bbc.co.uk Aerial images from the tsunami-hit Mentawai Islands in Indonesia have revealed the extent of destruction, as officials raised the death toll to 311. Rescuers say 13 villages were washed away and 11 more settlements have not yet been reached.


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

telegraph.co.uk Villagers in Indonesia were not warned of an approaching tsunami because the alert system out at sea had been vandalised, according to an official, as the death toll rose to 282 with more than 400 people still missing.

bbc.co.uk Residents of the Mentawai islands have told the BBC they heard no tsunami warning. Almost exactly two years ago Indonesia launched its new tsunami early warning centre, designed to give people in coastal areas enough time to escape any waves before they reach land. ''The distance from the epicentre was very short . . . there's no time to act" on an alert, an aid agency representative told the BBC.

ft.com The early warning system - established after the 2004 tsunami that left 240,000 people dead regionwide - was composed of a series of detection buoys placed off Indonesia's coast. Similar problems have plagued the system in Thailand, where authorities reported the theft of parts by fishermen. Experts predict it is only a matter of time before another earthquake strikes on the same scale as in 2004, when 180,000 Indonesians were killed. [5400 people died on Phuket and along the Andaman coast.]

xinhua.net The eruption of the Mount Merapi volcano in Central Java of Indonesia on Tuesday has killed 29 people and forced 40,475 others flee homes, officials said. Indonesia lies in a quake-prone zone called the Pacific Ring of Fire. The country now has 129 active volcanoes.

bloomberg.com Russian police uncovered 35,000 cases of corruption in the first nine months of this year, including alleged crimes by four deputy governors and five regional ministers. Major bribe-taking increased by 17.5 percent from January to September compared with the same period of 2009, the Interior Ministry said.



wsj.com So what exactly is an Aquaminium? According to Gulu Lalvani, the Royal Phuket Marina chief executive and developer who says he created the term, it's an apartment complex on the water with one added feature - an indoor parking garage for a boat. The idea came from James Bond, says Mr Lalvani.

curbed.com A totally new kind of housing has cropped up in Thailand, reports The Wall Street Journal this morning. Aquaminium, as it's called, is a luxury apartment building on the Royal Phuket Marina that provides indoor boat storage for residents of the two penthouses. (Other residents, it seems, have to slum it with the plebes by parking their boats at boring ol' docks.)

Phuket Update The newly formed Phuket Sunshine Sailing Club, has just organised a 12 day race training course in Ao Yon, led by two Thai coaches from the Royal Thai Navy. The existing Optimist Sailors, who live at the Phuket Sunshine Village Foundation, first stated sailing at the PYC but have now set up their own club - The Phuket Sunshine Sailing Club, with the objective to develop a full-on race training and regatta program, providing sponsorship continues from local businesses and overseas organisations. Leading the event from the Navy was Sutee Poonpat, a very accomplished sailor, who started sailing Optimist as a boy and has gone on to win various championships to include a Gold Medal at the Asean Games. Inquiries: Katy Gooch 085 2159185.

bangkokpost.com The number of passengers passing through Thailand's six main airports last month including Suvarnabhumi rose by 5.57 percent, reflecting a return to normal growth following the slump amid the political turmoil from March to May. The upward trend will probably continue for the rest of the year as the high travel season arrives and continued economic expansion drives air cargo shipments.

mcot.net The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will launch six measures to promote the status of the tourism industry in Bangkok, including marketing plans, improved safety measures and improved facilities for tourists in a bid for the 'City of Angels' to retain the World's Best City next year, according to Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra.

guardian.co.uk Britain should stop "kowtowing" to US demands over airport security, the chairman of British Airways, Martin Broughton, said, adding that American airports did not implement some checks on their own internal flights. He suggested the practice of forcing passengers on US-bound flights to take off their shoes and to have their laptops checked separately in security lines should be dropped.

ft.com The UK newspaper market has shrunk by 22 percent since 2004, leaving publishers little choice but to innovate. The new slimmed-down version of The Independent - called i - that went on sale on Tuesday, ranks alongside The Times' online paywall as another huge gamble.

thestar.com BEST BUY OF THE WEEK Two Courtyard by Marriott properties on the Thai island of Phuket are offering discounted rates. Room rates at the Courtyard by Marriott resorts at Patong Beach and Surin Beach start at THB 4520 (about Can$155) and THB 5320 (about Can$183) respectively, for two people, including breakfast for stays November 1 - December 23.

onlineprnews.com Phuket - For those who are visiting Phuket it is important that they make all their travel arrangements well in advance because without booking Phuket hotels or making other Phuket vacations arrangement it is not possible to enjoy one's vacation. Vacationers can now plan their Phuket holiday sitting right at home.



November 1 Yellow Submarine Divers on Phuket will launch the Donate As You Dive campaign
November 2-7 Phuket womens' beach volleyball, Karon beach
November 5 Phuket Charity Pro Am Golf, Blue Canyon
November 6 Charity golf at Tab Lamu, near Khao Lak: Call Sam on 089 875 1995 E: sam@khaolakappeal.com
November 6 Thailand Property Awards, Bangkok
November 12 IBAP meets at Thai Naan restaurant to hear Woody Leonard on what's best for internet access on Phuket.
November 19 AustCham at the new Westin Hotel at Koh Sireh from 3pm. E: harry@ladypie.com Tel: 081 2731740
November 21 Loy Kratong Festival
November 28 Laguna Phuket triathlon
December 4-11 Phuket King's Cup Regatta
December 5 Laguna Ironman title
December 15-20 Patong Carnival
2011
January 6-9 PIMEX boat show, Royal Phuket Marina
January 23 The Great Phuket Rubber Duck Race Day, Laguna Phuket
February 9-13 The Bay Regatta - Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi