Aug 2, 2026, 03:30 PM UTC

Tributes have poured in from across the global mountaineering community following the death of renowned climber Nirmal Purja and nine expedition members in an avalanche on Pakistan's Broad Peak. Norwegian record-breaking climber Kristin Harila described the disaster as "one of the worst days in climbing history," noting the widespread sense of disbelief surrounding the loss of the 43-year-old former British soldier.

The avalanche struck the 8,047-metre summit route on Thursday. Pakistani rescue teams recovered the bodies of three climbers from Oman, Nepal, and the United States before Purja's firm, Elite Expeditions, officially confirmed on Saturday that all ten members of the international group had died. Purja gained global acclaim in 2019 after scaling all 14 of the world's 8,000-metre peaks in under seven months.

Sources: Aftenposten, BBC News, FAZ, Sweden Herald

At least eight people were killed in overnight Israeli airstrikes across Gaza, Palestinian officials reported, following US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a potential peace deal. Gaza's Civil Defence Authority said the strikes hit targets in Gaza City, Khan Younis, and Deir el-Balah. The Israel Defense Forces stated the operations targeted military operatives, including two Hamas militants.

Simultaneously, Trump is pressing Israel to accept the Washington-brokered agreement, under which Hamas reportedly agreed to lay down its weapons. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has yet to publicly endorse the plan. Key obstacles remain regarding implementation sequence: Israeli officials demand verifiable disarmament prior to any military pullback, whereas Hamas maintains that Israeli forces must fully withdraw before it surrenders its arms.

Sources: BBC News, France24.