Search teams backed by military helicopters recovered the bodies of renowned British-Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja and three other missing climbers on Wednesday following an “exceptionally challenging and technically demanding” operation.

This brings the number of bodies recovered from Broad Peak to seven nearly a week after an avalanche swept away a 10-member international expedition, officials said on Wednesday.

Search teams brought down three other bodies on 1 Aug. The bodies will be transported to a military hospital in Skardu when weather conditions permit, local officials said.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Alpine Club of Pakistan announced that “the bodies of Nirmal Purja, (Chinese climber) Zhong Wang, Nima Sherpa, and Kilu Sherpa have been successfully recovered and have now arrived safely at Base Camp”.

A recovery team of Nepali and Pakistani rescuers led by mountaineer Mingma G had set out from Base Camp on Wednesday morning and reached above the 5,000-metre mark, where the bodies of Purja, Nima Sherpa, and Wang Zhong had remained stranded.

Major General Irfan Arshad, the president of the Alpine mountaineering club, said: “I extend my sincere gratitude to the dedicated ground recovery team, led by Mingma G and supported by Sirbaz Khan, Abid Baig, Sherbaz, together with Dipen Gurung and Pemba Chhewang Sherpa whose courage, professionalism, and selfless commitment made this recovery possible under extremely difficult conditions.”

Alpine Club, however, said that three climbers still remain missing.

It was reported earlier that Nepali climber Nawang Thindhu Sherpa’s body remained stranded in a hazardous area above 6,000m.

“We remain committed to supporting all possible efforts to locate and recover them, whenever conditions allow, so that they too may be returned home to their loved ones,” ACP said.

“The recovered climbers will now begin their final journey home to their families.”

Ten climbers from five countries were killed when a massive avalanche swept through Broad Peak in Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region on 30 July.

The group, including Purja, was making a summit push on the world’s 12th-highest mountain when the avalanche struck between Camps II and III.

The victims included elite Sherpa guides, experienced high-altitude climbers and clients pursuing long-held mountaineering ambitions from Nepal, Oman, China, Pakistan and the United States.

Pakistan foreign minister Ishaq Dar expressed condolences to the families of those killed, saying he was deeply saddened by the tragedy and Pakistan remained committed to the ongoing operation in coordination with the embassies of Nepal, Oman, Britain and the United States.

Mountaineering accidents are common in northern Pakistan because of avalanches, falling ice and rock, extreme altitude and rapidly changing weather.

A Chinese climber died last year after being struck by falling rocks while descending K2, the world’s second-highest mountain

It was a scene not dissimilar to one penned by EastEnders scriptwriters. In an astonishing video, Shane Richie, one of the BBC soap’s biggest stars, launched a furious and expletive tirade at staff working at a Tesco petrol station in Essex after they told him to stop vaping on the forecourt.

Richie, who plays the lovable rogue Alfie Moon, was seen drunkenly shouting ‘f*** off’ and ‘I don’t give a f***’ when he was informed by the employees that it was dangerous.

Fans of EastEnders might assume he too would be read the riot act by BBC bosses.

However, on-set sources say not, which has left some of his younger co-stars ‘furious’ and have accused the show’s chiefs of ‘double standards and favouritism’ as they believe they would have been punished, or even sacked.

Instead, Richie, who was previously married to Loose Women panellist Coleen Nolan, has been allowed to take part in a stage show called the Prat Pack tour later this month alongside Bradley Walsh, Brian Conley and Joe Pasquale, and appear in pantomime as Muddles in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs alongside Steps star Faye Tozer in Southend in December.

My source says: ‘Senior bosses are sticking by Shane for now, they have been in contact with him and they have even offered him words of wisdom. Shane was on the front page of a red top newspaper where he was shouting because he couldn’t vape, it was atrocious.

‘BBC bosses hate it when their soap stars are in the headlines for anything other than their acting. If it wasn’t one of the legendary stars , they would have most certainly been dragged in and reprimanded for their behaviour.

‘Thankfully for the bosses who are not regarded to have treated him fairly, Shane is due to leave the show soon for his stage show and panto work, which was planned with the approval of management months ago.

‘It has acted as a safety barrier for EastEnders and relieved bosses don’t have to be seen to be taking immediate action but this has caused a lot of upset amongst his co-stars who are furious that he has been allowed to just get away with it.

‘It stinks of double standards and the bosses having favourites, there is a lot of anger behind the scenes on EastEnders right now.’

EastEnders insiders say that younger cast members claim there are different rules for them compared to stars considered to be the ‘favourites’ by soap bosses and Richie’s tirade has reignited the chatter.

