WHALEXTRA

  The Greek-owned container ship Epaminondas has been attacked near the Strait of Hormuz but it's unclear whether it was detained by Iran, according to Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis. “I can confirm that there was an attack against the Greek cargo ship, but I cannot confirm that this has been seized by the Iranians," Gerapetritis told CNN. He said it was attacked and has faced "extensive damage". Greek media is reporting that the shipping ministry denies that it has been detained. Earlier, the IRGC said that the ship, along with the MSC Francesca, was  "seized" and directed towards the Iranian coast , Iranian media reported. The UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre said it was approached by an IRGC gunboat, which opened fire and caused significant damage to the bridge.

  Pakistan has emerged as a key intermediary between Iran and the United States to secure a temporary ceasefire and host negotiations to end the war in the Middle East. On Wednesday,  Prime Minister Shehbaz  Sharif said the United States and Iran — and their allies had — agreed to a ceasefire “everywhere” following mediation by his government. Sharif said the two-week truce – which Trump and Tehran had announced earlier – would next lead to talks in the Pakistan capital. “Pakistan achieved one of its biggest diplomatic wins in years,” said South Asia expert Michael Kugelman in an X post. “It also defied many skeptics and naysayers that didn’t think it had the capacity to pull off such a complex, high stakes feat.”

According to the 2026   Numbeo Quality of Life Index , Africa’s most livable countries are distinguished by economic stability and access to quality healthcare. The rankings provide a comprehensive view of comfort and sustainability across the continent, factoring in key indicators such as purchasing power, cost of living, and healthcare quality. Other metrics considered include traffic conditions, average commute times, pollution levels, and climate. Based on these measures, the top ten African countries offering the highest quality of life in 2026 are: Leading the continent, Namibia posts a Quality of Life Index of 156.98, reflecting high overall living standards. Its Purchasing Power Index of 77.57 shows residents enjoy moderate income strength, while a Healthcare Index of 65.36 signals reliable access to medical services, supporting comfortable daily living.

  The number of births in  Japan  fell for the 10th straight year in 2025, official data showed on Thursday, highlighting the challenges for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. A total of 705,809 babies were born in Japan, the preliminary health ministry data showed, down 2.1 percent from 2024. The data includes births to Japanese nationals in Japan, foreign births in Japan and babies born to Japanese nationals overseas. Meanwhile, 505,656 couples got married in 2025, up 1.1 percent, while the number of divorces fell 3.7 percent to 182,969 cases. There were 1,605,654 deaths, down 13,030 or 0.8 percent from 2024.

Rap icon Nicki Minaj declared Wednesday she was Donald Trump’s “number one fan,” adding that “hate” directed at the US president made her support him more. Republican Trump called the provocative singer-songwriter up on stage after she announced her support for so-called “Trump Accounts,” which provide trust funds for children. “I will say that I am probably the president’s number one fan, and that’s not going to change,” said Minaj, who wore a furry white coat as she embraced Trump and took the podium. “And the hate or what people have to say, it does not affect me at all. It actually motivates me to support him more.” The Trinidadian star, 43, added that she would not let the billionaire president’s opponents “get away with bullying him and you know, the smear campaigns. It’s not going to work.”

A federal officer has shot a man in the leg in the US city of Minneapolis after being attacked with a shovel as he tried to make an arrest, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) says. In a statement on X, the DHS said Wednesday's shooting happened after a car chase involving a Venezuelan national who was in the country illegally. It ended in a crash and the driver was joined by two more people who all attacked the officer, it said. DHS said the man who was shot was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Tensions have been running high in the city since an immigration agent shot dead a woman last week, sparking protests that spread to other US cities. On Wednesday night, clashes broke out between protesters and law enforcement in the Hawthorne area of Minneapolis, near the scene of the shooting.

  Benin’s President  Patrice Talon  is safe, and security forces are restoring order after a faction of soldiers claimed to have removed him from power, the presidency announced on Sunday. In a brief statement, the presidency dismissed the soldiers’ declaration as the actions of a fringe group with limited influence. “This is a small group of individuals who only managed to seize the television station. The regular army is steadily regaining control. Both the city and the entire country remain completely secure,” the statement said. The clarification follows an earlier broadcast by soldiers identifying themselves as the “Military Committee for Refoundation,” who declared that Talon had been removed from office. The government has since described the broadcast as an isolated disruption, assuring citizens that the situation is under control.

