Christians around the world are facing increased violence and threats because of their faith, according to a new watchdog report shared with The Daily Wire.  Open Doors, an organization dedicated to aiding persecuted Christians, released its annual report on persecution on Wednesday, finding that 380 million believers worldwide face high levels of persecution or discrimination for their faith. This was a steep increase from its 2024 report, which found that 365 million Christians faced intense levels of persecution.  The report found that in 2024, 4,476 Christians were killed for their faith, including 3,100 in Nigeria; 3,944 were sexually assaulted, or forcibly married; 54,780 Christians were physically or mentally abused; 209,771 were forced to leave their homes; and 4,744 were sentenced to prison for their beliefs.   For the last 32 years, the organization has ranked the top 50 worst countries for persecution of Christians. The top offender this year was again communist North Korea, where the state aggressively cracks down on religious expression. The other countries rounding out the top ten include Somalia, Yemen, Libya, Sudan, Eritrea, Nigeria, Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan.  “At one level, it shouldn’t be a surprise at all there is persecution,” Open Doors President Ryan Brown told The Daily Wire. “When you take a look at the very birth of the church, if you read the New Testament, you see that the majority of the New Testament was written to those experiencing persecution or written by those experiencing persecution.” Brown said that while persecution in Malaysia increased in the last year, it still fell out of the top 50 because the targeting of Christians had increased even more in other countries.  “The things that, even just a year ago, were severe enough to have a country on that list on top 50, this year it wasn’t enough,” Brown said. “That global picture actually worsened.”  When ranking countries, Open Doors considers a number of factors including government policies, community practices, and whether Christians are able to do things like go to church and own a Bible. The two countries that were new to the top 50 this year were Chad and Kyrgyzstan, which saw the most dramatic increase in persecution of any country. Brown also noted that violence against Christians is trending upward in sub-Saharan Africa, where Christians are often targeted by Islamic extremists. He urged people to join the “Arise Africa” campaign, which seeks to bring awareness to the widespread persecution in the region.  In Mexico, Brown said the situation for Christians had worsened because of cartel violence directed at churches upset they were undermining their illicit activities.  “As folks move away from drugs and become engaged in the church, it’s bad for their business,” he said. “So the church has come under direct attack from the cartels in Mexico.”  JOIN THE MOVEMENT IN ’25 WITH 25% OFF DAILYWIRE+ ANNUAL MEMBERSHIPS WITH CODE DW25 Brown said the situation for Christians in Yemen has been “bleak” due to the country’s ongoing civil war.  “Civil war obviously creates all sorts of instability in these areas,” he said. “We have seen some of the Islamic militants, specifically the Houthi rebels, that have been more than willing to step into some of those vacuums and perpetuate the instability. One of the ways that they can do that most effectively is targeting Christians. They are often able to do so with impunity.”  The report features anecdotes from Christians around the world, including in Burkino Faso, where a man referred to as Pastor Sore said he had to flee with his family because of attacks from Islamic militants. “When the terrorists come to churches and find Christians, they tell them that Christianity’s time is over, and they should turn to Islam,” he said. “They warn Christians to stop conducting services. After warning, when they come back later and find you in the church, they kill you.” “I do believe that we are displaced, but Jesus is not and will never be displaced from our lives,” he added. “He is always with us.” With the incoming Trump administration, Brown said he saw a “tremendous opportunity” to advance religious freedom abroad. He said that religious freedom helps create stability in countries and can aid in other foreign policy objectives. “During Trump’s first term he articulated, and I think in many ways, demonstrated that freedom of religious belief would be central to a lot of their approaches to foreign policy,” he said, adding he hoped that policy would continue into his second term.  When running for president, Trump promised to protect persecuted Christians, specifically Armenians. “Kamala Harris did NOTHING as 120,000 Armenian Christians were horrifically persecuted and forcibly displaced in Artsakh,” Trump posted on Truth Social in October. “Christians around the World will not be safe if Kamala Harris is President of the United States. When I am President, I will protect persecuted Christians, I will work to stop the violence and ethnic cleansing, and we will restore PEACE between Armenia and Azerbaijan.”