Indeed, the likes of Jessie Wallace, 54, who plays Kat Slater and Steve McFadden, 67, known for his role as Phil Mitchell, have both engaged in much off-screen drama yet are both still cast members.

Meanwhile, Melissa Suffield, 33, who played Lucy Beale, exited the show under a cloud when she was a teenager for alleged ‘unruly behaviour’ and underage drinking.

‘Some younger actors are extremely annoyed as they know if it was them in this situation, there would not even be a discussion with bosses, they would be dismissed on the spot for bringing the show into disrepute. They just know they would be sacked.’

Another angered source tells me: ‘Perhaps [Richie] could focus on his actual job like the rest of us have to. We can’t all get months off at a time to take on lucrative offers for panto and tours.

‘There’s a real split at the moment but Shane’s a favourite so few are willing to speak up for fear of reprisals. Others have been sacked for less.’

The actor was later arrested and charged with drink driving after swearing at staff members

Fans of EastEnders might assume he too would be read the riot act by BBC bosses after his petrol station tirade 

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Father-of-five Richie was brought on as Alfie Moon in 2002 by then executive producer Louise Berridge at a time when the show was facing criticism from viewers for its ‘doom and gloom’ storylines.

Cheeky-chappie and serial charmer Alfie was an instant hit with EastEnders’ then nightly viewership of 12million and he played the role until his first exit in 2005. He subsequently returned in 2010 where he took over the iconic Queen Vic pub with his on-screen lover Kat Slater. He made another comeback in 2022 and has remained on screen until now.

‘There’s little sympathy for Shane at Elstree,’ my mole continued. ‘People who earn nothing compared to him are expected to feel sorry for him because he’s struggling with his workload but yet he’s the one taking on extra work for extra money.’

After the petrol station rant, the actor was arrested and charged with drink driving.

Richie, 62, will face the magistrates’ court in Colchester next month – which comes after something of a colourful past.

Having begun his career as a bluecoat entertainer in Pontins Holiday Camp on the Isle of Wight, he revealed in his 2003 memoir how he had sex with six women at the same time in a chalet while in the role.

He also cheated on Coleen, the mother of his two sons Shane Jnr and Jake, with dancer and actress Claire Taylor between 1990 and 1999. The affair led to the end of their marriage.

Richie has been married to his second wife, actress Christie Goddard, since 2007 and they have three children together, Mackenzie Blue, 20, Lolita-Belle 18, and 15-year-old Romani-Skye.

EastEnders insiders say younger cast members claim there are different rules for them compared to stars seen to be the ‘favourites’ by soap bosses, such as Richie’s Alfie Moon

Despite his arrest, Richie’s plans to appear in both a stage show next month and a Christmas panto remain in place, giving rise to allegations of ‘favouritism’ among the EastEnders cast

Shane Richie with his first wife Coleen Nolan at the National TV Awards, London, in 1997

Three years ago he revealed he had been through therapy for his temper after growing up with an abusive father and said he barely touches alcohol now.

Richie made his terrestrial television debut on BBC One in 1990, starring as a comic on sketch show Up To Something.

Despite his reputation as something of a ‘badboy’, Richie has enjoyed an illustrious career, winning roles in musicals such as Boogie Nights and Grease where he played lead character Danny Zuko in the London revival of the 70s romcom. (During this time he risked the wrath of the law by giving free tickets to touts, who then went on to sell them for Richie at a profit).

He has also hosted game shows Don’t Forget The Lyrics for Sky, Lucky Numbers, Win Your Wishlist and Reflect for the BBC.

‘Shane has a real naughty past,’ says my source. ‘And he behaved badly at the petrol station yet in 2026, he’s still allowed to get away with it.’

One local said the community was ‘sold a vision of a well-rounded community with social infrastructure’ but ‘are now being presented with yet another block of retirement flats’

Locals have been left feeling angry over proposals for retired living apartments after being “promised” a pub or local facility. If approved, the proposals would see land off Back Lane, north of Holiday Inn Express in Cambourne, developed into 58 retired living apartments.

South Cambridgeshire District Council’s Planning Committee is due to consider the proposals at a meeting on August 12, 2026. Cambourne Town Council, who reminded the community of the upcoming meeting, said the application has “attracted significant interest and objections from members of our community”, adding that the Committee’s decision will be “an important one for Cambourne”.

The plans, submitted by McCarthy Stone Retirement Lifestyles Limited, propose to deliver 58 apartments for people of retirement age and above. Of the 58 apartments, 39 would be one-bedroom and 19 would be two-bedroom units.