The Chinese Embassy in Nigeria has said that China remains committed to supporting Nigeria’s efforts to combat terrorism. In a press statement on Wednesday, Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, said this during his meeting with Nigerian Foreign Minister, His Excellency Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, during which both sides reaffirmed their commitment to expanding cooperation in trade, investment, and manufacturing, as well as strengthening strategic ties. He emphasized that the China-Nigeria comprehensive strategic partnership has entered a fast track through joint collaboration. Ambassador Yu noted that China and Nigeria have always understood and supported each other on issues concerning their core interests. He also highlighted China’s readiness to implement zero-tariff treatment for Nigerian exports and to prepare for the 55th anniversary of diplomatic ties and the 2026 China-Africa Year of Cultural Exchanges.

A United States military action within Venezuela is imminent following President Donald Trump’s comment on Saturday via his Truth Social handle. Advising airlines, pilots, and criminal networks to avoid the country’s territory, he wrote: “Please consider the airspace above and surrounding Venezuela to be closed in its entirety.” Venezuela has pushed back against the unilateral embargo, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs describing Trump’s statement as a “colonialist threat.” The ministry noted that the warning targets the sovereignty of Venezuelan airspace, and constitutes “another extravagant, illegal and unjustified aggression” against the people. The U.S. has assembled a large military force near Venezuela, deploying warships and about 12,000 sailors and marines under Operation Southern Spear.

South Africa and Egypt have emerged as the most powerful nations in Africa, according to the latest Power Sub ranking by U.S. News & World Report. The ranking highlights countries that consistently shape global conversations, influence policy directions and command significant economic and military strength. These nations are recognised for their ability to project influence and maintain strong international alliances. The Power Sub ranking evaluates countries based on six key attributes — leadership, economic influence, strong exports, political influence, international alliances, and military strength. According to the report, South Africa leads the continent as Africa’s most powerful country, followed by Egypt, Morocco, Ghana and Algeria. Globally, the world’s most powerful countries are those that dominate news headlines, shape global economic patterns, and whose foreign and military policies often attract international attention.

For the first time in two decades, the United States passport has slipped out of the top 10 in global ranking, now positioned 12th. This milestone reflects a broader shift in international mobility, with Asian nations like Singapore, South Korea, and Japan leading the charge, signaling growing trends in openness, collaboration, and global travel accessibility. Meanwhile, Nigeria is ranked 96th in the latest Henley Passport Index, tied with Ethiopia, Lebanon, and Myanmar, offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to just 44 countries. This position highlights the significant mobility challenges faced by Nigerian travelers compared with  passport  holders from stronger-ranking countries. The Henley Passport Index, which measures the strength of passports based on visa-free access, reports that the US passport now allows entry to 180 of the 227 countries and territories tracked, tying with Malaysia. In contrast, Singapore tops the list with visa-free access to 193 destination...

At least one man was killed in violence at a rally in Peru’s capital on Wednesday , said President Jose Jeri, whose accession days ago has failed to stamp out angry protests against the country’s political class. The Ombudsman’s Office said 102 people were injured, including 24 civilians and 78 police, updating earlier tolls. Youth-led demonstrations brought thousands of Peruvians, frustrated by the authorities’ failure to resolve a worsening crime crisis, onto the streets in Lima and several other cities. Some protesters tried to breach the security barrier around Congress as night fell, an AFP correspondent said. Others in the crowd also hurled stones and lit fireworks. Police in riot gear responded with tear gas. “I regret the death of 32-year-old citizen Eduardo Ruiz Sanz,” Jeri said on social media platform X, without elaborating on the circumstances.

People convicted of crimes in E ngland and Wales  could face bans from pubs, concerts, and sports events under new sentencing reforms being considered by the government. The changes would allow courts imposing non-custodial sentences to hand out driving and travel bans and require offenders to remain within specific areas. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said criminals must have “their freedom restricted” in society if they are serving community sentences, though some have questioned how the measures would be enforced. Currently, courts can impose limited bans—for example, individuals guilty of football-related violence can be barred from stadiums. But the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) plans to allow judges and magistrates to impose restrictions “as a form of punishment for any offence in any circumstance,” meaning offenders could face penalties unrelated to their original crime, with rule-breakers returned to court. Offenders released under Probation Service supervision could face s...

China has dismissed recent rumors of a renewed cryptocurrency ban, confirming that no new restrictions have been introduced. Unverified reports on August 3, 2025, had suggested a policy shift, but authorities clarified that the country’s stance remains unchanged since the 2021 ban on crypto trading, mining, and related financial services. The rumors, which spread via social media and unverified platforms, briefly impacted markets, causing dips in Bitcoin and Ethereum before prices stabilized. Bitcoin later recovered, closing at $114,472.47 with a $2.28 trillion market cap. A regulatory source reiterated that no official announcement had been made. The People’s Bank of China and other key agencies have remained silent, further casting doubt on the credibility of the claims. Crypto ownership remains legal in China, though trading and mining are still prohibited. Analysts warn that some reports have blurred this distinction, fueling unnecessary confusion. Despite the rumors, no new regul...

