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Target appoints chief AI officer Chandhu Nair

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Target appoints chief AI officer Chandhu Nair

A Target logo is displayed on a sign outside of a department store on March 23, 2026 in San Diego, CA.

Kevin Carter | Getty Images News | Getty Images

Target announced it has appointed its first ever chief artificial intelligence officer on Tuesday in the retailer’s latest bet to capitalize on the AI boom.

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The company named Chandhu Nair as its chief AI officer and senior vice president and also announced Purvi Shah as the company’s senior vice president of user experience.

“The most meaningful AI stories won’t be about what happens in a lab,” Nair said in a statement. “They’ll be about what happens on the front line – how we make shopping easier for a guest, give a team member a better tool, make a business decision with more confidence or bring a new idea to market faster.”

Nair previously worked at home improvement retailer Lowe’s as the company’s senior vice president of stores, data, AI and innovation. He has also held roles at Staples and Gap.

In his statement, Nair said he’s focused on a “more coordinated approach” to AI for Target, including improving how the retailer manages inventory or enabling faster decisions.

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As it looks to win back shoppers and investors, the company has been investing in generative AI, including a tool called Target Trend Brain, which helps the retailer get ahead of trends and identify the styles, colors and materials that customers will be searching for. And last holiday season, Target launched a new conversational AI program to help customers find the right gift for the people on their shopping lists.

The Tuesday announcement comes as many major retailers have been racing to keep up with the AI boom and integrate it into their business strategies.

Target’s rival Walmart has been rolling out AI tools and agents across its stores and supply chains to enhance the customer experience and make its internal employee processes more efficient. Gap announced a partnership with Google‘s Gemini earlier this year, and Best Buy has collaborations in place with OpenAI and Google.

Retail company executives have been sizing up the AI transition and how it will evolve in the coming years. Former Walmart CEO Douglas McMillon told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” in December that he decided to hand over the reins of the global retailer to someone “faster” who could tap into the ways AI could accelerate the business. John Furner took over the post from McMillon in February.

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“About a year ago, I really started feeling like this next run, you could see what agentic commerce was going to look like, the vision for AI shopping, and I started thinking about everything that needs to happen over the next few years, and it really caused me to think that now was the right time [to step down],” McMillon said at the time.

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Institutional homebuying ban will lower prices long-term

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Institutional homebuying ban will lower prices long-term
Invitation Homes CEO: Focused on creating new supply and bringing it into the housing system

The CEO of Invitation Homes, the nation’s largest single-family rental landlord, said he believes the recently passed housing bill that bans investors like him from buying existing homes will eventually lower home prices, but not in the short-term.

“I believe in the medium- to long-term, it definitely will,” said Invitation Homes chief executive Dallas Tanner. “I think 90% of the bill focuses on deregulation. How do we simplify capital coming into housing? Are there ways that we can spur up the supply side challenges that we have? I think overnight in the immediate term, it’s a bit trickier because there’s more to the story than just what the bill addresses.”

Tanner pointed to mortgage rate volatility, high construction costs, and zoning and regulatory imbalances.

In early January, President Donald Trump called for a ban on large-scale investors buying single-family homes to rent. He posted on social media that, “People live in homes, not corporations.” This was part of a larger push to tackle the affordability crisis in housing. Some argued that institutional investors were pushing owner-occupants out of the market and inflating home prices.

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The ban became law in July, preventing investors who own more than 350 homes from purchasing any more existing units. They can, however, buy new single-family homes specifically built for rent. That is where Invitation Homes is leaning in.

“Our focus as an industry and as a company has been, how do we create new supply and bring that into the housing system today? We built or acquired, in our partnerships with builders, over 6,000 new homes in the last five years,” said Tanner.

In January, just weeks after Trump’s post, Invitation Homes purchase a homebuilder, ResiBuilt. It has also purchased homes from large public builders like Pulte Homes and Lennar to use as rentals.

“We found through trial and error … that this new product, this beta product, the product that we do amongst these master planned developments — it works really, really well for our families. And so we were indexing on that, and that is part of our growth strategy,” said Tanner, adding that the company has been selling off hundreds of its older rental properties.

