Phuketwan Live Update The new socialist president of France has told supporters in Paris to carry their victory beyond their borders and lead the force of change in Europe. Francois Hollande said his victory had sent a clear message that France did not want to be crippled by austerity measures. He has promised to tax the rich - a move that could boost sales of Phuket villas.

smh.com.au The Australian sharemarket took a $A27 billion beating today as fears the French and Greek election results could derail the collective response to the eurozone debt crisis sent spooked investors running for the exits.

bbc.co.uk French papers give newly elected President Francois Hollande a warm welcome, ranging from rapturous among left-leaning dailies to respectful on the right.


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

ft.com Fifty-seven-year-old Socialist leader Francois Hollande grabbed victory in the French presidential election, defeating Nicolas Sarkozy, who became the latest victim of an anti-incumbent backlash that has felled leaders across the eurozone.

smh.com.au The Aussie dollar shed 1 US cent when trading resumed this morning, sinking to as low as $US1.0145 - its weakest point since since January 9. [A high Aussie dollar brings tourists to Phuket.]

cnn.com While acknowledging voters' anger at austerity measures and that his party didn't win "a strong mandate," the head of Greece's right-leaning New Democracy said that his party got more votes than any other in parliamentary elections.

abc.net.au Just hours before Vladimir Putin is due to be inaugurated for his third term as Russia's president opposition protesters and riot police have clashed near the Kremlin.

wenn The Who rocker Roger Daltrey has poked fun at the organisers of the 2012 London Olympics after they emailed the band and requested the presence of late drummer Keith Moon at the opening ceremony. Moon died in 1978.

pattayadailynews.com Pattaya police arrested a transwomen gang who had snatched and grabbed many tourists' belongings in Walking Street and the beach. When the police searched their room, they found their British pimp boyfriend Lewis Karl Budd, 27, whose visa had expired.

pattayadailynews.com Transnational Crime Coordination Center division arrested US citizen Robert Warren Stanberry Jr, 64. for using fake cards to withdraw money from ATM machines. A fake British passport in the name of Brood Thomas was also found.

nationmultimedia.com Rental accommodation in Phuket is seeing strong demand from both Thais and foreigners, resulting in the launch of budget condominiums, Knight Frank Phuket director Nattha Kapapana said. Condos are springing up in many parts of the island, and most of them offer rental guarantees of six percent for three years in some projects in Patong and nine years for another project in Karon.

bangkokpost.com Editorial: Reporters Without Borders says Thailand ranks 137th in the world, with 61.5 out of a possible 100 freedom points. The US-based Freedom House gives Thailand 62 out of 100, good enough to tie the country with Libya, Liberia and Zambia in 132nd place in the world. This is a terrible performance by a country striving for real democracy.

gulftoday.ae Bangkok is moving in the direction of having its world-renowned spa establishments and treatments, ''conform to halal regulations,'' in a move to lure more tourists from the Middle East.

bernama Several Rohingya organisations have made a call for the 2014 census in Burma (Myanmar) to be universal and inclusive of the Rohingya people: ''No true census has ever taken place and great injustice has been done to the ethnic Rohingyas.''

4hoteliers.com The Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, a new-build resort located in the main tourist area of Patong, features 303 rooms, a 2000-square-metre swimming pool, spa, fitness centre, restaurant, pool bar, kids' club, babysitting service and iMac internet corner.

channelnewsasia.com Savills director of International Residential Sales Julian Sedgwick said: "Over the last two years, we've seen an increase of Singaporeans looking for holiday homes, and buying in close proximity to Singapore. It's about the buyer looking for ease and access.'' Facing stiff competition from destinations like Bali and Phuket, Batam's pitch as a prime property market still has some way to go.

thewest.com.au Starwood is believed to have five Bali properties in the pipeline, including a new Sheraton Hotel in Kuta, a high-end Westin Hotel resort in Ubud and one of its premium brand Luxury Collections resorts in Jimbaran. Starwood's luxury W Hotel in Seminyak celebrated its first year of business in March and has been sold out for most of the past 12 months.

scmp.com For golf resort operator Mission Hills the launch of two mega-sized property developments in Guangdong and Hainan next year could provide an ideal time to float its shares on the Hong Kong stock market.



Agencies Manchester City have one hand on the Premier League title after Yaya Toure's brace led them to a 2-0 win at Newcastle. Manchester United kept pace with City, defeating Swansea 2-0 but were still trailing their cross-town rivals on goal difference.

thescottishsun.co.uk Alan McTurk reckons the hardest thing about building a World Cup squad is convincing the wives to let the players go to Thailand. The former Kilwinning Rangers player is in charge of the Scotland Senior squad that will compete in Phuket next month: ''We'll be playing five games in six days, so it's a pretty heavy schedule.''

afp Australian world champion Casey Stoner won the Portuguese MotoGP on Sunday for his second successive victory this season, giving him a one-point lead in the championship.

yachte.com Fantasia, a 50-foot catamaran designed and built and sailed by her Australian owner and his family that placed fourth at the 2011 Phuket King's Cup Regatta, has thrown down the gauntlet in the Ocean Multihull class at the 2012 Top of the Gulf Regatta.

sail-world.com Scott Duncanson's Phuket 8, Quantum, out of the picture after her capsize, was floated and then lifted out of the water: ''At least we know that a Phuket 8 still floats when completely full of water. We've removed all the fish, frogs and seaweed, and cleaned her down.''



May 5-7 Corontation Day long weekend

Until May 13 Krabi celebrates the province's 140th anniversary

May 9 Royal Ploughing ceremony day

May 25-27 Phuket Rugby Tens

May 26-June 5 National Youth Games, Phuket

June 8-10 Laguna Phuket International Marathon

July 18-22 Phuket Raceweek



November 14-21 Fourth Asia Beach Games, Phuket