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ASK Italian reducing price of Aperol Spritz during World Cup

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ASK Italian reducing price of Aperol Spritz during World Cup

The promotion is part of a limited-time ‘Hydration Break’ offer, giving customers a saving on the popular summer drink, usually priced from £8.95.

Fans can take advantage of the deal by ordering a main meal and quoting the phrase “I’d like an Aperol Hydration Break, please” to their server.

Jemma Townsend, marketing director at ASK Italian, said: “At its heart, Italian dining is a generous occasion, all about a fuller table for everyone to enjoy.

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“Our tournament deal shows up loud, proud, and playful – exactly how we like it.

“Whether you’re stopping by for a £3 Aperol Hydration Break before the big game or getting the gang together for a late-night kick-off, we’ve got the ovens fired up, the drinks on ice, and a seat at the table waiting for the ultimate home team.”

The offer draws inspiration from the hydration breaks being used in this summer’s football tournament, turning a moment of controversy into a reason to celebrate.

It aims to give football fans a chance to enjoy Italy’s favourite aperitivo for almost two-thirds the usual price while dining out during the tournament.

The £3 Aperol Spritz Hydration Break will be available daily at all ASK Italian restaurants until the end of the tournament (Sunday, July 19).

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ASK Italian offers new summer menu

Alongside the ‘Hydration Break’ deal, ASK Italian has launched some new summer menu items, which are available until Monday, August 31.


Recommended reading:


New dishes include the likes of Pollo Picante Crocchettes as starters, a Prosciutto, Truffle and Stracciatella pizza and a Lemon Meringue Pie Sundae.

Jemma Townsend, Marketing Director at ASK Italian, said: “At its heart, Italian dining is a generous occasion, all about a fuller table for everyone to enjoy.

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“Our new menu celebrates this ‘Italian way of dining’, inviting the joy of passing plates and discovering new flavours together.”

Have you made the most of any restaurant/shop deals during the World Cup? Let us know in the comments.

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Police failed to arrest Isabelle Welsh’s murderer on earlier warrant

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Police failed to arrest Isabelle Welsh's murderer on earlier warrant

Isabelle Welsh suffered from weeks of abuse, including suffering 21 broken bones, before she collapsed at her home in Thornaby, Teesside, in September.

Alexandra Walker, 26, and her boyfriend Harrison Simpson, 22, were convicted of murder and child cruelty earlier this week following a trial at Teesside Crown Court.

The faces of child killers Alexandra Walker, left, and Harrison Simpson, right (Image: Newsquest/Cleveland Police)

Simpson was also convicted of sexually assaulting Isabelle, while her mother was cleared of that charge.

Cleveland Police has admitted that officers failed to execute a warrant issued by Teesside Magistrates’ Court for Simpson’s arrest in March 2024, The Sunday Times reported.

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The warrant was issued after Simpson failed to attend court for breaching a non-molestation order, an injunction designed to protect victims of domestic abuse.

It is understood that the non-molestation order was put in place after reports that Simpson had harassed and threatened a woman.

Isabelle Rose Welsh (Image: Family handout)

The force said in a statement: “Multiple enquiries and arrest attempts were carried out to try to locate and arrest him, but these proved unsuccessful.”

It added: “We recognise the time Simpson had an outstanding arrest warrant is far from adequate.

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“A review of this was immediately conducted upon his arrest for murder.

“This review, along with a determination to continually improve our processes around suspect management, has led to a number of recent changes, such as ongoing improved visibility across the force around outstanding warrants, a comprehensive data system which tracks all outstanding warrants, and stringent oversight including a governance group led by a superintendent.”

Ms Justice Norton said Isabelle’s murder was the final act in a sustained campaign of violence, which the pair then attempted to cover up.

Isabelle Welsh playing at home (Image: Cleveland Police)

She jailed them for life with minimum terms of 28 years and six months for Simpson and 22 years for Walker, both minus time spent on remand.

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Prosecutor Paul Abrahams told the court: “This was a campaign of quite deliberate extreme violence.”

Tributes placed outside the Thornaby home of Isabelle Welsh (Image: TERRY BLACKBURN)

Ms Justice Norton said: “Any death is a tragedy. The death of a very young child at the hands of those who should have cared for, protected, and loved her – as she no doubt loved them – is particularly distressing for all involved.”

