An alumna of The Apprentice was present at the funeral of Iran’s Supreme Leader after hundreds of Western influencers received invitations from the regime to attend the ceremony held in Tehran.

British-Pakistani media figure Bushra Shaikh, who has become a spokesperson for the Iranian government, posted videos showcasing her attendance at the multi-day event in Tehran’s Enghelab Square, surrounded by mourners holding the regime’s flag.

In one post on X, she declared: “Long live the Islamic Republic.”

“What an honour to be reporting this historic moment in Iran,” she expressed in another post.

According to the Canada-based Iranian news outlet Iran Wire, Shaikh was part of a group of approximately 400 non-Iranian influencers and social media activists known for supporting the regime and criticizing the West, who were invited to the funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Over recent years, many Western social media personalities have expressed their support for the Islamic Republic, including its stance on the conflict in Gaza and its confrontation with Israel and the US.

Several have previously travelled to Iran to produce pro-regime content online.

Shaikh, who appeared on Series 13 of the BBC’s The Apprentice back in 2017, as well as on GB News, BBC One and Channel 5, has sparked controversy in the UK over recent years due to her stance on the Iranian regime. 

Earlier this year, she was reported to counter-terror police after addressing a pro-regime rally in Iran where participants waved Hezbollah flags. 

Hours after the post went online, a report – seen by the Daily Mail – was sent to the Met Police claiming Shaikh may have breached the Terrorism Act, which bans ‘inviting support’ for a terror group.

The report also alleged that she may have violated the National Security Act, which requires individuals to register with the UK Government if they are ‘directed by a foreign power to carry out political influence activities’.

The Met said in response: ‘Any allegations relating to possible terrorism or national security-related offences will be passed to officers within Counter Terrorism Policing, who will assess the details and take any further action as appropriate.’

In addition to Shaikh, British media activist Sakina Dattoo also attended the late Supreme Leader’s funeral and shared videos of herself at the event on Instagram. 

‘Heartbreak, anger and defiance as Iranians in Tehran participate in the funeral procession of their slain leader, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei and his family members,’ she wrote in one post. 

Also seen at the event was American commentator Jackson Hinkle, who shared a video of himself leading a chant to a crowd of Iranian mourners. 

He can be heard saying ‘Down with Zionists,’ ‘Down with Israel,’ and ‘Down with the USA’, as Iranians sing the words back to him. 

The American also shared countless clips of mourners moving down the streets of Tehran as the coffin of the Supreme Leader was carried along. 

‘Iran has never been more united,’ he captioned one of his posts. 

Like Shaikh and Dattoo, a significant portion of his content appears to focus heavily on showcasing the scale of the crowds and emphasising Iranians’ support for the government.

According to Iran Wire, the regime has a well-documented track record of employing ideologically aligned foreign voices to legitimise its geopolitical stances. 

Mohammad Mehdi Imanipour, the head of the Islamic Culture and Relations Organisation, told the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News Agency that approximately 400 foreign bloggers and influencers were brought into the country to cover the funeral. 

The attendance of foreign influencers comes as mourners dressed in black flooded into Iran’s capital Monday for a procession as part of the funeral, with throngs of people calling for the death of US  President Donald Trump.

Khamenei’s flag-draped coffin, and those of his family members who were killed on February 28 in an airstrike at the start of the war launched by Israel and the United States, sat aboard a truck decorated to resemble the ornamental grating that surrounds the shrine of an imam. 

The massive turnout was encouraged by Iran’s theocracy as a sign of strength, and it came as the Islamic Republic negotiates with the US over a permanent end to the war.

Helicopter images aired on Iranian state television showed a massive crowd stretching for miles from Tehran’s Azadi, or Freedom, Square along a multilane street of the same name. 

The crowd appeared to be larger than the one that turned out for the 2020 procession for the late Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani, which drew over 1 million people.

Authorities offered no immediate crowd count as the truck crept down the street. People alongside the truck and elsewhere on the route carried placards, signs and banners calling for Trump’s death. 

