• Investment in Canadian headquarters fuels expansion of Canadian operations, advancing access to innovative cancer medicines

TORONTO, Jan. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Daiichi Sankyo (TSE: 4568) has further established its presence in Canada with the official opening of its permanent headquarters in Toronto, including additional operational and research and development investment, underscoring the strategic importance of Canada in the growth of Daiichi Sankyo as a global leader in oncology.

Daiichi Sankyo executives and guests participate in a traditional Kagami Biraki (sake barrel breaking) ceremony, symbolizing new beginnings, harmony and prosperity. (From left to right: Fatih Yedikardes, Magnus Gisel, Sunao Manabe, Miho Matsui, Hiroyuki Okuzawa, Tyler Allsopp).

“Establishing a permanent headquarters in Toronto represents a significant milestone in our global expansion and reflects the strong commitment of Daiichi Sankyo to patients and partners in Canada,” said Masahiro Kato, Managing Director, Europe and Canada, Daiichi Sankyo. “Canada is home to a vibrant healthcare and life sciences ecosystem where we see immense potential for continued growth through scientific innovation and collaboration, solidifying Canada’s role as a global contributor to improve standards of care.”

“Our government is protecting Ontario by cutting taxes and red tape, saving businesses $12 billion a year so that we can drive economic growth and welcome investments just like this one. Daiichi Sankyo’s investment will help create good-paying jobs, strengthen our economy and reinforce Ontario’s position as a world-class hub for innovation and health research. I want to thank Daiichi Sankyo for their confidence in Ontario’s incredible workers,” said Ontario Premier Doug Ford.

“This opening marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Daiichi Sankyo in Canada where we are further establishing our presence in Toronto as we continue to expand access to our oncology portfolio,” added Fatih Yedikardeş, Country Manager, Canada, Daiichi Sankyo. “This expansion means improving access to our medicines and strengthening our partnerships with healthcare professionals and the broader life sciences community in Canada.”

“As the largest life sciences jurisdiction in Canada, Ontario is a prime location for domestic and international pharmaceutical companies to establish their headquarters and advance their research from lab to market. We congratulate Daiichi Sankyo on the opening of their new Canadian headquarters here in Toronto and look forward to seeing the next chapter of their biomedical innovation that will leverage Ontario’s highly skilled workforce and R&D capabilities,” said Vic Fedeli, Ontario Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade.

Over the past two years, Daiichi Sankyo has supported 18 oncology clinical trials across 43 sites in Canada, working with top cancer centres such as Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, CHUM, BC Cancer, McGill University Health Centre and The Ottawa Hospital.

“By establishing their Canadian headquarters in Toronto, Daiichi Sankyo is affirming Ontario’s place as a hub of health innovation. This investment in Ontario will advance access to innovative cancer medicines for Ontario families, building on our government’s actions to date to connect patients to cutting-edge, life-saving cancer drugs faster,” added Sylvia Jones, Ontario Deputy Premier and Minister of Health.

To mark the occasion, Daiichi Sankyo hosted an office opening celebration featuring a traditional Kagami Biraki (sake barrel breaking) ceremony, symbolizing new beginnings, harmony and prosperity, followed by a Japanese taiko drumming performance honouring the company’s cultural heritage. The event brought together company leadership, government representatives and partners to commemorate the milestone.

The official opening of the Daiichi Sankyo headquarters in Canada cements its position as a dedicated partner in the Canadian healthcare system. Driven by strategic investment and a rapidly expanding team, Daiichi Sankyo is focused on accelerating access to its oncology pipeline and building a healthier future for Canadians.

About Daiichi Sankyo

Daiichi Sankyo is an innovative global healthcare company contributing to the sustainable development of society that discovers, develops and delivers new standards of care to enrich the quality of life around the world. With more than 120 years of experience, Daiichi Sankyo leverages its world-class science and technology to create new modalities and innovative medicines for people with cancer, cardiovascular and other diseases with high unmet medical need. For more information, please visit www.daiichisankyo.com.