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The largest investors, those owning more than 1,000 homes, represent less than 3% of the single-family rental market, according to various sources. They do, however, have an outsized footprint in certain metropolitan markets, like Atlanta (representing 25% of single-family homes there), Jacksonville (21%) and Charlotte (18%), according to the Urban institute.

Invitation Homes reported better-than-expected earnings at the end of July, even though rents and demand are not as healthy as they were in the first few years of the pandemic.

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“We’ve seen sort of fundamentals reset. We talked about it on our last earnings call. We’re starting to see actual pretty positive green shoots in several of our markets,” said Tanner. “But we’re really focused on — how do we navigate this and what does this mean?”

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Bellway urges Government help for housing market despite rising sales

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The Newcastle-based housebuilder saw rising sales and profits but says it is still facing significant challenges

A Bellway estate in Northumberland

A Bellway estate in Northumberland(Image: Newcastle Chronicle)

Housebuilder Bellway has called for the Government to do more to boost the housing market despite seeing a rise in sales.

The Newcastle firm has issued a trading update in which it said it expects operating profit to rise to £320m after an increase in the number of housing completions from 8,749 to 9,695 in the year to the end of July. But it highlighted “ongoing headwinds” around mortgage affordability, challenges to the general economy and rising costs for builders.

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Chief executive Jason Honeyman said action was needed to reinvigorate the housing market and help support potential new homeowners. He highlighted reductions to stamp duty as one way of boosting house sales.

Bellway said that it had outperformed expectations on the number of houses it sold, while its average selling price rose slightly to £324,000.

Mr Honeyman said: “Bellway has delivered a robust performance and growth in volume output, despite ongoing headwinds for our industry. Our sharp focus on operational improvement and drive for capital efficiency has provided resilience and supported a strong increase in cash generation and shareholder returns.

“The board remains confident that, with supportive market conditions, Bellway is in a strong position to capitalise on future growth opportunities. However, with the near-term outlook remaining uncertain, we call on the Government to act now to improve access to housing across all tenures, both by helping first-time buyers onto the property ladder and supporting the delivery of affordable and social housing for those who need it most.

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“In order to ease affordability constraints and stimulate demand, an immediate reduction in stamp duty alongside a Government-backed deposit support scheme for first-time buyers would both drive economic growth and accelerate the delivery of much-needed new homes across the country.”

Bellway said it saw positive trading in the early part of the spring selling season, but has seen a “moderation” in customer demand since April due to the uptick in mortgage rates. It had seen a slight fall in private reservation rates, the update said.

It said it would continue to exercise tight cost controls while the housing market remained subdued, as well as “maintaining a sharp focus on the monetisation of our well-invested land bank and work-in-progress position to support improvements in asset turn and cash generation.”

Bellway – which last week celebrated its 80th anniversary, having been founded as a family firm in Newcastle – added that it expected to complete a £150m share buyback scheme this month and would then launch a scheme to buy another £50m of shares.

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Man Who Took Steroids Without Lifting Finishes Last in Bodybuilding Debut After Missing Finals

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Man Who Took Steroids Without Lifting Finishes Last in Bodybuilding

A social media personality who built his physique primarily through anabolic steroids and heavy alcohol consumption while avoiding weight training competed in his first bodybuilding contest this past weekend and finished last in his class.

Peter Mossfield, known online through the BoozeBagFitness account, entered the Men’s Classic Physique Open Class B division at the 2026 NPC East Coast Mecca Classic on Aug. 8 in Flushing, New York. Official results listed him in eighth place, the final position among competitors who received a ranking.

The order of finish was Gavin Connelly in first, followed by Ahmed Eid, Fedor Zhurov, Enrique Bonilla, Joshua Nabbie, Diego Da Silva, Joseph Mauceri and Mossfield.

Mossfield’s preparation stood out for its unconventional methods. He previously described taking steroids while consuming as many as 24 alcoholic drinks per day during parts of the process and largely skipping resistance training. During a cutting phase he switched from beer to vodka mixed with diet soda in an effort to lower calories. The approach drew significant online attention and criticism over potential health risks.

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In a post-competition video, Mossfield expressed a more optimistic view of his stage presentation. “In my mind, it was me or one other guy had the best package out there,” he said.

