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Hayden Panettiere’s Team Considered Intervention Pre-Tragedy

Filmmaker Griff Furst, who guided Hayden Panettiere in one of her last cinematic endeavors, has unveiled unsettling details about discussions of a potential intervention before the actress’s untimely demise.

According to Furst, Panettiere faced significant personal battles while working on the 2025 release “A Breed Apart,” where she was trying hard to maintain her sobriety. During this period, she was accompanied on set by her intermittent partner, Brian Hickerson.

“After the filming concluded, I kept in touch with those close to her. It was eventually suggested that an intervention might be necessary, and I was invited to join. I agreed to participate,” Furst shared with his Instagram followers on Wednesday.

“To my knowledge, that intervention never came to fruition,” he confessed. “I wasn’t the one spearheading the effort, as it wasn’t my place to do so,” he added with a sense of regret.

Following Panettiere’s passing, Furst mentioned that many have approached him with questions about Hickerson, who was reportedly present with the actress in Greenville, South Carolina, at the time of her death.

“All I know about that is what we observed and wrote down at the time that it happened, with her boyfriend Brian Hickerson,” Furst shared. “Hayden’s mom said there was someone they had been trying to get out of her life for a long time and that he was with her the day that she died.

“I wasn’t in South Carolina, I don’t know what happened, but what I will say is my opinion, and it’s about what I saw on my own set, somebody fighting to stay sober and who deserved better company around them than what I observed.”

Furst directed the 2025 film “A Breed Apart,” in which Panettiere played a fictionalized version of herself, an actress caught in a deadly survival game on an island overrun by killer dogs.

“I was very lucky to work with Hayden. I wish she was still here,” he concluded.

On Sunday, paramedics responded to a call regarding a victim in “cardiac arrest,” and performed CPR for an “overdose,” according to a 911 dispatch call obtained by Page Six.

Emergency responders also tried to resuscitate the actress with “advanced cardiac life support,” but she was ultimately pronounced dead at 2:32 p.m. local time. She was 36 years old.

According to a police report obtained by Page Six, Brian, who was accompanied by his brother, Zach Hickerson, had shown officers a “bag of medication” she had been taking.

While it’s unclear what the substances were, the “Nashville” star’s hairdresser and good friend, Erick Orellana, exclusively told Page Six that Panettiere suffered from intense back pain in the months leading up to her death.

She’d also been candid in the past about her battle with addiction, previously telling People in 2022 that she “couldn’t live without” alcohol and opioids at one point.

Panettiere’s cause of death has yet to be revealed. As Page Six previously reported, her autopsy showed she had no “signs of trauma.” 

The “Heroes” alum and Brian had flown from California to the south the day before she died.

The duo have been involved in an on-and-off relationship since 2018 and reconnected a few weeks before her tragic passing.

An insider told Page Six that Brian — who’s been arrested multiple times for domestic violence against her — “would always find a way to work his way back into Hayden’s life as ‘a friend,’” describing him as “a real jerk.”

Calm Amid Chaos: Ejected Marine Corps Pilot Remains Unruffled After Devastating Washington Crash

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An intense yet remarkable moment unfolded in the rugged wilderness of Washington state, captured in striking bodycam footage. The video shows a Marine Corps F-18 pilot emerging from a fiery crash, face bloodied but spirit unbroken.

“I’m a little frazzled,” admitted Marine Corps Maj. Jackson Simon, his voice calm yet tinged with adrenaline. This admission came as he spoke to a Yakima County Sheriff’s deputy on June 13, 2026. Remarkably, the major’s demeanor seemed unfazed by the catastrophic wreckage he had just survived.

The newly released footage reveals the sequences that followed Maj. Simon’s daring ejection from his F-18 Hornet. The powerful fighter jet careened into a mountainside near Rimrock Lake, setting the scene ablaze with leaping flames and a towering column of black smoke that marred the serene treeline.

Despite the ordeal, Simon appeared astonishingly composed. Blood smeared across his face, he calmly approached the deputy, with a phone in hand, emanating a sense of poise that belied the gravity of the situation.

a bloodied Marine Maj. Jackson Simon on an officer bodycam

A thoroughly bloodied Marine Maj. Jackson Simon was caught on camera after courageously ejecting from his fighter jet, approaching a Yakima County Sheriff’s deputy with an air of nonchalance despite the dramatic F-18 crash he survived just moments prior. (Yakima County Sheriff’s Office)

Asked by a responder what kind of aircraft had crashed, the pilot began to answer, “That’s an F-18,” before quickly correcting himself.