Media Contact: Sarah Douglas, Media_ca@daiichisankyo.com  

Daiichi Sanyko executives attended the Canadian headquarters grand opening. (From left to right: Masahiro Kato, Magnus Gisel, Sunao Manabe, Hiroyuki Okuzawa, Takashi Matsumoto, Fatih Yedikardes).

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As political and business leaders gather at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026 in Davos under the theme “A Spirit of Dialogue,” a practical question looms large: amid rising geopolitical uncertainty and pressure on global trade and investment, how can the movement of people, commerce, and capital remain efficient and resilient?

According to the International Monetary Fund, global economic growth is expected to moderate in 2026. With advanced economies facing structural headwinds and emerging markets grappling with higher financing costs and friction in cross-border transactions, the foundational capabilities that enable international economic activity—particularly payments—are becoming critical.

Against this backdrop of global economic realignment, UnionPay, one of the world’s largest card payment organizations, is focusing on cross-border network connectivity as a practical entry point. Rather than positioning itself as a global payment service provider, UnionPay is innovating to foster an open and inclusive international payments ecosystem—built on multilateral collaboration, interoperability, and shared value. At the same time, it is exploring the responsible application of digital technologies, including artificial intelligence in payments, seeking solutions that offer efficiency, security and financial inclusion.

To date, UnionPay cards are issued in 84 countries and regions globally. Its acceptance network spans 183 countries and regions. Through partnerships with over 2,600 financial institutions and payment stakeholders worldwide, UnionPay has introduced digital payment products and services adapted to local markets, supporting commerce and consumption across contexts.

Dong Junfeng, Chairman of China UnionPay and UnionPay International, delivered a speech at a World Economic Forum roundtable discussion. UnionPay’s more than two decades of development reflect China’s broader trajectory of economic resilience and continued opening-up. Even amid a more complex global environment, UnionPay has remained committed to its international strategy—promoting high-quality development in the payments sector and advancing cooperation frameworks based on equality, mutual benefit, and shared growth.

Connectivity in Practice: Advancing the New Four-Party Model in Emerging Markets

Scaling cross-border payments requires more than technical integration, depending on cooperation models that are sustainable and replicable. In recent years, UnionPay has developed a “New Four-Party Model” for digital payments era through network-to-network (N2N) and government-to-government (G2G) cooperation.

Building on the traditional four-party payments framework, this model expands participation on both sides of the ecosystem. On the account side, it brings in digital wallets and mobile device manufacturers; on the acceptance side, it incorporates payment service providers, payment aggregators, and SaaS platforms. Through bilateral and multilateral collaboration, the model aims to integrate high-quality resources, reduce the cost of cross-border cooperation, and accelerate network expansion.

In practice, UnionPay has applied this approach in Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America—key emerging markets—where it is helping to advance interoperability among cross-border QR code payment networks. Importantly, this model is not designed to replace local payment systems. Instead, it operates within existing regulatory frameworks, promoting mutual recognition of standards and coordinated network development, while supporting local efforts to enhance payment infrastructure.

As a result, tens of millions of micro, small, and medium-sized merchants worldwide are connected to UnionPay’s inclusive global network, gaining better access to international consumers and cross-border commercial opportunities.

Responsible AI in Payments: Turning Innovation into Practice

Artificial intelligence has been a focal point of Davos discussions, given its potential to reshape economic structures and growth models. Yet in payments—a sector with high security and compliance requirements—the challenge lies in harnessing innovation while effectively managing risk.

UnionPay positions itself as a leading application-driven AI practitioner in the financial sector, treating AI as a new productivity driver to support the intelligent upgrading of payments. Rather than pursuing isolated use cases, it has adopted a collaborative approach, working with technology companies, research institutions, and universities to build a shared AI application ecosystem that supports high-quality and sustainable deployment in financial scenarios.

For payment security, UnionPay has built an intelligent risk-control system that significantly improves the timeliness and effectiveness of transaction protection. AI-generated expert risk rules now achieve an accuracy rate of 85%.

In regard of agentic-based payment solutions, UnionPay is one of the first movers in the industry. Its MCP Agent Payment Service enables users to complete the entire journey from request to payment through conversational interaction.

