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More than 1,000 people still remain unaccounted for after a wildfire ripped through Hawaiian town of Lahaina two weeks ago, officials said. Authorities are now expected to make public a list of the missing in the coming days to try to narrow the search. Some search teams combing through the rubble are finding only bones or fragments of bodies, which makes the task difficult. The official death toll stands at 115. The blazes destroyed most of the historic Maui town of Lahaina on 8 August and the fires are now considered the worst natural disaster in Hawaii state history. At a press conference on Tuesday, FBI special agent Steven Merrill overseeing the search said: "We may not know in the end about everybody." "We're considering everybody on that list until we can prove that they're not on that list." Roughly 1,400 of the 2,500 people who were initially reported unaccounted for have been found. But the exact number of the missing has been a difficult figure for officials to tally. "Every day the numbers will change," Mr Merrill said. The latest missing estimate comes a day after Maui mayor Richard Bissen said the number was thought to be around 850. Officials have been unable to estimate how many of the 1000-plus missing are presumed dead. Search crews with cadaver dogs have been scouring the burn area for human remains. The ferocious heat from the fire, high enough to melt fire trucks, has made the task complicated as some of the search teams are finding only bones or fragments of bodies among piles of ash. FULL STORY

The indictment alleges Giuliani was a key part of a criminal conspiracy, pressing election officials to act on voting fraud claims that he was repeatedly told were false. Rudy Giuliani, Donald Trump’s personal lawyer who championed the former president’s bogus election fraud claims, said he will turn himself in to authorities in Georgia on Wednesday to face racketeering charges alleging he meddled in the state’s 2020 presidential election. "I’m going to Fulton County to comply with the law, which I always do," he told reporters before leaving for Georgia. "I don’t know if I plea today but if I do I plead not guilty." Giuliani and Trump both face 13 counts, more than the other 17 defendants in the case. The former New York City mayor has maintained his innocence, and claimed the only thing he’s guilty of was zealously advocating for his client. “I never thought I’d ever get indicted for being a lawyer,” Giuliani said on his radio show last week. Trump has said he will surrender at the Atlanta jail Thursday. FULL STORY

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Yuscil Taveras, who was identified previously as 'Trump Employee 4', appears to have changed his story In June, Taveras was informed he's the subject of a perjury investigation and offered a federal public defender According to those same court filings, it appears this change has led Taveras to change his tune on Trump, Walt Nauta and Carlos de Oliveira Trump's former Mar-a-Lago IT director has sensationally flipped on the former president - admitting he lied during previous testimony. Yuscil Taveras, previously identified as 'Trump Employee 4', has backtracked on his claims which defended the 45th President, after replacing his Trump-funded attorney. Taveras, 44, fired Stanley Woodward, who is backed by Trump's Save America PAC, after being informed that he was the subject of a perjury investigation in June. He was then offered a federal public defender, which has seemingly led to the IT specialist cooperating with Special Counsel Jack Smith and testify against Trump. The New York native is also going against former aide and White House valet Walt Nauta and Mar-a-Lago head of maintenance Carlos de Oliveira, in the case alleging the mishandling of classified documents. Court documents say that Taveras 'retracted his prior false testimony' immediately after receiving new counsel, and 'provided information that implicated Nauta, [Carlos] De Oliveira, and Trump'. He is now claiming that both men were part of the plot to 'delete security camera footage, as set forth in the superseding indictment', the court documents revealed. FULL STORY

India has become the first nation to land on the moon's south pole It comes after a Russian probe crashed in the same region at the weekend India has made history today as the first country to successfully land a spacecraft on the moon's south pole. The Chandrayaan-3 lander, which has been in lunar orbit for over two weeks, touched down on the lunar south at 18:03 Indian Standard Time (13:33 BST) on Wednesday. At around 13:20 BST, it began its descent, prompting nervous looks from Indian officials on Earth as it got closer and closer to the moon's surface – watched by the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi. Ground control celebrated a successful landing with frenzied whoops and cheers as India wrote itself into the history books – beating Russian to the record. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is streaming the event now, and MailOnline is covering the reaction as it happens.

