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The Philippines accused China’s coast guard of obstructing and employing water cannons against a Philippine military supply boat in the South China Sea on Sunday. The Philippines condemned these actions as “excessive and offensive” toward its vessels. China’s coast guard responded by asserting that it had applied requisite measures in compliance with the law to prevent Philippine vessels, which it accused of trespassing and transporting illicit construction materials. “The Philippine Coast Guard [PCG] strongly condemns the China Coast Guard’s [CCG] dangerous manoeuvres and illegal use of water cannons against the PCG vessels,” the Philippine coast guard said in a statement. “Such actions by the CCG not only disregarded the safety of the PCG crew and the supply boats but also violated international law.” The Armed Forces of the Philippines denounced this action as “wanton disregard of the safety of the people on board and in violation of international law”. The Philippine Coast Guard “calls on the China Coast Guard to restrain its forces, respect the sovereign rights of the Philippines in its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, refrain from hampering freedom of navigation, and take appropriate actions against the individuals involved in this unlawful incident”, a spokesman, Commodore Jay Tarriela said in a statement. FULL STORY

Donald Trump has said he will ask the judge in his election fraud case to step aside on what he called "very powerful grounds". He claimed that "there is no way I can get a fair trial" unless she does. His call came after the prosecution requested a court order that would limit what he can publicly say about the case. The judge, Tanya Chutkan, was appointed by former President Barack Obama. Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, on Sunday morning, describing the case as "the ridiculous freedom of speech, slash fair elections case" and saying that his legal team would immediately be asking for recusal of the judge. He give no details of his grounds for asking her to step down. Judge Chutkan previously ruled against Mr Trump's efforts to shield evidence from the House January 6 Committee and has faced frequent attacks from Trump allies in recent days. Mr Trump had described her and the Department of Justice (DOJ) as "highly partisan and very corrupt". Judge Chutkan, who was appointed in 2014, is the only federal judge in Washington who has delivered sentences against defendants in cases related to the 6 January Capitol riot that are longer than the sentences that the DOJ asked for, according to NBC News. FULL STORY

Planning a trip to the Land of Smiles? Remember to secure private medical insurance in Thailand that will cover you while you’re in the area so you can access the treatment you need, whenever you need it. With over 20 years of industry experience, Pacific Prime Thailand is a leading health insurance brokerage that expats and travelers can rely on. Contact them today!

