorphous to balance afterward a unilateral US arrest that comatose Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan in May.

'Heartfelt condolences'

A arch Pakistani aggressive administrator told Reuters account bureau that efforts were beneath way to carriage the bodies of the comatose soldiers to Mohmand's capital boondocks of Ghalanai.

"The latest advance by Nato armament on our column will accept austere repercussions as they after any affidavit attacked on our column and comatose soldiers asleep," he said, requesting anonymity because he was not authorised to allocution to the media.

Masood Kausar, governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, reportedly accursed the advance as "unacceptable and intolerable".

In a statement, Isaf administrator Gen John R Allen said the adventure "has my accomplished claimed absorption and my charge to thoroughly investigate it to actuate the facts.

"My a lot of aboveboard and claimed ardent condolences go out to the families and admired ones of any associates of Pakistan Aegis Armament who may accept been comatose or injured."

In credible acknowledgment to the attack, lorries and ammunition tankers were getting chock-full at Jamrud boondocks in the Khyber affiliated arena abreast the city-limits of Peshawar, admiral and bounded media said - allotment of a key accumulation avenue which delivers 80% of Nato's accessories to Afghanistan.

"We accept apoplectic the food and some 40 tankers and trucks accept been alternate from the analysis column in Jamrud," Mutahir Zeb, a arch government official, told Reuters.

Pakistani troops are complex in angry the Taliban in the acute apprenticed arena area. Hundreds of militants accept been afraid attempts by the aegis armament to bright them from southern and south-eastern locations of the district.

Anti-militant operation

The checkpoint at the centre of this latest adventure was set up to anticipate insurgents bridge over the apprenticed into Afghanistan, our contributor says.

He says the movement of insurgents from the breadth into Afghanistan has been a affair for the Nato-led Isaf and the US.

The US has been targeting militants in Pakistan's affiliated areas abreast the Afghan apprenticed for several months, generally application unmanned bombinate aircraft.

Last year, US helicopters accidentally comatose two Pakistani soldiers abreast the border, aswell bidding Pakistan to briefly abutting the apprenticed to Nato supplies.

In October, Pakistan's army arch Ashfaq Kayani warned the US adjoin demography unilateral activity in adjacent North Waziristan.

He said that the US should focus on stabilising Afghanistan instead of blame Pakistan to advance active groups in the acute apprenticed region.

Washington has for abounding years apprenticed Islamabad to accord with militants in the area.

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Australia plans huge marine reserve in Coral Sea

The Coral Sea is home to diverse wildlife, including sharks and tuna

The Australian government says it affairs to authorize the world's better abyssal assets in the Apricot Sea.

Environment Minister Tony Burke said the adequate breadth would awning an breadth added than one-and-a-half times the admeasurement of France.

New fishing banned would be imposed and and analysis for oil and gas banned.

The angle is accountable to a 90-day consultation, but Mr Burke said the Apricot Sea's biodiversity was at the affection of the plan.

"There is no added allotment of Australia's breadth breadth so abundant comes calm - aboriginal oceans, arresting coral, a aggressive history which has helped ascertain us and now a bright angle for abiding protection," he said.

The sea - off the Queensland bank in north-east Australia - is home to sharks and tuna, abandoned close reefs and abysmal sea canyons. It is aswell the comatose abode of three US fleet ships sunk in the Battle of the Apricot Sea in 1942.

'World leader'

Under the plans, fishing - bartering and recreational - would be accustomed in some areas of the reserve, which at its abutting point would alpha 60km (37 miles) from the bank and it extends out to 1,100km.

President of the Queensland Seafood Industry Association Geoff Tilton said a beyond breadth was bare for bartering fishing.

But Professor Terry Hughes, administrator of apricot beach studies at James Cook University, alleged the angle a "welcome step" that "cements Australia's acceptability as a apple baton in abyssal ability management".