The four storey apartment building would feature a communal homeowners lounge, guest suite and reception area. The development would also deliver a refuse store, mobility scooter store room with charging points and communal landscaped gardens.

If permission is granted, a total of 38 car parking spaces would be provided for residents, staff, and visitors within the development.

The site, about nine miles from Cambridge, is centrally located within the town on the main approach from the A428. McCarthy Stone claims the scheme would aim to provide “much needed” retirement accommodation to the local area.

A planning document says: “The provision of retirement accommodation will enhance the diversity of developments in the area, while benefiting from the numerous local services and amenities.”

However, not everyone is in support of the proposal as dozens of objections have been lodged on the planning website. One local said: “We DO NOT require any more retirement homes in Cambourne. We need facilities for families. Restaurants, pubs, shops and a decent high street.”

Another objector wrote: “There is a lack of amenities and social gathering space in Cambourne as it is. Building more residential property on remaining space further diminishes the opportunities to create space that works for a large majority of residents in Cambourne.

“This land was designated for a pub and restaurant. Amenities that would create employment and a social hub in the centre of Cambourne.”

Another local claimed the land was “earmarked for the greater community use” adding, “we have been promised a community facility here for a long time”.

Additionally, another objector said: “When Cambourne was first planned, residents were sold a vision of a well-rounded community with social infrastructure to match its growing population. Part of that vision included the provision of a second public house on this key gateway site. This wasn’t just a nice-to-have – it was a vital promise made to support a sustainable, connected, and socially thriving town.

“Instead, we are now being presented with yet another block of retirement flats, despite there already being developments in Cambourne, many of which are still under-occupied.

“There is no proven need for additional retirement housing of this type in the area, especially when the broader community lacks basic leisure, hospitality, and gathering spaces. The demand is not for more housing, but for places where residents – of all ages – can come together.”

This is the full statement released by the Met Police just after 3.30pm, following this afternoon’s incident in Covent Garden.

The force said: “Four men – aged 34, 39, 42, and 52 – were found with stab wounds and assessed at the scene by paramedics.

“They were taken to hospital where two remain with injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening or life changing.

“The other two victims have since been discharged.

“At around 12:27hrs on Wednesday, 5 August, police were called to reports of stabbing on Endell Street, Covent Garden.

“Officers attended alongside the London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance.

“A 47-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon and assault.

“She was taken to custody where she remains.

“Police remain in the area, with a scene in place on Endell Street and the surrounding areas in Covent Garden.

“Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 quoting CAD3449/05AUG.”

The scene has since been cleared, with all police cordons lifted.

By EMMA RICHTER, US SENIOR NEWS REPORTER

Published: 18:27 BST, 5 August 2026 | Updated: 19:11 BST, 5 August 2026

Multiple people have been killed after a mass shooting broke out in a secluded North Carolina neighborhood, police said. 

Shots rang out around 8.30am on Wednesday at a home in Prospect Hill, a quaint community located in Caswell County that is about 45 miles outside of Greensboro. 

Deputies with the Caswell Sheriff’s Office and the North Carolina State Highway Patrol responded to the scene. 

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NCSBI) confirmed that several people were killed, but did not comment further. 

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Police said there is no threat to the small community at this time and that it is believed to be an ‘isolated incident.’ 

All three agencies have since gathered outside of the home, WRAL News reported.  

No victims have been identified and there is no information on a possible suspect. 

It is unclear if the people involved in the deadly shooting knew each other.  

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The Daily Mail contacted the agencies for comment. 

Shots rang out around 8.30am on Wednesday at a home in Prospect Hill, a quaint community located in Caswell County that is about 45 miles outside of Greensboro

No victims have been identified and there is no information on a possible suspect. It is unclear if the people involved in the deadly shooting knew each other

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Caswell Sheriff Tony Durden said the NCSBI has been processing evidence at the scene and conducting interviews. 

His agency is working on notifying the victim’s next of kin, Durden said. 

The incident remains under investigation.  

This is breaking news… updates to follow.  

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You search online for a pair of trainers. Minutes later, similar shoes appear on social media feeds. A shopping site offers a limited-time discount and suggests a matching jacket. This is no longer just an advert shown to millions of people. Increasingly, artificial intelligence is helping decide not only what you see, but which sales pitch is most likely to persuade you.

As AI becomes more deeply embedded in online shopping, researchers like me are asking whether these systems are merely making shopping easier, or quietly encouraging us to buy far more than we need. At the same time, a growing body of research suggests that more mindful shopping habits may offer one of the few effective ways for consumers to stay in control of their decisions.

