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Paramount Criticizes A-List Actor for Controversial ‘Genocide’ Comments

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A prominent Hollywood star has sparked controversy by accusing Paramount of complicity in what he describes as ‘genocide’, prompting a fierce rebuttal from David Ellison’s influential media conglomerate.

Renowned actor Mark Ruffalo, aged 58, took to Instagram Stories on Friday to criticize Paramount, accusing billionaires David Ellison, 43, and his father Larry, 82, of being enablers of some of the world’s most destructive and inhumane forces.

In his post, Ruffalo shared an old video of Safra Catz, the former Oracle CEO and now executive vice chair of its board, stoking further controversy.

Ruffalo claimed to his audience of 20.5 million that this company is being leveraged by Larry Ellison to finance his son David’s acquisition of Warner Bros.

Paramount quickly issued a forceful response, saying they were ‘as always, troubled when antisemitic tropes are invoked in purported service of a business dispute,’ according to CNN’s Brian Stelter.

In response, a Paramount spokesperson criticized Ruffalo’s language, stating, ‘Using terms like “genocide” and “apartheid” in the context of a corporate deal is not just inaccurate but diminishes the profound suffering these words represent.’

The statement continued: ‘This doesn’t deserve a response in kind — and to be clear, we don’t tolerate prejudice of any kind, against anyone.’

The media conglomerate emphasized that it was ‘a moment to lower the temperature, not raise it,’ insisting that it would ‘rather build than further engage in such rhetoric.’

Hollywood A¿lister Mark Ruffalo, 58, accused David and Larry Ellison of 'powering some of the most destructive and inhuman forces in the world' on Instagram on Friday

Hollywood A-lister Mark Ruffalo, 58, accused David and Larry Ellison of ‘powering some of the most destructive and inhuman forces in the world’ on Instagram on Friday

David Ellison's company said Ruffalo's use of the words 'genocide' and 'apartheid' were 'a bridge too far, and they cheapen the very real suffering those words are meant to describe'

David Ellison’s company said Ruffalo’s use of the words ‘genocide’ and ‘apartheid’ were ‘a bridge too far, and they cheapen the very real suffering those words are meant to describe’

Paramount said that Ruffalo’s remarks ‘simply exposes the true motivation of some who have advocated opposition to this transaction,’ referring to its proposed $110 billion merger with Warner Bros.

The company said it was committed ‘to every story, every storyteller, and no blacklists, no exceptions, for anyone.’

‘We understand people feel strongly about this merger and are hopeful and expect that it will be judged based on the legal merits, not underlying bias,’ Paramount continued.

Paramount’s statement finished by asking for ‘less rhetoric, more understanding.’

In his Instagram story, Ruffalo asked, ‘Why has Trump pushed this illegal merger through?’

Ruffalo also called Larry Ellison a ‘classic oligarch’ who would own most of what he disparagingly coined ‘Para Bros.’

‘They are crushing workers and consolidating the wealth of the world for their own power and concentrated dominance,’ Ruffalo wrote.

Ruffalo accused Paramount of being complicit 'in what we now have come to see as a genocide'

Ruffalo accused Paramount of being complicit ‘in what we now have come to see as a genocide’

In his remarks, Ruffalo also took aim at Paramount's $110 billion proposed merger with Warner Bros, calling it 'catastrophic for our film industry'

In his remarks, Ruffalo also took aim at Paramount’s $110 billion proposed merger with Warner Bros, calling it ‘catastrophic for our film industry’

Ellison's company said that it was 'a moment to lower the temperature, not raise it,' as it dressed down Ruffalo's remarks

Ellison’s company said that it was ‘a moment to lower the temperature, not raise it,’ as it dressed down Ruffalo’s remarks

Ruffalo noted that 12 Attorneys General were suing to stop the Paramount-Warner Bros merger.

‘It will be catastrophic for our film industry,’ Ruffalo wrote. ‘Merger [sic] like this are almost always bad for workers, consumers, and the industry they tend to dominate.’

The effort to stop the merger is being led by California, whose film industry has struggled in recent times.

Paramount’s merger with Warner Bros could cost Los Angeles County approximately 4,500 film and television jobs, according to a report published by LA County on Tuesday.

The video of Catz speaking that Ruffalo shared was from the Israeli-American Council National Summit in 2024, per the Hollywood Reporter.

Ruffalo wrote in his Instagram story: ‘Look how she revels in what we now have come to see as a genocide, which was built on an apartheid system of oppression powered by Oracle.’ 

In the clip, Catz talked about advancing ‘the agenda for the Israeli military’ and mentioned ‘really profoundly scary technology at Oracle.’

‘We wanted to make sure that it was available for the effort,’ she said, referring to the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas on Israel.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Ruffalo’s representatives and Paramount for further comment.

Iran Secures Russian Arms as Lifeline Amid Escalating U.S. Sanctions Under Trump

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Amid increased U.S. sanctions, Tehran is strategically strengthening its financial and military partnerships with Beijing and Moscow, creating a crucial support system. This move is seen as a way to bypass American restrictions and withstand the revived “maximum pressure” strategy from Washington, according to regional security experts who issued a warning on Wednesday.