Members of the China- and Russia-led BRICS economic bloc remain at odds about how to proceed with aggressive expansion and the establishment of a new currency as they meet for a summit in South Africa. "While at this point, the effort is largely aspirational, Washington cannot ignore this movement because it is increasingly gaining traction," Rebekah Koffler, president of Doctrine & Strategy Consulting and a former Defense Intelligence Agency officer, told Fox News Digital. "It’s not going to happen this year or next, but unless Washington takes it seriously and restores global confidence in the U.S. dollar, stops using it as a weapon of economic warfare rather than as intended for economic, not political purposes, it will happen gradually," she added. Russian President Vladimir Putin has abstained from attending the summit due to concerns that he would face arrest by the International Criminal Court over alleged child abduction crimes related to the invasion of Ukraine, but the meeting has plenty of drama to occupy itself otherwise. The BRICS bloc, which is named for its members, Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, started out with all but South Africa in 2001, adding its fifth member in 2010. The group made headlines before its summit in Johannesburg when it announced that the members had considered another, wider membership expansion. FULL STORY

Biden accused of showing the 'same callousness' to Maui fire victims as Gold Star families following Afghanistan withdrawal President Biden’s retelling of a 15-year-old story about a minor fire at his Delaware home is facing renewed backlash after he told victims of the deadly Hawaii wildfires Monday he shared "a little sense" of what they were going through. While visiting the fire-ravaged remains of Maui, Biden recalled the fire that started at his Wilmington home due to lightning. "I don’t want to compare difficulties, but we have a little sense, Jill and I, of what it was like to lose a home," Biden said. "Years ago, now 15 years, I was in Washington doing ‘Meet the Press’. … Lightning struck at home on a little lake outside the home. Not a lake. A big pond. It hit the wire and came up underneath our home, into the … air condition ducts. "To make a long story short, I almost lost my wife, my '67 Corvette and my cat." Biden has recalled the story multiple times in recent years in an apparent attempt to connect with victims of natural disasters. A 2004 report from The Associated Press, archived by LexisNexis, said lightning struck the Bidens’ home and started a "small fire that was contained to the kitchen." The report said firefighters got the blaze under control in 20 minutes, and they were able to keep the flames from spreading beyond the kitchen. The Republican National Committee posted videos Tuesday showing Biden telling multiple variations of the story. In October of last year, Biden told Hurricane Ian victims in Florida that he lost "an awful lot" of his home due to the fire. FULL STORY

Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) warned Tuesday that the House could launch an impeachment inquiry as soon as September if the Biden administration doesn’t turn over documents — including some that were apparently never requested by the GOP. Asked by Larry Kudlow if he has made up his mind on beginning an impeachment inquiry, McCarthy said the House will begin one if the Bidens do not provide Congress with documents lawmakers are seeking. The comments were McCarthy’s clearest signal yet that such an investigation could be on the horizon in the lower chamber. But the Speaker was largely vague on what documents were at issue — even as Republicans say they are gathering evidence that Biden and his son accepted a bribe from Ukrainian officials. It’s a charge the White House has strongly denied. “The thing that holds up whether we do impeachment inquiry, provide us the documents we’re asking,” McCarthy said. “The whole determination here is how the Bidens handled this.” “If they provide us the documents, there wouldn’t be a need for impeachment inquiry. But if they withhold the documents and fight like they have now to not provide to the American public what they deserve to know, we will move forward with impeachment inquiry when we come back into session,” he added. McCarthy at one point added they were seeking bank statements and credit card statements, though did not specify for whom. FULL STORY