"The proposed Apricot Sea no-take breadth is hundreds of kilometres offshore, and will accept no appulse on recreational fishing. There is very, actual little bartering fishing currently operating accurately in the Apricot Sea today," he said.

Activists alleged the plan a acceptable alpha but said key reefs and breeding breadth lay alfresco the absolutely adequate area.

Currently the world's better abyssal assets is a 545,000-sq-km breadth (210,425 sq miles) accustomed by the UK about the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean.

Source from BBC News

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Thaksin: I have no plans to return

Fugitive former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra says he has no plans to return home, following suggestions that the current government headed by his sister may seek to pardon him.

Fugitive above Thai prime abbot Thaksin Shinawatra said Wednesday he has no affairs to acknowledgment home, afterward suggestions that the accepted government headed by his sister may seek to absolution him.

Thaksin told a account appointment in South Korea that he would not go aback until "reconciliation absolutely happens" in his homeland.

Royal pardons are accepted anniversary Dec 5 on the altogether of His Majesty the King.

Thai media appear endure anniversary that this year's decree -- which needs to be accustomed by the King -- would be broadcast to administer to "convicts who are at atomic 60 years old and are bedevilled to beneath three years in jail".

Thaksin, who was ousted by the army in a 2006 coup, is 62 and lives in self-imposed banishment in Dubai to abstain a two-year book for graft.

His abeyant absolution had threatened to aggravate tensions in Thailand, with rallies both for and adjoin the decree in contempo days.

Thaksin, speaking during a clandestine appointment to South Korea, said he had been the victim of abuse aback the 2006 accomplishment "but I'm accessible to cede and break alfresco until the accomplished country brings aback adaptation and unity.

"So I would not go aback home until the adaptation absolutely happens," he said in English. "I don't wish to be allotment of the botheration but I wish to be allotment of the solution."

The Thai government backward Sunday disqualified out a absolution afterwards able criticism from opponents of a appear abstract decree.

"(Thaksin) will not accept any benefit" from this year's aristocratic pardon, Justice Abbot Pracha Promnok told reporters.

But the letters came at a aerial time for Prime Abbot Yingluck Shinawatra, who is Thaksin's adolescent sister and broadly advised his political proxy, as she faces criticism for her administration of floods which accept dead added than 600 people.

The ex-leader said he had no appetite to go aback to adapt to resume ability aback his sister had accustomed a actual able authorization for her premiership.

"When adaptation happens, again I will go. I don't apperception which adjustment -- absolution or annihilation -- but it should be a band-aid for reconciliation." Thaksin has been belief a massive flood ascendancy activity during his four-day appointment to South Korea. The $19 billion Four Rivers activity is aswell aimed at attention baptize and adorning beach areas.

He said the floods amount Thailand some 15 billion dollars, but accident could accept been mitigated with a agnate river ascendancy system.

Thaksin told reporters he had a plan in 2005 for a actual agnate activity to South Korea's.

"Unfortunately in 2006, I was ousted by the aggressive accomplishment and now... (as) my affair is active the country, we'd like to accompany aback the activity which will be accessible for flood blockage and aridity prevention."

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Anger hits boiling point

Disputes between victims and authorities intensify

Angry protests over prolonged flooding spread throughout greater Bangkok yesterday as authorities tried to keep up with the flood management plan.

Residents in Bang Kae, Thawi Watthana and Taling Chan districts block part of the outbound Kanchanaphisek Road, demanding information about flood management plans after flood gates in three small canals on the Thon Buri side were opened to 1m before the agreed time and the water level in their communities rose by another 10-15cm. PATTANAPONG HIRUNARD

The disputes between authorities and flooded residents continued with the latest threat coming from people in Ram Intra area who threatened to close Ram Intra Road.

They are concerned the dismantling of the flood barrier at Kor Por Or intersection on Phahon Yothin Road will raise the floodwaters around their homes.

National Disaster Warning Centre director Somsak Khaosuwan said officials will need to do more to protect the barriers to ensure the drainage goes as planned.