“Well, that was–,” he began, before the responder said, “An F-18?” and the pilot confirmed.

The pilot told deputies he had been conducting low-level training over the lake when something went wrong.

“We were doing some circles over the lake,” he told the officer. “I tucked in, and I’m not sure exactly. Honestly, I’m a little frazzled.”

Screenshot of a Yakima County Sheriff’s deputy's bodycam footage of Maj. Jackson Simon

Marine Maj. Simon Jackson holds a Yakima County Sheriff’s deputy’s cellphone after calling his superiors to flatly tell them “Pilot ejected; pilot safe” and casually, “Hey buddy, this is Maj. Simon, I just crashed.” (Yakima County Sheriff’s Office bodycam footage)

When told by a bystander that “you hit the trees bad, bud,” he responded: “I went through the trees.”

When the bystander noticed the pilot was “shaking,” he admitted: “I have some adrenaline going.”

The footage also captured the pilot calmly making calls in the aftermath. In one conversation, he matter-of-factly tells someone, “Hey, buddy, this is Maj. Simon, I just crashed.”

After finishing his calls, he turned to the officer to say: “Without exaggeration: That’s about as close as you come.”

Major Jackson Simon with a bystander

Marine Maj. Jackson Simon and a bystander caught on the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office deputy’s bodycam footage. (Yakima County Sheriff’s Office)

Later footage showed his parachute on the mountainside and the officer helping him gather his gear and cut the parachute from the ropes tangled in the trees.

The responding deputy wrote in the incident report that he found Simon standing on a hillside, “taking off his flight harness” and stacking his gear in a pile. Simon then slid down the embankment to meet the deputy, who performed a “buddy check” for injuries.

Witnesses had watched the military aircraft circling near Rimrock Lake shortly before the crash. Several people called 911 after seeing the pilot eject and the jet plunge into the mountainside, where the impact ignited a fire in the wooded area.

The first report came at 12:18 p.m. local time, according to the incident report. Less than a minute later dispatch was logging “JET CRASH” and “PILOT PARACHUTED OUT.” Multiple callers reported the ejection and fire; one entry says a witness was “crying saying she saw the crash.”

The Marine Corps said the F-18 was assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. It was conducting routine training about 55 miles southeast of Seattle when the “non-fatal aviation mishap” occurred at approximately noon Pacific time June 13. The pilot ejected and was recovered by the local sheriff’s department.

A military spokesperson valued the destroyed aircraft at close to $67 million. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, headquartered at MCAS Miramar in San Diego, California, has said it is withholding additional details while the investigation continues and noted that military aviation mishap investigations can take several months to complete.

Warning Signs Ignored: Neighbors Alerted About Brian Hickerson Before Hayden Panettiere’s Tragic Death

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A year before the tragic passing of Hayden Panettiere, residents in her West Hollywood neighborhood were alerted about Brian Hickerson, her tumultuous partner.

According to TMZ, the Homeowners Association put up flyers featuring photos of the “Nashville” star’s intermittently rekindled boyfriend in August 2025.

The residents were advised to contact law enforcement upon sighting this man, described as having been seen trespassing in shared spaces and corridors, and were cautioned against allowing him entry.

The document emphasized, “If he is spotted anywhere on this property, dial 911 right away to report his trespassing activity.”

The notice remained up for a week until Mia Terrazas, a neighbor living adjacent to Panettiere’s condo, was informed that Hickerson was no longer deemed a threat at the time.

Hickerson, who was present when Panettiere died in South Carolina on Sunday of an apparent overdose, has been romantically linked to the “Heroes” alum since 2018.

In 2021, he pleaded no contest to two felony counts of injuring a spouse or girlfriend after multiple arrests over incidents involving Panettiere.

He was sentenced to 45 days in jail, four years of formal probation, 52 domestic violence classes and $500 in restitution. Panettiere was granted a five-year protective order.

However, Terrazas claimed Hickerson lived in Panettiere’s condo for the last two years.

The Golden Globe nominee’s neighbor told “Inside Edition” she was “terrified” of Panettiere’s partner and called the cops over alleged disturbances several times.

Hickerson, we’re told, “always [found] a way to work his way back into Hayden’s life as ‘a friend.’”

