CHICAGO and DETROIT, Jan. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Connect Trade, an API-first connectivity layer for retail brokers and trading platforms, today announced a strategic collaboration with Benzinga, a leading financial media and data provider headquartered in Detroit. The collaboration will make Benzinga’s real-time news, analysis, and content more accessible to the exploding ecosystem of retail trading platforms and brokers around the world looking to plug into U.S. markets.

By pairing Benzinga’s content and data with Connect Trade’s unified brokerage infrastructure, the relationship helps platforms deliver richer trading experiences for idea discovery, market context, and execution are tightly integrated.

“We believe Benzinga’s news, data and content is core to the future of how investors globally will research their investments,” said Jim Nevotti, CEO of Connect Trade. “Retail traders want to move from idea to execution without friction. By integrating Benzinga’s trusted news and content into the Connect Trade ecosystem, we’re giving platforms and brokers an easier way to combine high-quality market insight with secure, compliant connectivity.”

The collaboration will enable platforms connected to Connect Trade to incorporate Benzinga content directly into their user experiences by supporting use cases such as in-app news feeds, opinions on bull vs. bear investor sentiment, and more. The offering is particularly valuable for international brokers and fintechs that want to offer U.S. market access but lack the in-house resources to manage multiple data and brokerage integrations.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Connect Trade to bring Benzinga’s content closer to the point of execution,” said Clint Rhea of Benzinga, who leads institutional collaboration at the company. “Benzinga has always believed in empowering retail investors with fast, actionable information. Connect Trade is building the connectivity layer that modern brokers and fintech platforms need. Together, we’re helping global platforms connect their users to the ideas, tools, and markets that matter.”

Through this collaboration, Connect Trade and Benzinga will jointly support retail-focused platforms and brokers seeking to:

• Offer integrated news and data alongside trading workflows
• Reduce time-to-market by leveraging pre-built content and brokerage APIs
• Improve user engagement and retention with richer, context-aware trading experiences
• Scale into U.S. markets without compromising on compliance or infrastructure reliability

About Benzinga

Benzinga is an innovative financial media and data company that delivers actionable market intelligence to investors, institutions, and fintechs worldwide. Through its extensive suite of APIs, real-time news, and analytics, Benzinga helps clients power smarter investment decisions across platforms and products. See https://www.benzinga.com/apis for more information.

About Connect Trade

Connect Trade is a leading provider of B2B trading API infrastructure to integrate into U.S. retail brokerages. With one normalized API, platforms gain scalable access to equities, single-leg and multi-leg options, and futures.

Connect Trade delivers streamlined workflows, flexible data access, and real-time streaming updates. By simplifying broker connectivity, Connect Trade helps platforms scale faster and deliver powerful trading experiences without the complexity of managing each integration in-house. For more information, please visit www.connecttrade.com.

TORTOLA, British Virgin Islands, Jan. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — WSPN, a leading provider of regulated stablecoin infrastructure, today announced a landmark deployment of stablecoin-denominated, asset-backed trade finance, supporting an Australian commodity exporter, JOC Australia Pty Ltd, in a live cross-border shipment financed and settled entirely on-chain.

This transaction marks one of the first times globally that physical commodities have been financed using stablecoins secured by blockchain-native Bills of Lading, proving that digital money can now operate directly within real-world supply chains.

From Cargo to Capital On Chain

JOC Australia, an exporter of agricultural and frozen-meat products, was conducting a cross-border sale to an overseas buyer under standard trade terms, where part of the payment is received in advance and the balance is settled after shipment.

The transaction was executed using TradeGo’s electronic Bill of Lading (eBL) system, which represents legal control of cargo in digital form. JOC used the eBL as collateral to obtain short-term trade financing from WSPN.

Global traders simply pledged its on-chain, asset-backed title and received stablecoin-denominated, fully collateralized trade credit. One block later the goods were financed; one block after payment the title auto-released. Global traders side-step the traditional banking settlement cycle: funds arrive in minutes, not days, and the digital title transfers the moment payment is confirmed. No overnight waits, no weekend gaps, no correspondent-bank float.