Some artists create realistic paintings that look like photographs. Celeste Marple does some fantastic work with people and pets. However, when it comes to making a living painting, there are none as talented as Alexa Meade. Using a combination of paint and live models, Alexa creates paintings that waltz right off the canvas! @alexameade A glamorous vision in a dream.⁠ ⁠ Model @Ruby June Video by Rachel Klein⁠ ⁠ #installationart #immersiveart #alexameadeart #arttok #art #painting #nycart #livingart #fineart #creative #colorful #MemoriesInWonderlandDreams wonderlanddreams⁠ ♬ nhạc nền – ???? ??ℕℍ ♡ – ???? ??ℕℍ ♡ Although her work might remind you of some recent AI creations, we can assure you that it is not. Alexa uses raw talent and imagination to make her living paintings. Combining movement specialists with paint, Alexa perfectly blends colors on skin, clothing, and backgrounds. Her completed pieces come to life, telling an intricate story in movement. Check out this incredible mother-and-daughter portrait! @alexameade Painting Ebony Bankz and her daughter Malanee at @Wonderland Dreams. #alexameadeart #creative #colorful #livingart #painting #arttok #motherdaughter #family ♬ telephone number by junko ohashi – vy Nothing is safe from Alexa’s brushwork. She uses model Chris Stewart to bring New York City graffiti to life. Her art crosses genres, including classic, modern, and brief forays into the abstract world. Depending on her color palettes, each living painting looks similar but vastly different from standard paintings. When she uses muted pastels, her work has a watercolor appearance. Bolder colors have an acrylic or oil painting feel. The depth of each painting is beyond anything in a museum. Images from TikTok here and here. Her perfect shading and shadowing work with each model’s movement, adding realism. As the models move, the living paintings change, creating a feeling of total immersion in the art. You can learn more about Alexa and her art projects on her website. Follow her on Instagram or TikTok to see glimpses into her world. You may lose yourself in her world as it morphs into three dimensions. Her living paintings combine movement, music, and more to create an emotional immersion. Please share this amazingly innovative artwork. You can find the source of this story’s featured image here. The post Painting Brought To Life: Art Installation Will Blow Your Mind With This Illusion! appeared first on InspireMore.

Nooo! Not our man John

This detection fills in a crucial gap in our understanding of our local supermassive black hole.

The findings could have big implications for our understanding of anxiety.