As China continues to expand visa-free travel policies, UnionPay has also introduced AI-enabled services for inbound visitors. Through its one-stop digital platform—the “Nihao China” app, launched in December 2025—AI is applied to payment guidance, multilingual translation, itinerary planning, and daily life recommendations, offering international travelers a more seamless experience.

From Dialogue to Cooperation: Realizing Long-Term Value in Cross-Border Payments

At its core, UnionPay’s practice reflects the spirit of dialogue championed by Davos. By working with local payment systems across markets, UnionPay does not seek to impose a single model or standard, but to find common ground amid diversity—creatively building a more open and inclusive global payments ecosystem.

By improving cross-border payment efficiency and lowering transaction costs, UnionPay supports regional economic circulation and enables broader participation by small and medium-sized players, particularly in emerging markets. This cooperation-first, win-win approach aligns closely with the values repeatedly emphasized by the World Economic Forum in an era of uncertainty.

Looking ahead, UnionPay will continue to use connectivity as a lever to deepen multilateral cooperation and contribute to a more open, inclusive, and sustainable international payments ecosystem—true to its vision of “Trusted Ties, Shared Success.”

HONG KONG, Jan. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Newborn Town Inc. (Newborn Town or the company, stock code: 09911.HK), a leading global social entertainment company, released its unaudited operating data for 2025.

For the year ended 31 December 2025, the company’s total revenue is estimated to reach approximately RMB 6,760 million to RMB 7,000 million, reflecting a year-on-year increase of approximately 32.8 % to 37.5 %.

Among the total revenue, social networking business contributed approximately RMB 6,030 million to RMB 6,230 million, up approximately 30.4% to 34.8% year-on-year. The innovative business saw a year-on-year growth of about 55.7% to 64.2% to approximately RMB 730 million to RMB 770 million, continuing its robust growth momentum.

In 2025, the company further deepened the integration of AI technologies into its business operations, enhancing user experience and product commercialization efficiency across business segments and driving high-quality growth.

Social Networking Business Maintains Strong Momentum with Reinforced Market Leadership

According to the announcement, the company achieved significant year-on-year revenue growth in its social networking business in 2025, primarily driven by the continued expansion of diversified social products supported by AI technology.

During the year, the company’s social networking business achieved structural growth across global markets, with synergies among its “bush-like” portfolio of social apps. Products such as TopTop, a game-oriented social networking platform, maintained explosive growth, acting as key engines of expansion. Meanwhile, other core social apps continued to deliver stable revenue and cash flow contributions.

Particularly in the MENA region, Newborn Town has built significant competitive advantages and a robust product ecosystem. In Q4 2025, TopTop, supported by localized operations and a growing UGC ecosystem, further strengthened its market position and emerged as a nationally popular app in high-value markets such as Saudi Arabia.

The company’s diverse-audience social networking business also sustained solid development in overseas markets. Through deepening community engagement, iterating social features, and launching brand campaigns, HeeSay has further solidified its leading position in Southeast Asia, boosting its brand influence.  

As the social business continued to accelerate, Newborn Town’s overall market competitiveness also strengthened. In December 2025, the company ranked 4th on Diandian’s “Top Chinese non-gaming publishers by overseas revenue”list, up one place from the previous ranking, reflecting solid growth momentum.

The company’s consistently improving localization capabilities remain a key driver of its competitive moat. A research report by CLSA in 2025 highlighted Newborn Town’s distinctive competitive edge, enabled by deeper user insights, refined service experience, and diversified monetization models. With solid localization execution, Newborn Town has also demonstrated strong competitiveness in product innovation, user acquisition, and content operations.

Innovative Business Delivers Strong Growth as Quality Games Enter a Phase of Long-Term Operations

In 2025, Newborn Town’s innovative business emerged as a strong growth engine. The growth was driven by sustained expansion in traffic monetization, social e-commerce business, revenue contributions from the short drama segment and its self-developed quality games.

Since Q4 2024, the quality games segment has entered its profit-harvesting phase. Flagship titles have now transitioned into long-term operations, delivering a meaningful increase in ARPU during the year. Building on the game team’s growing expertise in the merge-game genre and the deeper integration of AI technologies, Newborn Town significantly shortened development cycles in 2025, while new game titles advanced steadily as planned.

Over the past year, Newborn Town’s social e-commerce business delivered steady growth, while Heer Health further consolidated its leading position in the HIV prevention and sexual health services segment.

In 2025, Heer Health partnered with insurance companies and pharmaceutical firms to launch China’s first critical illness insurance product specifically designed for people living with HIV, offering an innovative solution to long-standing challenges in insurance access for this group.

Meanwhile, the company’s short-drama business has also begun to demonstrate early positive results.

AI Integration Accelerates Innovation-Driven Momentum

In 2025, Newborn Town continued to deepen its AI strategy, integrating AI into core business operations while launching a range of “AI + Social Entertainment” product innovations.

In terms of product innovation, the company launched Aippy, an AI-powered creative content community that lowers the barrier to creation for users without coding experience. By integrating advanced AIGC technologies, Aippy enables users to easily create mini-games and other interactive content. Since it launch, the mobile version has received encouraging user feedback, achieving an average rating of 4.9 on both the Apple App Store and major Android app stores.

AI technologies have now been embedded across all key operations, with the company’s self-developed multimodal algorithm model, Boomiix, continuing to undergo iterative upgrades. By further deploying AI in core scenarios – from social recommendations, intelligent operations, advertising, risk management and content safety, and creative asset design, Newborn Town has consistently optimized user experience and operational efficiency.

In 2025, Newborn Town introduced Siyu, an AI-powered intelligent data platform enabling operations teams to efficiently query data, perform analytics and generate reports via natural-language interactions. The platform was subsequently selected as a flagship case by Amazon Web Services.

In September 2025, the company entered a strategic partnership with Tencent Cloud to jointly explore opportunities in “AI + Global Social Entertainment,” leveraging both parties’ technical strengths and market reach.

In June 2025, Newborn Town established its global headquarters in Hong Kong, marking a new milestone in its globalization strategy. Between November and December 2025, Newborn Town executed a series of share repurchases on the open market, with an aggregate amount exceeding HKD 80 million, demonstrating management’s strong confidence in the company’s long-term value and growth prospects. Moving forward, the company will continue to deepen its global business footprint and remain committed to creating positive emotional value for users.

Warner Bros. Discovery Unveils Spellbinding Plans for Harry Potter’s 25 Years of Magic Celebration

LONDON, Jan. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Warner Bros. Discovery today announces plans to mark 25 Years of Magic since Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone first enchanted audiences on the big screen. Wizards, Witches and Muggles worldwide can look forward to fan-focused experiences, spectacular screenings, exclusive products, and more.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone Film Turns 25!

When Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (known as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in the United States, India and the Philippines) premiered on 16 November 2001, it opened a Portkey to the wizarding world for filmgoers, shattering Box Office records to become the highest-grossing film of the year. That single spell launched an eight-film phenomenon that conjured more than $7.7 billion globally, cementing Harry Potter as one of the most beloved entertainment franchises of all time.

Now, 25 years later, the magic is stronger than ever, and Harry Potter remains one of pop culture’s most enduring icons. Ahead of the highly anticipated HBO Original HARRY POTTER television series, currently in production at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden and set to premier in 2027, Warner Bros. Discovery is inviting fans everywhere to unite for a special celebration of the wizarding world’s enduring legacy.

Wands at the ready, here’s a taste of what’s in store…

Magical Fan Experiences

• Butterbeer Season (March–May): Touring Butterbeer Trucks will roll into cities worldwide, serving limited-edition drinks and exclusive merchandise, supported by digital content and social activations.
• Harry Potter’s Birthday (31 July): Special themed products, events and activities at official Harry Potter locations worldwide, and at retail, will bring summer magic to families and younger fans.
• Back to Hogwarts (August–September): The fan-favourite global celebration returns and promises to be bigger and better than ever, uniting the Harry Potter community around the world.