Why This Matters

This transaction demonstrates a shift in how stablecoins can be used in global trade: beyond payments, they can now serve as the settlement and credit backbone for real, asset-backed transactions. WSPN provided financing not based on corporate guarantees, but through cryptographic control of the cargo via the on-chain electronic Bill of Lading.

By holding the eBL, WSPN had first-priority claim over the goods and the ability to enforce title or block cargo release if necessary. This approach offers security comparable to traditional bank-backed trade finance while enabling faster, more efficient funding. Through WSPN’s infrastructure, commodities become digitally controlled, legally enforceable, and immediately financeable, opening new opportunities for exporters, lenders, and supply-chain participants across Australia, Asia, and Latin America.

Looking Ahead

This deployment reflects WSPN’s commitment to bridging traditional trade with blockchain-enabled financial infrastructure. As more exporters and trade finance participants adopt digital bills of lading and stablecoin-based settlement, WSPN expects broader adoption of faster, more transparent, and more inclusive trade finance solutions globally.

About WSPN

WSPN is a leading provider of next-generation stablecoin infrastructure, dedicated to building a more secure, efficient, and transparent global payment ecosystem. Our flagship stablecoin, WUSD, is fully backed and pegged 1:1 to the U.S. Dollar, serving as the foundation for a suite of integrated financial solutions. These solutions support a range of financial applications from institutional treasury management to programmable payments and decentralized finance. With a strong focus on transparency, regulatory compliance, and user accessibility, WSPN bridges the gap between Web3 innovation and traditional financial systems, driving the global adoption of stablecoins at scale.

Learn more: www.wspn.io | X | LinkedIn

COLOGNE, Germany, Jan. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — DeepL, a global AI product and research company, today announced the appointment of Gavin Mee as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Detlef Krause as Chief Revenue Officer (CRO). These strategic additions to DeepL’s executive team mark a significant step forward in the company’s mission to redefine AI enterprise solutions and accelerate its global growth trajectory. 

“With Gavin and Detlef joining our leadership team, we’re starting 2026 with the strongest possible bench to grow adoption of DeepL’s AI solutions for enterprise,” said Jarek Kutylowski, CEO and Founder of DeepL. “Their expertise will be critical as we scale our operations, innovate for our customers, and solidify our position as a global leader in AI products and research.” 

Detlef Krause Joins as Chief Revenue Officer

Detlef Krause, a seasoned enterprise sales leader with over 25 years of experience, has held senior leadership roles at Microsoft, Salesforce, SAP, and ServiceNow, where he successfully rebuilt and scaled global organizations. Recognised for delivering strong, scalable growth across global markets, Detlef advanced ServiceNow’s presence in Germany, EMEA, and APAC. He grew the German organization from 150 to over 500 people and doubled the EMEA Central team, reinforcing his standing as a high-impact leader.

Detlef’s decision to join DeepL was no coincidence. “From my first conversations with the DeepL team, two things were unmistakable: joining one of the most innovative European AI companies and a team unlike any I’ve ever met. This feels like the beginning of something truly exciting for me,” said Detlef. 

As CRO, Detlef is taking over the role from David Parry-Jones, who is retiring after an illustrious career in the tech industry. Jarek added “David has set a high bar with his leadership and contributions to DeepL’s success. His dedication and expertise have been instrumental in helping us grow into a global leader in AI-powered communication. We are deeply thankful for his impact and wish him all the best in his well-deserved retirement. I am confident that Detlef will build on this strong foundation and continue to drive our growth in the years ahead.” 

Detlef’s primary objective as CRO is to elevate DeepL’s position as the market leader in AI solutions for the enterprise. “DeepL is already renowned for its world-class Language AI and is now emerging as a pioneer in agentic AI. My ambition is to bring our AI to every enterprise worldwide – scaling agentic workflows and embedding DeepL at the heart of global business operations,” he added.

