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BANGKOK, Feb 26 (Reuters) – Judges reading a lengthy verdict on whether to seize $2.3 billion of ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra family’s assets said on Friday his policies benefited his family business, raising the likelihood his money will be confiscated.

Authorities say major violence is unlikely but have mobilised thousands of police and troops to pre-empt any backlash by supporters of the 60-year-old fugitive at the centre of a 5-year political crisis in Southeast Asia’s second-biggest economy.

Analysts expect the nine-judge Supreme Court to either seize all of the frozen wealth or to allow Thaksin to keep a portion of the assets. The latter scenario is seen as more favourable for markets in the short-run as it lessens the risk of an imminent showdown in Thailand’s divisive colour-coded crisis.

“The partial seizure of the assets should be what financial markets prefer because both sides can claim victory,” said Prapas Tonpibulsak, chief investment officer at Ayudhya Fund Management.

(For possible market reactions click on [ID:nSGE61I05K])

Prosecutors say Thaksin and his former wife, Potjaman na Pombejra, concealed ownership of shares in his family business Shin Corp SHIN.BK while in office from 2001 to 2006, and that he abused power by tailoring policies to benefit the company.

Thaksin, ousted in a 2006 coup and convicted in absentia of graft, has denied the charges from self-imposed exile in Dubai.

One judge said a Thaksin-era government policy to convert part of a telecommunications concessions fee into an excise tax “favoured Shin Corp at the expense of the state”.

A judge also said Thaksin concealed his ownership of stock in Shin Corp, an argument seen as a main precondition for deciding there was a conflict of interest in government policies benefiting Shin Corp, a major telecommunications business.

“The way it’s going, it looks highly likely he will have the whole lot confiscated and he’ll not get anything back,” said Jade Donavanik, dean of the faculty of law at Siam University.

“The judge has repeatedly said the stock was Thaksin’s property. Him concealing assets is the entire foundation of this case, so it’s likely they’ll take it all.”

A final ruling on whether to confiscate any or all of the assets was due later on Friday. Thailand’s stock market reopens on Tuesday after a long weekend holiday.

Some analysts say a court verdict unfavourable to Thaksin, could add weight to allegations he is the victim of a political vendetta and may spark an angry response from supporters.

‘JUDGMENT DAY’

Security was tight around Bangkok’s Supreme Court on what has become known as “Judgment Day”, with cellphone signals jammed to prevent remote-detonated bombings and judges ferried to the courthouse, some from safe houses, in bullet-proof cars.

Six-hundred police guarded the court. Security agencies said thousands of riot troops were on standby in case of unrest.

Political uncertainty has subdued Thailand’s benchmark index .SETI in recent weeks, with many traders waiting to see what the ruling will bring. But foreign investors were net buyers for four straight days this week, drawn to bargains in Thailand where stocks are trading at just 10.6 times forecast 2011 earnings, Asia’s cheapest after Pakistan, Thomson Reuters data shows.

The pro-Thaksin “red shirt” movement, which last April forced a regional summit to be abandoned and staged demonstrations that sparked Thailand’s worst street violence in 17 years, plans a mass rally in Bangkok on March 14 but says it will not protest on Friday whatever the verdict. [ID:nSGE61N09L]

The delay was widely seen as a move to distance the movement from any groups that might seek to stir up trouble. A splinter pro-Thaksin group, “Red Siam”, rallied close to the court on Friday, but has vowed to remain peaceful.

The “red shirts” accuse authorities of playing up the risk of unrest. Security agencies have said they are most concerned outside agitators, or a “third hand”, will trigger violence.

The twice-elected Thaksin says he will fight any seizure of the assets from exile.

(For a related analysis click on [ID:nSGE61I095]; and for a factbox on the case click [ID:nSGE61M019])

Although the verdict will turn a new page in an intractable political crisis that has alarmed many investors, few believe it will provide any hope of a long-term resolution. 
 
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Christine Pratt, founder of the National Bullying Hotline, claimed the charity had received “three or four” calls in recent months from staff in the Prime Minister’s office.

She said she had personally spoken to at least one of the callers, who complained of a “bullying culture” at Downing Street and of the “stress” it caused.

Mrs Pratt added that she was “appalled” by No 10’s “outright denial” of the allegations and insisted they should be investigated as the Government’s attempt to dismiss the claims would only “compound the stress of those who believe they are being bullied”.

Her extraordinary intervention came after senior ministers tried to counter damaging allegations about Mr Brown’s behaviour and treatment of his staff in a new book.

