SLOUGH, United Kingdom, Jan. 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — John Crane, a global leader in flow-control technologies and an innovator in solutions for rotating equipment, and a business of Smiths Group plc, is marking 50 years since a breakthrough that revolutionised gas compression sealing. In 1976, the introduction of the Type 28 dry gas seal transformed compressor reliability and set a new global benchmark for sealing performance, safety and efficiency.

While pioneering work on non-contacting spiral-groove technology began in 1968, and the first commercially installation was achieved in 1975, it was the introduction of the Type 28 dry gas seal in 1976 that created a true turning point for the industry. Since then, dry gas seals have become essential components in centrifugal compressors across applications such as oil and gas, petrochemicals, power generation and, increasingly, hydrogen and carbon-capture applications.

Over the past five decades, continuous innovation has extended sealing performance into new pressures, temperatures and operating conditions. Advances have included bi-directional grooves, ultra-high-pressure capability up to 425 barg / 6164 psig, new materials such as Carbon LF™ and digital diagnostics made possible through John Crane Sense^® Turbo, enabling real-time condition monitoring and predictive insights.

Sustainability has also become a defining element of sealing technology. Wet-to-dry gas seal retrofit programmes have delivered CO₂ reductions of around 278,000 tonnes per year in certain customer applications, while modern dry gas seals can reduce methane and fugitive emissions by up to 95% when replacing traditional oil-lubricated wet seals. The latest separation seal designs, such as the Type 93AX further reduces nitrogen consumption by up to 80% compared to traditional carbon ring assemblies, supporting operators’ energy efficiency goals.

Today, John Crane’s dry gas seals support a global installed base numbering in the thousands, backed by over 200 manufacturing, sales and service centres, including 12 turbo service centres worldwide. This combination of technology leadership, global reach and on-site expertise continues to support customers’ operational reliability, environmental performance and safety goals.

“Dry gas seals transformed compressor reliability and set a new industry standard in 1976,” said Rubén Álvarez, President of John Crane. “Our 50-year anniversary not only celebrates a milestone in engineering innovation but also recognises the continued dedication of our global teams and the customers who have trusted our technology for decades. We remain committed to advancing sealing solutions that support reliability, efficiency and the future of sustainable energy.”

Throughout 2026, John Crane will mark the anniversary with the release of technical papers, global customer stories, historical reflections, and multimedia content celebrating the evolution of dry gas seal technology from its pioneering origins to today’s advanced sealing solutions engineered for the next generation of energy.

About John Crane
John Crane is a global leader in flow-control technologies and an innovator in solutions for rotating equipment in the energy and process industries. Our portfolio spans mechanical seals, systems, couplings and filtration systems, supported by advanced service solutions and digital diagnostics. With over 200 service, sales and manufacturing centres across 50 countries, John Crane is an integral pillar of Smiths Group plc, a FTSE 100 industrial technology company dedicated to engineering a better future.

Learn more at www.johncrane.com.

Contact: William Lowden: william.lowden@teamlewis.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9627913

CGTN published an article on Chinese President Xi Jinping’s meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Centered on the development of bilateral relations, the article highlighted that the two countries share broad prospects for cooperation, and explored how China and Canada are committed to promoting the steady, solid and sound development of bilateral ties under the new circumstances.

BEIJING, Jan. 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Last year, a total of 125 Canadian companies participated at the 8th China International Import Expo, the world’s first national-level exposition dedicated to imports, in east China’s Shanghai, marking a record-high Canadian presence.

Based on mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, China and Canada share broad prospects for cooperation in fields such as trade, energy, agriculture and forestry, green technology and tourism.

During Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to China, which he started on Wednesday, the two countries signed multiple cooperation documents covering trade, customs, energy, construction, culture and public security, pledging to deepen cooperation in diverse sectors of mutual interest.

On Friday, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Carney in Beijing, emphasizing that the healthy and stable development of China-Canada relations is in the common interests of the two countries and also conducive to world peace, stability, development and prosperity.