A t least two people were killed when firefighters tackling a blaze were ambushed by an unknown number of gunmen in an ongoing standoff in the northwestern US state of Idaho on Sunday, the local sheriff said. The blaze was still raging on the mountainside in Kootenai County as law enforcement exchanged gunfire with the shooter or shooters, Sheriff Robert Norris told reporters. “We now have two deaths. We have an unknown amount of casualties. We still have civilians that are coming off of that mountain… We are actively taking sniper fire as we speak,” he said at a press conference. The shooter showed “no evidence of wanting to surrender,” he continued, adding: “As soon as somebody has a clear shot, I encourage them to take that shot to neutralize the threat.” He said authorities believed the two people who were killed were firemen. Earlier, local fire chief Pat Riley described himself as “heartbroken” by the attack.

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he believed the war between Iran and Israel was finished, as both sides were keen to end the fight. Asked why he was confident the conflict was over, Trump told reporters: “I dealt with both and they’re both tired, exhausted.” “They fought very, very hard and very viciously, very violently, and they were both satisfied to go home and get out,” said Trump. VANGUARD NEWS

The French Senate passed a bill late on Wednesday that includes lack of consent in the country’s criminal definition of rape , paving the way for its official adoption in the coming months. The vote comes several months after a court in Avignon found a French man guilty of drugging his wife so he and strangers could rape her. The case drew renewed attention to the widespread crime of rape and the issue of consent. The bill passed this week redefines all sexual assaults — including rape — as “any non-consensual act”. France’s lower house of parliament approved a slightly different version of the bill in April. Wednesday’s vote is not the final legislative hurdle. A joint committee of senators and lower-house MPs is expected to draft a joint text prior to the final adoption of the law in both houses. “Consent is not saying no,” said Equality Minister Aurore Berge, but “saying yes, an explicit yes, freely, without constraint or ambiguity”. The vote is a “decisive step towards a genuine cu...

F rench President   Emmanuel Macron   touched down in Greenland on Sunday, for an official visit designed to bolster European support for the Danish territory, which is still batting away advances from the Trump administration to   acquire it for the United States . Macron is the first foreign leader to visit the resource-rich island since US President   Donald Trump   began his campaign to buy or annex Greenland, which he insists the US needs for national security purposes. Asked about Trump’s ambitions as he arrived in Greenland, Macron is cited by Reuters as saying: “I don’t think that’s what allies do… it’s important that Denmark and the Europeans commit themselves to this territory, which has very high strategic stakes and whose territorial integrity must be respected.” A source at the Élysée Palace said ahead of the visit that the French president’s trip had a “dimension of European solidarity and one of strengthening sovereignty and territorial integrity,...

The   United States   is intensifying efforts to strengthen economic relations with Nigeria and other African nations through increased trade and private sector investment, according to U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria,   Richard Mills . Speaking in Lagos during a policy address and fireside chat at the Lagos Business School, with the theme: “Toward a Robust U.S.-Nigeria Commercial and Investment Partnership,” Mills outlined Washington’s renewed focus on Africa’s economic potential. He emphasised that the new U.S. administration under President Donald Trump is recalibrating its Africa strategy, notably through the State Department’s recently launched commercial diplomacy framework for sub-Saharan Africa — a move the ambassador described as a “new chapter in U.S.-Africa relations.” “This strategy is built on a commitment to expanding economic opportunity, deepening commercial engagement, and fostering long-term mutual prosperity,” Mills said. Highlighting the significance of Nig...

  US President, Donald Trump on Thursday refuted Chinese claims that no discussions have taken place to ease the ongoing trade war, saying trade talks between the US and China were underway. Trump debunked the claims while speaking to reporters. “They had a meeting this morning. It doesn’t matter who ‘they’ is. We may reveal it later, but they had meetings this morning, and we’ve been meeting with China,” he said. DAILY POST reports that China on Thursday, said  it had not held trade talks with Washington  despite repeated comments from the US government suggesting there had been engagement. “China and the United States have not conducted consultations or negotiations on tariffs, let alone reached an agreement,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told reporters at a news briefing, calling reports of such information false news. Meanwhile, an official in the White House, speaking to reporters on the condition of anonymity, said lower level in-person talks as ...