Advertising has always tried to influence consumers. While mass marketing delivered the same message to everyone, AI can build detailed profiles from our interests and online behaviour, continually adjusting recommendations based on what we search for, click on or leave in an online basket.

On online shopping sites this might mean product recommendations linked to a recent search. On social media, it could be a sponsored post resembling content already holding your attention.

Personalisation can be genuinely useful, reducing the effort involved in finding relevant products. But it also allows advertising to become more adaptive. And potentially more persuasive.

That persuasion works because it reduces the mental effort involved in shopping. Instead of comparing hundreds of options, we are presented with a shortlist that feels relevant. Familiarity, customer reviews and scarcity messages such as “only two left” create a sense of urgency.

Of course, AI didn’t invent these techniques. One-click payment, limited-time offers and personalised recommendations have long been features of online retail. What AI changes is the speed and precision with which companies can learn which combination of messages works best for each person. Experimental research suggests that these kinds of online “dark patterns” can produce small but measurable increases in impulse buying.

Research suggests AI may make this influence even harder to recognise. A 2025 peer-reviewed experiment involving 179 participants found that many people struggled to identify advertising embedded within AI chatbot conversations, often interpreting promotional content as helpful advice rather than advertising.

A more recent 2026 preprint involving 2,012 participants reached a similar conclusion. Researchers found that conversational AI steered users towards sponsored books far more often than conventional search rankings, while most participants did not recognise the promotional influence. Because the study has not yet been peer reviewed, its findings should be interpreted with appropriate caution.

When convenience turns into extra consumption

The concern is not that AI removes our ability to choose freely. Rather, it can shorten the gap between wanting something and stopping to consider whether we actually need it. A recommendation arrives at exactly the right moment, perhaps accompanied by a discount or a reminder that an item is nearly sold out. Decisions that once involved reflection can become almost automatic.

That matters not only for household budgets but also for the environment. Every unnecessary purchase requires raw materials, manufacturing, packaging and transport. In Europe, around 20% of garments bought online is returned, while an estimated 22% to 43% of returned online clothing is destroyed.

So, how can consumers respond without abandoning the convenience that AI-powered shopping offers?

One increasingly discussed approach is mindful consumption. Rather than shopping on autopilot, it encourages people to become more aware of what is influencing their decisions and to pause long enough to consider whether a purchase reflects a genuine need or simply a well-timed temptation.

A 2025 study found that people with higher levels of trait mindfulness tended to report lower levels of impulse buying overall. But a brief mindfulness exercise did not reduce immediate buying urges or behaviour. Awareness is therefore not a magic switch.

Putting the pause back into the purchase

In my research with a colleague, mindful consumption begins with three ideas: noticing what influences our decisions, considering the wider consequences of what we buy, and recognising when enough is enough.

This kind of mindfulness is not about meditating before buying a pair of shoes. Psychologist Ellen Langer has long argued that mindfulness can simply mean actively noticing what is happening around us and questioning familiar habits.

Applied to shopping, it means interrupting the automatic purchase. Before buying something unplanned, ask yourself: did I want this before I saw the recommendation? What need will it actually meet? How often will I use it?

It can also help to create small moments of friction. Leave an item in your basket overnight instead of buying immediately. Turn off retail notifications. Remove stored payment details. Shop from a list rather than an endless stream of recommendations. Check whether a recommendation is sponsored and compare it with alternatives outside the platform making the suggestion.

Responsibility, however, should not rest solely with consumers. As AI-powered marketing becomes more sophisticated, platforms should make it easier to distinguish advertising from advice, explain why recommendations are appearing and avoid exploiting people’s vulnerabilities.

AI’s greatest power is not that it forces us to buy. It is that it makes temptation more personal, more timely and easier to accept. Mindful consumption restores something digital shopping increasingly removes: a genuine moment to decide whether wanting should become buying.

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Brazilian presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro on Wednesday picked his running mate, a lawmaker from his party who will run for vice president in the October election after centrist parties largely failed to endorse his candidacy or opted to stay neutral in the race.

The senator and a son of former President Jair Bolsonaro was confirmed as the presidential candidate of his father’s Liberal Party last month. He will run against incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and the two could go into a runoff if neither gets a majority vote.

But unlike his father, the younger Bolsonaro does not have the support of centrist parties in Brazil from which a vice-presidential candidate would have been expected. That lack of support has compounded his difficulties in choosing a running mate.

Alfredo Gaspar has been a member of Brazil’s lower house since 2023. Before that, he worked as a prosecutor and served as secretary of public security of the northeastern state of Alagoas.