Panettiere, notably, explained to People in 2022, “I am open to people who are willing to get help and make amends. He’s gone to treatment and done his time. And I’m trying to live in a place of forgiveness.”

In May — while Panettiere was promoting her “This Is Me: A Reckoning” memoir, in which she detailed the abusive relationship — Hickerson dubbed his ex a “good buddy” and “friend” in a TMZ interview.

He also shared his “hope” of marrying Panettiere “one day” but acknowledged she “probably didn’t think the same way.”

The duo reconnected two weeks before Panettiere’s passing, we hear, with the former child star reportedly keeping her pals “in the dark” due to “shame.”

The pair flew from Los Angeles — where Hickerson was dealt a recent legal blow, with a judge refusing to expunge and reduce the charges to a misdemeanor — to South Carolina on Saturday.

Panettiere passed away the following day, with Zach Hickerson reportedly finding her body while his brother slept in another room.

Her cause of death is not yet known at this time, and while there are no “signs of foul play,” the Drug Enforcement Administration has joined the investigation.

If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788.

If you or someone you care about is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

Discover Charles I’s Long-Lost Treasure in Scottish River

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A remarkable discovery has emerged from the depths of a Scottish river, where a sunken royal ship, believed to be laden with treasure, has been uncovered 400 years after it was lost to the waters.

The ill-fated vessel, named the Blessing of Burntisland, met its end during a tempestuous crossing of the Firth of Forth, sailing from Fife to Leith as King Charles I embarked on his coronation tour in July 1633.

Aboard the ship was a fortune in silver and gold, valued at £100,000 at the time of its sinking, which would be worth approximately £20 million by today’s standards.

Tragically, all but two of the 35 souls who were passengers and crew perished, along with the precious cargo, which disappeared into the murky depths.

For centuries, the Blessing of Burntisland was considered irretrievably lost, believed to be hidden by the deep, silty waters of the Firth of Forth.

But thanks to advances in modern technology, a group of investigators think they have finally found the long-lost wreck alongside its precious payload.

Experts from the Charles Wrex Project, led by Burntisland Heritage, have released a report claiming that the wreck may have been found just one mile outside the town.

The report claims that the project has ‘now located what is believed to be the wreck of the Blessing, and work to retrieve items from the wreck is imminent’.

The Blessing of Burntisland, a royal ship carrying sunken treasure has been found in a Scottish river after sinking 400 years ago. Pictured: A painting of the Blessing of Burntisland capsizing

The Blessing of Burntisland, a royal ship carrying sunken treasure has been found in a Scottish river after sinking 400 years ago. Pictured: A painting of the Blessing of Burntisland capsizing 

Researchers used modern ground-penetrating radar to search beneath the silt of the Firth of Forth Estuary, revealing what they believe to be the missing ship

Researchers used modern ground–penetrating radar to search beneath the silt of the Firth of Forth Estuary, revealing what they believe to be the missing ship

Difficult conditions, poor visibility, and restrictions on diving in the Firth of Forth have made the search for the Blessing of Burntisland an uphill battle.

That was made significantly harder by the fact that the ship was expected to have been buried deep beneath the estuary silt over hundreds of years,

However, that hasn’t put off volunteers from Burntisland Heritage, who have been diligently scouring the tidal estuary for the last 30 years.

Items, such as pottery, shoe leather, and clothes fastenings, have been found in the area, but none have been conclusively identified as belonging to the Blessing.

But, armed with the latest underwater searching tools, their efforts finally promise to show results.

The report, titled the Burntisland Blessing Report, details the ‘application of subsea ground–penetrating radar, together with advanced scanning techniques, physical exploration of the site and the retrieval of a timber’.

Subsea ground-penetrating radar uses ultra-low frequency sound waves to record an image of the layers beneath the bottom of the ocean.

This allowed the investigators to detect the remains of a ship that would have been completely hidden from other search methods.

The suspected wreck was found less than a mile off the coast of Burntisland (pictured) in the Firth of Forth, where it was lost in July 1633

The suspected wreck was found less than a mile off the coast of Burntisland (pictured) in the Firth of Forth, where it was lost in July 1633

Volunteers and researchers have been searching for the missing ship for the last 30 years, but low visibility and the estuary's shifting silt have made the search extremely difficult. Pictured: The Archaeological Diving Unit from St Andrews University set out in search of the Blessing in 1999

Volunteers and researchers have been searching for the missing ship for the last 30 years, but low visibility and the estuary’s shifting silt have made the search extremely difficult. Pictured: The Archaeological Diving Unit from St Andrews University set out in search of the Blessing in 1999 

What is the Blessing of Burntisland?