A carefully elaborated media smear campaign, combining the worst elements of the Bork and Kavanaugh confirmation processes, crashed and burned. Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth appears to have bolstered his confirmation chances, and the media were not thrilled to report that. All three major network newscasts were goofy, but the goofiest was the CBS Evening News. Watch anchor Norah O’Donnell’s introduction to Nikole Killion’s reporting: You can tell the media were mad at how Pete Hegseth's SECDEF confirmation hearing went by their reporting on it: pic.twitter.com/fKgKbbvnyd — Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) January 15, 2025 NORAH O’DONNELL: Good evening. I'm Norah O'Donnell, and we begin with tough new questions about the man hoping to lead the Pentagon, one of the most powerful jobs here in Washington. Members of the Senate Armed Services Committee grilled Pete Hegseth. Why? Well, the Secretary of Defense manages a nearly $1 trillion budget and 3.4 million personnel. Democratic senators today zeroed in on his limited management experience, and allegations of sexual assault and heavy drinking. There were also concerns raised about what he said about women in combat. The 44-year-old military veteran and former Fox News personality was combative and unapologetic, denying many accusations. Hegseth has vowed not to drink if confirmed to the top Defense post but did not say he would resign if he faltered.  Norah O’Donnell basically recited the (manufactured) case against Hegseth and touched the hearing lowlights before tossing to correspondent Nikole Killion for a confrontational report. ABC World News Tonight had a similar opening and report: DAVID MUIR: Now to the tense questioning on Capitol Hill today. President-Elect Trump's nominee for Defense Secretary, former Fox host Pete Hegseth grilled on what he has said about women in the military, about allegations of infidelity, about alcohol abuse, and about financial mismanagement. How he answered these questions, and where his support now stands tonight.  Rachel Scott’s report was tonally similar to that of CBS: with a very heavy focus on Democrat opposition to Hegseth, A disproportionate number of senator sound bites came from Democrats as opposed to Republicans. Five Democrats to two Republicans, to be exact (as opposed to 3D-1R on CBS, and 2D-2R on NBC). The most balanced report came from the NBC Nightly News. However, anchor Lester Holt couldn’t resist dropping this weird characterization of Hegseth disputing the unsourced, anonymous allegations against him: LESTER HOLT: The political will behind President-Elect Trump's second Cabinet is getting its first test. To listen in on the Senate confirmation hearing of decorated combat veteran and former Fox News host Pete Hegseth, you would be left thinking he is either unfit to lead the Pentagon or an excellent choice as a change agent for a sprawling military bureaucracy. Democrats focusing on Hegseths' past comments about women in combat, as well as allegations of sexual misconduct and excessive drinking. Hegseth sliming those allegations as anonymous false claims, and part of a smear campaign.  “Sliming the allegations” is a very sneaky way of framing them as true for NBC’s viewing audience.  Garrett Haake’s report touched details not mentioned on ABC or CBS, such as the district attorney’s reasons for not filing charges against Hegseth due to inability to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.  This nomination was supposed to implode under the weight of the unsourced allegations and the intensity of their echoes reverberating throughout the media. But that didn’t happen. Watching the media’s coverage of the hearing suggests that they know that their Kavaborking campaign failed. Click “expand” to view the full transcripts of the aforementioned reports as aired on their respective newscasts on Tuesday, January 14th, 2025: ABC WORLD NEWS TONIGHT 1/14/25 6:38 PM DAVID MUIR: Now to the tense questioning on Capitol Hill today. President-Elect Trump's nominee for Defense Secretary, former Fox host Pete Hegseth grilled on what he has said about women in the military, about allegations of infidelity, about alcohol abuse, and about financial mismanagement. How he answered these questions, and where his support now stands tonight. Rachel Scott on The Hill. RACHEL SCOTT: Tonight, in a tense, often explosive hearing, Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth, a veteran and former Fox News host, defending his qualifications to lead the world's most powerful fighting force. PETE HEGSETH: We will re-establish trust in our military, addressing the recruiting crisis, the retention crisis, and readiness crisis in our ranks. SCOTT: From the outset, Democrats making their objections clear. JACK REED: I do not believe that you are qualified to meet the overwhelming demands of this job. SCOTT: Hegseth casting himself as the victim of false and anonymous smears, but often finding himself on the defensive, particularly concerning the role of women in the military. HEGSETH: In ways direct, indirect, overt and subtle, standards have been changed inside infantry training units, Ranger school, infantry battalions to ensure that commanders meet… KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND: Give me one example. Please give me an example. I get you're making these generalized statements. HEGSETH: …commanders meet quotas to have a certain number of female infantry officers or infantry enlisted, and that disparages those women who are incredibly capable of meeting that standard. GILLIBRAND: Commanders do not have to meet quotas. Commanders do not have to have a quota for women in the infantry. That does not exist. It does not exist. SCOTT: Last year, Hegseth said point blank, women should not be allowed to serve in combat. Today, he seemed to have addressed the concerns of one key Republican senator, Joni Ernst, herself a combat veteran. JONI ERNST: As Secretary of Defense, will you support women continuing to have the opportunity to serve in combat roles? HEGSETH: Yes, women will have access to ground combat roles, given the standards remain high and we'll have a review to ensure the standards have not been eroded. SCOTT: But Democrat Elizabeth Warren accused Hegseth of changing his position. HEGSETH: This issue has always been about standards, and unfortunately, because of some of the people that have been in political power over the last 4 years-- ELIZABETH WARREN:  Excuse me, Mr. Hegseth, let's just stop- let’s just stop- let’s just stop right there. Mr. Hegseth, I'm quoting you -- I'm quoting you from the podcast. “Women shouldn't be in combat at all.” Where is the reference to standards? That they should be there if they can carry, if they can run? I don't see that at all, Mr. Hegseth. SCOTT: Hegseth also pressed about an accusation he sexually assaulted a woman in 2017. A charge he denies, claiming the encounter was consensual. Senator Tim Kaine pointing out that at the time, Hegseth was married, and had recently had a baby with another woman. TIM KAINE: But you acknowledge that you cheated on your wife and that you cheated on the woman who, by whom you had just fathered a child? You have admitted that? HEGSETH: I will allow your words to speak for themselves… KAINE: You’re not retracting that today. SCOTT: Democrats challenging him on reports of excessive drinking. He has promised he would not drink alcohol if he's confirmed. MARK KELLY: A CVA staffer stated that you passed out in the back of a party bus. Is that true or false? HEGSETH: Anonymous smears. SCOTT: Republicans on the committee making it clear they’ve got Hegseth's back. ROGER WICKER: He is a decorated post-9/11 combat veteran. He will inject a new warrior ethos into the Pentagon, a spirit that can cascade from the top down. SCOTT: And David, that key Republican senator Joni