The book, by the respected a political commentator Andrew Rawnsley, suggested that the Prime Minister’s volatile temper, his allegedly foul-mouthed abuse of staff and outbreaks of physical violence had left No 10 civil servants and aides suffering a culture of fear and intimidation.

Lord Mandelson, the Business Secretary, led the Downing Street attempt to rebuff the allegations. He insisted that the Prime Minister was not a bully, and that he was only “inpatient” and “demanding” of his staff.

However, the public relations counter-offensive was derailed by Mrs Pratt, who disclosed that several Downing Street staff had sought confidential help from her charity.

The Conservatives said the disclosure suggested a “Government cover-up” over Mr Brown’s behaviour.

The row comes only days after Mr Brown attempted to make his character an asset in the general election with an emotional ITV interview, in which he discussed his children and his marriage at length.

It also overshadows the launch of Labour’s general election campaign on Saturday, where Mr Brown had asked voters to “take a second look” at him and his party.

In denying the bullying claims yesterday, ministers attempted to make a virtue of the Prime Minister’s personality, but Mrs Pratt undermined that strategy when she claimed she had personally spoken to No 10 staff about bullying in his office.

“Staff in his office, working directly with him, have issues and have concerns and have contacted our helpline,” she said. “Some have downloaded information; some have actually called our helpline directly and I have spoken to staff in his office.”

She added: “I have personally taken a call from staff in the Prime Minister’s office, staff who believe they are working in a bullying culture and that it has caused them some stress.

“We would have hoped Gordon Brown would lead by example. If an employer receives complaints they should investigate.

“I am not saying Gordon Brown is a bully, I am not a judge. But I am appalled at the outright denial that is going on without due process being followed.”

In all, there had been “three or four” calls from No 10 staff to the helpline, she said.

Mrs Pratt later told The Daily Telegraph that by dismissing the reports of bullying, No 10 could be breaching employment law.

“If an employer receives any allegation that there is a culture of bullying or stress, they have a legal obligation to investigate, a duty of care to employees. It appears that due process is not being followed here,” she explained.

A Downing Street spokesman was unable to comment last night on a separate report that one member of the Downing Street staff was currently on stress-related sick leave.

Many of yesterday’s revelations about Mr Brown’s behaviour had been rumoured at Westminster for several years, but they were formally published for the first time in a book by Mr Rawnsley, serialised in a Sunday newspaper.

The book alleged that on several occasions, Mr Brown’s anger had led to physical violence against Downing Street staff.

The book also claimed that Mr Brown’s treatment of Downing Street officials was so bad that Sir Gus O’Donnell, the head of the Civil Service, felt moved to investigate the concerns of staff members.

It was reported that having heard from several “frightened” and “bruised” officials, Sir Gus privately raised Mr Brown’s conduct with the Prime Minister, telling him: “This is no way to get things done.” Mr Rawnsley said he based his report on the eyewitness accounts of many officials and politicians.

No 10 denied there had been any incidents of violence against staff and described the allegations as “malicious.”

However, it did not challenge the wider picture of Mr Brown’s character and temperament.

Ministers said Mr Brown’s occasional outbursts and impatience were merely proof of his driven nature and his determination to do a good job.

Lord Mandelson said of the Prime Minister: “He does not like taking no for an answer from anyone. He will go on and on until he’s got a policy or an idea in the best possible form. Yes there is there is a degree of impatience about the man.” But he insisted: “He doesn’t bully people”.

In a statement last night, No 10 said: “At no time has the National Bullying Helpline contacted No 10 about these allegations. We have rigorous, well established procedures in place to allow any member of staff address any concerns over inappropriate treatment or behaviour. The Civil Service will continue to have a no tolerance policy on bullying.”

Downing Street aides questioned the credibility of Mrs Pratt, suggesting her group was a “Tory front group.”

Ann Widdecombe, a Tory backbencher, is a patron of the charity, and its Reading office is in the same business park as a local Conservative association.

However, Mrs Pratt last night denied any connection to the Conservatives. “We are non-political, I am non-political,” she said.

The Conservatives seized on the charity’s disclosures. A Tory spokesman said: “This development suggests that there could be a cover-up at the heart of government over the prime minister’s behaviour.”

In a statement last night, the Cabinet Office also contradicted the claim’s in Mr Rawnsley’s book about Sir Gus.

A spokesman said: “It is completely untrue that the Cabinet Secretary ever gave the Prime Minister a verbal warning about his behaviour.”