Mourners reached out to touch the truck, and some threw scarves and other items for attendants to brush against the coffin, a common practice in Iran seen as a blessing.

Attendants, some on the ladders of fire trucks, sprayed misted water across the crowds to cool them in the heat.

Authorities appeared concerned about the dangers of having a large crowd alongside the procession, with officials on loudspeakers urging the public to walk slowly, not to push and to stay to the edges of the street.

The coffins were taken through the streets of Tehran on a roughly 12-hour journey to Mehrabad International Airport, and Khamenei’s casket was flown later Monday to the Shiite seminary city of Qom, according to state television. 

He will be honoured there on Tuesday.

A tragic incident has struck Brookwood, Alabama, where a 24-year-old man now faces a capital murder charge following the deaths of two individuals, one of whom was a University of Alabama student. The victims were found shot at a residence in Tuscaloosa County.

The accused, De’Kendrick Crawford from Tuscaloosa, allegedly killed 31-year-old Jose Felix Alvarez-Duenas and 22-year-old Jazmine Alexis Bates. The bodies were found at a home on Alabama Junction Road on Monday afternoon.

Alvarez-Duenas was house and dogsitting while the homeowner was abroad, according to the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit. On July 5, the homeowner struggled to reach him and noted suspicious activity through her security cameras when someone was spotted on the back porch during the early hours of July 6. Concerned, she alerted her landlord, who then requested a welfare check from Brookwood police.

Upon arriving, police discovered Alvarez-Duenas immediately upon entering the home, while Bates was found deceased in a closet of a back bedroom. Tragically, the household dog had also been shot and killed.

Authorities moved swiftly, with Jack Kennedy from the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit confirming that Crawford was identified from the security footage and apprehended within 10 hours of the discovery of the victims.

Crawford, the victims, and the primary resident all knew one another from previously working together at a local business together.

Bates was a student at the University of Alabama.

Additionally, Crawford has an outstanding warrant for shooting into an occupied building from May 2026. In that case, Kennedy said Crawford was fired from a contractor job on UA’s campus and, as he drove away, fired a gun several times, striking an occupied office building. Warrants were obtained in that case, and authorities were actively searching for Crawford.

“This case is another example of the excellent law enforcement agencies that we have in Tuscaloosa County, and the value and efficiency of the several multi-agency task forces.  This critical case began at a small rural municipality, concerned a suspect that had committed crimes on the University of Alabama campus, and every agency in Tuscaloosa County worked together seamlessly to locate and safely arrest the suspect in just a few hours.  The VCU will continue to work with District Attorney’s Office to successfully prosecute this dangerous individual,” wrote Kennedy in a press release.

Charlize Theron is taking the minimalist approach to new heights.

In preparation for the world premiere of “Odyssey” on Monday, the actress shared a daring and elegant topless pose.

Theron captivated her Instagram followers with a striking image, where she sat on a bed, modestly covering herself with her arms, adorned solely in exquisite diamond drop earrings by Glenn Spiro.

The 50-year-old kept her hair elegantly swept back in an updo, complementing her look with a full-glam makeup palette highlighted by a bold red lip.

The snapshot brought a wave of admiration in the comments section, as fans were enthralled by her sultry display.

“Goddess!✨,” one fan wrote. “Timeless beauty!” another added.

Others voiced their excitement for the upcoming Christoper Nolan-directed film based on Homer’s ancient Greek epic, in which Theron plays sea nymph Calypso.

For the after-party, the “Monster” star slipped into a red Givenchy by Sarah Burton gown paired with dramatic black gloves.

The look was identical to the black gown a white gloves, also by Givenchy, she wore earlier in the day on the premiere red carpet.

For the event, Theron was joined by her “Odyssey” co-stars Zendaya, Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Mia Goth, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o and Tom Holland.

Back in May, the leading ladies of the film — Hathaway, Zendaya, Nyong’o and Theron — posed for jaw-dropping photo shoots for Elle magazine that represented the elements: water, earth, fire and air.