After prejudging, several hours remained before the evening finals. Mossfield said he used the interval to drink. He noted that his tolerance had decreased after reducing alcohol intake in the final weeks of preparation, when he averaged fewer than 12 drinks per day. “I kinda lost track of time,” he admitted. By the time he realized the schedule, he had missed the finals and the individual posing portion of the event.

He also suggested that failing to shave may have affected his placement. “I didn’t expect to get disqualified that hard or docked that hard for it,” Mossfield said. The official results nevertheless placed him eighth.

The competition itself is a National Physique Committee national qualifier held at the Goldstein Theatre at Queens College. Prejudging typically occurs in the afternoon, with finals later in the evening, a structure that left a window of free time many competitors use for rest, meals or final preparations.

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Mossfield’s experiment had begun months earlier as a high-stakes personal challenge, at times tied to substantial bets. He had previously completed a wager involving developing and then quitting an alcohol addiction. The bodybuilding version evolved after he decided against consistent gym work and turned to performance-enhancing drugs as the primary means of building muscle.

Despite the unusual methods and public backlash, he followed through on competing. The result provided a clear ranking against athletes who had trained conventionally.

Following the show, Mossfield announced a shift in approach. He said he stopped taking steroids after the competition and planned to begin lifting weights without them. “I’m a born again natural,” he joked. “I’m excited to start lifting as a natty.”

His stated goal is to determine whether the muscle developed during the steroid phase can be maintained or improved through resistance training alone. He indicated he wants to allow his body time to reset, specifically monitoring sleep patterns and sexual function, before considering any future use of performance-enhancing substances.

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Additional unconventional challenges remain under consideration. Mossfield has expressed interest in MMA training focused on securing a first-round knockout rather than building endurance for longer fights. He also plans to rehabilitate a previously injured shoulder and attempt to throw a 90-mph fastball, with the aim of trying out for a professional baseball team outside Major League Baseball in the spring of 2027. Other ideas include a “cigarette marathon” and a progressive push-up challenge that would involve adding weight daily until performing the movement with roughly 365 pounds on his back.

Whether those projects materialize is uncertain. What is established is that Mossfield completed the bodybuilding preparation and competition he had publicly documented. He consumed large quantities of alcohol, used steroids, largely avoided traditional training, stepped on stage and received an eighth-place finish.

The episode has fueled discussion within fitness communities about the relative contributions of pharmacology, training stimulus, nutrition and recovery. Conventional bodybuilding emphasizes progressive resistance training as a foundational driver of muscle growth, with diet and recovery as supporting elements. Mossfield’s approach inverted that hierarchy for the duration of his experiment.

Health professionals generally caution against unsupervised steroid use and heavy alcohol consumption, citing risks to cardiovascular, hormonal and liver function among other systems. Mossfield has acknowledged experiencing various side effects during the process yet continued to the contest.

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His decision to step away from steroids and introduce weight training marks a reversal of the methods that generated his online following. The next phase will test whether the visible changes achieved under the previous protocol can be sustained or improved through more standard practices.

The NPC East Coast Mecca Classic attracts regional competitors seeking national qualification opportunities. Placing last in a class does not preclude future entries, and many athletes use early contests as learning experiences regarding presentation, conditioning and stage protocol.

Mossfield’s post-show comments focused on both the immediate result and longer-term plans. He maintained that his physique compared favorably in his own assessment while accepting the official ranking. The missed finals portion removed any opportunity for additional scoring or audience presentation that evening.

As of the days following the event, Mossfield has framed the competition as the conclusion of one experiment and the beginning of another centered on natural training. The public documentation of both phases continues through his social media channels, where earlier posts detailed daily alcohol intake, steroid protocols and visual progress without corresponding training footage.

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The story illustrates the extremes some individuals pursue for online visibility and personal wagers. It also underscores the structured nature of sanctioned bodybuilding events, where competitors are judged on specific criteria of muscularity, conditioning, symmetry and presentation within defined classes. Mossfield met the entry requirements, appeared on stage for prejudging and received a placing, even if the overall process departed sharply from traditional preparation methods.

His next stated steps involve establishing a consistent lifting routine while monitoring physiological recovery from the prior cycle. Future challenges, if pursued, would again test unconventional limits. For now, the record shows an eighth-place finish in a debut Classic Physique class after a preparation defined by steroids, alcohol and the near absence of weight training.