She said the toddler sustained an unsurvivable head injury in the 24 hours before she died in hospital.

The girl was sexually assaulted around the time the fatal blow was inflicted, the judge said.

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Helicopter bursts into flames after midair crash while fighting wildfire | News World

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Helicopter bursts into flames after midair crash while fighting wildfire | News World

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A helicopter was captured on camera exploding into flames after it hit another while fighting a raging Greek wildfire.

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The two helicopters were involved in efforts to tackle fires that were spreading in the Psatha region, on the Gulf of Corinth west of Athens.

Local news site in.gr said an injured crew member from one of the vehicles was in communication with officials.

A search is taking place in a ravine for the other, which does not appear to have a functioning radio.

Both helicopters had two people on board, a pilot and a passenger who coordinated with the operations centre, the site said.

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On Friday, 300 people were evacuated by sea from Porto Germeno – a popular resort a short distance north from Psatha – due to wildfires.

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Local resident Minas Tzortzanis told the PA news agency: ‘A pristine forest, a paradise, was surrendered to the hands of the fire.

‘There are no words to explain what has happened. Destruction. Total destruction.’

Firefighters tackling the wildfire near Porto Germeno (Picture: AP Photo/Michael Varaklas)

Weather conditions have played an additional role in complicating the firefighting efforts.

Climate crisis and civil protection minister Evangelos Tournas said: ‘The very strong to gale-force winds continue to create exceptionally difficult conditions.’

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The turbulence has meant some aircraft are struggling to collect water and get close enough to the scene to drop it.

Today’s incident in Greece took place as several European countries face challenges from wildfires during an extremely hot and dry summer.

In France and Spain, around a third of a million people had to evacuate their homes due to rapidly spreading fires.

Others were forced to take shelter as ash and toxic smoke poisoned the sky, with enormous thunderstorms called pyrocumulonimbus clouds formed as a result.

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Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

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Two helicopters collide while fighting wildfires in Greece

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Two helicopters have crashed into each other while fighting wildfires in Greece

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Two helicopters have crashed into each other while fighting wildfires in Greece.

Emergency services were called after the aircraft collided in the Psatha region, west of Athens.

The BELL helicopters were each carrying two passengers and had taken off from the Elefsina military airport.

Hundreds of firefighters were today battling wind-fuelled fires near Porto Germeno on the Gulf of Corinth, northwest of the capital.

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Authorities said strong winds made the fire spread more quickly and made it unpredictable for firefighters.

‘The situation is extremely hard, especially today. We have really strong winds, gusts exceeding 73 kph (45 mph). The direction of the fire can’t be determined easily,’ doctor and firefighter Giorgos Doulas said.

The fire department’s deputy spokesman Yiannis Artopios told state TV ERT that the wind was so strong that firefighters on the scene ‘couldn’t even open their vehicle doors’.

Nearly 500 Greek firefighters have been deployed to the region, assisted by emergency crew from France and Romania. 

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Two helicopters have crashed into each other while fighting wildfires in Greece

The aircraft are seen plummeting to the ground following the collision

The aircraft are seen plummeting to the ground following the collision

The aircraft were both carrying two passengers and had taken off from the Elefsina military airport

The aircraft were both carrying two passengers and had taken off from the Elefsina military airport

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Over 100 homes have been destroyed amid gale-force winds that have fueled flames in the area.

A military firing range is among the sites affected. 

 

This is a breaking news story. More to come

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Milton Road sinkhole finally fixed but road still closed

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Cambridgeshire Live

The sinkhole has been repaired following delays caused by a damaged sewer

A sinkhole which appeared on Milton Road in Cambridge over five weeks ago has been repaired – but the road is still closed. The repairs were delayed because of the discovery of “an unknown source of water”, resulting in the road closure lasting much longer than anticipated.

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In the latest update from Cambridgeshire County Council, they said that road surfacing works are now complete, with road marking in place. They’ve also patched up other areas nearby where potholes had started to develop. However despite the completion of the repairs, the road is going to remain closed so that the road surface can cool properly.