Gavin Mee Appointed as Chief Operating Officer

Gavin Mee joins DeepL as COO with an impressive background in scaling global go-to-market (GTM) organizations. Over the course of his career, Gavin has held senior leadership positions at prominent technology companies including Salesforce, Oracle, Adobe, UiPath, and Palo Alto Networks.

At DeepL, Gavin’s role as COO will focus on driving operational excellence, ensuring alignment across teams, and unlocking the full potential of the organization. His mandate includes evolving DeepL’s go-to-market strategy, fostering collaboration across engineering, research, and GTM teams. 

“I’m thrilled to join DeepL at such an exciting time,” said Gavin. “This company has an incredible product, a passionate team, and a bold vision for the future. My goal is to evolve our operations and ways of working, ensuring we’re not only delivering for our customers but also maximizing value for our investors and partners. Together, we’ll build a world-class organization that continues to lead in AI-powered communication. DeepL is at the forefront of innovation, and I’m eager to help the company scale its impact globally.” 

Driving the Future of AI-Powered Communication

These appointments follow DeepL’s strongest year yet in 2025, marked by major product expansions, including the launch of its groundbreaking AI Agent, the introduction of the Customization Hub, and other key senior leadership appointments. As DeepL continues to build on this momentum, 2026 will be the year the company scales its AI solutions across Europe and beyond, delivering transformative innovations that redefine how businesses and individuals communicate and work thanks to AI. 

About DeepL

DeepL is a global AI product and research company focused on building secure, intelligent solutions to complex business problems. Over 200,000 business customers and millions of individuals across 228 global markets today trust DeepL’s Language AI platform for human-like translation, improved writing and real-time voice translation. Building on a history of innovation, quality and security, DeepL continues to expand its offerings beyond the field of Language, including DeepL Agent – an autonomous AI assistant designed to transform the way businesses and knowledge workers get work done. Founded in 2017 by CEO Jarek Kutylowski, DeepL now has over 1,000 passionate employees and is supported by world-renowned investors including Benchmark, IVP, and Index Ventures. For more information on DeepL, visit www.deepl.com.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — EARTHDAY.ORG, together with partners worldwide, today announces the global theme for Earth Day 2026: Our Power, Our Planet—a rallying cry for people everywhere to reclaim their voice, their rights, and their future.

Other than limited signs of progress, 2025 was a year marked by extraordinary environmental retrenchment. The current Administration took more than 400 actions ranging from sweeping executive orders to obscure regulatory changes, that are causing irreversible damage to every facet of the global environment. Across the world, environmental safeguards that took generations to defend and create are under relentless attack; stripped away to the benefit of polluters while communities pay the price with their health, livelihoods, and lives. The belief that progress can be secured quietly, through good-faith negotiations alone is no longer a reflection of reality.

Real change requires persistent public pressure that is impossible to ignore.

EARTHDAY.ORG and our partners call on individuals, students, communities, faith groups, elected officials, and organizations worldwide to organize actions on Saturday, April 18, on Earth Day, April 22nd and throughout Earth Week, including:

1. Peaceful demonstrations and marches
2. Voter registration drives
3. Convening town halls with federal, state, and local officials to advance pragmatic pathways for restoring environmental protections, strengthening a clean and competitive green economy, and ensuring safe, affordable, and resilient communities
4. Grassroots organizing to protect environmental laws
5. Teach-ins at schools, universities and communities
6. Community cleanups (streets, parks, rivers, lakes, beaches) and actions to advance the end of plastic pollution
7. Targeted campaigns supporting reforestation, oceans, and ecosystem restoration

People Have Changed History Before

Since the first Earth Day in 1970, people from every walk of life – farmers and ranchers, faith leaders and scientists, health professionals and first responders, students and families, and communities on the front lines of climate disasters – have driven action that prevented countless illnesses and saved millions of lives worldwide.