As the United States intensifies Operation Economic Fury, analysts suggest Iran is gravitating towards alliances with non-Western powerhouses, Russia and China. This strategic pivot positions Iran as a central player in a coalition that openly defies U.S. dominance.

This advisory coincides with President Donald Trump’s announcement on Wednesday of what he termed the most severe economic offensive ever directed at any nation. He warned of extensive repercussions for countries and enterprises that sustain Iran economically, aiming to further isolate the Iranian regime.

In a message broadcast on Truth Social, Trump declared, “This will be Economic Warfare and Isolation on an unprecedented scale.”

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Chief Justice of Iran Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje'i, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, and an IRGC commander general Mohsen Rezaee

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Chief Justice of Iran Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, and IRGC Commander General Mohsen Rezaee were all present at a ceremony in Tehran, Iran, on July 3, 2026. (Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

“The Islamic Republic is looking to survive, but in order to survive, it needs to adapt,” Behnam Ben Taleblu, senior director of the Iran Program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), told News Media.

“It needs to adapt not just to U.S. and Israeli military pressure, but this U.S. political and economic pressure.

“There’s no doubt the Islamic Republic is looking to maximize its enmeshment with countries like Russia and China that have been subject to U.S. political and economic pressure in the past.”

BRICS, an economic bloc consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa and several recent expansion nations, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a Eurasian political, economic and security alliance led by Beijing and Moscow, have become key vehicles for Iran’s outreach of late.

Trump has previously labeled BRICS policies “anti-American,” CNBC reported.

Iran and its allies North Korea, Russia and China with a globe in the background.

Iran and allies North Korea, Russia and China are using cybercrimes to push a financial war against the U.S. (Fox News)

Abdolnaser Hemmati, governor of the Central Bank of Iran, said Tehran will soon join the BRICS-backed New Development Bank, though the bank told Reuters it could not confirm Iran’s membership.

“The most important result of cooperation among BRICS member countries is the establishment of the New Development Bank, and our country will soon become a member of this bank,” Hemmati said, according to state media.

“You can see Iran trying to benefit from its role in BRICS, as well as a constellation of other organizations, that really would allow itself to be shielded — or try to make itself more shielded — from U.S. political and economic pressure,” Taleblu explained.

“The Islamic Republic is looking to be more formally integrated into economic orders brought about by Russia and China, which are looking to contest the U.S. dollar as much as they’re looking to contest U.S. power and influence.

“It is quite key and important for policymakers in Washington to wake up and see how interconnected these state threats are becoming.

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in Moscow

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives for Russian-Iranian talks in Moscow, Russia, Dec. 7, 2023.    (Sputnik/Sergei Bobylev/Pool via Reuters)

“These are independent relationships that have been coming together. They have differences, but as an authoritarian axis, these are countries that are better able to manage their differences at present than it seems like America and the liberal western order are able to handle their differences.”

NBC News also reported Aug. 17 that Russia is supplying Iran with ammunition, drone components and TNT via Caspian Sea shipping routes, citing a European government document verified by a Western official.

The report comes amid indications that Tehran is relying on Russian technology and military support to adapt to U.S. military and economic pressure.

“Even limited technology and military flows from Russia to the Islamic Republic help it fight to survive, adapt and live another day to combat the U.S. order in the region,” Taleblu said.

“In the short term, there is less transaction cost on this anti-American authoritarian order that is fast emerging than there is on the pro-American order.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi attend a meeting at the Boris Yeltsin Presidential Library in Saint Petersburg, Russia, April 27, 2026. (Dmitri Lovetsky/Pool via Reuters)

Taleblu also highlighted Iran’s dual role in what he terms the “Axis of Aggressors,” a coalition of hostile, authoritarian states including Russia, China and North Korea, and the “Axis of Resistance,” Tehran’s network of regional proxy groups including Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis and Shiite militias in Iraq.

“They all have hostile intentions towards the U.S. and the liberal world order. They are authoritarians at home and creditors abroad.

He also noted that even if Tehran’s economic goals within BRICS fail to fully materialize, the political and military backing it gets from Moscow and Beijing is significant.

“So, even if what the Islamic Republic wants from the BRICS countries, particularly the likes of Russia and China, doesn’t happen, that doesn’t mean that political, economic and military support to this regime at a critical time is not happening.

“The linchpin between the state threats that the U.S. faces in the 21st century, from the Axis of Aggressors and the non-state threats in the Middle East, is the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Taleblu clarified.

“It is actually a bridge for capabilities, money and technology from states to flow to non-state actors.”

Federal Firearms Buyback: ACT Joins National Program

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The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) has joined forces with the national government in a new gun buyback initiative.

Following the tragic Bondi mass shooting in December, the federal government introduced this scheme to reduce the number of firearms in circulation. The ACT recently sealed an agreement to participate in this gun control effort.

New South Wales (NSW) initially led the charge by joining the program last Sunday, marking the ACT as the second jurisdiction to come on board.

Estimates suggest that around 14 percent of the 7,000 licensed firearm owners in the ACT might be impacted by the proposed limitations on gun ownership.

Currently, the nation’s capital accounts for a total of 23,000 registered firearms.

Under the scheme, 75 per cent of the cost of compensation to firearm holders, administration and gun destruction will be paid for by the federal government.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the government would work closely with the ACT to keep more guns off the streets.

“We’re taking action to strengthen Australia’s gun laws and keep our communities safe,” he said in a statement.

“National gun reform is an important part of making sure an anti-Semitic terrorist attack like we saw at Bondi can’t happen again.”

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr said while the majority of gun owners were responsible, further safety measures were needed.

“The buyback scheme will provide compensation while helping deliver further community safety outcomes,” he said.

“The ACT has some of the strongest firearms laws in the country, and this agreement supports our ongoing efforts to further reduce the risk of firearms falling into the wrong hands.”

National cabinet agreed to strengthen firearm restrictions across Australia following the Bondi attack, where 15 people died after two gunmen opened fire at a Hanukkah festival.

But the scheme faces opposition from some jurisdictions, with conservative governments in the Northern Territory, Tasmania and Queensland declining to sign up.

Western Australia had already operated its own gun buyback and does not have plans to be part of a second one linked to the federal government.


Florida Senate Race Ignites: Angie Nixon Accuses GOP of Endangering Black Lives

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In a contentious exchange that made waves on Friday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) dismissed remarks by Angie Nixon, Florida’s Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate. Nixon had accused Republicans of attempting to endanger lives, describing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as a “weaponized paramilitary force” aimed at instilling fear.

Nixon aired these bold assertions during her appearance on the “QNA: Questions Need Answers” podcast earlier this month. Her interview took place just before she secured victory in Florida’s Democratic Senate primary, adding weight to her incendiary comments.

In making her case for why voters should back combative figures in Washington, Nixon showed a clear aversion to the notion of bipartisan cooperation, instead advocating for a more confrontational approach.

Addressing listeners, Nixon questioned the viability of working collaboratively with Republicans. “People often wonder, ‘Are you going to be able to work across the aisle?’ But the reality is, they’re not interested. They’re literally posing a threat to our lives. And it’s all unfolding right before our eyes,” she remarked emphatically.

Nixon elaborated on what she perceives as state-sanctioned oppression within black communities before shifting her focus to immigration enforcement, painting a stark picture of systemic issues she believes are deliberately targeting marginalized groups.

“Like, actually state-sanctioned violence. They’ve been doing it in the black community. And they’re doing it even more so now with ICE,” she said. “ICE is now a weaponized paramilitary force that is designed to terrorize us.”

Nixon used a September 2025 operation at an apartment building in Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood as an example, alleging that agents zip-tied men, women and children.

The operation resulted in about two dozen detentions and targeted suspected Tren de Aragua members. 

DHS later rejected a viral allegation involving a toddler, saying the image came from a parody video.

“Allegations that DHS law enforcement engages in ‘racial profiling’ are disgusting, reckless and categorically FALSE,” a DHS spokesperson told Fox News Digital Friday.

DHS said immigration status, not race or ethnicity, determined who was targeted for enforcement. The department cited ICE’s authority under § U.S.C. 1357 and pointed to its use-of-force policy, which included minimum-force and de-escalation standards. 

The department also referred to a 2025 Supreme Court order.

The decision temporarily allowed immigration operations in Southern California to resume while litigation over whether officers conducted stops without reasonable suspicion continued.

DHS said Nixon’s rhetoric came as ICE personnel faced escalating attacks and threats. A spokesperson repeated figures the department had cited last month.

“We have seen a highly coordinated campaign of violence against our law enforcement. Our brave law enforcement is facing a 1,300% increase in assaults, 3,300% increase in vehicular attack, and an 8,000% increase in death threats against them. This violence must end,” the spokesperson said.

Republican National Committee spokeswoman Emma Hall told Fox News Digital Friday that Nixon’s comments would benefit Republican candidates nationwide.

“Socialist lunatic Angie Nixon wants to empty our prisons, open our borders and raise your taxes to bankroll their far-left agenda,” she said. “Every word out of Nixon’s mouth is an in-kind contribution to Republicans in Florida and across the country.”

Nixon defeated former National Security Council official Alexander Vindman, a whistleblower who became a key witness in President Donald Trump’s first impeachment inquiry, by nearly 12 points despite his $16.27 million campaign war chest, compared with approximately $1 million raised by Nixon. 

She will face Republican Sen. Ashley Moody in November to fill the remainder of Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s former Senate term.

Fox News Digital reached out to Nixon and Moody for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

Podcaster’s Disturbing Confession: Talks Openly About Serial Killer Fantasies

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In Philadelphia, a man linked to the vanishing of at least four women is now at the center of an intense investigation, as authorities search his home for potential evidence. At one time, he unnervingly boasted on a podcast about his prowess in embodying a ‘depraved serial killer’.

Back in 2013, Raymond ‘R.C.’ Horsch shared these unsettling thoughts during a podcast interview. Fast forward over a decade, and his Olney residence, which he shared with his son, has now become a focal point for law enforcement officials.

The investigation team is sifting through an enormous collection of images and videos found on the premises, seeking to piece together the fates of women who had previous personal connections to Horsch and are now missing.

Of these missing individuals, two are feared to have met a tragic end after detectives reportedly unearthed media that suggests they were once alive on Horsch’s property but are now no longer living.

Despite these grim discoveries, law enforcement has yet to recover the remains of the women or determine the specific circumstances surrounding their deaths.

Another missing woman, Blair Tonzelli, 35, was allegedly featured nude on Horsch’s pornographic website with what appeared to be a black eye and blood running from her lip.

Horsch, who died last year at the age of 82 and was never charged in connection with any of the disappearances, had spent decades producing adult films, photographs and books containing disturbing and violent themes.

But it is his own words from a December 2013 episode of The Rialto Report that have now taken on a chilling new significance.

Raymond 'R.C.' Horsch once said he was a 'natural' at playing a 'perverted serial killer' during a 2013 podcast interview. Horsch lived at the Philadelphia home now being investigated in connection with at least four missing women who had personal ties to him

Raymond ‘R.C.’ Horsch once said he was a ‘natural’ at playing a ‘perverted serial killer’ during a 2013 podcast interview. Horsch lived at the Philadelphia home now being investigated in connection with at least four missing women who had personal ties to him

Eugene Albert Horsch, Horsch's 44-year-old son, remains in federal custody on a firearms charge but has not been charged with harming any of the missing women

Eugene Albert Horsch, Horsch’s 44-year-old son, remains in federal custody on a firearms charge but has not been charged with harming any of the missing women

‘I, of course, was kind of a natural as a perverted serial killer, wasn’t much of a stretch at all,’ Horsch said while discussing his roles in adult movies.

‘I tend to play the part, or play up the part of being a villain, yeah,’ he continued.

‘I mean, I tend to try to get some mileage out of it. I figure why not – I’m not getting any mileage out of anything else.’

The comments have resurfaced as Philadelphia police undertake the task of examining material seized from Horsch’s home at on West Chew Avenue.

Authorities have stressed that no human remains have been recovered from the property and nobody has been charged with killing any of the missing women.

The disturbing investigation encompasses a vast archive of Horsch’s photographs, videos and writings along with extraordinary claims he made in books about strangling a woman and chemically breaking down her body in the basement of a home.

Investigators are now combing through an enormous trove of material associated with him as they attempt to distinguish fantasy and staged pornography from potential evidence about what happened to real women who vanished.

The case has taken on an even more disturbing dimension because one of those women, Tonzelli, was pictured nude and apparently injured on Horsch’s erotic website.

Workers and police removed pipes and debris while searching Eugene Horsch’s Philadelphia home on July 22

Workers and police removed pipes and debris while searching Eugene Horsch’s Philadelphia home on July 22

Blair Tonzelli was reported missing in February 2023 after friends said she was last seen at Raymond Horsch’s Philadelphia home the previous summer

Tonzelli, 35, was reported missing in February 2023 after friends said she had last been seen the previous summer at Horsch’s Olney home.

Yet a photograph of Tonzelli remained prominently displayed on his website for months after she was reported missing, according to archived records reviewed by the Philadelphia Inquirer.

The image allegedly showed the naked woman looking toward the camera with what appeared to be a black eye and blood running from her lower lip.

It is not known when the photograph was taken, how Tonzelli sustained the apparent injuries or whether the injuries were genuine or staged for Horsch’s work.

An archived version of the website allegedly showed the picture still being displayed in September 2023 – seven months after Tonzelli was reported missing.

The Inquirer reported that Horsch had uploaded the image around 2020 after meeting Tonzelli in Philadelphia’s Kensington neighborhood and continued to use it as one of his site’s main images for years.

The website has since been taken offline.

Police are now examining Horsch’s sprawling archive for clues about Tonzelli and other missing women connected to him.

Philadelphia Police Inspector Raymond Evers said during an August 12 briefing that investigators recovered approximately 600,000 images, 70,000 videos and more than 10,000 pages of writings, manuscripts and drawings from digital devices found at the property, according to CBS News Philadelphia.

Police and FBI investigators excavated Eugene Horsch’s Philadelphia home for a second time on July 23

 Police and FBI investigators excavated Eugene Horsch’s Philadelphia home for a second time on July 23

Amy McHale, Horsch's former wife and film collaborator, was last seen at the Olney property in 2016 and remains missing

Amy McHale, Horsch’s former wife and film collaborator, was last seen at the Olney property in 2016 and remains missing

At that point, detectives had managed to examine only around five to seven percent of the staggering amount of material.

Evers described what they were finding as ‘graphic and dark.’

And investigators say some of the material appears to have revealed the fate of two women who vanished years ago.

While examining the first hard drive, police found photographs and videos that appeared to show two missing women alive inside the property — and later dead.

Police identified them as Gabrielle Amarando, who disappeared in September 2012 at age 22, and Maribel Fresses, who was last seen in February 2018 at age 27.

Investigators now believe both women are dead, although their bodies have not been recovered.

Without remains, the medical examiner has been unable to determine precisely when, where or how either woman died.

Authorities have not established publicly whether the women were killed, suffered fatal overdoses or died through some other means.

No one has been charged in connection with their disappearances or suspected deaths.

Investigators are also taking another look at the disappearance of Horsch’s former wife and onetime film collaborator Amy McHale.

Gabrielle Amarando, who disappeared in 2012 aged 22, allegedly appeared alive and later seemingly dead in footage recovered from the home, police said

Gabrielle Amarando, who disappeared in 2012 aged 22, allegedly appeared alive and later seemingly dead in footage recovered from the home, police said

Maribel Fresses, who vanished in 2018 aged 27, was also allegedly shown alive and later seemingly dead in material recovered by investigators

Maribel Fresses, who vanished in 2018 aged 27, was also allegedly shown alive and later seemingly dead in material recovered by investigators

McHale, who appeared in Horsch’s films, photographs and music videos, was last seen at the Olney property in 2016.

That means the house is now connected in varying ways to at least four missing women – Tonzelli, McHale, Amarando and Fresses.

Tonzelli remains missing, and police have not publicly said whether she appears in the material so far recovered from Horsch’s hard drives.

Against that backdrop, Horsch’s words from more than a decade ago are now receiving fresh scrutiny.

During The Rialto Report interview, the host raised Horsch’s own description of himself as a sociopath.

‘You mentioned earlier that you consider yourself a sociopath in some ways. What do you mean by that?’ the host asked.

Horsch replied: ‘It goes back as long as I can remember, I do not like society. I do not like civilization.’

Horsch also spoke extensively during the interview about his life, his work in adult films and allegations that he had bought and sold millions of dollars’ worth of narcotics, according to CBS News.

His creative output often ventured into extremely dark territory.

Horsch published adult films, novels and more than a dozen photo books, with his work frequently depicting women in horrific and graphic scenarios.

He maintained that the scenes were staged and consensual.

But Horsch also openly acknowledged recruiting women struggling with drug addiction, offering them drugs or money to participate in his work.

Tonzelli had battled addiction for years before meeting Horsch in Philadelphia’s Kensington neighborhood while she was living at a known drug house, friends told the Inquirer.

An extensive investigation by the newspaper found that Horsch frequently blurred the lines between fact and fiction in his writing, including material about a largely autobiographical serial killer who murdered people suffering from addictions.

Whether such passages were entirely fictional or contained any connection to real events is among the disturbing questions hanging over the investigation.

Police have conducted an extensive search of the property with investigators and FBI personnel excavating portions of the site in July and removing part of a pipe for forensic examination, according to the Inquirer.

Police also tore up sewer lines and removed around 50 containers containing an oily substance for laboratory testing, CBS News Philadelphia reported.

Investigators have also recovered containers holding unidentified substances and chemicals, along with five urns believed to contain cremated remains, illegal weapons and fake federal law-enforcement credentials, according to police.

Authorities have not announced that any of those items have been connected to the missing women.

The sprawling investigation was triggered not by Horsch himself, but by the arrest of his son, Eugene Albert Horsch, 44.

Police encountered Eugene near Independence Hall on June 19 while he was inside a black BMW with a woman who allegedly presented officers with a fake identification card bearing missing woman Blair Tonzelli’s name, according to police records seen by the Inquirer.

The woman later allegedly told investigators that Eugene had created the identification and instructed her to use it if she found herself in trouble.

Police said they also recovered two illegal handguns, knives, drugs and a fraudulent Drug Enforcement Administration badge bearing Eugene’s photograph during the encounter.

The discoveries led investigators back to the Horsch family home.

There, authorities reportedly found additional fake identification bearing Tonzelli’s name as well as one of her bank cards.

Eugene was arrested and remains in federal custody on a firearms charge. CBS reported that he also faces an offense related to false federal credentials.

Philadelphia prosecutors withdrew their local case in August so federal authorities could take over the prosecution, according to the Inquirer.

Eugene has not been charged with harming Tonzelli or any of the other missing women.

Christian Zionists Counter Anti-Israel Narratives from the Biblical Heartland

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Last month marked the opening of a significant visitors center in Har Bracha, a town in the Samaria region of the West Bank. This achievement was spearheaded by The Israel Guys, a Christian Zionist organization devoted to supporting the development of the Land of Israel. Over the last 20 years, they have brought over 5,000 volunteers from across 35 countries to assist in this mission.

Joshua Waller, the CEO of The Israel Guys—formerly known as HaYovel—emphasizes their mission of showcasing the progress and vitality in the biblical heartland. This stands in contrast to widespread media depictions that often highlight conflict in the area.

“We live among the local communities, witness their daily lives, and share these realities globally,” Waller shared with News Media. “Our goal is to invite thousands of people from around the world to experience this for themselves.”

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Joshua Waller of The Israel Guys at work on the West Bank. (The Israel Guys)

“Many support the Jewish community yet struggle with the term ‘settler violence,’ often influenced by propaganda. Jews living in Judea and Samaria are sometimes mischaracterized as a radical threat, but by visiting the center, you’ll discover a completely different narrative,” Waller stated.

“You will see that it is a fake narrative built by the international community … it is a straight-up war against the Jewish [people],” he added.

The organization’s volunteer programs include the Heartland Experience, a 10-day trip to Israel combining touring, volunteer work and interaction with local residents; the Grape Harvest trip, a two-week program held in late summer and early fall that focuses on helping farmers with the harvest; and the Men’s Pruning trip, a two-week program in early spring focused on pruning vineyards.