The council update continued: “Temporary fencing remains in place to allow the new surface to cool and cure properly. The site will continue to be monitored over the next couple of days to ensure everything is safe before it is reopened to the public. Thank you for your patience while these improvements have been carried out.”

A previous update on July 27 said that it was anticipated that the road would fully reopen on Wednesday, August 5.

The council had planned to reopen the road in mid-July, but faced delays after a damaged sewer was discovered. In an earlier update, the council said: “Just before the planned concrete pour, Anglian Water identified failures within their network at the location – this issue needs to be resolved by Anglian Water.”

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The sinkhole was first reported at around 5pm on June 22, with road closure signs being seen along the road the following morning as well as fencing around the hole. It affected the stretch of Milton Road between the Elizabeth Way roundabout and Hurst Park Avenue.

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Idaho shooting latest: At least 3 dead in mass shooting at Idaho In-N-Out with toll expected ‘to rise’

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Idaho shooting latest: At least 3 dead in mass shooting at Idaho In-N-Out with toll expected ‘to rise’
Officials give update on In-N-Out shooting in Idaho

At least three people were killed and seven others were injured in a shooting at an In-N-Out in Twin Falls, Idaho, on Saturday, according to police and local officials.

The suspected shooter — an unidentified male — is dead, Twin Falls Police Chief Matthew Hicks said at a press conference. He described the scene as “tragic” and “chaotic.”

Joshua Palmer, a city spokesperson, told The Independent that the number of victims may rise. “We want to emphasize that that number may change,” Palmer said. “That was just the first number we got.”

An “active shooter incident” was first reported at 4:29 p.m. ET at the In-N-Out on Blue Lakes Boulevard North. Police urged people to avoid the area, saying roads nearby would be closed as officers responded.

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Shelter-in-place orders have since been lifted, Palmer said.

Hicks said the FBI is assisting the investigation, adding that information about the suspect and his motivations are expected to be revealed in the coming days. It was not immediately clear if the suspect was included in the fatality count.

Twin Falls, a city of about 56,000 people, is located roughly 130 miles southeast of Boise. There have been over 300 mass shootings in the U.S. this year, according to the Mass Shooter Tracker.

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Here’s a brief timeline of what happened

Here’s a brief breakdown of what happened:

  • An “active shooter incident” was reported at 4:29 p.m. ET on Saturday at the In-N-Out in Twin Falls, Idaho.
  • Soon after, police urged people to avoid the area as officers responded to the scene.
  • Videos circulating on social media appear to show multiple men with firearms outside the restaurant.
  • A city official told The Independent shortly before 8 p.m. that three people had died and two more were injured, noting that these figures were likely to change. He said the threat was neutralized.
  • Soon after, Twin Falls Police Chief Matthew Hicks announced in a press conference that the shooter — an unidentified male — had died.
  • Hicks said that an investigation is currently underway to determine the shooter’s identity and motivation, and that victims’ next of kin are being notified. The FBI is assisting, he said.
  • More information is expected in the coming hours and days, Hicks said.

Brendan Rascius2 August 2026 02:39

FBI reports 42 per cent increase in active shooters in 2025

The US’s Federal Bureau of Investigation reported 34 active shooter incidents in 2025 compared to 24 2024 – a 42 per cent increase.

However, it said that 2025 remained below the five-year average of 43 incidents per year.

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Nearly 68 per cent of incidents involved planning and preparation by the shooter, an increase from 58 per cent in 2024.

The FBI recorded 7 “mass killings” and 166 casualties in 2025 linked to active shooters, with 47 civilians killed.

Rebecca Thomas2 August 2026 14:00

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Photos show aftermath of Idaho shooting

Photos show the aftermath of Saturday’s shooting in Twin Falls, Idaho.

Police and emergency services were gathered around the fast food resturant.

(Reuters)

The shooting took place around 4:29 on Saturday, 1 August.

(Reuters)

Three people have died, and two were injured in the shooting.

(Reuters)

Rebecca Thomas2 August 2026 12:30

Witnesses heard shots from the kitchen

Witnesses to a horrifying shooting on Saturday described hearing shots from the restaurant’s kitchen and having to flee to their cars.

