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To lose one general during a war that’s going badly might be seen as unfortunate; to lose two within 24 hours looks careless. But that is what’s happened to the Russian command in southern Ukraine – and the two cases illustrate further deficiencies and dissent among Russia’s military leadership. Early Tuesday, a Ukrainian missile slammed into a hotel in the coastal town of Berdyansk that had been taken over by the Russian military. One of many reported Russian casualties was Lieutenant General Oleg Tsokov, the deputy commander of the Southern Military District and a key figure in Russia’s defense of occupied areas of southern Ukraine. He is thought to have been the most senior among the roughly 10 Russian generals killed in the campaign in Ukraine to date. To lose one general during a war that’s going badly might be seen as unfortunate; to lose two within 24 hours looks careless. But that is what’s happened to the Russian command in southern Ukraine – and the two cases illustrate further deficiencies and dissent among Russia’s military leadership. It appears to have been no secret that the 58th Combined Arms Army had made the Dune hotel its headquarters – but Tsokov had nevertheless moved in. And that after being badly wounded last fall in a Ukrainian strike near Svatove. FULL STORY

North Korea has threatened the US and claimed tensions have reached the “phase of nuclear crisis beyond the Cold War era”, while confirming that it launched its latest Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). North Korean leader Kim Jong-un who oversaw the country’s longest-ever test with a flight time of 74 minutes, was pictured clapping and laughing as the missile was blasted off on Wednesday. Wearing a white coat, similar to that of a military general on his side, Mr Kim flagged off the missile test fire with his wife Ri Sol-ju, state media KCNA said. The state-run news agency, in a bizarre claim without offering evidence, said it was a moment of a “grand explosion” of the strategic weapon “fully loaded with our strength and technology blasted” that shook “the whole planet”. This was the second test of the solid-fuel ICBM after Pyongyang claimed its first launch this April was a “miraculous success”. FULL STORY

The traversing of a US Navy patrol plane into the sensitive Taiwan Strait within international airspace on Thursday led to China scrambling its fighter jets. The event coincided with China’s ongoing military exercises, now in their third day, conducted to the south of Taiwan. The escalation of tensions between Taiwan and China come as US secretary of state Antony Blinken held a meeting with Chinese diplomat Wang Yi in Jakarta on Thursday on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit. According to a statement from the US Navy’s 7th Fleet, a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft, that is utilised for anti-submarine operations, traversed the Taiwan Strait within the international airspace. “By adhering to international law and operating within the Taiwan Strait, the United States reaffirms its commitment to protecting the navigation rights and freedoms of all nations,” the statement said. FULL STORY

India is set to launch its third Moon mission, aiming to be the first to land near its little-explored south pole. The Chandrayaan-3 craft with an orbiter, lander and a rover is due to lift off at 14:35 on Friday (09:05 GMT) from Sriharikota space centre. The lander is due to reach the Moon on 23-24 August, space officials said. If successful, India will be only the fourth country to achieve a soft landing on the Moon, following the US, the former Soviet Union and China. The third in India's programme of lunar exploration, Chandrayaan-3 is expected to build on the success of its earlier Moon missions. It comes 13 years after the country's first Moon mission in 2008, which carried out "the first and most detailed search for water on the lunar surface and established the Moon has an atmosphere during daytime", said Mylswamy Annadurai, project director of Chandrayaan-1. Chandrayaan-2 - which also comprised an orbiter, a lander and a rover - was launched in July 2019 but it was only partially successful. Its orbiter continues to circle and study the Moon even today, but the lander-rover failed to make a soft landing and crashed during touchdown. It was because of "a last-minute glitch in the braking system", explained Mr Annadurai. FULL STORY

Apple has released a new Rapid Security Response update, called iOS 16.5.1 (c) It provides important security fixes and is recommended for all users They're some of the most popular smartphones around the world, but if you have an iPhone, make sure you update it now. Apple has just released a new Rapid Security Response update, called iOS 16.5.1 (c). 'This Rapid Security Response provides important security fixes and is recommended for all users,' Apple explained. While the tech giant initially released the update on Monday, it was quickly pulled after it was found to cause issues with Safari. Thankfully this has now been resolved - here's how to download the new security update on your iPhone now. FULL STORY