Other programs include Zion Ops, a four-week program for young adults ages 18 to 30, and Day Visits, which offer two-hour visits to Har Bracha.

The Israel Guys volunteering program in Israel

Volunteers working in vineyards on the West Bank are part of the Israel Guys’ program that brings volunteers to Israel. (The Israel Guys)

In 2004, Tommy Waller, Joshua Waller’s father, traveled to Israel for the first time, where he met Nir Lavi, founder of Har Bracha Winery. Lavi shared his plan to fulfill the vision of the Prophet Jeremiah: “You shall again plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria; the planters shall plant and eat them as ordinary food” (Jeremiah 31:5).

Waller Sr. asked how he could help.

In 2007, after moving with his wife, Sherri, and their 11 children from Tennessee to Har Bracha, Waller Sr. established HaYovel, a U.S. nonprofit that provides Christian volunteers with an opportunity to work the land alongside Israeli farmers.

In 2013, the organization sought to counter anti-Israel rhetoric by launching The Joshua & Caleb Report TV show, its first dedicated pro-Israel media project, which in 2018 transitioned into a weekly podcast. Five years ago, the organization rebranded as The Israel Guys and stepped up its advocacy efforts.

Hayoval volunteers in Israel

“HaYovel” volunteers from its international program work in the vineyards of Shiloh in Samaria help to pick grapes on the West Bank. (Hillel Maeir/TPS-IL)

The Israel Guys currently counts more than 20 team members and, since its founding, has helped develop some 120 farms. Volunteers who come to Judea and Samaria work alongside local farmers, planting trees, erecting fences, harvesting crops and assisting with infrastructure projects.

In the aftermath of the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, massacre of 1,200 Israelis, The Israel Guys launched Operation Ittai and raised $3.85 million to provide tactical supplies to communities in the area and strengthen their defenses against possible terrorist attacks.

Anti-Israel protest outside the U.N. in New York.

Anti-Israel activists protest outside the United Nations headquarters in New York on April 7, 2025. (Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images)

The group went viral at the time after bringing American cowboys to Israel to help farmers whose workers had been called up as reservists.

Addressing media coverage of recent incidents involving Christians in Israel, Waller said the narrative that they are no longer welcome in the country is false.

Israel Guys on the West Bank

Josh Waller works the field in the West Bank, also known by its biblical names Judea and Samaria. (The Israel Guys)

“People put a lot of money into trying to make it seem as though Christians would somehow be better off living in Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Jordan or other Arab countries surrounding Israel. Factually, that is completely wrong,” he told News Media.

“I know Christians living in those places, and I even know Christians living in areas under the control of the Palestinian Authority, and they suffer immensely. The fact is that Israel is the safest place for Christians in the entire Middle East. It is the only place where the Christian population is growing,” he added.

Volunteers, Waller explained, have come from a wide range of Christian denominations, including Catholics, Protestants, Evangelicals, Mormons, Amish and Mennonites.

Israel Guys new center opens in Har Bracha

The new center will include programs to support Israeli farmers, lectures on Israel and Zionism and be a place for communal meals. (The Israel Guys)

He emphasized that Israel is a partner for peace and urged nations to align themselves with biblical values, which he said could pave the way for “some incredible days ahead.”

If antisemitism leads to efforts to destroy Israel, he added, “that’s not an option,” saying Israel would have to fight that war while The Israel Guys would continue to “help on the information side.”

“The Bible says that this land that was desolate will become like the Garden of Eden. We are literally seeing it happen. It’s beautiful to see volunteers participate in the fulfillment of that prophecy and witness the ancient words of the Bible come back to life,” Waller said.

Rafael Devers Smashes Homer in Boston Comeback Amid Mixed Fan Reactions

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Fans at Fenway Park experienced a sense of déjà vu, something that is all too familiar in the world of baseball.

Rafael Devers made a notable return to Boston, marking his first game back as a rival player. He hit a remarkable 26th home run of the season for the Giants, although they fell to the Red Sox, 6-4, on Friday night.

Devers, who spent nine solid seasons at Fenway Park before being traded to the Giants by the Red Sox in June 2025, was back in a setting he once called home.

As Devers stepped up to bat in the top of the first inning, the Fenway crowd offered a mixed but mostly chilly reception, with boos drowning out applause, despite his cheerful demeanor.

Devers’ pivotal moment unfolded during his second appearance at the plate in the fourth inning, as he made a significant impact for his team.

The Giants entered the inning trailing 5-1 after the Red Sox scored five runs against Logan Webb in the bottom of the third.

Rafael Devers (16) hits a solo home run during the fourth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.

Rafael Devers hits a solo home run during the fourth inning of the Giants’ loss to the Red Sox on Aug. 21, 2026 at Fenway Park. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

With two outs in the fourth, Drew Gilbert hit a two-run home run off Red Sox starter Sonny Gray to cut the deficit to 5-3.

Devers came to the plate next and took Gray dead center, taking a four-seam fastball yard to bring the Giants within a run of his old team, cutting the lead 5-4.

