new video loaded: Iran Prepares to Execute Protester
Iran prepared to execute Erfan Soltani, 26, on Wednesday. Soltani would be the first protester to be executed in the latest wave of antigovernment unrest. President Trump said that “the killing in Iran is stopping,” but did not elaborate on his statement.
Unbeaten welterweight contender Delante Johnson, who has sparred Vergil Ortiz Jr and Jaron Ennis, believes that one has ‘more tools in his bag.’
The two undefeated super-welterweight operators have been on a collision course since their days at 147lbs but, even now, it would seem that their all-American clash remains a few steps away from materialising.
Nevertheless, there is still hope that at some point later this year the pair will finally lock horns in what promises to be a truly captivating affair.
Ortiz has established himself as the more proven contender at 154lbs, particularly with points victories over Israil Madrimov and Serhii Bohachuk.
Ennis, meanwhile, was able to outshine his domestic rival at welterweight, becoming a unified world champion following his sixth-round stoppage victory over Eimantas Stanionis in April 2025.
After that, ‘Boots’ made the decision to move up in weight and faced Uisma Lima, who he ruthlessly dispatched in one round last October.
Since then, a fight between Ortiz and Ennis has been teased by Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn, who promotes the latter, as a genuine possibility for this year.
Fans hold out hope, however recent comments from Ortiz’s promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, and his manager, Rick Mirigian, do not bode well for the fight’s chances.
If it does, Delante Johnson, who spoke with YSM Sports Media, is as good a man to rate the pair as any. After multiple rounds of sparring with both Ennis and Ortiz, he was asked to compare and contrast.
“I feel like Vergil has good timing, and he’s strong. And he has good head movement when he’s being aggressive, walking somebody down.
“But I feel like ‘Boots’ has more tools in his bag. He can switch from [orthodox to southpaw], he’s got speed, power, [and] he’s got really good timing.
“His footwork is real good and he’s crafty and smart.”
Whether the recent performances of Ortiz have changed Johnson’s mind, it remains to be seen, but the American nonetheless seems more convinced by the flashy skills of Ennis.
Blood sampling is painful and invasive, plus it only tells you what’s going on in the patient’s body right when the sample is taken. So, how about this? Permanent skin grafts that glow green when specific biomarker chemicals are present in the bloodstream.
Currently being developed by scientists at Tokyo City University and The University of Tokyo, the technology isn’t necessarily aimed at use in human patients. It could also find use in research, such as in lab-trial animals that aren’t able to verbally express what symptoms they’re experiencing.
The basic idea is that when bloodstream-borne chemicals are present in a given part of the body – chemicals such as proteins that indicate inflammation, for instance – a skin graft in that area will respond by fluorescing. No intrusive blood samples will need to be taken, and the fluorescence signal will continue for as long as the inflammation lasts.
For their study, the scientists created a skin graft that incorporated human epidermal stem cells. Those stem cells were genetically engineered to grow into skin cells that respond to inflammatory signaling by expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). In other words, when exposed to inflammation-associated proteins, the skin cells visibly glow green.
The graft was integrated into the natural host skin of lab mice, beneath which inflammation was subsequently induced. Not only did the engineered skin respond by fluorescing green, but it proceeded to do so for 200 days as the engineered stem cells continuously regenerated the epidermis.
A diagram of what the researchers call the “living sensor display”
Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo
Additionally, while the initial tests involved the monitoring of inflammation, the researchers believe that the technology could ultimately be utilized to monitor other symptoms by detecting other biomarkers.
“Unlike conventional devices that require power sources or periodic replacement, this system is biologically maintained by the body itself,” says Prof. Shoji Takeuchi of The University of Tokyo.
A paper on the study – which also involved collaborators from RIKEN and Canon Medical Systems Co. – was recently published in the journal Nature Communications.
Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser, one of Fortune‘s Most Powerful Women—and the top female executive on Wall Street—is pushing ahead with about 1,000 job cuts and has warned staff that “we are not graded on effort” in a fiery internal memo setting a tougher tone for 2026. The cuts are part of a multiyear overhaul that could ultimately eliminate up to 20,000 roles as Fraser demands hard results and an end to what she calls the bank’s “old, bad habits.”
In the memo, previously reported by Bloomberg, Fraser told Citi’s roughly 200,000‑plus employees “the bar is raised” and stressed performance will be judged on outcomes rather than intentions or long hours.
“We are not graded on effort. We are judged on our results,” she wrote, adding she expects “the last vestiges of old, bad habits” to disappear as the bank pursues a leaner, more commercially aggressive culture in 2026. The language marks one of her sharpest internal messages since she took over in 2021, underscoring a shift from transformation planning to execution.