India’s Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft is swooping toward the moon’s surface ahead of its historic landing attempt, and it’s capturing some stunning visuals on the way. The Indian Space Research Organization confirmed Tuesday that Chandrayaan-3 is on schedule and “smooth sailing is continuing.” The spacecraft is set to begin its final descent toward the moon’s surface on Wednesday at 5:45 p.m. IST (8:15 a.m. ET). If successful, this mission will mark the very first soft landing on the lunar surface by an Indian spacecraft and make India the fourth country ever to accomplish such a feat. Currently, the United States, China and the former Soviet Union are the only nations that have conducted controlled landings of spacecraft on the moon. India’s space agency will livestream the landing attempt starting at 5:20 p.m. IST (7:50 a.m. ET) on Wednesday. The ISRO on Tuesday marked the eve of Chandrayaan-3’s landing by sharing photos and footage captured with cameras on the spacecraft. One bird’s-eye view of the moon was taken from 70 kilometers (43.5 miles) above the lunar surface, depicting such features as the Mare Marginis, a large black spot formed by ancient asteroid strikes on the extreme edge of the near side of the moon. FULL STORY

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(Source:https://unsplash.com/photos/hIgeoQjS_iE) How much does health insurance cost in Thailand now? Whether you’re already in Thailand or someone who’s considering relocating to Thailand, healthcare is an important aspect to consider. As the world recovers from the impact of COVID-19, this might be a good time to re-evaluate your healthcare plan. According to the latest Cost of International Health Insurance Report 2023 by Pacific Prime, the average premiums for international private medical insurance (IPMI) plans are increasing across the globe. Thailand - still one of the cheapest countries to get insured When looking for a health insurance plan before you look at the nitty gritty details, you should consider your budget and the cost of health insurance in Thailand. Based on the data collected, in Thailand, the average premium for individual IPMI plans in 2022 stood at USD $3,594, a whopping 77% increase (one of the highest from the data collected) when compared to the previous year. Despite the massive increase, Thailand is still one of the cheapest countries to get insured in–the country ranked 71 for the most expensive countries to get insured in (out of 100 countries). Looking at family plans, Thailand also saw a steep surge in cost. In 2021, the country ranked last for the most expensive country to get insured based on the average cost of international health insurance for families among the 100 countries surveyed. In 2022, the average cost stood at USD $11,683, and the country rose to the 50th spot with a significant 59% increase when compared to 2021 (USD $7,367). Possible causes of cost spike The cost spike had been caused by a number of factors, from the general life expectancy increase to just good ol’ fashion inflation. As life expectancy increases, the need for medical services will also increase. In 2019, the Thai government also extended their dual pricing policy to include public hospitals, directly raising the price of medical services for expats who are classified as tier 2 on the pricing system and retirees and tourists who are classified as tier 3 (most expensive). This could directly affect the cost of health insurance in Thailand for foreigners. After COVID-19, the general public have become more aware of their personal health and maintenance. As one of Asia’s most popular medical tourist destinations, the demand for healthcare services in both the public and private sectors will see a surge. Any time demand surges, so will the price. Learn more from Pacific Prime If you are interested in reading more information on the cost of international health insurances, please download your free copy of the Cost of International Health Insurance Report 2023 to find out the global trends. With over 20 years in the field, Pacific Prime Thailand is your trusted partner for all things insurance. Pacific Prime works together with both local and international insurers in Thailand and offer a wide range of insurance plans for their customers. Their team of professionals can help you navigate the complicated details and present to you plans that best fits your needs and budget. Contact them today to get a free quote!

Apple has sprinkled features into its iPhone to help anyone capture great photos. But a little-known setting could be why your snaps are not living up to the hype. Tucked away in the Camera app is a setting called Prioritize Faster Shooting, which is great for bursts of photos but diminishes the quality of other images. The feature is activated by default but can be turned off by going to Settings, Camera and then scrolling down the list of options. On iPhone X, iPhone XR and later, the Prioritize Faster Shooting setting modifies how images are processed—allowing you to capture more photos when you rapidly tap the Shutter button. The option is also only available on devices with iOS 13. Prioritize Faster Shooting will sacrifice the quality of photos for speed - and usually end up with more blurry images. FULL ARTICLE