Thailand’s tourism industry has witnessed a significant surge in the first half of 2023, with record-breaking numbers of foreign visitor arrivals and healthy spending. The country welcomed 12.46 million tourists between January and June 2023, said deputy government spokesperson Traisuree Taisaranakul. In a six-month period, the total number of travelers to Thailand has already exceeded the entirety of 2022. Supported by this success, Thailand aims to attract 25 million tourists by the end of 2023. This notable growth has been mirrored in the increased airport usage, indicating the kingdom’s ability to accommodate and cater to the influx of visitors. Our friends from Pacific Prime Thailand are here to explore the various factors influencing this tourism boom, as well as the implications for both the economy and visitors. Thailand's tourism numbers and spending reach new heights The tourism sector in Thailand has experienced a drastic increase in visitor numbers, with over 12 million tourists recorded in the first six months of 2023. This figure represents a remarkable increase of 539% compared to the same period in the year prior. The significant growth in arrivals has resulted in serious spending, amounting to more than THB ฿472 billion baht during this period, as reported by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. These figures are encouraging for the local economy, offering an imperative boost after the challenges caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic. Key source markets for Thailand’s tourism Malaysia, China, Russia, South Korea, and India are among the key source markets for Thailand’s tourism sector. Malaysia took the lead during the first half of 2023 with 1.9 million visitors, while China came in at a close second with 1.3 million tourists. The latter figure demonstrates the ongoing popularity of Thai destinations among Chinese travelers. Likewise, Russia and South Korea contributed significantly, with 784,428 and 741,909, respectively. Lastly, tourists from India also impacted the local tourism sector, bringing in 732,523 visitors over the same period. The diversity of source markets demonstrates Thailand’s far-reaching appeal and ability to cater to global travelers. Increased usage of Thailand's airports The considerable growth in tourist arrivals aligns with the increased utilization of airports across the nation. The Airports of Thailand (AOT) reported a staggering 635% growth in airport usage starting from December of 2022 - the beginning of their fiscal year. A total of 34.3 million passengers were welcomed in Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket, and Hat Yai airports from December 2022 to May 2023. The number of international and domestic flights also soared with a 175.2% jump, recording 202,700 incoming and outgoing flights. Tourism trends in Thailand From medical and wellness to cannabis, tourism trends in Thailand continue to evolve and attract different types of travelers. The Tourism Authority of Thailand’s (TAT) marketing plan for 2023 also outlined different marketing strategies to appeal to a wide demographic, as well as campaigns targeting sustainable travelers, remote workers, digital nomads, and other special interest groups. Thailand also hopes to attract high-spending visitors, including highly-skilled individuals and retirees, to stay longer in the country with the latest long-term resident (LTR) visa. LTR visa holders can stay in the country for up to 10 years, making it an enticing option for foreigners looking for a second home with a relatively affordable cost of living. As Thailand’s tourism industry continues to rebound and exceed expectations, the target of welcoming 25 million travelers by the end of 2023 is feasible. Either way, the increase in tourist arrivals combined with significant spending has given the country a much-needed boost after trying times. 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!

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China-based hackers have gained access to the email accounts of around 25 organisations, including government agencies, Microsoft says. The software giant has not provided details of where the government agencies are based. However, the US Department of Commerce has confirmed to the BBC that Microsoft notified it about the attack. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo was among the individuals impacted by the breach, according to reports. "Microsoft notified the Department of a compromise to Microsoft's Office 365 system, and the Department took immediate action to respond," a US Department of Commerce spokesperson told the BBC. "We are monitoring our systems and will respond promptly should any further activity be detected," they added. US media reported that the State Department had also been targeted by the hackers. The State Department did not immediately respond to a BBC request for comment. China's embassy in London told the Reuters news agency that the accusation was "disinformation" and called the US government "the world's biggest hacking empire and global cyber thief." FULL STORY