Fraser’s approach also demonstrates why Fortune contributor Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, the Lester Crown professor of leadership practice at the Yale School of Management, chose the Citi CEO as one of his top performers of 2025. Fraser’s “Project Bora Bora” restructuring resulted in full-year revenues tracking toward $84 billion in 2025, the highest since 2010, with records for all five business segments in the last quarter. The latest earnings quarter saw all five business segments hit quarterly records. The stock’s performance ranking, up 67% in 2025, made it the best among major U.S. banks, in a year when Fraser was elected Chair of the Citigroup Board of Directors and was named Euromoney “Banker of the Year 2025.”
1,000 jobs now, 20,000 over time
Citigroup is poised to eliminate about 1,000 positions this week, as previously reported by Bloomberg, a move that follows earlier rounds of layoffs and brings the bank closer to a broader plan to cut roughly 20,000 jobs by 2026, or about 8% of its global workforce, according to people familiar with the matter. The reductions are tied to a sweeping restructuring unveiled in early 2024 that aims to simplify management layers, streamline businesses, and deliver up to $2.5 billion in cost savings. Citi has already shed more than 10,000 roles under Fraser’s overhaul.
Culture reset on Wall Street
Fraser’s memo signals a cultural reset at a bank long criticized for lagging behind rivals on profitability and efficiency, and she explicitly called time on what she describes as legacy behaviors that dulled Citi’s competitive edge. She urged bankers to adopt a more “commercial mindset,” telling staff to “ask for the business,” fight for a “full wallet” with clients, and stop settling for secondary roles or missed opportunities.
Automation, AI, and ‘roles no longer required’
The job cuts are being accelerated by investments in automation and artificial intelligence that are changing how work is done across the bank. Fraser told employees and investors as Citi completes more than 80% of its massive “Transformation” program, technology and process simplification will mean some roles evolve, new positions appear and “others will no longer be required.” Outgoing CFO Mark Mason said he expects headcount to keep falling this year as AI tools and streamlined processes take hold, even as Citi continues to hire top talent in key areas like investment banking.
High stakes for 2026
Fraser has framed 2026 as the year a “more disciplined, more confident, winning Citi” must fully emerge, arguing the transformation and painful cuts are laying the foundation for stronger, more consistent returns. But the strategy carries high stakes: Citi must prove to investors the layoffs, technology spending, and cultural shake‑up can close its long‑standing performance gap with Wall Street rivals while maintaining morale among the staff she is now bluntly reminding that effort alone will not be enough.
For this story, Fortune journalists used generative AI as a research tool. An editor verified the accuracy of the information before publishing.
The head of Uganda’s electoral body says he has received threats warning him against declaring certain presidential candidates the winners of Thursday’s election.
Simon Byabakama said he would not be intimidated by such threats from senior state officials, whom he did not name.
He was responding to a BBC question about a widely shared video which shows a presidential assistant saying the electoral commission would never declare opposition candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, as president, even if he were to win.
“Some people say if you don’t declare so-and-so as president, you will see. I tell them that I am not in the business of donating votes,” said Byabakama.
President Yoweri Museveni, 81, who has ruled the country for nearly four decades, is seeking a seventh term in office.
Bobi Wine, a 43-year-old pop star turned politician, is Museveni’s main challenger, seeking to unseat him for the second time after finishing runner-up in 2021 polls.
Six other candidates are also in the race, in which about 21.6 million voters are registered to vote.
Campaigning has been marked by the disruption of opposition activities, including the detention of activists and the breaking-up of rallies by police.
At the Electoral Commission headquarters in the capital, Kampala, Byabakama said he was not worried about threats from what he called “idle people”.
“You can see from my demeanour that fear is a word that does not exist in my vocabulary,” said the poll chief, adding that only the will of voters and the law would guide the process.
In the video shared by the Daily Monitor newspaper on social media last week, Yiga Kisakyamukama, the special presidential assistant for service delivery and monitoring, was captured saying Museveni would never leave power through the ballot.
“Don’t expect, don’t even think, that Simon Byabakama would announce Bobi Wine. President Museveni, who is on the chair, will remain on the chair. Never think that Museveni would leave power through voting. No, no, no – don’t waste our time,” Kisakyamukama was heard saying.
But Byabakama said Uganda’s law, not individual opinions or threats, would determine the outcome of the presidential election.
“The law says that the candidate who receives more than 50% plus one of the total valid votes cast is the president of Uganda. It is the voters who determine how many votes a candidate gets. What the voters have said is what I will declare to the nation,” he added.
The poll chief said he would declare the results within 48 hours of the close of polling, in accordance with the country’s laws.
Responding to concerns about the heavy military presence in the streets, Byabakama said security forces were deployed to maintain peace and stability during the electoral process and should not intimidate voters.
He also acknowledged opposition concerns about some polling stations being located within military premises, saying the commission was investigating the reports.
“If we find that it is true, we shall take the necessary measures to address it,” he added.
The network outage has heightened concerns about repression in the run-up to the vote, and has been described by the UN human rights office as “deeply worrying”.
There’s been a significant leadership shakeup at the Believe-owned distribution company, TuneCore.