5 ways to protect yourself from Dengue fever While Thailand is blessed with year-round warm weather and a tropical climate, this comes at a cost: mosquitos. It’s not only annoying to swat these swarming creatures and deal with the irritation of mosquito bites, but you’ll also need to be mindful of the diseases spread through them. Yes, that’s right. Mosquitos carry a number of viruses that can cause deadly diseases such as, but not limited to, dengue fever. For those of you who aren’t already aware, the dengue virus is spread from person to person through the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus mosquito. It can result in symptoms like high body temperature, intense joint and muscle pain, nausea and/or vomiting, and more. Given that there are no vaccinations for dengue fever and treatment is symptom based, dengue fever poses a serious threat to individuals - especially those that are vulnerable. The good news is that there’s a way out. If you take adequate precautions, you can lower your risk of getting bitten. In this article by our friends at Pacific Prime Thailand, we’ll let you in on some of the best ways to dodge mosquitos and protect yourself from dengue fever. 1. Avoid stagnant water As mosquitoes that carry the dengue virus thrive in stagnant water, the easiest way to avoid mosquitoes is to avoid stagnant water. In simple terms, this means avoiding wastewater, rainwater, natural water bodies, and standing water that remains after an area has been flooded. Within your own homes, be mindful of objects like flower pots and pet’s water bows, and make sure that these are emptied out and cleaned regularly. 2. Mosquito-proof your home Make it a habit to always close the doors and windows. If you want to open them to let a bit of breeze in, make sure to install netted slide doors. Be especially mindful between the time period dawn and dusk as that’s when mosquitoes responsible for spreading diseases are most active. You can also get a mosquito net to sleep under and keep a couple of mosquito zappers within easy reach in your house. 3. Keep your home airy and well-lit In addition to loving stagnant water, mosquitos also love dark and damp places. This means that you should keep your home airy and well-lit in order to deter mosquitos. Make sure you get plenty of sunlight during the day and turn on lights during the early evenings and before bedtime. Avoid clutter so that air flows better in your house. Bonus points: sprinkle lemongrass around your house. Not only will it make your house smell delicious, but it’ll also keep the mosquitos at bay as it is a natural mosquito repellent. 4. Cover yourself adequately If you’re going outdoors, don’t be tempted to wear shorts and sleeveless tops. Although the weather may be warm, wearing clothing that covers your body adequately will leave you with fewer spots for potential bites. Besides, wearing clothing that covers your body will also make sure you don’t get sunburnt. In terms of clothing, we’re talking long-sleeved tops, long pants, socks, and covered shoes. Of course, you don’t have to follow this dress code down to the tee and can be less strict - especially if you aren’t going into dengue-infested areas. 5. Use mosquito repellent And last, but not least, use mosquito repellent. It’s more important to use mosquito repellent if you’re planning to spend long periods of time outdoors, but you can also apply some if you’re going to be indoors. Simply spray the repellent on bare areas on your body like arms and legs, and remember to top up once every couple of hours. If you have little ones with you, you can use mosquito patches, mosquito bands, and mosquito wipes that are safe for children and infants. What if you’ve already been bitten by a mosquito, you may be wondering? Or what if you have one of the above-mentioned symptoms of dengue fever? It’s vital that you seek medical advice immediately by going to your nearest hospital or clinic. If you’re worried that doing so will set you back financially, why not look into getting a private health insurance plan? Whether you’re an expat, individual, or family, Pacific Prime Thailand can help you compare and find the best plan for your needs and budget. Contact them to get started today!

Exclusive: Former European trade commissioner Peter Mandelson says trying to circumvent Brussels was always going to backfire The EU has slapped down the UK government after it attempted to bypass Brussels on post-Brexit trade rules. Documents obtained by The Independent show that the European Commission was unhappy after British officials asked each member state directly about their plans to cope with new checks on goods coming into the UK. At one point, the commission told countries in the bloc to ignore the UK government completely. It then sent a memo telling member states to provide only “short general information” because of the “problematic” nature of the British request. The commission later warned the UK that contacting each country directly was “outside” the terms of Boris Johnson’s Brexit trade deal – saying it was of “significant concern” since a proper response to British queries should be “harmonised at EU level”. The rebuke emerged as Rishi Sunak’s government came under pressure from both the EU and British business bosses to spell out exactly how the latest controls on imports, due to come into force in October, will work. FULL STORY

“Unsackable” Jeremy Hunt looks set to stay as chancellor as Rishi Sunak eyes a Cabinet reshuffle while striving desperately to cut inflation eating into cash-strapped households’ budgets. The Bank of England opted to raise interest rates for a 14th consecutive time to a new 15-year high of 5.25 per cent on Thursday, inflicting further pain on mortgage holders and other borrowers as it seeks to stem rising prices. Despite the central bank’s new forecasts suggesting that interest rates will remain above 5 per cent for at least two years, they also brought good news for the prime minister by indicating that he will hit his key target of halving inflation by the end of the year. But the fragility of the UK economy will weigh heavily on Mr Sunak’s mind as he is said to be planning his second reshuffle since entering No 10. According to The Times, colleagues are said to believe Mr Hunt is “unsackable” as chancellor, following the market chaos sparked by the turbulence of his predecessor Liz Truss’s disastrous mini-Budget, which saw her fire her chancellor and close political ally Kwasi Kwarteng. FULL STORY