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Nayeli Rodriguez, 40, of Burley, was inside waiting for food with her daughters when she heard shots from the kitchen. An employee said it was a shooting and told people to get down.

Rodriguez said an older man tried to protect her and her daughters, and they were among the last to run outside.

“We were trying to get as far as we could and some angels let us in their car,” Rodriguez said, also via text message. “I left my car there in the parking lot.”

Rebecca Thomas2 August 2026 11:30

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Other restaurants nearby to the shooting closed during incident

A shelter-in-place order for the area was put in place as the shooting unfolded but later lifted, and roads were being reopened as the shooting investigation continued, Twin Falls city public information officer Josh Palmer said.

A nearby Chick-fil-A said it was closing Saturday as a precaution.

“Out of an abundance of caution, Chick-fil-A Twin Falls will be closed for the remainder of today,” the restaurant said.

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Magic Valley Mall nearby was closed and people inside were told to stay put, a public safety employee there said earlier Saturday afternoon.

Adam Withnall2 August 2026 10:30

Twin Falls In-N-Out had opened just one week before shooting

The In-N-Out branch in Twin Falls that became the scene of Saturday’s shooting opened just about a week earlier, on July 24, as part of the company’s recent expansion to Idaho.

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Twin Falls, a city of about 56,000 people, is about 130 miles (205km) southeast of Boise and about 75 miles (120km) north of the Nevada border.

“We are heartbroken,” California-based In-N-Out’s chief operating officer Denny Warnick said in a statement Saturday.

“Our prayers go out to our Customers, our Associates, and all of their families. We are working with the Twin Falls Police Department to assist in the on-going investigation.”

Adam Withnall2 August 2026 09:30

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Video shows shooter dressed in black carrying long rifle

Police were still trying to determine the shooter’s identity and motive, Twin Falls Police Chief Matthew Hicks said in a news conference earlier Saturday.

“We believe the threat to the community is over,” Hicks said. “It was a very chaotic scene.”

Video taken by a driver from across the street captured a shooter, who appeared to be dressed in black, walking up to a white car carrying a long rifle, opening the driver-side door and popping the trunk. The person then walked to the trunk and reached inside. At that point the driver who shot the video left quickly, fearing that the man might be getting more weapons.

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Twin Falls city public information officer Josh Palmer said investigators were still interviewing witnesses to the shooting. The restaurant is in a busy shopping plaza, and hundreds of people were in the area when it happened around 2 p.m.

Adam Withnall2 August 2026 08:10

Number of people injured rises to seven in In-N-Out shooting

The number of people injured in the shooting in Twin Falls, Idaho has risen to seven, while the death toll remains at three, according to a spokesperson for the city’s administration.

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Police who responded to the shooting found the body of the suspected gunman in an area near the restaurant, Twin Falls city public information officer Josh Palmer said. He did not know if the suspect was included in the fatality count.

Officials were still working on notifying the family members of victims and so were not yet releasing the names, ages or other details about the people hurt in the shooting, Palmer said. Some of the people injured are in critical condition, Palmer said.

Adam Withnall2 August 2026 06:56

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Witnesses describe fleeing in panic: ‘I left my car there’

Twin Falls resident Haley Dodaro, 43, and her mother went to In-N-Out for lunch Saturday afternoon. While waiting in the drive-thru line, they saw people running across the road and workers bolting out of the restaurant. At first Dodaro thought there might have been a fire, but then a man directing traffic in a reflective vest said there was a shooter.

“So that’s when we knew there was a shooting. People were running out crying and screaming. It was very scary,” Dodaro told The Associated Press.

Nayeli Rodriguez, 40, of Burley, was inside waiting for food with her daughters when she heard shots from the kitchen. An employee said it was a shooting and told people to get down. Rodriguez said an older man tried to protect her and her daughters, and they were among the last to run outside.

“We were trying to get as far as we could and some angels let us in their car,” Rodriguez said. “I left my car there in the parking lot.”

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Adam Withnall2 August 2026 05:47

Twin Falls In-N-Out had only been open for one week before the shooting: report

The In-N-Out in Twin Falls had only been open for one week before the mass shooting took place there on Saturday, CNN reported.