House Republicans on Monday subpoenaed several FBI and IRS agents involved in the federal investigation into Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden as the party weighs whether to open an impeachment inquiry into the president this fall. Leaders of the House Judiciary and Ways and Means committees demanded testimony from four agents who worked on the yearslong Justice Department case into President Joe Biden’s youngest son and his tax and business dealings. “Our duty is to follow the facts wherever they may lead, and our subpoenas compelling testimony from Biden administration officials are crucial to understanding how the president’s son received special treatment from federal prosecutors and who was the ultimate decision maker in the case,” Reps. Jim Jordan of Ohio and Jason Smith of Missouri said in a statement. Both men, along with Oversight chairman James Comer, joined forces in June to open an investigation into what they have claimed is widespread, improper interference in the high-profile case. One focus of the congressional inquiry has been a October 2022 meeting where U.S. attorney for Delaware, David Weiss, who was in charge of the Hunter Biden case, supposedly told investigators that he was not the “deciding person whether charges are filed” and that in multiple instances his efforts to bring charges in multiple jurisdictions were denied. That's according to Gary Shapley, an IRS employee who was in the room. FULL STORY

U.S. children and teens are more likely to die because of guns than car crashes, drug overdoses and cancer. Gun-related deaths among children in the U.S. reached a distressing peak in 2021, claiming 4,752 young lives and surpassing the record total seen during the first year of the pandemic, a new analysis of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data found. The alarming statistic clearly indicated that America’s gun violence epidemic has gotten worse, experts say. More than 80% of the gun deaths were among males 19 and younger. Black male children were more likely to die from homicide. White males 19 and younger were more likely to kill themselves with guns. “This is undoubtedly one of our chief public health crises in this country,” said Dr. Chethan Sathya, a pediatric trauma surgeon at Northwell Health in New York and the lead author of the study, which was published Monday in the journal Pediatrics. “The most likely reason that your child will die in this country is at the hands of a firearm. That’s not acceptable.” FULL STORY

Donald Trump has said he plans to turn himself in on Thursday to a court in Atlanta, Georgia, to face charges of election interference. A judge in Georgia overseeing the former president's case earlier set a bail bond of $200,000 (£157,000). The bail filing says Mr Trump can remain free pending trial so long as he does not attempt to threaten or intimidate witnesses. Mr Trump denies 13 charges, including racketeering and false statements. "The defendant shall perform no act to intimidate any person known to him or her to be a co-defendant or witness in this case or to otherwise obstruct the administration of justice," says the court filing posted on Monday. "The above shall include, but are not limited to, posts on social media or reposts of posts made by another individual on social media," the order adds. The order was signed by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who is overseeing the case, and lawyers for Mr Trump. But on Monday Mr Trump posted to his social media platform, Truth Social, writing: "Can you believe it? I'll be going to Atlanta, Georgia, on Thursday to be ARRESTED by a Radical Left District Attorney, Fani Willis. "She campaigned, and is continuing to campaign, and raise money on, this WITCH HUNT," he added. "This is in strict coordination with crooked Joe Biden's DOJ." FULL STORY

The prospect of a possible strike at a liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant in Australia has pushed wholesale gas prices up in Europe. The Offshore Alliance union warned that a strike at the North West Shelf facility could start as early as 2 September if no deal on pay is reached. Benchmark gas prices for the EU and UK rose around 10% on Monday, according to Bloomberg. Prices soared after Russia's invasion of Ukraine but have since fallen. There are fears that strike action at Woodside Energy Group's North West Shelf facility could cause disruption to shipments of LNG from Australia, which is a key global supplier. Workers at two other offshore LNG facilities, Gorgon and Wheatstone, operated by Chevron, are also voting on strike action, with results expected on Thursday. Together the three plants make up about 10% of the world's supply of LNG. Ben McWilliams, an affiliate fellow at the think tank Bruegel, warned the strikes might impact the prices globally of LNG. Speaking to the BBC's Newsday programme earlier this month, Mr McWilliams said: "Australia typically supplies Asia, but if these strikes were to go ahead, and Australian gas were cut to Asian consumers, we would see Asian consumers turning around and looking, for example, to Qatar and competing with European buyers there." Mr McWilliams said that if that were to happen there would be a "knock-on effect on prices". Following the start of the war in Ukraine, Russia slashed supplies of natural gas to Europe, which led countries to seek out alternative sources of energy. Many countries are relying on LNG to fill the gap. Australia is one of the world's largest exporters of LNG. The others are Qatar and the US. FULL STORY

