diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index f906d87f8..aea449933 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ jobs:
           GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.RELEASE_PAT }}
         run: |
           PR_NUMBER=$(gh pr list --head release/${{ steps.bump_version.outputs.version }} --json number -q '.[0].number')
-          gh pr merge $PR_NUMBER --merge --admin
+          gh pr merge $PR_NUMBER --merge --admin --delete-branch
 
       - name: Tag release
         if: success()
@@ -87,6 +87,29 @@ jobs:
           git tag -f ${{ steps.bump_version.outputs.version }}
           git push -f origin ${{ steps.bump_version.outputs.version }}
 
+      - name: Sync version to staging
+        if: success()
+        env:
+          GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.RELEASE_PAT }}
+        run: |
+          VERSION=${{ steps.bump_version.outputs.version }}
+          BRANCH=chore/sync-version-$VERSION
+          git fetch origin staging
+          git checkout -B $BRANCH origin/staging
+          for f in package.json packages/client/package.json packages/server/package.json; do
+            sed -i -E "s/(\"version\": \")[^\"]+(\")/\1$VERSION\2/" "$f"
+          done
+          git add -A
+          git commit -m "chore: sync release version $VERSION to staging [skip ci]" \
+            || { echo "Staging already at $VERSION, nothing to sync"; exit 0; }
+          git push -f origin $BRANCH
+          gh pr create \
+            --base staging \
+            --head $BRANCH \
+            --title "Sync version $VERSION to staging" \
+            --body "Automated sync of released version \`$VERSION\` back to staging." \
+            || echo "PR already exists"
+
   # ------------------------
   # Publish (DockerHub)
   # ------------------------
@@ -99,6 +122,8 @@ jobs:
 
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v6
+        with:
+          ref: ${{ needs.release.outputs.release_version }}
 
       - name: Docker login
         run: echo "${{ secrets.DOCKERHUB_PASSWORD }}" | docker login -u ${{ secrets.DOCKERHUB_USERNAME }} --password-stdin
@@ -118,6 +143,8 @@ jobs:
 
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v6
+        with:
+          ref: ${{ needs.release.outputs.release_version }}
 
       - name: Docker login
         run: echo "${{ secrets.DOCKERHUB_PASSWORD }}" | docker login -u ${{ secrets.DOCKERHUB_USERNAME }} --password-stdin
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 6752eab8a..b77cfee0b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # Kotahi
 
-[Website](https://kotahi.community/)  
-Join our [chat channel](https://mattermost.coko.foundation/coko/channels/kotahi).
+[Website](https://kotahi.foundation/)  
+Contact us [here](https://elifepathways.org/#get-involved)
 
 Kotahi is a modern submission, review and publishing system especially suited for academic journals, overlay journals, preprint curation groups, data publications, data review, research labs and PRC (publish-review-curate) groups. Kotahi supports:
 
@@ -20,11 +20,7 @@ Kotahi is a modern submission, review and publishing system especially suited fo
 - modern interfaces, architecture, thinking
 
 
-Kotahi is currently under development by the [Kotahi Foundation](https://kotahi.foundation/).
- 
-## Project roadmap
-
-[The Kotahi product roadmap](https://miro.com/app/board/uXjVLmKGfek=/) can be viewed on Miro.
+Kotahi is currently under development by [eLife Pathways](https://elifepathways.org/).
 
 ## Bug reporting