Thaksin to call supporters at Bangkok rally

Ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will give a phone call message Saturday evening at a rally of supporters of his political party in Bangkok.

Opposition to the current government claims that current Prime Minster Somchai Wongsawat is simply a proxy of Thaksin. Somchai is Thaksin's brother-in-law.

The political conflict involves Thaksin's mostly poor and rural supporters opposed by the educated urban elite.

Thailand braces for phone call from ousted PM The Associated Press - 4 hours ago BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - Thailand's military and police were on alert Saturday as the country braced for fugitive former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to speak by telephone at a rally that many fear could spark more political violence. Thousands join Thai anti-coup rally to hear Thaksin Reuters India Thailand's Thaksin to Phone In to Bangkok Stadium Rally Tonight Bloomberg

Marc Faber: Fed and Treasury will prop stock prices

Marc Faber speaks on Bloomberg TV on Ben Bernanke's strategy of pumping more money into the credit system.

He says that Bernanke and Paulson are mainly interested in propping up stock market asset prices and thus will support a three to six month rally in equities. This will eventually result in soaring worldwide inflation in his view.

Inflation may be held in check now by low commodity and especially oil prices; deleveraging and falling real estate prices, but the intervention and injection of money will eventually inflate prices.

Japan unveils $277 billion stimulus package

Japan announced a 27 trillion yen (US $277 billion) economic stimulus plan on Thursday that includes $50 billion in new spending.

Last August, Tokyo approved a $12 trillion yen stimulus package.

The new plan is a major expenditure for the government. For example, Bush's stimulus plan earlier this year totaled only $168 billion although the United States has a population of 301 million compared to Japan's 127 million.

Most of the new Japanese package will consist of tax breaks for individuals and businesses.

rate cut (AFP)

Japan unveils stimulus package, stock soar after US rate cut (AFP)

BBC News
Japan unveils $270 billion stimulus package
MarketWatch - 3 hours ago
By Chris Oliver, MarketWatch HONG KONG (MarketWatch) -- Japan unveiled a 27 trillion yen ($270 billion) economic-stimulus package Thursday that includes 5 ...
Japan Offers Stimulus Package to Spur Its Economy New York Times
Japan announces $400b stimulus package ABC Online
Aso unveils Y26.9 tril new stimulus package to tackle crisis Japan Today