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The challenges of phasing out synthetic food dyes

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The challenges of phasing out synthetic food dyes

Report provides guidance for farmers, ingredient suppliers and retailers.

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US power demand to reach new highs through 2027, EIA says

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US power demand to reach new highs through 2027, EIA says

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Three North East female business leaders get Innovate UK backing

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The women are among 100 around the country to be include in the latest Women in Innovation programme

Kate Murray, founder and CEO of Ubrix

Kate Murray, founder and CEO of Ubrix(Image: Ubrix)

Three female business leaders from the North East have won support to develop their firms from a Government-backed programme.

Innovate UK has announced 100 women to be included in its new Women in Innovation cohort, with those on the scheme getting a grant of £75,000 plus a 12-month package of business support.

Nationally, the programme has backed business leaders operating in a range of sectors, including manufacturing, digital tech and life sciences. Innovate UK said businesses around the UK were being backed.

In the North East, there is backing for Kate Murray, from County Durham firm Ubrix; Lou Willis-Keeler, from Souuthe; and Suzanne Vernazza, who has developed technology to help women manage pelvic floor issues.

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Ubrix aims to tackle fragmentation in the construction sector, where sales, build and aftercare typically run on disconnected systems. The company’s software platform gives housebuilders, principal contractors, housing associations and local authorities one platform for the full lifecycle of each building plot.

Founder and CEO Kate Murray said: “This recognition is big news for Ubrix, but it is bigger news for housing. A national panel of innovation experts looked at how this industry delivers homes, saw the cost of fragmented systems, and backed our answer to it.

“Our development pipeline is shaped by the builders, contractors and aftercare teams who live this problem every day. This award tells them the way housing is delivered is changing, and it tells the industry where that change is coming from.”

Newcastle physio Suzanne Vernazza, who has built a sizeable social media following, has been backed to further develop an app to support pelvic health. She launched the Know Your Floors not-for-profit organisation in 2021 and has posted hundreds of “squeeze along” videos on platforms like TikTok designed to encourage people to do regular pelvic health exercises.

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Suzanne Vernazza - who has won a Women in Innovation award

Suzanne Vernazza – who has won a Women in Innovation award(Image: Suzanne Vernazza)

She said: “This funding is transformational for the project. It allows us to move from an idea with strong clinical foundations and community support to a properly tested, launch-ready product.

“We’ll be able to work alongside beta testers, refine the experience, and carefully validate the AI-supported information feature so we’re building something that is not only innovative, but clinically robust and worthy of people’s trust.”

Saltburn-based Souuthe has developed a device that calms the body’s stress response for people in palliative, dementia and child care. Lou Willis-Keeler founded the company after more than 25 years working in safeguarding and seeing a lack of tools to help people regulate their emotions.

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Plans revealed to transform Swansea’s Civic Centre buildimg

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A detailed application has now been submitted following a consultation process

How the Swansea Civic Centre could look

Image of how a revamped Civic Centre including shops and cafes and flats above would look from the bay side(Image: Urban Splash )

Detailed plans to transform Swansea’s vast but “inward-facing” civic centre into flats, shops, cafes and an aquarium have been unveiled.

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There’d be ground and first-floor commercial and leisure use of the seafront building with up to 138 one- to three-bedroom flats above.

Included in the mix is an events space and an aquarium hosting interactive displays, exhibitions and real-life double-height fish tanks.

A key aim is to maximise the civic centre’s bay-facing location and create a destination where people want to come and spend time – and the beachfront promenade would be widened and improved.

The UK Government is providing £20m towards the scheme, which is being taken forward following consultations by a council development partner called Urban Splash.

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The company’s new change of use planning application described the civic centre, built in two phases between 1979 and 1984, as robust but “largely inward-looking” and occupying the land “in a defensive manner” like a castle surrounded by a moat. That will change if the plans are given the green light by the council.

How the Swansea Civic Centre could look

Image of how a revamped Civic Centre including an aquarium would look from the Oystermouth Road side(Image: Urban Splash )

How the Swansea Civic Centre could look

Image of how the revamped Civic Centre would look, with blocks to the right indicating flats as part of later phases of development(Image: Urban Splash )

Urban Splash development director David Warburton said: “We’re grateful to everyone who took part in the consultations and shared their feedback.