The Blessing of Burntisland was a wooden ferry built in the early 1600s to carry people and cargo across the Firth of Forth, in Scotland.

The ferry made the five–mile (eight km) journey from Burntisland to Leith.

In 1633, the Blessing was loaded with 20 carts of jewels, plates, and textiles belonging to King Charles I.

Charles I had been undertaking an official tour of Scotland after his coronation there, and was now travelling southwards toward Leith. 

The royal cargo contained between four and five tonnes, including a 280–piece dinner service commissioned by King Henry VIII.

The Blessing of Burntisland capsized in a storm, and its cargo was lost in the Firth of Forth.

Although the ship’s identity has not yet been confirmed, the report says that ‘core samples now strongly point to the wreck being that of the Blessing’.

However, further tests will be needed to determine exactly what the investigators have found.

Most importantly, the team plan to test the age of the timber recovered from the wreck using carbon dating, which will allow them to work out when the trees used to build the boat were cut down.

If those dates line up with the construction of the Blessing of Burntisland, it would be very strong evidence for the wreck’s identity.

That would be a huge breakthrough for a centuries-old nautical mystery.

When King Charles I watched the Blessing sink from the deck of his own ship, the Dreadnought, he was so furious that he blamed the entire disaster on witchcraft.

In Lancashire, 19 women accused of witchcraft were arrested and executed on his insistence that they had caused the storm that sank the Blessing of Burntisland.

However, in reality, the ship likely sank because it was so overladen with its enormous haul of treasure.

The ship was transporting a consignment of treasure as part of King Charles I's (pictured) coronation tour, estimated to cost £100,000 at the time. That is equivalent to roughly £20 million today

The ship was transporting a consignment of treasure as part of King Charles I’s (pictured) coronation tour, estimated to cost £100,000 at the time. That is equivalent to roughly £20 million today 

That consignment reportedly included a 280-piece gold and silver dinner service commissioned by King Henry VIII himself.

If the ship and its cargo are recovered, the Crown would be the official owner, with Burntisland Heritage standing as ‘salvor in possession’.

That gives Burntisland Heritage the legal right to protect the wreck site from other salvagers and entitles them to a substantial salvage reward from the Crown.

Representatives from Burntisland Heritage and Burntisland Harbour Access Trust have reportedly met with senior officials from Fife Council, Crown Estate Scotland and the Scottish Government to discuss the find.

They have proposed that, if recovered, the ship and its cargo could be put on display at a proposed new museum in Burntisland.

Brand Beckham Unveiled: Discover the Two Transformative Insights That Changed Everything

Tyler Robinson’s Poor Aim Endangered Lives During Kirk Shooting: Prosecutors Reveal

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Tyler Robinson, branded as the alleged assassin of Charlie Kirk, appeared to struggle with accuracy according to Utah prosecutors. They argue that, during practices with the suspected murder weapon, Robinson’s aim often faltered, missing targets entirely. This revelation arrives as prosecutors counter the defense’s recent push to eliminate the possibility of a death sentence ahead of the trial.

Prosecutors paint a picture of Robinson, knowingly endangering countless lives had he fired at Kirk from a rooftop, targeting a bustling crowd below. Tragically, Kirk was hit in the neck while engaging with audience members on a campus stage.

The defense maintains that the bullet’s trajectory originated above the crowd, claiming it didn’t pierce through bystanders, highlighting that only one strategic, lethal shot was discharged, hitting Kirk directly and sparing others.

An image of shooting targets

During Robinson’s preliminary hearing at the Fourth District Courthouse in Provo, Utah, on Thursday, July 9, 2026, images of shooting targets were revealed to the court. (AP Photo/Spenser Heaps, Pool)

In order to seek capital punishment, prosecutors need to prove an aggravating factor at trial — which they have alleged to be that the shooting created a great risk of death to someone other than Kirk and that Robinson knew of that danger.

The defense wants to have the aggravator stricken before trial, which would eliminate the risk of a potential death sentence if he is convicted.

Tyler Robinson appearing in a courtroom for a hearing.