“He is someone I’ve come to admire, and everyone here has come to admire him as well – for his courage, his honesty, and his track record in public security,” Flávio Bolsonaro said.

In his speech, Gaspar thanked Flávio Bolsonaro for trusting him and committed to their joint project, describing himself as a “simple person, someone from the northeast, but someone with a life story marked by a great deal of hard work.”

Bolsonaro had tried but failed to win over Agriculture Minister Tereza Cristina, who would have been a high-profile female running mate. His political movement has historically suffered from lower support from women voters.

Cristina’s party has a stronghold in Congress and was key for Jair Bolsonaro’s presidency. It was not expected to field a presidential candidate and its distancing from the younger Bolsonaro has been surprising.

Since announcing that he had been chosen by his father to run in the election against Lula, Flávio Bolsonaro has run into a series of obstacles.

Support for his bid started to wane in May, after he admitted he had requested millions of dollars from jailed banker Daniel Vorcaro to pay for a film about his father’s life, a revelation that shocked many allies.

Bolsonaro then visited the White House and the U.S. State Department, touting his family’s ties with U.S. President Donald Trump.

However, many voters, business leaders and politicians now blame him for the new tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on some Brazilian exports of up to 37.5%.

In June, Bolsonaro faced another blow: His stepmother recorded a video to say he had been disrespectful to her. They have since made amends.

___

Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

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Forshaw Demolition is a family-owned business that has operated for 23 years and boasts more than 80 years of combined experience.

It provides services such as asbestos removal, industrial decommissioning, and the dismantling of concrete and steel structures, including road and rail bridges.

The company also delivers residential, city centre, and high-rise demolition projects.

The Forshaw website explains that the company takes on schemes right across the UK, usually valued between £10,000 and £2 million.

Forshaw Demolition enters administration after 23 years

Now, after 23 years in business, Forshaw Demolition has fallen into administration.

Richard Cole, Stephen Kenny, and Amy Lowden from KBL Advisory Limited were appointed joint administrators on July 24, according to The Gazette.

What happens when a company goes into administration?

When a company enters administration, it means that it is unable to pay expenses, debts, or other liabilities, according to SquareUp.com.

Companies House adds: “When a company goes into administration, they have entered a legal process (under the Insolvency Act 1986) with the aim of achieving one of the statutory objectives of an administration. This may be to rescue a viable business that is insolvent due to cashflow problems.

“An appointment of an administrator (a licensed insolvency practitioner) will be made by directors, a creditor or the court to fulfil the administration process.”

A statutory moratorium is put in place once a company enters administration, giving it “breathing space” to allow for financial restructuring plans to be drawn up free from creditor enforcement actions.

A company can continue to trade while in administration, but daily management and control are handed over to the administrators.

Companies House continues: “Within 8 weeks it is the administrators’ role to formulate administration proposals.

“Creditors are then asked to vote by a decision procedure to approve the administrators’ proposals.

“If the administration involves a sale of all or part of the company’s business, the proceeds (after the costs of the procedure) will be distributed to creditors in a statutory order of priority.”

Administration will end automatically after 12 months unless the administrator asks the court or creditors for an extension.

Through administration, a company can be:

• Rescued and passed back to the directors
• Enter liquidation
• Be dissolved

Other UK companies that have closed or entered administration/liquidation in 2026

It has been a tough year for the UK high street, with several other retailers entering administration or liquidation and others announcing widespread store closures.

Major high street brands LK Bennett, Claire’s, and Quiz have been forced to close all their remaining stores after falling into administration.

UK fashion retailer Leading Labels is also set to close its remaining 15 stores after falling into liquidation.

Whitbread recently confirmed it will be closing all its UK restaurants in September:

• Brewers Fayre (89 locations) – September 7
• Beefeater (106) – September 10
• Bar + Block – September 3
• Table Table – September 3
• Cookhouse + Pub – September 3

TG Jones and the British Heart Foundation will also both be closing around 150 stores across the UK.

Other retailers have been forced to close stores this year, including:

Several UK travel companies have also ceased trading or entered administration in 2026:

Meanwhile, four UK airlines have fallen into administration or liquidation:

UK delivery company Yodel is set to be phased out after being acquired by InPost.

It’s also been reported that Morrisons is looking to sell some of its in-store pharmacies as it continues to cut costs.

It hasn’t all been bad news for the UK high street, with several major brands announcing new store openings for 2026, including Aldi, M&S, and Superdrug.

Meanwhile, brands including Evans and Bodycare have returned to the UK high street this year after previously closing all their stores.

Which business/store closure in 2026 has impacted you the most? Let us know in the comments below.