A flagship Russian long-range bomber has been destroyed in a Ukrainian drone strike, according to reports. Images posted on social media and analysed by BBC Verify show a Tupolev Tu-22 on fire at Soltsy-2 airbase, south of St Petersburg. Moscow said that a drone was hit by small-arms fire but managed to "damage" a plane. Ukraine has not commented. Later, Russian air defence downed two attack drones over the Moscow region, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said. Defence officials said two others were intercepted over the Bryansk region, north-east of the Ukrainian border. Flights were suspended at Moscow's three biggest airports, according to state media - but the two main international airports at Sheremetyevo and Domodedovo later reopened. The Russian Tu-22 bomber that was destroyed can travel at twice the speed of sound and has been used extensively by Russia to attack cities in Ukraine. Moscow's defence ministry said in a statement that an attack by a "copter-type UAV" took place at around 10:00 Moscow time (08:00 BST) on Saturday. It stated the location as "a military airfield in the Novgorod region", where Soltsy-2 is situated. "The UAV was detected by the airfield's observation outpost and was hit with small-arms fire," the ministry said. "One airplane was damaged; there were no casualties as a result of the terrorist act." FULL STORY

President Joe Biden has toured wildfire damage in Hawaii after scrutiny of his administration's response to the state's worst ever natural disaster. He arrived in Maui on Monday, 13 days after the deadliest US wildfire in over a century, telling survivors the nation "grieves with you". Mr Biden and First Lady Jill Biden toured the charred ruins of the town of Lahaina and met first responders. At least 114 people have died and 850 people are still missing. Hawaii's governor has said many of the victims may be children. "For as long as it takes, we're going to be with you," said Mr Biden, who spoke for about 10 minutes amid the rubble. "The whole country will be with you." He added: "The country grieves with you, stands with you and will do everything possible to help you recover." Mr Biden - who also took an aerial tour - described the wildfire devastation as "overwhelming". The president and the federal agencies he oversees have come under fire from Hawaiians who say aid has been inadequate and poorly organised. Musician and loving grandma among Hawaii victims The red Lahaina house that survived Maui fires FULL STORY

A cargo ship fitted with giant, rigid British-designed sails has set out on its maiden voyage. Shipping firm Cargill, which has chartered the vessel, hopes the technology will help the industry chart a course towards a greener future. The WindWings sails are designed to cut fuel consumption and therefore shipping's carbon footprint. It is estimated the industry is responsible for about 2.1% of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The Pyxis Ocean's maiden journey, from China to Brazil, will provide the first real-world test of the WindWings - and an opportunity to assess whether a return to the traditional way of propelling ships could be the way forward for moving cargo at sea. Folded down when the ship is in port, the wings are opened out when it is in open water. They stand 123ft (37.5m) tall and are built of the same material as wind turbines, to make them durable. Enabling a vessel to be blown along by the wind, rather than rely solely on its engine, could hopefully eventually reduce a cargo ship's lifetime emissions by 30%. Jan Dieleman, president of Cargill Ocean Transportation, said the industry was on a "journey to decarbonise". He admitted there was "no silver bullet" - but said this technology demonstrated how fast things were changing. FULL STORY

Summary Lucy Letby is given a whole life term, with no chance of parole, for the murder of seven babies and the attempted murder of six more "This was a cruel, calculated and cynical campaign of child murder," the judge says Letby refused to appear in court - Rishi Sunak confirms the government is planning to change the law to compel convicts to attend sentencing This morning, one mother said the murder of her son was "like something out of a horror story" Other parents said their surviving children, whom Letby attempted to murder, are now disabled Just three other woman have ever been given whole life terms - Myra Hindley, Rosemary West, and Joanna Dennehy

