Dow Jones Tesco Lotus is to launch an initial public offering of a Thai property fund which will provide investors with the chance to share in its success in Thailand. The Tesco Lotus Property Fund will initially comprise 15 existing high quality shopping malls, each anchored by a Tesco Lotus hypermarket, in prime locations across Thailand, as well as freehold land and ground leases.

wsj.com ''By releasing value from our Thai property we will be able to invest in further innovation and growth for our customers and shareholders,'' Tesco Chief Financial Officer Laurie McIlwee said.

nationmultimedia.com Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation will Wednesday, under court orders, tear down three private luxury homes that were built illegally in Prachin Buri province's Tab Lan National Park.


PHUKET: A daily wrap of Thailand news, with a Phuket perspective, plus relevant reports from national and international media.

ONE OF the Middle East charter airlines touted as being part of Phuket's developing market has been held up in India with many passengers trapped on two aircraft on the tarmac. ''Those travelling economy class were worse off with feet swollen and toes numb from the long hours in the cramped seats,'' reported one Indian newspaper. ''The toilets also stank as they remained dirty for nearly a day.''

indiatimes.com Around 500 holidaymakers returning to Tehran from Phuket landed in a mess at Kolkata airport as Indian Oil refused to refuel the two aircraft till dues were cleared. The hapless passengers remained stranded in Kolkata, most cooped up inside an aircraft for nearly 12 hours because the airport did not have the requisite infrastructure to host them.

hindustrantimes.com Under the no-credit policy adopted in 2006, India Oil Corporation takes a security deposit - amounting to about a month's fuel consumption - from the airline. The airline is then allowed to refuel for a month on credit. IOC can issue a refuelling embargo if dues are not cleared after a month.

indiatimes.com Iranian private carrier Mahan Air, which has had a dodgy record with allegations of forged acquisition of three Boeing 747-400 aircraft and a ban within the European Union for a year, has of late been making a halt in Kolkata during the return journey from Phuket to Tehran. When the passengers finally reached their destination late on Tuesday, they had no fond memories of the wonderful time in Thailand's fun resort. They carried home a traumatic experience that is sure to haunt them for a long time.

ninemsn.com.au The father of an Adelaide man who died after a machete attack in Thailand fears more Australians will be targeted as local courts fail to hand out appropriate sentences. Andrew Oake was slashed in the arms and head by three men in an attack in March last year as he travelled with his partner near the border with Cambodia. The 28-year-old developed an infection and died.

aap Suvit Srimoonsri, 17, pleaded guilty but his original 10-year jail sentence has been reduced to a suspended three-year term because of his age. The dead man's father, Rory McDonald, said the outcome showed Thai criminals could target foreigners without fear. He said attacks on foreigners were commonplace in Thailand with "people being robbed and attacked all the time". Mr McDonald plans to appeal.

bangkokpost.com MBK Plc, the operator of MBK shopping centre, plans to spend six billion baht to expand its retail and property business in 2012-14. MBK currently has 500 rai of land pending for new project developments, including community malls, with 300 rai in Phuket and the remaining 200 rai in Pathum Thani.

afp Fly Tuk-Tuk: South Africa's mini-bus industry, known for violent turf wars, launched a budget airline targeting smaller cities in remote areas. Disputes over routes and fares frequently lead to clashes at the ranks, but the industry is trying to clean up its image and become a formal business.

belfast telegraph.co.uk A prominent Northern Ireland businessman has been convicted of a baseball bat attack on a policeman who was caught wearing only his underpants hiding in his brother's luxury home. The businessman did not know unitl later that his brother's Thai wife had been having an affair with the policeman. He thought he was a pedophile.

mashable.com Google+ v Facebook: In the space of a few short hours, Google+ wrenched open the floodgates, allowing anyone to sign up for the fledgling social network - while Facebook retooled its newsfeed so you won't miss any of your friends' vital updates.

wsj.com If only phones could be used to pay for things, it would be easier to leave a wallet behind. Enter Google Wallet. This mobile app uses a chip in the phone so it can be waved in front of payment stations to buy things.

theage.com.au Predictions that the Australian dollar will slide back to parity with the US dollar will come as a relief to Australian tourism operators [But not to Phuket operators.] The strong performance of the dollar has encouraged Australians to holiday overseas in record numbers.