Bob Woodward has spent much of the last decade reporting on the former president Longtime Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward said he believes former President Donald Trump “looks at democracy as enemy territory” during an interview on MSNBC. “The problem with Trump is, I think he looks at democracy as enemy territory, to be quite frank,” Mr Woodward told the network’s Ari Melber on Tuesday. Mr Woodward knows a thing or two about scandal-plagued presidents. He and Carl Bernstein’s reporting on Watergate at the Washington Post helped end Richard Nixon’s presidency more than five decades ago. More recently, Mr Woodward has reported extensively on Mr Trump. In 2018, Mr Woodward published a book called Fear: Trump in the White House on Mr Trump’s presidency and has since published several more books about the former president. The latest of those books — The Trump Tapes: Bob Woodward’s Twenty Interviews with President Donald Trump — featured transcripts of Mr Woodward’s 20 interviews with Mr Trump. The former president sued over the release of the tapes of the interviews, even though Mr Woodward’s publisher Simon & Schuster has maintained that the tapes were all on the record. Now, with Mr Trump establishing himself as the frontrunner for the Republican nomination for president for a third consecutive election, a number of Americans are fearful about what his potential return to the White House might mean for American democracy, FULL STORY

Vice President Kamala Harris' attempt to explain artificial intelligence (AI) to a group of labor and civil rights leaders on Wednesday instead became her latest word salad gaffe, something she's become increasingly known for during her time in the role. "I think the first part of this issue that should be articulated is AI is kind of a fancy thing," Harris said during the roundtable at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, D.C. "First of all, it's two letters. It means artificial intelligence, but ultimately what it is, is it's about machine learning. "And so, the machine is taught — and part of the issue here is what information is going into the machine that will then determine — and we can predict then, if we think about what information is going in, what then will be produced in terms of decisions and opinions that may be made through that process." FULL STORY

Republican lawmakers erupted Tuesday after learning about a 2015 email chain that predated President Biden’s infamous 2015 trip to Ukraine, when a Burisma Holdings executive revealed the "ultimate purpose" of Hunter Biden’s involvement with the Ukrainian energy company. One month before then-Vice President Joe Biden traveled to Ukraine, where he threatened to withhold $1 billion in U.S. aid if Ukrainian leaders did not fire their top prosecutor, Hunter Biden and Burisma executives were discussing executing a contract for counter-messaging against any federal investigations into Burisma’s founder and then-president, Mykola Zlochevsky. "The sequence of events that led to the firing of Viktor Shokin, and the subsequent comments by then-Vice President Biden, raise serious concerns as to what machinations were really at play — and were purposefully concealed from the American people," Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., who sits on the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, told Fox News Digital. "No matter how you slice Hunter Biden’s involvement, it screams public corruption at the highest levels and must be fully investigated." FULL STORY

The color of the ocean has changed significantly over the last 20 years and human-caused climate change is likely responsible, according to a new study. More than 56% of the world’s oceans have changed color to an extent that cannot be explained by natural variability, said a team of researchers, led by scientists from the National Oceanography Center in the UK and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US, in a statement. Tropical oceans close to the equator in particular have become greener in the past two decades, reflecting changes in their ecosystems, according to the study published Wednesday in the journal Nature. The color of the ocean is derived from the materials found in its upper layers. For example, a deep blue sea will have very little life in it, whereas a green color means there are ecosystems there, based on phytoplankton, plant-like microbes which contain chlorophyll. The phytoplankton form the basis of a food web which supports larger organisms such as krill, fish, seabirds and marine mammals .FULL STORY

President Joe Biden got almost everything he wanted from the NATO summit. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shot for the stars and reached the moon – securing a permanent rearmament pipeline well into the future from G7 nations but failing to win the collective defense guarantee that membership in NATO would bring. And Russia saw its strategic and military failure entrenched but will surely view the institutionalizing of support for Ukraine as confirming its suspicions of the West. Poignantly, the meeting hosted by a former Soviet vassal state whose NATO status secured the freedom, independence and prosperity that Zelensky craves for his country, was overshadowed by the torment of the Ukrainian people. “It’s just like something out of the 14th century the way they are acting,” Biden said, narrowing his eyes in disbelief at the Russian assault on civilians. Zelensky, who came into the summit as a guest boiling with frustration at the alliance’s unwillingness to give him a timeline for NATO membership, nevertheless contextualized what US and Western help means, in moving remarks to Biden. FULL STORY