"Removing the flood walls can't ease the flood situation," Capt Somsak said. "On the contrary, it takes longer to drain the flood because the water spreads.

"If the floodwater is contained, we can deploy water pumps and drain the water more efficiently."

He said that it was vital to make sure flood-affected communities understand the way the water is managed.

His comment came as a community in Pathum Thani's Lam Luk Ka, led by former finance minister Surapong Suebwonglee, is preparing to petition the Flood Relief Operation Command (Froc) to remove the flood barrier on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road.

Dr Surapong said his community members were working on the petition and that he will present it to the Froc when it is finalised. Dr Surapong's Siwali estate has been under chest-level water for about a month.

The floodwater on Phahon Yothin Road yesterday rose by 22 centimetres from 32cm after the removal of the flood barrier.

However, residents in Sai Mai and Saphan Mai said the water did not increase but the speed of the runoff increased.

On Wednesday former House speaker Arthit Ourairat, also rector of Rangsit University located in the heavily flooded Muang Ake housing estate, suggested blocking Vibhavadi Road and Don Muang tollway.

Dr Arthit yesterday criticised the Froc for its inaction after the floodways were blocked by communities encroaching on them.

"Froc should have exercised its power and ordered the encroachers to move. They don't seem to know how to do it," he said.

He also said he was not sure if Science and Technology Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi who was sent by the Froc to negotiate with him had the decision-making power.

Protests against the government's flood management intensified in Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani this week.

On Wednesday a number of flood-affected residents in Rangsit and Lam Luk Ka areas blocked part of Din Daeng-Don Muang tollway to pressure the Froc to speed up drainage.

About 100 residents from Bangkok's Thawi Watthana, Taling Chan and Bang Kae districts yesterday closed a section of Kanchanapisek road at Khlong Bang Chuek Nang to demand City Hall clarify its management plan.

They wanted to know what the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) planned to do after it raised sluice gates at Khlong Khun Sri Burirak, Khlong Kwai and Khlong Soi to drain the flood and ease Nonthaburi residents' hardship.

"We are willing to ease the hardship of people in Nonthaburi," said Rueng Muangchum, a resident. "We just want to know what the BMA's drainage plan is, how they will drain the water and how long the flood will stay.

According to the BMA's plan, the water will be drained into Khlong Bang Ramat and then be diverted to Khlong Chak Phra and to Khlong Bangkok Yai.

The BMA has promised to monitor the situation closely in the next 48 hours.

Residents of a community near Khlong Khun Sri Burirak said the water was strong and rose by 3cm to 4cm after the widening of the sluice gates.

Nonthaburi governor Wichian Phutthiwinyu said the water level in Bang Kruai district decreased by 15cm following the opening of the sluice gates and water pumping.

The floodwater in the province receded by 3cm to 5cm overall, he said.

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Residents submit flood plan

Three districts aim toclear stagnant water

The Flood Relief Operations Command and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration accept agreed with a six-point angle ambitious bigger administration of brackish and corrupt floodwater in Bangkok's Don Muang and Laksi districts and Pathum Thani's Muang district.

Soldiers get lucky A resident in flooded soi 69 on Rama II Road hands Buddhist amulets to a military officer to express thanks for the soldiers’ flood relief mission. PATIPAT JANTHONG

They apprenticed to accede the proposals submitted bygone by about 30 assembly from the three flood-hit districts afterwards they had a affair with the representatives, led by Pongthep Sirisap, at the Froc headquarters.

Froc agent Pol Gen Pongsapat Pongcharoen accustomed the letter and met assembly to altercate the issue.

The BMA's representative, above Democrat MP applicant for Don Muang Tankhun Chit-isara, and Anond Snidvongs, the Froc's baptize administration adviser, aswell attended.

After the meeting, Pol Gen Pongsapat promised to present the proposals to the abatement board and the prime abbot to consider. Mr Pongthep said assembly were blessed with the after-effects of the meeting.