Ernst announced just moments ago that she will be supporting Pete Hegseth for Defense Secretary.. It now appears he has the full support of Republicans on the Armed Services Committee. We could see the Senate take up his confirmation as soon as next week. David. MUIR: All right. Rachel Scott with the late reporting for us. Thank you CBS EVENING NEWS 1/14/25 6:30 PM NORAH O’DONNELL: Good evening. I'm Norah O'Donnell, and we begin with tough new questions about the man hoping to lead the Pentagon, one of the most powerful jobs here in Washington. Members of the Senate Armed Services Committee grilled Pete Hegseth. Why? Well, the Secretary of Defense manages a nearly $1 trillion budget and 3.4 million personnel. Democratic senators today zeroed in on his limited management experience, and allegations of sexual assault and heavy drinking. There were also concerns raised about what he said about women in combat. The 44-year-old military veteran and former Fox News personality was combative and unapologetic, denying many accusations. Hegseth has vowed not to drink if confirmed to the top Defense post but did not say he would resign if he faltered. CBS's Nikole Killion leads off our coverage tonight from Capitol Hill. NIKOLE KILLION: Defense Secretary pick Pete Hegseth arrived on Capitol Hill this morning casting himself as a change agent. PETE HEGSETH: Now it is true, it has been acknowledged that I don't have a similar biography to defense secretaries of the last 30 years. But it's time to give someone with dust on his boots the helm. KILLION: But the former Army major was quickly bombarded by rapid fire, grilled about his views of women serving in combat. HEGSETH: I'm straight up just saying we should not have women in combat roles. KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND: Please explain these types of statements because they are brutal and they are mean and they disrespect men and women who are willing to die for this country. HEGSETH: Well, Senator, I appreciate your comments. And I would point out I have never disparaged women serving in the military. I respect every single female service member that has put on the uniform. KILLION: The ex-Fox News host was also pressed about accusations of sexual assault at a Monterrey, California hotel in 2017.  TIM KAINE: At that time you were still married to your second wife, correct? HEGSETH: I believe so. KAINE: And you had just fathered a child by a woman who would later become your third wife, correct? HEGSETH: Senator, I was falsely charged, fully investigated and completely cleared. KAINE: So you think you are completely cleared because you committed no crime, that's your definition of cleared? You had just fathered a child two months before by a woman that was not your wife. I am shocked that you would stand here and say you are completely cleared. Can you so casually cheat on a second wife and cheat on the mother of a child that had been born two months before, and you tell us you are completely cleared? How is that a complete clear? HEGSETH: Senator, her child’s name is Gwendolyn Hope Hegseth, and she’s a child of God. She’s seven years old. KILLION: Hegseth underwent an FBI background check. But Democrats claimed it did not include interviews with Hegseth’s accuser or ex-wives. JACK REED: I believe the investigation was insufficient, frankly. KILLION: And, according to the New Yorker, Republicans Joni Ernst and Susan Collins turned down meetings with Hegseth's alleged accuser, which they both disputed. Do you want to hear from the accuser, Senator? Did someone reach out to your office, Senator? Yes or no? KILLION: As for Hegseth's overall qualifications, Republicans accused Democrats of being hypocritical. MARKWAYNE MULLIN: How many senators have showed up drunk to vote at night? Have any of you guys asked them to step down and resign from their job? And then how many senators do you know have got a divorce for cheating on their wives? Did you ask them to step down? KILLION: Tonight, the Trump team is pleased with Hegseth's performance, with one advisor telling CBS News it sets the tone for the rest of their nominees. Hegseth will continue meeting with senators. A committee vote on his confirmation is set for inauguration Day. Norah.   O’DONNELL: Nikole Killion on Capitol Hill. Nikole, thank you very much.   NBC NIGHTLY NEWS 1/14/25 6:31 PM LESTER HOLT: The political will behind President-Elect Trump's second Cabinet is getting its first test. To listen in on the Senate confirmation hearing of decorated combat veteran and former Fox News host Pete Hegseth, you would be left thinking he is either unfit to lead the Pentagon or an excellent choice as a change agent for a sprawling military bureaucracy. Democrats focusing on Hegseths' past comments about women in combat, as well as allegations of sexual misconduct and excessive drinking. Hegseth sliming those allegations as anonymous false claims, and part of a smear campaign. Lawmakers sharply divided among party lines in this, the first and the most contentious confirmation hearing, just six days before Trump's inauguration. It’s where we will begin tonight with NBC’s Garrett Haake. GARRETT HAAKE: Tonight, President-Elect Trump's embattled pick to lead the Pentagon, former Fox News host and combat veteran Pete Hegseth, making an impassioned pitch for the job. PETE HEGSETH: It is time to give someone with dust on his boots the helm. My only special interest is the war fighter. HAAKE: Arguing he’s the target of false attacks. HEGSETH: There is a coordinated smear campaign orchestrated in the media against us. HAAKE: But Hegseth facing a grilling from Senate Democrats, including over a 2017 sexual assault allegation. Police investigated but no charges were filed. The local prosecutor saying, quote: “no charges were supported by proof beyond a reasonable doubt.” TIM KAINE: You’ve admitted that it was consensual, and you were still married and you just had a child by another woman. How do you explain your-- HEGSETH:Again. Completely false charges against me. Fully investigated and I was completely cleared. KAINE: You have admitted that you had sex while you were married to wife two after you had just fathered a child by wife three. You’ve admitted that. Now, if it had been a sexual assault that would be disqualifying to be Secretary of Defense, wouldn’t it? HEGSETH: It was a false claim then and a false claim now. HAAKE: Republicans rallying to his defense. ERIC SCHMITT: We need somebody who’s going to go in there and fight for innovation, fight for change. I think you’re that person. And I appreciate your willingness to sit here and listen to some of these undignified attacks. It’s ridiculous. HAAKE: Democrats also going after Hegseth's past opposition to women in combat roles. KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND: You will have to change how you see women to do this job well, and I don't know if you are capable of that. HAAKE: But in a positive moment for Hegseth Iowa’s Joni Ernst, a combat veteran previously seen as a Hegseth skeptic, appearing more supportive today. JONI ERNST: Will you support women continuing to have the opportunity to serve in combat roles. HEGSETH: My answer is yes. Exactly the way that you caveated it. Yes. Women will have access to ground combat roles given the standards remain high. HOLT: Garrett joining us now. Garrett, this was seen largely as a make or break moment for Hegseth. And you have some new reporting on the impact of all this. HAAKE: That’s right, Lester. Trump transition officials are extremely pleased with Hegseth's performance today. Now remember- if all Democrats oppose him he can only afford to lose three Republican votes and still be confirmed. Tonight, one Republican senator tells me he thinks Hegseth is on track to that confirmation, possibly as early as next week. Lester. HOLT: All right. Garrett Haake, thank you.  

