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Iran refutes claims of sentencing protester to death amidst global criticism

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new video loaded: Iran Denies Sentencing Protester to Death Amid International Outcry

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transcript

Iran Denies Sentencing Protester to Death Amid International Outcry

Iran denied sentencing a protester, Erfan Soltani, 26, to death. Soltani’s case had drawn intense international attention after his relatives and rights groups had said he would be executed imminently.

“We have been notified and pretty strongly, but we’ll find out what that all means. But we’ve been told that the killing in Iran is stopping, and it’s stopped and stopping. And there’s no plan for executions or an execution or executions. So I’ve been told that on good authority. We’ll find out about it.” “It makes me feel horrified. I’m actually horrified. I think the most horrifying part of this is that the Iranian people know their own enemy. They know the Iranian regime. They knew the cruelty that this regime would unleash on them, but they still went out onto the streets because as I said, they’ve got nothing to lose.”

Iran denied sentencing a protester, Erfan Soltani, 26, to death. Soltani’s case had drawn intense international attention after his relatives and rights groups had said he would be executed imminently.

By McKinnon de Kuyper and Nader Ibrahim

January 15, 2026

Hallador Energy Company Form 8K Submission for January 15th

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Form 8K Hallador Energy Company For: 15 January

Palestinians feeling pessimistic about second phase of Gaza ceasefire

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NewsFeed

Palestinians in Gaza have told Al Jazeera the second phase of the ceasefire won’t improve their lives. They say little will change until Israel stops bombing the Strip and allows in more aid. On Wednesday, the US announced it was launching phase two of the ceasefire.

Customers express disappointment over Tesla’s shift to monthly fees for self-driving cars

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Elon Musk’s announcement that Tesla will soon stop selling its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software, leaving consumers with monthly fees as their only option, has inspired mixed reactions online and more questions about tech giants’ shift towards subscription-based services.

Musk, Tesla’s CEO, shared the news on Wednesday on X. FSD will no longer be available for outright purchase starting February 14, after which the software will “only be available as a monthly subscription.”

For Musk, the move signals an end to his longtime portrayal of FSD as an “appreciating asset,” worth buying outright now because the price will only rise as the software improves. And for Tesla, the change represents the latest decision by a tech giant to move towards a software-as-a-service (SaaS) model, in which a provider continues to host its software—handling updates, security, and maintenance—while renting it to users. But for the Tesla-curious and those who already own one of Musk’s cars, the move was a reminder of how difficult it has become to truly own things in today’s economy.

“Imagine buying a self-driving car and still having to pay a monthly subscription just for it to actually drive itself,” one user wrote in a reply to Musk’s announcement.

“You will own nothing and be happy.”

At current rates, Tesla owners can purchase FSD—which remains primarily a driver-assistance program that requires an attentive driver at all times—for $8,000, or opt for a monthly subscription for $99. Tesla owners who have already purchased FSD will retain the software, though it is unclear whether they will be able to transfer the rights to a new vehicle, as Tesla previously made possible through limited-time promotions. Tesla did not immediately reply to Fortune’s request for comment on whether rates would remain unchanged or transfers between vehicles would be possible after February 14. At the current monthly price point, it would take drivers around seven years to match the outright purchase cost.

Tesla has gradually raised FSD’s purchase price from $5,000 at launch to $ 15,000 in 2022, its most expensive point. Musk described the price hikes as evidence of FSD being a sound investment for consumers to get an early stake in, although the software’s upfront price dipped to $8,000 in 2024, around the same time Tesla reduced the monthly rental fee in the U.S. from $199 to $99.

The price slashes occurred in the wake of reports alleging a low conversion rate among Tesla drivers who opted to upgrade to FSD. While Tesla does not actively disclose the percentage of its customer base that uses FSD, CFO Vaibhav Taneja said the share was “still small, around 12% of our current fleet” during an October earnings call.

‘You will never actually own your EV’

Many of the replies to Musk’s announcement lamented the prevalence of subscription-based features that car companies now withhold. 

“People want to own their stuff outright, not be eternally beholden,” one user wrote.

“You will never actually own your EV, because it will be useless without the software that you can never remove, replace, or modify,” said another, before adding a recommendation: “Stick to internal combustion engines with as few computers as possible.”  

Criticism has ramped up recently about the software dependency of new vehicles, to the point that the industry has referred to electric cars as “smartphones on wheels.” Tesla is far from the only offender, as in August, Volkswagen released a new feature to increase the horsepower on some of its electric cars priced at $22.50 a month. GM also offers a subscription-based hands-free driving capability, Super Cruise, on designated highways. Launched in 2017, the service offers a three-year trial period, followed by a $25 monthly fee. Super Cruise has grown into a significant money-maker for GM, which late last year projected an active user base of 600,000 and more than $200 million in revenue for 2025.

