Category Archives: South Africa

The solution behind the world’s leading global teams: Holafly for Business launches the first permanent worldwide plan that ends roaming for companies

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DUBLIN, Jan. 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Holafly, one of the bigger players in the eSIM market, has introduced a new solution aimed at companies with teams constantly on the move: Holafly Plans for Business, the first permanent global data plan built specifically for international organisations.

Unlike roaming agreements, still chained to outdated infrastructure, Holafly Plans for Business is designed to stay available on employees’ devices, eliminating the need to reinstall or reconfigure connectivity every time someone travels; an exclusive add-on that helps teams stay connected when it matters most, anywhere in the world, without disruptions or last-minute fixes.

The model has been shaped around a common frustration voiced by global companies: paying in advance for data that often goes unused, while still risking shortages when travel increases unexpectedly. With Holafly Plans for Business, companies can adjust data allowances at any time. When an employee needs unlimited data, the upgrade happens automatically and is billed only for the period it is actually used. Months without travel or data consumption simply aren’t charged.

This approach allows organisations to stay prepared for international travel without locking themselves into fixed costs or long-term commitments. The plan remains active at all times, ready to work wherever employees go, while giving finance and operations teams full visibility and control.

To support the launch, Holafly is offering new enterprise customers reduced access to Always On, an add-on designed to guarantee basic mobile access worldwide. Even during quieter periods when a company reduces its data package, Always On ensures every employee retains a baseline allowance, helping teams remain reachable in case of unexpected travel or urgent needs.

The launch comes as international business travel continues to rise. According to Holafly’s Global Travel & eSIM Report, more than half of professionals travelled more for work in 2025 than in the previous year, and eight in ten expect to travel internationally in 2026. Companies across sectors already rely on Holafly for Business to manage mobile data abroad, including organisations such as Nike, Deloitte, Airbnb, Volvo, among others.

“With Holafly Plans for Business, we wanted to remove the guesswork that companies face when managing mobile data internationally,” said Alex Bryszkowski, VP of B2B & Partnerships at Holafly. “Teams shouldn’t have to predict travel patterns months in advance or worry about whether service will work when they land. The plan is always there, usage adapts automatically, and employees stay reachable wherever work takes them.”

About Holafly:
Holafly is the global leader in eSIMs for travelers, offering coverage in over 200 destinations. With an outstanding 4.6/5 rating on Trustpilot and more than 15 million satisfied users, it has become the preferred eSIM choice for international travelers. Its unlimited data offering ensures peace of mind anywhere in the world.

Contact: press@holafly.com / marina.m@holafly.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 1001159944

50 Years of Dry Gas Seals (1976–2026)

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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

VWO and AB Tasty Join Forces to Redefine the Future of Digital Experience Optimization

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Everstone Capital invests significant additional capital to create a scaled platform

PARIS, Jan. 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — VWO and AB Tasty, two pioneers in the optimization space, have entered into an agreement to combine, subject to customary closing conditions. This combination will create an industry-leading digital experience optimization platform offering AI-led experimentation, real-time adaptive personalization, behavioural insights and analytics.

The combined entity will have meaningful scale, surpassing $100 million in annual revenue from more than 4,000 customers globally. It will have a dominant presence in its two largest regions – the United States and Europe, accounting for ~90% of its revenue. With 11 offices and distributed teams across North America, LATAM, Europe, and APAC, this combination unlocks global reach with local execution. The goal is to forge deeper customer partnerships through in-market expertise and make significant investments in a full stack tech platform, offering AI-native capabilities.

“VWO was founded on the conviction that great products, strong fundamentals, and long-term thinking build enduring companies. In AB Tasty, we found a team that shares this philosophy and complements us strongly in product and organization capabilities, while having a strong alignment in culture, vision, and mission. Together, we see an opportunity to create a global leader that delivers greater scale, depth, and consistency to customers, while staying committed to the core value proposition that have made both companies successful,” said Sparsh Gupta, Co-founder and CEO, VWO.

