2011 Texas wildfires, Notable fires, Griffith League Scout Ranch Fire
The 5,000-acre ranch had already lost approximately 1,000 acres to fire on September 4 and 5. 350 acres had burned previously in a wildfire on August 21, 2010.


2011 Texas wildfires, Notable fires, Horseshoe Fire
On August 15, 2011, a wildfire broke out in central Leander, Texas. 189 homes in the surrounding area were immediately evacuated. The fire burned 30 acres in total and raced through a mobile-home neighborhood, destroying 15 homes and multiple vehicles. Since it broke out on Horseshoe Drive, it is known as the Horseshoe Fire. This was the first of two destructive fires Leander experienced within three weeks, the second being the Moonglow Fire.


2011 Texas wildfires, Notable fires, Iron Mountain Fire
The cause of the Iron Mountain Fire is unknown. The fire started on May 9 in Brewster County about 25 miles (40 km) east of Alpine eventually getting to within 10 miles (16 km) of the town. The fire burned over 89,400 acres (362 km2).


2011 Texas wildfires, Notable fires, Moonglow Fire
On September 5, a wildfire broke out in the Mason Creek North subdivision (on Moonglow Drive) in Leander. Police declared the cause to be arson. The fire destroyed 11 homes and damaged nine. The Moonglow fire was the second destructive wildfire Leander had experienced within three weeks, leading the Leander City Council to declare the city a disaster area shortly thereafter.


2011 Texas wildfires, Notable fires, Pedernales Bend Fire
The Pedernales Bend Fire (also known as the Spicewood fire and Pedernales Fire One) was a fire that began on September 4 near Lake Travis. Fanned by strong winds, the fire quickly grew, forcing residents in a 3 miles (4.8 km) radius of the fire to evacuate the area. By the end of the day, the fire was estimated to have engulfed 400 acres (1.6 km2). The next day, the fire already destroyed 20 homes and moved across the Pedernales River, continuing to burn in Hays County.


2011 Texas wildfires, Notable fires, Pedernales Bend Fire
Most of the fire moved to the west of the river, where it destroyed an additional 65 structures and engulfed a total of 6,400 acres (26 km2). The fire also cut power from 545 homes. However, the growing fire slowed down as it was quickly contained, and on September 7, the fire was completely contained. In total, 65 structures were destroyed, including 34 homes. The fire burned 6,400 acres (26 km2) in total.


2011 Texas wildfires, Notable fires, Possum Kingdom Complex
The Possum Kingdom Complex is a grouping of four wildfires that has consumed about 148,000 acres (600 km2) in Stephens, Young and Palo Pinto counties. The complex consists of the Possum Kingdom West Fire (90,000 acres), Possum Kingdom East Fire 11,000 acres (45 km2), Hohertz Fire 40,000 acres (160 km2) and Jackson Ranch Fire 7,000 acres (28 km2). The fire destroyed 166 homes and two churches. 600 more homes were threatened. Possum Kingdom State Park was closed on April 15. Ninety percent of the park was involved in the fire. 450 firefighters, three helitankers and three helicopters fought the fire along a 270-mile (430 km) fire line.


2011 Texas wildfires, Notable fires, Possum Kingdom Complex
On August 30, 2011, another outbreak of wildfires ravaged the Possum Kingdom Lake area, continuing well into September and destroying 39 homes by the time of containment.


2011 Texas wildfires, Notable fires, Riley Road Fire
The Riley Road Fire started on September 5 in Grimes County and quickly spread South with the aid of high winds crossing over into Waller County. Within three days, the fire had scorched at least 12,500 acres and destroyed over 100 homes in Grimes, Montgomery and Waller counties. By September 10, the fire had been 100% contained and burned out with no further damage.


2011 Texas wildfires, Notable fires, Rock House Fire
The Rock House Fire began on April 9 west of Marfa. An electrical short in an abandoned building is believed to have started the fire. The fire burned more than 314,444 acres (1,272.51 km2) across Presidio and Jeff Davis counties. The fire destroyed 24 homes and two businesses, and killed herds of cattle and 4 horses. On April 10, Davis Mountains State Park was closed indefinitely due to the proximity of the fire. The park was used as a staging and camping area for firefighters for the duration of the fire. Texas State Highway 118 was also closed at several times during the fire.


2011 Texas wildfires, Notable fires, Scenic Brook Fire
On the morning of April 17, Michael Weathers, a homeless man, started a campfire to cook his breakfast. He later left the campfire unattended, and the hot coals started a fire that spread into the Scenic Brook, Austin, Texas neighborhood in Austin. Two C-130 airplanes dispersed fire retardant chemicals. Police and EMS helicopters equipped with buckets dropped water on the blaze. The fire covered about 100 acres (0.40 km2), destroyed 11 homes and damaged 10 others. Weathers was arrested and charged with arson.


2011 Texas wildfires, Notable fires, Schwartz Fire
The Schwartz Fire started May 7 and the cause is still under investigation. Conditions optimal for wildfires were in place at the time of the fire with temperatures over 100 °F (38 °C), relative humidity values near 5 percent, and gusts as strong as 35 mph (56 km/h). The fire began 20 miles (32 km) east of Marathon in Brewster County and burned about 83,000 acres (340 km2). Two structures were directly threatened by the fire and another sixteen indirectly, but none structures were lost.


2011 Texas wildfires, Notable fires, Swenson Fire
Sparks from a cutting torch started the Swenson Fire on April 6 near Aspermont and burned 122,500 acres (496 km2) in King, Knox, and Stonewall counties but caused minimal structure damage. Two unoccupied houses were lost.


2011 Texas wildfires, Notable fires, White Hat Fire
The White Hat Fire was started during the morning hours of June 20 about 8.5 mi (13.7 km) west of Blackwell, Texas in Nolan County. Bulldozers, fire engines, and heavy tankers were sent to handle the fire. However, towards the end of the day, no containment of the fire was reported, and it had already destroyed 7 houses and had enlarged to a size greater than 20,000 acres (81 km2). Soon, residents east of the community of Maryneal would be evacuated.


2011 Texas wildfires, Notable fires, White Hat Fire
The next day, the fire continued to spread, reaching a size of 65,000 acres (260 km2) and burning down an additional 5 structures. 100 firefighters were sent to battle the flames. On June 22, progress was made and the fire was 50% contained. Due to lower winds the next day, the fire decreased and became 70% contained, but it had already burned 70,900 acres (287 km2) of land and charred 35 homes. The fire continued to decrease in size over the next days. On June 27, the fire was declared fully contained after burning 72,473 acres (293.29 km2).


2011 Texas wildfires, Notable fires, Wildcat Fire
The Wildcat Fire started on April 11 at approximately 0030 from a lightning strike in southern Coke County west of Robert Lee. The fire was held within a 30-acre area until approximately 1630 on April 14. A wind shift coupled with increased wind speeds and rough terrain, enabled the fire to breach established fire lines. Forty mph winds pushed the fire east, reaching TX Hwy 208, before shifting to the south. The flame front was estimated to move at 400 ft per minute. Winds later shifted and pushed fire south.


2011 Texas wildfires, Notable fires, Wildcat Fire
Local officials alerted residents of Grape Creek and Quail Valley, small communities north of San Angelo, to prepare for evacuation. By April 16, the winds again shifted and moved the fire north towards Robert Lee, forcing evacuations of the Edith community, and houses along both FM 2034 and Hwy 208 Texas State Highway 208. On April 17, Bronte was under a recommended evacuation, but the evacuation notice expired the same day. By April 18, the fire burned an estimated 100,000 acres (400 km2), with a 10% containment, then the same day a confirmed 30% containment was stated. On April 21, the fire was at 75% containment, after burning 159,308 acres (644.70 km2). Despite several structures being lost, mostly limited to outbuildings, isolated barns, and hunters' camps, the fire claimed only one unoccupied home.


2011 Texas wildfires, Wildfire summary
The following is a list of fires that burned more than 10,000 acres (4,000 ha), or produced significant structural damage or loss of life.


2011 Texas wildfires, Volunteers respond
Nearly 35,000 Texans are members of the state's 1,497 fully volunteer fire departments (VFDs) and 292 combined volunteer and paid departments. Those combination departments have about 6,200 paid firefighters, while the state's 139 fully paid departments have more than 19,500 firefighters primarily focused on protecting the state's municipalities, according to Texas Forest Service records. While some state and federal grant funding is available for fire departments, most fire protection is funded at a local level through taxation or donations.


2011 Thai Division 1 League
2011 Thai League Division 1 is the 14th season of the League since its establishment in 1997. It is the feeder league for the Thai Premier League. A total of 18 teams will compete in the league.


2011 Thai Division 1 League, League expansion
It was announced at the end of the 2010 season that the TPL would increase the number of teams for the start of the 2011 Thai Premier League season. Therefore, playoff games were arranged to promote more teams for the Regional League Division 2 and relegate less teams from the TPL. During these games, Nakhon Pathom were banned and therefore will fail to take their place in Division 1 for the next two seasons. This did mean that the league would only feature 17 teams for the season, but with less than 3 weeks before the start of the league campaign another round of playoffs was used to promote one more side, Saraburi.


2011 Thai Division 1 League, Attendance
Updated to games played on January 26, 2012Source: Notes:† Team played previous season in Regional League D2.‡ Team played previous season in Premier League.


2011 Thai FA Cup
The Thai FA Cup 2011 (Thai: มูลนิธิไทยคม เอฟเอคัพ) is the 16th season of Thailand knockout football competition. The tournament is organized by the Football Association of Thailand.


2011 Thai FA Cup
The cup winner were guaranteed a place in the 2012 AFC Champions League.


2011 Thai FA Cup, Quarter-Finals
∗The original schedule was January 4 but postponed due to weather condition (heavy rain).


2011 Thai FA Cup Final
The 2011 Thai FA Cup Final was the 16th final of the Thailand's domestic football cup competition, the FA Cup. The final was played at Suphachalasai Stadium in Bangkok on 11 January 2012. The match was contested by Muangthong United, who beat Songkhla 6–5 (PSO. ), (After Extra Time 2-2) in their semi-final, and Buriram PEA who beat Army United 2–0 in the match. The match was won by Buriram PEA, defeating Muangthong United 1–0 after extra time through a goal scored by Frank Acheampong.


2011 Thai FA Cup Final, Road to the final
Note: In all results below, the score of the finalist is given first (H: home; A: away; TPL: Clubs from Thai Premier League; D1: Clubs from Thai Division 1 League; D2: Clubs from Regional League Division 2).


2011 Thai House of Representatives
This is a list of Members of Parliament (MPs) elected for the 24th House of Representatives at 2011 general election.


2011 Thai House of Representatives
The list is arranged by electoral district. New MPs elected since the general election and changes in party allegiance are noted at the bottom of the page.


2011 Thai House of Representatives, Graphical representation of the House of Representatives
This is a comparison of the party strengths in the House of Representatives of Thailand:


2011 Thai House of Representatives, List of MPs elected in the general election
The following table is a list of MPs elected, ordered by constituency. As the constituency boundaries have changed, the "notional incumbent" column lists the party estimated to have won the seat at the 2007 election had that election been conducted under the new boundaries, rather than the member that actually held the seat.


2011 Thai League Cup
The Thai League Cup is a knock-out football tournament played in Thai sport. Some games are played as a single match, others are played as two-legged contests. The 2011 Thai League Cup kicked off on 18 May 2011 with the Bangkok & field regional qualifiers.


2011 Thai League Cup, Qualifying Rounds
This is the first edition of the competition and the qualifying round will be played in regions featuring clubs from the Regional League Division 2, had to compete in the qualifying rounds. it was divided into five groups by geographic region.


2011 Thai League Cup Qualifying Rounds
The 2011 Thai League Cup is the 2nd season of the longest-running Football Association of Thailand cup competition. 97 clubs were accepted for the competition, this is the first edition of the competition and the qualifying round will be played in regions featuring clubs from the Regional League Division 2. Tak , Mahasarakham United and Thanyaburi RA United have lucky of lotting to automatic qualify to First round.


2011 Thai League Cup Qualifying Rounds, Northern Region
The qualifying round will be played in regions featuring clubs from the 2011 Thai Division 2 League Northern Region(6 berth including Tak have lucky of lotting to automatic qualify to First round.)


2011 Thai League Cup Qualifying Rounds, North Eastern Region
The qualifying round will be played in regions featuring clubs from the 2011 Thai Division 2 League North Eastern Region(6 berth including Mahasarakham United have lucky of lotting to automatic qualify to First round.)


2011 Thai League Cup Qualifying Rounds, Central & Eastern Region
The qualifying round will be played in regions featuring clubs from the 2011 Thai Division 2 League Central & Eastern Region(6 berth )


2011 Thai League Cup Qualifying Rounds, Bangkok & field Region
The qualifying round will be played in regions featuring clubs from the 2011 Thai Division 2 League Bangkok & field Region(6 berth including Thanyaburi RA United have lucky of lotting to automatic qualify to First round.)


2011 Thai League Cup Qualifying Rounds, Southern Region
The qualifying round will be played in regions featuring clubs from the 2011 Thai Division 2 League Southern Region(4 berth )


2011 Thai Premier League
2011 Thai Premier League (known as Sponsor Thai Premier League for sponsorship reasons) was the 15th season of the Thai Premier League since its establishment in 1996. A total of 18 teams are competing in the league due to a two team expansion, with Muangthong United as the defending champions.


2011 Thai Premier League
The season started on 12 February 2011 and is generally broken down into 2 legs. The first leg being played from February to early June with the second leg taking place from late July to November.


2011 Thai Premier League
During the league break, the opening rounds of the FA Cup and League Cup take place.


2011 Thai Premier League, Teams
Bangkok United were relegated to the 2011 Thai Division 1 League after finishing the 2010 season in the bottom three places and lost in promotion/relegation play-off.


2011 Thai Premier League, Teams
2010 Thai Division 1 League champions Sriracha, runners-up Khonkaen and third place Chiangrai United were promoted to the Thai Premier League.


2011 Thai Premier League, Teams, Stadia and locations
Thai Army Sports Stadium (1 game)TOT Stadium Chaeng Watthana (2nd leg)


2011 Thai Premier League, Attendances
Updated to games played on January 28, 2011Source: Notes:† Team played previous season in Division 1 League.


2011 Thai Premier League, Champions
The league champion was Buriram PEA. It was the team's second title.


2011 Thai general election
Prawit Wongsuwan (PPRP)Wissanu Krea-ngamAnutin Charnvirakul (BJT)Jurin Laksanawisit (D)Don PramudwinaiSupattanapong Punmeechaow


2011 Thai general election
Borders : Cambodia Laos Malaysia Myanmar (Maritime : India Indonesia Vietnam)


2011 Thai general election
General elections were held in Thailand on 3 July 2011 to elect the 24th House of Representatives.


2011 Thai general election
The protestors of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) or "Red Shirts" who occupied downtown Bangkok in April and May 2010 had demanded new elections. The government's counter-proposal to hold elections on 14 November 2010 was rejected by them and was followed by a violent crackdown when the protestors refused to disperse. Elections were finally announced in May 2011.


2011 Thai general election
With a turnout of 75.03%, populist Pheu Thai Party won a majority with 265 seats. Its leader Yingluck Shinawatra became the first female prime minister in the history of Thailand. The Democrat Party therefore became the main opposition party with a total of 159 seats.


2011 Thai general election
The election results were acknowledged on 27 July, after the Election Commission dealt with a great number of objections over alleged irregularities. Reelections and recount were ordered to be held in several provinces, due to electoral fraud discovered by the commission. The first session of the National Assembly was convoked on Monday, 1 August at Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall and its state opening was held at the same time.


2011 Thai general election
Following the victory by Pheu Thai Party, several countries, including Germany and Japan, lifted the ban that had once been imposed upon Thaksin Shinawatra, a convicted felon in Thailand.


2011 Thai general election, Background
After the 2007 Thai general election, the People’s Power Party won a majority of seats in the parliament and became the leading party to set up the new government. Samak Sundaravej, party leader, became the 25th Prime Minister of Thailand. This election victory led to a series of political demonstrations by the royalist Peoples Alliance for Democracy ("Yellow Shirts").


2011 Thai general election, Background
On 2 December 2008, the People’s Power Party had been dissolved by the Constitutional Court over vote buying. The PPP's executive team was banned from politics for 5 years. After the party's dissolution, all of the party's members of parliament had to join another party if they wished to retain their seat. The majority of them transferred to the newly founded Pheu Thai Party. Some representatives defected to the Democrats, which enabled the Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva to be elected by parliament as prime minister.


2011 Thai general election, Background
The National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship ("Red Shirts") was a pressure group that opposed the Thai military's alleged influence in the formation of Abhisit's government. It promptly organised several rounds of protests and calls for general elections. Abhisit government finally ordered the military to crack down on the Red Shirts in 2009, resulting in several deaths and hundreds of injuries on both sides.


2011 Thai general election, Background
The Red Shirts launched a new round of protests in mid-2010, again demanding new elections. The 14 March protest, centered around Phan Fah bridge, were the largest in Thai history and were mostly peaceful. In April and May 2010 heavy Red Shirt protests led to violent clashes and the military cracked down on the protest camp in the heart of Bangkok from 13 to 19 May 2010.


2011 Thai general election, Background
Abhisit government's had passed several major amendments on electoral laws on 11 February 2011, transforming the constituency vote from multiple-seats-per-constituency to single-seat-per-constituency, reducing the number of constituency MPs, and increasing the proportional party list MPs. In the previous general elections in 2007, the Democrat Party had lost the constituency vote but won the proportional party list vote.


2011 Thai general election, Background
On 17 February 2011 Prime Minister Abhisit announced that parliament would be dissolved by June. On 11 March 2011, it was further announced that parliament would be dissolved by the first week of May 2011.


2011 Thai general election, Election date
Previously a proposal had made to hold the election on 14 November 2010, however, this was pushed back following a failure to come to agreement during the crisis.


2011 Thai general election, Election date
On 9 May, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva announced that he would dissolve the lower house of parliament to hold an election on 3 July. King Bhumibol Adulyadej signed a royal decree on the dissolution the same day. This motion followed a court ruling the same day that the recently approved electoral laws (to 2007 Constitution §§93–98 involving method of electing members of parliament) are constitutional. Had parliament been dissolved without the ruling, there would have been a possibility of challenging the election date.


2011 Thai general election, Parties
This election covered 375 single-member constituencies, and 125 under proportional party lists. After registration closed, party leaders participated in a random drawing of the number determining the order in which their parties appear on ballots, numbers which are also used in nationwide campaigning. Yingluck Shinawatra received a major psychological boost when her Pheu Thai party drew the number one; sitting Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's Democrat Party drew number ten.


2011 Thai general election, Campaign issues
After the drawing, the Election Commission of Thailand distributed handouts nationwide, listing all registered parties by number, name and logo; each party's list of candidates and party platform; modified for each district with campaign portraits of their candidates, again in numerical order. Local campaigners add party numbers to pre-printed campaign posters, or print new ones. In most cases, the numbers are in Red, but in the latter part of the campaign, the Democrat Party (10) changed theirs to Green.


2011 Thai general election, Campaign issues, Thaksin and the monarchy
The Democrat Party promised that with their rule all Thais would live "under the same sky" with all groups being served fairly, whereas a Pheu Thai victory would result in "mob rule" in which social division and violence would spread and some groups could stand above the law. Abhisit referred to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra as a poison that had to be detoxified. The Democrats have repeatedly accused Thaksin and the Pheu Thai Party of disloyalty to King Bhumibol.


2011 Thai general election, Campaign issues, Alliances
The parties Bhumjaithai and Chartthaipattana formed a pre-campaign electoral alliance pledging to support whichever party won. The parties were members of Abhisit's coalition.


2011 Thai general election, Campaign issues, Jailing of opposition leaders
Red Shirt leaders Jatuporn Prompan and Nisit Sinthuprai had been jailed for months on charges of violating national security and insulting King Bhumibol following the 2010 crackdown on the Red Shirts. They had been released on bail, but the bail was revoked immediately after Abhisit announced the 2011 elections. They were not allowed to vote in the elections.


2011 Thai general election, Campaign issues, Celebrities and political heirs
Abhisit unveiled a slate of candidates highlighted by 30 celebrities and heirs of political families, including Chitpas Bhirombhakdi, heiress of the Singha Beer fortune and former staff member of Abhisit's secretariat office. She had earlier resigned after she was caught handing out nude calendars to secretariat office staff.


2011 Thai general election, Campaign issues, Celebrities and political heirs
The Chartthaipattana fielded four sports celebrities as candidates: former national team football player Piyapong Pue-on, tennis player Paradorn Srichaphan, Olympic taekwondo bronze medallist Yaowapa Boorapolchai, and former rugby player Apirak Areemitr.


2011 Thai general election, Campaign issues, Minimum wage
Abhisit promised to increase the minimum wage by 25% if the Democrat Party won the election.


2011 Thai general election, Campaign issues, Minimum wage
The Pheu Thai Party promised to increase the minimum wage to 300 baht per day. Abhisit had promised to raise the minimum wage to 300 baht prior to the elections, but changed his mind after pressure from employers.


2011 Thai general election, Campaign issues, Angry Man
Rak Thailand Party of Chuwit Kamolvisit conducted a vigorous "Angry Man" campaign pledging to be in opposition to whichever party won.


2011 Thai general election, Campaign issues, NO campaign
For Heaven and Earth Party (political arm of the Santi Asoke Buddhist sect) supported the NO campaign of some PAD supporters, which featured proverbial animals in color-coded suits as non-human electoral candidates, most bearing the slogan: Don’t let animals enter parliament (อย่าปล่อยสัตว์เข้าสภา). Also prominent: Flee (หนี...) (blue-suited tiger) For (ปะ...) (red-suited crocodile). Chamlong Srimuang, a key supporter of the "vote-no" movement, did not vote "no" after all.


2011 Thai general election, Campaign issues, NO campaign
In fact, he did not vote at all; his and his wife’s names were not on the list of eligible voters as they had voted in advance in the previous election but did not realise that they had to inform election officials that they did not want to do so in this one.


2011 Thai general election, Campaign issues, Other
Other PAD supporters, however, formed the New Politics Party whose logo is a yellow sauwastika under a Trairanga rainbow.


2011 Thai general election, Opinion polling
Results of a Suan Dusit Rajabhat University poll (4–18 June): Pheu Thai 51.55%; Democrat 34.04%; Bhum Jai Thai 3.43%; Rak Prathet Thai 2.48%; Chart Thai Pattana 1.60%; against all 1.41%; undecided 2.38%


2011 Thai general election, Opinion polling
23–28 May: Pheu Thai 43.16%; Democrat 37.45%; Bhum Jai Thai 2.64%; Chart Thai Pattana 2.46%; Rak Prathet Thai 1.43%; others 4.42%; undecided 7.08; rest would not vote – Democrats strongest in Southern Region (65.89%), Pheu Thai in Northern (73.17%)


2011 Thai general election, Opinion polling
19–22 May: Pheu Thai 41.22%; Democrat 36.88%; Bhum Jai Thai 3.88%; Chart Thai Pattana 3.20%; Rak Prathet Thai 1.59%


2011 Thai general election, Conduct, Violence
Pracha Prasopdee, ex-MP for Samut Prakan Province who had won all five of the previous elections, was shot in the back on the night of 10 May. Pracha had been a member of the Thai Rak Thai, Peoples Power, and Pheu Thai parties.


2011 Thai general election, Conduct, Overseas and early voting
In this election more eligible voters turned up to vote. The number of Thais registered to vote from abroad is 147,330, the equivalent of just over half the population of Mae Hong Son Province and soared from 90,205 in 2008 – in Singapore the figure has surpassed 10,000 while in the United Kingdom the number has doubled from 2,296 to 4,775. Early voting arranged on Sunday (26 June 2011) only while prior elections arranged on Saturday and Sunday. Around 2.6 million people, including 1.07 million in Bangkok turned up to vote; however, many potential voters were unable to vote due to large crowds.


2011 Thai general election, Results
Exit polls indicated that Pheu Thai had won the election outright, winning a majority of seats.


2011 Thai general election, Results
According to preliminary results Pheu Thai won 265 seats (204 constituency-based + 61 party-list), Democrats 159 (115 + 44), Bhumjai Thai 34 (29 + 5), Chartthaipattana 19 (15 + 4), Palung Chon 7 (6 + 1), Chart Pattana Puea Pandin 7 (5 + 2), Love Thailand 4 (all party-list), Matubhum 2 (1 + 1), New Democrat 1 (party-list) and Mahachon one party-list seat. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has already conceded the victory of Puea Thai Party and congratulated Ms. Shinawatra as the designated Prime Minister.


2011 Thai general election, Results
According to preliminary figures from the Electoral Commission the voter turnout was at 65.99%.


2011 Thai general election, Results
Following the provisional results, Ms. Shinawatra said that "Puea Thai had already reached an agreement with one smaller party, Chart Thai Pattana, about joining a coalition, and was in negotiations with others."


2011 Thai general election, Aftermath, Acknowledgement of election result
After the election was held on 3 July, the next procedure is that the Election Commission acknowledges the election result within thirty days from the election date in order that Abhisit Vejjajaiva, Caretaker Prime Minister, would enact a royal decree convoking the House of Representatives to have the new President of the House, Vice President of the House and Prime Minister selected respectively, and the President of the House would then advice and consent the King to appoint a new Prime Minister according to the resolution of the House.


2011 Thai general election, Aftermath, Acknowledgement of election result
The Election Commission met to consider the election result in the afternoon of 12 July. The meeting was held until nightfall. More than fifty Red-Shirt members gathered in front of the Election Commission Office awaiting the outcome, with strict control of the police officers. That night, three hundred and fifty candidates were acknowledged by the Election Commission as the members of the House, but not including Yingluck Shinawatra, Abhisit Vejjajiva and Nattawut Saikua by cause of a great number of objections pending consideration. The remainders, that is, one hundred and forty two elected candidates, are to be acknowledged by 20 July, said the Election Commission. Yingluck described the postponement as part of a "normal process" for the commission.


2011 Thai general election, Aftermath, Acknowledgement of election result
On 19 July, both Yingluck and Abhisit were acknowledged as the members of the House. On 27 July, the acknowledgement extended to further ninety four elected candidates. Now and eventually, the number acknowledged sufficed to constitute the House. This, however, did not include Jatuporn Prompan whom the Election Commission declared to have lost the suffrage due to failure to vote in both the previous and the present elections. The Constitution requires that a member of the House must possess the suffrage, and also prescribes that a person failing to vote in an election loses the suffrage but regains it once he votes in the next election.


2011 Thai general election, Aftermath, Acknowledgement of election result
The Election Commission's announcements of the acknowledgement were published in the Government Gazette as follows:


2011 Thai general election, Aftermath, Disqualifications
Five red cards were expected during balloting in Sukhothai Province, Chaiyaphum Province, Maha Sarakham Province, Sisaket Province and Buriram Province in reference to campaign fraud. There have been allegations of massive electoral fraud against third-place finisher Bhumjaithai Party that could potentially lead to the party dissolution by the Constitutional Court


2011 Thai general election, Aftermath, Disqualifications
On 21 July, the Election Commission ordered the re-elections to be held in Sukhothai province and Nong Khai Province. It also ordered a recount in Yala Province.


2011 Thai general election, Aftermath, First sessions
Abhisit enacted on 29 July the Royal Decree Convoking the National Assembly, BE 2554 (2011), by which the National Assembly, both the House of Representatives and the Senate, convened on Monday, 1 August 2011 at Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall. The state ceremony of opening the National Assembly was presided over by Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn instead of his aged father who has been confined in hospital for so long.


2011 Thai general election, Aftermath, First sessions
In this first joint session of the National Assembly, Somsak Kiatsuranont has been elected as the President of the House of Representatives (ex officio President of the National Assembly of Thailand); several other members have been selected as the Vice Presidents of the House. The first separate session of the House of Representatives was held in the morning of 5 August to select a new Prime Minister. In which 296 of the 500 members of parliament voted to approve the premiership of Yingluck Shinawatra, three disapproved, and 197 abstained. Four Democrat lawmakers were absent. Somsak Kiatsuranont, President of the National Assembly, advised and consented King Bhumibol Adulyadej to appoint Yingluck Prime Minister on 8 August. The Proclamation on her appointment has taken retroactive effect from 5 August.


2011 Thai general election, Aftermath, First sessions
Yingluck has set up her Council of Ministers on 9 August. She and her Ministers were sworn in on 10 August. They must then complete addressing their administrative policy to the National Assembly. According to the Constitution, the address must be made within fifteen days from the effective date of the Proclamation on Yingluck's appointment.


2011 Thai general election, Aftermath, By-elections
By-elections were held to replace disqualified MPs. For Bangkok's 12th electoral district (which covered most of Don Mueang District, Pheu Thai MP Karun Hosakul was disqualified and banned for five years for defaming rival candidate Tankhun Jitt-itsara and the Democrat Party. A by-election was held to replace him. Tankhun Jitt-itsara re-ran as the Democrat candidate, while Yuranunt Pamornmontri, a party list MP, was chosen as Pheu Thai's candidate. He then resigned from his House seat on 27 May 2013 to run for the vacant seat. Tankhun won the by-election, resulting in a Democrat gain for the constituency.


2011 Thai general election, Reactions
On 4 July, Abhisit Vejjajiva stepped down as the leader of the Democrat Party, as he had promised in the case of a defeat of his party. The Chartthaipattana Party, Chart Pattana Puea Pandin Party, Phalang Chon Party and Mahachon Party agreed to join a coalition government led by the Pheu Thai Party which would have 299 seats in the new House of Representatives. Acting defense minister General Prawit Wongsuwan declared that the armed forces would accept the results and "allow politicians to work it out" without any interference, while the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army, General Prayuth Chan-ocha, pledged not to make any comments during the process of government formation.


2011 Thai general election, Reactions
The Cambodian foreign minister Hor Namhong congratulated the winners of the election, stating "We cannot hide that we are happy with the Pheu Thai Party's victory" and expressed confidence that, under the new government, the Cambodian–Thai border dispute would be settled. Thai stock markets reacted positively at the news of the Pheu Thai victory, rising by 5% on the first trading day after the election. The markets viewed the Pheu Thai's strong mandate as an opportunity for short-term political stability.


2011 Thai general election, Reactions
On 10 July, Lamian Yusuk, an 80-year-old Rayong inhabitant and supporter of the Democrat Party, committed suicide by consuming herbicide after the party's poor performance. Many Democrat members of the House of Representatives attended her funeral. Abhisit, who did not attend, later offered condolences to Yusuk's relatives by phone. Yusuk's death attracted both positive and negative criticism of the deceased.


2011 Thai general election, Reactions
The Election Commission's eventual acknowledgment of election results caused the Thai stock market to be rise by 3.67 on 28 July. Stock market assistant director Thirada Chaiyuenyong said that the shares index for that day was quite strong, comparing to regional indexes. Many States, including Germany and Japan, also lifted the ban on entry which has been imposed on Thaksin Shinawatra during the regime of Abhisit.


2011 Thailand National Games
The 40th Thailand National Games (Thai: การแข่งขันกีฬาแห่งชาติ ครั้งที่ 40 "ขอนแก่นเกมส์", also known as the 2011 National Games and the Khon Kaen Games) were held in Khon Kaen, Thailand from 3 to 13 March 2012 after being postponed by the 2011 Thailand floods, with competition in 39 sports and 77 disciplines. These games were held in Khon Kaen University Sport Center. Khon Kaen also hosted the 1992 Thailand National Games


2011 Thailand Open Grand Prix Gold
The 2011 Thailand Open Grand Prix Gold was a badminton tournament which took place at the Chulalongkorn University Sport Complex in Bangkok, Thailand on 7–12 June 2011 and had a total purse of $120,000.


2011 Thailand floods
Severe flooding occurred during the 2011 monsoon season in Thailand. The flooding began at the end of July triggered by the landfall of Tropical Storm Nock-ten. These floods soon spread through the provinces of northern, northeastern, and central Thailand along the Mekong and Chao Phraya river basins. In October floodwaters reached the mouth of the Chao Phraya and inundated parts of the capital city of Bangkok. Flooding persisted in some areas until mid-January 2012, and resulted in a total of 815 deaths (with three missing) and 13.6 million people affected. Sixty-five of Thailand's 76 provinces were declared flood disaster zones, and over 20,000 square kilometres (7,700 sq mi) of farmland was damaged. The disaster has been described as "the worst flooding yet in terms of...water and people affected."


2011 Thailand floods
The World Bank has estimated 1,425 trillion baht (US$46.5 billion) in economic damages and losses due to flooding, as of 1 December 2011. Most of this was due to the manufacturing industry, as seven major industrial estates were inundated in water as much as 3 meters (10 feet) deep during the floods. Disruptions to manufacturing supply chains affected regional automobile production and caused a global shortage of hard disk drives which lasted throughout 2012.


2011 Thailand floods
The World Bank's estimate for this disaster means it ranks as the world's fourth costliest disaster as of 2011 surpassed only by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami in Japan, Great Hanshin earthquake in 1995, Forest fires in 1997, Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005. A  suggests increasing odds for potential flooding similar to the 2011 flood intensity to occur in the future.


2011 Thailand floods
Thailand's southern provinces also saw seasonal flash-flooding towards the end of the year, although these were not as destructive as the floods in the more northerly provinces.


2011 Thailand floods, Background
Various regions of Thailand are prone to seasonal flash-flooding due to their tropical climate. The floods often occur in the north and spread down the Chao Phraya River through the central plains, in the northeast along the Chi and Mun Rivers flowing into the Mekong, or in the coastal hillsides of the east and south. Remnants of tropical storms that strike Vietnam or the peninsular south commonly increase precipitation, resulting in further risk of flooding.


2011 Thailand floods, Background
Drainage control systems, including several dams, irrigation canals and flood detention basins, have been constructed, but are inadequate to prevent flood damage, especially in rural areas. Much effort, including a system of drainage tunnels begun in 2001, has been put into preventing the inundation of the capital city, which lies near the mouth of the Chao Phraya and is prone to flooding, with considerable success. Bangkok has seen only brief and minor flooding since the major flood of 1995. Other regions, however, had experienced severe flooding as recently as 2010.


2011 Thailand floods, Background
Rainfall in March 2011 over the area of northern Thailand was an extraordinary 344 percent above the mean. Bhumibol Dam in particular received 242.8 mm of rain, well above the normal 25.2 mm. Since 1 January the dam had accumulated 245.9 mm, 216.0 mm or 186 percent above normal.


2011 Thailand floods, Background
Bangkok's tendency to flood is particularly acute. Bangkok and adjacent provinces are only 50 cm to two meters above sea level. Sea levels are rising four mm every year. The rising sea levels push more water into the Chao Phraya River. To combat rising sea levels a barrier dam stretching from Chonburi to Hua Hin has been proposed, at a cost of 500 billion baht. The three-meter high dykes that sequester the river are subsiding, as is the rest of the city.


2011 Thailand floods, Background
In the past, some areas of Bangkok were sinking as much as three centimeters per year, due to excessive groundwater extraction. Groundwater extraction was halted in 1977. That step has slowed subsidence to about one centimeter per year on average. However, the sheer weight of Bangkok's ever expanding infrastructure has exacerbated the problem. Bangkok has some 700 buildings more than 20 storeys high and 4,000 buildings eight to 20 storeys high. The sheer weight of these structures displaces the spongy soil and increases subsidence. In a 2015 report, Thailand's National Reform Council warned that relocation of the capital was not out of the question.


2011 Thailand floods, Flooding timeline
With the monsoon season well underway in 2011, when noticeable rainfall started in May, major flooding began as Tropical Storm Nock-ten made its landfall in northern Vietnam, causing heavy precipitation in northern and northeastern Thailand and flash floods in many provinces from 31 July. Within one week thirteen persons had been reported dead, with ongoing flooding in the provinces of Chiang Mai, Lampang, Lamphun, Mae Hong Son, Nan, Phrae, and Uttaradit in the north, and Bung Kan, Nakhon Phanom, Nong Khai, Sakon Nakhon, and Udon Thani in the upper northeast. The upper-central provinces of Phichit, Phitsanulok, and Sukhothai were also flooded as the flooding spread down the overflowing Yom and Nan Rivers. Prachuap Khiri Khan on the gulf coast was also affected.


2011 Thailand floods, Flooding timeline
Flooding was still ongoing by late-August, as heavy rains were expected to continue for longer than usual due to the effect of El Niño. Flood waters reached a depth of 50 cm in downtown Nan, and became the highest recorded in 16 years in Phitsanulok Province, while large areas in the downstream provinces of Nakhon Sawan, Ang Thong, Ayutthaya, and Nakhon Nayok were affected and the death toll rose to 37 by 22 August. Both Bhumibol and Sirikit Dams increased discharge rates to compensate for the increase in incoming flow.


2011 Thailand floods, Flooding timeline
By 19 September almost all of the lower central provinces were affected by the flood: Uthai Thani, Chai Nat, Sing Buri, Ang Thong, Suphan Buri, Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani, and Nonthaburi, the latter two on the northern border of Bangkok. Broken floodgates resulted in water from the Chao Phraya flowing through irrigation canals and inundating large areas of paddy fields in Singburi, Ang Thong, and Ayutthaya, but lessened the strain on Bangkok as the fields served as water retention areas. Power boats were used to run against the river's flow while at anchor in an attempt to increase the river's discharge rate.


2011 Thailand floods, Flooding timeline
By the beginning of October, most dams were already near or over capacity and were being forced to increase their rate of discharge, potentially worsening downstream flooding. Flooding in Ayutthaya worsened and flood water entered the city itself, inundating the Ayutthaya Historical Park and forcing evacuations. Barriers protecting industrial estates failed, resulting in the flooding of dozens of major factories and a country-wide disruption of the manufacturing supply chains. In Nakhon Sawan, the sandbag barrier protecting the city was breached, resulting in rapid flooding of the city. Hundreds of patients had to be transferred out of Ayutthaya and Nakhon Sawan Regional Hospitals by boat as water levels rose over the hospital floors and power supplies and life support systems were disrupted.


2011 Thailand floods, Flooding timeline, Northeast
The Mekong, and its major tributaries Mae Mun and Mae Chi all experienced flooding. In Khon Kaen Province alone, floods destroyed close to 350,000 rai (56,000 hectares; over 200 square miles) of land, stranding 315 families of Mai Si Wilai village in the middle of the swollen Nong Kong Kaew Lake in Chonnabot District, while in Phra Lap municipality on the outskirts of Khon Kaen city, over 700 displaced residents of Phra Kheu village called the shoulder of a provincial highway home. The provincial Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, normally allocated 50 million Thai baht, was granted an extra 50 million for 2011 and had spent over 80 million by the end of October 2011.


2011 Thailand floods, Flooding timeline, South
Significant flooding occurred in late-2011 in Thailand's southern provinces. Nine provinces were affected by flash flooding owing to rains that occurred in November 2011. Saba Yoi, Khuan Niang, Rattaphum, and Singha Nakhon Districts were declared disaster zones after flood waters as deep as five meters covered nearly all areas. More than 159 small and key roads were impassable. Ten other districts were feared at risk of inundation and more rains were expected. Coastal areas in the south were also battered by high waves.


2011 Thailand floods, Flooding in and around Bangkok
As floodwaters drained southwards from Ayutthaya, Bangkok was becoming seriously threatened by mid-October. In Pathum Thani Province bordering Bangkok to the north, continuous efforts to reinforce and repair sandbag flood walls were undertaken to prevent the Chao Phraya and Rangsit Canals from overflowing into Bangkok. Several districts in eastern Bangkok which lie outside Bangkok's flood wall, as well as parts of the surrounding Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Chachoengsao, and Nakhon Pathom Provinces, became flooded as water was diverted from the Chao Phraya to the Nakhon Nayok River and outlying canals.


2011 Thailand floods, Flooding in and around Bangkok
As flood barriers in Pathum Thani failed, even more industrial estates as well as suburban residential areas became flooded. Parts of the Phahonyothin Highway leading out of Bangkok became inaccessible, causing severe traffic jams on alternative routes. Disruption of a barrier protecting the Khlong Prapa water supply canal early on 20 October allowed floodwaters to enter the canal and rapidly flow down to Sam Sen in central Bangkok, overflowing and flooding several areas along the banks. Although the breach was controlled, residents panicked and illegally parked cars on flyovers and parts of the elevated expressway.


2011 Thailand floods, Flooding in and around Bangkok
The entire Rangsit campus of Thammasat University in Pathum Thani, north of Bangkok, serving as the largest evacuation centre, was flooded with two meters of water. This led to the school's final exams to be postponed three times.


2011 Thailand floods, Flooding in and around Bangkok
As the situation continued, several floodgates controlling the Rangsit/Raphiphat canal system became overwhelmed and were forced to release water towards more residential areas. Residents of several districts of Bangkok, especially those bordering Pathum Thani, were told to prepare for flooding. 15 October, saw the beginning of what would be the total inundation of Muang Ake and Rangsit University. The Rangsit gymnasium served as the main means of exit from the town for those who did not have ability to leave on boat or four-wheel drive. An army truck transferred many to the Mo Chit bus station.


2011 Thailand floods, Flooding in and around Bangkok
The Chao Phraya River watershed drains an area of 157,924 square kilometres (60,975 sq mi). This entire area drains towards Bangkok and eventually empties into the sea. The Chao Phraya River itself, and pumping stations around Bangkok drain approximately 420,000,000 square metres (4.5×109 sq ft) per day. However, the releases from the dams upstream of Bangkok coupled with additional rainfall, led to estimates that 16,000,000,000 cubic metres (5.7×1011 cu ft) of flood waters must be drained. The flow headed towards Bangkok equated to 16 cubic kilometres (3.8 cu mi). Thailand's Royal Irrigation Department predicted, provided there is no new rain, that it would take 30–45 days for this quantity of water to reach the sea.


2011 Thailand floods, Flooding in and around Bangkok
Until water flows out to sea, it must go somewhere. This meant flooding on unprotected low-lying land. The amount of land inundated, and the height of peak flood waters was difficult to project for three reasons:


2011 Thailand floods, Mitigation and relief efforts
Centralized flood monitoring and relief operations began in mid-August. Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, appointed in early-August, made tours of flooded provinces beginning 12 August and assigned cabinet members and members of parliament to visit affected people, pledging support to local administration organizations. The 24/7 Emergency Operation Center for Flood, Storm and Landslide was set up on 20 August under the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department of the Ministry of Interior to coordinate warning and relief efforts. The government also allocated extra flood-relief budgets to the affected provinces. The prime minister also pledged to invest in long-term prevention projects, including the construction of drainage canals.


2011 Thailand floods, Mitigation and relief efforts
The armed forces were mobilized to distribute aid to affected people, and civilian groups and organizations were also involved, with volunteers packing sustenance kits and delivering aid to some areas. A Flood Relief Operations Center (FROC) was set up at Don Mueang Airport to coordinate the delivery of aid, superseding the Emergency Operation Center because it could not exercise adequate authority. The stadium at Rangsit Campus of Thammasat University served as a shelter for evacuees, mostly from Ayutthaya. However, many people in the flooded areas refused to leave their homes for fear of looting.


2011 Thailand floods, Mitigation and relief efforts
China, Japan, the Philippines, the United States, and New Zealand pledged support and assistance for relief operations.


