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

reuters.com A dramatic spike in ocean temperatures off Indonesia's Aceh province has killed large areas of coral and scientists fear the event could be much larger than first thought and one of the worst in the region's history. An international team of scientists studying the bleaching event found that 80 percent of some species have died since the initial assessment in May. More coral colonies were expected to die within the next few months - and that could spell disaster for local communities reliant on the reefs for food and money from tourism. [Phuket reefs continue to be affected.]

eurekaalert.org ''It's a disappointing development particularly in light of the fact that these same corals proved resilient to other disruptions to this ecosystem, including the Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004,'' said Indonesia Marine Program Director Dr. Stuart Campbell. ''If a similar degree of mortality is apparent at other sites in the Andaman Sea this will be the worst bleaching event ever recorded in the region.''

ens-newswire.com Bleaching is an indication of stress caused by environmental triggers such as sea surface temperature fluctuations. "I would predict that what we're seeing in Aceh, which is extraordinary, that similar mortality rates are occurring right the way through the Andaman Sea," said Andrew Baird of James Cook University in Townsville, in the Australian state of Queensland.

nationmultimedia.com Fuji Group is branching out from its Fuji Japanese restaurants by opening its first 400million baht Tana Boutique Hotel on Koh Samui by year-end. Fuji now is looking for a site in Phuket to develop a boutique hotel.

xinhua.com Thailand's Public Health Ministry reported 10 more people died last week from the H1N1 virus, bringing the country's toll from the swine flu virus to 245. The number of people sick from the H1N1 virus started to rise in early July, along with the spread of seasonal influenza during the rainy season, the department said.

afp Pakistan's UN envoy in Geneva says that reconstruction in northern areas alone could cost $US2.5 billion ($2.8 billion), after floods stretching to the south ravaged an area ''the size of England.''

ftnnews.com The 17th Laguna Phuket Triathlon and inaugural Ironman 70.3 Asia Pacific Championship are highlights of a unique week-long endurance sports extravaganza set to make Phuket a mecca for professional and amateur triathletes worldwide. The annual Laguna Phuket Triathlon on Sunday, November 28 will kick-off a calendar of sporting and social activities leading up to the Ironman event a week later on Sunday, December 5. ''As Thailand recovers from the effects of political turmoil earlier this year, events such as this are crucial to rebuilding tourist confidence,'' said Laguna Phuket Triathlon event director Debbie Dionysius.

wsj.com Criticism over Thailand's efforts to curb political debate online is mounting. Free-speech activists say authorities are blocking at least 110,000 sites, based on government disclosures and spot checks online.

bangkokpost.com Airports of Thailand Plc saw a reversal in fortune for its third quarter ending June with a loss because of the fall in air traffic, lower receipts from airlines and operators, and foreign exchange loss. The relief package AoT extended to airlines in lower landing and parking fees along with reduced charges to tenants and service providers at airports to help weather the politically induced downturn made a dent in its ledger.

guardian.co.uk An Apple executive pleaded not guilty to charges that he took bribes from Asian suppliers in return for inside information. Paul Devine, a global supply manager at the company, is accused of accepting more than $1 million in kickbacks over several years from manufacturers keen to supply accessories for iPhones and iPods.

reuters The number of passengers buying premium airline tickets jumped again in June, as economic recovery kept first and business seats filled, the airline industry association IATA said.

topnews.in An illegal marriage broker in Malaysia is said to be offering couples an ''express solemnisation service'' via the telephone that takes just 10 minutes to complete. Pak Sheikh, a ''religious'' and self-proclaimed certified zakat (tithes) collector, uses gadgets such as a BlackBerry to run his business. The fake marriage certificates, which come from Thailand, are ready within one week.



August 21 Rip Curl Hunt for Young Surfers, Nai Harn beach
August 29 Patong Rotary Golf Scrambles and fun dinner for charity at Laguna. Details: 081 8929207
September 4 Rip Curl Hunt for Young Surfers, Kata beach
Until September 9 Ramadan
September 11 Phuket Surf Lifesaving Carnival, Loma Park, Patong
September 18 Rip Curl Hunt for Young Surfers, Surin beach
October 1-3 Asian Hospitality and Travel Show, Central Festival Phuket Convention and Exhibition Center, Phuket City
October 8-16 Vegetarian Festival, Phuket
November 2-7 Phuket womens' beach volleyball, Karon beach
December 4-11 Phuket King's Cup Regatta
2011
January 6-9 PIMEX boat show, Royal Phuket Marina
February 9-13 The Bay Regatta - Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi