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The Hill
11 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Trump must not ignore Nigeria's humanitarian crisis
Christians in Nigeria are becoming modern-day martyrs. People of faith must raise our voices to respond to their plight. I read the account of the horrific terror attack on June 13, where over 200 Christians were slaughtered in Yewalta, Nigeria, while I was taking a break at the local pool with my youngest son. According to one report, 'the corpse of a boy, around 6 or 7 years old, lay flat on his back, his eyes wide open, his shirt covered in blood. His killer had left a giant gash across his face and head. His left hand was hanging loose at the joint; his right hand was severed completely.' My son is not that much older than the boy described in the photograph. I was shaken to my core. I'm unsure whether the mother of the young martyr escaped the attackers. If she is among the few survivors, she will need to draw deeply on her faith in order to believe in a loving God in heaven caring for the son she had lost. Yewalta is just one recent example of the persecution of Christians in Nigeria. Sixty-eight Christians were murdered in Fulani raids two weeks earlier. One of the attacks was on the hometown of Catholic Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of Makurdi, who had recently testified before the U.S. Congress about atrocities in his diocese. Over 170 Christians in Nigeria's Middle Belt were killed earlier this year during Lent and Holy Week. Last week, three young Catholic seminarians were kidnapped at gunpoint in their seminary, more evidence of the growing targeted assaults on priests and seminarians. Open Doors, the Christian relief agency, includes Nigeria among the worst affected countries in its World Watch List, reporting that in 2024 over 3,000 Christians were killed there and more than 2,000 were kidnapped. Also, staggeringly large numbers of Christians in Nigeria have been driven from their homes by violence and conflict and are now live in displacement camps. Pope Leo XIV, who visited Nigeria several times as Prior General of the Order of Saint Augustine, prayed for the victims of the 'terrible massacre' in Yewalta the following Sunday during his Sunday Angelus prayer in St. Peter's Square. The United States Catholic Conference of Bishops similarly called for prayers for 'our brothers and sisters in Nigeria who are suffering violent religious conflict' during Religious Freedom Week celebrated last month. Christian relief organizations are responding to the grave humanitarian crisis that is unfolding. World leaders must follow suit. Having vowed to rid anti-Christian bias from the U.S. federal government, President Trump and his administration are perfectly poised to take the lead. The International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, empowers the president to annually review the status of religious freedom in every country in the world and designate each country the government of which has engaged in or tolerated 'particularly severe violations of religious freedom' as 'countries of particular concern.' This determination has been delegated by the president to the secretary of State. While Nigeria was last listed as a country of particular concern for its affronts to religious freedom in 2020, it was bizarrely dropped from the list by the Biden administration in 2021. Biden's State Department blamed climate change for the increasingly violent attacks against Christians by militants among the Fulani Muslim nomadic herders. Congress should take action on the proposed resolution issued back in March by Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa chair, calling for Nigeria to be designated and sanctioned as a country of particular concern. In the aftermath of the Yewalta massacre, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, an independent, bipartisan commission that monitors the universal right to freedom of religion or belief abroad, similarly renewed its call for the Department of State to designate Nigeria a country of particular concern, citing its 'systematic, ongoing, and egregious religious freedom violations.' Speeding up the confirmation of former-Rep. Mark Walker (R-N.C.) as President Trump's ambassador at large for International Religious Freedom will help Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a long-time advocate for international religious freedom, guarantee that diplomatic relations with Nigeria are better informed by reality. Terror-stricken Nigerian Christians deserve our attention and more. Given the uptick in numbers and the increasing barbarism of recent killings, I fear that that a mere designation is not enough. Maybe there is a better label for what's happening to Christians in Nigeria: genocide. Genocide has been declared in at least six other situations: Bosnia (1993); Rwanda (1994); Iraq (1995); Darfur (2004); against Yazidis, Christians and Muslims in areas of the Middle East under the control of the Islamic State (2016 and 2017); against the Uyghur in the Xinjiang region of China (2021); and Sudan (2025). More recent declarations include instances where non-state actors targeted victims because of their religious identity — which is what is happening in Nigeria. Although there are no specific or immediate required consequences that follow a declaration of genocide, it does carry moral weight. An acknowledgment that the violence against Christians in Nigeria has reached the level of genocide could inspire a global response of humanitarian aid, economic sanctions, diplomatic isolation and even intervention by the UN Security Council, not to mention action by the International Criminal Court to prosecute individuals and regimes responsible. The awful, inescapable truth is that in Nigeria, Christians are being relentlessly persecuted, kidnapped, tortured and killed for their faith. They have confidence in what Jesus promised in His Sermon on the Mount to those who are persecuted on account of their faith — 'your reward will be great in heaven.' If we remain silent to their plight, I shudder to think of what we merit.


Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Arnold Schwarzenegger's son Joseph Baena opens up on weight loss and fitness journey through the sport he loved
Joseph Baena, the son of Hollywood icon Arnold Schwarzenegger, has come a long way from the teenage boy who once struggled to make school sports teams. At 27, the aspiring actor and fitness enthusiast is proudly reflecting on the sport that first gave him purpose and helped him turn his health around: swimming. In a heartfelt Instagram post shared on July 18, Joseph opened up about how difficult his high school years were when it came to fitness. "People sometimes forget that I used to be chubby in high school," he wrote. 'I got cut from my basketball and soccer team because I couldn't keep up with the other kids. Swim didn't have tryouts thankfully and completely changed my life forever.' That shift into swimming proved to be a major turning point. Without the pressure of tryouts or rejection, Joseph was able to throw himself into the sport and begin building the stamina, discipline, and confidence that would shape the rest of his fitness journey. He called it his 'introduction to fitness and training,' adding that he's tried many intense sports since then, but it was swimming that first helped him find his footing. The post struck a personal chord with many of his followers, especially those who've faced similar struggles with their body or self-worth in their younger years. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Joseph's message was simple: 'Everyone starts somewhere,' he wrote. 'But starting is the most important.' Joseph, who is the son of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Mildred Baena, has never shied away from being open about his journey. In October 2023, he celebrated a huge personal win, competing in his first triathlon. He marked the moment with an emotional post on Instagram, beaming with pride and holding up his medal. 'What a great experience it was to compete with such amazing athletes,' he wrote. 'With my birthday coming up, I wanted to challenge myself in a new way. I feel like I did really well, and I'm proud of myself for going the distance.' He added a thoughtful note that reflects his mindset today: 'I truly believe that if you have muscles, you should be able to use them.' Joseph isn't the only one in the Schwarzenegger family who has taken fitness seriously in recent years. His half-brother, Christopher Schwarzenegger, Arnold's youngest child with Maria Shriver, has been on a journey of his own. At the Beacher Vitality Summit in May, Christopher revealed he lost 30 pounds by giving up bread for Lent. 'I was like, 'Well, if I'm giving up bread, I might as well just take the opportunity,'' he said. 'And I'm a good Catholic boy, so I'm not going to break it.' Together, the Schwarzenegger sons are proof that transformation takes commitment, but more importantly, it starts with the decision to change. Health benefits of swimming Swimming isn't just a fun way to cool off — it's one of the best full-body workouts out there. For starters, it works nearly every muscle in your body without putting pressure on your joints, which makes it perfect for people of all ages and fitness levels. Whether you're doing laps or just splashing around, swimming boosts your heart rate, improves cardiovascular health, and helps build endurance. It's also a fantastic stress reliever. Being in water has a naturally calming effect on the mind. A few laps can melt away a tough day, and the rhythmic breathing can even feel a bit meditative. Plus, swimming helps improve lung capacity and breathing control — which is great not just for sports, but everyday life. Another big win? Swimming burns serious calories. Depending on how hard you go, it can torch anywhere from 400 to 700 calories an hour. And since it's low-impact, it's easier to stick with long-term compared to high-impact workouts. Bonus: it can improve sleep, boost mood, and even help with posture and flexibility. So whether you're swimming for fitness, fun, or peace of mind, just know you're doing your body (and brain) a big favor.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Arnold Schwarzenegger's Son Joseph Baena Details Fitness Journey
Originally appeared on E! Online Say hello to Arnold Schwarzenegger's not-so-little kin. Indeed, the Terminator star's youngest son Joseph Baena, 27, has detailed his rigorous fitness journey on social media. And now, he's reflecting on the one sport that inspired him to focus on his health. 'People sometimes forget that I used to be chubby in high school,' Joseph captioned his July 18 Instagram post, which sees him looking back on his weight loss over the years. 'I got cut from my basketball and soccer team because I couldn't keep up with the other kids. Swim didn't have tryouts thankfully and completely changed my life forever.' According to the bodybuilder, this activity was his 'introduction to fitness and training.' And while Joseph—whose mom is Mildred Baena—has tried out other high intensity sports in recent years, he's grateful that he found swimming at a young age. More from E! Online Ghost Adventures' Zak Bagans Was "Very Affected" by Annabelle Doll Before Dan Rivera's Death Police Share Findings Into Annabelle Doll Handler Dan Rivera's Death Kylie Jenner Shares a Glimpse of Daughter Stormi's Massive Labubu Collection 'Everyone starts somewhere,' the Dancing with the Stars alum continued, 'but starting is the most important.' Joseph's candid post comes two years after he reached one of his biggest fitness goals: Competing in his first triathlon. In October 2023, the realtor gushed over scoring his first medal on Instagram. 'What a great experience it was to compete with such amazing athletes,' he wrote at the time. 'With my birthday coming up I wanted to challenge myself in a new way, I feel like I did really well and I'm proud of myself for going the distance. I truly believe that if you have muscles, you should be able to use them.' And he isn't the only member of Arnold's family flexing his muscles. After all, the former governor's other son Christopher Schwarzenegger—the youngest of Arnold's four kids with ex Maria Shriver—has also been building his own exercise routine for six years. The 27-year-old recently shared the beloved food item he 'gave up' for Lent—the Christian religious observance that lasts for 40 days—to help him shed 30 pounds. 'I was like, 'Well, if I'm giving up bread, I might as well just take the opportunity and I'm a good Catholic boy, so I'm not going to break it,'' he explained at the Inaugural Beacher Vitality Happy & Healthy Summit in May. 'And so I lost 30 pounds just through that.' Keep reading to see more stars who've shared insight into their fitness regimens… Kaley CuocoBecky GKelly ClarksonJulianne HoughKate HudsonDJ KhaledLana CondorPadma LakshmiJoAnna Garcia SwisherJanel ParrishDascha PolancoBrooke BurkeWhitney PortMaggie QMerle DandridgeRachel Naomi HilsonPaige DeSorbo For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App


National Geographic
3 days ago
- General
- National Geographic
Nun's skeleton reveals that some ancient women were extreme hermits
Head of a holy woman, from a mosaic in Turkey. Photograph By Bridgeman Images Today the most extreme forms of devotion to God in Christianity involve tithing, abstaining from meat on Fridays and during Lent, taking religious orders and devoting oneself to a life of celibacy, and, perhaps, taking vows of poverty or even silence. All of these practices pale next to the forms of asceticism practiced in the Byzantine period, when the most dedicated monks isolated themselves from human contact in the desert, restricted their food and sleep, wrapped themselves in uncomfortable sore-inducing chains, and lived their lives on top of small pillars. Traditionally, the most hardcore ascetics were believed to have been men, but recent scholarly and archeological research has revealed that female monastics were equally devoted to self-mortification. In 1924, excavations at Khirbat el-Masaniʾ near Ramat Shlomo (in Israel) uncovered a Byzantine monastery dating to approximately 350–650 CE. Located just three kilometers northwest of Old Jerusalem, the monastery stood along one of the main roads leading from Jaffa and Lydda to the city. Among the tombs discovered at the site were the remains of an unidentified individual unusually wrapped in a metal chain. During the fifth century CE, as Christian monasticism was on the rise, the practice of self-chaining gained popularity among ascetics in Syria. Asceticism and bodily self-denial was seen as a way of emulating the suffering of Christ and drawing closer to God. At the time the tombs were excavated, it was widely believed that such ascetic practices were exclusive to men. So for nearly a century, scholars assumed this person had been male. However, a recent study employing advanced DNA analysis has revealed that the remains belonged to a woman. This would make this one of the first-ever archaeological finds of extreme asceticism among Byzantine women. (Eight things people get wrong about ancient Rome) Byzantine-style mosaic of the Garden of Eden, part of the Old Testament cycle from the Monreale Cathedral Mosaics in Palermo, Siciliy. The Latin inscription reads, MULIER SUGGESTIONI SERPENTIS TULIT DE FRUCTU ET COMEDIT DEDITQUE VIRO SUO ('At the serpent's suggestion, the woman picked the fruit and ate