Special Screenings

• Theatrical Re-Release: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone / Sorcerer’s Stone will make a return to the silver screen, with a special treat for fans – 10 minutes of behind-the-scenes content never before seen in theatres.
• The film will show on screens across North America, EMEA, LATAM and APAC between 27^thAugust and 3^rd September (timings vary by location). 
• During this window, fans will also have the chance to enjoy experiential magical touches guaranteed to bring the magic to life and watch all eight films from the Harry Potter series in theatres – check local listings for details. 
• Shared Reality Experience: This spring, Harry Potter fans will be able to experience the magic of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in Shared Reality at Cosm.
• Cosm venues are currently open in Los Angeles and Dallas, with locations in Atlanta and Detroit set to open later this year.
• Tickets to experience Harry Potter in Shared Reality at Cosm go on sale March 4, 2026. Visit https://cosm.com/events/harry-potter-in-shared-reality for more details.

Limited-Edition Products

• A stunning 25th Anniversary logo, inspired by the silvery glow of the iconic Patronus, will feature across new and existing product lines.
• Fans worldwide can look forward to special collections and commemorative ranges from a host of best-loved brands, including Spin Master, LUG, MGA, Jazzwares, Alex and Ani, Hallmark, Reyn Spooner, Pyramid, Loungefly, Timex, Crocs, Vera Bradley, and more.
• MinaLima will be celebrating the Anniversary with multiple brand-new product collections including the 25 Years of: Hogwarts Acceptance Letter, and 25 Years of: Hogwarts Express.
• Celebrating 25 years of LEGO Harry Potter, The LEGO Group has launched brand new Harry Potter themed sets thoughtfully designed to honour some of the most iconic film moments, locations and characters.
• The special 25^th Anniversary Philosopher’s Stone Collector’s Edition is a spectacular set that will inspire memories of the spellbinding tale, including a poseable Hedwig, Moving Wizards Chess and Harry’s Trunk.
• Four additional Harry Potter 25^th Anniversary sets include Hogwarts Castle Sorting Ceremony, Hogwarts Castle Hospital Wing, Secret Potions Classroom, and, for the first time in LEGO Bricks, Luna Lovegood’s House!
• These four sets come complete with a special 25^th Anniversary collectable Patronus.

Fans will also be able to purchase limited edition items from the exclusive 25th Anniversary range at select Harry Potter Shops in London, America, Tokyo and online, the range includes a gorgeous Celebration Bear, Philosopher’s Stone Keychain and Collectable Pin Set.

Global Experiences

Harry Potter destinations around the world will also offer fans surprise and delight moments throughout the year…

Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – the Making of Harry Potter will unveil their new summer feature – celebrating Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone!

From 7th  May –  7th September, fans can discover the wizarding artefacts they were introduced to in the first film, from the mystifying Philosopher’s Stone, to the iconic Golden Snitch. This special feature will reveal how each magical prop was carefully crafted for filming, as well as showcase the instantly recognisable sets, reveal behind-the-scenes facts and clever secrets that made the film so iconic.

This year, Warner Bros Studio Tour Tokyo – the Making of Harry Potter will also enable fans to go back to where it all began… more information will be shared on what fans can look forward to soon. 

Universal Destinations & Experiences will celebrate Harry Potter with special, limited-time offerings in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal theme parks in Orlando, Hollywood, Osaka and Beijing throughout the year – including Butterbeer Season and Back to Hogwarts, as well as at Warner Bros. Discovery Global Touring Experiences including The Harry Potter Film Concert Series, Harry Potter: The Exhibition, Harry Potter: Visions of Magic and Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience.

International Celebrations

A host of real‑world and digital fan focused activities will be taking place – from iconic film moments brought to life in touring installations around China starting later this month, to a special Harry Potter 25^th Anniversary themed takeover of Chadstone, the largest retail and lifestyle destination in the southern hemisphere in Melbourne, which will kick off in April.

Further updates on everything in store for fans to honour this special Anniversary will be shared soon, Gryffindors, Slytherins, Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs are encouraged to follow @HarryPotter on social to stay up to date with the latest news and updates!

To ready themselves for festivities, fans can visit https://www.harrypotter.com/news/celebrate-25-years-of-harry-potter-and-the-philosophers-stone-film-magic where they can check out the special 25th Anniversary Brand Spot, get Sorted into their Hogwarts House and join the Official Harry Potter Fan Club.