Software updates and subscription fees in their cars might be starting to frustrate users. Last year, 68% of consumers said they would pay for car-connected services, according to an S&P Global survey, down from 86% in 2024.

While electric vehicles tend to be the most software-heavy, all cars nowadays rely on connected services in some way, regardless of their powertrain. Most modern cars are supported by up to a million lines of code, and frequent updates can quickly make some features incompatible. In 2022, as carriers upgraded their telecommunications infrastructure from 3G, many cars made by Toyota, Chrysler, and Jeep—including both battery- and gasoline-powered models—permanently lost access to a feature that automatically notified first responders in the event of a crash.

Iran refutes allegations of intention to execute detained protester

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Iran’s judiciary has denied it scheduled the execution of a man arrested in connection with the country’s recent protests.

Norway-based Kurdish human rights organisation Hengaw said earlier this week that the family of Erfan Soltani, 26, had been told he faced execution on Wednesday, only days after he was detained.

On Wednesday, Hengaw cited them as saying Soltani’s execution had been “postponed” but warned that “serious and ongoing concerns” regarding his life remained.

“This is good news. Hopefully, it will continue!” said US President Donald Trump, who had warned Iran not to execute protesters.

The Iranian judiciary said Soltani faced charges of “colluding against national security” and “propaganda activities against the establishment”, which are not punishable by the death penalty, state broadcaster IRIB reported.

It called reports by foreign media organisations that Soltani faced execution a “blatant act of news fabrication”.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also said in an interview with US television that there was “no plan” to hang people.

It came after Trump threatened to take “very strong action” if executions were carried out, amid mounting speculation of possible US military strikes.

On Wednesday, he told reporters that “very important sources on the other side” had informed him “the killing in Iran is stopping, and there’s no plan for executions”.

Later on Thursday, the US Treasury department said Trump had directed it to impose new sanctions on five senior Iranian officials whom it accused of being “the architects of the Iranian regime’s brutal crackdown on peaceful demonstrators”.

They included the secretary of the Supreme Council for National Security, Ali Larijani, who the Treasury said co-ordinated the response to the protests, as well as the commanders of the Revolutionary Guards and police forces in the western province of Lorestan and southern province of Fars, where the Treasury said security personnel had shot dead many civilians.

Hengaw told the BBC that Soltani had been denied access to a lawyer and that his family were unaware of any official charges brought against him.

Soltani, a clothes shop owner, was arrested at his home last Thursday in connection with the protests in the northern city of Fardis, west of Tehran, according to the group and his family.

However, the judiciary said he was arrested during “riots” on Saturday and was being held in a prison in the neighbouring city of Karaj, according to IRIB.

Responding to the judiciary’s statement, the director of the Norway-based group Iran Human Rights said threats of the death penalty against detainees and their families were not uncommon.

“Meanwhile, thousands of other detained protesters remain at risk of execution following statements by Iran’s judiciary chief in recent days,” Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam added.

The chief justice, Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, has advocated for the swift trial and punishment of arrested “rioters”.

“Those elements who beheaded people in the streets or burned people alive must be tried and punished as quickly as possible,” he said in a video on Wednesday. “If we don’t do it fast, it won’t have the same impact.”

Justice Minister Amin Hossein Rahimi meanwhile said that any individual arrested during the protests that took place between last Thursday and Saturday was “definitely a criminal”.

Over the past three years, Iran has hanged at least 12 men who were sentenced to death in connection with the 2022 “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests. Human rights groups said their convictions came after torture-tainted “confessions” and grossly unfair trials.

The current wave of protests began after shopkeepers in Tehran went on strike over the rising cost of living and the depreciating value of the currency.

They quickly spread across the country and turned against Iran’s clerical establishment, particularly the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The slogans chanted by demonstrators have included “Death to the dictator” and “Seyyed Ali [Khamenei] will be toppled this year”.

The protests escalated significantly last Thursday and were met with deadly force by authorities, masked by a near total shutdown of the internet and communication services.

According to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), at least 2,453 protesters have been killed since the unrest began, as well as 14 children, 156 people affiliated with the security forces or government, and 14 uninvolved civilians.

It reports that another 18,470 protesters have been arrested.

Iran Human Rights says it has so far verified the killing of at least 3,428 protesters by security forces and estimates that around 20,000 people have been arrested.