An In-N-Out executive told NBC News he was “heartbroken” by the shooting.

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Brendan Rascius2 August 2026 04:35

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Tributes paid to award-winning blind Cambridge composer

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Cambridgeshire Live

Asteryth Sloane was a talented musician

A talented young Cambridge composer considered a child prodigy has died at the age of 26. In Asteryth Sloane was named as the Cambridge Young Composer of the Year by Cambridge Youth Music in 2016.

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Asteryth, who was blind from the age of two, changed music into Braille so it didn’t stop them pursuing their passion. Their five-minute composition Passiflora, which took eight hours to change from Braille music into musical notation, won the prestigious award in 2016.

Asteryth studied at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM). They completed both a Bachelor of Music in composition, graduating with a First, and then studied a Master’s degree in composition and musicology, graduating with a distinction.

Their website described them as a “therapist, composer, writer, book-nibbler, collector of words, lover of stories and wild spaces”.

The RNCM has since paid tribute to Asteryth. A college spokesperson said: “Their unique compositional methods and creativity led to a number of accolades, including winning the Cambridge Young Composer of the Year Competition in 2016, the senior category of the BBC Proms Inspire Young Composers’ Competition in 2018 for their piece Elegy for Aylan, and a commission from the Royal Philharmonic Society to mark Classic FM’s 25th birthday celebrations.

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“Performed by ensembles including VOCES8, Paraorchestra, and the BBC Singers, Asteryth’s music is known for its responses to the beauty and fragility of the living Earth, as well as themes of identity and spirituality. Their musicological work explores the power of listening to bring us into more intimate and ethical relationships with sound, as well as the rights of sound and sound sources.”

A spokesperson for the Royal Philharmonic Society said: “We are sorry to learn that the composer Asteryth Sloane has died. We were proud to commission Asteryth to mark Classic FM’s 25th birthday celebrations in 2017, and we have since enjoyed hearing their imaginative music performed by ensembles such as the BBC Singers, Paraorchestra, VOCES8 and CoMA.

“A blind composer with a unique compositional method and verve, we pay tribute to Asteryth’s creativity, and urge music-lovers to continue listening to and performing Asteryth’s music, ensuring it continues to resound.”

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More recently, Asteryth trained as a therapist.

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Darlington 10k runners left disappointed by medal shortage

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Darlington 10k runners left disappointed by medal shortage

The annual race took attracted more than 3,000 runners on Sunday (August 2), taking on two laps of a 5k route through the town.

However, many runners were left disappointed, saying they did not receive a finisher’s medal after crossing the line as organisers had ran out.

Darlington Council’s website states that “anyone who completes the 2026 Darlington 10k will receive a medal and a T-shirt”.

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The Northern Echo has contacted the council for comment.

It is currently unclear how many runners were affected by the shortage, although those finishing around the one-hour mark are among those saying they did not receive one.

The council confirmed on Saturday (August 1) that more than 3,000 people had signed up for the race, describing the figure as “one of the highest sign-up rates the race has seen”.

Several took to social media to express their frustration.

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One runner took to Facebook to express their disappointment – claiming they were told there were no medals remaining when they reached the finish lie, and that they were made to sign a sheet so one could be posted out at a later date.

Despite the disappointment, many runners praised the atmosphere, sharing photos and congratulating fellow competitors on completing the course.

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Body of famed international climber Nirmal Purja and 3 more found after Pakistan avalanche

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Body of famed international climber Nirmal Purja and 3 more found after Pakistan avalanche

ISLAMABAD (AP) — The remains of renowned British-Nepali climber Nirmal Purja and three other climbers have been found by a ground team on Broad Peak, one of the world’s highest mountains, where a 10-member international expedition was swept away by an avalanche, officials said Sunday.

The Alpine Club of Pakistan identified the recovered climbers as Purja, Wang Zhong, Nima Sherpa and Kili Pemba Sherpa. The club praised military and civilian rescuers and volunteers involved in the recovery effort.

On Friday, rescuers located four other bodies but were able to recover only three — Omani Nathira Ahmed, American Mallory Geis and Nepalese Bahadur Gurung — because harsh weather grounded search-and-rescue helicopters.