The blond beauty, who represented air, told the magazine she loved playing one of the lesser-known characters in the film.

“I was given a chance to do something that I haven’t had a ton of opportunity to do, because she’s a little bit of everything. That’s what’s so beautiful about her,” she said.

“And a lot of people on their own cast me in this movie, and they cast me very differently.”

In an alarming incident that could have ended in disaster, a Midtown Manhattan office building currently undergoing renovations to be transformed into luxury apartments was evacuated due to structural concerns. Authorities feared that the towering structure was on the brink of collapse, sparking an urgent need for safety measures.

Early Tuesday morning, construction workers hastily exited the 33-story skyscraper on East 42nd Street after noticing a critical problem. Two of the building’s main support beams showed signs of buckling, prompting immediate concern among the crew.

The strain on the building was particularly evident from the 21st to the 26th floors, located near Grand Central Terminal. Officials noted these levels were beginning to cave under pressure, increasing the urgency of the situation.

Eye-opening footage captured by some of the workers highlighted the severity of the issue. The video showed the massive silver beams bending perilously on the 21st and 22nd floors, moments before the floors started to give way.

Fortunately, there have been no reported injuries, as confirmed by the NYPD. As a precautionary measure, an evacuation order was swiftly executed. Furthermore, nearby buildings—totaling eight in number—were also evacuated to ensure the public’s safety while emergency units attended to the scene.

The FDNY said it is undertaking ‘a major technical rescue response.’ 

The skyscraper, which once housed pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, was being converted into a 1,500-unit luxury rental complex.

A site worker has accused the construction project’s general contractor of irresponsibility following the emergency evacuation. 

‘The general contractor chose to go non‑union for this project. All we want is responsible construction in the City of New York,’ Cliff Johnson, of Steamfitters Local 638, told PIX 11.

‘They did not shore up the job correctly. The beams started crumbling, the floors started crumbling, and they might have to evacuate the other side.’ 

Johnson said the project was a ‘total renovation’ and that crews were gutting the entire building. 

Renovation plans included adding 16 stories to the hi-rise, he added. 

The construction site was issued seven violations from the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) last year, public records showed.

The violations, which resulted in over $32,000 in penalties, were construction safety-related and have since been resolved.

One of the penalties was a $10,000 violation for failing to notify the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) of a construction incident that resulted in injury.

DOB inspectors responded to the site on Tuesday following the evacuations and are actively investigating the situation.

The department does have an active permit for the ongoing construction work, officials said.

East 42nd Street, between Second and Third avenues, is closed to pedestrian and vehicle traffic. Commuters are advised to avoid the area.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani has urged anyone in the area to follow the instructions of the first responders on site.

‘Now luckily there have been no injuries to report at this time, all workers are accounted for, the building has been evacuated, a number of tall buildings in the area are also being evacuated at this time, a school with about 400 children has also been evacuated,’ he said.

This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates. 

On Tuesday, Reform UK leader and British MP Nigel Farage announced his decision to resign from his position in Parliament.

In his statement, Farage explained that his resignation was intended to prompt a by-election in his Clacton constituency, where he plans to be a candidate.

“Today marks my resignation as the Member of Parliament for Clacton-on-Sea,” Farage declared during a press conference aired on the Reform UK YouTube channel. “This action is meant to trigger a by-election, which I expect will occur soon.”

“This by-election presents a unique opportunity for the people to challenge the establishment,” he added. “It’s a chance to express our discontent, and that’s precisely why I am entering the race.”

Farage’s resignation followed a series of scandals surrounding gifts he received from wealthy donors while out of office.

Farage denied any wrongdoing, stating: “Let me be absolutely clear. I have done nothing wrong. I have not broken the law in any way at all. I have not misused public money.”

An investigation into Farage’s conduct by Parliament’s Commissioner for Standards is ongoing. 

In May 2024, weeks before the July election that would return him to Parliament, Farage received a $5 million gift from cryptocurrency billionaire Christopher Harborne. 