Promoting healthy, stable, sustainable China-Canada ties

During the meeting, Xi called on China and Canada to advance the building of a new strategic partnership with a sense of responsibility toward history, the people and the world.

Through the joint efforts of both sides, China-Canada relations have shown positive momentum toward recovery and improvement since last year.

In October 2025, the leaders of the two countries met on the sidelines of the 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting in South Korea, with both sides agreeing to resume exchanges and cooperation in various fields, promote the resolution of specific economic and trade issues of mutual concern, and jointly advance the development of the China-Canada strategic partnership.

The engagement was preceded by a meeting between Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Carney on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly a month earlier, followed by visits to China by senior Canadian officials, including the foreign minister.

As a gesture of goodwill, China resumed group tour services for Chinese citizens traveling to Canada through travel agencies in November, aiming to further enhance people-to-people exchanges between the two countries and foster mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples.

Noting that China and Canada enjoy extensive common interests and opportunities, Carney said Canada is willing to work with China to build a new strategic partnership that is strong and enduring so as to deliver greater benefits to the two peoples.

Partners of common development and collaboration

Xi put forward four proposals regarding China-Canada relations – both countries should be partners in common development and collaboration featuring mutual respect and mutual trust.

The essence of China-Canada economic and trade relations is mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, with both sides benefiting from cooperation, Xi underscored, adding that China’s high-quality development and high-level opening up will continue to provide new opportunities and expand new space for China-Canada cooperation.

Economically, China and Canada remain deeply complementary. China has long been Canada’s second-largest trading partner, second-largest source of imports, and second-largest export market.

Canada exports energy products, agricultural commodities, minerals, and wood pulp, while China supplies machinery, consumer goods, electronics, and intermediate industrial inputs essential to Canadian manufacturing.

Canada possesses technological advantages in areas such as clean energy, biomanufacturing and agricultural technology, which align closely with China’s industrial upgrading needs. The “technology + market” model is emerging as a new paradigm for China-Canada cooperation.

In a joint statement released following the meeting of the two leaders, China and Canada voiced their commitment to expanding bilateral trade, strengthening two-way investment, and deepening cooperation in diverse sectors of mutual interest.

The two sides reaffirmed the importance of a fair and open business environment for enterprises of both countries, and committed to addressing economic and trade issues of mutual concern through constructive consultation, including through a renewed China-Canada Joint Economic and Trade Commission.

Xi called on both sides to increase efforts to promote cooperation and reduce the negative list, thereby strengthening the bond of shared interests through deeper and broader cooperation.

For more information, please click:
https://news.cgtn.com/news/2026-01-16/How-China-Canada-promote-steady-solid-development-of-bilateral-ties-1JYU4eePiBW/p.html

Contact: CGTN
cgtn@cgtn.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9627513

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 15, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Sanket Sahu, the co-founder of GeekyAnts and creator of gluestack, recently shared his insights and has been featured in a technical publication by Expo.

The featured publication, ‘How I built a dev server entirely in the browser,’ offers an in-depth analysis of the pioneering browser-native architecture engineered by GeekyAnts to drive the future of development environments.

By focusing on complex organizational needs and product innovation, GeekyAnts remains at the forefront of legacy system modernization. The feature effectively highlights how our browser-based infrastructure developments continue to define the standard for the React Native ecosystem.

The full technical article, detailing the architectural shift toward sub-100ms preview updates and AI-assisted development workflows, can be accessed directly on the Expo blog:

[Link to Expo Article].

Contact Information

GeekyAnts Inc.
315 Montgomery Street, 9th & 10th Floors
San Francisco, CA 94104, USA
+1 845 534 6825
info@geekyants.com
www.geekyants.com/en-us

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9626268

New global DEE Index shows that digital infrastructure alone no longer drives entrepreneurial success

Report Cover Digital Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Index

Report Cover Digital Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Index

VIENNA, Jan. 15, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Vienna Institute for Global Studies (VIGS), an independent interdisciplinary research institute based in Vienna, published the 2026 Global Digital Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Index Report, offering one of the most comprehensive global assessments to date of how digitalization translates into entrepreneurial and economic outcomes across 170 economies.