Elon Musk has launched his long-awaited artificial intelligence start-up xAI in a bid to build an alternative to ChatGPT. The Twitter owner has brought in a team of engineers from other tech firms he is hoping to challenge in the artificial intelligence sphere. Musk has warned for months about AI's potential for "civilisational destruction", arguing that a race among companies such as Google and Microsoft to develop the technology should be stopped to allow time for regulations on the tech to be drawn up. The reason for the launch of xAI is "to understand the true nature of the universe", said Musk, who also co-founded OpenAI but later left the start-up credited with sparking the generative AI frenzy. Dan Hendrycks, who serves as the director of the Center for AI Safety, a non-profit that aims to reduce the risks posed by the technology, will be an adviser to the new company. FULL STORY

Volodymyr Zelensky may or may not be a Rolling Stones fan - but after this Nato summit, he is probably familiar with their song entitled You Can't Always Get What You Want. Ukraine's president came to Vilnius, Lithuania, with high expectations. He was looking for an assurance that his country would join Nato after the war with Russia was over. He wanted membership of the world's most powerful military alliance to be a beacon of hope for his people, the ultimate peace dividend that could ensure that never again would Russian troops despoil the Ukrainian homeland. Instead, Mr Zelensky was simply told Ukraine would be invited to become a member "when allies agree and conditions are met". So far, so noncommittal. Not surprisingly Ukraine's president hit the roof, saying it was "absurd" for Nato leaders not to give even so much as a timetable. The conditions, he said, were "vague". And he was furious at the idea that somehow Ukraine's membership of Nato would somehow be a bargaining chip for post-war negotiations with Russia. FULL STORY

A heatwave is sweeping across parts of southern Europe and north-west Africa, with potential record-breaking temperatures in the coming days. Temperatures are expected to surpass 40C (104F) in parts of Spain, France, Greece, Croatia and Turkey. In Italy, temperatures could reach as high as 48.8C (119.8F). A red alert warning has been issued for 10 cities, including Florence and Rome. On Tuesday, a man in his forties died after collapsing in northern Italy. Italian media reported that the 44-year-old worker was painting zebra crossing lines in the town of Lodi, near Milan, before he collapsed from the heat. He was taken to hospital where he later died. "We are facing an unbearable heatwave," Italian politician Nicola Fratoianni tweeted. "Maybe it's the case that in the hottest hours all the useful precautions are taken to avoid tragedies like the one that happened today in Lodi." Several tourists in the country have already collapsed due to heat stroke, including a British man outside the Colosseum in Rome. FULL STORY

Huw Edwards is in hospital with "serious mental health issues", his wife says, as she named him as the BBC presenter at the centre of allegations. His wife Vicky Flind said she was issuing a statement on his behalf after days of speculation "primarily out of concern for his mental well-being and to protect our children". The Sun has claimed he paid a young person for sexually explicit images. The Met Police says Edwards, 61, will not face any police action. The family statement said the news presenter intends to respond to the allegations personally when he is well enough. Timeline of the allegations against Edwards Wife Vicky Flind's statement in full The statement read: "In light of the recent reporting regarding the 'BBC Presenter' I am making this statement on behalf of my husband Huw Edwards, after what have been five extremely difficult days for our family. I am doing this primarily out of concern for his mental well-being and to protect our children .FULL STORY

Video report from "The Hill" Briahna Joy Gray and Robby Soave discuss today's hearing on “Investigating the Proximal Origin of a Cover Up," and discuss the "Proximal Origin" paper.