Tyler Robinson, accused in the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, appears during a hearing in 4th District Court in Provo on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026. (Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune via Pool)

The allegations came in a reply made public Tuesday, in answer to the defense team’s earlier brief. The filings come in the wake of a week-long preliminary hearing in early July aimed at determining whether there is enough probable cause to send the case to trial. Judge Tony Graf Jr. has said he would issue a final decision on Sept. 1.

Read the filing:

charlie kirk at uvu before shooting, facing the crowd

Charlie Kirk speaks at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025, in Orem, Utah. Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was speaking at his “American Comeback Tour” when he was shot in the neck and killed. (Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune/Getty Images)

Prosecutors told Graf that not only should Robinson’s case be sent to trial — but also that the defendant’s legal team “violated their ethical duty of candor to the Court” by ignoring basic case law in how evidence should be evaluated at the preliminary hearing stage.

When drawing inferences, prosecutors wrote, the magistrate — the jurist overseeing the preliminary — “must” draw all reasonable ones in the state’s favor.

An image of a bullet casing engraved with the word

An image of a bullet casing engraved with the word “Catch!” is displayed during a preliminary hearing for Tyler Robinson, who is accused in the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, at the Fourth District Courthouse in Provo, Utah, Thursday, July 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Spenser Heaps, Pool)

Simply put, Graf could infer that shooting someone on the other side of a large crowd could put bystanders at risk of being hit, as prosecutors have alleged.

Robinson has not yet entered a plea.

Charlie Kirk Shot

An image of a rifle that prosecutors say was recovered by investigators near Utah Valley University is displayed during a preliminary hearing for Tyler Robinson, who is accused in the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, at the Fourth District Courthouse in Provo, Utah, Thursday, July 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Spenser Heaps, Pool)

He is accused of driving from his home in southern Utah to Orem and fatally shooting Kirk during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University in September 2025, then confessing to several people before surrendering to authorities in his hometown.

Ex-Hamas Hostage Eliya Cohen’s Joyful Wedding in Israel

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Mazel tov indeed!

An Israeli couple, torn apart for over a year due to a Hamas-led attack, have joyously tied the knot after overcoming the chaos of the October 7, 2023, terror incident. Their story embodies a triumphant closure to a harrowing chapter and marks the beginning of a hopeful new journey together.

Eliya Cohen and Ziv Abud, who found themselves in peril at the Nova Music Festival when the attack by the Iran-backed group unfolded, celebrated their union in a memorable ceremony at Ronit Farm, Israel. The couple exchanged vows on Wednesday, surrounded by 1,000 delighted friends and family members.

Their journey to the festival began with Ziv’s nephew, Amit Ben Avida, and his girlfriend, Karin Schwarzman. However, as the terror commenced, they sought safety at a roadside shelter along Route 232, alongside many others who rushed for cover amid the violence.

Tragically, Avida and Schwarzman were among the 17 individuals who lost their lives in what is now somberly referred to as the “shelter of death.” Despite this immense loss, Cohen and Abud’s wedding stands as a testament to resilience and love in the face of adversity.

Abud hid among the dead bodies to evade capture, but Cohen was snatched by Hamas along with two other hostages.

The terrorists took Cohen, along with three others – including American-Israeli Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was executed by Hamas terrorists in August, 2024.

Cohen was held captive in Gaza for 505 days, enduring being chained, tortured, starved, burned and hung by his feet — all while suffering from an untreated bullet wound from the attack on the festival, where 370 innocent Israelis were slaughtered by Hamas gunmen and dozens were taken hostage.

Gruesome video released last June showed Cohen covered in blood in the bed of a white truck as the terrorists gleefully brandished their weapons and celebrated the capture of festivalgoers.

“[The terrorists] started taking people out, including Cohen, and then the shooting began. A lot of people fell on top of me and basically saved me. Only after three hours did I dare to get up, and then I saw Amit and Karin dead,” Ziv recalled to Ynet Global.

“I looked for Eliya and couldn’t find him. I thought they had murdered him, and only later did I see on Telegram the video showing that he had been abducted alive to Gaza.”

He was finally released in February 2025.

After Cohen’s abduction, Abud learned he had been planning to pop the question.

“His mother told me he had bought a ring — and told everyone except me. He wanted to surprise me.”

The couple was finally reunited against all odds, and are now looking toward a brighter future as husband and wife.

Iran’s Leadership Puzzle: Who Holds Power as the Ayatollah Fades?