Military-backed rescue teams resumed the search Sunday for the two remaining climbers, while efforts continued to bring down the bodies of Purja and the three others found by the ground team, local officials said.

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On Saturday, Purja’s expedition company said the world had lost one of mountaineering’s greats. The company described him as “a leader who inspired millions through his courage, humility and unwavering belief that human potential is far greater than we often imagine.”

Alpine Club of Pakistan President Irfan Arshad Khan said the tragedy was “an immeasurable loss to the global mountaineering fraternity.” He paid tribute to military and civilian rescuers and Sherpas who took part in the search mission.

The expedition was led by Purja, the Nepal-born former British Army soldier widely known as Nims Dai.

He climbed the world’s 14 highest peaks in a record 189 days in 2019, an achievement featured in the Netflix documentary “14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible.” His record was broken in 2023.

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A statement from Geis’ family said, “Mallory was a bright light who was loved deeply by her family and friends. She will be profoundly missed.”

The expedition was expected to be the last one for Pakistani guide Sohail Sakhi, who worked with Moving Mountains, a Pakistan-based adventure travel company. Sakhi also was a geographer and high-altitude photographer who had climbed some of the world’s major peaks, according to the company’s website. His body remained missing on Sunday.

Accidents are common on climbing expeditions in northern Pakistan because of avalanches, falling ice and rock, extreme altitude and rapidly changing weather.

___

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Riaz Khan reported from Peshawar, Pakistan.

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Commonwealth Games 2026: Selfies, signatures & social media – how Josh Kerr embraced Glasgow Games

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Josh Kerr

Josh Kerr didn’t get much sleep last night. “There’s no time for that. Glasgow on the weekend, mate, it’s bouncing,” the Scot said with a slight croak in his voice.

The response – 11 hours after his Commonwealth Games mile victory – was entirely in keeping with the way Kerr has conducted himself this week. Embedded with Team Scotland, back home among his own people, and absolutely revelling in it.

Look at his social media. Reels of the 28-year-old running around the streets of the city. In its parks and on its tracks. Pictures of him loosening off under a Kingston Bridge flyover in a hotel car park. Images of him engaging with the crowd.

His crowd, the people who came to see the mile world record holder on Saturday night.

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Among them were Kerr’s grandparents and nephews, his first ever coach, and his training partners from when he was 11 or 12.

There were hundreds of awestruck kids, too. Some of them budding athletes themselves. Others who might now want to be. Just like Kerr was when the Games came to Glasgow in 2014, with dreams of emulating those he saw race at Hampden.

That memory was in mind as the Edinburgh athlete slowly worked his way back down the home straight from the podium after his emotional medal ceremony.

It’s why every fan who asked for a selfie got one. Why he signed his name over and over again. Why he gave them his time and his attention. Sure, Kerr was soaking up his moment of glory, but he was giving something back too.

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“I’m just trying to create a moment for them,” he told BBC Sport Scotland.

“There is absolutely nothing stopping any of them going out and doing what I’ve just done.

“I believe if you grow up in Scotland, you can be one of the best runners in the history of these distances. I’m not doing anything outrageously special.”

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We think this is the best seaside town to visit from Cambridgeshire – do you agree?

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Cambridgeshire Live

Nothing says British summertime like a trip to the beach – feeling sand between your toes and a fresh sea breeze in your hair. Everyone has their favourite beach, whether it’s local or a bit further afield, and here at CambridgeshireLive, we have a favourite too.

We may be a landlocked county, but that doesn’t stop us from indulging in all the much-loved elements of a seaside town – it just means we have to travel a bit further to get there. And the longer journey means that you want it to be well worth it when you get there.

That’s why the CambridgeshireLive team has put its heads together to name the seaside town we think is the best. For us, it absolutely had to be Wells-next-the-Sea in Norfolk because it has the perfect combination of a picturesque beach and a town filled with independent shops and restaurants.

It was a tough call, with other towns such as Hunstanton, Cromer, and Holkham also contenders. But in the end, it was the glorious backdrop of the woodland and beach huts at Wells-next-the-Sea that we felt set it above the rest.

