WORLD IN BRIEF: East Africa plans refinery with Dangote, UK jails HIV offender, Meta cuts jobs for AI push and other stories
Iranian leaders have dismissed claims by Donald Trump, the US president, that there is a split within Tehran’s leadership, insisting the country remains united.
Iranian leaders have dismissed claims by Donald Trump, the US president, that there is a split within Tehran’s leadership, insisting the country remains united.
President Masoud Pezeshkian, Abbas Araghchi, foreign minister and Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, parliament speaker, all rejected the assertion, issuing coordinated statements alongside the Supreme National Security Council.
“In Iran, there are no radicals or moderates,” the statement read. “We are all Iranian and revolutionary… with the iron unity of the nation and government… we will make the aggressor regret his actions.”
Mohammad Reza Aref, the first vice president reinforced the message, describing Iran as “one soul, one nation” despite political diversity.
At least five people have been critically injured after two trains collided head on near Copenhagen, Danish authorities have said.
The crash occurred early Thursday on a line between Hillerød and Kagerup, with 37 people on board.
Emergency services transported the injured to hospital by air and ambulance.
Officials have not yet determined the cause of the collision. Images broadcast by public media showed both trains with significant front end damage after the impact.
Local mayor Trine Egetved described the incident as deeply shocking, noting the route is widely used by residents, workers and students.
A UK court has sentenced a man to life imprisonment for deliberately infecting multiple victims with HIV in a prolonged campaign of abuse.
Adam Hall, 43, was convicted of targeting vulnerable men and boys, some as young as 15, between 2016 and 2023. Prosecutors said he knowingly avoided treatment and misled victims about his condition.
Judge Edward Bindloss said Hall’s actions had caused lasting harm, with victims left with lifelong health consequences and trauma. Police say further investigations are ongoing as more potential victims come forward.
Meta has announced plans to cut around 10 percent of its workforce, affecting roughly 8,000 employees, as it ramps up spending on artificial intelligence.
Mark Zuckerberg, the Chief executive has signalled a major shift towards AI, with spending expected to reach $135bn this year. The company says advances in AI tools are reshaping productivity, allowing smaller teams to deliver larger projects.
The layoffs follow earlier job cuts this year and reflect a broader restructuring as the firm seeks to remain competitive in AI development.
Shareholders of Warner Bros Discovery have approved a proposed takeover by Paramount Skydance valued at about $111bn, marking a major consolidation in the entertainment industry.
The deal would bring assets including HBO Max and CNN under the same umbrella as Paramount’s film and television holdings. David Zaslav, the Chief executive, could receive a substantial payout if the transaction is completed.
Regulatory scrutiny is expected in both the United States and the United Kingdom as authorities assess the impact on competition.
East African nations are exploring plans for a shared oil refinery in Tanzania as they seek to reduce reliance on imported fuel.
William Ruto, the president of Kenya, said the proposed facility in Tanga would process crude from across the region, including supplies from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan.
Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote said he was prepared to replicate his large scale refinery model if governments commit to the project, potentially transforming regional energy security.
Cyril Ramaphosa, South Africa’s president has suspended police chief Fannie Masemola following corruption related charges linked to a multimillion dollar health contract.
Masemola is accused of failing to exercise proper oversight in the awarding of a $21m tender that was later cancelled. He denies the allegations, saying the legal process should take its course.
The suspension comes amid wider concerns about corruption within law enforcement, with several senior officers also facing charges.
An official inquiry in Tanzania has found that more than 500 people died during unrest following last year’s general election.
The commission, led by Mohamed Chande Othman, reported 518 deaths, including 197 from gunfire, but did not assign responsibility.
The findings mark the first official acknowledgment of the scale of the violence, which followed a disputed election won by President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
Sierra Leone has signed a $225m offshore oil exploration agreement with Nigerian firm Marginal Energy Limited as it seeks to revive its energy sector.
The deal covers several offshore blocks and includes commitments to seismic surveys and drilling. The government will retain a stake in any future production.
Officials say the agreement reflects efforts to attract investment and unlock the country’s under explored petroleum resources.
A deadly meningitis outbreak is spreading in refugee camps in eastern Chad, where hundreds of thousands have fled conflict in neighbouring Sudan.
Medecins Sans Frontieres said nearly 12 percent of infected children have died, with overcrowding and poor conditions fuelling the spread of disease. Measles cases are also rising, placing further strain on limited medical facilities.
Aid workers warn that without urgent intervention, the situation could worsen significantly as more refugees arrive.