Farage and his allies have denied that the gift was improper at all, with Farage calling it “unconditional” and claiming it did not violate Standards rules as it came only during his time as a private citizen between his 2021 exit from Parliament and his 2024 return to the body. 

He also claimed that the security funding was necessary due to an elevated intensity in the nature and frequency of threats to his life.

“I am going to need security for the rest of my life and I cannot even tell you how grateful I am to Christopher Harborne, because now I will never ever need to worry about whether I’ve got the resource.”

Citing years of abuse, Farage said “over the last years it’s gotten worse,” citing an attack on his home and “literally, daily online calls for me to be murdered.” 

Farage said he’s repeatedly asked the Home Secretary for help but was ignored, leading him to incur substantial bills on security. 

He also revealed that, days after Charlie Kirk was murdered, Farage’s own security funding was reduced by 70%. 

By abdicating his seat, Farage opens up a by-election, a Parliamentary snap-election resulting in a direct referendum for the seat. 

By-elections for vacated MP seats typically happen within three to four weeks of Parliament issuing a writ of certification, likely placing the snap-election for some time in early August.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

WASHINGTON — Senator John Fetterman seems unimpressed with Bernie Sanders.

The Pennsylvania senator has criticized Vermont’s independent senator, Bernie Sanders, for promoting Graham Platner, Maine’s troubled Senate candidate, despite allegations that Platner behaved as a “predator.”

“Bernie Sanders should certainly apologize for backing such a predator,” Fetterman remarked on Fox News’ program “The Ingraham Angle,” shortly after Jenny Racicot, a former girlfriend of Platner, accused him of breaking into her home and raping her in 2021.

Fetterman emphasized that Sanders owes an apology to the victims, “particularly the woman who has come forward with her claim of rape.”

Commenting on Sanders’ choice to endorse such individuals, Fetterman suggested, “Perhaps he should rethink his endorsements and refrain from supporting these kinds of extremist figures.”

“I know Democrats that have, you know, back-to-back endorsed and got all in on [disgraced former Rep. Eric] Swalwell and were on the Platner train as well, too,” Fetterman went on. “So, maybe stop, you know, getting [in] bed with absolute dirt bags, someone like Platner.”

Sanders had been among Platner’s earliest backers, endorsing him in August of last year, shortly after Platner launched what appeared to be a long shot campaign.

As of Tuesday morning, Sanders had yet to join other Democrats — including his fellow progressive Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) — in rescinding his endorsement. His office did not immediately respond to a request for comment by The Post.

“I’m sure he’s not a saint,” Sanders told CNN last month after another former girlfriend, Lyndsey Fifield, accused Platner of physical abuse.

“He went through some very bloody and horrible situations,” Sanders went on. “He has acknowledged that he came back with PTSD. He’s had his share of problems.”

By contrast, Fetterman denounced Platner early and often, mockingly referring to him as “P-Hustle,” the Reddit username under which Platner made a series of wild and offensive posts.

Among those were suggestions that a Purple Heart veteran deserved to die, defenses of urinating on dead Taliban fighters, and assertions that sexual assault victims should “take some responsibility.”

Platner has denied the allegations by Racicot, but said Monday he was considering the “best path forward” after canceling several events since Sunday.

“He’s a dead man walking. I don’t know why he’s trying to pretend that he’s not done,” Fetterman said of Planter’s candidacy Monday.

When asked if he had a message for the candidate, Fetterman shot back: “I don’t have anything to say to that trash bag … But now for me, you know, my thoughts are with the poor women that have been brutalized by him. And I want to salute the courage [of] the woman to come forward and all the people that dismissed the women, you know … maybe look in the mirror.”

PROVO, Utah — As prosecutors work to persuade a Utah judge to move forward with the trial of the man accused of murdering Charlie Kirk, they plan to introduce additional law enforcement footage and a statement from the alleged suspect’s roommate during the weeklong preliminary hearing, which resumes on Tuesday.