2011 Thailand floods, Mitigation and relief efforts
On 16 October 2011, the USS George Washington (CVN-73) aircraft carrier, as well as several other United States Navy ships were deployed to Thailand to assist in relief work. It was not clear to the US government whether or not the Thai government required US naval assistance due to mixed signals from the Thai government. An anonymous US defense official said that they were "ready to help but we haven't got a request".


2011 Thailand floods, Mitigation and relief efforts
Then Captain John Kirby of the USS Mustin, docked at Port Laem Chabang on a routine visit, said Thailand asked the warship to prolong its stay at the port for up to six days for assistance in aerial surveillance of the extent the flooding. The Pentagon said two Seahawk helicopters aboard would conduct the reconnaissance.


2011 Thailand floods, Mitigation and relief efforts, Disputes
At the national level a debate raged as to whether the dams that store waters upstream of Bangkok were mismanaged.


2011 Thailand floods, Mitigation and relief efforts, Disputes
The size and scope of the 2011 flood can, in part, be attributed to the low rainfall of the 2010 monsoon season. Dam levels hit record lows on June 2010. The evidence shows that early in the season the dams collected large amounts of water building reserves and buffering early flooding. The scale of the rainfall of 2011 is evidenced by the quantity of water collected behind Bhumibol Dam. Over eight billion cubic meters of water were collected in three months, filling this dam to capacity.


2011 Thailand floods, Mitigation and relief efforts, Disputes
Once at capacity, continuing rains forced officials to increase flows from the dams despite increasing flooding and this led to accusations that the dams were mismanaged early in the monsoon season. However, the counter argument is that had the monsoon season for 2011 been short and the dam levels not built up, that even lower levels than 2010 would have been mismanagement too.


2011 Thailand floods, Mitigation and relief efforts, Disputes
As the flooding threat to Bangkok increased, discontent with the government response and the FROC mounted. The government was criticized for underestimating the extent of flooding, giving mixed or conflicting information, and not giving adequate warnings. Failure of governmental units to share data and cooperate were reported as contributing to the problem. FROC administrators and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) were criticized for playing politics and refusing to cooperate at the expense of the general population.


2011 Thailand floods, Mitigation and relief efforts, Disputes
Copying the technique suggested by King Bhumibol Adulyadej to help quicken the flow of water through the much shallower Khlong Lad Pho canal, Yingluck placed hundreds of boats in the Chao Phraya River to accelerate the flow and drainage of the basin. Yingluck was criticized for this by Democrat Party spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut, who called the operation a "waste of time" as there were high sea tide at the time.


2011 Thailand floods, Mitigation and relief efforts, Disputes
Smith Dharmasarojana, former Director-General of the Meteorological Department and Chairman of the National Disaster Warning Council Foundation, also criticized the operation, claiming that "accelerating boats in the middle of the wide Chao Phraya River is a waste because they propel only the water on the surface." However, others countered that boats wouldn't move forward unless they propelled water backwards. The middle ground to this dispute is that the overall power of the Chao Phraya River is tremendous compared to the additional power added to it by the engines of the boats.


2011 Thailand floods, Mitigation and relief efforts, Disputes
Later on 5 December 2011, the king was present at a public ceremony held on his 84th birthday anniversary, attended by senior public officers and broadcast live throughout the nation. He gave a public speech a part of which was: "...Especially, the people are now suffering from the inundation. Every person is obliged to together and without delay cope with this public danger. And all projects I have suggested, such as the project on permanent management of water, are merely an advice, not an order. The persons concerned must think twice [about them]..."


2011 Thailand floods, Mitigation and relief efforts, Disputes
Sukhumbhand Paribatra, a member of the opposition party and Democrat Governor of Bangkok, apparently seized on the flood as an opportunity to grandstand and made comments such as "please believe me and only me", and charged that 800,000 sandbags provided by the federal government were of questionable construction. "Once I saw these paper bags I was in shock", he said, refusing the sandbags. In response, the government released photos of the bags, construction details, and suggested that the governor was perhaps ill-advised by a third party in an attempt to allow him to save some face.


2011 Thailand floods, Mitigation and relief efforts, Disputes
The use of flood barriers resulted in several disputes between people on the different sides. Those on the flooded side were angry that they were unfairly affected, and often attempted to sabotage the barriers, sometimes resulting in armed confrontation. Farmers in Phichit Province, among others, fought over the maintenance of sandbag barriers and sluice gates. Residents in areas outlying Bangkok are also dissatisfied that their homes are flooded while Bangkok was protected. Arguments over the construction of the controversial Kaeng Suea Ten Dam also arose.


2011 Thailand floods, Mitigation and relief efforts, Disputes
Local resistance to the building and maintenance of flood barriers disrupted work in several instances. Residents in some areas sabotaged barriers and threatened government workers at gunpoint.


2011 Thailand floods, Mitigation and relief efforts, Issues with car owners
Once the flood arrived at Pathum Thani Province, the media presented flood-related news more frequently and made car owners in Bangkok and nearby precincts panic. Many designated car parks were full at that time. Many parked their vehicles on expressways, at intersections, or anywhere they perceived would not get flooded. This aggravated traffic problems and there were several unreported accidents. No deaths were reported.


2011 Thailand floods, Mitigation and relief efforts, Communication deficiencies
One notable error in communications between Thai media and foreign companies was the lack of information in English. Japan's Toshiba said, "it is critical for the government to provide more accurate flood information and implement long-term prevention measures". Other foreign investors shared this anxiety. Another notable example of insufficient communication was with Rohm Integrated Systems, one of the largest Japanese semiconductor manufacturers who had a manufacturing plant in Navanakorn. The company received very little information about the flood and could not move critical equipment in time.


2011 Thailand floods, Damage
The flooding has been described as "the worst flooding yet in terms of the amount of water and people affected". As of 6 November, flooding affected 3,151,224 people from 1,154,576 families, with 506 deaths and two missing persons reported by the 24/7 Emergency Operation Center for Flood, Storm and Landslide (EOC). Damage estimates of at least 185 billion baht in the latest estimate by the Federation of Thai Industry (central region) which includes 95 billion baht damage on Thai industry, 25 billion baht damage to Thai agriculture, and 65 billion baht damage to housing.


2011 Thailand floods, Damage
A large part of the damage stemmed from the effect on the manufacturing industry, with 930 factories in 28 provinces affected, including several industrial estates in Ayutthaya and Pathum Thani Provinces. The flooding has been estimated to result in a decrease of 0.6–0.9 percent in economic growth. Schools, 1,053 of which were affected as of 19 September, were forced to end the term early.


2011 Thailand floods, Damage
Employment was hurt when factories flooded and workers were laid off or fired. Not all factories were expected to reopen, causing significant long-term job loss in central Thailand.


2011 Thailand floods, Damage
Thailand accounts for about 30 percent of global trade in rice and 25 percent of the main crop was not expected to survive the floods. On the other side of the world, rice farmers in Arkansas, usually accounting for 42 percent of US output, also were flooded early that year, and then faced drought, reducing their crop by 32 percent according to the USDA. Combined, these two events will have a global impact on rice prices. In Thailand, where rice farmers do not typically have much reserve capital, effects on farmers will be felt the greatest since they lost both their investment in the current crop and must wait to earn money when flood waters recede before planting a new one.


2011 Thailand floods, Damage, Damages to industrial estates and global supply shortages
On 8 October 2011 the 10-metre high water barrier in Nikom Rojna Industrial Estate, which housed many manufacturing plants, collapsed. The strong current interfered with reconstruction efforts and resulted in the area being non-operational. One of the major manufacturing plants, Honda, was left virtually inaccessible.


2011 Thailand floods, Damage, Damages to industrial estates and global supply shortages
Thailand is the world's second-largest producer of hard disk drives, supplying approximately 25 percent of the world's production. Many of the factories that made hard disk drives were flooded, including Western Digital's, leading some industry analysts to predict future worldwide shortages of hard disk drives. Western Digital was able to get one of their plants, flooded on 15 October 2011, restored and operating on 30 November 2011. Western Digital's flood-related costs were estimated at between US$225–275 million, however, an insurance claim of US$50 million for property damage, and another claim for business interruption would help lower the net impact. As a result, most hard disk drive prices almost doubled globally, which took approximately two years to recover. Because of the prices increase, Western Digital reported a 31 percent revenue increase and a more than doubled profit for fiscal year 2012.


2011 Thailand floods, Damage, Impacts of flooding on other countries
The economies of other countries were significantly impacted by the flood. The country that was hardest hit was Japan. Japanese firms with plants in Thailand included Toyota, Honda, Hitachi, and Canon. One analyst predicted the profits of one firm, Toyota, may be cut by ¥200 billion (US$2.5 billion). Worker incomes in Thailand and Japan were impacted.


2011 Thailand floods, Damage, Impacts of flooding on other countries
For some firms and countries the impact was not all negative. For example, Thailand is a major exporter of seafood and countries like India have firms that gained as they stepped to fill in the void.


2011 Thailand floods, Damage, Impacts of flooding on other countries
Thailand's flood helped contribute to a total estimated US$259 billion in economic losses for the first nine months of 2011. These losses represented 80 percent of the world's total economic losses and the insurance industry responded by raising rates in some areas between 50–200 percent or by not accepting new clients in Asia.


2011 Thailand floods, Damage, Damage to tourism
In early-November 2011, the Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Suraphon Svetasreni, projected a combined loss as high as US$825 million owing to reduced international and national tourism. TAT projected that between 220,000 and 300,000 visitors would cancel their trips.


2011 Thailand floods, Damage, Damage to tourism
Tourism numbers had been running higher than 2010 until the end of October 2011. Arrivals at Bangkok's airport were up 6.7 percent compared to October 2010 and same month last year, Phuket arrivals were up 28.5 percent.


2011 Thailand floods, Damage, Damage to tourism
The TAT wanted tourists to know tourist destinations such as Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son, Pai, Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Pattaya, Sattahip, Chonburi, Chantaburi, Phetchaburi, Hua Hin, Cha-am, Phuket, Krabi, Phang Nga, Surat Thani, Trang, Satun, Hat Yai, Rayong, Trat, Chumphon, Ranong, Ko Pha Ngan, and Ko Samui had not been affected by flooding at all. If a section of Bangkok became temporarily inaccessible, visitors still had other options.


2011 Thailand floods, Damage, Damage to tourism
Concerns about the ability to continue food supplies to some areas was evident in the media. Some retailers in Phuket were scrambling in October 2011 to establish alternatives when their regular distribution centers were flooded. An added concern became even more pressing when it became clear on 7 November 2011 that Rama II Road, the last open link to the south, was expected to flood. To offset this risk, plans were announced to mobilize teams to reclaim Highway 340 that in parts was under up to a meter of water.


2011 Thailand floods, Damage, Damage to tourism
On December 2011, the Miss Earth 2011 beauty pageant was set to be held in Bangkok, but was relocated to the Philippines.