The findings point to a critical shift in the global innovation landscape. While digital infrastructure, connectivity, and basic digital skills have expanded rapidly worldwide, the ability of countries to convert these foundations into scalable entrepreneurial activity remains uneven — creating a widening gap between digital readiness and economic impact.

The DEE Index, covering the period from 2017 to 2022, measures the systemic interaction between digital infrastructure, platforms, institutions, and entrepreneurial agency. The report finds that although global digital capabilities have improved markedly, startup scaling, access to venture finance, and innovation commercialization continue to lag. As a result, entrepreneurial scaling has emerged as the primary structural bottleneck of the global digital economy.

High-income economies such as the United States, Denmark, and the United Kingdom lead the global rankings, benefiting from balanced ecosystems that combine strong institutions, deep capital markets, and mature digital platforms. At the same time, several emerging regions — including Sub-Saharan Africa and Central Asia — recorded the fastest relative growth, driven by foundational investments in connectivity and digital skills.

“We are at a turning point in the global digital economy,” said Prof. Dr. Zoltán Ács, Director of the Vienna Institute for Global Studies. “Digital access is no longer the main constraint. The real challenge is enabling entrepreneurship — particularly scaling, finance, and institutional coordination — so digital readiness can be transformed into economic value.”

The report calls on policymakers, investors, and ecosystem leaders to shift focus from expanding access toward strengthening venture finance, entrepreneurial talent, and platform-based innovation ecosystems. Without targeted interventions, the gap between digital capability and entrepreneurial impact is likely to widen further.

The full Digital Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Index – Global Report is available here.

About the Vienna Institute for Global Studies (VIGS)

VIGS is an independent, interdisciplinary research institute specializing in entrepreneurial ecosystems, international relations, geopolitics, and well-being. VIGS produces data-driven insights to support evidence-based policy and strategic decision-making worldwide.

Contact
Naomi Besedes
vigs@vigsinstitute.at
+436648463928

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c767208d-2682-41a7-8689-8b50f295740d

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 1001159093

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 14, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Meltwater, a global leader in media, social, and consumer intelligence, in partnership with We. Communications, released its first annual State of PR Report, based on insights from more than 1,100 PR and communications professionals worldwide. The report highlights how PR teams are navigating rising expectations, evolving measurement demands, and using AI as a strategic advantage – while increasingly positioning themselves as strategic drivers of business value.

Key takeaways from the report:

• AI is officially mainstream: Over 90% of PR teams have already integrated generative AI into their workflows for tasks like drafting press releases, optimizing content, and brainstorming, but only 13% say it’s highly integrated.
• AI can supercharge teams and reduce time-sinks: Teams reported reactive work, content creation, and measurement/reporting as their biggest time sinks. Conversely, they named identifying rising trends and issues and summarization of media coverage, as the areas AI can have the biggest impact on their efforts, illustrating the efficiencies that can be gained with greater AI integration.
• PR measurement is entering its next era: While foundational metrics such as reach and media volume are still widely used, there is growing momentum toward outcome-based measurement tied to business KPIs. More than one-third of PR professionals say aligning metrics to business goals is now a top priority. With insufficient resources and proving ROI cited as the top two challenges PR teams are facing, it’s key that evolving measurement is key.
• Budgets are flat, but expectations are higher: More than half of respondents expect little or no change in PR investment for 2026, despite increased demand for strategic impact.
• Leadership buy-in is key: Nearly 40% of PR pros report that company leadership has a limited understanding of their PR team’s work, despite 36% saying that PR budget is dependent on CEOs, underscoring the critical need to prove ROI to earn a seat at the table.
• LinkedIn dominates as the PR pro platform of choice: 62% of PR professionals said LinkedIn was the most valuable platform for their work, with Facebook and Instagram as the next most popular at 10% each.

“The world of PR is defined by constant change, yet our research shows that core challenges, specifically proving ROI and fighting a persistent lack of resources, remain front and center,” said John Box, CEO of Meltwater. “What’s different now is that AI-powered tools are giving teams concrete ways to improve operational efficiency, gain the insight needed to measure brand performance and ensure the PR function achieves recognition and investment it deserves.”