The book also recounts efforts by Mr Brown’s aides to undermine Alistair Darling, the Chancellor, and allow the Prime Minister to replace him with Ed Balls, a long-standing ally.

Maggie Darling, the chancellor’s wife, was quoted as saying Mr Brown’s team were trying to “stitch up” Mr Darling. The Chancellor himself was reported to have confronted Mr Brown over media briefings against him.

William Hague, the shadow foreign secretary, said the allegations “raise questions about the Prime Minister’s judgment and behaviour” and proved Mr Brown was “not cut out” for the job.

Mr Hague said: “I don’t think he has ever shown that he can lead a happy team and a successful team. That is one of the reasons he has struggled.”

He added: “The people who work in Number 10 or at the top of other government departments work round the clock, they are very hard working and dedicated and not very highly paid considering their hours and their responsibilities,”

“They are entitled to expect the highest standards of behaviour and courtesy and politeness from the ministers and the prime minister they serve.”

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When it comes to ugg boots, there seems to be three kinds of people. Those who love ugg boots, those who hate ugg boots, and those who just aren’t sure what UGG boots on sale are — but, when they find out, they’ll fall into one of the first two categories.

So, first, let’s address those of you who don’t yet know what an ugg boot is. Care and wear tips will follow.

Popular ugg boots - What Are They?
Traditionally, the term “ugg boot” referred to a style of Australian boot made with sheepskin.

During World War I, pilots wore a fleece-lined “FUG” (flying ugg) boot, and a type of ugg boot was also worn in Australia as early as the 1930s by farmers wanting to keep their feet warm. In the 1960s Australian surfers would put on ugg boots to warm their feet after coming in from riding the waves, and people in Australia would often wear ugg boots around the house during the mild winters.

While several Australian companies still manufacture these boots, “UGG” is also a trademark of the boots manufactured by a U.S. company, “UGG Australia.” So many of those Australian manufacturers now are marketing what were formally known as “ugg boots” as “Australian sheepskin boots.”

Whether you call them “sheepskin boots” or “ugg boots,” they are incredibly warm, and soft, and have become a major hit with celebrities and trendsetters alike over the past couple of years. Oprah, Paris Hilton, and several other celebrities are acknowledged fans of ugg boots.
Where the Name “Ugg Boots” Originated
Legend has it that “ugg” is short for “ugly” – so, “ugg boots” apparently meant “ugly boots.” For decades, “ugg” was generic term used for sheepskin boots made in Australia. The word was so commonplace that it was found in Australian dictionaries, and ugg boots were also known as “ug” or “ugh” boots.

But in the United States, when people refer to “UGG boots,” they’re usually talking about the boots made by Deckers Outdoor Corporation, the parent company of “UGG Australia.”

So if you’re traveling the world and talking about footwear, it’s good to know that when the term “ugg boot” is used, it could be referring to an Australian-made sheepskin boot, or a popular brand name boot.
Styles of Sheepskin and Ugg Boots
Sheepskin and ugg boots are available in short and tall styles. Women’s ugg boots and sheepskin boots are available in colors from pink and purple, to tan and brown, while men’s are available in the more neutral colors. Some have chunky heels and laces, while others are flat-heeled slip-ons.
When to Wear Sheepskin or Ugg Boots
Sheepskin and ugg boots are a casual type of boot. Ugg boots are exceptionally warm and are great for cold weather (up to -30 degrees Fahrenheit) – however, they should not be worn in excessively muddy or wet conditions. If you are looking for warmth while trudging around the house or the city, a sheepskin or ugg boot will be ideal, but if you need a boot for more severe winter weather conditions, you might want to try a pair of snow boots instead.
What to Wear with Sheepskin or Ugg Boots
For girls and women, ugg boots look fantastic with tight-legged jeans tucked into them, or with short skirts paired with opaque tights or bare legs. For guys, ugg boots work great with jeans, and give a very casual, or rugged look, depending on the jeans or the shirt you wear with your ugg boots. The warmth of a sheepskin or ugg boot means they can be worn without socks or hose, even in some of the coldest conditions.
How to Care for Sheepskin or Ugg Boots
For general cleaning tips, you can have a look at this How to Clean UGG Boots video.

To be on the safe side, also check with the manufacturer or retailer where you bought the boots for their specific instructions. If you have any questions, ask them before you take steps to clean your boots.

Some makers of sheepskin and ugg boots also offer products made specifically for cleaning, protecting and conditioning Original UGG Boots. It is recommended that you find the manufacturer-recommended products for protecting your UGG classic cardy boots, as alternative products could damage them.