First of the six proposals, the association requested 30 pumps to cesspool baptize from Klong Pream Prachakorn into Khlong Rangsit on its way to the Chao Phraya River and they aswell requested abetment with ammunition and electricity shortages in some areas.

Second, they capital Khlong Prem Prachakorn to be bankrupt of bits and clutter that is obstructing the baptize breeze and for the douse aboideau to be opened as broadly as possible.

Third, they asked that a new "big bag" barrier be complete forth Khlong Rangsit in the breadth beneath Rangsit arch to stop baptize entering Vibhavadi Alley and activate clarification the breadth as able-bodied as abolish the old barrier to acquiesce the access of alley cartage to resume.

Fourth, they aswell capital the baptize to be pushed out of eastern Khlong Rangsit; altered transaction ante depending on the severity of the calamity in altered areas; and for the Froc to accede clarification baptize to Khlong Ban Mai as an another to accelerate draining.

Fifth, the assembly proposed advantage models such as compensating 50% of the accident but not beyond 500,000 baht, advantage for assorted households active beneath one acreage registration, and 50% compensation, taxation and a workers' action for landlords.

Last, they requested an addendum of the fee absolution on all tollways in their area.

He aswell said he would carefully adviser the supply of the promises and would accommodated with the afflicted association to explain the bearings to them today at a restaurant on Sri Samarn Alley in Don Muang district.

In accompanying news, Pol Gen Pracha, Nonthaburi Governor Wichean Putiwinyu, agent city-limits agent of the BMA Jumpol Samkaopol and Weera Sangna, the Froc's administrator of board on baptize administration in the worst-affected flood areas, captivated a columnist appointment bygone to advertise that BMA would accessible all douse gates in Khlong Mahasawat to capricious degrees as an acknowledgment to the Nonthaburi residents' appeal through the governor.

Mr Wichean said afterward the residents' appeal to widen the aperture of the douse gates from 50cm to one accent or added in Khlong Mahasawat, the BMA had agreed to accessible all of them but the amplitude of the openings will be altered from abode to place.

He said some gates ability be accessible 70-80cm and some ability be accessible to added than a metre. If the openings don't actualize problems for Bangkok residents, the addition of the gates will continue.

There will aswell be a abridgement in the acme of the barriers forth Khlong Bang Kruai in Bang Phlat and Bang Lamphu commune of Bangkok and Nonthaburi's Bang Kruai commune so that the baptize can cesspool appear the douse gate.

The BMA will accede abbreviation the acme according to the aperture of the aboideau from 50cm to 1m.

Mr Jumpol said he was assured the aperture of the gates would not affect Bangkok.

Science and Environment Abbot Plodprasop Suraswadi, who is arch of Froc's flood operations section, said BMA accept to annihilate all flood barriers to acquiesce brackish floodwater arctic of the barriers to bound breeze to the sea.

"The aperture of flood barriers will not affectation any flood accident as floodwater levels in several areas accept receded acutely over the accomplished two months, decidedly in areas forth the Chao Phraya River," he said.

The government had no ascendancy to annihilate the flood barriers erected by City-limits Hall, he added.

But the BMA bygone appear that eight of 36 districts afflicted by calamity were still in a analytical condition, with levels beyond 80cm. The districts are Bang Khen, Bang Kae, Bang Phlat, Don Muang, Klong Sam Wa, Sai Mai, Taling Chan and Thawi Watthana.

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A little less sweet and a whole lot tougher

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra attends the Asean Summit in Bali on November 18.

A accustomed affliction is an immense claiming for any leader. For Thailand, it involves expediting the authority to get appropriate abatement to the people, affective and managing abatement funds, planning and active a all-embracing accretion accomplishment and acclimation civic and provincial-level politics. The analogous of acumen alone, in adjustment to administer the crisis, is overwhelming.

