European Parliament Strongly Condemns Ongoing Persecution Of Christians In Nigeria Following Village Massacre

European Parliament Strongly Condemns Ongoing Persecution Of Christians In Nigeria Following Village Massacre

ADF

• In an urgency resolution debated Wednesday and passed Thursday in an overwhelming vote of 510 to 1 in support, the European Parliament called for an end to the escalating persecution of Christians in Nigeria, citing the recent massacre in Kawel village, Bokkos Local Government Area, Plateau State, where jihadist Fulani militants killed over 20 Christians, including a local pastor, in an overnight raid on 22 June.

The attack on Kawel is among the latest in a long pattern of targeted violence against Christian communities in Nigeria’s Middle Belt. Residents said Fulani militants entered the village after midnight, moving door to door and shooting anyone who came outside. Among those killed was Rev. Markus Nyam, pastor of the Church of Christ in Nations, along with members of his congregation.

“No community should have to bury its pastor and its children because they follow Christ. The massacre in Kawel is not an isolated tragedy. It is part of a devastating and well-documented pattern of violence against Christians in Nigeria,” said Sean Nelson, Senior Counsel for Global Religious Freedom at Alliance Defending Freedom. 

“We commend the European Parliament for continuing to hold Nigeria accountable to protect the Christians and religious minorities who have faced relentless violence and persecution for far too long, particularly in the Middle Belt region where the persecution of Christians is most devastating.” 

The resolution strongly condemns the Kawel massacre and calls on the EU Special Envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion or belief outside the EU to “pay particular attention to the deteriorating situation of Christians and all persecuted religious communities in Nigeria. The resolution also calls on the Nigerian authorities to prosecute those responsible for attacks, to “strengthen both counterterrorism operations against armed militants, particularly in the Middle Belt region, and efforts to counter Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province”, and to improve early-warning systems and adequately address the situation of internally displaced persons.  

During debate remarks, MEP Miriam Lexmann, Co-Chair of the European Parliament’s Intergroup on Freedom of Religion, Belief and Conscience, stated, “Across the country, Christians face repeated attacks by Fulani militants, Boko Haram and other organized groups. Violence is part of a broader and deeply worrying pattern of persecution.” 

Thursday’s resolution follows a series of European Parliament interventions on Nigeria. In April 2023, MEPs voted 550 to 7 in an urgency resolution calling for the release of Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, a Sufi musician facing the death penalty under Kano State’s Sharia blasphemy law over song lyrics shared on WhatsApp. Sharif-Aminu’s case, supported by Alliance Defending Freedom, remains delayed before the Supreme Court of Nigeria and could overturn blasphemy laws across the country’s northern states. In a rare move, the European Parliament adopted a second urgency resolution in February 2025 on Sharif-Aminu’s case, again calling for his immediate release and to bring an end to the country’s blasphemy laws.

“Over the past several years, Parliament has repeatedly debated and adopted resolutions condemning the persecution of Christians and religious minorities in Nigeria. The fact that it must keep returning to this issue speaks to the sheer scale and severity of the violence and fear these communities face daily,” said Adina Portaru, Senior Counsel for Europe at Alliance Defending Freedom. “As long as these attacks continue and Nigeria fails to uphold its religious freedom commitments, international instituitons will have no choice but to keep addressing the crisis.”

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Health risks rise in shelters after deadly M7.2 and M7.5 earthquakes, Venezuela

Health risks rise in shelters after deadly M7.2 and M7.5 earthquakes, Venezuela

Teo Blašković

Health risks are increasing in temporary shelters and makeshift displacement sites after the M7.2 and M7.5 earthquakes that struck northern Venezuela on June 24, 2026. The official death toll reached 3 889 by July 10, while about 18 000 people remained without housing as overcrowding, unsafe water, poor sanitation and disrupted health services increased the risk of respiratory infections, diarrheal disease, and other illnesses.

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the Americas branch of the World Health Organization (WHO), warned that the main post-earthquake health risks in Venezuela now extend beyond trauma injuries to overcrowded shelter conditions, disrupted health services, deficiencies in water and sanitation, and reduced access to vaccination and routine care.

On July 9, Venezuelan authorities had raised the death toll to 3 889, while the number of injured remained at 16 740 and the number of displaced people reached 17 907. The United Nations said it aimed to reach 1.3 million people in the next six months, and Reuters reported that more than USD 300 million had been mobilized in coordinated support.

According to official data, at least 190 buildings have collapsed, 856 were damaged, and about 18 000 people were left without homes. Displaced residents were living in schools, sidewalks, parks, plazas, and other public spaces, with relief services concentrated in the northern state of La Guaira.

The June 24 seismic sequence began with an M7.2 foreshock, followed 39 seconds later by an M7.5 mainshock in northern Venezuela, west of Caracas, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The M7.5 earthquake struck near Yumare at 22:05 UTC, at a depth of 10 km (6 miles), and resulted from shallow strike-slip faulting near the complex boundary between the Caribbean and South American plates.

PAHO said field hospitals and shelters would be incorporated into an early-warning system with Venezuela’s health ministry to track diarrheal diseases, respiratory infections, febrile syndromes, and vaccine-preventable illnesses. PAHO also said vaccination access was part of the response, with attention to vaccine-preventable diseases including tetanus, measles, rubella, diphtheria, pertussis, and polio.

Doctors treating residents in Catia La Mar, La Guaira, reported increasing skin conditions and diarrheal diseases, along with growing requests for medications used to treat chronic illnesses, including diabetes and high blood pressure, AP reported on July 10. Armando Denegri, PAHO’s representative in Venezuela, told reporters that 50% of health professionals in La Guaira were directly affected by the earthquakes.