nationmultimedia.com The Labor Ministry expects to push the daily minimum wage up to 300 baht across the country before the end of next year after a significant raise of about 40 per cent in Phuket and six other provinces on January 1. Currently Phuket has the highest at 221 baht, while Phayao has the lowest at 159 baht.

bangkokpost.com Cabinet approved in principle a plan to raise the monthly income of civil servants with bachelor's degrees to 15,000 baht, while leaving open the possibility that the benefit may be extended to personnel with lower levels of education.

afp Malaysian maritime authorities said they arrested six Indonesians attempting to rob a ship in the Strait of Malacca, the latest in a surge of piracy attacks. The suspects were spotted by Malaysian patrols as they tried to board a merchant vessel off southern Johor state near Singapore, Maritime Enforcement Agency chief Admiral Zulkifli Abu Bakar said.

reuters Laser-guided travel pods that work without drivers or timetables were officially unveiled at London's Heathrow airport. Travelling at speeds up to 40 kmh, the pods run along tracks and allow passengers to select their destinations along a 3.8 km route.



THE FIRST-EVER joint Skal and PATA event on Phuket will be held at the Movenpick Resort and Spa Karon Beach on Saturday September 24 from 5.30pm, with leading tourism officials attending, with a delegation from Bangkok. Phuket resort GMs, travel and tourism industry leaders are invited to join. The cocktail and dinner event can be booked by emailing Arnupab Satakorn on Arnupab@PATA-Thailand.org

TWINPALMS, noted for holding some of the best parties on Phuket, is celebrating its seventh anniversary on Saturday September 24 with an event at the Catch Beach Club in Surin from 8pm to Midnight that features performers and the intriguing dress code: white (latex welcome.) Telephone: 076 316657.

Phuket Update A group of 25 from the Penang Regional Development Agency visited Phuket to look at the island's one village one product output and were told that Phuket now produces and sells local crafts through OTOP valued at 600 million baht a year.

benzinga.com Led by growth from Australia and Europe, the value of foreign golf tourism to Thailand may reach 60 billion baht or $US 2 billion in 2012 for the first time. Based on a Tourism Authority of Thailand forecast for a record 19 million inbound visitors next year, up to 600,000 foreign golf tourists - or three percent of the total - will make a beeline for golf destinations Bangkok, Phuket, Hua Hin, Pattaya and Chiang Mai.

Phuket Update Airports of Thailand staff from Phuket International Airport combined with local school students and staff from the Indigo Pearl Resort and a local hospital in a ''Big Cleaning Day'' around Phuket's Nai Yang beach region. A total of 900 people took part.

afp A Chinese businessman has put down a deposit for a rare bottle of whisky at a duty-free shop in Singapore's Changi Airport. With a price tag of $S250,000 the 62-year-old bottle of Dalmore single malt is reportedly one of the most expensive ever sold.

independent.co.uk An influx of capital, caused by a Chinese-led race for Burma's natural resources, has caused the local currency the kyat to soar by 20 to 25 percent. Exports have in a matter of months become unprofitable. Instead, agricultural goods have been dumped on the domestic market, forcing prices down and putting farmers in debt. With 70 percent of the workforce in agriculture, that is a serious problem.



nationmultimedia.com Visitors to Thailand for the Phuket Vegetarian Festival have to follow a strict regime that involves wearing white clothing and doing without meat, alcohol and nicotine. The religious event runs from Tuesday until October 5 on Phuket for the purpose of cleansing and renewing the body and soul, according to the Bangkok tourist office.

September 21-24 Quiksilver Thailand Surf Competition 2011, Patong

September 27-October 5 Vegetarian Festival, Phuket

November 1-6 Women's Beach Volleyball Series at Karon on Phuket

November 26-27 9th Phuket International Soccer 7s

November 27 Laguna Phuket Triathlon

December 3-4 6th Andaman International Soccer 7s

December 4 Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship, Laguna



March 18-28 National Youth Games, Phuket

March 29-April 1 Phuket International Boat Show, Royal Phuket Marina



November 14-21 Fourth Asia Beach Games, Phuket