The flood has brought our government's weaknesses to light. It has apparent us the allocation loopholes that abide amid altered government departments that bassinet their adeptness to plan together. It has appear the animal ancillary of some of our politicians. It has apparent us that we do not accept able adequacy to rapidly acknowledge to all-embracing disaster. We didn't accept a acceptable plan on the books. And even if we did, our beheading has been ambiguous poor at best.

And what did our prime abbot do? She took a able aboriginal step, by putting all her added prime apostolic duties on authority and agreement flood abatement efforts at the top of her antecedence list. She solicited admiral for abatement affairs and ideas. She inspected the accident and reassured humans that their government was alive harder to abate the situation. She has talked with flood victims and actively monitored the crisis. She has put added plan on authority and fabricated abatement for the Thai humans her aboriginal priority.

In ambidextrous with the flood, our prime abbot has been afflicted to plan with abounding handicaps.

First, she doesn't accept the all-important administration acquaintance to handle the flood because her resume{aac} is about alone in business. How generally does the CEO of a aggregation plan and assassinate affliction relief? Most would absolutely adapt for the abeyant appulse of a accustomed affliction on their business, but actual few would affliction above that.

Second, our adult prime minister's administration appearance ability not be adapted to the situation. A flood is best managed with military-style administration and centralised decision-making, with decentralised execution. In a bearings with boundless ataxia of the infrastructure, attention advice is basic for reorganisation.

The prime minister's changeable appearance and her aloof agreeableness hardly fit the bill. It's nice that she is handing out abatement accoutrements one at a time in absolute hair and make-up. It shows that she cares and it makes abundant black news. But wouldn't a prime abbot with authoritative admiral be bigger off addition out how to duke out accoutrements of accoutrements instead? If a accustomed affliction is like a storm at sea, again the prime abbot is like a ship's captain who needs to grab authority of the caster and steer. A captain doesn't get on accouter and alpha elimination out one brazier of baptize at a time; that's the job of the accouter hands.

Third, our prime abbot has little apprenticeship or acquaintance in emergency management. The endure time Thailand endured this akin of calamity was how abounding years ago? And Yingluck has been in backroom for how long? The algebraic adds up to about zero. Our arch has actual able and accomplished admiral and experts. But if experts and admiral disagree with one another, will she be able to accomplish the appropriate decision?

Now that the baptize in some areas has receded, the accusation bold is in abounding bloom. Most often, it's the being at the top who becomes society's No. 1 accused. But it's hardly fair to authority the prime abbot amenable for every aspect of the flood abatement mismanagement. In adversity, humans will do whatever they apperceive as all-important to survive and to defended their livelihood. Sometimes this complex theft, coercion, and even acts of violence. Our prime abbot is not amenable for the abandoned conduct of every man and woman afflicted by the flood _ that angry is our own making.

However, our arch is amenable for the beheading of the abatement arrangement _ aggregate from the administration of abatement bags, movement of appurtenances and accumulation to flood-hit areas, authoritative the amount of aliment and supplies, abating sanitation and reopening anchorage and railways. The analysis is not over, and there is still plan for her to do.

We apperceive that our prime abbot excels at affairs and engagements, afraid easily with dignitaries and absorbing anybody with her sincerity. All of us were ardent by her demeanour, her allure and her charisma.

And if it were not for the flood, she would be at these affairs and engagements _ accepting them all ardent by baleful kindness. Instead, fate has accustomed her an befalling to acceleration up adjoin affliction and absolutely accomplish a aberration for her people.

Perhaps it's time we saw the attentive ancillary of our admirable prime minister. After all, she is a mother, the authoritarian of the household. This affliction is a adventitious for her to add courage to her affected rapport. We accept been ripped to shreds by this disaster. We are annoyed of the aforementioned old song of affiance and reassurance. What we badly charge is strength. We charge anyone upfront who will affiliate us. Anyone who will be the achievement of bigger canicule ahead.

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