The merged business will be led by a strengthened co-founding executive team drawing from both organizations. Sparsh Gupta, Co-founder and CEO of VWO, will serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the combined entity. Ankit Jain will step in as the Chief Product and Technology Officer. Rémi Aubert, AB Tasty’s Co-founder and Co-CEO, will become the Chief Customer and Strategy Officer, while Alix de Sagazan, AB Tasty’s other Co-founder and Co-CEO, will become the Chief Revenue Officer. These leaders are demonstrating strong conviction and excitement by continuing to be significantly invested with substantial individual ownerships in the combined company.

“Our ambition has always been to create a global leader in experimentation and experience optimization that delivers tangible, measurable value to customers. Over the past few years, as we reflected on the next chapter for AB Tasty, it quickly became clear that the right path was about alignment—across ambition, culture, product, and geography. With VWO, the alignment was clear early on: shared ambition, shared values, complementary strengths, and a common commitment to customers. This combination gives us the opportunity to pursue the same ambition we’ve always had, but at a much greater scale and significantly expanded resources,” said Alix de Sagazan, Co-CEO, AB Tasty.

The transaction is led by Singapore-headquartered Everstone Capital, the private equity arm of the Everstone Group, which focuses on control investments in the mid-market space with strong focus on the technology sector. Everstone Capital is a majority shareholder in VWO and is investing significant additional capital to remain the largest institutional shareholder in the combined entity.

“This investment is a continuation of the Everstone playbook of combining deep domain expertise with cross-geography perspective to build a market leader, in this case a global, best-in-class digital experience optimization platform. Together, VWO and AB Tasty will have among the most comprehensive product offerings in the category and a well-balanced geographical footprint with a leading market share in multiple major regions. Everstone will also support the company with an advisory board drawing from some of the leading industry experts and operators,” said Sandeep Singh, Managing Director, Everstone Capital.

VWO and AB Tasty will provide further information at the appropriate time once customary closing conditions are met and the transaction is concluded.

About VWO:
Founded in 2010, VWO is a unified experience-optimization platform that product, marketing, growth, and engineering teams use to improve customer journeys and accelerate digital performance. With a connected suite of experimentation, analytics, personalization, and feature-delivery tools, VWO enables organizations to make data-driven decisions at scale. Trusted by more than 3,000 brands like Forbes, Walt Disney, Amway, Hilton Vacations, TAP Portugal, Cigna across ecommerce, SaaS, travel, and media, VWO helps teams deliver consistent, measurable improvements to experience, conversion, and revenue. Website: https://vwo.com/

About AB Tasty:
Founded in 2014 in Paris, AB Tasty is a leading experimentation and personalization platform that enables global brands to optimize digital experiences through A/B testing, feature management, and AI-driven personalization. It is used by more than 1000 leading global brands worldwide, including L’Oreal, Samsonite, USA Today, and Ganni, and across multiple industries, including travel, retail, banking and insurance. Website: https://abtasty.com/

About Everstone Capital:
Everstone Capital, the private equity arm of the Everstone Group, is a Singapore-headquartered investment firm with $3.5 billion in assets under management and a presence across seven global offices. We focus on control-oriented, mid-market investments across high-growth sectors including Technology Services, Healthcare & Pharma, Consumer, Financial Services, and Industrials. Our platform-building approach combines operational expertise with strategic capital to unlock sustainable value and drive long-term growth.

With a team of ~100 experienced professionals, we bring deep domain knowledge, local insight, and an on-ground execution edge to every partnership. Our active ownership model and disciplined execution enable us to scale businesses, accelerate transformation, and consistently deliver strong risk-adjusted returns for our investors. Website: https://everstonecapital.com/

For media enquiries, please write to, paresh.mandhyan@vwo.com for Wingify and AB Tasty and corpcomm@everstonegroup.com for Everstone Capital.