It was Devers’ 26th home run of the season and his first at Fenway Park since leaving the Red Sox.

Rafael Devers made his return to Boston on Friday, August 21.

Rafael Devers made his return to Boston on on Aug. 21, 2026. MLB Photos via Getty Images

Devers’ homer continued a season in which he has remained the Giants’ primary power hitter despite the team’s overall struggles, as they arrived in Boston at 52-75, long out of the National League’s otherwise contentious playoff chase.

Entering Friday, the 29-year-old had played in all 127 of the Giants’ games and was hitting .244 with a .320 on-base percentage and .470 slugging percentage.

He had 117 hits, including 31 doubles and 25 home runs, along with 69 RBIs and 67 runs scored.

Devers’ .789 OPS is his lowest since 2018 — his first full MLB season — but he’s still top three among Giants hitters in WAR for the fourth-place NL West club.

The Red Sox originally signed Devers as an international free agent in 2013.

He debuted in 2017 and became one of the franchise’s most productive hitters, helping the team win the 2018 World Series, where he hit .294 in the postseason overall.

His relationship with the organization worsened during the 2025 season following disagreements over his defensive role, and Boston eventually traded him to the Giants.

Meghan and Harry’s U.K. Return: PR Expert Warns Against Rushing to Capitalize

In a surprising turn of events, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have announced that they will be leaving California to return to the United Kingdom. This decision, revealed earlier this week, marks a significant shift six years after their headline-grabbing departure from the U.K. and their official duties as senior royals. Concerns surrounding Meghan’s mental health and security were central to their decision to initially leave Britain.

Back then, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex chose to forge a path away from royal obligations, aiming to carve out an independent life. They ventured into lucrative partnerships with streaming giants Netflix and Spotify, launched charity initiatives, and shared their story in a high-profile interview with Oprah Winfrey. Meghan further pursued entrepreneurship with her lifestyle brand As Ever, while Harry published his memoir, Spare, which became a bestseller. Despite these ventures, their deals with Netflix and Spotify fell short of expectations.

The couple is now preparing for a homecoming to the U.K., where their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, are set to start school this fall. The reasons behind this unexpected move remain speculative. Some suggest that King Charles’ health may be a factor, prompting Harry’s desire to be nearer to his father during this time. Others speculate financial challenges may have influenced their decision to return.

Regardless of their reasons, this relocation opens the door for potential reputation management, according to Olivia Bennett, Senior Digital PR Director at the agency Go Up. However, achieving this successfully depends heavily on their strategic actions moving forward.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle need to give people ‘new material’ if they want to change ‘the old story’ 

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“The only way to change the perception is to give people enough new material that, over time, it starts to outweigh the old story,” Bennett said. “The move could help with that. If they’re here regularly, doing ordinary things and building a life rather than constantly announcing what they’re doing, they could gradually become less of a spectacle. For me, that’s much more powerful than a big relaunch.”

In Meghan’s case, she has the chance to “establish herself in Britain as a successful businesswoman rather than simply as a former member of the royal family,” Bennett added. If she correctly repositions herself, she could have another lucrative market for her As Ever brand. (The Suits star is also rumored to be taking on her first major acting role in a U.K.-based Netflix project.) Meanwhile, Harry can focus on his charities and philanthropic efforts to give them “more relevance with UK audiences and institutions.” He’ll also likely be concentrating his energies on the upcoming 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham. 

The big mistake the Sussexes must avoid in their U.K. return 

Where the Sussexes could go wrong is in leaning too hard into a major publicity campaign. A try-hard approach could backfire with a skeptical public. 

“I’d let the first few months be quite routine: school, family, existing work, occasional appearances. Boring can actually be useful because it normalises them,” Bennett said. Once they stop making headlines with their every move, they’ll have freedom to pursue their various projects with less scrutiny.

“If I were advising them, I’d build familiarity first and monetise that attention second,” she explained. “The opportunity is there, but trying to cash in too quickly could make the whole thing look calculated.”

Only time will tell if people buy the new version of Harry and Meghan, she added. 

“I wouldn’t judge this by how many positive headlines they get in the first six months. I’d look at whether the nature of the headlines changes,” she said. “Are people still talking about Oprah, the memoir and the family fallout every time Harry and Meghan appear? Or are journalists eventually writing about what they’re actually doing now? If the latter happens, that’s the real rebrand.”

For more​​ news and exclusive interviews, follow Showbiz Cheat Sheet’s Instagram. 

Tragic Car Crash Claims Young Mother-of-Four After Fatal Decisions

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In a tragic sequence of events, a beloved mother of four from Idaho met an untimely death following a devastating car crash, resulting from two critical mistakes, as confirmed by police authorities.

The incident claimed the life of 30-year-old Courtney Cramer, who lost her life after a collision involving two vehicles at approximately 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday. The tragic crash occurred at the intersection of N 3900 E and County Line Road in Idaho Falls.

Residing in Rigby, Cramer was heading north on North 3900 East when she failed to come to a stop at a stop sign, according to the Idaho State Police, who released a statement on Wednesday.

Subsequently, her vehicle was hit by a white 2026 Ford F250 pick-up truck, driven by a 59-year-old man, as the officials reported.