The legal sessions kicked off on Monday, delivering no groundbreaking revelations yet but presenting the most comprehensive evidence so far in the case against 23-year-old Tyler Robinson. He faces charges of aggravated murder in connection with the assassination of Kirk, who was a prominent supporter of President Donald Trump.

Former Officer Christopher Bagley from Utah Valley University described witnessing the event where the conservative figure met his demise during an address to thousands on campus on September 10. Bagley later discovered a gravel rooftop nearby, suggesting someone could have been lying in wait with a direct line of sight to Kirk’s speaking position, he reported.

“It looks like a sniper pad,” Bagley testified before the court.

Robinson has yet to enter a plea, and his legal team remains silent on his culpability. They have petitioned to remove the death penalty from potential sentencing, but their efforts have not yielded success.

Court will hear statement from defendant’s roommate

If prosecutors follow the order of an exhibit list they submitted earlier this year, they will present a video from the Washington County sheriff’s office from Sept. 11 – the day Robinson turned himself in – and recorded testimony from Robinson’s roommate.

Prosecutors allege Robinson confessed in a note left for his roommate, who was also his romantic partner, that read: “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it.”

Robinson also reportedly texted his roommate that he targeted Kirk because he “had enough of his hatred,” prosecutors have said.

Prosecutors have also said they plan to present DNA evidence linking Robinson to the suspected murder weapon, autopsy findings, witness statements and video of Kirk’s killing. In addition, they are expected to argue the shooting endangered others at Kirk’s campus event – an aggravating circumstance that could make the crime punishable by death under Utah law.

Kirk’s family briefly left the courtroom

Monday marked the first time Kirk’s parents, Kathryn and Robert, and widow, Erika, were in the courtroom since the case began.

Robinson’s parents also were present, sitting a few rows behind the Kirks. Robinson sat quietly between his attorneys throughout the hearing, looking at the prosecution’s exhibits on a monitor and occasionally taking notes. His wrists were shackled to a chain around his waist.

Prosecutors showed several graphic videos of Kirk’s shooting, including of the moment he was shot and security administering first aid, as they made their case to state District Judge Tony Graf.

Kirk’s family briefly walked out of the courtroom twice – when Bagley started testifying about Charlie Kirk’s arrival on campus and again when prosecutors introduced the videos. Each time, they returned.

Prosecutors have a low bar

The proceeding resembles a minitrial, but prosecutors need only demonstrate that there are reasonable grounds to believe Robinson killed Kirk and should stand trial. The standard is lower than for a trial, where prosecutors must prove guilt “beyond a reasonable doubt.”

Prosecutors, as a result, should have little trouble advancing their case, said Mark Kouris, a former prosecutor and state judge in Salt Lake City.

“This standard is extremely low and the chances of them not getting through it are, quite frankly, almost nothing,” said Kouris, now an adjunct professor at the University of Utah’s S.J. Quinney College of Law.

Defense attorney Kathryn Nester repeatedly objected to evidence introduced by prosecutors. She was mostly overruled by the judge.

When she asked Bagley about finding an empty pistol holster on the ground after the crowd fled, he acknowledged he never took custody of the holster and didn’t know whether it had been fingerprinted.

Utah is an open carry state, meaning people can carry guns openly or conceal them without a permit.

Graf sided with the defense to block the introduction of a compilation of surveillance videos from Utah Valley University because some had been altered to zoom in or had circles drawn around individuals. Prosecutors said they would try again Tuesday to introduce that video with the alterations removed.

Erika Kirk says court proceedings are a ‘painful reminder’

Before his death, Kirk and the organization he co-founded, Turning Point USA, galvanized the conservative youth vote to help Trump win a second term.

The Republican president has said he hopes Robinson receives the death penalty.

Erika Kirk said during her husband’s memorial service that she forgives Robinson.

Ahead of Monday’s hearing, she thanked supporters in a statement for their kindness and prayers.

“Every court proceeding serves as a painful reminder of his death,” she wrote, “and the loss that has irrevocably impacted our lives and the lives of his children.”

Marshawn Kneeland, the talented Dallas Cowboys player who tragically took his own life at the age of 24 last year, was found to have been suffering from stage 1 chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), according to researchers.