2011 Thailand floods, Damage, Sanitation concerns
Effects of the trash and sewage in flood waters were expected to peak when waters subsided, leaving behind stagnant pools of water. A spokesman for UNICEF encouraged everyone to stay out of the water as much as possible. Since a household sanitation system does not operate under flood water, individuals who remained in flooded areas exposed themselves to risks and increased risks for those living downstream by continuing to generate more sewage and trash in waters carried downstream.


2011 Thailand national football team results
This article details the fixtures and results of the Thailand national football team in 2011.


2011 Thailand national football team results, vs Myanmar(1)
Assistant referees: Thanom Borikut   (Thailand) Surasak Kuldiloksirodom (Thailand)Fourth official: Pathan Nasawang (Thailand)


2011 Thailand national football team results, vs Palestine(1)
Assistant referees: Jeong Hae-Sang  (South Korea) Kang Do-joon (South Korea)Fourth official: Kim Jong-Hyeok (South Korea)


2011 Thailand national football team results, vs Palestine(2)
Assistant referees: Ebrahim Saleh (Bahrain) Aziz Al Wadi (Bahrain)Fourth official: Abdulameer Abdulshaheed (Bahrain)


2011 Thailand national football team results, vs Singapore
Assistant referees: Thanom Borikut (Thailand) Atthakorn Wetchakan (Thailand)Fourth official: Apisit Aonrak(Thailand)


2011 Thailand national football team results, vs Australia(1)
Assistant referees: Waleed Al Mannai  (Qatar) Ramzan Al-Naemi (Qatar)Fourth official: Banjar Al-Dosari (Qatar)


2011 Thailand national football team results, vs Oman
Assistant referees: Jeong Hae-Sang  (South Korea) Lee Jung-Min (South Korea)Fourth official: Lee Dong-jun (South Korea)


2011 Thailand national football team results, vs Saudi Arabia(1)
Assistant referees: Abdukhamidullo Rasulov  (Uzbekistan) Bakhadyr Kochkarov (Kyrgyzstan)Fourth official: Viktor Serazitdinov (Uzbekistan)


2011 Thailand national football team results, vs Saudi Arabia(2)
Assistant referees: Shui Hung Chan  (Hong Kong) Chung Ming Sang (Hong Kong)Fourth official: Ng Kai Lam (Hong Kong)


2011 Thailand national football team results, vs Australia(2)
Assistant referees: Mohammadreza Abolfazli  (Iran) Saeid Alinezhadian (Iran)Fourth official: Hedayat Mombini (Iran)


2011 Thanet District Council election
Elections to elect all members (councillors) of Thanet District Council were held on 5 May 2011, as part of the 2011 United Kingdom local elections taking place simultaneously with the Alternative Vote Referendum. No political party won an overall majority of seats, meaning that the council went into 'No Overall Control' status for the first time since 1991. The Conservative Party ran a minority administration until December that year, when a Conservative councillor defected to the Independents group, enabling The Labour Party to run a minority administration until 2015. The District has as its main towns the beach resort towns of Ramsgate, Margate and Broadstairs.


2011 Thanet District Council election, Results by ward
Listed below are the results in each of the 26 wards of Thanet District Council. Each ward elects 2 or 3 councilors, with the exception of Kingsgate ward, which only elects one member.


2011 The Bahamas Women's Open
The 2011 The Bahamas Women's Open was a professional tennis tournament played on hard courts. It was part of the 2011 ITF Women's Circuit. It took place in Nassau, Bahamas between 14 and 20 March 2011.


2011 The Bahamas Women's Open, Singles entrants, Other Entrants
The following players received wildcards into the singles main draw:


2011 The Bahamas Women's Open, Champions, Doubles
Natalie Grandin /  Vladimíra Uhlířová def. Raquel Kops-Jones /  Abigail Spears, 6–4, 6–2


2011 The Bahamas Women's Open – Doubles
It was the first edition of the tournament. Natalie Grandin and Vladimíra Uhlířová won in the final against Raquel Kops-Jones and Abigail Spears 6–4, 6–2.


2011 The Bahamas Women's Open – Singles
This is the first edition of the tournament. Anastasiya Yakimova won the tournament by defeating 5th seed Angelique Kerber 6–3, 6–2 in the final.


2011 The Citadel Bulldogs football team
The 2011 The Citadel Bulldogs football team represented The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina in the 2011 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Bulldogs were led by seventh year head coach Kevin Higgins and played their home games at Johnson Hagood Stadium. They are a member of the Southern Conference. They finished the season 4–7, 2–6 in SoCon play to finish in eighth place.


2011 The Citadel Bulldogs football team, Preseason
The Bulldogs returned a total of 22 starters from last year's team, losing only 6 players. On offense, ten starters returned, while eight return on defense and four on special teams. SoCon coaches picked The Citadel to finish eight in the conference, ahead of only Western Carolina. Media covering the conference picked The Citadel to finish last. Only one Bulldog was picked to the preseason All-Conference team, with senior LB Tolu Akindele on the second team.


2011 The Citadel Bulldogs football team, Awards
After placing only one player on the preseason team, the Bulldogs placed four players on the postseason All Conference teams, along with two on the All Freshman team.


2011 The Citadel Bulldogs football team, Awards, Season
Derek Douglas, DL - 1st Team All Conference (Coaches and Media)Cass Couey, P - 1st Team All Conference (Coaches and Media)Mike Sellers, OL - 1st Team All Conference (Coaches), 2nd Team All Conference (Media)Chris Billingslea - 2nd Team All Conference (Coaches and Media)Aaron Miller - All Freshman (Coaches)Rah Muhammad - All Freshman (Coaches)


2011 The Citadel Bulldogs football team, Awards, Weekly
Rob Harland (LB) - SoCon Defensive Player of the Week, Week 5


2011 The Citadel Bulldogs football team, Game summaries, Chattanooga
The Citadel trailed 27-0 in the third quarter before rallying to score four touchdowns, taking a 28–27 lead. DB Davis Boyle intercepted a pass from B.J. Coleman in the final minutes to seal the upset over #15 Chattanooga.


2011 The Citadel Bulldogs football team, Game summaries, Western Carolina
at Bob Waters Field at E. J. Whitmire Stadium (Cullowhee, NC)


2011 The Citadel Bulldogs football team, Game summaries, VMI
In the first Military Classic of the South since 2007, The Citadel defeated VMI 41–14. The Bulldogs blocked three Keydet punts, returning one for a touchdown. The Citadel rushed for 358 yards and four offensive touchdowns, with two each by QB Ben Dupree and RB Denard Robinson. VMI's passing game was largely held in check with only 68 yards in the air, although RB Chaz Jones carried 16 times for 112 yards and a touchdown. The Citadel now leads the series 35–30–2, winning each of the last five meetings. The Citadel also holds a 22–10 record when meeting VMI in Charleston.


2011 The Citadel Bulldogs football team, Game summaries, VMI
The Citadel and VMI agreed to renew their series for six years beginning in 2011, alternating home fields. The series dates to 1920, and they have played every year since 1946, with the exception of 1956, 2004, and 2008–2010.


2011 The Citadel Bulldogs football team, Game summaries, Georgia Southern
The Bulldogs had two extra points blocked and a missed field goal with 12 seconds remaining as Georgia Southern held on for a 14–12 win.


2011 The Dominion Curling Club Championship
The 2011 Dominion Curling Club Championship was held from November 21 to 26 at the Richmond Curling Club in Richmond, British Columbia. The third edition of the Dominion Curling Club Championship featured men's and women's teams from clubs all across Canada.


2011 The Dominion Curling Club Championship, Women, Round Robin Results, Draw 2
Northwest Territories and  Prince Edward Island receive byes this round.


2011 The Dominion Curling Club Championship, Women, Round Robin Results, Draw 4
New Brunswick and  Newfoundland and Labrador receive byes this round.


2011 The Dominion Curling Club Championship, Men, Teams
*Jean Arsenault replaced Rémi Dutil, who couldn't attend the championship. In the provincial, Dutil played at third, throwing skip stones.


2011 The Dominion Curling Club Championship, Men, Round Robin Results, Draw 1
Northwest Territories and  Prince Edward Island receive byes this round.


2011 The Dominion Curling Club Championship, Men, Round Robin Results, Draw 3
New Brunswick and  Newfoundland and Labrador receive byes this round.


2011 The Dominion Tankard
The 2011 Dominion Tankard, southern Ontario men's provincial curling championship was held February 7–13 at the Peach King Centre in Grimsby, Ontario. The winning team of Glenn Howard will represent Ontario at the 2011 Tim Hortons Brier in London, Ontario.


2011 The Dominion Tankard, Challenge Rounds, East
The B winner must beat the A winner twice in order to advance to the Tankard.


2011 The Dominion Tankard, Challenge Rounds, West
The B winner must beat the A winner twice in order to advance to the Tankard.


2011 The Hague Open
The 2011 Siemens Open was a professional tennis tournament played on clay courts. It was part of the Tretorn SERIE+ of the 2011 ATP Challenger Tour. It was the 19th edition of the tournament. It took place in Scheveningen, Netherlands between July 4 and July 10, 2011.


2011 The Hague Open, ATP entrants, Other Entrants
The following players received wildcards into the singles main draw:


2011 The Hague Open, Champions, Doubles
Colin Ebelthite /  Adam Feeney def. Rameez Junaid /  Sadik Kadir, 6–4, 6–7(5–7), [10–7]


2011 The Hague Open – Doubles
Franco Ferreiro and Harsh Mankad were the defending champions but decided not to participate.


2011 The Hague Open – Doubles
Colin Ebelthite and Adam Feeney won in the all-Australian final, against Rameez Junaid and Sadik Kadir, 6–4, 6–7(5–7), [10–7].


2011 The Hague Open – Singles
Denis Gremelmayr was the defending champion but decided not to participate. Steve Darcis won in the final 6–3, 4–6, 6–2 against Marsel İlhan.


2011 The Shoot-Out
The 2011 Shoot-Out was a curling bonspiel that was held from September 15 to 18 at the Saville Sports Centre in Edmonton, Alberta as part of the 2011–12 World Curling Tour. The purse for the men's and women's events was CAD$26,000 and CAD$20,000, respectively.


2011 Third Division Football Tournament
The Third Division Football Tournament for the 2011 season in the Maldives started on October 17, 2011.


2011 Third Division Football Tournament, Tournament format
The 41 teams first play a knockout phase. The top 8 teams in the first round advance to the second round. The 8 teams are divided into 2 groups of 4 teams in each group. The top 2 teams from each group play in the semi-final. The winner of both groups compete in the first semi. Winner of first semi is in the final, while the loser plays in the third semi. The second semi is played between the runners-up of both groups.


2011 Third Division Football Tournament, Tournament format
The winner of second semi faces the loser of the first semi in the third semi, while the loser of second semi is eliminated from the tournament. The third semi is played between the loser of the first semi and the winner of the second semi. The winner of the third semi is the second team to play in the final of the tournament.


2011 Third Division Football Tournament, Awards
All the awards were given by the Maldives national football team coach István Urbányi.