it, and gave it to the man.') Photograph By Ghigo Roli / Bridgeman Images Byzantine churches were often decorated with shimmering mosaics, portraying events from the life of Christ on their upper walls. This fragmentary head of Christ, with its caring expression, is probably from such a scene. Photograph By Gift of Mary Jaharis, in memory of her late husband, Michael, 2017, The Metropolitan Museum of Art A self-tormenting nun During the original excavation of Khirbat el-Masaniʾ, archaeologists uncovered two crypts containing scattered skeletal remains of multiple individuals—including children, women, and men. Based on the grave goods, burial context, and stratigraphy, these interments were dated to the fifth century CE. A third tomb, which held the highly fragmentary remains of the chained individual, was also discovered. At the time, the bones were too incomplete to determine the individual's sex or age at death. But this spring, a team of Israeli researchers, led by archeological scientists Dr. Paula Kotli from the Weizmann Institute of Science, finally pinned down an identity. By conducting a proteomic analysis on enamel obtained from the only tooth recovered from the tomb, the team determined that burial belonged to an adult aged between 30 and 60 years old at the time of their death. The results, published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, proved that the individual buried in chains in tomb three was actually a woman. As the authors note, 'the ascetic nun symbolizes a phenomenon of isolation, perhaps enclosure, and in extreme cases self-torment. This is the first evidence showing that the Byzantine self-torment ritual was performed by women and not exclusively by men.' The discovery marks a significant advance in the methods used to determine sex in fragmentary remains. Yet, evidence for asceticism among late antique women is more widespread than one might assume. (Christianity struggled to grow—until this skeptic became a believer) Detail of the 'Procession of Virgins' mosaics from the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna, Byzantine School, 6th century. Photograph By Leemage/Corbis/Getty Images Dr. Caroline Schroeder, Professor of Women's and Gender Studies and Professor of Data Scholarship at the University of Oklahoma and author of several pioneering studies on monasticism, told National Geographic, 'in late antiquity and Byzantium, people of all genders engaged in a wide variety of ascetic practices. In Egypt in the fourth and fifth centuries we have irrefutable evidence from papyri, monastic letters, and episcopal writings for women who practiced asceticism in their family homes, in homes they themselves owned or rented, and in communities of women [monasteries].' In general, asceticism meant abstaining from sex (even if married), limiting one's food intake, withdrawing from the world, rigorous engagement with prayer, and a life of discomfort and seclusion. These practices were not limited to Egypt. In Syria, we have copious evidence documenting what might be considered more extreme forms of asceticism. Schroeder mentioned a ninth-century male monk who described a women's monastery he encountered where residents lived in seclusion as stylites. Stylites 'were monks who lived for years atop a tall pillar, often exposed to nature's elements and totally dependent upon people on the ground to provide them with food and water,' Schroeder explained. 'The most famous is the original stylite, Symeon the Elder, who lived on his pillar for 36 years, praying, doing prostrations and other exercises, and experiencing physical decay. People came from all over for his blessings, to hear his preaching, and also to request his judgments in disputes between individuals and political leaders.' Stylites were physically constrained by the pillars—they were not able to stretch out fully, there were no bathroom breaks (which caused quite a stench), and they were exposed to the elements—and they also survived on limited sustenance and without the comfort of companionship. Schroeder pointed out that 'a monastery with women stylites is evidence that some women practiced as physically rigorous and severe asceticism as men.' With respect to the new study of the chained woman from outside Jerusalem, Schroeder pointed to an example recorded by fifth-century CE theologian Theodoret of Cyrrhus in his Religious History. In this collection of saint's lives, Theodoret describes visiting two Syriac sisters, Marana and Cyra, who wore heavy iron rings and chains as a form of extreme self-denial. According to Theodoret, these women lived in a roofless house—that exposed them to the unforgiving elements—the door of which had been sealed with mud and stones so that they were shut off from the world and unable to leave. Small windows allowed for food and water to be passed to the women. (Schroeder told me that Theodoret says that, since he was a bishop, they allowed him to dig through the door to see them.) The women wore iron collars, iron belts, and chains on their hands and feet. Even though the two women were secluded from the world, they, like Symeon the Stylite, became ancient Christian celebrities. They attracted pilgrims who travelled to receive their blessing. Saint Donatus, priest and anchorite, from "Les Images De Tous Les Saincts et Saintes de L'Année" (Images of All of the Saints and Religious Events of the Year.) Print By Jacques Callot , The Metropolitan Museum of Art Gender is a complicating question when it comes to asceticism because some women dressed as men when they entered monasteries. Dr. Christine Luckritz Marquis, Associate Professor of Church History at Union Presbyterian Seminary and author of 'Better Off Dead? Violence, Women, and Late Ancient Asceticism,' said 'the reality is that we have many individuals who were trans saints. While some women might merely dress as male monks to safely practice asceticism among men, there is no reason to believe that others did not truly feel themselves trans monks. And some men were castrated, becoming eunuchs for God, so they too did not fit into a simple two-sex binary.' The more fluid gender categories were complicated by the ambivalent attitude that male religious leaders had toward women in general. For commentators like Theodoret, Schroeder added, ascetic women were 'a bit of a paradox… On the one hand, women were viewed as inherently weaker than men and also the gender that carried the guilt of Eve for breaking God's command in the Garden of Eden. But on the other hand, they were capable of such strenuous devotions and, when they achieved them, were seen as even extra holy for going beyond the expectations of their gender.' An anchorhold against the south wall of All Saints church in Norfolk, United Kingdom. Built circa 1500 CE, it would have housed an anchorite devoted to solitary prayer. Photograph By UrbanImages/ Alamy From late antiquity onwards, into the medieval period, women's asceticism persisted. Anchorites—men and women who walled themselves up in permanent enclosures in lifelong solitary confinement—became more common among European women. Many of them lived in small cells, known as anchorholds, that were attached to local churches. In German-speaking regions, bishops would say the office for the dead as the anchorite entered their cell as a symbol of the ascetic's death to the world. Though small windows allowed them a limited view of the church's altar and access to food, water and the Eucharist, anchorites took vows to remain in their cells. The eleventh-century hagiographer Goscelin of Saint-Bertin refers to several anchorites who burned—or came close to burning—alive when the towns in which they lived in were sacked or looted. Other women embraced physical suffering an illness. In her book Holy Feast and Holy Fast, Caroline Walker Bynum documents the centrality of pain and illness to the spiritual lives of late medieval women. For those women even self-inflicted illness was a way of drawing near to God. Bynum writes that 'some Italian saints drank pus or scabs from lepers' sores.' In the German Nonnenbücher, a fourteenth-century collection of inspirational spiritual biographies of nuns authored by women, the desire for illness was so strong that the sisters exposed themselves 'to bitter cold' and prayed 'to be afflicted with leprosy.' The late fourteenth century, French anchoress Jane Mary of Maillé, 'stuck a thorn into her head in remembrance of Christ's crown of thorns.' As late as the sixteenth century, an account of the life of St. Alda of Siena recalled that she slept on a bed of paving stones, whipped herself with chains, and wore a crown of thorns. 'Among the more bizarre female behaviors' in this period, writes Bynum, 'were rolling in broken glass, jumping into ovens, hanging from a gibbet, and praying upside down.' For modern readers the critical question is why late antique people would want to engage in these practices of self-punishment and self-effacement at all. Theodoret characterizes Marana and Cyra's ascetic devotion as a kind of spiritual athleticism. Schroeder explained that the women took on these goals 'on these challenging practices with joy, knowing that the 'goal' or prize of their contests is a 'crown of victory' and eternity with Christ their 'beloved.'' Luckritz Marquis agreed, saying that while there were many reasons that people practiced asceticism, the goal was 'ultimately to be closer to God.'

Miami Herald
6 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Kroger adds seasonal Coca-Cola flavor Walmart, Target won't offer
While fast-food chains always had a handful of seasonal items, it wasn't a major trend. Burger King and Wendy's would add fish sandwiches for Lent season, and the Shamrock Shake was a McDonald's annual seasonal offering that came out around Patrick's Day, but seasonality was somewhat limited. Enter Starbucks. Related: Starbucks makes a move to battle slowing customer interest The coffee chain has made having a seasonal beverage menu table stakes for any coffee company. It's something even chains like McDonald's that have a coffee program have had to adopt. People expect that the fall season means offering pumpkin spice, and that the winter season means peppermint, eggnog, and other appropriate flavors. The fast-food industry used to operate more around movie releases and tying special food to things not dependent on the calendar. But while they do still happen, movie tie-ins are becoming increasingly rare. Now it's much more likely for companies to try to establish offerings on a seasonal basis. That's something Wendy's has done with the Summer Strawberry Salad and some of its Frosty flavors. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter This trend has spread to grocery stores, where seasonal soda flavors have become a thing. Some brands, like PepsiCo's Mountain Dew, offer so many new flavors each season that they can spread them out between retailers and restaurant chains. Coca-Cola, however, only has very limited seasonal flavors. That makes it surprising that its winter take on Sprite will only be offered at Kroger. It's only a fairly recent development that Coca-Cola's (KO) Sprite has featured brand extension flavors. That used to be something limited to Coke, as cola lends itself well to adding everything from fruit flavors to vanilla, cinnamon, and other options. Sprite, however, has been mixed with lemonade and has hit store shelves in other extensions of the popular lemon-lime classic flavor. It's not as easy to expand the Sprite brand as it is to create new Coke flavors. Adding cranberry flavor to Sprite made sense, but Sprite Vanilla Frost, a flavor that first came out in 2024 as a Kroger exclusive, seems less logical. Vanilla does not automatically seem to go with lemon and lime, and the original launch was fairly polarizing. More Retail News: Starbucks executives to get huge bonus as baristas demand better payWalmart, Sam's Club makes major donation for Texas flood reliefHome Depot spends billions on major acquisition "The broad public opinion of this soda was not enormously positive; I was sent plenty of pictures of Kroger stores flush with stock of this limited-time-only soda well into the promotional period. It turns out no one was crying out for vanilla baked-good sweetness added to their Sprite," Sporked reported. That's anecdotal, so maybe those cases flew off the shelves after the soda was around for a while, but it certainly seemed like Sprite Vanilla Frost was not a clear winner. Even though its first run may not have gone that well, Kroger (KR) will bring Sprite Vanilla Frost back as an exclusive flavor beginning in November. Perhaps the flavor will build a following in its second year, or maybe Sprite completists will simply need to own some to round out their collections. If they want it, Kroger will be the only option, since it's an exclusive product you won't find at Target, Walmart, Amazon, or any regional grocery chain. Coca-Cola has been working to tailor its product release to each market around the world. That's something CEO James Quincey talked about during its first-quarter earnings call. "During the quarter, some markets improved sequentially while other markets faced macroeconomic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions that impacted consumer confidence and consumption behaviors. Despite this backdrop, we delivered robust organic revenue growth through our stepped-up capabilities and better than ever system alignment. We're getting more granular and tailoring our execution to win locally in key geographies, categories, and channels," he said. Related: Coca-Cola brings back controversial Coke flavor Quincey had mixed feelings about Coca-Cola's North American performance, and Sprite was not one of the highlights he mentioned. "Bright spots include continued volume growth for Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, another good quarter for fairlife and Topo Chico Sabores, and continued traction with food service customer renewals and new accounts," he added. The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.