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From Cambridge, it’ll take you just under two hours to get there, and from Wisbech, it’s about an hour and 15 minutes. It’s best to travel by car as there are plenty of parking spaces and the town doesn’t have a railway station.

From the iconic French’s fish and chips to the Norfolk ice cream, art galleries, and fishermen selling freshly caught crab and lobster, we really think that Wells has it all.

If you agree, you can vote for Wells-next-the-Sea in a poll to find the best seaside town in the UK.

Food & drink

When you’re coming to the seaside, there are two main food items on the menu – fish and chips and ice cream. Wells has both of these in abundance, with French’s on The Quay, which overlooks the harbour, being a very popular spot. There’s also Platten’s if you want to sit in a restaurant and enjoy a chippy tea.

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If it’s pub grub you’re after, the Golden Fleece offers a beautiful spot overlooking the sea. It also has a small beer garden at the back for those bright sunny days. Here, you can enjoy pub classics including lasagne, cottage pie, scampi, and a selection of pies.

Other notable food mentions go to the Wells Crab House and Wells Gelato on Freeman Street. And you can’t forget about A&M Frary, the fishermen who sell freshly caught lobster and crab at the front of the harbour car park. Ideal for a lunch or to take home at the end of the day to enjoy a taste of the seaside at home.

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Down at the beach is the beach café which serves a range of food and refreshments including pizza by the slice and ice cream. Well-behaved dogs are welcome inside the café.

The beach

Wells is famous for its colourful beach huts and woodland, which overlook the vast sandy expanse of the beach. It’s a peaceful place to relax and unwind, fly a kite, walk the dog, or build some sandcastles. Dogs are allowed on the beach all year round, so even furry friends can join in on family beach trips.

The water quality at Wells is rated as excellent, meaning it is safe to bathe in, or just have a little paddle if you would prefer. It has had consistently good ratings over the past three years, and in 2025 it was rated as ‘excellent’.

It is worth bearing in mind that the beach is about a mile down the road from the town. There are car parks both in the town and at the beach, depending on where you want to spend your visit. There are several ways that you can get to the beach: either by driving and parking again, walking, or by getting the seasonal shuttle bus.

The buses run between Easter and October. During peak season, an open-top vintage bus also operates between the beach and the town. It costs £2 per adult and £1 for under-16s. Dogs are also welcome, and the buses run every 20 minutes.

As you would expect, the beach does tend to get very busy during the summer, especially during the school holidays and on bank holidays. But as the beach is so large, you should always be able to find a spot.

Things to see and do

Crabbing, or gillying as it is called in Norfolk, is a classic seaside activity. Wells harbour happens to be one of the best spots for it. It’s one of those activities that keeps both kids and adults entertained for hours.

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If you’re not familiar, then head to one of the nearby shops and get yourself a bucket, a line and some bait. Then, pick your spot on the harbour and see how many crabs you can catch. Just make sure you release them back into the sea when you’re done.

As you would expect from any seaside town, Wells also has an arcade. It can be found on Beach Road next to the casino and ice cream shop. It’s not a massive arcade, but still has all the nostalgic things like 2p machines and grabber machines.

Along The Quay you will find Thea Hickling Gallery, which is an art gallery and working studio by Norfolk artist Thea Hickling. The gallery showcases Thea’s oil paintings, which are inspired by the North Norfolk coast.

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If it’s a bit of shopping you fancy, then there are plenty of independent spots to pick from. There are classic souvenir shops and beach supply stores, as well as boutique clothing and homeware stores. At the beach, you’ll also find a Joules clothing shop.

What does it cost?

The coast is no longer the cheap day out it used to be, and, on the North Norfolk coast, Wells very much follows this trend. A medium cod and chips from French’s will cost you £11.20, with a pot of curry sauce costing an additional £2. A scoop of gelato from Wells Gelato will cost £3.50, or if you prefer a 99, it’ll cost you £4.

If you want to stay overnight during August, the cheapest room according to Booking.com is at The Quay Rooms, where a room for two adults for one night will cost £135. There’s also The Gypsy Knot, a compact little holiday home which charges £189 for two adults for one night. Alternatively, if you are a camper, you may prefer to take your caravan or motorhome to Pinewoods Holiday Park, costing £50 per night.

The UK-wide short list

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