The first mobile-originated message sent over the Iridium NTN Direct service read: “To Iridium and Beyond.”

MCLEAN, Va., Jan. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Iridium Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: IRDM), a leading provider of global voice, data, and PNT satellite services, today announced successful on-air testing of Iridium NTN Direct℠, including two-way message transmission over its low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite network. This milestone marks a significant step forward as Iridium prepares for beta testing and commercial service of Iridium NTN Direct in 2026.

Iridium NTN Direct is being developed as the world’s first truly global, standards-based NB-IoT and direct-to-device (D2D) non-terrestrial network (NTN) service. With Iridium NTN Direct, mobile network operators (MNOs) can extend coverage beyond terrestrial networks, while chipset makers and device manufacturers can integrate standardized satellite capability into their products to support this expanded reach.

“Iridium NTN Direct is no longer a concept, it’s on the air, sending messages, and now being rigorously tested to meet our elite performance standards,” said Matt Desch, CEO of Iridium. “This milestone reinforces why mobile network operators and chipset makers are engaging with Iridium. We offer a low-risk, globally coordinated, and operational network designed to complement what they do, not compete with what they do.”

The successful testing is leveraging new 5G waveform algorithms implemented on Iridium’s software-defined satellites, supporting the NB-IoT standards-based protocol defined by 3GPP. Activated via software update to the Iridium constellation, the first mobile-originated messages were transmitted using the low power nRF9151 LTE-M/NB-IoT/NTN module from Nordic Semiconductor, a global leader in low power wireless connectivity solutions, reflecting Iridium’s previously announced collaboration.

“This successful test proves that global connectivity is no longer limited by infrastructure – we can now deploy battery-powered connected devices anywhere, using a standard, low-power module such as Nordic’s nRF9151,” said Oyvind Birkenes, EVP Long-Range BU at Nordic Semiconductor. “Our roadmap is fully aligned with Iridium’s 2026 plans, and we are committed to accelerating mass-market adoption of standards-based, space-enabled IoT for everyone.”

Iridium NTN Direct is designed for a broad set of use cases in both consumer and industrial markets, including emergency and safety messaging, asset tracking, automotive and transportation monitoring, utilities, logistics, agriculture, and remote infrastructure maintenance. For MNOs, the service represents an incremental opportunity to eliminate coverage gaps, enhance subscriber retention, and unlock new revenue streams without the need to build or maintain additional terrestrial infrastructure. For chipset makers and OEMs, it enables a single, standards-based hardware platform capable of supporting global connectivity across both terrestrial and satellite networks.

Unlike regional or cellular spectrum-based satellite solutions, Iridium NTN Direct is designed to deliver 100% global coverage, leveraging the existing constellation that already supports mission-critical communications worldwide. This approach reduces technical, regulatory, and commercial barriers for partners, accelerating time to market.

Iridium plans to continue expanding on-air testing and partner integrations in the months ahead as it advances towards commercial availability of Iridium NTN Direct in 2026.

For more information about Iridium NTN Direct and how to start your path toward integration, visit www.iridium.com/ntn-direct.

About Iridium Communications Inc.
Iridium^® is the only mobile voice, data, and PNT satellite network that spans the entire globe. Iridium enables connections between people, organizations, and assets to and from anywhere, in real time. Together with its ecosystem of partner companies, Iridium delivers an innovative and rich portfolio of reliable solutions for markets that require truly global communications. In 2024, Iridium acquired Satelles and its positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) service. Iridium Communications Inc. is headquartered in McLean, Va., U.S.A., and its common stock trades on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker symbol IRDM. For more information about Iridium products, services, and partner solutions, visit www.iridium.com.