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Local people have reacted after Stardey Park Hotel have been turned into a Home Office facility to temporarily house asylum seekers in the Furnace area of Llanelli Over the weekend there were clashes between police and protesters and some angry demonstrators smeared security vans with animal excrement. The 50 protesters camped outside are being brought food and drink by supporters as the stalemate shows no sign of being resolved. Organiser Stan Robinson said: 'We had the Greenham Common ladies in the eighties, today we have the Stradey Park ladies. They are mothers and grandmothers, all local, who are not accepting the risk that comes with housing so many economic migrants. This is Wales where people are known for their welcome and that is true of Llanelli where there is a large Polish and Ukrainian population. But the people due to arrive at the Stradey Park Hotel are not genuine refugees.' The protesters fear the tight-knit community will become like Penally, a former Army camp 40 miles away, where hundreds of asylum seekers were housed for years. They claim the village and the nearby seaside town of Tenby became a hotbed of sex crimes, arson and knifings, none of which ended up in court. Mr Robinson, of a group called Voice of Wales, said while Dyfed-Powys Police failed to clamp down on asylum seekers they were quick to arrest protestors outside the Llanelli hotel. FULL STORY

After winning 2020 election, Biden said it was 'time to put away the harsh rhetoric,' 'lower the temperature' Candidate Joe Biden in 2020 sold himself to the fatigued American public as an empathetic, ice-cream-loving grandpa who was going to usher decency and expertise into the White House. But those carefully crafted narratives that helped propel him to the Oval Office are crumbling as the country barrels toward the 2024 election in a time of economic and global instability. On the 2020 campaign trail, Biden and the media consistently billed him as the candidate to unify the country after four years under former President Donald Trump, who critics blasted as "divisive." After his election win, Biden declared in a speech that it is "time to put away the harsh rhetoric, lower the temperature, see each other again, listen to each other again." Biden took it one step further after he took office, threatening to fire anyone who didn’t share his views on decency and respect, telling nearly a thousand federal appointees and staff, "I'm not joking when I say this: If you're ever working with me and I hear you treat another with disrespect, talk down to someone, I promise you I will fire you on the spot." But Biden’s inconsistency between his actions and his words are coming more to the forefront ahead of what is expected to be an explosive 2024 presidential election. FULL STORY

The Justice Department has reversed course and said it no longer believes that Donald Trump should be entitled to immunity for his response to E. Jean Carroll’s accusation of sexual assault, allowing the civil lawsuit to move forward to trial in January. The change in position eliminates one legal hurdle surrounding Carroll’s 2019 defamation lawsuit against Trump for statements he made while president, denying her allegation of rape decades earlier, that he didn’t know her, and that she wasn’t his “type.” DOJ lawyers said in a letter to lawyers for Trump and Carroll that “the Department has determined that it lacks adequate evidence” to conclude the former president was acting within the scope of his employment or serving the US government “when he denied sexually assaulting Ms. Carroll and made the other statements regarding Ms. Carroll that she has challenged in this action.” FULL STORY

The US president said he "couldn't be meeting with a close friend or greater ally" amid differences in opinion over Ukraine's accession to Nato and the use of cluster bombs. President Joe Biden has described the US-UK relationship as "rock solid", despite reported disagreements over Ukraine. Mr Biden told Prime Minister Rishi Sunak he "couldn't be meeting with a closer friend and greater ally" as the pair met this morning in Downing Street. He joined the prime minister in the Downing Street garden at the start of their talks, after greeting him at the door to Number 10. The prime minister said it was "great for us to carry on our conversation" following a string of meetings this year, including last month's visit to Washington. Mr Sunak said the pair would consider "how we strengthen our co-operation, joint economic security to the benefit of our citizens". STORY

A US grand jury that is expected to decide whether to charge former President Donald Trump and his allies over their efforts to overturn the 2020 election has been sworn in in Georgia. Mr Trump has been under investigation for his 2021 phone call to a Georgia election official, pressing him to find thousands of votes in his favour. The Republican has denied wrongdoing. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Wallis, a Democrat, launched the investigation in early 2021. She has previously hinted that any charges would probably be filed in August. A focal point of the inquiry is a January 2021 call between Mr Trump and Georgia's chief elections officer, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, in which the then-president suggested local officials could "find" more than 11,000 votes - enough to give him a victory in the Peach State. In a recording of the call, Mr Raffensperger is heard replying that Georgia's results are correct. FULL STORY