2011 Three Days of De Panne
The 2011 Three Days of De Panne (Dutch: 2011 KBC Driedaagse van De Panne-Koksijde) was the 35th edition of the Three Days of De Panne, an annual bicycle race. Taking part in and around the De Panne region of West Flanders, it began in Middelkerke on 29 March and finished in De Panne two days later. The 538.7-kilometre-long (334.7 mi) stage race comprised four stages, with two held on the final day. It was part of the 2010–2011 UCI Europe Tour and was rated as a 2.HC event. Sébastien Rosseler of Team RadioShack won the general classification, his first ever victory in a stage race.


2011 Three Days of De Panne, Teams
23 teams were invited to participate in the tour: 12 UCI ProTeams and 11 UCI Professional Continental Teams.


2011 Three Days of De Panne, Stages, Stage 1
29 March 2011 – Middelkerke to Zottegem, 194.0 km (120.5 mi)


2011 Three Days of De Panne, Stages, Stage 2
30 March 2011 – Oudenaarde to Koksijde, 219.0 km (136.1 mi)


2011 Three Days of De Panne, Stages, Stage 3a
31 March 2011 – De Panne to De Panne, 111.0 km (69.0 mi)


2011 Three Days of De Panne, Stages, Stage 3b
31 March 2011 – De Panne to Koksijde to De Panne, 14.7 km (9.1 mi) individual time trial (ITT)


2011 Three National Figure Skating Championships
The 2011 Three National Figure Skating Championships included the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland. The event was held on December 16–18, 2010 at the DOXXbet Arena in Žilina, Slovakia. Medals were awarded in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies' singles, pair skating, and ice dancing on the senior, junior, and novice levels.


2011 Three National Figure Skating Championships
The three national championships were held simultaneously and the results were then split by country. The top three skaters from each country formed their national podiums. This was the fifth consecutive season that the Czech and Slovak Championships were held simultaneously, and the third in which Poland also participated.


2011 Three Rivers District Council election
Elections to Three Rivers District Council were held on 5 May 2011 to elect one-third of the council of Three Rivers district in England. These seats had been previously defended in 2007.


2011 Three Rivers District Council election
The Liberal Democrats (Lib Dems) won the largest number of seats and, marginally, the most votes. The Conservatives failed to strengthen their position against the Liberal Democrats, gaining one seat from the Lib Dems but losing another to Labour. Overall, however, this council remains under firm Lib Dem control, with most seats contested between them and the Conservatives, and Labour having little prospect of improving their own representation, beyond their core wards.


2011 Three Rivers District Council election
A senior Labour Party councillor, elected in 2007, defected to the Lib Dems shortly before this election.


2011 Three Rivers District Council election, Election result
Changes relate to movement between elections and do not reflect interim defections.


2011 Thurrock Council election
On 5 May 2011, one-third of seats on Thurrock Council were contested. The result of the election was that Thurrock Council stayed under no overall control. The Labour Party gained one seat from the Conservative party.


2011 Thurrock Council election, Results
Of the 16 wards that were contested, nine were won by Labour, six by the Conservatives and one by an independent.


2011 Thurrock Council election, Council Composition
Following the election the vote for mayor was tied between Cllr Curtis and deputy mayor Cllr Tunde Ojetola. Outgoing Mayor Anne Cheale exercised her casting vote in favour of Councillor Curtis. In the election for council leader, Councillor Curtis then used his casting vote to elect John Kent as council leader, thus maintaining the Labour administration.


2011 Thurrock Council election, Results by ward
Each of the 16 wards elected one councillor for this election. Incumbent councillors are marked by an asterisk.


2011 Tianjin Teda F.C. season
The 2011 Tianjin Teda F.C. season involved Tianjin competing in the Chinese Super League, Chinese FA Cup, and AFC Champions League. Tianjin qualified for the AFC Champions League after finishing runners-up the 2010 Chinese Super League.


2011 TicketCity Bowl
The 2011 TicketCity Bowl was a college football bowl game played at Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas. The game was played on January 1, 2011, at 12:00 p.m. ET and was telecast on ESPNU. This game replaced the Cotton Bowl Classic, which moved from its long-time home to Cowboys Stadium in nearby Arlington in 2010, and pitted the Northwestern Wildcats from the Big Ten Conference against the Texas Tech Red Raiders from the Big 12 Conference. The game was originally labeled "The Dallas Football Classic," but on November 8, 2010, a deal was announced for TicketCity to become the title sponsor of the bowl.


2011 TicketCity Bowl, Teams, Northwestern Wildcats
Northwestern was invited to the TicketCity Bowl after posting a 7–5 record in the regular season. The Wildcats made a school-record third-consecutive bowl appearance. The Wildcats had not won a bowl game since defeating California in the 1949 Rose Bowl. They fell to Auburn, 38–35, in overtime of the Outback Bowl last season. Northwestern has gone 0–2 since losing starting quarterback Dan Persa to a season-ending injury.


2011 TicketCity Bowl, Teams, Texas Tech Red Raiders
Texas Tech finished the regular season with a 7–5 record. The Red Raiders lost to three ranked opponents, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas, and defeated one, Missouri. They were on a two-game winning streak leading into the bowl game. Tech was ranked #24 in Jeff Sagarin's BCS computer ranking heading into the bowl matchup. This was the Raiders' eleventh-straight bowl game. They have gone 6–2 in their last eight bowl games, including defeating Michigan State in last year's Alamo Bowl 41–31.


2011 TicketCity Bowl, Game notes
Northwestern made its first appearance in a bowl game at the Cotton Bowl, while Texas Tech playing in its fifth bowl at the Stadium. The two teams had never played each other in the history of their programs. With the win, Tech won their first bowl game at the Cotton Bowl after failing the past four times in a drought that had begun in 1939.


2011 Tikrit assault
The 2011 Tikrit assault was an attack by the Islamic State of Iraq that took place in the city of Tikrit, Iraq, on the 29 March 2011, while the war was still ongoing. Reuters news agency included the attack in its list of deadliest attacks in 2011. The Al-Qaeda-linked group claimed responsibility for killing 65 people and wounding over 100. At the time the United States Armed Forces were withdrawing. Tikrit was Saddam Hussein's birthplace.


2011 Tikrit assault, Description of incident
On 29 March 2011, gunmen from the Islamic State of Iraq wearing suicide belts hidden under military uniforms entered Tikrit, Iraq. The men presented themselves as Iraqi soldiers when they arrived at the security checkpoint. After being told they needed to be searched, they open fired on the guards. Around 1 p.m., attackers blew up a car to create a diversion by the council headquarters. Following the car bombing, the gunmen proceeded to take control over the second floor of the Saladin provincial council's headquarters.


2011 Tikrit assault, Description of incident
The provincial council meets every Tuesday, but according to Ali Abdul Rihman, a spokesperson for the governor, the local politicians had ended the meeting early because there was little to cover on their agenda. Therefore, many had already left the building. The gunmen did execute three councilmen, including Abdullah Jebara who was an outspoken critic of Al-Qaeda and terrorists, with shots to their heads and set fire to their bodies in front of the hostages. Insurgents were still carrying out attacks during the U.S. withdrawal and the transfer of powers to the Iraqis.


2011 Tikrit assault, Description of incident
As security reinforcements were arriving, another car bomb went off at the entrance of the council building. A five-hour standoff ensued. Ahmed Abdullah, Saladin's governor, explained a fierce shootout between what he believed to be at least eight gunmen that had taken over the council building, hurling grenades at the Iraqi security forces that surrounded the building. Fifteen hostages were killed execution style during the captivity. The attack also killed two journalists, who were Sabah al-Bazi and Muammar Khadir Abdelwahad. Both journalists were covering a provincial council meeting.


2011 Tikrit assault, Description of incident
Iraqi Army forces together with US troops stormed the building, at which point the attackers blew up their explosives, which brought an end to the standoff. The bodies of six attackers were taken to the hospital where sources say the cause of death for two of the bodies had occurred from detonating their vest, while the other four deaths were the result of gunshot wounds. Several U.S. troops were said to have been wounded by a military spokespersonn. This incident killed 65 people and wounded 100.


2011 Tikrit assault, Description of incident
Several days later the Islamic State of Iraq officially claimed credit for the attack.


2011 Tikrit assault, Casualties in journalism, Sabah Al-Bazi
Sabah Al-Bazi (22 March 1981 in Samarra – 29 March 2011) (also Romanized as al-Bazee), 30, died as a result of shrapnel from the bombing. He was assigned to cover a weapons cache discovery but was diverted by assault and killed by fire while covering operation. He worked for Al-Arabiya, CNN, Reuters and other international media as a freelance journalist. He had worked for Reuters since 2004 and CNN since 2006. Among his notable reporting assignments was the 2006 al-Askari Mosque bombing. Al-Bazi was from Saladin Governorate, married, and had three children.


2011 Tikrit assault, Casualties in journalism, Muammar Khadir Abdelwahad
Muammar Khadir Abdelwahad, 39, also died during the incident, but the cause of death is uncertain. He was a reporter for Al-Ayn news agency. According to the Journalistic Freedoms Observatory, Ayn stated he was in contact with the agency while in the building and then was quoted saying, "We lost contact at the moment of the assault by the security forces. We later learned that he was dead."


2011 Tikrit assault, Impact
The 29 March terrorist attack in Tikrit, Iraq was listed as one of the deadliest attacks in Iraq in 2011. The attack resulted in 65 fatalities and 100 wounded. Among the many that lost their lives were government workers, security forces, and journalists Sabah al-Bazil and Muammar Khadir Abdelwahad. This event highlighted the fragility of the Iraqi security forces while U.S. forces were withdrawing


2011 Tim Hortons Brier
The 2011 Tim Hortons Brier, the Canadian men's national curling championship, was held March 5 until March 13, 2011 at the John Labatt Centre in London, Ontario. This event marked the 30th time that the province of Ontario has hosted the Brier since it began in 1927 in Toronto, Ontario and the first time a Bronze Medal Game was added to the playoffs.


2011 Tim Hortons Brier, Teams
For the second straight year, the defending champion was missing from the Brier. Kevin Koe's Brier champion and World champion rink lost in the Alberta provincial final to Kevin Martin's reigning Olympic champion rink, who played in his 11th Brier.


2011 Tim Hortons Brier, Teams
Representing Manitoba was the former world champion Jeff Stoughton rink, who has represented Manitoba in 5 of the last 6 years. He defeated the Mike McEwen rink, who at the time was ranked #1 in the CTRS, in the Manitoba provincial final.


2011 Tim Hortons Brier, Teams
Returning from Ontario was the former world champion Glenn Howard rink, who has won a record six straight provincial championships.


2011 Tim Hortons Brier, Teams
Returning from Newfoundland and Labrador was the former Olympic champion Brad Gushue, who has won eight of the last nine provincial championships. The Gushue rink was fresh off a break up with Albertan Randy Ferbey who skipped the team in a few World Curling Tour events this season.


2011 Tim Hortons Brier, Teams
The 2005 Brier runner-up Shawn Adams skipped for Team Nova Scotia.


2011 Tim Hortons Brier, Teams
Representing Saskatchewan was Steve Laycock, who made his Brier skipping debut with Pat Simmons as fourth, while looking to win the 4th national title of the year for Saskatchewan, following two Canadian Junior titles and one Scotties title.