Kneeland’s death resulted from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in a porta-potty in Plano, Texas. This tragic end followed a dramatic police chase that started when he failed to yield for a traffic stop in Frisco on November 6. The incident highlighted the pressures and struggles that can accompany a career in professional sports.

The heartbreaking event occurred a mere 48 hours after Kneeland celebrated a career milestone by scoring his first NFL touchdown for the Cowboys. In the aftermath, the sports community, deeply moved, paid tribute to his memory across the league.

In the months following his death, a significant update has emerged from Kneeland’s family regarding his condition. The Boston University CTE Center disclosed that researchers had diagnosed him with CTE, shedding light on the potential underlying factors contributing to his fatal actions.

Dr. Ann McKee, the director of the Boston University CTE Center, expressed her somber acknowledgment of the findings: “Unfortunately, I was not surprised to find CTE in the brain of Mr. Kneeland, because we have found this progressive brain disease in nearly half of the athletes we’ve studied who have died before the age of 30.” Her statement underscores the growing concern about CTE’s prevalence among young athletes and the urgent need for further research. 

Meanwhile, Kneeland’s girlfriend Catalina Mancera – who was pregnant at the time of his death and his since given birth to their son – also shared a powerful message.

‘While this diagnosis does not change the tragedy of his passing, it provides important context about some of the struggles he may have been facing,’ she said. 

‘We share this information to help people understand what NFL and other high contact sport athletes might be struggling with. Raising awareness is important to us. 

‘We continue to remember Marshawn with compassion for the person he was, rather than defining him by the final moments of his life.’ 

Last month, Mancera took to Instagram to reveal the birth of a baby boy, named Makhai, seven months on from the death of Kneeland. 

Alongside the post, she wrote: ‘My favorite gift from you. June 11, 2026.’

Dr. Chris Nowinski, Concussion & CTE Foundation CEO, added: ‘Mr. Kneeland played in the modern era of concussion protocols and better helmets, and yet he still developed CTE

‘We have no reason to believe the current generation is at a lower risk of CTE than previous generations. Concussion protocols do not prevent CTE, because CTE is caused by repeated head impacts, not just concussions. 

‘If we want to reduce CTE risk, we must implement CTE prevention protocols and aggressively reduce the number and strength of head impacts at every level of the game.’ 

Stage 1 is the earliest and lowest stage of the CTE scale, which ranges from 1-4.

According to the CTE Society, stage 1 can be marked by ‘short-term memory problems, depression, aggressive tendencies, explosivity, and executive function issues.’

The 24-year-old was found dead on Nov 6 from what police said was an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound, hours after being pursued by officers who had attempted a traffic stop in suburban Dallas. 

Kneeland died during the Cowboys’ bye week, days after scoring a touchdown in team’s 27-17 loss to Arizona Cardinals.

They played their first game without him last Monday night, winning 33-16 at the Las Vegas Raiders. 

Kneeland drove at nearly 150mph before crashing into another car on the night of his death, according to a police report obtained by TMZ.

A Texas Department of Public Safety officer clocked him speeding at around 10:30pm on November 5. After following him, he then saw the late NFL player making ‘several unsafe lane changes’ as he passed other cars.

The officer claims he attempted to pull Kneeland over but he did not comply and, before long, the Dodge Charger disappeared out of view.

According to reports, police found the car minutes later. It had crashed into another vehicle before stopping in a field but Kneeland was not there.

Inside the car, police claim to have found an empty gun holster but no firearm. The authorities then launched a search for Kneeland – including using dogs.

His body was eventually found in a port-a-potty around 1.30am on November 6. He had reportedly suffered a fatal – and self-inflicted – gunshot wound.

The Cowboys star had earlier sent his family a group text saying ‘goodbye’ during the drama involving the Texas Department of Public Safety troopers, according to a police audio dispatch.

Kneeland’s girlfriend Mancera also warned the police that the NFL player had a gun and that she feared he would kill himself.