Melissa Waggener Zorkin, Global CEO of We. Communications, says the report also points to the need for a pivotal shift in how communicators measure success, as AI solutions can now link communications activity to reputation outcomes and enterprise value. “PR pros do a great job measuring activity, but we’re seeing a missed opportunity when it comes to measuring impact. We now have sophisticated AI solutions that connect communications to reputation and business value in clear, quantifiable ways, giving communicators the data they need to show organization leaders how their work drives real results.”

For more insights, read the full State of PR Report here.

For more information, please contact:
Stacy Slayden
Communications Manager
pr@meltwater.com

About Meltwater
Meltwater empowers companies with a suite of solutions that spans media, social and consumer intelligence. By analyzing ~1 billion pieces of content each day and transforming them into vital insights, Meltwater unlocks the competitive edge needed to drive results. With 27,000 global customers, 50 offices across six continents, and 2,200 employees, Meltwater is the industry partner of choice for global brands making an impact. Learn more at meltwater.com.

About We. Communications
We. is a global communications agency helping brands navigate an ever-changing world. We’ve spent decades at the intersection of technology and humanity, translating new innovations into meaningful experiences that connect with people. As change accelerates and expectations evolve, we use our expertise to help brands communicate through complexity to drive connection, understanding and progress. We offer a range of solutions with this in mind, across diverse industries, audiences and stakeholders. 

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9625485

RALEIGH, N.C., Jan. 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Attindas Hygiene Partners’ growth strategy realized an important step forward today with its acquisition of Societá Italiana Lavorazione Cellulosa (SILC S.p.A.). Attindas executed a share purchase agreement with SILC, acquiring all shares of the 53-year-old, family-owned company.

SILC S.p.A. serves customers throughout Europe with high-quality, absorbent hygiene and skin care products, produced at its manufacturing facility 22 miles southeast of Milan, in Trescore Cremasco. SILC’s customer base and product portfolio complements Attindas’ strong presence in northern and southern Europe, opening new opportunities to efficiently serve both European and export markets.

“Our strategy at Attindas focuses on meeting the growing demand for essential hygiene products in North America and Europe. The acquisition of SILC will allow us to accelerate our growth agenda,” said Esther Berrozpe, chief executive officer of Attindas. “Given the geography, markets served, reputation and core values, SILC is a perfect fit to help us achieve our growth ambition.” SILC’s customers, suppliers and other business partners will continue to experience business as usual while the company is integrated into Attindas Hygiene Partners over the next few months.

Attindas Hygiene Partners

Based in Raleigh, NC, USA, Attindas Hygiene Partners brings together a portfolio of companies including Attends Healthcare Products, Associated Hygienic Products, and HDIS in North America, and Laboratorios Indas and Attends Healthcare AB in Europe. Attindas designs, manufactures, and markets absorbent hygiene products for US, Canada, Europe and export markets worldwide. The company’s main business lines include adult incontinence and infant diapers through retail, and direct-to-consumer channels, private label, and its own well-known brands including Attends, Incopack, Indasec, Chelino, Comfees and Reassure. Learn more at www.attindas.com.

S.I.L.C. – Società Italiana Lavorazione Cellulosa

Based in Trescore Cremasco (CR – Italy), SILC designs, manufactures, and markets products for adult incontinence, feminine hygiene pads, baby diapers, personal care cosmetics, and hygiene products for pets. These products are distributed mainly through retail channels, pharmacies, and institutions such as nursing homes and hospitals, as well as through direct-to-consumer sales and exports to more than twenty foreign countries. In addition to numerous private‑label lines, the company also owns several brands (Soffisof, Laurella, Assorbello, and BeautyCase) and holds licensed brands (Trudi Baby Care). Learn more at https://silc.it

For More Information Contact:
Michael DiMauro
Attindas Hygiene Partners
michael.dimauro@attindas.com
4141 Parklake Ave, Raleigh, NC 27617

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9622900