“We have taken those conversations on board and have now lodged our detailed planning application; it’s a significant step towards transforming this stretch of Swansea’s seafront into a vibrant hub that serves the local community and attracts visitors from across Wales and beyond.”

Planning documents said there has been overwhelming public support so far for retaining and re-purposing the four- to six-storey building, improving the connection between the city centre and seafront and enhancing greenery.

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Referring to the proposed aquarium, the documents said visitors entering the operator-run attraction “are guided through a sequence of spaces designed to transform and deepen their understanding of marine life”. These spaces would feature a mix of digital and natural installations.

The aquarium’s first floor, meanwhile, would be geared more as an educational zone. From this floor visitors would pass through the gift shop before arriving at the building’s large central atrium, which would have food and retail outlets.

Some people living in the flats would have balconies and there’d also be a communal roof garden for them.

Parking for residents is planned onsite and through what the planning documents referred to as “managed use of the wider civic centre parking estate”, while no dedicated parking is proposed for people visiting the shops, cafes and aquarium.

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There would be cycle storage for residents, visitors and staff. A new walking route is planned to the building from the indoor arena side of Oystermouth Road.

Further phases of redevelopment could create hundreds more flats in new buildings either side of the civic centre, and a saltwater lido is being explored at the bottom of the stepped coastal wall below.

Mr Warburton said: “We look forward to progressing the civic centre project and delivering something that Swansea can be proud of for decades to come.”

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service in February this year Mr Warburton said the building was in good condition and “eminently convertible”.

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Referring to Urban Splash’s focus on regenerating existing sites, he said: “Our role is to recognise the inherent value in properties like this which others don’t.”

People will have the chance to comment on the application, which is being assessed by council planning officers.

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Koh Tao Transforms Sunken Warships into New Dive Sites

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Koh Tao Transforms Sunken Warships into New Dive Sites

Koh Tao in Surat Thani exemplifies the balance between tourism and marine conservation by using retired naval ships as artificial reefs. This initiative enhances underwater ecosystems and supports sustainable tourism practices, showcasing how environmental preservation can coincide with economic growth in the tourism sector.

Koh Tao, a renowned Thai island paradise, has recently enhanced its allure for diving enthusiasts by transforming sunken warships into captivating dive sites. These underwater attractions not only boost the island’s tourism but also contribute to marine conservation efforts. By repurposing decommissioned naval vessels, Koh Tao creates new habitats for marine life, allowing coral and other organisms to flourish.

This innovative project offers divers a unique opportunity to explore well-preserved pieces of history while experiencing vibrant underwater ecosystems. The sunken warships, strategically placed, serve as artificial reefs teeming with diverse marine species, providing both novice and experienced divers with unforgettable adventures. These sites are meticulously mapped, ensuring safe and enjoyable exploration for all visitors.

The initiative is also a testament to Koh Tao’s commitment to sustainable tourism and ecological restoration. Local authorities, in collaboration with diving centers, ensure that these sites are maintained responsibly, minimizing impact on existing marine habitats. As a result, Koh Tao continues to stand out as a premier diving destination, blending historical intrigue with natural beauty, and fostering a deeper appreciation for marine conservation.

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Grupo Jumex unveils high-protein shake

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Grupo Jumex unveils high-protein shake

The RTD beverage is available in three Mexican-inspired varieties.

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London Heathrow replaced as Europe’s busiest airport by Istanbul

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View from a plane shows blue engine of plane and four aircraft on tarmac outside low-rise terminal buildings.

An expansion proposal by the airport’s owners would enable it to accommodate 150m passengers per year. Heathrow said “the case for expansion has never been clearer”.

In a statement, it added: “Our plans will ensure the country gets the infrastructure it needs to stay competitive and will deliver all-important economic growth.”

The airport recorded 84.46 million passengers in 2025 and said 19 July was its busiest day of the year so far as many schools broke up for summer, with 267,000 passengers passing through.

It added that several new airlines began serving the airport last month, which demonstrates “clear demand for access to Heathrow”.

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Last month, it was revealed Heathrow will be allowed to charge airlines more for its services to recover money spent on the early stages of its third runway project.

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