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.

Damascus was shaken by two explosions near the central Four Seasons hotel, where French President Emmanuel Macron was lodging during his state visit, Syrian state media disclosed on Tuesday.

The blasts, attributed to improvised explosive devices (IEDs), left eighteen individuals injured, including four police officers, as reported by Syria’s interior ministry via state news agency SANA.

The ministry explained that the detonation of both devices occurred after security forces located them and were in the process of preparing for their safe disposal.

The explosives had been concealed within a vehicle and a trash bin in proximity to the hotel where Macron was residing during his trip—the first official visit by a Western leader to Syria since President Ahmed al-Sharaa replaced the ousted Bashar al-Assad in 2025.

A spokesperson from Élysée Palace confirmed that Macron was away from the hotel at the time of the explosions and did not hear them. His visit with al-Sharaa proceeded as planned, according to statements from both Élysée Palace and SANA.

While not commenting on the explosions directly, Macron posted a statement on X shortly after the incident.

“Nothing can smother the aspiration of Syrian women and men to live in a fully sovereign, safe, pluralistic, and united Syria. This morning I met Syria in all its diversity. I saw dignity, courage, and determination. My visit continues,” he wrote.

Syria’s Ministry of the Interior confirmed the explosions but stressed that they were outside the security perimeter designated for Macron.

“We confirm that the explosion site is outside the security perimeter designated for the French president’s residence. It posed no direct threat to the residence or the official visit program, which is proceeding as planned,” the ministry announced through SANA.

Macron is the first Western leader to meet with al-Sharaa in Damascus since he became the country’s president in 2025. Some have criticized Western leaders, including President Donald Trump, who hosted al-Sharaa in the White House in November, for normalizing relations with al-Sharaa given his past as a fighter for the al Qaeda terrorist group.

Tuesday’s explosions in Damascus were also the second and third major blasts in Damascus in less than a week.

On Monday, France’s government condemned what it called a “terrorist attack” after an explosive device killed at least nine people in a Damascus cafe on July 2.

Syrian authorities are still investigating the attack and have not publicly ascribed it to any group or individual, according to The Washington Post.

News Media contacted the Syrian Foreign Ministry and Élysée Palace for confirmation and further details.

In a sudden surge, the number of people in Michigan suffering from a parasite linked to severe diarrhea has jumped dramatically. As of Monday, the state reported 681 cases, a significant increase from just 170 cases recorded less than one week prior.

Michigan currently holds the unfortunate distinction of being the most affected state, based on the latest figures.

Other states, including New York, Illinois, and Texas, have also seen a worrying spread, with reported cases ranging from 11 to 80, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, this data reflects numbers only up to mid-June, whereas Michigan provides more recent updates.

Though some individuals infected with the parasite may not display any symptoms, the CDC notes that more severe cases manifest as watery and sometimes “explosive” diarrhea.

The illness, known as cyclosporiasis, is typically spread through consuming contaminated produce. Nevertheless, experts have yet to pinpoint the specific source causing the current outbreak.

For those who do get sick, identifying the infection as cyclosporiasis can be difficult. It requires special lab tests looking specifically for cyclospora — which are not part of a standard stool test. It’s another reason it’s possible many cases are going undiagnosed.

What is cycloporiasis?

Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that’s commonly transmitted by drinking water or eating raw produce like basil, cilantro, and lettuce, that was contaminated with feces.

Though we know the parasite hitches a ride on raw food, we don’t know which ones might be to blame. The CDC says cases haven’t been linked to a common source and are still investigating.

The cyclospora parasite causes cyclosporiasis, which can cause diarrhea, severe cramping, nausea, vomiting and fatigue.

Normally, this isn’t life-threatening. But severe diarrhea and vomiting can cause dehydration, which is dangerous if left untreated, especially in young children, older adults, and people who are immunocompromised.

Alaska, Wisconsin, Colorado, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Louisiana, Florida were also reporting cases in June.

In the CDC’s June 16 report, 145 cases were reported across 17 states — Michigan wasn’t even on the map at the time. The CDC says all the people who got sick in the US and none traveled recently. 20 were hospitalized. No deaths had been reported.

What to know about cycloporiasis

Cristy Cooper, 51, spoke to The Post from the hospital about getting infected. “This is worse than like any flu I’ve ever gotten or anything, it’s just so…it’s miserable. I’m worn out from it. I really am,” she said.

Her first symptom was what she called “unbearable” diarrhea, which began on June 25. Over the next two days, she developed excessive gas, fatigue, acute vomiting, nausea and painful cramping and had a fever of 100.2 degrees — all symptoms of cyclosporiasis.

At its worst, she was using the toilet no less than 30 times a day.

Cooper is a dialysis patient and is immunocompromised, which made treatment tricky. Most people with healthy immune systems eventually recover from cyclosporiasis without treatment by resting, staying hydrated and eating what they can tolerate.

Cooper’s fluid intake had to be carefully controlled as excess fluid could cause complications like high blood pressure and heart strain.

Cyclospora takes one to two weeks outside the body to become infectious after passing into feces. That’s why it’s very unlikely to be passing from person to person.

Treatment usually involves an sulfa-based antibiotic. She received an antibiotic regimen and is on the mend.

Cyclosporiasis is known to sometimes improve after antibiotics and come back with a vengeance. It happens when the first round of meds don’t completely wipe out the parasite, allowing them to grow and trigger another infection.

Here’s how to best reduce your risk of getting cycloporiasis.

• Cook greens whenever possible. Wash all fresh produce under running water and get into nooks and crannies where microbes can hide.