Religious minorities suffer in Iraq mess

The recent suicide bombings againgst the Yazidi secti in Iraq have brought to the fore the insecurity of many minority religious groups in the country. These minority religions make up less than 3% of the total population, and this figure is dwindling as many of them leave the country, hoping to avoid being targeted or simply get caught up in intra-Islam fighting.

One of the more interesting minority groups which are fleeing the country is the Sabean Mandaeans, a group that follows the teachings of John the Baptist. Their number has gone from 25,000 in 2003 to 5,000 in 2007. For more information on this group, check out their Wikipedia article.

Source - http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-iraq-religious-minorities,0,3688910.story

Queen of Sheba's temple attacked

The recent terrorist attack in Yemen that killed nine people took place at the Queen of Sheba Temple in the northeast of the country. The temple was built around 3000 years ago. I am not sure of the extent of the damage to the temple yet, but it sure is horrifying news to anyone with an appreciation of Judeo-Christian history. To tie this in with the Scriptures, I've thought I would highlight the following verse:

"The queen of the south will be raised up in the judgment with the men of this generation and will condemn them; because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Sol´o·mon, but, look! something more than ol´o·mon is here." - Luke 11:31 (NWT)

So here is to seeing the Queen of Sheba in the Paradise!

World Watch

Here are some of the latest international developments that are of interest:

The latest African Union (AU) summit is discussing the possibility of a "United States of Africa" as a way of improving their status in the world. Source - BBC
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6258072.stm)

Al Qaeda has been alleged to have attempted three attacks in Britain. The first two targeted London and failed, but the third one consisted of a car explosion at Scotland's busiest airpot. Five people have been arrested over the attacks so far. Source - Reuters (http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=topNews&storyid=2007-07-01T203538Z_01_L29197797_RTRUKOC_0_US-BRITAIN-BOMB.xml)

Terrorism to continue

ASIO (Australia's version of the CIA) Director-General warns that terrorism is "likely to be a destabilising force for the next generation" and "there is no guarantee we will be successful in preventing further mass casualty attacks or stopping its growth."

The globe continues to degrade into a mess of war and terror, and even those who would save us admit they have no power to guarantee it. Which reminds me of a scripture:

"Do not put your trust in nobles, nor in the son of earthling man, to whom no salvation belongs... Happy is the one who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in Jehovah his God, the Maker of heaven and earth."-Ps 146:3-6 (NWT)

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/06/20/1957247.htm