WASHINGTON — More than three dozen House Democrats are calling on the policymaking body for federal courts to permit live broadcasting of court proceedings in the Justice Department's cases charging former President Donald Trump with federal crimes. In a letter led by Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., who served on the House select committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, Democrats asked that the Judicial Conference "explicitly authorize the broadcasting of court proceedings in the cases of United States of America v. Donald J. Trump." "It is imperative the Conference ensures timely access to accurate and reliable information surrounding these cases and all of their proceedings, given the extraordinary national importance to our democratic institutions and the need for transparency," the lawmakers wrote in the letter, sent Thursday to Judge Roslynn R. Mauskopf, the secretary of the Judicial Conference. The letter, whose signatories also included other members who served on the former Jan. 6 committee, noted that the Judicial Conference has "historically supported increased transparency and public access to the courts’ activities." FULL STORY

Germany faces the most serious challenge by a far-right party since World War II, one expert said this week, with the hardline AfD party climbing to second place in opinion polls. A former German lawmaker who also served as a judge led members of a far-right terrorist group that was plotting to overthrow the government on a tour of the Reichstag, home of the country’s parliament, according to prosecutors. The new allegations come as Germany faces the most serious challenge by a far-right party since World War II, one expert said, with the hardline Alternative for Germany, or AfD, party climbing to second place in opinion polls. The former lawmaker at the center of the alleged coup plot belonged to the AfD, which is enjoying greater mainstream success even as the country’s intelligence chief warns it is becoming more extreme. FULL STORY

More than a million people have been relocated from their homes in China’s Hebei province following a deadly storm earlier this week, according to state media, as officials warned it could take a month for the waters to recede in some areas. Rain from the remnants of Typhoon Doksuri slammed the northern province of 75 million, and the neighboring cities of Beijing and Tianjin starting last weekend, resulting in heavy flooding that stranded residents, washed away bridges and highways and left at least 22 dead. The storm brought the heaviest rainfall Beijing has experienced in 140 years, marking a significant test of the region’s capacity to handle extreme weather that experts warn will become more frequent with climate change. Evacuated residents have been transferred to makeshift shelters in hotels and schools, according to state media reports. Social media posts show people dropping off donations to these shelters or setting up booths to offer food, while a district government within Tianjin called on residents to help house their displaced relatives and neighbors. Many of those displaced in Hebei, an industrial and agrarian hub that is home to many of Beijing’s commuters, have been forced to leave their houses in areas where authorities have released pent-up floodwaters that had overwhelmed reservoirs and waterways. FULL STORY

"Now I live in a state of constant fear. I can't plan anything," says Peter, 27. He is a salesman living in St Petersburg - but he is now at risk of being called up to fight as part of the Ukraine war. At the end of July, Russia raised the maximum conscription age by three years, widening the pool of men that can be called up to serve. Peter is one of millions affected by this change. Before, all healthy men in Russia aged between 18 and 27 had to serve one year of compulsory military service. Conscription was carried out twice a year. Now, all men up to 30 years of age can be called up. "I was going to get a mortgage this year and buy a flat for our family," Peter tells the BBC. "My wife and I were discussing plans for the future. Now everything is on hold. "From next January I can be called up to serve and sent to Ukraine. I don't want to join the army, I don't want to take part in this war and die for someone else's goals." The Russian parliament has also passed a bill that significantly increases fines for those who fail to show up at an enlistment office after they get a draft notice. They can be fined up to 30,000 roubles (about £250/$315) when the law comes into force on 1 October. That is 10 times the current maximum fine. Last autumn, when the government announced a mobilisation of 300,000 reservists, tens of thousands of men left Russia. Now, officials have imposed a new law that prohibits conscripts from leaving the country once they receive their draft notice. FULL STORY

Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul veteran actor Mark Margolis has died at the age of 83, according to his family. Best known in the role of Hector Salamanca on both series, he played a drug cartel member who uses a wheelchair after a stroke. He passed away in a New York City hospital on Thursday after a short illness, his son said in a statement. Margolis also had acting credits in films such Scarface, and Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, and HBO series Oz. In the Emmy-nominated role of Salamanca, Margolis portrayed a hyper-violent gangster who is unable to speak and uses only a bell and facial expressions to communicate. The Breaking Bad Facebook account paid tribute to him, posting: "We join millions of fans in mourning the passing of the immensely talented Mark Margolis, who - with his eyes, a bell, and very few words - turned Hector Salamanca into one of the most unforgettable characters in the history of television. "He will be missed." More on this from

Controversial influencer Andrew Tate has been freed from house arrest in Romania pending his trial on rape and human trafficking charges. Andrew and his brother Tristan were arrested in March and charged in June. They deny the charges. The pair can move freely around the capital, Bucharest, and the surrounding Ilfov district where they live. They must report to police when ordered to, and inform them of any change of address. They are also banned from contacting the two Romanian associates accused alongside them, the witnesses, or the alleged victims or their families. Breaking these rules could lead to them returning to house arrest, or preventative detention. A judge will check compliance with the conditions for the next 60 days. "We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the Romanian judicial system for their fair consideration," a spokesperson for the brothers said in a statement after the ruling, quoted by AFP. "This positive outcome gives us confidence that more favourable developments are on the horizon." Andrew Tate: The self-proclaimed misogynist The brothers were first arrested at their home in December and moved to house arrest three months later. FULL STORY

The oceans have hit their hottest ever recorded temperature as they soak up warmth from climate change, with dire implications for our planet's health. The average daily global sea surface temperature beat a 2016 record this week, according to the EU's climate change service Copernicus. It reached 20.96C. That's far above the average for this time of year. Oceans are a vital climate regulator. They soak up heat, produce half Earth's oxygen and drive weather patterns. Warmer waters have less ability to absorb carbon dioxide, meaning more of that planet-warming gas will stay in the atmosphere. And it can also accelerate the melting of glaciers that flow into the ocean, leading to more sea level rise. Hotter oceans and heatwaves disturb marine species like fish and whales as they move in search of cooler waters, upsetting the food chain. Experts warn that fish stocks could be affected. FULL STORY

Explosions have been reported overnight near the Russian port of Novorossiysk on the Black Sea. Footage shared on social media on Friday appeared to show loud blasts at the port, which is a major hub for Russian exports. Russia's defence ministry said it had repelled a Ukrainian attack on its naval base there with two sea drones. It said the drones had been spotted and destroyed by Russian ships guarding the outer harbour of the naval base. The port temporarily suspended any movement of ships following the attack, according to the Caspian Pipeline Consortium which loads oil on to tankers at the port. Sea drones are small, unmanned vessels which operate on or below the water's surface. Research by BBC Verify suggests Ukraine has carried out at least 10 attacks with sea drones- targeting military ships and Russia's naval base in Sevastopol, as well as Novorossiysk harbour in a previous attack. FULL STORY

A black lacquered baby grand piano at which Freddie Mercury composed and developed some of Queen’s biggest hits, including Bohemian Rhapsody, is the centrepiece of a sale of the singer’s possessions next month. The Yamaha baby grand piano is on display at Sotheby’s auction house in central London for the next month, until almost 30,000 objects, artworks, items of clothing and furniture, photographs, handwritten lyrics and other items which made up the “exquisite clutter” of his life go under the hammer. The free exhibition brings together Mercury’s private and public worlds, from his gold and platinum discs and lavish stage costumes to personal Polaroid photographs, hip flasks and a travel Scrabble board that accompanied the star on tour. FULL STORY

Update will also ensure explicit or graphic photos do not appear easily in search results Google is launching new privacy tools to allow users to have more control over unwanted personal images online and ensure explicit or graphic photos do not appear easily in search results. Updates to Google policies on personal explicit images mean that users will be able to remove non-consensual and explicit imagery of themselves that they no longer wish to be visible in searches. The update means that even if an individual created and uploaded explicit content to a website, and no longer wishes for it to be available on search, they will be able to request to remove it from Google search. The forms to submit requests have also been made more simple. The policy does not apply to images users are currently and actively commercialising. FULL ARTICLE