Economic prosperities and environmental protections are not competing goals. They are on the same path forward. Clean energy and sustainability have already created millions of jobs, lowered costs, and delivered healthier air and water. Governments will delay, corporate interests may distract—but they cannot ignore an organized, determined public.

“All those years ago, in 1970, we were ridiculously confident that we were going to win. We launched a genuine environmental revolution. We proved that an engaged public can be an unstoppable force. It can be again in 2026.”
— Denis Hayes, Organizer of the First Earth Day and Board Chair Emeritus, EARTHDAY.ORG

Join the Movement

Earth Day’s enduring legacy is people working together to shape a livable future, and to never doubt that a dedicated group of people can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has. Join us on Saturday, April 18, on Earth Day, April 22nd, and throughout 2026 as we harness our collective power to defend, restore, and advance the progress generations have fought for and achieved.

1. Register an event: HERE
2. Sign up for updates: HERE
3. View partners and add your organization’s logo: HERE

Over the coming months, EARTHDAY.ORG will launch targeted calls to action to support organizing, voter engagement, community mobilization, student activism, and the defense of life-saving environmental protections. Civic engagement is the only proven path to strengthening and rebuilding a fair, healthy, and thriving world. Together, we can protect the earth.

Our Power. Our Planet.
The time to act is now.

For media inquiries, interviews, comment – please feel free to contact:
James Banks, banks@earthday.org, +1 202-262-0119
Terran Fielder, fielder@earthday.org, +1 661-444-4436
Evan Raskin, raskin@earthday.org, +1 781-686-5513

Olympic and Paralympic Icons ‘Ignite’ the Athlete and Fan Journey to LA28 at LA Memorial Coliseum.

A Legendary Gathering: 300+ Olympic and Paralympic Icons ‘Ignite’ the Athlete and Fan Journey to LA28
at LA Memorial Coliseum

ASSETS: Links to hi-res photos and video follow.

VIDEO: Hi-res video b-roll footage of LA28 Celebration on Eve of Ticket Registration Opening
Link: EXTERNAL_LA28 Olympic Ticketing Registration Broll_2026_01_14
Password: @Olympic_Ticketing-Registration#LA28
Link Expiration: 1/19/26

STILL IMAGES: Getty images from LA28 Celebration on Eve of Ticket Registration Opening
Link: https://dam.gettyimages.com/s/63qk5pxpk85x7gv6f9tzjpst

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Starting today at 10 a.m. ET/ 7 a.m. PT, sports fans worldwide can register for the LA28 Ticket Draw* and take their first step toward witnessing Olympic and Paralympic history. On the eve of this milestone moment, LA28 hosted more than 300 Olympians and Paralympians – representing 28 different Games dating back to 1960 – at the historic LA Memorial Coliseum in the interest of continuing to build an athlete-centric Games, marking one of the largest assemblies of Olympic and Paralympic athletes ever gathered outside of competition.

“LA28 is ready to welcome the world and the most spectacular athletes from every corner of it for what will be the greatest Games in history,” said LA28 Chief Executive Officer, Reynold Hoover. “A ticket to the Games is more than just a seat in the stands. It’s an opportunity to witness history and be part of the awe-inspiring moments where we celebrate the best of humanity and experience unity through the power of sport.”

How the Ticketing Process Works: Register Today at Tickets.LA28.org
Registration is the first step for a chance to secure a time slot to purchase tickets. Once registered, participants will be entered into a ticket draw, which will randomly assign time slots to purchase tickets throughout multiple future ticket drops.