The eastbound pick-up collided with the driver’s side of Cramer’s silver 2018 Honda Odyssey, sealing the unfortunate fate of this young mother.

Cramer was not wearing a seatbelt when the collision happened, while the male driver, whose identity was not disclosed, was.

She was rushed to a local hospital after the violent crash, which left both cars totaled and on the side of the road.

Cramer died in the hospital from injuries sustained in the accident, according to the Bonneville County Coroner’s Office.

Idaho mother-of-four Courtney Cramer, 30, died after a car crash on Tuesday, according to the Idaho State Police

Idaho mother-of-four Courtney Cramer, 30, died after a car crash on Tuesday, according to the Idaho State Police

Cramer was driving a 2018 Honda Odyssey northbound on North 3900 East when she failed to yield at a stop sign and was hit by a pick-up. Photos showed her vehicle destroyed afterwards

Cramer was driving a 2018 Honda Odyssey northbound on North 3900 East when she failed to yield at a stop sign and was hit by a pick-up. Photos showed her vehicle destroyed afterwards

Cramer, a Utah native who lived in Idaho, would regularly post happy photos of her kids and family on social media

Cramer, a Utah native who lived in Idaho, would regularly post happy photos of her kids and family on social media

Cramer had not been publicly identified until Friday afternoon when the coroner’s office offered condolences to her family and friends in a Facebook post.

The coroner’s office explained they had responded to a report on Wednesday at 10am about a 30-year-old woman who had been involved in a car crash the previous day.

Photos of the wreckage posted by East Idaho News showed how Cramer’s silver car had suffered massive damage after the crash.

One door was completely missing, while the driver’s side and the front of the vehicle were caved in.

The front of the Ford pick-up truck was completely ruined and an airbag appeared to be popping out of the driver’s side.

A GoFundMe posted by Cramer’s family remembered her as a ‘loving wife, a devoted mother, and someone who meant more to our family than words can express.’

She is survived by her husband, Kyle Cramer, and their four children.

The fundraiser sought to raise money to make life easier for Cramer’s husband and kids as they mourned her death.

As of Friday evening, it had raised about $44,500 of its $45,000 goal.

Cramer is survived by her husband, Kyle Cramer, and her four little children, according to a GoFundMe posted by her family

Cramer is survived by her husband, Kyle Cramer, and her four little children, according to a GoFundMe posted by her family

The white 2026 Ford F250 pick¿up that hit Cramer was also totaled after the collision at the intersection of N 3900 E and County Line Road

The white 2026 Ford F250 pick–up that hit Cramer was also totaled after the collision at the intersection of N 3900 E and County Line Road

Cramer's family recalled her as a 'loving wife, a devoted mother, and someone who meant more to our family than words can express'

Cramer’s family recalled her as a ‘loving wife, a devoted mother, and someone who meant more to our family than words can express’

Cramer was not wearing a seatbelt when the crash happened, according to law enforcement. She died in the hospital from the injuries she sustained

Cramer was not wearing a seatbelt when the crash happened, according to law enforcement. She died in the hospital from the injuries she sustained

Cramer’s public social media said she had been born in Lehi, Utah, but lived in Rigby, a small city with a population of about 6,000.

The mom-of-four had posted about one of her daughters as recently as May 4, celebrating her baptism.

‘She looked like the little angel she is,’ Cramer wrote.

Cramer regularly uploaded cheery pictures of her children and idyllic family life.

In October, she posted that one of her daughters, who had experienced medical issues, had just turned one year old.

‘I will never be able to put into words how much I love her and how much she has brought to our family,’ Cramer wrote.

Cramer’s funeral has been scheduled for Saturday. A public obituary has not yet been released.

The Daily Mail has reached out to the Idaho State Police, Cramer’s family and the Bonneville County Coroner for further comment.

Heartbreaking Crash on DuSable Lake Shore Drive Leaves Child and Three Others Severely Injured

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CHICAGO (WLS) — In a harrowing incident Friday evening on DuSable Lake Shore Drive in Chicago’s bustling downtown, a crash left four individuals, including a 4-year-old child, with serious injuries.

The Chicago police reported that the situation unfolded after a driver attempted to evade a routine traffic stop, prompting the chain of events that led to the collision. The driver is currently in custody.

Chicago fire officials confirmed the crash occurred around 5:15 p.m., near Grand Avenue in the Streeterville neighborhood, a busy section of the city often buzzing with commuters.

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Responders, including a fleet of ambulances and police vehicles, swiftly converged on the northbound lanes to offer emergency assistance and manage the chaotic scene.

According to officials, the four victims were transported to nearby hospitals, their conditions ranging from serious to critical as the medical teams work tirelessly to aid their recovery.

Police said prior to the crash, officers attempted a traffic stop at the location and punctured the tires of a white sedan, which then continued northbound on the road, disobeyed a traffic signal and crashed into a green SUV.

Charges are pending against the driver of the white sedan, a 35-year-old man, who was among those injured. A 23-year-old woman who was a passenger in his vehicle was also injured, CPD said.

A 40-year-old woman and a 4-year-old boy who were injured were in the green SUV, police said.

No further information was immediately available.

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