A Man Of Peace: Jesse Kelly Wants Mace and Crockett to 'Hug it Out' on the House Floor

Samsung will unveil the Galaxy S25 series next Wednesday at its first Unpacked event of the year. Rumors say that all four phones in the series will be unveiled at the show, including the Galaxy S25 Slim version. That's the ultra-thin Galaxy S25 flavor that Samsung is reportedly making in anticipation of the iPhone 17 Air phone coming next year. But when preorders start after Unpacked, buyers will only be able to purchase the Galaxy S25, S25 Plus, and S25 Ultra. The phones will ship about two weeks later or early February. According to recent rumors, the Galaxy S25 Slim will get a delayed release date. Samsung might be targeting the second quarter of 2025 with the release of the Galaxy S25 Slim. A new report claims the ultra-thin flagship will be available in May but does not provide specifics. Continue reading... The post Galaxy S25 Slim release date is months away, even if it shows up at Unpacked appeared first on BGR. Today's Top Deals Today’s deals: $510 M1 MacBook Air, $4.75 Kasa smart plugs, $18 Roku Express, $328 Sony XM5 headphones, more Today’s deals: $20 waterproof Bluetooth speaker, $23 space heater, $200 exercise bike, more Amazon gift card deals, offers & coupons 2024: Get $350+ free Today’s deals: $179 AirPods Pro 2, $6 Anker USB-C chargers, 23% off protein bars, $7.50 smart bulbs, more

TikTok plans to shut off its app for U.S. users on Sunday, when a federal ban on the social media app could come into effect, The Information reported, unless the Supreme Court moves to block it.

Advisers to President-elect Donald Trump now concede the Ukraine war will take months or even longer to resolve, a sharp reality check on his biggest foreign policy promise to strike a peace deal on his first day in the White House.