Here are the key details of the ticketing process:

• Starting today, January 14 (10 a.m. EST / 7 a.m. PST), through March 18, fans around the world can register for the LA28 Ticket Draw and the opportunity to be selected for a time slot when Olympic tickets go on sale.
• Time slots to purchase during Drop 1 will run from April 9 to April 19, 2026.
• Fans will be notified by email from March 31 to April 7, 2026 if they’ve been assigned a time slot.
• There will be rolling ticket drops starting in April 2026. Fans are encouraged to register today for the best choice of tickets and events, as capacity may be filled or limited in subsequent drops. Paralympic tickets will go on sale in 2027.
• Fans only need to register once to be entered for future ticket draws and Paralympic draws once tickets for this event go on sale later in 2027. Those not selected for the first drop will automatically be entered into future draws.
• Anyone who wants access to tickets – whether for one sport or multiple events – will need to register for the LA28 Ticket Draw.
• If registrants selected for a time slot do not purchase the maximum amount of tickets allotted for the Olympic Games (12 per person) during that slot, they will automatically be entered into subsequent ticket draws.
• Tickets to the Opening and Closing Ceremony will be available in Drop 1.
• Tickets start at $28, and details on pricing for all categories will be available when Drop 1 opens in April 2026.

Introducing the LA & OKC Locals Presale*
The Locals Presale runs from April 2 to April 6, 2026 before Drop 1 opens on April 9. Residents who register for the ticket draw with billing postal codes in the following Southern California and Oklahoma counties will automatically be entered into the draw for the presale and will have a chance to secure a time slot during a special early-access window prior to tickets going on sale to the general public: Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, Ventura, San Bernardino, Oklahoma, Canadian and Cleveland.

The LA28 ticket process will be powered by LA28’s Official Ticketing Service Provider AXS and EVENTIM. In addition to individual tickets, curated ticket-inclusive hospitality experiences and packages from On Location will also go on sale in 2026. 

Options for Everyone
LA28 is committed to ensuring that tickets to the Games are accessible to everyone, especially for those in the Los Angeles community. To achieve this goal, LA28 is ensuring fans have a wide array of ticket options — from single tickets that will start at $28 to premium hospitality experiences — to witness the Games firsthand. This includes at least one million tickets priced at $28 and a third of tickets priced under $100.

In addition, LA28 launched a fundraising effort in November in which local sports teams, philanthropists and partners will contribute donations to fund free tickets that will go directly into the hands of local organizations to distribute within their communities.

To register for the LA28 Ticket Draw, visit Tickets.LA28.org.

In recognition of Visa’s long-standing partnership with the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Visa is the Official Way to Pay.

ABOUT THE LA28 OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC GAMES
LA28 will bring the Olympic and Paralympic Games to Los Angeles in 2028, uniting more than 15,000 of the world’s greatest athletes in a celebration of sport, culture and human potential. Set against a diverse collection of venues only Southern California can deliver, from the Pacific Ocean to Hollywood stages to world-class arenas, Los Angeles will become the third city ever to host three Olympic Games, following 1932 and 1984, and will also host its first ever Paralympic Games. The LA28 Games will celebrate historic milestones including becoming the first Olympic Games in history to feature more women athletes than men, the debut of new Olympic and Paralympic sports and becoming the first Games since 1948 to not build any new permanent infrastructure. Operating as an independently funded, non-profit organization, LA28 has built a strong foundation of successful commercial partnerships alongside licensing, hospitality, ticketing and with the support of the International Olympic Committee.

*NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT REQUIRED TO REGISTER, ENTER OR WIN. RESTRICTIONS APPLY. ELIGIBILITY SUBJECT TO VERIFICATION. MUST BE AT LEAST 18 YEARS OF AGE AT TIME OF REGISTRATION. TERMS, DEADLINES AND PROCESS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. OFFICIAL TERMS FOR THE LA28 TICKET DRAW ARE AVAILABLE HERE. OFFICIAL TERMS FOR THE LA & OKC LOCALS PRESALE ARE AVAILABLE HERE. TICKET AVAILABILITY NOT GUARANTEED AND TICKET PURCHASES SUBJECT TO ADDITIONAL TERMS AND REQUIREMENTS HERE.