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In a compelling episode of the Daily Mail’s Deep Dive podcast, host Chris Pleasance engaged with special correspondent David Patrikarakos to unravel the mystery surrounding Iran’s ‘invisible’ leader, Mojtaba Khamenei.

On March 8, Mojtaba was declared Iran’s supreme leader, following a week after the tragic demise of his father, Ali Khamenei, during US-Israeli airstrikes on February 28.

Mojtaba was reportedly at the compound during the attack. Sources familiar with his entourage revealed to Reuters that the explosion caused severe facial injuries and critically injured one or both of his legs.

After his leadership was televised over five months ago, Mojtaba has remained out of the public eye. Although there was speculation he would appear, he was conspicuously absent from his father’s funeral on July 5, where three of his brothers were seen in attendance, offering prayers beside the coffin.

On the latest Deep Dive podcast, host Chris Pleasance was joined by special correspondent David Patrikarakos to ask what has become of Iran's 'invisible' Ayatollah, Mojtaba Khamenei

In the latest Deep Dive podcast, host Chris Pleasance conversed with special correspondent David Patrikarakos, exploring the enigma of Iran’s elusive Ayatollah, Mojtaba Khamenei

Patrikarakos, who has been speaking to Western intelligence sources, set out the three theories circulating about Mojtaba’s whereabouts.

‘The first theory is that Mojtaba is alive and well, and that he’s running the war from a bunker,’ he said.

‘This is the line Iranian officials are peddling. President Masoud Pezeshkian claimed recently that Mojtaba is on the mend.

‘This theory holds that Mojtaba survived the bombing of his family largely intact. I think we can dismiss this as nonsense. It’s clearly not the case.

‘The second is that Mojtaba has fled to Russia. Russia has a long and ignoble tradition of sheltering foreign psychopaths. Right now, the ostrich-necked tyrant Bashar al-Assad is in Moscow, apparently playing video games for hours on end.

‘I don’t believe this either. The Iranians don’t run. People said Khamenei might flee, I knew Khamenei would die in Iran. So, I think we can dismiss this as well.

‘The third theory is that he’s barely alive, possibly incapacitated and that his statements are actually being drafted by someone else. Most likely, Ahmad Vahidi, commander-in-chief of the Revolutionary Guard.

‘This makes the most sense: if he were dead, I think they’d probably just say it.’

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was founded after the 1979 revolution as an elite force loyal to the regime itself, separate from Iran’s regular army.

Since his accession to leader was announced on state television five and a half months ago, no one has seen hide nor hair of Mojtaba

Since his accession to leader was announced on state television five and a half months ago, no one has seen hide nor hair of Mojtaba

Patrikarakos, who has been speaking to Western intelligence sources, set out the three theories circulating about Mojtaba's whereabouts

Patrikarakos, who has been speaking to Western intelligence sources, set out the three theories circulating about Mojtaba’s whereabouts

Patrikarakos believes IRGC leader Ahmad Vahidi, whom he describes as a hardliner, is now the real power in Tehran

Patrikarakos believes IRGC leader Ahmad Vahidi, whom he describes as a hardliner, is now the real power in Tehran

It is now the most powerful institution in the country, controlling not just the military machine but vast swathes of the economy. It is the IRGC that has closed the Strait of Hormuz, attacking tankers and demanding fees from vessels attempting to pass through the world’s most important oil route.

Patrikarakos believes its leader Ahmad Vahidi, whom he describes as a hardliner, is now the real power in Tehran.

He said: ‘Vahidi is really important, he is embedded in both the military and political fabric of the country.

‘If you want to understand just how important a leader he is to the Iranians, Vahidi is kept well underground.

‘He is a serious man. This is a guy who they say played a leading role in the attack on a Jewish community centre in Buenos Aires in 1994, 85 people were killed. He’s one of five Iranians sought for that bombing.

‘This is a guy that was doing some really nasty stuff around the world. He’s a massive hardliner.’

Listen to the full episode by searching for Deep Dive wherever you get your podcasts.

Kai Trump Shares Heartfelt Journey Amid Vanessa’s Cancer Battle: ‘A Lot of Crying

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Kai Trump has candidly shared the emotional challenges her family has faced amid her mother, Vanessa Trump’s, battle with cancer.