Forward-Looking Statements Disclosure
Statements in this press release that are not purely historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company has based these statements on its current expectations and the information currently available to us. Forward-looking statements in this press release include statements regarding the capabilities, benefits and availability of the Iridium NTN Direct service. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the words “anticipates,” “may,” “can,” “believes,” “expects,” “projects,” “intends,” “likely,” “will,” “to be” and other expressions that are predictions or indicate future events, trends or prospects. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Iridium to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, uncertainties regarding the development, marketing and availability of the Iridium NTN Direct service, the company’s ability to maintain the health, capacity and content of its satellite constellation, as well as general industry and economic conditions, and competitive, legal, governmental and technological factors. Other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements include those factors listed under the caption “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on February 13, 2025, and the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2025, filed with the SEC on October 23, 2025, as well as other filings Iridium makes with the SEC from time to time. There is no assurance that Iridium’s expectations will be realized. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if Iridium’s underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those expected, estimated or projected. Iridium’s forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and Iridium undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements.

MAGOG, QC, Jan. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — My name is Julian Reusing, and I am the founder and owner of GoliathTech, a manufacturer and franchisor specializing in helical (screw) pile systems for construction. I am Canadian; my father is American, my mother is Mexican, and my spouse is both Ukrainian and Russian. I have had the opportunity to live and work in several of these countries, which has enabled me to develop a deep understanding of different cultures, both human and professional. Today, this reality represents a tangible competitive advantage in the international development of GoliathTech’s operations.

GoliathTech has become the most important manufacturer and installer in the helical pile industry and a top-ranking franchisor. Always at the forefront of the industry, GoliathTech constantly innovates to realize the mission and vision of offering the highest quality products and services to customers around the globe.

Throughout my career, I have personally founded and led several companies operating globally across more than sixty countries, including Canada, the United States, Mexico, and numerous European countries. These experiences have taught me the importance of adapting business strategies to local economic realities.

With this perspective, I have closely monitored developments in the U.S. market, particularly the implementation of new tariffs imposed by the U.S. administration. As a manufacturer, optimizing our supply chains and strengthening proximity to our key markets have therefore become strategic levers to anticipate these changing tariff conditions and ensure our long-term performance.

It is within this context that I decided to open a manufacturing facility in Ohio, United States, at a time when the North American economic environment calls for structural adjustments. This decision not only aligns with current U.S. economic priorities but also allows us, as a franchisor, to respond more effectively to the needs of our American franchisees, who are now present in 33 U.S. states.

This new facility will enable us to offer a range of products manufactured in the United States, while maintaining our Canadian-made product line for other international markets. Over the years, my experience has shown that each of our facilities performs at its best when it actively contributes to the local economy in which it operates.

In this context, joining the GoliathTech franchise network represents a strategic opportunity. We invite entrepreneurs who wish to build a strong and resilient local business, supported by a leading manufacturer and franchisor in screw pile systems, to learn more about acquiring a GoliathTech franchise.

Julian Reusing
CEO
GoliathTech Inc.

Construction Franchise Opportunity | GoliathTech

The Best Screw Pile Foundation System | GoliathTech

GoliathTech has become the most important manufacturer and installer in the helical pile industry and a top-ranking franchisor. Always at the forefront of the industry, GoliathTech constantly innovates to realize the mission and vision of offering the highest quality products and services to customers around the globe.

Led by WestCap, the Series D Round Values the Company at $1.2 Billion and Marks the Next Chapter for Personalized, High-Quality Learning at Scale

NEW YORK, Jan. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Preply, the #1 global language learning marketplace, today announced the closing of its Series D round, securing $150 million in funding led by WestCap, a strategic operating and investing firm with over $6 billion in assets under management. Goldman Sachs International acted as sole placement agent in the transaction. The latest funding round values the company at $1.2 billion, marking a significant milestone in Preply’s mission to make transformative learning experiences accessible to people around the world.

A pioneer in online language learning, Preply’s platform connects more than 100,000 tutors with learners in 180 countries, facilitating one-on-one lessons in more than 90 languages. Powered by a unique combination of human-led instruction, paired with its AI-supported tutoring co-pilot suite, Preply is redefining how people learn through high-quality, flexible and tailored learning experiences designed to drive real progress with every lesson.

Preply’s Series D fundraise comes at a time when an estimated 1.8 billion people, or roughly one in every four people worldwide, are actively striving to achieve proficiency in a second language, according to global education data platform HolonIQ. It’s estimated that the global direct-to-consumer language learning market will reach $227 billion by 2035, and has already delivered 3X growth over the last five years, with long-term forecasts indicating sustained, exponential growth in years to come.