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 1001160117

CGTN: How China, Canada promote steady, solid and sound development of bilateral ties under new circumstances

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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

Bitget Drops New Video With World Cup Winner Julián Alvarez, Turning Trading Into a One-Stop UEX Megastore

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Bitget Drops New Video With World Cup Winner Julián Álvarez, Turning Trading Into a One-Stop UEX Megastore

Bitget Drops New Video With World Cup Winner Julián Álvarez, Turning Trading Into a One-Stop UEX Megastore

VICTORIA, Seychelles, Jan. 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the world’s largest Universal Exchange (UEX), has released a new global video featuring World Cup winner Julián Alvarez, using football culture to explain a simple idea: if you want to trade the world, you should not have to shop around.

The video brings Bitget’s Universal Exchange vision to life through a familiar setting for football fans. Set inside a stylized football megastore, Álvarez browses match-day essentials that double as investment cues. Crypto takes the place of footballs, stocks show up as shin guards, and forex is laced into boots built for speed. The visual language does the heavy lifting, turning a complex multi-asset idea into something instantly intuitive: everything a trader needs, under one roof.

The creative lands on Bitget’s core proposition as it evolves into a Universal Exchange, offering unified access to crypto, tokenized stocks, gold, forex, and derivatives through a single account. Instead of switching platforms as markets move, users can rotate capital across asset classes with greater efficiency, transparency, and flexibility. The video captures this shift in a way that feels familiar to football fans and translates seamlessly to traders who value speed, coverage, and control.

“Just as a professional footballer needs access to the best equipment in one place, Bitget gives traders seamless access to diverse asset classes within one platform,” said Ignacio Aguirre, Chief Marketing Officer at Bitget. “That convenience is a competitive edge.”

Álvarez’s role in the campaign reflects the same principles behind UEX. Consistency, readiness, and the ability to adapt as the game changes. As markets become increasingly interconnected and trade around the clock, Bitget’s infrastructure is designed to support continuous access and smarter capital deployment across asset classes without compromising liquidity or cost.

The new video is now live across Bitget’s global channels and marks the latest step in the brand’s push to blend culture, sport, and trading education in the UEX era. As Bitget continues to expand market coverage and roll out additional multi-asset capabilities, the message behind the campaign stays the same. Trade smarter. Stay ready. And keep everything you need within reach.

Watch the full video here.

About Bitget

Bitget is the world’s largest Universal Exchange (UEX), serving over 125 million users and offering access to over 2M crypto tokens, 100+ tokenized stocks, ETFs, commodities, FX, and precious metals such as gold. The ecosystem is committed to helping users trade smarter with its AI agent, which co-pilots trade execution. Bitget is driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships with LALIGA and MotoGP™. Aligned with its global impact strategy, Bitget has joined hands with UNICEF to support blockchain education for 1.1 million people by 2027. Bitget currently leads in the tokenized TradFi market, providing the industry’s lowest fees and highest liquidity across 150 regions worldwide.

For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord

For media inquiries, please contact: media@bitget.com

Risk Warning: Digital asset prices are subject to fluctuation and may experience significant volatility. Investors are advised to only allocate funds they can afford to lose. The value of any investment may be impacted, and there is a possibility that financial objectives may not be met, nor the principal investment recovered. Independent financial advice should always be sought, and personal financial experience and standing carefully considered. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bitget accepts no liability for any potential losses incurred. Nothing contained herein should be construed as financial advice. For further information, please refer to our Terms of Use.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8d4d2019-ae01-4967-8323-3488e1bc1657

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 1001159379

Atlanta Retains Crown as World’s Busiest Airport 2025 While Dubai Gains Ground, OAG Data Reveals

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Dubai closes the gap as global capacity growth continues across regions

Key Findings:

  • Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) remains the world’s busiest airport in 2025 with 63.1 million seats
  • Dubai International (DXB) stays second globally and continues rapid long-term growth
  • Four of the world’s ten busiest airports are in North America and three in Asia

LONDON, Jan. 15, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — OAG, the leading data platform for the global travel industry, today released its annual ranking of the World’s Busiest Airports for 2025, based on scheduled airline capacity.

Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) has retained its position as the world’s busiest airport, offering 63.1 million seats across domestic and international services. Capacity at ATL increased by 1% year-on-year and is now broadly in line with pre-pandemic levels.

Dubai International Airport (DXB) ranked second globally with 62.4 million seats, narrowing the gap with Atlanta. Capacity at DXB grew by 4% compared to 2024 and is now 16% above 2019 levels, underlining its continued dominance as the world’s leading international hub.

Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) remained third with 55.4 million seats, maintaining stable capacity levels and remaining slightly above pre-pandemic volumes.

Further down the rankings, Chicago O’Hare (ORD) and Istanbul Airport (IST) recorded the strongest year-on-year growth among the global Top 10, increasing capacity by 8% and 6% respectively. Istanbul continues to stand out as one of the fastest-growing major hubs globally, with capacity now 22% higher than in 2019.

Overall, the global Top 10 busiest airports in 2025 reflect the strength of large domestic markets in the United States and China, alongside sustained growth in the Middle East and the continued emergence of new hub airports since 2019.

OAG Chief Analyst, John Grant, commented:

“The 2025 rankings show that global aviation has moved into a new phase of growth. Dubai’s continued expansion and Istanbul’s rise as a global hub demonstrate how airline networks are evolving, while the resilience of large domestic markets continues to underpin global capacity.”

Find full rankings and methodology on OAG’s website.

About OAG
OAG is a leading data platform for the global travel industry offering an industry-first single source for supply, demand, and pricing data.

Media Enquiries: pressoffice@oag.com
For more information visit www.oag.com/busiest-airports-world-2025

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9626260

GeekyAnts Announces Expo Feature Featuring Co-Founder Sanket Sahu on In-Browser Development Infrastructure

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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

Global digital entrepreneurship ecosystem index reveals stark gap between digital readiness and scaling capacity

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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

MBAK Energy Solutions, Inc. (OTC:MBAK) Nominates Dr. Konda Shiva to the Board of Directors

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SEOUL, South Korea and SHENZHEN, China and WILMINGTON, N.C., Jan. 14, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MBAK Energy Solutions, Inc. (OTC:MBAK) has nominated Dr. Konda Shiva to the MBAK board of directors.

Holder of 8 patents and author of a dozen peer-reviewed publications, Dr. Shiva’s extensive background in electrical energy storage and distribution innovation dates back to his post-doctoral work at the University of Texas with Nobel Laureate Prof. John Goodenough and his work in battery development with Nissan’s Battery Research and Development Center in Chennai, India. Founder and Chief Executive Officer of AACCENOS Solutions Pvt. Ltd., he leads strategic initiatives in battery technology development, fast charging, and energy innovation for electric mobility and grid-scale energy storage applications. Dr. Shiva is uniquely positioned to leverage the rapidly expanding need for grid-scale electric energy as Middle Eastern countries ramp up transition to sustainable energy and build out of data centers.

Dr. Shiva has a passion for translating cutting edge scientific research into commercially viable, scalable industrial solutions. He will bring this passion and demonstrated excellence to his role as an independent director on the MBAK board.

MBAK Energy Solutions, Inc. is engaged in the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of non-fossil fuel energy products. The company has expertise in the design and production of lithium, sodium, and solid-state batteries for industrial, medical, portable electronics, and EV applications.

Contact: info@mbakcorp.com, press@mbakcorp.com

Website: www.mbakcorp.com

Disclaimer/Safe Harbor: This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act. The statements reflect the Company’s current views with respect to future events that involve risks and uncertainties. Among others, these risks include the expectation that any of the companies mentioned herein will achieve significant sales, the failure to meet schedule or performance requirements of the companies’ contracts, the companies’ liquidity position, the companies’ ability to obtain new contracts, the emergence of competitors with greater financial resources and the impact of competitive pricing. In the light of these uncertainties, the forward-looking events referred to in this release might not occur.

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9625477

New report from Meltwater and We. Communications reveals 90% of PR teams are integrating generative AI into their workflows

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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