Trump is neck-and-neck with Biden in early opinion polls European diplomats are not overlooking the possibility that Donald Trump might secure a second term in the Oval Office if he is re-elected in 2024, and are actively formulating back-up strategies in case this scenario materialises, according to a report. The prospect of Mr Trump returning to the White House has become an important topic of discussion in private conversations, with some calling it “terrifying”, The New York Times reported. Steven Everts, a European Union diplomat who is set to become the director of the European Union Institute for Security Studies, told the outlet that his colleagues were relieved at US president Joe Biden’s response to the Ukraine war. But they are now being “forced to confront the Trump question again”. “It’s slightly terrifying, it’s fair to say,” he said. He noted that the US plays an important role in European security, and said that diplomats will now “have to think again about what this means for our own politics, for European defence and for Ukraine itself”. The discussions around the potential fallout if Mr Trump returns to power are intensifying as the former president is emerging as a strong challenger for the Republican presidential nomination, tying up with his popularity in opinion polls despite a slew of indictments against him. Fresh polling conducted by the Associated Press-Norc Center for Public Affairs Research revealed that almost two-thirds of Republicans, specifically 63 per cent, are now expressing their desire that the former president run for office again. FULL STORY

The Louisiana Republican said he thinks the charges related to the former president’s mishandling of classified documents after he left office are “almost a slam dunk." Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., said Sunday that he thinks Donald Trump should drop out of the 2024 presidential election as the former president faces criminal charges from four indictments. “I think so,” Cassidy said when he was asked in an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union” whether he thinks Trump should drop out. “But, obviously, that’s up to him. I mean, you’re just asking me my opinion,” he added. “But he will lose to Joe Biden if you look at the current polls. I’m a Republican. I think any Republican on that stage in Milwaukee will do a better job than Joe Biden.” Asked whether he would vote for Biden if Trump ultimately wins the Republican nomination, Cassidy said: “I’m going to vote for a Republican. “But my threshold issue for any person who wants to be the leader of our country is will you take care of the issues before us?” he said. “Both Biden and Trump both have the same policy in Social Security, for example, which is to do nothing.” FULL STORY

Rudy Giuliani was down in the dumps. It was January 2008, and the former New York City mayor had flamed out of the Republican presidential primaries in spectacular fashion. He had longed to be the first Italian-American president of the United States. Now what? “In the wake of that crash and burn, Giuliani started to drink and went into a depression,” said Andrew Kirtzman, a longtime New York City journalist who has written two biographies of Giuliani. An unlikely figure stepped up to help: Donald Trump. The real estate mogul allowed Giuliani and his third wife, Judith, to stay at a cottage at Mar-A-Lago where he was able to recuperate outside of the prying eyes of the media. “It was Donald Trump who came to his rescue,” said Kirtzman, who recounted the episode in his 2022 book, “Giuliani: The Rise and Tragic Fall of America’s Mayor.” Some 15 years later, Giuliani has been charged with engaging in a conspiracy to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election on behalf of Trump. The indictment handed down by a grand jury in Fulton County, Georgia, marks the most dramatic turn in the long relationship between the two quintessentially New York figures. For Giuliani the charges also represent a new low in the career arc of a man who was once one of the most admired people on the planet. “His fall from grace is almost complete,” said Ken Frydman, who served as Giuliani’s press secretary during the 1993 mayoral campaign. “His only goal should be to die a free man.” FULL STORY

Hilary will be the first recorded tropical strength storm ever to hit San Diego County, just north of the Mexican border; such a storm is also extremely rare for southern California. Nora hit a remote part of Imperial County to the east in 1997, and in 1939, before storms were named, another came ashore in Long Beach to the north, in Los Angeles County. It’s all part of a pattern of unusual weather to hit North America this year, with parts of the US including California sweltering under scorching heat and Canada suffering from extreme wildfires. Scientists have said that climate change has made weather patterns more extreme. In Palm Springs, a desert getaway in Riverside County about 100 miles (160 km) east of Los Angeles and which has been one of the hottest parts of California this summer, the streets have flooded. FULL STORY Earthquake hits Southern California as Hilary brings historic rainfall and heavy winds