News and Prophecy Staff

For centuries, Muslim Middle Eastern nations have been generally divided along denominational Sunni-Shia lines. The Sunni branch of Islam makes up 85 to 90 percent of all Muslims and are the dominant population in nations such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt, while Shias make up only about 10 to 15 percent of all Muslims and form majorities in nations such as Iran and Iraq. The Sunni-Shia divide has been a major source of division between many countries in the Middle East. However, times are changing.

Last week German and Lithuanian defense ministers signed a historic agreement (Newsweek, December 18, 2023). Germany agreed to permanently deploy a military battalion to Lithuania—the first foreign German troop deployment on European soil since World War II! This move, to occur over the next three years, will involve 4,800 troops and their families. Lithuania is responsible for infrastructure preparation, and Germany will provide troops and equipment.

In a recent poll, Europeans and Americans were asked if they were satisfied with their national democracies and the EU central government (Politico, December 11, 2023). Results show that nearly 70 percent of American respondents said the state of democracy had declined in recent years, while a similar number of polltakers in France shared the same opinion, and 60 percent of UK respondents felt their democracy was in decline.

For years, computer scientists have been experimenting with human cells, with the hope of improving computing power. Recently, scientists used human stem cells to grow a neurological brain-tissue mass known as an organoid (Nature.com, December 11, 2023). The brain tissue was connected to a computer with electrodes and electrical signals were delivered to the tissue and then interpreted by the computer. The intent is to increase the speed and energy efficiency of computers.

Growing numbers of migrants have died crossing the Mediterranean from Africa to Europe. Many more are dying after arrival and are buried in unmarked graves. According to The Guardian, “at least 1,015 men, women and children who died at the borders of Europe in the past decade were buried before they were identified…. These, however, are the tip of the iceberg.