Why have Tories and an embattled PM fought this so fiercely? Because the ex-Ukip leader embodies leave, and they fear him So the Mediterranean is on fire, the Ukraine war not going well, the health service on its knees and the economy still at risk of recession. Pretty obviously, therefore, the most pressing question facing Britain today is whether Nigel Farage can keep an account with one of this country’s poshest banks – which is making profits at the high end of a sector that has looked the other way while the cost of living crisis has blighted the lives of millions. To be absolutely clear, no bank should deny an account to a customer because of their lawful politics. That’s a no-brainer civil liberty issue, even in the case of a millionaire like the former Ukip leader. If that is definitively what happened between Coutts bank and Farage, it was wrong. t’s also a truly scary financial sanction to be invoked by a banking system so dominated by pitiless credit-rating algorithms. Nor should the bank’s boss have briefed the BBC’s business editor in such a misleading way about anyone, especially a customer. Alison Rose was right to resign in the early hours of Wednesday morning. But this is hardly the end of the matter. Indeed, it is really only the start of it. For one thing, even an apparently open-and-shut issue such as this is hard to separate from the complicated morass of blind eye-turning and moral relativism that marks the banking sector generally. Bank leaders who met Treasury ministers on Wednesday expressed concern that the Farage affair had damaged public trust in the banks. Yet the bar for that could hardly be set lower than it is today. FULL ARTICLE

Americans rate the ethics of the Biden administration more negatively than positively, with only 42 percent of people giving it a positive rating, according to a Gallup poll released Thursday. The 42 percent ethics score given to the “top Biden administration officials,” in the poll’s language, is just above the 37- and 38-percent scores given to former President Trump’s top officials during his administration. The poll is the first ethics assessment from Gallup since President Biden took office. The poll found that 34 percent of Americans find the Biden officials’ ethics standards good, and 37 percent find them poor. Among Democrats, 84 percent rated the Biden administrations’ ethics as excellent or good, while only 6 percent of Republicans gave them that rating. Biden’s overall approval rating has held at a steady-but-low figure of around 40 percent, according to to recent polling. The same Gallup polling gave former President George W. Bush’s administration an ethics rating above 70 percent and former President Obama’s administration an ethics rating of 50 percent while they were serving in office. Those ratings were also close to Bush’s and Obama’s approval ratings at the time. The poll released Thursday was conducted from July 3-27 and included 1,015 American adults. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points. FULL STORY

The rate of deforestation in Brazil's Amazon has dropped to its lowest in six years, space agency data suggests. In July of this year, 500 sq km (193 sq miles) of rainforest were cleared in Brazil - 66% less than in July of last year, national space agency Inpe said. The drop is a welcome boost for the government of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who pledged to end deforestation by 2030 when he took office in January. Rainforest destruction had surged under his predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro. The far-right leader promoted mining in indigenous lands in the Amazon and forest clearances soared at the same time as resources to protect the forest were cut. The Amazon rainforest is a crucial buffer in the global fight against climate change and 60% of it is located in Brazil. Amazon near environmental tipping point - study World leaders promise to end deforestation by 2030 Lula came to power promising to halt the damage done during Mr Bolsonaro's four-year term and the figures released by the satellite agency show that things are improving. FULL STORY

Two US Navy sailors in California have been arrested on charges of providing sensitive military information to China. Jinchao Wei, 22, a naturalised US citizen, is accused of conspiring to send national defence information to a Chinese agent. Petty Officer Wenheng Zhao, 26, was arrested on charges of accepting money for sensitive photos and videos. It is unclear if the same Chinese agent is alleged to have contacted the pair. Both men were arrested on Wednesday in California, Mr Wei while on his way to work at Naval Base San Diego. Prosecutors announced the charges during a news conference in San Diego on Thursday. They said Mr Wei, who served as a machinist's mate on the amphibious assault ship USS Essex, held a security clearance and had access to sensitive information about the ship. He was allegedly approached by a Chinese agent in February 2022 while he was going through the process of becoming a US citizen. The agent paid Mr Wei, who also goes by the name Patrick Wei, thousands of dollars for photographs, videos, technical manuals and blueprints of the ship, the indictment said. FULL STORY