Since its Series C raise, Preply has more than tripled its number of bookable tutors and expanded its offering by adding over 40 new languages to the platform. In the last twelve months the company continued improving EBITDA and became EBITDA positive. 

With this capital, and the support of new and existing investors, including The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Horizon Capital, among others, Preply will strengthen its commitment to delivering the world’s most personalized learning experiences at scale. The company plans to advance its AI and data capabilities, expand its product and engineering teams to enhance the platform experience, and accelerate its global growth to reach more learners and tutors across the globe as it reshapes the traditional education system. The WestCap team, with its strong track record of building and scaling global marketplaces such as Airbnb and StubHub, will help Preply further deepen its impact worldwide.

“We feel extremely fortunate and deeply responsible for shaping how people will learn in the future,” says Preply co-founder and CEO Kirill Bigai. “Today, we connect people with the world’s best tutors, amplified by AI, bringing learning efficiency to a level that was previously unreachable. We are happy to partner with the WestCap team, who has deep expertise in helping founders to build legendary world-changing brands. This investment will help us to continue to innovate at the intersection of human tutoring and AI, creating opportunities everywhere for people to connect, belong, succeed, and ultimately to progress in their lives no matter where they are in the world.”

As other learning platforms increasingly turn to automation, Preply remains committed to the power of human connection, using AI to enable and enhance tutor-driven learning and support its tutoring co-pilot suite. In fact, Preply’s 2025 Efficiency Study, conducted in partnership with the nonprofit research organization LeanLab Education, revealed that 96% of learners consider learning with a human tutor and engaging in real conversations as essential to their progress, while 97% said these interactions were key to boosting their confidence.

The study also found that learners progressed up to 3x faster with Preply when compared to average benchmarks, with one in three learners moving up a full CEFR level in just 12 weeks. This indicates that human guidance remains a powerful driver of meaningful learning, and can be supercharged when paired with AI, like Preply’s tutoring co-pilot, which tracks progress, delivers actionable insights, and automates administrative tasks, enabling tutors to focus on teaching and learners to more quickly reach their goals.

“Preply is setting a new standard for personalized education at scale, and the opportunities are virtually limitless,” says Allen Mask, Partner at WestCap and former senior executive at Airbnb, who is joining the Preply board. “Data shows that learners thrive when real human instruction is supported by technology, and in today’s increasingly connected world, there is a real demand for democratizing access to high-quality learning in a modern and effective way. Preply has the market-leading product, the experienced leadership team, and the vision to shape how people communicate globally.”

This latest round brings Preply’s total funding to approximately $299 million to-date, underscoring long-term investor confidence in the company’s mission and growth trajectory. With continued momentum across its global marketplace, Preply is well positioned to expand its impact, build on its proven learning outcomes, and further establish itself as the category leader in human-led, AI-enabled learning.

For more information, visit Preply.com.

ABOUT PREPLY
Preply is the human-led, AI-enabled language learning platform building the future of learning. With a global network of more than 100,000 tutors teaching over 90 languages, we are the category leader and the largest online marketplace that brings human tutors together with learners from 180 countries, supporting them with always-on, AI-powered tools to deliver real progress with every lesson.

Our mission is to create life-changing learning experiences by powering real progress through personalized learning, motivation, and high-quality tutoring at scale. We believe that we are uniquely positioned to become the company that understands human learning better than anyone else on the planet.

ABOUT WESTCAP
WestCap is a strategic operating and investing firm that partners with visionary leaders to build generational businesses. Our team is comprised of seasoned industry leaders and entrepreneurs who guide companies through the most pivotal stages of growth. Some of our notable investments include Airbnb, StubHub, Klarna, Ipreo, Addepar, Hopper, iCapital and GoodLeap. The firm has offices in New York, San Francisco and London. For more information, please visit www.westcap.com.

CONTACT
Lauren Doyle
Global PR & Communications, Preply
Lauren.Doyle@preply.com