Canada’s Foreign Minister, Anita Anand, said on Thursday that a Canadian citizen had “died in Iran at the hands of Iranian authorities”, without identifying them.

“Peaceful protests by the Iranian people – asking that their voices be heard in the face of the Iranian regime’s repression and ongoing human rights violations – have led the regime to flagrantly disregard human life,” she added.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies also said a staff member of the Iranian Red Crescent, Amir Ali Latifi, had been killed and five of his colleagues wounded “in the line of duty in Gilan province” on 10 January.

Kobalt forms global publishing partnership with Madverse Music in India

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Kobalt has entered into a global publishing partnership with Madverse Music Group, an India-based distribution and publishing company.

According to a press release, the partnership aims to unlock new pathways for Indian and South Asian music to reach audiences worldwide.

The deal gives Madverse’s network of over 150,000 independent artists and labels access to Kobalt’s global publishing infrastructure across more than 180 territories, the press release added.

“This partnership with Kobalt represents a pivotal moment in our mission to empower India’s independent music community. For too long, Indian creators have left money on the table simply because the infrastructure to collect global royalties was broken and almost nonexistent,” said Madverse CEO, Rohan Nesho Jain.

“Publishing royalties are essentially a musician’s pension fund – they generate income long after the initial release, sometimes for generations. Through this collaboration, we’re ensuring that Indian independent artists can finally access and protect these earnings seamlessly, no matter where in the world their music is played.

“This is about more than just collecting royalties; it’s about building sustainable careers and giving our artists the financial foundation they deserve. When independent voices are properly compensated and protected, the entire music ecosystem becomes richer and more diverse.”

“For too long, Indian creators have left money on the table simply because the infrastructure to collect global royalties was broken and almost nonexistent.”

Rohan Nesho Jain, Madverse Music Group

Madverse describes itself as a tech-driven music distribution, publishing, and marketing company. The partnership aligns with what Madverse calls an “Independent, Not Alone” philosophy by offering creators transparency, rights management, and operational support while allowing them to retain full ownership and creative control.

Simon Moor, Managing Director APAC, Kobalt, said: “Madverse has built an impressive ecosystem that supports one of the most dynamic independent music communities in the world.

“By combining their creator-first approach with Kobalt’s global publishing infrastructure, we’re committed to ensuring Madverse songwriters and producers have the resources, accuracy, and reach they need to succeed on an international scale.”

“By combining their creator-first approach with Kobalt’s global publishing infrastructure, we’re committed to ensuring Madverse songwriters and producers have the resources, accuracy, and reach they need to succeed on an international scale.”

Simon Moor, Kobalt

For Kobalt, the partnership comes over five years since it first entered India’s music publishing market via a partnership with Turnkey Music & Publishing Pvt. Ltd.

Kobalt operates from 10 offices globally and serves over 1 million songs, the company said. It represents songwriters including Max Martin, Karol G, Stevie Nicks, Phoebe Bridgers, The Lumineers, The Foo Fighters, Paul McCartney and  more. Kobalt says it represents over 35% of the top 100 songs and albums in the US and the UK.

In October, Kobalt partnered with Berlin-based entertainment company umn — founded by ex-BMG senior execs Dominique Casimir, Maximilian Kolb and Justus Haerder — to acquire the authors’ share and the publishing rights to the catalog of multi-award-winning German songwriters Peter Plate and Ulf Leo Sommer.

In July, it acquired a portion of the song catalog of country songwriter Derrick Southerland, whose songs have accumulated more than 1 billion streams and secured film and TV placements with ABCHallmark and Netflix, among others.

Kobalt also operates AMRA, a digital music collection society that collects royalties from streaming and digital platforms.

In August, Kobalt signed a direct, multi-year licensing agreement with Spotify, covering the US. As MBW pointed out, this means that Kobalt’s direct deal supersedes the audiobook bundling‘ payment structure that, starting in March last year, saw Spotify dramatically cut the rate of mechanical royalties paid to publishers and songwriters in the US.

Music Business Worldwide

Two killed in Thailand crane collapse just one day after another tragedy

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new video loaded: A Crane Collapse in Thailand Killed 2, One Day After a Similar Tragedy

A crane collapsed on an expressway on the outskirts of Bangkok on Thursday, killing at least two people, an official said. It was the second fatal accident involving cranes in the country in two days.

By Jake Lucas

January 15, 2026

Thomas Hearns ranks his legendary rivals, the Four Kings

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The career of Thomas Hearns is often reduced to the obvious markers: pulverising knockout power, the Kronk Gym pipeline and a résumé built on rivalries with boxing royalty.