On July 6, 12 800 people were staying in 80 temporary shelters across Caracas and La Guaira, according to Venezuela’s social vice presidency. By July 9, the country had opened more than 80 shelters for people whose homes were destroyed, while PAHO said poor shelter conditions left displaced residents exposed to respiratory and digestive illnesses.

PAHO Situation Report No. 4 said the earthquakes affected at least seven states, with La Guaira the most severely affected, and that authorities had reported more than 995 aftershocks. Earlier, PAHO said more than 2 500 structures had sustained damage, Maiquetía International Airport was closed to commercial flights, Caracas Metro services were suspended, and telecommunications remained unstable across affected areas.

The Coming Super El Niño

The Coming Super El Niño

The Speculative Investor 

In the 10th June Weekly Update we discussed the potential for the El Niño currently underway to become the “super” variety, with major adverse consequences for food production around the world and especially in Asia. Before we provide an update, here’s a brief description of the El Niño and La Niña weather phenomena from the article linked HERE:

“Normally, Pacific trade winds blow west across the equator, carrying warm South American water toward Asia. Cold water then “upwells” from the depths to replace the warmer surface water that’s been pushed away.

El Niño is a natural climate cycle that disrupts this pattern. It’s triggered by weaker-than-usual trade winds — winds that end up allowing much of that warm water to flow back toward the west coast of the Americas.

Ultimately, that warmer water forces the Pacific jet stream — a high-altitude air current that acts as a 7,000-mile “conveyor belt” pushing storms east across the Pacific toward North America — to move south of its usual path, altering weather patterns across the U.S. and the globe.

La Niña is the exact opposite: stronger trade winds, colder water and a Pacific jet stream that moves north rather than south.

El Niño and La Niña happen roughly every two to seven years and last nine to 12 months. El Niño generally arises more frequently than La Niña.”

This year’s El Niño stands a good chance of becoming strong enough to qualify as “super”, meaning that surface temperatures in the Pacific are on track to become much warmer than would be the case in an average El Niño. Super El Niños are relatively rare, typically occurring every 10-20 years. However, as discussed in our 10th June commentary, a Super El Niño combined with other natural climate cycles could result in weather conditions during 2026-2027 being similar to those of 1877-1878, when Asia experienced the worst drought in centuries.

Evidence regarding the likely consequences of the 2026 El Niño will start to become available by August, because by that time it will be possible to make an initial assessment of India’s monsoon season. In particular, much less rainfall than usual in India during June-July (the first two months of the monsoon season) would increase the risk that an event of similar severity to 1877-1878 is in store

The broad correction in the commodity markets that began in April could continue for a few more months, but as we mentioned last month, a “super El Niño” probably would result in grains and other crops being among the first commodities to resume their longer-term bullish trends. Therefore, over the months ahead we will be looking for opportunities to add more agriculture-related exposure to the TSI Stocks List.

Strong M6.4 earthquake hits South Sandwich Islands region

Strong M6.4 earthquake hits South Sandwich Islands region

Teo Blašković

A strong earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.4 struck the South Sandwich Islands region at 10:26 UTC on July 11, 2026. The agency is reporting a depth of 46 km (28.6 miles). EMSC is reporting the same magnitude and depth.

The epicenter was located 2 390 km (1 485 miles) SW of Edinburgh of the Seven Seas (population 271), Tristan da Cunha, Saint Helena, and 2 448 km (1 521 miles) ENE of Ushuaia (population 56 825), Argentina.

There is no tsunami threat from this earthquake.

The USGS issued a Green alert for shaking-related fatalities and economic losses. There is a low likelihood of casualties and damage.

Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are a mix of vulnerable and earthquake-resistant construction. The predominant vulnerable building types are adobe block with concrete bond beam and unreinforced brick with concrete floor construction.

New ultimatum: US demands Iran pledge to halt shipping attacks by Saturday

New ultimatum: US demands Iran pledge to halt shipping attacks by Saturday

Israel National News

The Trump administration is demanding that the Iranian government issue an explicit public statement affirming that the Strait of Hormuz is fully open and committing to an immediate cessation of strikes on commercial vessels, according to a report by Axios.

The ultimatum has been transmitted to Tehran via both direct diplomatic channels and regional intermediaries, three US officials disclosed during a press briefing on Friday.

The development comes after Iran violated a bilateral memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed just three weeks ago by repeatedly firing on commercial ships transiting the strategic shipping lane.

In response, President Donald Trump earlier this week authorized a series of military strikes against targets in Iran.

On Friday, Trump said that Iran had asked to continue talks, but stated that the ceasefire is over.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran has asked us to continue ‘talks.’ We have agreed to do so, but the United States has stated to them, in no uncertain terms, that the Cease Fire is OVER!" the President wrote in a post on Truth Social.

American officials cited by Axios argue that if Tehran cannot honor basic maritime commitments, it raises profound doubts about its capability to execute a far more intricate nuclear pact.

According to US officials, Iranian representatives privately admitted that radical factions within the regime initiated the ship attacks in a rogue bid to reclaim that lost leverage. Publicly, however, Iranian diplomats, Revolutionary Guard commanders, and senior figures have maintained a unified front, demanding that Tehran retain absolute authority over navigation through the strait.

Behind closed doors, a US official quoted in the report that the Iranians initiated contact with the administration following two days of intense military skirmishes earlier in the week, asking for further dialogue 

"They told us, 'We screwed up. We made a mistake. Let's keep talking,'" the official alleged.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei vigorously denied that account on Friday, rejecting claims that Iran requested a fresh round of talks with the US and asserting that Tehran merely agreed to a Qatari-mediated proposal to hold discussions within Iran.

Nevertheless, US sources insist a fierce internal power struggle is underway in Tehran regarding how to handle negotiations with the Trump administration.