Earlier in May, 48-year-old Vanessa disclosed her diagnosis of breast cancer. By June, she revealed that she had undergone surgery and was gearing up for the next phase of her treatment journey.

Now, 19-year-old Kai is shedding light on how drastically the situation has affected their family dynamics, particularly as she was preparing to leave for college.

This week marked Kai’s inaugural semester at The University of Miami, a significant milestone for the young adult.

“It was emotional; there was a lot of crying in the week leading up to me leaving for school,” Kai confessed during an interview with Fox News.

‘[Me and my mom] would just be driving and we would just start crying together,’ Kai went on.

Luckily, Kai noted that she is not too far away from her home in Palm Beach, and said that her mom would come and visit her.

Kai added that she was ‘very lucky’ to be able to spend so much time with mom this summer, and branded her cancer battle as a ‘blessing in disguise’ since it gave them a chance to go to treatments together.

Kai Trump has opened up about the emotional toll that her mom, Vanessa Trump's cancer battle has taken on her

Kai Trump has opened up about the emotional toll that her mom, Vanessa Trump’s cancer battle has taken on her 

Kai, 19, shared new insight into how the illness has impacted their family while chatting with Fox News, admitting that it's been particularly difficult in the weeks leading up to her departure for college

Kai, 19, shared new insight into how the illness has impacted their family while chatting with Fox News, admitting that it’s been particularly difficult in the weeks leading up to her departure for college

‘I was very lucky to spend a lot of time with her over the summer, because of cancer and going to treatments with her,’ Kai shared.

‘It was a blessing in disguise, because I was able to spend extra time with her that I would normally probably spend on the golf course.

‘It was nice to spend those extra hours with her throughout the day before going to college.’

During the interview, the pro golfer also gave an update on how her mom was feeling.

‘My mom, she’s doing a lot better,’ Kai vowed. ‘Kind of after treatment, she wasn’t feeling very good … but she’s getting a lot better now.’

In May, Vanessa announced her diagnosis to the world via Instagram, while adding that she had undergone a ‘procedure.’

‘I want to share a personal health update. I’ve recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. While this isn’t news anyone expects, I’m working closely with my medical team on a treatment plan,’ she said.

‘I would like to thank my doctors for performing a procedure earlier this week on me.’

Kai added that she was 'very lucky' to be able to spend so much time with mom this summer, and branded her cancer battle as a 'blessing in disguise' since it gave them a chance to go to treatments together

Kai added that she was ‘very lucky’ to be able to spend so much time with mom this summer, and branded her cancer battle as a ‘blessing in disguise’ since it gave them a chance to go to treatments together 

During a July appearance at the 2026 ESPY Awards, Kai hailed her mom's boyfriend Tiger Woods as one of her biggest 'inspirations'

During a July appearance at the 2026 ESPY Awards, Kai hailed her mom’s boyfriend Tiger Woods as one of her biggest ‘inspirations’

The mom-of-five added that she is ‘staying focused and hopeful while surrounded by the love and support of my family, my kids and those closest to me.’ 

‘Thank you for your kindness and support, it truly means more than I can express,’ she concluded.

In another message posted to her Instagram page on June 13, she told followers that she would be entering the second stage of her treatment.

‘I wanted to share an update on my cancer journey,’ she wrote. ‘Over the past four weeks, I’ve been recovering from surgery, and I’m grateful to be healing and moving forward.

‘Soon, I’ll be starting the second stage of my treatment. Sending love, strength and hope to everyone fighting this battle.’ 

Vanessa was married to Kai’s dad Donald Trump Jr from 2005 to 2018. In addition to Kai, they share Donald III, 17, Tristan, 14, Spencer, 13, and Chloe, 12. 

Vanessa is currently dating golfer Tiger Woods, who has reportedly been an ‘amazing’ support for the mom-of-five throughout her diagnosis.

During a July appearance at the 2026 ESPY Awards, Kai hailed Woods as one of her biggest ‘inspirations.’

While she was on the red carpet, Kai was asked by Us Weekly who had inspired her over the past year, to which she took the opportunity to gush over the athlete.

‘Probably Tiger [Woods], he’s inspired me a lot, just [to] be a better person, a better golfer, and stuff like that,’ Kai said.

Kai, who is set to join the University of Miami’s women’s golf team this fall, also revealed that he has given her advice about playing golf.

The teen said that he told her to ‘keep being you and live life,’ adding: ‘He’s amazing.’