Donald Trump is not a man used to waiting. But at a court hearing in the nation's capital, the former US president found himself fidgeting in his seat while he waited 20 minutes for the judge to arrive. In the meantime, he also stole furtive glances at Special Counsel Jack Smith, the prosecutor who has now indicted him in two separate federal cases. In recent days, Mr Trump has raged on social media against what he calls a continuing "witch hunt" led by a "deranged" and "wild" Mr Smith. But in the courtroom, he had to stay silent. Trump pleads not guilty to 2020 election charges The latest indictment stems from his alleged role in plotting to overturn the 2020 election results. He faces four counts: conspiracy to defraud, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of an official proceeding and conspiracy against rights. Federal prosecutors allege he knowingly and repeatedly spread false claims about the 2020 election, and, along with several unnamed co-conspirators, took unlawful measures in a bid to stay in power. FULL STORY

Former US President Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty in a Washington DC court to conspiring to overturn his 2020 election defeat. During a short arraignment, he spoke softly to confirm his not-guilty plea, name, age and that he was not under the influence of any substances. He later told reporters the case was "persecution of a political opponent". It marks the former president's third appearance in four months as a criminal defendant. Mr Trump entered through a backdoor of the courthouse on Thursday afternoon in the centre of the nation's capital, just yards from the scene of the US Capitol riot that is central to the prosecution's case. About 1,000 defendants charged with participating in the storming of Congress on 6 January 2021 have appeared in the same court building. Forced to wait, Trump is out of his comfort zone Voter panel: 'Indictment is pulling us apart' The former president seemed to exchange glances across the court with Jack Smith, the special counsel leading the investigation. FULL STORY

Former US President Donald Trump will be formally charged at a court hearing later for allegedly plotting to overturn his 2020 election defeat. Mr Trump, 77, is due to appear at a federal courthouse in Washington DC on Thursday at 16:00 EDT (20:00 GMT). It is expected that he will attend in person and plead not guilty. On the eve of the arraignment he slammed the case as proof of the "corruption, scandal, and failure" of the US under Joe Biden's presidency. Mr Trump already faces two other criminal cases as he campaigns for the White House next year. In this latest indictment, Mr Trump faces four counts, including conspiracy to defraud the US, tampering with a witness and conspiracy against the rights of citizens. Who are Trump's six alleged co-conspirators? Voter panel: 'Indictment is pulling us apart' The former president has visited Washington DC only once since leaving the White House. A queue was already forming on Wednesday evening outside the courthouse. FULL STORY

The Bank of England is poised to push interest rates to 5.25% on Thursday as it tries to bring down inflation with a 14th consecutive increase in the cost of borrowing. Amid government concerns that cost of living pressures are proving persistent, the Bank is likely to push rates up by 0.25 percentage points to a fresh 15-year high. The consumer prices index (CPI) fell last month, but remained well above most industrial nations at 7.9% and almost four times the Bank’s 2% target.Speculation that the monetary policy committee (MPC) will take a tougher stance and increase rates by 0.5 percentage points is a minority view in the City, according to a poll of economic analysts. Threadneedle Street has been rapidly increasing rates from their record low since December 2021, with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sending inflationary shock waves through the global economy. But fears that the UK economy is suffering a slowdown in activity in response to higher borrowing costs means the MPC’s next moves will be cautious, analysts said. UK property prices are falling at their fastest rate since 2009, according to the Nationwide, while homeowners are increasingly signing up to longer mortgage terms to cope with higher monthly bills, according to housebuilder Taylor Wimpey. FULL STORY