2011 Tim Hortons Brier, Teams
The 2010 Brier bronze medalist Brad Jacobs represented Northern Ontario once again.


2011 Tim Hortons Brier, Teams
Jim Cotter skipped Team British Columbia for the first time, taking over the position for an injured Bob Ursel.


2011 Tim Hortons Brier, Teams
The 1997 & 2002 Brier bronze medalist James Grattan represented New Brunswick for a 9th time. His second, Steve Howard, is Glenn Howard's nephew.


2011 Tim Hortons Brier, Teams
Jamie Koe returned to play in his fifth Brier representing the Northwest Territories/Yukon team, hoping to improve on his last place finish in 2010.


2011 Tim Hortons Brier, Teams
Playing in his first Brier since 1994 was Prince Edward Island's Eddie MacKenzie who was also skipping for the first time.


2011 Tim Hortons Brier, Teams
And finally, François Gagné of Quebec played in his first Brier after upsetting former Brier champion Jean-Michel Ménard in the Quebec provincial final.


2011 Tim Hortons Brier, Teams
Skip : Kevin Martin Third: John Morris Second: Marc Kennedy Lead: Ben Hebert Alternate: Dustin Eckstrand


2011 Tim Hortons Brier, Teams
Skip : Jim CotterThird: Ken MaskiewichSecond: Kevin FolkLead: Rick SawatskyAlternate: Brad Wood


2011 Tim Hortons Brier, Teams
Skip : Jeff StoughtonThird: Jon MeadSecond: Reid CarruthersLead: Steve GouldAlternate: Garth Smith


2011 Tim Hortons Brier, Teams
Skip : James Grattan Third: Charles Sullivan Second: Steve Howard Lead: Peter Case Alternate: Paul Nason


2011 Tim Hortons Brier, Teams
Skip : Brad Gushue Third: Mark Nichols Second: Ryan Fry Lead: Jamie Danbrook Alternate: Andrew Symonds


2011 Tim Hortons Brier, Teams
Skip : Brad JacobsThird: E. J. HarndenSecond: Ryan HarndenLead: Scott SeabrookAlternate: Matt Dumontelle


2011 Tim Hortons Brier, Teams
Skip : Shawn AdamsThird: Paul FlemmingSecond: Andrew GibsonLead: Kelly MittelstadtAlternate: Craig Burgess


2011 Tim Hortons Brier, Teams
Skip : Glenn Howard Third: Richard Hart Second: Brent Laing Lead: Craig Savill Alternate: Scott Howard


2011 Tim Hortons Brier, Teams
Skip : Eddie MacKenzie Third: Mike Gaudet Second: Mike Dillon Lead: Alex MacFadyen Alternate: Jamie Newson


2011 Tim Hortons Brier, Teams
Skip : François Gagné Third: Robert Desjardins Second: Christian Bouchard Lead: Philippe Ménard Alternate: Jean-François Charest


2011 Tim Hortons Brier, Teams
Fourth: Pat Simmons Skip: Steve Laycock Second: Brennen Jones Lead: Dallan Muyres Alternate: Kelly Knapp


2011 Tim Hortons Brier, Teams
Skip : Jamie KoeThird: Tom NauglerSecond: Brad ChorostkowskiLead: Martin GavinAlternate: Colin Miller


2011 Tim Hortons Brier, Results
All draw times are listed in Eastern Standard Time (UTC−5).


2011 Tim Hortons Brier, Results, Draw 13
Team P.E.I. was fined $2000 for quitting the game before the 7th end.


2011 Tim Hortons Brier, Playoffs, 3 vs. 4
In the 9th end, Alberta and Ontario's rocks were so close to the tee (the pin hole), that a measurement could not be made, and the umpire ( Keith Reilly 1967 Brier Champion from Ontario ) had to make a call. While Alberta scored the point, Ontario scored two in the 10th to win when Martin missed his last shot, a raise attempt against two, giving Ontario the victory with Howard not having to throw his last.


2011 Timbuktu kidnapping
Timbuktu three refers to three abductees, South African Stephen Malcolm McGown, Swede Johan Gustafsson and Dutchman Sjaak Rijke, who were all kidnapped on 25 November 2011. A fourth German victim was shot and killed when he refused to climb into the kidnappers' truck.


2011 Timbuktu kidnapping
A unit of the Al-Qaeda's North African branch: al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) abducted the three from a restaurant in Timbuktu, Mali. Because McGown has dual citizenship, South African & British, the group offered a trade to the British Government for Abu Qatada who was to be deported to Jordan, where he had been convicted of involvement in militant plots.


2011 Timbuktu kidnapping
Following the kidnapping, several videos were released of the three, offered as proof of life.


2011 Timbuktu kidnapping
Rijke was rescued by French forces in April 2015. Gustafsson was released in June 2017, and McGown was released in July 2017.


2011 Timbuktu kidnapping, Sjaak Rijke
Sjaak Rijke (Dutch pronunciation: [ʃaːk ˈrɛikə]) is a Dutch national who was held hostage by a faction of Al Qaeda in the Maghreb region in Mali since 25 November 2011 with Stephen Malcolm McGown from South Africa and Johan Gustafsson from Sweden. He was liberated by French special forces in the north of Mali on 6 April 2015.


2011 Timbuktu kidnapping, Abduction
Rijke, who worked as a train driver in his native the Netherlands, was taken hostage in Timbuktu in northern Mali on 25 November 2011, together with McGown and Gustafsson. They were all in Mali as tourists, despite the recent unrest and insurgencies in the region. Rijke's wife managed to escape the attack by hiding from the perpetrators. A German tourist who refused to cooperate with the attackers was killed at the scene. Rijke, McGown and Gustafsson were subsequently taken to an undisclosed hiding place.


2011 Timbuktu kidnapping, Abduction
After his hostage taking, the Government of the Netherlands issued a negative travel advice for the northern part of Mali.


2011 Timbuktu kidnapping, Aftermath
In a video posted on YouTube on 12 July 2012, Rijke said he had been captured by Al Qaeda and that he was treated well.


2011 Timbuktu kidnapping, Aftermath
One month later, in August 2012, Arabic TV news broadcaster Al Jazeera broadcast a report in which Rijke and the other two hostages were featured, urging their respective governments to negotiate with Al Qaeda for their release.


2011 Timbuktu kidnapping, Aftermath
In September 2013, almost two years after the kidnapping, AQIM released a video in which Rijke called upon the Dutch government "not to forget about him". The video was probably recorded in June 2013. It was the first sign of Rijke or any of the other hostages since French military actions in Mali in January 2013 when Islamist radicals had threatened to capture Mali's capital Bamako.


2011 Timbuktu kidnapping, Aftermath
On 21 August 2014, on social media the case of Sjaak Rijke caught slight attention with the hashtag #FreeSjaak, commemorating 1000 days of captivity.


2011 Timbuktu kidnapping, Aftermath
In November 2014, AQIM released another video in which Rijke addresses the Dutch government and his family. He says he is in pain and in a difficult security situation, and asks in an emotional way to please help him. The video was made on 26 September 2014, according to Rijke.


2011 Timbuktu kidnapping, Aftermath
Rijke ultimately survived the kidnapping, having been rescued by soldiers of the BFST in April 2015.


2011 Timbuktu kidnapping, Aftermath
In late June 2017, Gustafsson was released and flown to Sweden. No details about the negotiations were made public at the time.


2011 Timbuktu kidnapping, Aftermath
In late July 2017, McGown was released and returned to South Africa. South African officials refused to comment on the terms of the negotiations, but The New York Times reported that the South African government paid €3.5 million (about $4.2 million) to McGown's captors using South African charity Gift of the Givers as an intermediary.


2011 Tippeligaen
The 2011 Tippeligaen was the 67th completed season of top division football in Norway. The competition began on 20 March 2011 and ended on 27 November 2011. Rosenborg were the defending champions, having secured their twenty-second League Championship on 24 October 2010. Sogndal, Sarpsborg 08 and Fredrikstad entered as the three promoted teams from the 2010 1. divisjon. They replaced Hønefoss, Kongsvinger and Sandefjord who were relegated to the 2011 1. divisjon.


2011 Tippeligaen
Molde won their first ever Eliteserien title with two games to spare. Molde's 58 points was a record low for an Eliteserien champion in the current 16-team system.


2011 Tippeligaen
The fastest goal in Norwegian top division history was scored this season on 15 April by Erik Mjelde in a 3–3 draw between his side Brann and Haugesund after 11 seconds.


2011 Tippeligaen, Overview
At the end of the season, Sarpsborg 08 and Start were relegated to the 2012 1. divisjon, due to having finished in the bottom two positions in the standings. There was no two-legged promotion play-offs this season.


2011 Tippeligaen, Overview
On 30 October 2011, Molde became champions with two games to spare after their only remaining challenger, Rosenborg, lost 3–6 to Brann in the 28th round of the series. The trophy was their first ever league championship.


2011 Tippeligaen, Teams
Sixteen teams competed in the league – the top thirteen teams from the previous season, and the three teams promoted from 1. divisjon. The promoted teams were Sogndal, Sarpsborg 08 and Fredrikstad. This was Sarpsborg 08's first top-flight season, while Sogndal and Fredrikstad returned to the top flight after an absence of six years and one season respectively. They replaced Hønefoss (returning after their debut season in the first tier), Kongsvinger (relegated after a season's presence) and Sandefjord (relegated after two years in the top flight).


2011 Tippeligaen, Season statistics, Top scorers
†Veigar Páll Gunnarsson scored nine goals in sixteen games for Stabæk.


2011 Tippeligaen, Season statistics, Top assists
†Veigar Páll Gunnarsson assisted five goals in sixteen games for Stabæk.


2011 Tippeligaen, Season statistics, Top assists
††Jo Nymo Matland assisted three goals in seventeen games for Sarpsborg 08.


2011 Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship
The 2011 Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship was the 121st staging of the Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship since its establishment by the Tipperary County Board in 1887.


2011 Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship
Thurles Sarsfields were the defending champions, however, they were defeated by Clonoulty-Rossmore at the semi-final stage.


2011 Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship
On 16 October 2011, Drom-Inch won the championship after a 1-19 to 2-14 defeat of Clonoulty-Rossmore in the final at Semple Stadium. It remains their only championship title.


2011 Tipperary county hurling team season, Season summary
On 9 November 2010, Declan Ryan was appointed as the new Tipperary Senior hurling manager on a two-year term, succeeding Liam Sheedy. He was joined by Tommy Dunne as the new team coach, with Michael Gleeson of Tipperary county champions Thurles Sarsfields completing the new Tipperary hurling management team. Tipperarys first game of 2011 was in January in the 2011 Waterford Crystal Cup against WIT where they were defeated by a scoreline of 2–17 to 1–19 in Clonmel. Their first league game took place on 12 February against Kilkenny, which finished in a 1–10 to 1–17 defeat at Semple Stadium.