But to understand his place in the sport, he must be viewed as part of a rare lineage. A fighter forged in an era when greatness was defined by who you fought, not who you avoided.

In the 1970s, Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, George Foreman and Ken Norton pushed the heavyweight division into the mainstream through a five-year run of unforgettable clashes between 1971 and 1976.

A decade later, as boxing searched for an identity beyond Ali, a new quartet emerged across the welterweight and middleweight divisions to captivate fans and define the 1980s.

Thomas Hearns, Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler and Roberto Duran – later immortalised as The Four Kings – met one another repeatedly between 1980 and 1989, producing a series of fights that still serve as the gold standard for elite competition. Their era was celebrated in the documentary The Fabulous Four, a nod to the way each man tested himself relentlessly against the very best.

But how did ‘The Hitman’ himself rank his legendary contemporaries?

The Detroit icon recently offered insight when sharing his top 10 greatest fighters of all time with journalist James Slater. Muhammad Ali topped the list, followed by Joe Frazier, with Hearns placing himself at number three. Roberto Duran came in at four – the Panamanian having been brutally knocked out by Hearns in the second round of their 1984 showdown.

Sugar Ray Leonard was ranked sixth. Their first meeting in 1981 remains one of the most iconic fights in boxing history, Leonard rallying late to stop Hearns in the 14th round after surrendering the early momentum. Their 1989 rematch ended in a draw, a verdict many observers felt short-changed Hearns.

Perhaps most telling was Hearns’ placement of Marvin Hagler at number 10. Despite sharing one of the sport’s most savage encounters – the unforgettable three-round “War” of 1985 – Hearns ranked the former undisputed middleweight champion lowest among his peers.

It is a list shaped by rivalry, rivalry shaped by greatness. And fittingly, Hearns’ own legacy is inseparable from the men he fought. In an era when the best consistently faced the best, “The Hitman” was not just a participant – he was a central figure in boxing’s last truly golden age.

IndigoGo! tiny house provides one-level flexibility

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Designed with flexibility in mind, the IndigoGo! is a space-saving single-floor tiny house. It’s available in a range of sizes and configurations, from ultra-small all the way up to apartment-sized.

The IndigoGo! is designed by Indigo River Tiny Homes. The towable home is based on a double-axle trailer and is shown with a length of 24 ft (7.3 m) in the promo shots, which is definitely on the small side for a North American tiny house and could be a good fit for those who want something easy to tow. However, it’s also available in sizes ranging from 16 ft (4.8 m) all the way up to 40 ft (12.2 m). Additionally, the width can be increased to make it feel more like a traditional apartment than a narrow tiny house.

The interior of the IndigoGo! is open, with one large space serving as a multifunctional living area

Indigo River Tiny Homes

Its exterior is finished in engineered wood siding, with cedar accenting, and is topped by a metal roof. There’s also generous glazing installed, helping fill the interior with daylight. Its single entrance leads to an open layout, which is arranged similarly to Escape’s Vista model, providing one large multifunctional room. Nearest the entrance is the living area, which for this example consists of a sofa bed with built-in storage, alongside a dining table/work desk that seats two. A TV is mounted on a ceiling bracket and can be pulled down for viewing.

The kitchen is adjacent and is pretty simple, as you’d expect for a dwelling of these proportions. It’s arranged in a galley style, with cabinets on each wall, and has a steel sink, a small fridge, a microwave, and a useful pull-out section that increases counter space. The kitchen can be upgraded with more appliances if required, depending on the size of the home.

The bathroom is the one area in this house that is separated by a door. Given the promo home’s size, you’d probably expect something very basic, but Indigo River Tiny Homes has actually managed to squeeze in a soaking tub/shower, a vanity sink, and a flushing toilet.

The sleeping area, meanwhile, is on the opposite side of the home from the bathroom and has a queen-sized storage bed, plus a bedside table and a wardrobe for additional storage. Thanks to the home’s single-floor layout, there’s also lots of headroom to stand up in there, which is always a nice bonus in a tiny house.

The kitchen in this model variant of the IndigoGo! includes a pull-out section to increase counter space
The kitchen in this model variant of the IndigoGo! includes a pull-out section to increase counter space

Indigo River Tiny Homes

The IndigoGo! tiny house is up for sale for a starting price of US$67,500, but this can rise to a lot more depending on how the home is configured.

Source: Indigo River Tiny Homes

Challenging the Client

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Client Challenge



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