Andreea Gleeson has revealed in an internal memo to staff, obtained by MBW, that she’ll be exiting her role as CEO of TuneCore, and moving to a Strategic Advisor position at parent company Believe.
“After ten years at TuneCore, and with the company well-positioned for continued success, Believe and I have mutually agreed that the time is right for me to transition,” said Gleeson in the note sent out on Wednesday (January 14).
The executive added in the memo that “Believe and I looked at what the future requires and agreed the best path is for me to support Believe’s executive team in an advisory capacity to continue building where I can have the greatest impact.”
The leadership change, described as a “planned transition,” is effective immediately.
TuneCore, one of the world’s largest independent music distribution platforms, promoted Andreea Gleeson to the position of CEO in 2021.
“We are grateful to Andreea for her leadership of TuneCore and the lasting impact she has had on the business,” said Denis Ladegaillerie, Founder and CEO, Believe, in a statement.
“Over the course of her tenure, TuneCore strengthened its platform, expanded its global reach, and deepened its commitment to artist success. Her work co-founding the Music Fights Fraud Alliance and advancing gender equity in the music industry reflects values that are at the heart of Believe and areas we will continue to prioritize.”
Photo: Anis Martin
“We are grateful to Andreea for her leadership of TuneCore and the lasting impact she has had on the business.”
Denis Ladegaillerie, Believe
Added Ladegaillerie: “As part of an evolution aligned with TuneCore’s next phase of growth and Believe’s long-term strategy, Andreea will transition into a Strategic Advisor role for Believe, where her experience and perspective will continue to support the Group at a strategic level.”
He also confirmed that “TuneCore leadership will continue to be overseen by Romain Vivien, Believe’s Global Head of Music, with senior executives including Chief Revenue Officer Brian Miller and Chief Technology and Product Officer Luxi Huang, to build on TuneCore’s strong momentum as we continue to invest in its future.”
Elsewhere in the memo, Gleeson explained that, “as TuneCore enters this next phase from a position of strength, its mission remains: empower independent artists to succeed on their own terms, moving them from ‘access to success’ through an efficient, automated platform”.
The exec also said that “moving forward, TuneCore will prioritize harnessing more fully the capabilities of Believe, to help artists grow globally”.
Gleeson told staff in the memo that leading TuneCore “has been one of the most meaningful chapters of [her] career”.
She added: “Together, we’ve transformed this company, expanding our global footprint, strengthening and modernizing the platform, and pivoting from just distribution to artist development by launching programs like TuneCore Accelerator to give artists deeper support, education, and access to real career-building opportunities.”
Launched in 2023, TuneCore Accelerator gives DIY artists access to promo and marketing programs on DSPs.
News of the leadership change at TuneCore follows the announcement in November that self-releasing artists have earned more than $5 billion via its platform since its founding in 2006.
You can read Gleeson’s memo in full below:
Dear Team,
As I write this, I’m filled with pride, gratitude, and a deep sense of connection to all of you.
After ten years at TuneCore, and with the company well-positioned for continued success, Believe and I have mutually agreed that the time is right for me to transition. Effective immediately, I’ll be moving from my role as CEO of TuneCore into a Strategic Advisor position for Believe.
As TuneCore enters this next phase from a position of strength, its mission remains: empower independent artists to succeed on their own terms, moving them from “access to success” through an efficient, automated platform. Moving forward, TuneCore will prioritize harnessing more fully the capabilities of Believe, to help artists grow globally.
Believe and I looked at what the future requires and agreed the best path is for me to support Believe’s executive team in an advisory capacity to continue building where I can have the greatest impact.
Leading TuneCore has been one of the most meaningful chapters of my career. Together, we’ve transformed this company, expanding our global footprint, strengthening and modernizing the platform, and pivoting from just distribution to artist development by launching programs like TuneCore Accelerator to give artists deeper support, education, and access to real career-building opportunities. Through it all, we stayed true to what matters most: an artist-first mission and a belief in independence.
None of this happened because of one person. It happened because of all of you. Your creativity, resilience, ambition, and care for artists shaped TuneCore into what it is today. I’ve been continually inspired by the way this team shows up for each other and for the creators who trust us with their careers.
TuneCore’s success has also been deeply connected to the Believe Group’s long-term vision and global scale, which allowed us to grow with purpose while serving independent artists at every stage of their journey. This planned transition reflects my confidence in the strength of this team and in TuneCore’s next phase of growth within the Believe ecosystem.
While my role is changing, my belief in this company and in all of you is unwavering. Thank you for the trust, the hard work, the laughter, the late nights, and the shared wins. TuneCore will always be a part of who I am and I can’t wait to see what you build next.
new video loaded: Construction Crane Falls on Train in Thailand
A crane fell on an express train carrying about 200 passengers in northeastern Thailand. Officials said more than 30 people were killed and dozens of others were injured.
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